Vigilante Shit
{{Short description|2022 song by Taylor Swift}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Vigilante Shit
| type = song
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Midnights
| released = October 21, 2022
| genre = * Dark pop
| studio = * Rough Customer (Brooklyn)
- Electric Lady (New York)
| length = 2:44
| label = Republic
| writer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|Uoey4W_3bos|"Vigilante Shit"}}|header=Lyric video|type=song}}
}}
"Vigilante Shit" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her tenth studio album Midnights (2022). Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, the track is a dark pop and trip hop tune with elements of industrial and hip hop. Its minimalistic production is driven by trap beats composed of pulsing snare drums and light bass and electronic tones. The lyrics are about a noirish vengeance declaration, taking aim at an enemy and encouraging other women to do the same.
Critics praised "Vigilante Shit" for its dark, minimalist production; several reviewers described its theme of vengeance and its hip hop-influenced production as a more sophisticated continuation of Swift's Reputation (2017). In the United States, the song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100; it additionally entered the Global 200 at number nine and reached the top 10 on music charts in Australia, Canada, Greece, and the Philippines. It was included on the set list of Swift's sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024).
Background and release
File:Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Midnights Era Set (53110003175).jpg (2023)]]
On August 28, 2022, Swift announced her tenth studio album, Midnights, set for release on October 21, 2022. The track-list was not immediately revealed.{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=2022-08-29 |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/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829064007/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-1234583475/ |url-status=live }} Jack Antonoff, a longtime collaborator of Swift who had worked with her since 1989 (2014), was confirmed as a producer on Midnights by a video posted to Swift's Instagram account on September 16, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2022-09-16 |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/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Variety |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916200440/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-producer-midnights-album-1235375271/ |url-status=live }} On September 21, 2022, Swift began unveiling the track-list in a randomized order through her 13-episode short video series on TikTok, called 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 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |website=NME |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923075749/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-midnights-album-tracklist-3314098 |url-status=live }} In each episode, Swift rolls a lottery cage containing 13 ping pong balls numbered from one to thirteen,{{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}} each representing a track of Midnights, and when a ball drops out, she disclosed 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 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 second episode, released on September 23, 2022, Swift announced "Vigilante Shit" would be track eight.{{cite news |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Taylor Swift Has A New Song Titled "Vigilante Shit" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2200500/taylor-swift-has-a-new-song-titled-vigilante-shit/news/ |access-date=31 December 2022 |publisher=Stereogum |date=September 23, 2022 |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930083540/https://www.stereogum.com/2200500/taylor-swift-has-a-new-song-titled-vigilante-shit/news/ |url-status=live }} The song, along with the rest of Midnights, was released on October 21, 2022, under Republic Records.{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New Album Midnights: Listen and Read the Full Credits |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-new-album-midnights-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022235235/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-new-album-midnights-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/ |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website=Pitchfork}}{{Cite web |last=Moreland |first=Quinn |title=Taylor Swift: Midnights |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024063311/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live }}
"Vigilante Shit" was included on the set list of Swift's sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–24), as part of the Midnights act.{{Cite web |last1=Procell |first1=Carlie |last2=Bravo |first2=Veronica |date=March 31, 2023 |title=Visualizing Taylor Swift Eras Tour's epic 44-song set list and tracking its surprises |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2023/03/30/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-breakdown/11510779002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430105941/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2023/03/30/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-breakdown/11510779002/ |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |access-date=April 5, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-us}} The performance is a burlesque chair dance{{Cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=March 18, 2023 |title=The 13 Best Moments From Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Kickoff |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swifts-eras-tour-best-moments-review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318150337/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swifts-eras-tour-best-moments-review/ |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |issn=0006-2510}} that resembles 1975 musical Chicago;{{Cite news |last=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=March 18, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift rewards fans with 44 songs at Eras Tour opener: Inside her triumphant return |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/18/taylor-swift-kicks-off-eras-tour-arizona-44-song-set/11490795002/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318175202/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/18/taylor-swift-kicks-off-eras-tour-arizona-44-song-set/11490795002/ |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |issn=0734-7456}} the performance went viral on social media{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Grace |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Made Her Dance Moves Even Steamier During 'Vigilante S—t' on 'The Eras Tour' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-made-her-dance-110823356.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822170523/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-made-her-dance-110823356.html |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website= |publisher=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}} and critics highlighted it as a standout moment of the concert.
