"Lavender Haze" is the first track from Taylor Swift's tenth studio album, Midnights, released on October 21, 2022. The song was later released to US contemporary hit radio as the album's second single on November 29, 2022, through Republic Records. The music video was released on January 27, 2023.
The Felix Jaehn Remix version of the song was released on February 10, 2023, and the Snakehips and Jungle remixes were released on March 3, 2023.
Background[]
Swift announced that the first track on Midnights would be titled "Lavender Haze" on October 7, 2022, as episode nine out of thirteen on Midnights Mayhem with Me.[1]
In an Instagram post, Swift said of the song:
| “ | “Lavender Haze” is track one on Midnights, and I happened upon the phrase “lavender haze” when I was watching Mad Men, and I looked it up, because I thought it sounded cool, and it turns out that it’s a common phrase used in the 50s where they would just describe being in love. Like, if you were in a lavender haze, that meant that you were in that all-encompassing love glow, and I thought that was really beautiful. And I guess theoretically when you’re in the lavender haze, you’ll do anything to stay there, and not let people bring you down off of that cloud. And I think a lot of people have to deal with this now, not just quote-unquote “public figures,” because we live in the era of social media and if the world finds out that you’re in love with somebody, they’re going to weigh in on it. Like my relationship, for six years we’ve had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it, and so this song is about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff. I hope you guys like it. | ” |
Remixes[]
![Felix Jaehn Remix February 10, 2023[2]](/wiki/File:Lavender_Haze_Felix_Jaehn_Remix.jpg "Lavender Haze Felix Jaehn Remix.jpg (4.12 MB)")
February 10, 2023[2]
.jpg "Lavender Haze (Tensnake Remix).jpg (1.58 MB)")
March 2, 2023
.jpg "Lavender Haze (Snakehips Remix).jpg (1,002 KB)")
March 3, 2023
.jpg "Lavender Haze (Jungle Remix).jpg (1.19 MB)")
March 3, 2023
_-_Single.jpg "Lavender Haze (Acoustic Version) - Single.jpg (1.38 MB)")
March 31, 2023
Music video[]
The music video was first announced on January 26, 2023.[3] Releasing on January 27, 2023, the music video for "Lavender Haze" was announced by Swift on Instagram as follows:[4]
| “ | The Lavender Haze video is out now. There is lots of lavender. There is lots of haze. There is my incredible costar [Laith Ashley] who I absolutely adored working with. This was the first video I wrote out of the 3 that have been released, and this one really helped me conceptualize the world and mood of Midnights, like a sultry sleepless 70's fever dream. Hope you like it 😁 | ” |
The music video stars Laith Ashley as Swift's love interest. The music video follows Taylor as she explores different moments while being entranced in a "lavender haze". Ashley spoke about the video, and about transgender representation in the following Instagram statement:[5]
| “ | Thank you [Taylor Swift] for allowing me to play a small part in your story. You are brilliant and this is an experience I will never forget. It was truly magical.
Your storytelling abilities through your music and visuals continues to leave me in awe, inspired, and hopeful. Thank you for being an ally and for continuously using your platform for good. Representation matters. AND LOVE WILL ALWAYS WIN! Now go check it out if you haven’t already! 🤪💫 |
” |
A behind the scenes video was released on March 3, 2023.
Easter eggs[]
There is a vinyl labeled "Mastermind", referencing the thirteenth track on the album. The vinyl features the star signs for Pisces and Sagittarius, her then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn and Swift's star signs, respectively. The Midnights vinyl is also featured on a record player, along with the Midnights amethyst incense holder. When Swift traces Ashley's back, the moment emulates the lyric from "Snow On The Beach", stating "I've never seen someone lit from within". Laith Ashley is featured as the weatherman on the television, emulating the lyric "karma is the guy on the screen, coming straight home to me" from "Karma", track eleven on the album. The koi fish floating in the sky throughout the video resemble the design on her guitar during the Speak Now World Tour, which was featured in the music video for "Anti-Hero".
