Snow on the Beach
{{Short description|2022 song by Taylor Swift featuring Lana Del Rey}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Snow on the Beach
| artist = Taylor Swift featuring Lana Del Rey
| album = Midnights
| released = {{Start date|2022|10|21}}
| studio = * Rough Customer, New York City
- Electric Lady, New York City
- Henson, Hollywood
| genre = * Dream pop
| length = 4:16
3:50 ("More Lana Del Rey")
| label = Republic
| writer = * Taylor Swift
- Lana Del Rey
- Jack Antonoff
| producer = * Taylor Swift
- Jack Antonoff
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|ycE7bUq3-2k|"Snow on the Beach"}}|header=Lyric video|type=song}}
}}
"Snow on the Beach" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). It features background vocals from the American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. The two wrote the track with Jack Antonoff, who also produced the song with Swift. "Snow on the Beach" is a love song about two people falling in love with each other simultaneously. It includes a midtempo dream pop and bedroom pop production containing synths, plucked violin, and a reverbed bass.
The song was met with mixed reviews; some praised it for what they deemed a wintery production and engaging lyrics, but critics and fans alike found Del Rey's contribution underwhelming. This response influenced Swift to release a version featuring "More Lana Del Rey", as part of The Til Dawn Edition of Midnights on May 26, 2023. "Snow on the Beach" peaked at number three on the Billboard Global 200 and number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it marked Del Rey's highest-peaking song. It also reached the top ten and received certifications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Background
File:Lana Del Rey Coachella.jpg features on the track.]]
On August 28, 2022, the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift announced her tenth studio album at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards; she soon revealed the album's title, Midnights, and its cover on social networks but the track-list was not revealed.{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=August 29, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Announces New Album Midnights: 'A Journey Through Terrors and Sweet Dreams' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-1234583475/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829064007/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-1234583475/ |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022 |url-access=limited}} Swift's longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, who had worked with her since her fifth studio album 1989 (2014), was confirmed as a producer on the album by a video posted to her Instagram account on September 16, titled "The making of Midnights".{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=September 16, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Confirms Jack Antonoff As Producer on Midnights in New Behind-the-Scenes Look |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-producer-midnights-album-1235375271/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916200440/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-producer-midnights-album-1235375271/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=Variety}}
On September 21, Swift began unveiling the album's track-list in a randomized order through a short 13-episode video series on TikTok, titled Midnights Mayhem with Me.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=October 7, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals All Song Titles on New Album Midnights |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-tracklist-3314098 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923075749/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-tracklist-3314098 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=NME}} In each episode, Swift rolls a lottery cage containing 13 ping pong balls numbered from one to thirteen, each representing a track of Midnights, and when a ball drops out, she announces the title of the corresponding track on the album through a telephone.{{Cite web |last=McArdle |first=Tommy |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Begins Revealing Midnights Song Titles — Starting with 'Track 13, Because of Course' |url=https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-begins-revealing-midnights-song-titles-starting-with-track-13-because-of-course/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925063940/https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-begins-revealing-midnights-song-titles-starting-with-track-13-because-of-course/ |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2022 |website=People}}{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=September 23, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Next Midnights Song Title & It's Spicy |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-midnights-track-8-song-title-vigilante-shit-1235143475/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923075749/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-midnights-track-8-song-title-vigilante-shit-1235143475/ |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Alex |date=September 23, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Shares Song Title 'Vigilante Shit' in Midnights Tracklist Reveal Series |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-tracklist-3314098 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923075749/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-tracklist-3314098 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |website=NME}} In the final episode on October 7, Swift announced the fourth track, "Snow on the Beach", and that it features the American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, whom Swift had previously named as one of her favorite music artists.{{Cite magazine |last=Legaspi |first=Althea |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Details 'Snow on the Beach' Featuring Lana Del Rey |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lana-del-rey-details-1234609442/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012041515/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lana-del-rey-details-1234609442/ |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |url-access=limited}}
Production and lyrics
Swift, Antonoff, and Del Rey wrote "Snow on the Beach", and the first two produced the track. It was recorded by Antonoff and Laura Sisk at Rough Customer Studio in Brooklyn, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The instruments were recorded at Blue Plate Records in Haworth, New Jersey, and Pleasure Hill Recording in Portland, Maine. Serban Ghenea mixed the song at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with assistance from Bryce Bordone, and Randy Merrill mastered it at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.
