"Mastermind"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Midnights
ReleasedOctober 21, 2022 (2022-10-21)
Studio
GenreElectropop
Length3:11
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
Lyric video
"Mastermind" on YouTube

"Mastermind" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). She was inspired to write it after watching the 2017 film Phantom Thread. Produced with co-writer Jack Antonoff, "Mastermind" is an electropop song featuring synth arpeggiators, layered vocal harmonies, and an expansive bass. Its lyrics are about a narrator confessing to a lover that they were the one who initiated and planned their romantic relationship.

Music critics generally praised "Mastermind" for its production and Swift's songwriting, with some commenting that the lyrics were not meant to be taken too seriously. The track peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Global 200 and the top 20 on national charts in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States. It received certifications in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The song was included on the set list of Swift's Eras Tour (2023–2024).

Background and music

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift announced her tenth studio album, Midnights, at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28.[1] On a video via her Instagram account on September 6, 2022, titled "The making of Midnights", Swift revealed that Jack Antonoff, who had worked with her before on her five studio albums since 1989 (2014), was a producer on the album.[2] Starting from September 21, 2022, exactly a month before Midnights' release, she announced a thirteen-episode short series called Midnights Mayhem with Me on the social media platform TikTok.[3] The series' purpose is to announce a song title every episode by rolling a lottery cage containing thirteen ping pong balls numbered one to thirteen, each ball representing a track.[4] "Mastermind" was the first track title Swift revealed.[5]

Swift wrote and produced "Mastermind" with Antonoff, who recorded the track with Laura Sisk at Rough Customer Studio in Brooklyn and Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The song was mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach and mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.[6] "Mastermind" is a subdued electropop tune that lasts for three minutes and eleven seconds.[7][8] In line with other Midnights tracks, the production features an electronic groove, swirling synth arpeggiators, an expansive bass, and layered vocal harmonies.[9][10] Its instrumentation incorporates drums, electric guitars, saxophones, percussion, violin, and Juno and Minimoog synthesizers.[6] The bridge features cinematic strings.[11] Ilana Kaplan from the Alternative Press compared the opening synths to the "jittery" introduction of the Who's song "Baba O'Riley" (1971).[12] Billboard critic Andrew Unterberger described the synth arpeggiators as "OMD-worthy" and the track's beat as "a racing heartbeat".[13]

Lyrical interpretation

"Mastermind" is about reflecting upon one's romantic relationship and declaring that the protagonist is the mastermind behind everything that happened.[14][15][16] Swift revealed in a 2023 cover story with Time jounalist Sam Lansky that she was inspired to write the song after watching the 2017 film Phantom Thread.[17] The song opens, "Once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned/ You and I ended up in the same room at the same time". Time critics interpreted this part as a throwback to Swift's 2008 single "Love Story"—both songs reference William Shakespeare's trope of star-crossed lovers but with contrary effects.[9] Throughout the verses, Swift's character paints herself as the grandmaster scheming a plan to "assess the equation of you".[9] In the refrain, the narrator asserts that "none of it was accidental" and proclaims themselves as the person responsible for everything that happened, "What if I told you I'm a mastermind? And now you're mine/ It was all by design." For some critics, these lyrics contrast with the theme of love guided by fate and destiny on Swift's past songs (as cited by critics, namely "You Belong with Me", "Don't Blame Me", "Invisible String", or "Long Story Short").[9][18][19]

Some critics commented that the song's confessional and openly personal sentiments are representative of Midnights' overarching lyrical theme.[11] Jon Caramanica from The New York Times described the track as Swift's "villain origin story", highlighting the bridge's lyrics, "No one wanted to play with me as a little kid/ So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since/ To make them love me and make it seem effortless."[20][11] Hannah Mylrea from NME considered the cited lyrics a personal revelation that only comes to light "in the wee hours".[11] Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone considered "Mastermind" a "flip side" of Swift's "Enchanted" (2010) and highlighted the lyric, "Checkmate! I couldn't lose."[21] He said it was the appropriate "theme song" for Midnights, which he described as a concept album about Swift's "pathological lack of chill".[22] For Variety's Chris Willman, the track was also a representation of how "women historically have to go to extreme lengths to be the steerer in relationships that controlling men typically screw up".[23]