Composition and lyrics
"Vigilante Shit" is a dark pop and trip hop{{Cite news |last=Shepherd |first=Fiona |date=October 29, 2022 |title=Strings Attached: Album Reviews |work=The Scotsman |page=20 |id={{ProQuest|2729620307}}}} tune produced by Swift and Antonoff; it is the only track from the standard version of Midnights that Swift wrote alone.{{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=October 21, 2022 |url-access=limited}}{{Cite web |last=Waiwiri-Smith |first=Lyric |date=2022-10-21 |title=Midnights: Taylor Swift makes musical magic with new album |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/album-reviews/300718597/midnights-taylor-swift-makes-musical-magic-with-new-album |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Stuff |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210175916/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/album-reviews/300718597/midnights-taylor-swift-makes-musical-magic-with-new-album |url-status=live }} At two minutes and 44 seconds, it is the shortest track on the album's standard edition.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Midnights (3am Edition) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnights-3am-edition/1650841512 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027075143/https://music.apple.com/us/album/midnights-3am-edition/1650841512 |url-status=live }} The song is set in the key of A minor with a moderately slow tempo of 80 beats per minute.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Vigilante **** |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0263890 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901025035/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0263890 |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=Musicnotes |language=en}} Swift's vocals span from F3 to A4.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Vigilante **** |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0264665 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901025938/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0264665 |archive-date=September 1, 2023 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=Musicnotes |language=en}} The minimalist production is built on a trap beat consisting of pulsing snare drums and light bass and electronic tones.{{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=August 21, 2023 |website=Slant Magazine}}{{Cite web |last=Curto |first=Justin |date=2022-10-21 |title='Vigilante Shit' Is Taylor Swift's Mic Drop to the Scooter Braun Drama |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/taylor-swift-vigilante-shit-scooter-braun.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031171309/https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/taylor-swift-vigilante-shit-scooter-braun.html |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=Vulture}}{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift review, Midnights: Her darkest and most cryptic album yet |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-midnights-lyrics-b2207166.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021092547/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-midnights-lyrics-b2207166.html |archive-date=October 21, 2022}}{{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}} It incorporates swirling synths and elements of industrial and hip hop.{{Cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-midnights-album-songs-ranked/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021040336/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-midnights-album-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |access-date=October 23, 2022}}{{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=October 23, 2022}} Writing for The Independent, Helen Brown described "Vigilante Shit" as a noirish rap, while The New York Times{{'}} Jon Caramanica called it an "electro-cabaret exhale."{{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=August 21, 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}} USA Today{{'s}} Melissa Ruggieri said that the song's "minor chords and theatrical chorus provide the noir ambiance".{{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/ |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108034601/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/10/21/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review/10553445002/ |url-status=live }} Other critics compared the moody production to that of Lorde's Pure Heroine (2013){{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=August 21, 2023 |url-access=limited}} and Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019).{{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=October 21, 2022}}{{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=October 24, 2022 |website=Pitchfork}}
Lyrically, "Vigilante Shit" is a revenge fantasy told by a sneering narrator who recruits her lover's ex-wife to join the narrator's plot.{{Cite web |last=Bilmes |first=Alex |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' Is an Instant Classic |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a41711408/taylor-swift-midnights-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028203544/https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a41711408/taylor-swift-midnights-review/ |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Esquire |language=en-GB}} The lyrics describe an envelope handed to an ex-wife who is now driving her ex-lover's Mercedes-Benz.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Helen |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift review, Midnights: Her darkest and most cryptic album yet |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-midnights-lyrics-b2207166.html |url-status=live |url-access= |access-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021092547/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-midnights-lyrics-b2207166.html |archive-date=October 21, 2022}} The song's final verse concludes referencing the antagonist's cocaine use: "While he was doing lines / And crossing all of mine / Someone told his white collar crimes to the FBI." Some music critics theorized that the lyrics were a reference to either Swift's feuds with rapper Kanye West{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |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=August 21, 2023 |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}} or talent manager Scooter Braun, whose purchase of the masters for her first six albums created a highly publicized dispute.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Wilson (writer) |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's Midnights Is the Right Kind of Concept Album |url=https://slate.com/culture/2022/10/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-3am-lyrics.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021170235/https://slate.com/culture/2022/10/taylor-swift-midnights-album-review-3am-lyrics.html |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |accessdate=August 21, 2023 |magazine=Slate}}{{Cite news |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato latest to split from manager Scooter Braun |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/22/ariana-grande-and-demi-lovato-latest-to-split-from-manager-scooter-braun |access-date=August 22, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822160723/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/aug/22/ariana-grande-and-demi-lovato-latest-to-split-from-manager-scooter-braun |url-status=live }} "Vigilante Shit" was described as a more direct response to the dispute, building on her previous songs "My Tears Ricochet" and "Mad Woman", both from Folklore (2020).{{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}}{{Cite web |last=Curto |first=Justin |date=October 21, 2022 |title='Vigilante Shit' Is Taylor Swift's Mic Drop to the Scooter Braun Drama |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/taylor-swift-vigilante-shit-scooter-braun.html |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=Vulture |language=en-us |archive-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031171309/https://www.vulture.com/2022/10/taylor-swift-vigilante-shit-scooter-braun.html |url-status=live }} Various critics drew lyrical parallels to Swift's sixth studio album, Reputation (2017), which focused heavily on scrutiny directed towards Swift and public feuds with figures like West.{{efn|Attributed to Billboard{{'s}} Jason Lipshutz, Vulture{{'s}} Justin Curto, Clash{{'s}}, Matthew Neale,{{Cite web |last=Neale |first=Matthew |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift – 'Midnights' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027104944/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-midnights/ |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Clash |language=en-GB}} PopMatters{{'}} Rick Quinn,{{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}} The Observer{{'s}} Kitty Empire,{{Cite news |last=Empire |first=Kitty |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}} and Slate Magazine{{'s}} Paul Attard{{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}}}}
Critical reception
In reviews of Midnights, critics praised the vengeful lyrics and production of "Vigilante Shit". Variety{{'s}} Chris Willman lauded the track's production and lyrics, predicting it would be the album's "most talked-about song." Clash{{'s}} Mattew Neale called the track "utterly irresistible." Along with "Karma", "Vigilante Shit" was praised by Rolling Stone{{'s}} Brittany Spanos and The Guardian{{'s}} Alexis Petridis for creating an intriguing energy on Midnights. Both American Songwriter{{'s}} Alex Hopper and PopMatters
In a warm review of Midnights published in The New York Times, Jon Caramanica considered the song as the album's high point, describing Swift's self-characterization as "funny, wry, [and] slightly perturbing." Paul Attard of Slant praised the song's extreme but reserved approach towards the theme of vengeance, particularly directing acclaim towards its production. Justin Curto, writing for Vulture, called "Vigilante Shit" Swift's "venomous best." Curto highlighted Swift's wordplay and confidence on the track as powerful and an improvement from the thematically similar Reputation (2017). In his ranking of the standard edition of Midnights, Billboard{{'s}} Jason Lipshultz named "Vigilante Shit" the album's second-best track, directing acclaim towards its "stripped-down [...] cutthroat approach" towards years of built-up anger.
