Call It What You Want (Taylor Swift song)

Last updated

"Call It What You Want"
Taylor Swift - Call It What You Want.jpg
Promotional graphic for the song
Promotional single by Taylor Swift
from the album Reputation
ReleasedNovember 3, 2017 (2017-11-03)
Studio Rough Customer (Brooklyn Heights)
Genre
Length3:24
Label Big Machine
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
Lyric video
"Call It What You Want" on YouTube

"Call It What You Want" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). Big Machine Records released the song for download and streaming on November 3, 2017. Swift wrote and produced "Call It What You Want" with Jack Antonoff, and the track is a mid-tempo electropop and synth-pop song with R&B-trap crossover elements. Its lyrics are about the transformative power of a romantic relationship that helps Swift cope with the tumultuous outer world.

Contents

Music critics received "Call It What You Want" with positive reviews; they praised its vulnerability and intimacy in its songwriting and production. The song peaked at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 50 on singles charts in Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Swift included the track in the set list of her Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018.

Background

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, 1989 , in October 2014. It was a synth-pop record that transformed her image from a country artist to a pop star. [1] [2] The album received wide commercial success, reaching one million copies within one year and producing three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles. [3] During its promotion, Swift was targeted by the tabloid media; her image as "America's Sweetheart", a result of her being wholesome and innocent, disappeared from publicized short-lived relationships and disputes with other celebrities. [4] [5] [6] Swift therefore became increasingly silent on social media and avoided the press during tumultuous affairs. [7] Her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017), was conceived as a message to the media commotion surrounding her as a celebrity. [8]

Composition

"Call It What You Want" was engineered by Laura Sisk at Rough Customer Studio in Brooklyn Heights. It was mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound Studios in New York. [9] "Call It What You Want" is an atmospheric, mid-tempo electropop [10] and synth-pop song [11] with a crossover R&B-trap inclination. [12] Jack Antonoff revealed on Twitter that "Call It What You Want" was "made with an MPC, live kick, dx7 strings and samples of Taylor's voice as the intro and throughout. Making her voice into an instrument." He also added that he was "honored to have 'Call It What You Want' out in the world. That song means a great deal to me", and recommend fans to "listen on headphones at night on a walk". [13] "Call It What You Want" also features Swift rapping. [14] It follows a chord progression of D – A – E – D/F – Fm7, and Swift's vocals span from E3 to C5. [15]

Release and commercial performance

"Call It What You Want" was released on November 3, 2017. [16] The song debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart with 68,000 digital copies. Swift became the first artist to have 15 entries reach the latter's summit and extended her record with most debuts at number one on the chart with 14. It is also the fourth Reputation track to top the chart after "Look What You Made Me Do", "...Ready for It?", and "Gorgeous". [17] In March 2018, the song received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [18]

"Call It What You Want" peaked at number 16 in Australia and was certified gold. [19] [20] It reached number 29 in the United Kingdom and received a silver certification. [21] [22] Elsewhere, "Call It What You Want" debuted on the charts of several countries: it peaked within the top 50 of Hungary (5), [23] Malaysia (13), [24] the Philippines (27), [25] New Zealand (34), [26] Austria (43), [27] and Ireland (44), [28] and further reached Portugal, France, Switzerland, and Germany. [note 1]

Critical reception

The song received critical acclaim. The song was named the 20th best song of 2017 by Rolling Stone . [11] According to Entertainment Weekly , the song, in which Swift says she is "doing better than [she] ever was" and details her romantic life, was well received by her fan base. [29] Frank Guan of Vulture stated that the song "deals in gossamer and light; its spare, airy production evokes, or attempts to evoke, a sense of radiant, protective romance in the wake of a devastating social debacle; listeners ready to view that loss as the one she suffered last year at the hands of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West will meet no resistance." [30] USA Today gave it a positive review, saying it was more subdued than her other recent singles, and "the most perceptive and unabashedly romantic song of the singer's new era", and "surprisingly effective and grown-up". [31] Complex Magazine had the opinion that the song was the first single pre-released from her album that was not "distressing", as "Call It What You Want" is "actually good," and also dropped the "revenge narrative to great effect." [32] Spin Magazine gave it a similar review, saying it was much better than her other recent material. [33]

