Midnights, the tenth album of American singer Taylor Swift caused blackouts in several countries on Spotify when it was released at midnight Thursday night.
“ Taylor Swift broke the record for most streamed album in a single day “, announced Spotify Friday afternoon on Twitter. A success so dazzling that it even bugged the streaming platform.
Consequence: French, American and British fans had to be patient to discover the new opus of the star on Spotify. Thousands of Spotify users have reported access issues. A technical problem, however, often solved within the hour.
“ How can I be so lucky to have you all doing something so amazing? “, tweeted the singer in response.
Enthusiasts have discovered thirteen songs entirely centered around the fateful hour when the clock strikes twelve. Midnights is “ the story of thirteen sleepless nights scattered throughout my life “explained Taylor Swift on Twitter, and all the titles” form a complete picture of the intensity of this crazy and mystical hour “.
With this new disc, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter abandons the indie-folk vein of her two previous albums written during the pandemic, Evermore and folklore- honored with the title of best album of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
Back to pop leanings
Far from the acoustic charm of these works of confinement, the melodies of Midnights pour more into electro-pop, with the use of synths, rhythms inspired by dubstep and effects capable of giving an androgynous side to the voice of the singer, who after starting out in country has become a major star pop.
The tone of the album, where pop diva Lana Del Rey lends her suave voice for a duet on “Snow on The Beach”, remains deliberately stripped down. Taylor Swift shares her nocturnal ruminations, her reflections on the inexorably advancing age and on the implications of love, without ever being unleashed on the twelve strokes of midnight.
This new opus is generally hailed by the Anglo-Saxon press. The British daily The Guardian thus underlines the side calm, serene and mature “of a disc” filled with fantastic songs “. However, some critics regret the absence of a leading and catchy title. “ It’s hard to identify a smash hit on Swift’s hushed third album “, laments the newspaper The Independent.
True to form, Taylor Swift has also reserved some surprises for her fans. Midnights exists online in an extended version, entitled “3 am Edition”, with seven additional titles.
(with AFP)