{{Listen
| filename = Taylor Swift Lana Del Rey "Snow on the Beach" Sample.ogg
| pos = right
| title = "Snow on the Beach"
| description = The first verse contains plucked strings, chimes, heavily reverberated bass, and other instruments. In the lyrics, Swift discovers an unforeseen affection for someone.
| format = Ogg
}}
"Snow on the Beach" is a dream pop and bedroom pop tune that runs for 4 minutes and 16 seconds.{{Cite web |last=Conaway |first=Alaina |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Review: Taylor Swift's Midnights Is Nothing to Lose Sleep Over |url=https://cumberlink.com/entertainment/local-scene/review-taylor-swifts-midnights-is-nothing-to-lose-sleep-over/article_1935f9ee-60fb-11ed-9b59-7bf5ee6102f1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404152046/https://cumberlink.com/entertainment/local-scene/review-taylor-swifts-midnights-is-nothing-to-lose-sleep-over/article_1935f9ee-60fb-11ed-9b59-7bf5ee6102f1.html |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=The Sentinel}}{{Cite web |last1=Nugent |first1=Annabel |last2=O'Connor |first2=Roisin |last3=Whiting |first3=Amanda |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Releases Midnights: Fans and Critics Praise the Dark and Cryptic Album – As It Happened |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/taylor-swift-2023-midnights-album-grammys-b2275511.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204225723/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/taylor-swift-2023-midnights-album-grammys-b2275511.html |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=The Independent}} Its midtempo production contains twinkling synths, strummed violin,{{Cite web |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024063311/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2023 |website=Pitchfork}} chimes, and heavily reverberated bass.{{Cite web |last=Attard |first=Paul |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Midnights Review: Starkly Intimate, If Redundant |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101065707/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review/ |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |access-date=November 1, 2022 |website=Slant Magazine}} Mellisa Ruggieri of USA Today and John Wohlmacher of Beats Per Minute compared its use of bells and plucked strings to holiday music.{{Cite web |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Returns to Pop with Poetic Midnights, Her Most Deeply Personal Album Yet |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/21/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review/10553445002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108034601/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/21/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review/10553445002/ |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=USA Today}} Del Rey's vocals on the track are minimal and harmonize with Swift's. Various critics deemed the production of the track wintery,{{NoteTag|Attributed to USA Today{{'s}} Melissa Ruggieri, Slant Magazine{{'s}} Paul Attard, The New York Times{{'}} Jon Caramanica,{{Cite news |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift, Caught Between Yesterday and Tomorrow on Midnights |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/21/arts/music/taylor-swift-midnights-review.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022110127/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/21/arts/music/taylor-swift-midnights-review.html |archive-date=October 22, 2022}} Insider{{'s}} Callie Ahlgrim,{{Cite web |last1=Ahlgrim |first1=Callie |last2=Larocca |first2=Courteney |date=October 22, 2022 |title=We Regret to Inform You That Taylor Swift's Midnights Is Not Very Good |url=https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-tracklist-breakdown-2022-10 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Insider |archive-date=January 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115005313/https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-tracklist-breakdown-2022-10 |url-status=live }} The A.V. Club{{'s}} Saloni Gajjar,{{Cite web |last=Gajjar |first=Saloni |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Seeks to Reclaim Her Glittering Pop Era in Midnights |url=https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-taylor-swifts-album-midnights-1849681836 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021171240/https://www.avclub.com/a-review-of-taylor-swifts-album-midnights-1849681836 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=The A.V. Club }} and Beats Per Minute{{'s}} John Wohlmacher{{Cite web |last=Wohlmacher |first=John |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift – Midnights |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024040128/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Beats Per Minute }}}} which Melissa Ruggieri from USA Today compared to The Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town" (1985). Hannah Mylrea of NME said the song veers towards the indie folk of Swift's 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore.{{cite magazine |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift – Midnights Review: A Shimmering Return to Pure Pop |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-midnights-review-3332805 |url-status=live |magazine=NME |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021050213/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-midnights-review-3332805 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=August 30, 2023}} Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone likened "Snow on the Beach" to the Folklore track "Mirrorball", because she thought it had a similar dream pop production.{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Lets Us into Her Darkest Dreams on Midnights |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights-1234611211/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021040124/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights-1234611211/ |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=November 5, 2022 |url-access=limited}} Wohlmacher wrote that the track incorporates classical elements and believed it resembles the work of the American composers Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
