"You Need to Calm Down" | ||||
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Single by Taylor Swift | ||||
from the album Lover | ||||
Released | June 14, 2019 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 2:51 | |||
Label | Republic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Taylor Swift singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"You Need to Calm Down" on YouTube |
"You Need to Calm Down" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the second single from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Republic Records released it for download and streaming on June 14, 2019. Written and produced by Swift and Joel Little, "You Need to Calm Down" is an upbeat electropop and synth-pop song that is set over steady synth beats and has a refrain of ascending echoes. In the lyrics, Swift addresses Internet trolls and homophobes and voices her support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Swift directed the music video for "You Need to Calm Down" with Drew Kirsch and executive-produced it with Todrick Hall. The video features an ensemble cast and many LGBT celebrity cameos. Some music critics praised the catchy production and pro-gay message of "You Need to Calm Down", but others found it confusing and cynical. Despite the mixed reaction, some media publications regard "You Need to Calm Down" as a gay anthem. The single reached number one in Scotland, number two in the United States, and the top five in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
At the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video for "You Need to Calm Down" received nine nominations, winning Video of the Year and Video for Good. The song also received a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Swift included "You Need to Calm Down" in many live concerts and as part of the set list to her Eras Tour (2023–2024).
The first verse is about trolls and cancel culture. The second verse is about homophobes and the people picketing outside our concerts. The third verse is about successful women being pitted against each other.
On April 26, 2019, the title of the song was teased in the intro for the music video for "Me!" when Brendon Urie shouted the title in French. [2] Later, it was revealed an "old-timey, 1940s-sounding instrumental version" of the song played in the background in the scene. [1] On June 13, 2019, Swift announced on a livestream on Instagram that her upcoming album's second single, entitled "You Need to Calm Down", was to be released at midnight EDT on June 14 (04:00 UTC). [3] It is an electropop [4] and synth-pop song. [5] It tackles homophobia and expresses support for the LGBT community. [6]
A lyric video for the song was released together with the song on YouTube. The video contained several easter eggs, including changing the word "glad" to GLAAD, and highlighting "EA" letters as a reference to the Equality Act. [7] The references followed Swift's donation to GLAAD in support of Pride Month, [8] and Swift's Change.org petition for the United States Senate to pass the Equality Act. [9] The petition has attracted more than 500,000 signatures, [10] including from Democrats such as Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O'Rourke, and Kirsten Gillibrand. [1] Following the release of the song, GLAAD reported an "influx" of donations in the amount of $13, a reference to Swift's favorite number. [11] A vertical video premiered exclusively on Spotify on June 24, 2019. [12] [13]
A remix of the song by British electronic music band Clean Bandit was released on August 20, 2019. [14]
Music critics were divided with "You Need to Calm Down". [15] Dan Stubbs from NME called the song "withering in its measured response", concluding it was "an infectious, bite-size pop package". [16] Gwen Ihnat of The A.V. Club wrote that the song "clearly and refreshingly combats homophobia and anti-gay bias". [17] Maeve McDermott and Joshua Bote, writing for USA Today , considered the song "an improvement" over the previous single "Me!", and "a more promising example of what fans can expect" from the album. [18] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times also concurred that the song was "a big creative improvement" over "Me!", while commenting the "explicit pro-gay message is certainly welcome, but it also feels just the slightest bit cynical". [19] Time 's Raisa Bruner wrote that the song is "bright, bubbly and unabashedly vying for earworm status", and that it is a "colorful clapback that works as a warning to homophobes, trolls and bullies". She added that Swift is "sing-talking her way through a series of quotable lyrics, over a "juicy, unhurried" synth beat. Bruner further stated that, at this song, Swift is "at her most pop-forward" on Lover, owing to its cascading chorus echoes. [20]
Michelle Kim of Pitchfork wrote that, while the song is "well-intentioned" and the allyship deserved some praise, it is also "bewildering and underwhelming at the same time". [21] Justin Kirkland of Esquire wrote the song "misses the point of being an LGBTQ ally" by "equating online haters with the personal and societal struggle of LGBTQ+ people". [22] Similarly, Spencer Kornhaber from The Atlantic criticised the song's "breathtaking argument... that famous people are persecuted in a way meaningfully comparable to queer people." [23] Music critic Todd Nathanson described it as "a very trivializing song," specifically criticizing the line "shade never made anybody less gay" as minimizing the impact of homophobia. [24] Will Gottsegen of Spin wrote the song's "easy, inoffensive lyrics... feel engineered to appeal to the broadest possible demographic", and that the song "plays it too safe" and "feels a little like a cop out". [7] Constance Grady of Vox called the song "exhausting", comparing the song unfavorably to "Mean" (2011), another single from Swift. [25]