According to The A.V. Club's Saloni Gajjar, the track also makes fun of Swift's public image and dating history.[24] In a review for the Los Angeles Times, Mikael Wood wrote that in addition to being a confession of Swift's love life, "Mastermind" is also about her career maneuver from a teenage country musician to a global pop star ("I laid the groundwork/ and then just like clockwork/ the dominoes cascaded in a line").[10] For some critics, the lyrics were not meant to be taken too seriously;[25] Willman cited the lyric, "I swear, I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care", and said that Swift was both "kidding" and being "dead-serious".[23] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone thought that the said lyric demonstrated Swift's "clue-leaving ways".[26] Entertainment Weekly's Lauren Huff thought the track displayed Swift's "self-deprecating humor", similarly to her 2014 single "Blank Space".[27]

Release and reception

Swift performing "Mastermind" on the Eras Tour in 2023

Republic Records released Midnights on October 21, 2022; "Mastermind" is number 13 on the track listing and serves as standard edition's closing track.[8][28] Swift included "Mastermind" on the set list of her sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024).[29] "Mastermind" peaked within the top 20 of singles charts in Australia (12),[30] Canada (12),[31] the Philippines (13),[32] Singapore (14),[33] and Malaysia (18);[34] and further debuted in Portugal (33),[35] Vietnam (33),[36] Lithuania (51),[37] the Czech Republic (52),[38] Sweden (56),[39] Slovakia (62),[40] and Spain (80).[41] On the Billboard Global 200, all 13 tracks of the standard edition debuted inside the top-15 of the chart simultaneously; "Mastermind" was at number 13.[42] In the United States, it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[43] "Mastermind" received certifications in Australia (platinum),[44] Canada (gold),[45] and the United Kingdom (silver).[46]

Music critics gave "Mastermind" generally positive reviews, focusing on the songwriting. Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times picked "Mastermind" as an album highlight. He praised the "intricate rhythm" of the lyrics for conjecturing an "indelible picture" and, citing the lyric "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail", wrote: "Only Swift could make a self-help slogan sound like a fairy tale."[10] Caramanica also selected the track as a standout on Midnights for portraying Swift's self-observation about her image.[20] For Mylrae, the song displays Swift's songwriting at its most candid.[11] Paste's Ellen Johnston said the track was "gratifying",[47] Esquire's Alan Light complimented it as "breathtaking",[48] and Beats Per Minute described it as a "luxuriously sexual and clever song" with "striking" lyricism.[49] Light favorably compared the confessional vulnerability of "Mastermind" to the "defensive, reactive" sentiments of Swift's 2017 single "Look What You Made Me Do" and described the development between the two songs as a "breakthrough".[48]

Other critics also praised the production. In Vulture, Nate Jones highlighted the lyrics as either "parody masquerading as confession" or "confession masquerading as parody" and praised the synth production in the pre-chorus.[25] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from the Financial Times lauded Swift's vocals for switching "between cool self-possession and enraptured transport".[50] Billboard critic Jason Lipshutz ranked "Mastermind" third out of 13 Midnights album tracks. He said that the song was both "ornately constructed" and "brilliantly self-effacing".[18]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from liner notes of Midnights.[6]

  • Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriter, producer
  • Jack Antonoff – songwriter, producer, engineer, recording, drums, programming, percussion, Juno, Minimoog, electric guitars, background vocals
  • Bobby Hawk – violin
  • Evan Smith – synths, saxophone, engineer, recording
  • Michael Riddleberger – drums, engineer
  • Mikey Freedom Hart – programming, Minimoog, engineer
  • Zem Audu – saxophone, engineer, recording
  • Megan Searl – assistant engineer
  • Jon Sher – assistant engineer
  • John Rooney – assistant engineer
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – assistant mix engineer
  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
  • Laura Sisk – recording
  • Jon Gautier – recording
  • David Hart – recording

Charts

Chart performance for "Mastermind"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[30] 12
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 12
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 52
Global 200 (Billboard)[42] 13
Greece International (IFPI)[51] 23
Ireland (Billboard)[52] 13
Lithuania (AGATA)[37] 51
Malaysia International (RIM)[34] 18
Philippines (Billboard)[32] 13
Portugal (AFP)[35] 33
Singapore (RIAS)[33] 14
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] 62
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 80
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 56
Swiss Streaming (Schweizer Hitparade)[53] 60
UK (Billboard)[54] 15
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[55] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 13
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[36] 33