Lyrically, "Snow on the Beach" is a love song about two people falling in love at the same time. On the track's meaning, Swift said that it is a "sort of in this sort of cataclysmic, fated moment where you realize someone feels exactly the same way that you feel" and she compared the rarity of love to a natural phenomenon of snowing on a beach. The first verse begins with Swift discovering that unforeseen love, which Seventeen{{'s}} Samantha Olson thought it was done in a similar way to "Long Story Short" (2020).{{Cite web |last=Benitez-Eves |first=Tina |date=November 19, 2023 |title=The Warmer Meaning Behind Taylor Swift's Midnights Track 'Snow on the Beach' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/meaning-behind-taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830045321/https://americansongwriter.com/meaning-behind-taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach/ |archive-date=August 30, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=American Songwriter}}{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Samantha |date=October 21, 2022 |title=What Do Taylor Swift's 'Snow on the Beach' Lyrics Mean? Here's Our Breakdown |url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a41738038/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lyrics-explained/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003190411/https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a41738038/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lyrics-explained/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 |access-date=September 4, 2023 |website=Seventeen}} The chorus sees her in a dream-like state and questions it when everything lines up in her new-found relationship; it is also where she is joined by Del Rey. In the second verse, Swift compares the love to something from a movie or watching the aurora borealis. The bridge sees Swift thinking that the love is too good for her and does not want to reveal it to the public. It is also where she references Janet Jackson and her song "All for You" (2001): "Now I'm all for you like Janet/ Can this be a real thing, can it?".{{Cite web |last=Gariano |first=Francesca |date=October 22, 2022 |title=Janet Jackson Reacts to Taylor Swift's Mention of Her on New Album Midnights |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/music/taylor-swift-janet-jackson-song-rcna53572 |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=Today |archive-date=December 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231226141751/https://www.today.com/popculture/music/taylor-swift-janet-jackson-song-rcna53572 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey Are All for Janet Jackson in 'Snow on the Beach' Lyric |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-lana-del-rey-janet-jackson-lyric-snow-on-the-beach-1235159176/ |access-date=December 26, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205224707/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-lana-del-rey-janet-jackson-lyric-snow-on-the-beach-1235159176/ |url-status=live }}
Release and promotion
"Snow on the Beach", along with the rest of Midnights, was released on October 22, 2022, by Republic Records. The collaboration between Swift and Del Rey was highly anticipated during the album's lead-up.{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Elise |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Review: Taylor Swift Plays Dark, Electric on Midnights |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021050627/https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f |archive-date=October 21, 2022}} When it was released, fans and journalists alike questioned the nature of Del Rey's vocal contribution to the track. They thought that Del Rey acted as more of a background vocalist for Swift,{{cite web |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024063311/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Pitchfork}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=John |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift - Midnights {{!}} Album Reviews |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031170719/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=MusicOMH}} deemed as almost indistinguishable from Swift's own vocals by some publications,{{Cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's Midnights Marks a Return to Electronic, Confessional Pop That's Worth Losing Sleep Over: Album Review |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-1235410102/ |url-status=live |magazine=Variety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021040515/https://variety.com/2022/music/album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-1235410102/ |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=October 21, 2022}} which surprised fans who expected a duet.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Hear Taylor Swift Update 'Snow on the Beach' with Extra Lana Del Rey |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lana-del-rey-midnights-deluxe-1234742442/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526164823/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-lana-del-rey-midnights-deluxe-1234742442/ |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-31 |url-access=limited}} In an interview with Billboard, Del Rey stated that she "had no idea [she] was the only feature" on the album and "would have sung the entire second verse like [Swift] wanted" if she had known, but was "more focused on the production" of the song than the vocals.{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Will |date=February 27, 2023 |title=Lana Del Rey Wishes She Had 'Sung the Entire Second Verse' on Taylor Swift's 'Snow on the Beach' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lana-del-rey-wishes-she-had-sung-the-entire-second-verse-on-taylor-swifts-snow-on-the-beach-3404998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325005710/https://www.nme.com/news/music/lana-del-rey-wishes-she-had-sung-the-entire-second-verse-on-taylor-swifts-snow-on-the-beach-3404998 |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=March 25, 2023 |website=NME}} In another interview with Harper's Bazaar, Del Rey said she was "all over" on the track: "I layer and match [Swift's] vocals perfectly". She added that the song was "perfect" and stated that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".{{Cite web |last=Geraghty |first=Hollie |date=November 22, 2023 |title=Lana Del Rey Says She's 'All Over' the First Version of Taylor Swift's 'Snow on the Beach' |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/lana-del-rey-says-shes-all-over-first-version-of-taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-3547126 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204064306/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/lana-del-rey-says-shes-all-over-first-version-of-taylor-swift-snow-on-the-beach-3547126 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=December 26, 2023 |website=NME}}