Herald-Tribune named "You Need to Calm Down" as the second-best song of 2019. [26]
In the United States, "You Need to Calm Down" debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the second top two hit from Lover. [27] Like in the case of lead single "Me!", "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus blocked "You Need to Calm Down" from reaching the top spot on the chart. However, the song garnered several chart records for Swift: [28] With six songs reaching the number-two spot, Swift tied Madonna as the female artist with the most number two hits on the chart, having previously reached the spot with "Me!", "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" (2017), "I Knew You Were Trouble" (2013), "Today Was a Fairytale" (2010) and "You Belong with Me" (2009). The song became Swift's twenty-fourth top 10 hit, which is the fifth-most among female artists in the chart's history, behind Madonna (38), Rihanna (31), Mariah Carey (28) and Janet Jackson (27). The single is also Swift's sixteenth song to debut inside the top 10 of the chart, which is the second most top-ten debuts in the chart's history, only behind Drake, who has 20 top-ten debuts, making Swift the first and only female artist with 16 top-ten debuts in the Hot 100 history. [29]
The song debuted at number-one on the Billboard Digital Song Sales charts, selling 79,000 downloads, becoming Swift's record-extending seventeenth number-one hit on that chart. [29] With 12 consecutive weeks spent in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, "You Need to Calm Down" is Swift's song with the longest duration spent in the top 20 since "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Zayn Malik in 2017. The track started at number 33 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, based on three days of airplay, and has since reached number 9. [30] [31]
In Canada, the song entered the Hot AC chart at number 40 based on three days of radio tracking. [32] It debuted at number four on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming the second top five hit from the album in the country.
In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Swift's thirteenth top 10 in the UK. [33] In Scotland, the song debuted at number one on the singles chart, becoming Swift's fifth chart topper in the country, as well as her second consecutive number-one hit in Scotland from Lover. [34] In Ireland, the song debuted at number five, tying Swift's previous single, "Me!", which peaked in the week ending May 3, 2019. [35] In Germany, the song debuted at number 37 on the Official German Charts later peaking at number 36. [36] In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number 28 on the Single Top 100 chart. [37] In Belgium, the song arrived at number 11 on the Belgian Ultratip chart later peaking at number three. [38] In Sweden, the song entered at number 55 on the Sverigetopplistan chart later peaking at number 35. [39]
In Australia, the song debuted at number 3 in the ARIA Charts, becoming the second top three hit from the album in the country. [40] In New Zealand, the song entered the Recorded Music NZ singles chart at number 5, becoming Swift's fifteenth top 10 single in the country. [41] The song also topped New Zealand Hot Singles chart. [42]
The music video for "You Need to Calm Down" was directed by Swift and Drew Kirsch, and executive produced by Swift and Todrick Hall. [43] It was released on June 17, 2019, after a premiere on Good Morning America . [44] [45] The video featured a large number of celebrity cameos, many of whom are LGBT. In order of appearance, the list includes dancer Giuseppe Giofrè, Dexter Mayfield, YouTuber Hannah Hart, actress Laverne Cox, singer Chester Lockhart, entertainer Todrick Hall, singer Hayley Kiyoko, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, lawyer Justin Mikita, singer Ciara, Netflix series Queer Eye 's Fab Five (Tan France, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness), figure skater Adam Rippon, singer Adam Lambert, television personality Ellen DeGeneres, entertainers Billy Porter and RuPaul, singer Katy Perry, and actor Ryan Reynolds. [46] The appearance of Perry serves as an end to a dispute between her and Swift, although both artists had publicly ended the feud several months prior. [47] [48] Numerous drag queens also appear in the video impersonating various female recording artists. Tatianna portrays Ariana Grande, Trinity the Tuck portrays Lady Gaga, Delta Work portrays Adele, Trinity K. Bonet portrays Cardi B, Jade Jolie portrays Swift, Riley Knoxx portrays Beyoncé, [49] Adore Delano portrays Katy Perry and A'keria Chanel Davenport portrays Nicki Minaj. The video was shot in Santa Clarita, California. [50]
The video is set in a colorful trailer park. Swift awakens in her trailer, wearing a bathrobe over a swimsuit, with an embroidery containing the Cher quote "Mom, I am a Rich Man" hanging on a wall. [52] Swift throws her phone onto her bed, which then gives off sparks and starts a fire in the trailer. She nonchalantly walks to a pool, ignoring her burning trailer. She goes into the pool, lying on a float, while looking at the camera and singing. The camera then switches to other residents in the trailer park and their activities, including Mayfield dancing, Hart weightlifting a boombox and Cox watering her yard of plastic flamingoes and greeting Lockhart, who promptly faints.