Live performances

Swift performed an acoustic version of "Call It What You Want" during a SiriusXM Fishbowl session on November 10, 2017. [34] A day later, Swift performed an acoustic version of the song again during an episode of the 43rd season of Saturday Night Live , alongside "...Ready for It?". [35] The song was part on the regular set list of her fifth concert tour, the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018). [36] Swift performed "Call It What You Want" as a "surprise song" as part of the Eras Tour (2023–2024) during multiple occasions. [37]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Reputation. [9]

Charts

Chart performance for "Call It What You Want"
Chart (2017–2018)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [19] 16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [27] 43
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [38] 24
France (SNEP) [39] 76
Germany (GfK) [40] 99
Hungary (Single Top 40) [23] 5
Ireland (IRMA) [28] 44
Malaysia (RIM) [24] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [26] 34
Philippines (Philippine Hot 100) [25] 27
Portugal (AFP) [41] 65
South Korean International Singles (Gaon) [42] 80
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [43] 96
UK Singles (OCC) [21] 29
US Billboard Hot 100 [44] 27

Certifications

Certifications for "Call It What You Want"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [20] Platinum70,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [45] Gold20,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Silver200,000
United States (RIAA) [18] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Notes

  1. See the charts section for the exact peaks.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Antonoff</span> American musician (born 1984)

Jack Michael Antonoff is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Antonoff is the lead vocalist of rock band Bleachers. He was previously the guitarist and drummer for the pop rock band Fun and the lead vocalist for the indie rock band Steel Train. Aside from his work with the three groups, Antonoff has been prolific in songwriting and production for various music industry acts, including Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, P!nk, Sara Bareilles, the 1975, Lorde, St. Vincent, Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Fifth Harmony, Sia, Kevin Abstract, Carly Rae Jepsen, the Chicks, Tegan and Sara, and Clairo. Antonoff is credited with impacting the sound of popular music throughout the 2010s and 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of the Woods</span> 2016 single by Taylor Swift

"Out of the Woods" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. With lyrics inspired by a failed relationship and the ensuing anxieties that Swift experienced, "Out of the Woods" is a synth-pop song with elements of Eurodance and indietronica and features heavy synthesizers, looping drums, and layered background vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Man (Little Big Town song)</span> 2016 single by Little Big Town

"Better Man" is a song by American country group Little Big Town. It was released on October 20, 2016, as the lead single from the group's eighth studio album, The Breaker (2017). American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift wrote the song, intending to include it on her fourth studio album, Red (2012), but the song did not make the final track list. She passed the song to Little Big Town in 2016, believing the group's vocal harmonies suited it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Wanna Live Forever</span> 2016 single by Zayn and Taylor Swift

"I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is a song by the English singer Zayn and the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from the soundtrack to the 2017 film Fifty Shades Darker. It was written by Swift, Sam Dew, and Jack Antonoff, who also produced the song. The single was released on December 9, 2016, by Republic Records to international commercial success. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is a sultry electro-R&B and electropop ballad that sees Zayn and Swift exchange romantic overtures. Its accompanying music video was released on January 27, 2017.

<i>Reputation</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Taylor Swift

Reputation is the sixth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on November 10, 2017, as her last album with Big Machine Records. She conceived Reputation as a response to the media scrutiny on her private life and public image after her previous album, 1989 (2014), propelled her toward global stardom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Look What You Made Me Do</span> 2017 single by Taylor Swift

"Look What You Made Me Do" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). Big Machine Records released the song on August 24, 2017, after approximately one year of Swift's hiatus due to the controversies that affected her "America's sweetheart" public image throughout 2016. While secluding from public appearances, she wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">...Ready for It?</span> 2017 single by Taylor Swift

"...Ready for It?" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album Reputation (2017). She wrote the song with its producers, Max Martin, Shellback, and Ali Payami. An electropop, industrial pop, and tropical house song, "...Ready for It?" incorporates elements of dancehall and trap. It features Swift rapping over heavy synthesizers, bass drops, and programmed drums. Lyrically, the track uses criminal imagery such as bank heist and ransom to depict a newfound romance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorgeous (Taylor Swift song)</span> 2017 song by Taylor Swift

"Gorgeous" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation. Big Machine Records released the song for download on October 20, 2017. Written by Swift and its producers, Max Martin and Shellback, "Gorgeous" is a bubblegum, electropop, and synth-pop song featuring a loop driven by minimal hip hop-inspired drum beats and synthesizers. Its tongue-in-cheek lyrics describe Swift's feelings for a newfound love interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delicate (Taylor Swift song)</span> 2018 single by Taylor Swift