In response to the reception of the track,{{Cite web |last=Zhan |first=Jennifer |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Turned Up Lana Del Rey's Mic |url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/05/taylor-swift-lana-del-rey-new-snow-on-the-beach.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526045322/https://www.vulture.com/2023/05/taylor-swift-lana-del-rey-new-snow-on-the-beach.html |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Vulture}} a version of the song featuring "More Lana Del Rey" was released as part of The Til Dawn Edition of Midnights on May 26, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnights-the-til-dawn-edition/1689131527 |access-date=September 3, 2023 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526042600/https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnights-the-til-dawn-edition/1689131527 |url-status=live }} The "More Lana" version is 3 minutes and 50 seconds, and on it, Del Rey sings the entire second verse.{{Cite web |last=Dresdale |first=Andrea |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift's Midnights (Til Dawn Edition) Album, Including Remix with Ice Spice, Is Here |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/taylor-swifts-midnights-til-dawn-edition-album-including-99628156 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901020422/https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/taylor-swifts-midnights-til-dawn-edition-album-including-99628156 |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Good Morning America}} After Midnights was released, Swift embarked on her sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour in March 2023, and it contained a segment of "surprise songs" where she performs random songs from her discography. Swift sang "Snow on the Beach" as a "surprise song" at the first show in Las Vegas (March 24) and at the second show in Mexico City (August 25).{{Cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=August 28, 2023 |title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on the Eras Tour (So Far) |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023}} On May 29, 2024, she performed it as part of a mashup with her song "I Look in People's Windows" (2024) at the first Madrid show of the Eras Tour.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Katie Louise |date=May 30, 2024 |title=Here's Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530154704/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |access-date=May 31, 2024 |publisher=Capital FM}} An instrumental strings version of the track was used in the third season of the American romance series Bridgerton, released in May 2024.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Dessi |date=2024-05-16 |title=Here Are All The String Covers In 'Bridgerton' Season 3 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/bridgerton-season-3-soundtrack-string-covers-1235918099/ |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=January 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102170350/https://deadline.com/2024/06/bridgerton-season-3-soundtrack-string-covers-1235918099/ |url-status=live }}
Commercial performance
In its first day of release, "Snow on the Beach" received over 15.03 million streams on Spotify globally, becoming the day's third-most streamed song behind fellow Midnights tracks "Anti-Hero" and "Lavender Haze".{{Cite web |title=Spotify Charts |url=https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-daily/2022-10-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023004325/https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-daily/2022-10-21 |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website= |publisher=Spotify}} The song debuted and peaked at number three on the Billboard Global 200 with first-week figures of 84.3 million streams and 4,700 downloads.{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Anti-Hero' Debuts Atop Both Billboard Global Charts |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-anti-hero-debut-billboard-global-charts-1235163784/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031184411/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-anti-hero-debut-billboard-global-charts-1235163784/ |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |access-date=March 25, 2023}}
In the United States, "Snow on the Beach" opened and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, with 37.2 million streams, 2,600 digital downloads, and 615,000 airplay impressions.{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Makes History as First Artist with Entire Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Anti-Hero' at No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |publisher= |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-all-hot-100-top-10-anti-hero-1235163664/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031172231/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-all-hot-100-top-10-anti-hero-1235163664/ |archive-date=October 31, 2022}} The song and nine other Midnights tracks made Swift the first and only artist to occupy the entire top 10 of the Hot 100 at the same time. It also marked Del Rey's first top five entry on the chart and her second top-10 entry after "Summertime Sadness" (2012). After the release of The Til Dawn Edition of Midnights, "Snow on the Beach" re-entered the Hot 100 at number 30.{{Cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Scores Record-Extending 68th Week at No. 1 on Artist 100 Thanks to Midnights Deluxe Releases |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-number-one-artist-100-chart-record-68th-week-1235346811/ |access-date=December 27, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} "Snow on the Beach" spent eight weeks on the chart. Although not an official single, "Snow on the Beach" spent nine weeks on Adult Alternative Airplay and peaked at number 30.
