Karma (Taylor Swift song)
"Karma" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff, Sounwave, and Keanu Beats, while Jahaan Sweet co-produced it. Republic Records released the song to US radio on May 1, 2023, as the third single from Midnights. A remix featuring the American rapper Ice Spice was released on May 26, 2023, as part of an extended Midnights edition.
"Karma"
May 1, 2023
- Rough Customer (Brooklyn)
- Electric Lady (New York City)
- Henson (Los Angeles)
3:24
3:22 (Ice Spice remix)
- Taylor Swift
- Jack Antonoff
- Sounwave
- Jahaan Sweet
- Keanu Beats[a]
- Taylor Swift
- Jack Antonoff
- Sounwave
- Keanu Beats
In the lyrics of "Karma", Swift proclaims how her "good karma" brought her good things in life, as opposed to her detractors. Musically, the song combines chillwave, disco, electroclash, and synth-pop with elements of techno, alternative pop, and new wave. Its production is characterized by glossy beats and quivering synthesizers. Contemporary critics regarded "Karma" as a highlight on Midnights, praising its bright production, melody, and zany lyricism.
"Karma" peaked at number six on the Billboard Global 200 and charted in the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the Philippines. In the United States, it peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Swift's record-tying 10th and 11th number-one singles on the Adult Top 40 and Pop Airplay charts, respectively. The music video for "Karma" premiered on May 26, 2023, at her sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024), in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and was released to YouTube the following day. The high fantasy video, written and directed by Swift, features her and Ice Spice as cosmic, celestial entities. "Karma" was included on the set list of the Eras Tour as the closing song. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the remix received a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Composition[edit]
"Karma" is three minutes and 24 seconds long.[22] It is an upbeat, synth-heavy,[23] disco,[24] electroclash,[25] synth-pop,[26] and chillwave[27] song. Lyrically, it is a "diss track"[28] with comical tones.[29] The playful track incorporates warm beats, warbled synths, and elements of new wave, alternative pop, and techno.[30][31][32] In the lyrics, a narrator talks about her "good karma" that brought her good things in life.[33][34] She does not seek revenge on her enemies and instead lets the universe takes its course; while karma makes her detractors suffer for their wrongdoings, it bolsters her for her good deeds.[35] In an interview with Apple Music, Swift said she wrote "Karma" from "a perspective of feeling really happy, really proud of the way your life is, feeling like this must be a reward for doing stuff right".[36] The remix features Ice Spice in a new second verse and interjections throughout the song.[37] In the new verse, Ice Spice raps about the destructive but also rewarding potential of karma.
"Karma" was written by Swift, Jack Antonoff, Mark Anthony Spears, Keanu Torres and Jahaan Akil Sweet. The song is set in common time with a tempo of 90 beats per minute, and is set in the key of E♭ major.[38]
Critical reception[edit]
Rolling Stone named it the fourth best song of 2022; they called it an "album-defining hit" that combines Swift's "mastermind" lyrics and the "sleekest, most flexible" production.[39] John Wohlmacher of Beats Per Minute hailed "Karma" as an "immediate masterpiece" and lauded the "bright and colorful" music.[27] American Songwriter listed it as one of the 24 best songs of 2022, and called it the "sleeper hit" of Midnights; praise was directed towards Swift's lyrical approach, the "effervescent" chorus, and Antonoff's production.[40] Rania Aniftos of Billboard praised the song's "carefree and anthemic" chorus.[41] In a mixed review of the remix, Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork opined that the collaboration was a "clash of sensibilities" that diminished the appeal of the original version. He found that Ice Spice's delivery lacked the "velocity" of her previous remixes.[42] In contrast, Billboard[43] and USA Today named the remix one of the best songs of 2023.[44]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Midnights.[22]