The scene cuts to Swift walking and dancing down a street with Hall, interspersed with scenes of Kiyoko shooting an arrow into a target with the number "5" (a clue to Swift's next promotional single "The Archer", the fifth track on the album), protesters holding placards with anti-gay slogans (a reference to a real-life religious group that picketed Swift's concerts), [1] Ciara officiating a wedding between Ferguson and Mikita, and Rippon serving snow cones to customers from a stall. Swift also holds a tea party with the Fab Five and Hall. In another trailer, Lambert tattoos the words "Cruel Summer" (later revealed to be a song on the album) onto DeGeneres' right arm. In the next scene, Swift and other residents sun tan while ignoring the heckling protesters, followed by Porter walking down the middle of the two crowds wearing a dress.
The scene shifts to a "pop queen pageant" with the contestants dressed as numerous female singers. RuPaul walks down the lineup with a crown decorated with emeralds and fleur-de-lis motifs, [52] but instead of crowning a winner, he throws it in the air. A food fight begins, with Swift appearing in a french fries costume and Perry in a hamburger suit. The two see and walk towards each other. Elsewhere, Reynolds is portraying Norman Rockwell working on a painting of the Stonewall Inn. [52] [53] Swift and Perry smile, dance and share a hug. A message at the end of the video urges viewers to sign Swift's Change.org petition for the United States Senate to pass the Equality Act.
The music video received mixed reviews. [54] It received praise for Swift's activism, while criticism was levelled at the execution, particularly the depiction of the anti-LGBT protesters. [55] Many publications including The New York Times , [54] The Washington Post , [56] CNN, [57] and The Irish Times [58] have noted that the song and music video was Swift's most political move yet. Jon Caramanica from The New York Times applauded the inclusion of LGBT celebrities and drag queens as "a worthy celebration", but also wrote it was "plausible cover". [54] Writing in the same review, Wesley Morris questioned the video's release in June to coincide with Pride Month as "tired, tardy or tidily opportunistic", but concluded the video was "a fine thing". [54] Craig Jenkins of Vulture wrote the song and video "has great intentions", but opened up Swift to accusations of queerbaiting and profiting from Pride Month. [59] Dave Holmes from Esquire praised the celebrity cameos, but noted the "ugly and poorly-educated" look of the protesters and the "sexless" portrayal of gay life. [60]
In an opinion piece for NBC News, Michael Arceneaux agreed that Swift "meant well", but criticized the depiction of the anti-gay protesters as "poorer bumpkins", and that the scene between Swift and Katy Perry detracts from the overall pro-gay message. [61] Spencer Kornhaber from The Atlantic stated that "in real-life, Pride counterprotests feature yet-uglier slogans", and "writing off bigotry as negativity... isn't helpful". [23] Nathan Ma from The Independent wrote the protesters could have included politicians who voted for anti-LGBT legislation. [62]
Some publications and LGBTQ+ personalities have defended Swift. Emma Grey Ellis from Wired wrote "the song has spawned more opinions than it has words", and continued "people claimed to despise Swift's lack of politics, and now she is overtly political and they still hate it." [63] De Elizabeth from InStyle opined "a lack of outright activism allowed Swift to become a punching bag". [64] Actor Brian Jordan Alvarez praised the video in an interview with IndieWire, stating that he is "completely grateful anytime anyone, especially someone with a huge platform, expresses positivity, love, and support for the LGBTQ community." [53] Actor Billy Eichner praised Swift's activism, saying "[the LGBT community needs] all the allies we can get." [65] Fashion designer and television personality Tan France, who appeared in the video, called Swift a "powerful ally" and remarked that while LGBT people are often encouraged to take their time to come out, the same is not extended to allies. [66]
The song was nominated for nine awards at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, including the category Video of the Year, becoming the most nominated video of the night. It is also Swift's second victory for Video of the Year following "Bad Blood" in 2015, joining Beyoncé and Rihanna as the only female acts to win the category twice and the fourth artist overall. [67] [68] It also won Video for Good. [69] The song was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, becoming her third nod in the category, following "Shake It Off" (2015) and "Blank Space" (2016).
