While Taylor Swift invited fans to “Meet [Her] at Midnight” for the release of her newest album, “Midnights,” the Campus Activities Team (CAT) invited students to a “Taylor Swift All Day Release Party” on Thursday, Oct. 20. 

“Midnights,” consisting of 13 tracks representing 13 sleepless nights, was released on Friday, Oct. 21 at midnight. Taylor Swift fans, also known as “Swifties,” came together in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center with Swift-themed activities in anticipation of the album drop that night.

Students were invited to do karaoke, paint mini canvases and enjoy refreshments. Students who came first were given “Meet Me at Midnight” canvas tote bags. Swift released different aspects of the album using this phrase, inviting fans to tune in at midnight for announcements of track names, new merchandise and the eventual release of the album. The tote bag also features a dark blue clock, one of the images Swift has been using to promote the album.

Sophomore Katie Brumbaugh, a member of CAT, organized the event. Brumbaugh has been a Swiftie since she was in first grade, when Swift’s hit single “You Belong With Me” came out. Brumbaugh explained that the canvas tote bags needed to encompass “Midnights,” even though Swift had not yet released the album when they were created and distributed.

“CAT always likes to do some sort of giveaway at events, and we try to be sustainable with them,” Brumbaugh said. “We eventually landed on the reusable tote bags, and the designs ran through our marketing department quite a few times.”

Additionally, karaoke was a big hit at the event. Students Anna Jankowski and Shannon Foley held a big stage presence, singing songs from “All Too Well” to “Holy Ground.” As Swifties, they encouraged the crowd to sing with them and turned it into one big dance party. Many other students participated in the karaoke, requesting songs of all genres, such as “Our Song” and “Style.”

“The release party was an amazing time, and it was great to meet new friends with a shared love of Taylor Swift,” Foley said. “CAT did an amazing job and I cannot wait to sport my ‘Midnights’ tote bag.” 

There was lots of chatter among Swifties about the release of “Midnights.” Although the album was not yet released during the party, fan favorites were expected to be “Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Ray)” and “Anti-Hero.” 

Swift released the album at midnight that night, and it was a hit. The album broke Spotify’s record for most streamed artist and album in a single day. Swift released a second version of the album at 3 a.m. on Oct. 21, titled “Midnights (3am Edition).” This edition includes seven additional songs. 

“There were other songs we wrote on our journey to find that magic 13,” Swift wrote in her Instagram post that announced the 3 a.m. Edition. “Lately I’ve been loving the feeling of sharing more of our creative process with you…so it’s 3 a.m. and I’m giving them to you now.” 

Foley’s favorites after listening to the album in full included “Karma” from the original version and “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” from the 3 a.m. Edition. Following the release of the 3 a.m. Edition, Swift also released a music video for “Anti-Hero” and lyric videos for all 20 songs. 

In the upcoming weeks, Swift will release an additional music video and speak on The Graham Norton Show. Fans are also awaiting a possible tour announcement. Until then, Swifties everywhere are reveling in the “honeymoon phase” of the album release.