Gallery[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Meet me at midnight
[Verse 1]
Staring at the ceiling with you
Oh, you don't ever say too much
And you don't really read into
My melancholia
[Pre-Chorus]
I've been under scrutiny (Yeah, oh, yeah)
You handle it beautifully (Yeah, oh, yeah)
All this shit is new to me (Yeah, oh, yeah)
[Chorus]
I feel
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
[Verse 2]
All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me)
Is if I'm gonna be your bride
The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see)
Is a one-night or a wife
[Pre-Chorus]
I find it dizzying (Yeah, oh, yeah)
They're bringin' up my history (Yeah, oh, yeah)
But you aren't even listening (Yeah, oh, yeah)
Oh
[Chorus]
I feel
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
[Post-Chorus]
The lavender haze
[Bridge]
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk (Get it off my desk)
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
[Chorus]
I feel (I feel)
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal (No deal)
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze (Oh)
[Outro]
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
That lavender haze
I just wanna stay
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Note: Lyrical changes between versions have been italicized.
[Intro]
Meet me at midnight
[Verse 1]
Staring at the ceiling with you
Oh, you don't ever say too much
And you don't really read into
My melancholia
[Pre-Chorus]
I've been under scrutiny (Yeah, oh, yeah)
You handled it beautifully (Yeah, oh, yeah)
All of this is new to me (Yeah, oh, yeah)
[Chorus]
I feel
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shh they want for me
I just wanna stay in our lavender haze
[Verse 2]
All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me)
Is if I'm gonna be your bride
The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see)
Is a one-night or a wife
[Pre-Chorus]
I find it dizzying (Yeah, oh, yeah)
They're bringin' up my history (Yeah, oh, yeah)
But you aren't even listening (Yeah, oh, yeah)
Oh
[Chorus]
I feel
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shh they want for me
I just wanna stay in our lavender haze
[Post-Chorus]
The lavender haze
[Bridge]
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk (Get it off my desk)
Talk your talking, go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
[Chorus]
I feel (I feel)
The lavender haze creepin' up on me
Surreal
I'm damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal (No deal)
The 1950s shh they want for me
I just wanna stay in our lavender haze (Oh)
[Outro]
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
The lavender haze
I just wanna stay
I just wanna stay in our lavender haze
Lyric video[]
Live performances[]
The song is part of the main setlist of the Eras Tour. It is performed as the first song of the Midnights set.
Credits[]
- Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriting, production
- Jack Antonoff – background vocals, songwriting, production, recording, programming, drums, percussion, modular synth, juno 6, mellotron, wurlitzer
- Zoë Kravitz – songwriting, background vocals
- Mark Anthony Spear – songwriting, production, programming
- Jahaan Akil Sweet – songwriting, production, recording, bass, bass pad, flute, juno
- Sam Dew – background vocals, songwriting
- Dominik Rivinius – snare
- Braxton Cook – additional production
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – mixing engineer assistance
- Laura Sisk – recording
- Megan Searl – recording engineer assistance
- Jon Sher – recording engineer assistance
- John Rooney – recording engineer assistance
- Mark Aguilar – recording engineer assistance
- Jonathan Garcia – recording engineer assistance
- Ken Lewis – recording
- Randy Merrill – mastering
References[]
- ↑ Midnights Mayhem with Me - "Lavender Haze"
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoeC5QyAFIy/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- ↑ https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1618595885499416577?s=20
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn5_9H5ulXW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn7rYPfDbyz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
| Midnights | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lavender Haze" • "Maroon" • "Anti-Hero" • "Snow On The Beach" • "You're On Your Own, Kid" • "Midnight Rain" • "Question...?" • "Vigilante Shit" • "Bejeweled" • "Labyrinth" • "Karma" • "Sweet Nothing" • "Mastermind" | ||||
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