In Pitchfork{{'s}} review of Midnights, Quinn Moreland was less positive, claiming Swift's "edginess" was less convincing than her previous work. Carl Wilson, writing for Slate, felt "Vigilante Shit" was a disposable track but also was a more sophisticated take than similar vengeance songs in her previous albums.
Commercial performance
Globally, "Vigilante Shit" received over 11.8 million streams on Spotify in its first 24 hours, becoming the seventh-most streamed song on that day, following six other songs from Midnights.{{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=December 31, 2022 |website= |publisher=Spotify}} It debuted and peaked at number nine on the Spotify Weekly Top Songs chart,{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2022 |title=Spotify Charts |url=https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-weekly/2022-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028135602/https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-weekly/2022-10-27 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website= |publisher=Spotify |language=en}} where it charted for six weeks.{{Cite web |title=Spotify Charts |url=https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-weekly/2022-12-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202163400/https://charts.spotify.com/charts/view/regional-global-weekly/2022-12-01 |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=December 31, 2022 |website= |publisher=Spotify}}
Upon the release of Midnights, 10 of its tracks debuted in the top 10 of the United States' Billboard Hot 100, making Swift the first and only artist to occupy the entire top 10 of the Hot 100.{{cite news |last1=Rowley |first1=Glenn |date=October 31, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift Is 'IN SHAMBLES' Over 'Midnights' Dominating the Hot 100 Top 10 |publisher=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-midnights-hot-100-top-ten-record-reaction-1235163920/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214103004/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-midnights-hot-100-top-ten-record-reaction-1235163920/ |archive-date=December 14, 2022}} "Vigilante Shit" opened at number 10, accumulating 32.2 million streams, 6,400 digital downloads, and 424,000 airplay impressions.{{cite news |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 |publisher=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-all-hot-100-top-10-anti-hero-1235163664/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 December 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}} "Vigilante Shit" spent six weeks on the Hot 100. It also charted at number seven on the international singles chart in Greece; nine on the Billboard Global 200, Canada, and the Philippines; and number 10 in Australia and Malaysia. It peaked within the top 25 of singles charts in Portugal, Iceland, Vietnam, Luxembourg, and South Africa; and on the international singles chart in India. The song received certifications from Australia (platinum), Canada (gold), and the United Kingdom (silver).
Credits and 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}}
;Recording
- Recorded at Rough Customer Studio, Brooklyn and Electric Lady Studios, New York City
- Mixed at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach
- Mastered at Sterling Sound, Edgewater, New Jersey
- Evan Smith's performance was recorded by herself at Pleasure Hill Recording, Portland, Maine
- Dominik Rivinius' performance was recorded by Ken Lewis at Neon Wave Studio, Pirmasens, Germany
;
;Personnel
- Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriting, production
- Jack Antonoff – production, engineering, programming, synths, percussion, juno 6, wurlitzer, Moog, recording
- Evan Smith – engineering, synths
- Dominik Rivinius – drums
- Laura Sisk – engineering, recording
- Ken Lewis – engineering
- Megan Searl – assistant engineering
- John Sher – assistant engineering
- John Rooney – assistant engineering
- Jonathan Garcia – assistant engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – assistant mixing
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
{{clear}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Vigilante Shit"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|access-date=September 13, 2023|refname="aria"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Vigilante Shit|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|access-date=July 22, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Vigilante Shit|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2022|certyear=2022|access-date=December 31, 2022|refname="musiccanada"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Vigilante Shit|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|relyear=2022|certyear=2024|refname="RMNZ"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Vigilante Shit|award=Silver|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|id=19182-1598-1|access-date=September 15, 2023|refname="bpi"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Taylor Swift