I haven’t been a fan of Taylor Swift in a long time. I first heard Taylor Swift when I was 14 years old. I remember hearing the hit song “You Belong With Me,” a song about a girl who isn’t popular who likes the popular guy, but he has the top cheerleader girlfriend who doesn’t understand him. I thought to myself, “OMG! That’s me. She gets me!” I had the biggest crush on the best athlete in our school. Of course, his girlfriend was the captain of the cheer team. I just knew, like Taylor Swift would say in her song, he belonged with me.

Through the years, my Taylor Swift love faded and I started listening to different music. But she was brought back to my attention when a friend said she doesn’t understand what all the hype was about. Why do people like her? I only kept up with Taylor Swift’s biggest hits that I would hear at the places I was working. I didn’t even know she had a new album out. I haven’t listened to her music in a while, so I decided to review her new album titled “Midnights.” I wanted to see if she could suck me back into the Taylor train.

I came into this thinking it will be another album about love or a failed relationship. I was right. The first song, “Lavender Haze,” is about wanting to stay in that honeymoon phase with a guy because it’s going so great. He’s not listening to all the drama about her. This was probably my favorite song. I love the lyrics:

1950s shit they want from me/

 the only kind of girl they see 

is a one night or a wife/

I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say.

I was saying “amen” in the background. A lot of people always start rumors or criticize relationships. I related to it, as do many other people. The question “Why don’t you have more kids?” is one of the biggest annoyances. It’s 2023; we don’t have to have ten children.

Another favorite of mine is “Vigilante Shit.” I like the beat and how it makes me feel badass. Some of my favorite lines are:

I don’t start it, but I can tell you how it ends, don’t get sad, get even/

I don’t dress for men, I don’t dress for women, lately I’ve been dressing for revenge.

I caught myself saying, “GIRL, YES” many times. I can’t relate because I’m not looking for revenge on anything, but I like the lyrics. It’s like she’s my bestie and I got her back.

All these songs have lyrics that are relatable to a lot of women. The rhythm, beat, and the synths in the songs can make anyone bob their head.  I started listening to this album just to review, but I’ve been listening to it on repeat. She’s done it again to me. I’m a fan.

Gisela Alonso is a Communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.