Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights breaking records

An EFL and ESL English Lesson

Lesson Collection
A photo of the Spotify app.

Date: 25th October 2022

Level: B2 Upper-intermediate

Grammar: -ing verbs

Topics: Music, Apps & Social Media, Celebrities & People

Printables: 10-Page Lesson, Single-Page Lesson

Lesson

Text

Taylor Swift's new album Midnights breaking records

Dropping at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth release, aptly named Midnights, was already breaking worldwide records on the first day of its release.

Spotify were congratulating Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also revealing that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.

Spotify users were reporting large service outages on its platform as a result of the highly-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only causing the app to crash.

Describing the thirteen tracks on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was teaming up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.

Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by posting lyrics from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, marking the occasion with a shocked reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

Information sources (external links): news.sky.com, newsroom.spotify.com

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Warm-up activities and vocabulary

Activities:

Name some music you like to listen to that fits these categories — popular, unpopular, new, old.

Lyrics are the words in a song. Where else do you often see song lyrics written? (For example, printed on a T-shirt.)

Imagine the word app is actually an acronym, not an abbreviation. What does it stand for? (Be creative!)

Vocabulary:

1. Scan the text and find a word or phrase that means:

  • international (paragraph 1)(w...)
  • saying well done (paragraph 2)(c...)
  • entered (paragraph 3)(d...)
  • loving (paragraph 4)(r...)
  • advertising posters (paragraph 5)(b...)
Answers
  • worldwide, congratulating, dived in, romantic, billboards

2. What does the italicised word below mean — play, stop, or download?

  • causing the app to crash
Answer
  • stop

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Reading comprehension true or false

  1. The album was released at twelve noon.
  2. Midnights is Taylor Swift's thirteenth album.
  3. Taylor Swift is the most-streamed artist in a single day on Spotify.
  4. Spotify said two records were broken on the day of release.
  5. Spotify reported its busiest day ever for the platform.
  6. The Spotify app was offline for a day.
  7. The album was recorded in only thirteen days and nights.
  8. Taylor Swift changed her musical direction for this album.
  9. Spotify ran an advertising campaign on billboards.
  10. Taylor Swift posted lyrics on Instagram to mark the album’s release.
Answers
  • 1F, 2F, 3T, 4T, 5F, 6F, 7F, 8T, 9T, 10F

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Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms match-up

Match the words on the left to their endings to make phrases from the text.

  1. tenth
  2. service
  3. streaming
  4. marking
  5. aptly
  6. holds
  7. teaming
  8. the lead
  9. shocked
  10. highly-
  1. the occasion
  2. the record
  3. up to
  4. anticipated
  5. reaction
  6. app
  7. outages
  8. release
  9. up with
  10. named
Answers
  • 1H, 2G, 3F, 4A, 5J, 6B, 7I, 8C, 9E, 10D

Match the words on the left from the text to their synonyms.

  1. track
  2. apt
  3. drop
  4. lyrics
  5. dive
  1. appropriate
  2. song
  3. jump
  4. words
  5. release
Answers
  • 1B, 2A, 3E, 4D, 5C

Match the words on the left from the text to their antonyms.

  1. outage
  2. scatter
  3. lonely
  1. centre
  2. sociable
  3. connection
Answers
  • 1C, 2A, 3B

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Grammar pairs cloze: -ing verbs

  1. A. Catching / B. Dropping
  2. A. breaking / B. fixing
  3. A. congratulating / B. celebrating
  4. A. appearing / B. revealing
  5. A. downloading / B. reporting
  1. A. causing / B. deciding
  2. A. Telling / B. Describing
  3. A. making / B. teaming
  4. A. posting / B. texting
  5. A. marking / B. hitting

1._______________ at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth release, aptly named Midnights, was already 2._______________ worldwide records on the first day of its release.

Spotify were 3._______________ Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also 4._______________ that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.

Spotify users were 5._______________ large service outages on its platform as a result of the highly-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only 6._______________ the app to crash.

7._______________ the thirteen tracks on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was 8._______________ up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.

Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by 9._______________ lyrics from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, 10._______________the occasion with a shocked reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

Answers
  1. 1B, 2A, 3A, 4B, 5B, 6A, 7B, 8B, 9A, 10A

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Vocabulary gap-fill cloze

  1. revealing
  2. causing
  3. worldwide
  4. crash
  5. tracks
  1. highly
  2. lyrics
  3. terrifying
  4. release
  5. shocked

Dropping at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth 1._______________, aptly named Midnights, was already breaking 2._______________ records on the first day of its release.

Spotify were congratulating Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also 3._______________ that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.

Spotify users were reporting large service outages on its platform as a result of the 4._______________-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only 5._______________ the app to 6._______________.

Describing the thirteen 7._______________ on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, 8._______________, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was teaming up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.

Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by posting 9._______________ from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, marking the occasion with a 10._______________ reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

Answers
  1. 1I, 2C, 3A, 4F, 5B, 6D, 7E, 8H, 9G, 10J

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Writing cloze

  1. n r p g o d p i at midnight on October 20th(dr...)
  2. breaking o l i d e w r w d records on the first day(wo...)
  3. Spotify were t i n o t r a g c u l a n g Taylor Swift(co...)
  4. users were p r t o r i g n e large service outages(re...)
  5. the y i h l h g -anticipated album(hi...)
  6. fans v d i d e in at midnight(di...)
  7. this was only c a s u n g i the app to crash(ca...)
  8. r e n c i b i d g s the thirteen tracks on Midnights(de...)
  9. posting lyrics from the album on i l b r o l b s a d(bi...)
  10. with a k e s o h c d reaction, said on Instagram(sh...)
Answers
  1. DROPPING
  2. WORLDWIDE
  3. CONGRATULATING
  4. REPORTING
  5. HIGHLY
  6. DIVED
  7. CAUSING
  8. DESCRIBING
  9. BILLBOARDS
  10. SHOCKED

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Fill-in vowels

Dr_pp_ng _t m_dn_ght _n _ct_b_r 20th, T_yl_r Sw_ft’s n_w _lb_m w_s _ h_t f_r th_ str__m_ng _pp Sp_t_fy.

H_r t_nth r_l__s_, _ptly n_m_d M_dn_ghts, w_s _lr__dy br__k_ng w_rldw_d_ r_c_rds _n th_ f_rst d_y _f _ts r_l__s_.

Sp_t_fy w_r_ c_ngr_t_l_t_ng T_yl_r Sw_ft _n s_c__l m_d__ f_r b__ng th_ m_st-str__m_d _rt_st _n _ s_ngl_ d_y _n _ts pl_tf_rm.

Wh_l_ _ls_ r_v__l_ng th_t M_dn_ghts n_w h_lds th_ r_c_rd f_r _ts m_st-str__m_d _lb_m _n _ s_ngl_ d_y t__.

Sp_t_fy _s_rs w_r_ r_p_rt_ng l_rg_ s_rv_c_ __t_g_s _n _ts pl_tf_rm _s _ r_s_lt _f th_ h_ghly-_nt_c_p_t_d _lb_m.

F_ns d_v_d _n _t m_dn_ght t_ c_ns_m_ th_ n_w m_s_c, b_t f_r m_ny th_s w_s _nly c__s_ng th_ _pp t_ cr_sh.

D_scr_b_ng th_ th_rt__n tr_cks _n M_dn_ghts, Sw_ft s__d th_y _r_ _ st_ry _f th_rt__n n_ghts w_th__t m_ch sl__p.

Sh_ s__d, “L_f_ c_n b_ d_rk, st_rry, cl__dy, t_rr_fy_ng, _l_ctr_fy_ng, h_t, c_ld, r_m_nt_c _r l_n_ly. J_st l_k_ M_dn_ghts”.

Sw_ft w_s t__m_ng _p w_th r_ck s_ng_r J_ck _nt_n_ff t_ wr_t_ th_ _lb_m, h_w_v_r _t _s _nfl__nc_d m_r_ by _l_ctr_n_c_, synth-p_p, _nd h_p-h_p.

Sp_t_fy pr_m_t_d th_ l__d _p t_ th_ r_l__s_ by p_st_ng lyr_cs fr_m th_ _lb_m _n b_llb__rds sc_tt_r_d _r__nd th_ w_rld.