"Delicate" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). She wrote the song with the producers Max Martin and Shellback. Inspired by events surrounding Swift's celebrity and personal life, the lyrics depict a narrator's vulnerability when she ponders if her reputation would affect the blossoming romance. "Delicate" is an electropop and synth-pop ballad that features vocals manipulated with a vocoder. Its production incorporates dense synthesizers and beats that evoke tropical house and dancehall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">End Game (song)</span> 2017 single by Taylor Swift featuring Ed Sheeran and Future

"End Game" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). The song features the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and the American rapper Future, who both wrote it with Swift and the producers Max Martin and Shellback. "End Game" is an incorporation of pop rap and R&B. It features loose vocal cadences and hip-hop-influenced drums that create trap beats. The lyrics are about finding true love amidst the gossip on ones' perceived reputations.

"Getaway Car" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). It served as a single in Australia and New Zealand on September 7, 2018, to support the Australian shows of Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour (2018). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it is a synth-pop song with pulsing synthesizers, programmed drums, and distorted vocals. Lyrically, the song describes Swift's efforts to exit a relationship using romance with someone else, knowing the new relationship will also end briefly because its purpose was only to "get away" from the first one.

"New Year's Day" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). Swift wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. "New Year's Day" is an acoustic ballad with a sparse arrangement incorporating recurring piano riffs and subdued guitar and synth notes. In the lyrics, the narrator spends the morning after a New Year's Eve party with a lover, and they together clean up their shared house and care for each other. Swift performed "New Year's Day" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 13, 2017, and Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio as a single on November 27, 2017.

<i>Lover</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Taylor Swift

Lover is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on August 23, 2019, by Republic Records. It is her first album after her departure from Big Machine Records, which caused a public dispute over the ownership of Swift's past albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Archer (song)</span> 2019 song by Taylor Swift

"The Archer" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). She wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff, and Republic Records released it as a promotional single on July 23, 2019. The song has a 1980s-influenced minimalist, midtempo production and is a synth-pop ballad incorporating dense, echoing synthesizers and insistent kick drums. Music critics also identified elements of synthwave and dream pop. The lyrics are about Swift's acknowledgement of her past mistakes and contemplation of her identity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lover (Taylor Swift song)</span> 2019 single by Taylor Swift

"Lover" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the title track of her seventh studio album (2019). Swift conceived it as a timeless love song that could be played at a wedding reception; the lyrics are about an intimate and committed relationship, and the bridge draws on the bridal rhyme "Something old". Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "Lover" combines country and indie folk over a waltz tempo. It has an acoustic-guitar-driven balladic production consisting of snare drums, piano, pizzicato strings, and dense reverb. Republic Records released "Lover" for download and streaming on August 16, 2019, and to US radio the next month.

"London Boy" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Sounwave wrote the song; the first two are credited as producers while Sounwave is credited as co-producer. A reggae-influenced bubblegum pop song, "London Boy" includes a spoken-word intro by the English actor Idris Elba and contains an interpolation of the song "Cold War" by the American singer Cautious Clay, who was given a co-writing credit on the track. Inspired by Swift's experiences in London, the lyrics mention various London locations and express a Tennessean woman's infatuation with a male love interest from the city.

"August" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift and Jack Antonoff wrote the song, and the two produced it with Joe Alwyn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lakes (song)</span> 2020 song by Taylor Swift

"The Lakes" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from the deluxe edition of her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "The Lakes" is a midtempo indie ballad, set to acoustic guitar and strings, with themes of introspection and escapism that reflect on Swift's semi-retirement in Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.

"This Is Me Trying" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). It was written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, and Joe Alwyn was credited as co-producer. The track is an orchestral pop and dream pop tune with a production featuring an organ, slow-paced beats, and horns. "This Is Me Trying" was inspired by Swift's state of mind during 2016 and 2017, when she said she was at her lowest. The narrator of "This Is Me Trying" proclaims themselves as an unwanted person who struggles with existentialism and alcoholism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Question...?</span> 2022 song by Taylor Swift

"Question...?" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her tenth original studio album, Midnights (2022). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it is a minimalist electropop and synth-pop track that incorporates synth tones and sharp drum machine beats. The song contains a vocal sample of Swift's 2014 track "Out of the Woods". In the lyrics, a narrator confronts an ex-lover with questions regarding their past behaviors and what could have happened differently.