Elsewhere, the song reached the top 10 on national charts: it peaked at number two in Malaysia and Singapore; number three in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the Philippines; number four in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam; number nine in Portugal; and number ten in Croatia. "Snow on the Beach" received certifications in Australia (double platinum), Canada (platinum), Mexico (gold), New Zealand (gold), Portugal (gold), Spain (gold), and the United Kingdom (gold).
Critical reception
In reviews of Midnights, "Snow on the Beach" received mixed reviews from critics. Those who were more positive of the song praised its lyrics and production. Ruggieri praised the song's "aching beauty and inherent melancholy". Mike DeWald of Riff Magazine deemed the track's production "ethereal"{{Cite web |last=DeWald |first=Mike |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift Strikes Midnights on Her Return to Pop |url=https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115101204/https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |website=Riff Magazine}} and Paul Attard of Slant Magazine lauded the "exquisite" composition. Rolling Stone{{'s}} Rob Sheffield called the track a "gorgeous ballad".{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Welcome to the Lavender Labyrinth: Taylor Swift's Midnights Is the Mastermind's Ultimate Power Move |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-midnights-sheffield-1234615239/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022185255/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-midnights-sheffield-1234615239/ |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |access-date=October 23, 2022 |url-access=limited}} Chris Willman of Variety and John Murphy of MusicOMH noted the minimal vocals from Del Rey, but nonetheless praised her contributions. Under the Radar{{'s}} Andy Von Pop described "Snow on the Beach" as a "beautiful love song" and opined that the subtlety of the track is more sophisticated than works by Swift's peers.{{Cite web |last=Pip |first=Andy Von |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/midnights_taylor_swift |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027173653/https://undertheradarmag.com/reviews/midnights_taylor_swift |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Under the Radar}} Gigwise{{'s}} Lucy Harbron directed acclaim towards the "heavenly harmonies" and the lyrics in its "deepest, rawest form".{{Cite web |last=Harbron |first=Lucy |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift – Midnights |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3427392/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021084607/https://gigwise.com/reviews/3427392/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Gigwise}} Likewise, Mikael Wood for the Los Angeles Times deemed the song's imagery the album's most affecting.{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Michael |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Out of the Woods, Taylor Swift's Midnights Heralds the Return of a Pop-Music Mastermind |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-20/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021040329/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-20/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review |archive-date=October 21, 2022}} The Daily Telegraph{{'s}} Neil McCormick described the song as "sonically adventurous".{{cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |date=October 21, 2022 |title=On Midnights, Taylor Swift Kisses Goodbye to the Charts |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-pop-queen-kisses-goodbye/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221021055050/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-pop-queen-kisses-goodbye/ |archive-date=October 21, 2022}} Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic cited the song as an example of Antonoff's musical style that does not make Midnights a repetitive album.{{Cite magazine |last=Kornhaber |first=Spencer |date=December 27, 2022 |title=Don't Blame a Man for Midnights |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/10/taylor-swift-midnights-jack-antonoff-criticism/671911/ |url-status=live |magazine=The Atlantic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205112816/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2022/10/taylor-swift-midnights-jack-antonoff-criticism/671911/ |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |url-access=limited}} John Wohlmacher of Beats Per Minute wrote that Del Rey's vocals added a "subtle shade of melancholia" to contrast the happiness of the lyrics.