_ft_r th_ r_l__s_ br_k_ w_rld r_c_rds, T_yl_r Sw_ft, m_rk_ng th_ _cc_s__n w_th _ sh_ck_d r__ct__n, s__d _n _nst_gr_m, “L_k_ wh_t _v_n j_st h_pp_n_d?!”

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Cool-down discussion, game, and keywords

Discussion questions:

  • Are there any celebrities you’ve unfollowed on social media? If so, why?
  • Do you make your own playlists on music apps? Why or why not?
  • Do you like to learn English from song lyrics?
  • What was the last app you tried? Did you like it or not?
  • Do you prefer listening to individual tracks or whole albums?

How many words can you make from the letters in midnights?

CEFR B2 10 keywords revision list:

cause crash highly lyrics release reveal shock terrify track worldwide

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Interactive exercises

Reading comprehension interactive true or false

Choose the correct options from the pairs

Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights breaking records

Dropping at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth release, aptly named Midnights, was already breaking worldwide records on the first day of its release.

Spotify were congratulating Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also revealing that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.

Spotify users were reporting large service outages on its platform as a result of the highly-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only causing the app to crash.

Describing the thirteen tracks on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was teaming up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.

Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by posting lyrics from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, marking the occasion with a shocked reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

1.
The album was released at twelve noon.
2.
Midnights is Taylor Swift’s thirteenth album.
3.
Taylor Swift is the most-streamed artist in a single day on Spotify.
4.
Spotify said two records were broken on the day of release.
5.
Spotify reported its busiest day ever for the platform.
6.
The Spotify app was offline for a day.
7.
The album was recorded in only thirteen days and nights.
8.
Taylor Swift changed her musical direction for this album.
9.
Spotify ran an advertising campaign on billboards.
10.
Taylor Swift posted lyrics on Instagram to mark the album’s release.

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Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms interactive match-up

Select the correct matches from the dropdown menus

Phrases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Synonyms
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Antonyms
16.
17.
18.

lesson  |  top

Grammar pairs interactive cloze: -ing verbs

Choose the correct options from the pairs

1.
at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth release, aptly named Midnights, was already
2.
worldwide records on the first day of its release.
Spotify were
3.
Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also
4.
that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.
Spotify users were
5.
large service outages on its platform as a result of the highly-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only
6.
the app to crash.
7.
the thirteen tracks on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was
8.
up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.
Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by
9.
lyrics from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift,
10.
the occasion with a shocked reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

lesson  |  top

Vocabulary gap-fill interactive cloze

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

Dropping at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth
1.
, aptly named Midnights, was already breaking
2.
records on the first day of its release.
Spotify were congratulating Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also
3.
that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.
Spotify users were reporting large service outages on its platform as a result of the
4.
-anticipated album. Fans dived in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only
5.
the app to
6.
Describing the thirteen
7.
on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy,
8.
, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was teaming up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.
Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by posting
9.
from the album on billboards scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, marking the occasion with a
10.
reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

lesson  |  top

Interactive writing cloze

Type the words correctly in the boxes

1.
at midnight on October 20th, Taylor Swift’s new album was a hit for the streaming app Spotify. Her tenth release, aptly named Midnights, was already breaking
2.
records on the first day of its release.
Spotify were
3.
Taylor Swift on social media for being the most-streamed artist in a single day on its platform. While also revealing that Midnights now holds the record for its most-streamed album in a single day too.
Spotify users were
4.
large service outages on its platform as a result of the
5.
-anticipated album. Fans
6.
in at midnight to consume the new music, but for many this was only
7.
the app to crash.
8.
the thirteen tracks on Midnights, Swift said they are a story of thirteen nights without much sleep. She said, “Life can be dark, starry, cloudy, terrifying, electrifying, hot, cold, romantic or lonely. Just like Midnights”. Swift was teaming up with rock singer Jack Antonoff to write the album, however it is influenced more by electronica, synth-pop, and hip-hop.
Spotify promoted the lead up to the release by posting lyrics from the album on
9.
scattered around the world. After the release broke world records, Taylor Swift, marking the occasion with a
10.
reaction, said on Instagram, “Like what even just happened?!”

lesson  |  top

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