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
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2019 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Summer Song | Nominated | [70] |
MTV Video Music Awards | Video of the Year | Won | [69] | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Video for Good | Won | |||
Best Pop | Nominated | |||
Best Direction | Nominated | |||
Best Art Direction | Nominated | |||
Best Editing | Nominated | |||
Best Power Anthem | Nominated | |||
Song of Summer | Nominated | |||
American Music Awards | Favorite Music Video | Won | [71] | |
Telehit Awards | Best English Video | Nominated | [72] | |
People's Best Video | Nominated | |||
2020 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Solo Performance | Nominated | [73] |
iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Lyrics | Nominated | [74] | |
Queerty Awards | Anthem | Runner-up | [75] | |
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Song | Nominated | [76] | |
Berlin Music Video Awards | Best Cinematography | Nominated | [77] | |
BMI Pop Awards | Award-winning Song | Won | [78] | |
Publisher of the Year (Sony/ATV) | Won |
On June 1, 2019, Swift initiated a petition on Change.org, titled "Support the Equality Act", in favor of the United States Senate's support in passing the pro-LGBT "Equality Act" in the country's Congress; the act bans discrimination "on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes". [79] A message urging the viewers to sign the petition appears at the end of the "You Need to Calm Down" music video; it states: "Let's show our pride by demanding that, on a national level, our laws truly treat all of our citizens equally. Please sign my petition for Senate support of the Equality Act on Change.org". [80] As of April 12, 2020, the petition had over 704,000 signatures, including those from Democratic senators and presidential candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Ed Markey, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tim Kaine, Cory Brooker and Beto O'Rourke. Swift also addressed a letter to Republican senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, her home state, asking him and the other senators to support the act: [81] "For American citizens to be denied jobs or housing based on who they love or how they identify is un-American and cruel". [82]
The release of "You Need to Calm Down" further led to a spike in individual donations to GLAAD, an American LGBT non-governmental organization, as the lyrics of the song namechecks the organization: "why are you mad when you could be GLAAD?". In response, GLAAD started a Facebook fundraiser for fans to support the advocacy work for Pride Month, with $1300 as a goal since 13 is Swift's lucky number. [83] Anthony Ramos, Director of Talent Management at GLAAD, stated that Swift "is one of the world's biggest pop stars; the fact that she continues to use her platform and music to support the LGBTQ community and the Equality Act is a true sign of being an ally. 'You Need to Calm Down' is the perfect Pride anthem, and we're thrilled to see Taylor standing with the LGBTQ community to promote inclusivity, equality, and acceptance this Pride month". Ramos also highlighted that many of the individual donations were made in the amount of $13. [82] [84] Sarah Kate, the CEO and President of GLAAD, stated: "Taylor Swift continues to use her platform to speak out against discrimination and create a world where everyone can live the life they love. GLAAD is so thankful for her donation to support our advocacy efforts and for her ongoing work to speak out for what is fair, just, and LGBTQ inclusive. In today's divisive political and cultural climate, we need more allies like Taylor, who send positive and uplifting messages to LGBTQ people everywhere". [84]
I just want to say that this is a fan-voted award, so I first want to say thank you to the fans, because in this video several points were made, so you voting for this video means that you want a world, where we're all treated equally under the law, regardless of who we love, regardless of how we identify. At the end of this video, there was a petition and there still is a petition for the Equality Act, which basically just says we all deserve equal rights under the law. I want to thank everyone who signed that petition because it now has a half a million signatures, which is five times the amount that it would need to warrant a response from the White House.
