Some of Taylor Swift’s most devoted followers have been very completely happy this June when information broke that her music “Cruel Summer,” off of 2019’s “Lover,” was formally being launched as a single. The information was first reported by U.S. Radio Updater on X (previously Twitter) on June 14 and was later confirmed by Billboard. The music, cowritten by Swift, Jack Antonoff, and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark, has lengthy been a Swiftie fan favourite (in truth, it sits at No. 6 on POPSUGAR’s rating of Swift’s finest songs).
But for those who’re a extra informal Swiftie, you won’t be as acquainted with “Cruel Summer.” Ahead, we break down what the music’s about, why the only launch of “Cruel Summer” was such a giant deal for followers, and its chart efficiency.
What Is Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” About?
In “Cruel Summer,” Swift narrates an off-the-cuff relationship that takes place throughout the summer season. She sings about sneaking out and round, slipping over backyard partitions, and climbing out of home windows. She tries to maintain her actual emotions secret (“And if I bleed you’ll be the last to know”) and all of it seems like a “fever dream” that is “killing” her. But, after all, the informal relationship cannot keep informal, as Swift sings within the bridge, “And I screamed for whatever it’s worth / I love you, ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?” But when her lover “looks up grinning like a devil,” it appears he is caught emotions too.
Of course, since Swift is thought to jot down about her actual relationships, many have puzzled which particular person in her previous she’s speaking about within the music. She’s by no means mentioned, and followers haven’t got a consensus concept. Ultimately, it might be about certainly one of Swift’s public relationships or a couple of romance she’s saved fully personal. Swift’s then-boyfriend Joe Alwyn was the muse for a lot of of “Lover”‘s tracks, so some followers suppose he is the probably supply of inspiration for this observe, too.
Why Was “Cruel Summer” Released as a Single?
“Lover” was launched on the finish of August 2019, and followers have been stunned to listen to such an unabashed summer season observe for the primary time when fall was on the horizon. Many puzzled why Swift did not launch the music as a single earlier within the 12 months so it might compete for music of the summer season. But since Swift was planning to tour “Lover” in 2020, many assumed she would launch it as a single the subsequent summer season.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled Swift’s touring plans, and the music was by no means put ahead as a single. The singer did launch two shock albums in 2020 — “Folklore” and “Evermore” — so followers could not actually complain, however it appeared “Cruel Summer”‘s second had come and gone with out Swift ever even performing it stay.
However, Swift did find yourself together with the music on her Eras Tour setlist. In truth, it is the second music of the present and has obtained an enormous response from followers, organically boosting its streaming numbers. In June, with no promotion, the music reentered the Billboard Hot 100 for the primary time since “Lover” was launched in 2019, exhibiting that there was a groundswell of assist for it already.
How Did “Cruel Summer” Perform on the Billboard Hot 100?
“Cruel Summer” initially peaked at No. 29 when it was launched in 2019, instantly after “Lover”‘s launch. This summer season, it made it to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated Aug. 19, and for weeks it appeared that was the best the music would get (at the very least till summer season 2024). However, for the chart dated Oct. 28, the music surged once more (maybe due to the Eras Tour movie) and eventually hit No. 1. It’s saved that spot for the Nov. 4 chart, too. “Cruel Summer” is now Swift’s tenth No. 1 hit.
Swift and Antonoff reacted to the information in an overjoyed video posted to Twitter on Oct. 23. “A song from five f*cking years ago!” Antonoff mentioned. “Our favorite song from ‘Lover’!” He added that music was at all times meant to be their “secret best song” from the album.
“We just wanted to say thank you so much for making ‘Cruel Summer’ a Hot 100 No. 1,” Swift added. “It’s not even summer anymore – it’s deep fall, I’m wearing a sweater. We love you guys!”
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