Dear Reader (song)

Last updated
"Dear Reader"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Midnights (3am Edition)
ReleasedOctober 21, 2022 (2022-10-21)
Studio
Genre
Length3:45
Label Republic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
Lyric video
"Dear Reader" on YouTube

"Dear Reader" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 21, 2022 via Republic Records as the final track from the 3am Edition of Swift's tenth studio album, Midnights . The track was written and produced by Swift and long-time album collaborator Jack Antonoff. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 37 on the Billboard Global 200.

Contents

Background

On August 28, 2022, Taylor Swift announced her tenth studio album Midnights during her acceptance speech for Video of the Year at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, scheduled to release on October 21, 2022. [1] From September 21 to October 4, 2022, Swift revealed the track list of the album via a social media series titled Midnight Mayhem, where Swift randomly selected a table tennis ball from a lottery cage with a numbered label, and revealed the track title with the corresponding number. [2]

On October 21, 2022, Midnights was released at 12:00 EDT as the fifth album released from Swift in a three-year span. At 3:00 EDT, the 3am Edition of the album was released as a surprise album. The new edition contained seven additional tracks, with "Dear Reader" being the final track. [3]

Composition and lyrics

"Dear Reader" is composed in the key of C major with a time signature of 4
4 (common-time), and follows a tempo of 108 beats per minute. [4] The track incorporates elements from synth-pop and bedroom pop, with a synthesizer serving as the primary instrument. Swift's vocals are distorted via an autotune effect. It uses the chord progression of VII–i–III(sus2)–VII(sus4)–VII–i-III. [5] The lyrics of the song focus on an advice columnist who is not to be trusted, telling the listener, or "reader," to be cautious and wary. [6]

Critical reception

The track received mainly positive reviews from critics. Callie Ahlgrim and Courteney Larocca of Insider described the track as "Swift at her most candid." [7] Andrew Butcher of The Independent finds the song to be "the perfect close to the album," stating that it "feels like Swift is fighting her overthinking late-night mind, 'You should find another guiding light, guiding light // But I shine so bright'." [8]

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Dear Reader"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [9] 35
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [10] 37
UK Singles Sales (OCC) [11] 22
UK Singles Downloads (OCC) [12] 18
UK Audio Streaming (OCC) [13] 69
US Billboard Hot 100 [14] 45

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References

  1. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (August 29, 2022). "Taylor Swift Announces New Album 'Midnights': 'A Journey Through Terrors and Sweet Dreams'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Taylor Swift Begins Revealing 'Midnights' Song Titles — Starting with 'Track 13, Because of Course'". Peoplemag. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Brandle, Lars; Brandle, Lars (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Chaotic Surprise' Is 'Midnights (3am Edition),' Featuring 7 Extra Tracks". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Key & BPM for Dear Reader by Taylor Swift | Tunebat". Tunebat. Retrieved January 26, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ "Dear Reader by Taylor Swift Chords, Melody, and Music Theory Analysis - Hooktheory". Hooktheory. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Taylor Swift – Dear Reader , retrieved January 27, 2023
  7. ↑ Larocca, Callie Ahlgrim, Courteney. "We are pleased to inform you that Taylor Swift's 8 bonus tracks for 'Midnights' contain some of her best songwriting ever". Insider. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Butcher, Andrew (October 23, 2022). "Album Review: Midnights (3am Edition) //Taylor Swift". The Indiependent. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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