Critics deemed Del Rey's contribution on "Snow on the Beach" underwhelming{{NoteTag|Attributed to The Observer{{'s}} Kitty Empire,{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |author-link=Kitty Empire |date=October 23, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights review – Poised Between Self-Flagellation and Pure Bliss |newspaper=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/23/taylor-swift-midnights-review-poised-between-self-flagellation-and-pure-bliss |url-status=live |access-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023080953/https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/23/taylor-swift-midnights-review-poised-between-self-flagellation-and-pure-bliss |archive-date=October 23, 2022}} Clash{{'s}} Neale Matthew,{{Cite magazine |last=Matthew |first=Neale |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift – Midnights |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live |magazine=Clash |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027104944/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |access-date=October 24, 2022}} and Insider{{'s}} Callie Ahlgrim and Courtney Larocca}}—Spanos named the song "the only true disappointment" on Midnights because she thought it was not a "true duet" between Swift and Del Rey. In a more complimentive review, The Guardian music journalist Alexis Petridis said it was far from a "grandstanding summit" between them but nonetheless applauded their "restrained" collaboration and thought it was "beautifully done".{{cite news |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights Review – Small-Hours Pop Rich with Self-Loathing and Stereotype-Smashing |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/21/taylor-swift-midnights-review-small-hours-pop-rich-with-self-loathing-and-stereotype-smashing |url-status=live |access-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022001540/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/21/taylor-swift-midnights-review-small-hours-pop-rich-with-self-loathing-and-stereotype-smashing |archive-date=October 22, 2022}} Though acknowledging the song as "poetic" and "pretty", the Associated Press' Elise Ryan wrote that the emotional depth of the song did not live up to Swift and Del Rey's potential. Rick Quinn of PopMatters praised the "quiet beauty and arresting imagery" of the track, but nonetheless opined that it leaves the listener wanting more from the collaboration.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Rick |date=November 2, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights (Album Review) |url=https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-midnights-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104152354/https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-midnights-review |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=PopMatters}} Some aspects of the production also received mixed reviews: Jon Caramanica for The New York Times commended Del Rey's vocals on the track, but believed that Swift's vocals were too "cheery" for the track to ascend, and Insider{{'s}} Callie Ahlgrim and Courteney Larocca thought the production was unnecessarily wintry and regarded the track as "background music". The A.V. Club{{'s}} Saloni Gajjar labeled "Snow on the Beach" one of Midnights{{'}} "glaring misfits".
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Midnights.{{cite AV media notes |title=Midnights |type=liner notes |others=Taylor Swift |year=2022 |publisher=Republic Records}}
{{div col}}
- Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriter, producer
- Lana Del Rey – vocals, songwriter
- Jack Antonoff – songwriter, producer, engineer, synths, drums, programming, percussion, Juno 6, mellotron, acoustic, bass, and electric guitars, background vocals
- Bobby Hawk – violin
- Dylan O'Brien – drums
- Evan Smith – engineer, synths, recording
- Laura Sisk – engineer, recording
- Dave Gross – engineer, recording
- Megan Searl – assistant engineer
- Jon Sher – assistant engineer
- John Rooney – assistant engineer
- Jacob Spitzer – assistant engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mix engineer
- Bryce Bordone – assistant mix engineer
- Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
{{div col end}}
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Snow on the Beach"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|title=Snow on the Beach|artist=Taylor Swift feat. Lana Del Rey|access-date=June 14, 2024|refname="ARIA23-2"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Snow on the Beach|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=July 22, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Snow on the Beach|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|access-date=January 19, 2023|refname=mc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|title=Snow on the Beach|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|access-date=September 4, 2023|refname="amprofon"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Taylor Swift feat. Lana Del Rey|title=Snow on the Beach|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|refname="rmnz"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Snow on the Beach|award=Gold|relyear=2023|certyear=2023|id=file_2023-08-11-15-58-12.pdf|access-date=August 20, 2023|refname=afp}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|title=Snow on the Beach|artist=Taylor Swift Ft Lana Del Rey|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|id=taylor-swift-lana-del-rey-snow-on-the-beach|access-date=April 1, 2024|refname=promusicae}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Snow on the Beach|artist=Taylor Swift Ft Lana Del Rey|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|id=18744-6253-1|access-date=January 27, 2024|refname=bpi}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
Footnotes
{{notefoot}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{Lana Del Rey songs}}
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Songs written by Lana Del Rey
Category:Songs written by Jack Antonoff
Category:Song recordings produced by Taylor Swift