References

  1. McNutt, Myles (2020). "From 'Mine' to 'Ours': Gendered Hierarchies of Authorship and the Limits of Taylor Swift's Paratextual Feminism". Communication, Culture and Critique . 13 (1): 79. doi:10.1093/ccc/tcz042.
  2. Levine, Nick (August 21, 2019). "Taylor Swift's Lover: The Struggle to Maintain Superstardom". BBC . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  3. Anderson, Trevor (October 27, 2015). "Taylor Swift's 1989 One-Year Anniversary: 13 Impressive Chart Facts for the Blockbuster Album". Billboard . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  4. Ryan, Patrick (November 9, 2017). "5 Things Taylor Swift's Past USA Today Interviews Tell Us About Her Reputation Era". USA Today . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. Puente, Maria (July 18, 2016). "Is Taylor's Good-Girl Rep Frayed by Kanye/Kardashian Feud?". USA Today . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  6. Berman, Judy (January 28, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Miss Americana Is an Intriguing but Incomplete Sketch of an Icon in Transition". Time . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  7. Yahr, Emily (November 15, 2017). "Taylor Swift Avoided – and Mocked – the Media with Reputation. And It Worked". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  8. Hiatt, Brian (September 30, 2019). "9 Taylor Swift Moments That Didn't Fit in Our Cover Story". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Reputation (CD booklet). Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Spanos, Brittany (November 3, 2017). "Hear Taylor Swift's New Song 'Call It What You Want'" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "50 Best Songs of 2017". Rolling Stone . November 29, 2017. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  12. Hussain, Shahzaib (November 21, 2017). "Taylor Swift – Reputation". Clash . Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  13. Iasimone, Ashley (November 5, 2017). "Jack Antonoff Shares Some Insight Into the Making of Taylor Swift's 'Call It What You Want'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  14. Gordon, Jeremy (November 3, 2017). "Okay, Sure, Taylor Swift's "Call It What You Want" Isn't So Bad". Spin . Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  15. Swift, Taylor (November 9, 2017). "Taylor Swift "Call It What You Want" Sheet Music in A Major (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  16. Iasimone, Ashley (November 3, 2017). "Taylor Swift Debuts 'Call It What You Want': Watch Lyric Video". Billboard . Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  17. Trust, Gary (November 13, 2017). "Taylor Swift Notches Fourth Digital Song Sales No. 1 From 'Reputation' With 'Call It What You Want'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  20. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  21. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  22. 1 2 "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia : Week 45 (3/11/2017 – 9/11/2017)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  25. 1 2 "BillboardPH Hot 100". Billboard Philippines . Archived from the original on November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  27. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  28. 1 2 "Chart Track: Week 45, 2017". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  29. "Taylor Swift fans have intense reactions to new love song: 'I'm crying'", Entertainment Weekly , November 3, 2017, archived from the original on February 3, 2018, retrieved February 2, 2018
  30. Guan, Frank (November 3, 2017). "The Anesthetic Lift of Taylor Swift's 'Call It What You Want'". Vulture . Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  31. "Taylor Swift's new song 'Call It What You Want' is the musical equivalent of the heart-eyes emoji", USA Today , November 3, 2017, archived from the original on November 13, 2017, retrieved February 2, 2018
  32. "Taylor Swift Finally Made a Great 'Reputation' Song", Complex , November 7, 2017, archived from the original on February 3, 2018, retrieved February 2, 2018
  33. "Okay, Sure, Taylor Swift's "Call It What You Want" Isn't So Bad", Spin Magazine , November 3, 2017, archived from the original on January 3, 2018, retrieved February 2, 2018
  34. Stubblebine, Allison (November 10, 2017). "Taylor Swift Treats Lucky Fans to Intimate Acoustic Set at SiriusXM". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  35. Moore, Sam (November 12, 2017). "Watch Taylor Swift perform two tracks from 'Reputation' on 'Saturday Night Live'". NME . Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  36. Sheffield, Rob (May 9, 2018). "Rob Sheffield Reviews Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Tour Kickoff". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  37. Iasimone, Ashley (July 2, 2023). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  38. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  39. "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
  40. "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  41. "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  42. "Chart search: Taylor Swift" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  43. "Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  44. "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  45. "Brazilian single certifications – Taylor Swift – Call It What You Want" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved March 21, 2024.