On August 26, 2019, Swift won the Video of the Year award for the "You Need to Calm Down" music video at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards; in her speech, Swift urged the audience and the viewers to sign her petition, and pointed out that the White House has not responded to the petition despite having "five times the amount of signatures that it would need to warrant a response". [79] The televised speech led to a surge in the number of signatures on the petition. [85] The next day, the White House issued a statement. Judd Deere, the White House deputy Press Secretary, stated that "the Trump administration absolutely opposes discrimination of any kind and supports the equal treatment of all; however, the House-passed bill in its current form is filled with poison pills that threaten to undermine parental and conscience rights". [86] "You Need to Calm Down" went on to become a gay anthem. [87]
Swift performed the song live for the first time at the Amazon Prime Day Concert on July 10, 2019. [88] On August 22, she performed the song at a Good Morning America concert in Central Park. [89] The next day, she performed an acoustic rendition of the song at a SiriusXM Town Hall. [90] She also performed it at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards along with "Lover" [91] and included the song in her setlist for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on September 2. [92] On September 9, Swift performed the song at the City of Lover one-off concert in Paris, France; [93] this concert live version was released to digital music and music streaming platforms on May 17, 2020. [94] While promoting Lover, Swift performed the song at the We Can Survive charity concert in Los Angeles on October 19, [95] at the Alibaba Singles' Day Gala in Shanghai, China on November 10, [96] at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball 2019 in London on December 8, [97] and at iHeartRadio Z100's Jingle Ball in New York City on December 13. [98] Swift included "You Need to Calm Down" on the set list of her sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024). [99]
British rock band Yonaka covered the song for their Spotify Singles edition in August 2019. [100] American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson covered the song in an episode of her television show, The Kelly Clarkson Show , to commemorate the 2020 Pride Month. [101] "You Need to Calm Down" was featured in a commercial for Amazon Music. [102] In June 2021, as part of a project on human rights, students of Barking and Dagenham College made a video to "You Need to Calm Down" for Pride Month. [103] The song was used in a commercial Swift narrated for the United States women's national soccer team competing at the 2020 Summer Olympics. [104]
Credits are adapted from Tidal. [105]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [158] | 6× Platinum | 420,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [159] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [160] | Diamond | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [161] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [162] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [163] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [164] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [165] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [166] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [167] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [168] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [169] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [170] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | June 14, 2019 | Original | Republic | [105] | |
Italy | June 17, 2019 | Radio airplay | Universal | [171] | |
United States | June 18, 2019 | Contemporary hit radio | Republic | [172] | |
Various | August 20, 2019 |
| Clean Bandit remix | [173] | |
May 17, 2020 | Live | [174] |
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Known for her autobiographical songwriting and artistic reinventions, she is one of the world's best-selling music artists with estimated global sales of 200 million records, the first billionaire with music as the main source of income, and the highest-grossing female touring act. Swift is an influential figure in popular culture and the subject of widespread public interest.
"Love Story" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released as the lead single from her second studio album, Fearless, on September 15, 2008, by Big Machine Records. Inspired by a boy who was unpopular with her family and friends, Swift wrote the song using William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet as a reference point. The lyrics narrate a troubled romance that ends with a marriage proposal, contrary to Shakespeare's tragic conclusion. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the midtempo country pop song includes a key change after the bridge and uses acoustic instruments including banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar.
"I Knew You Were Trouble" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift wrote the song with its producers, Max Martin and Shellback. A dance-pop, pop rock, and teen pop song with a dubstep refrain, "I Knew You Were Trouble" features electric guitars and synthesizers, with lyrics that talk about self-blame after a toxic relationship. The dubstep production divided music critics, who noted it as a radical move from Swift's previous country pop songs.
"Blank Space" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the second single from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Swift wrote the song with its producers, Max Martin and Shellback. Inspired by the media scrutiny on Swift's love life that affected her girl-next-door reputation, "Blank Space" portrays a flirtatious woman with multiple romantic attachments. It is an electropop track with a minimal arrangement consisting of synthesizers, hip hop-influenced beats, and layered vocals.