Certifications

Certifications for "Mastermind"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[44] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[45] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (August 29, 2022). "Taylor Swift Announces New Album Midnights: 'A Journey Through Terrors and Sweet Dreams'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (September 16, 2022). "Taylor Swift Confirms Jack Antonoff as Producer on Midnights in New Behind-the-Scenes Look". Variety. Archived from the original on September 16, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. ↑ Jones, Damian (October 7, 2022). "Taylor Swift reveals all song titles on new album Midnights". NME. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (September 23, 2022). "Taylor Swift Announces Next Midnights Song Title & It's Spicy". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  5. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (September 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift reveals first Midnights song title 'Mastermind'". Rolling Stone UK. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Midnights (liner notes). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ DeWald, Mike (October 20, 2022). "Album review: Taylor Swift strikes Midnights on her return to pop". Riff Magazine. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Swift, Taylor (October 21, 2022). "Midnights". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Chow, Andrew R.; Gutterman, Annabel (October 21, 2022). "A Close Read of Taylor Swift's 'Mastermind'". Time. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Wood, Mikael (October 21, 2022). "Out of the woods, Taylor Swift's Midnights heralds the return of a pop-music mastermind". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Mylrea, Hannah (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift – Midnights review: a shimmering return to pure pop". NME. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ Kaplan, Ilana (October 21, 2022). "Review: Midnights is Taylor Swift's darkest, most self-reflective work to date". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ "The 100 Best Taylor Swift Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ Dwyer, Matthew (November 4, 2022). "Taylor Swift's Midnights Is the Solution and the Problem". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  15. ↑ Clark, Meredith (October 28, 2022). "Taylor Swift fans reveal how they tricked their partners with 'Mastermind' trend". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  16. ↑ Washington, Jasmine (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift Reveals Joe Alwyn Relationship Origin Story in Her 'Mastermind' Song". Seventeen. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  17. ↑ Lansky, Sam (December 6, 2023). "Person of the Year 2023: Taylor Swift". Time. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Lipshutz, Jason (October 21, 2022). "Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's Midnights". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  19. ↑ Moreland, Quinn (October 24, 2022). "Taylor Swift: Midnights". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift, Caught Between Yesterday and Tomorrow on Midnights". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  21. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (October 28, 2023). "'Mastermind' (2022)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (October 21, 2022). "Welcome to the Lavender Labyrinth: Taylor Swift's Midnights Is the Mastermind's Ultimate Power Move". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Willman, Chris (December 13, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 50 Best Songs, Ranked". Variety. Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  24. ↑ Gajjar, Saloni (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift seeks to reclaim her glittering pop era in Midnights". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  25. 1 2 Jones, Nate (November 8, 2023). "All 214 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  26. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift Lets Us Into Her Darkest Dreams on Midnights". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  27. ↑ Huff, Lauren (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's Midnights: The 6 biggest takeaways from the new album". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  28. ↑ Gularte, Alejandra (October 21, 2022). "Everything We Know About Taylor Swift's Midnights". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  29. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (March 18, 2023). "Taylor Swift Eras Tour: The Full Setlist From Opening Night". Variety. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Mastermind". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  31. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  32. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  33. 1 2 "RIAS Top Charts Week 43 (21 – 27 Oct 2022)". RIAS. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  34. 1 2 "Top 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 43 (21/10/2022-27/10/2022)". RIM. November 5, 2022. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022 – via Facebook.
  35. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Mastermind". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  36. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  37. 1 2 "2022 43-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  38. 1 2 "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202243 into search. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  39. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Mastermind". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  40. 1 2 "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202243 into search. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  41. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Mastermind" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  42. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  43. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  44. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  45. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – Taylor Swift – Mastermind". Music Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  46. 1 2 "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – Mastermind". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  47. ↑ Johnson, Ellen (October 20, 2022). "Taylor Swift Deals in Dark Magic on Midnights". Paste. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  48. 1 2 Light, Alan (October 24, 2022). "Taylor Swift's Midnights Does Something Astonishing. Even For Her". Esquire. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  49. ↑ Wohlmacher, John (October 24, 2022). "Album Review: Taylor Swift – Midnights". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  50. ↑ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift: Midnights review—fourth new album in three years finds the singer flagging". Financial Times. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  51. ↑ "IFPI Charts" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Ireland Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Streaming Charts Top 100" (in German). Schweizer Hitparade. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (U.K. Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  55. ↑ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.