"Style" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the third single from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). She wrote the track with its producers Max Martin, Shellback, and Ali Payami. An incorporation of pop, funk, disco, and electronic styles, "Style" is built on an electric guitar riff, pulsing synthesizers, and dense vocal reverb. The lyrics are about a couple who could not escape from an unhealthy relationship because they are never "out of style". Big Machine in partnership with Republic Records released the song to US radio on February 9, 2015.
"Bad Blood" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). She wrote the song with the producers Max Martin and Shellback, and it is a pop song with stomping drums and keyboards. The lyrics are about betrayal by a close friend; many media publications interpreted that the American singer Katy Perry was the subject. A remix featuring the American rapper Kendrick Lamar, with additional lyrics by Lamar and production by Ilya, was released to radio as the fourth single to promote 1989 on May 17, 2015, by Big Machine and Republic Records.
"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.
"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.
"Me!" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie of the American band Panic! at the Disco, released on April 26, 2019, as the lead single from Swift's seventh studio album, Lover, by Republic Records. Written by Urie, Swift, and Joel Little, and produced by the latter two, "Me!" is an upbeat bubblegum pop and synth-pop track driven by a marching band drumline. It is about embracing one's individuality, self-affirmation, and self-love.
The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has released 61 singles as lead artist, 8 singles as a featured artist, and 39 promotional singles. She had sold over 150 million singles worldwide by December 2016. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Swift's digital singles have achieved 137.5 million certified units, based on sales and on-demand streaming, as of July 2023. On the US Billboard Hot 100, as of April 2024, Swift is the female musician with the most charted songs (263), most top-40 songs (164), most top-20 songs (100), most top-10 songs (59), most top-10 debuts (48), most top-five songs (36), and most number-one debuts (7).
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.
"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.
"Lover" is a song 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.
"The Man" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Swift wrote and produced the song with Joel Little. "The Man" is an uptempo synth-pop and electropop song with flashy harmonies, murky synths, and rumbling beats. In the lyrics, Swift imagines how she would be treated if she were a man. The song received a positive reception from critics, who praised its feminist message for the greater good.
"Soon You'll Get Better" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Swift and Jack Antonoff wrote and produced the song, which features background vocals and instruments from the American band the Dixie Chicks. "Soon You'll Get Better" is a country ballad featuring slide guitar, banjo, and fiddle alongside vocal harmonies. The lyrics were inspired by Swift's parents' cancer diagnoses.
"Cruel Summer" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Swift and Jack Antonoff produced the song, and they wrote it with St. Vincent. "Cruel Summer" is a synth-pop, industrial pop, and electropop song composed of synths, wobbling beats, and vocoder-manipulated vocals. The lyrics are about an intense romance during a painful summer.
"Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album Lover (2019). She wrote the song a few months after the 2018 U.S. midterm elections to capture her disillusionment with the American political climate. Written and produced by Swift and Joel Little, "Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince" is a synth-pop tune with marching band-styled percussion and background cheerleading shouts. It is a protest song that makes use of high-school imagery lyrically to depict the struggles navigating through a flawed system, with allusions to a troubled love story.
"Christmas Tree Farm" is a Christmas song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was produced by Swift and English musician Jimmy Napes. Swift wrote the song on December 1, 2019, inspired by her Christmas vacation, and released it five days later, on December 6. Opening with an orchestrated balladic intro, "Christmas Tree Farm" is a cheery uptempo pop song driven by swing drums, lush orchestral arrangements, jingle bells, choir harmonies, and lyrics on childhood memories of Christmas.
"Peace" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. According to Swift, "Peace" is her most personal song on Folklore. It has a minimal composition of a soft piano and harmonized guitars over an electric pulse, combining elements of R&B, funk, and jazz. In the lyrics, Swift's character pledges her commitment to a lover while acknowledging the downsides she might bring to their relationship.
"Willow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). It was released on December 11, 2020, by Republic Records as the lead single from the album. "Willow" is a chamber folk love song making use of several metaphors to convey the singer's romantic state of mind, such as portraying her life as a willow tree, over picked guitars, glockenspiel, flute, strings, and percussion.