"Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift

Author: The Best Song Ever (This Week)

"Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" became the song of the Summer of 2023 four years after its initial release because it's what this summer needed: a catharsis.

A playlist with "Cruel Summer" and the songs featured on The Best Song Ever (This Week) this episode can be found here:

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
Hello, and welcome to the BestSong Ever this Week, A short deep
dive into a song and what makesit feel so special? The Best Song
Ever this Week this week is CruelSummer by Taylor Swift. I'm your host,

(00:27):
Scott Frampton. We won't be listeningto the song together here, which
isn't something we have the rights todo, but also for a song that's
been streamed over billion times, seemshardly necessary. That's it. In the
show notes, there's a link toa playlist with Cruel Summer and other songs
that have been featured on the BestSong Ever this Week. So let's begin

(00:49):
with any song. There's our generalmisconception that lyrics are essentially autobiographical or didactic,
even if Johnny Cash never did timein fulsome prison, for example,
or Bruce Ringsteen knew jack shit aboutcars from much of his career. Taylor
Swift, however, has famously writtenabout famous former bows, so any new
song instantly becomes the subject of gossipyforensic analysis. There a song to reflect

(01:15):
both how she personally cares a bittoo much in the moment, but also
not at all about how anyone mightjudge the flaws she puts a melody to
famine. Art. Even pop artis a fraught romance. A voice of
the people is heard differently once you'reno longer one of them. It takes
a lot of courage to make apop product of your messy emotions. Swift's

(01:37):
steadfast vulnerability is not only brave,but it's what's made Cruel Summer the song
of the Summer, even if it'sfour years old. Cruel Summer appears on
Swift's Lover album, which was releasedat the end of the summer of twenty
nineteen. She had hope the songwould be released as a single, citing
it is her favorite on the album, but four other songs were chosen as

(02:00):
singles before the pandemic ground the album'spromotional efforts to a halt in the spring
of twenty twenty. A Lover outtake All the Girls You've Loved Before was
released this year as a promotional singlefor Swift's Eiras tour, before finally,
Cruel Summer was released as a popradio single this past June. It's charted

(02:21):
in the top ten ever sents.The song isn't an obvious hit compared to
Lover's breezier electropop Cruel Summer sounds likea late night voice message you wish you
could unsend. Written with frequent collaboratorJack Antonov and the supernal Saint Vincent,
the song's atmospheric arrangement has nods tothe abrace of electronic sounds of industrial music

(02:45):
since Rumble Away. As the beatis carried by a harsh snare banging with
the rhythm of a taxi rolling overthe expansion joints of a city bridge.
Swift's vocals lurched from pensive in theverses, just swooney in the chorus,
befitting a song about a late nightjumble of new love emotions. And that's
before the torrential bridge. That bridgebegins conversationally enough with the lyric I'm drunk

(03:09):
in the back of the car.That lyric proves to be a necessary context.
A swifts gasping vocal increases in intensityuntil she shouts quote, I love
you. Ain't that the worst thingYou've ever heard? The song soon slips
back into the dreamy, catchy course, but the jarring effect of the bridge
still resonates. Artistically, It's perfectfor what the song is meant to express,

(03:31):
desire and desperation are inherently disruptive.These moments are uncomfortable but also so
full of life. This is whyCruel Summer was never an obvious single,
despite being the favorite of one ofthe biggest pop stars on the planet.
Uncomfortable moments go against the goal ofpop radio, which, even in its

(03:52):
streaming diaspora, is purely to keepsomeone from switching channels. Cruel Summer won
the summer, however, by beingsomething far greater than three pleasant minutes of
pleasure. It's cathartic, which issomething pump culture is needed in the four
long years we've had since the releaseof Lover. The song is intensely personal
yet universal, and its overbrim emotionsartfully capturing the moment of loving the feeling

(04:16):
but hating feeling it, and thatcatharsis is abundantly clear. If you've seen
and heard the fans screaming along withthe bridge on the Ariostour, It's little
wonder. Swift calls Cruel Summer herpride and joy on Lover It bravely makes
good the album's goal to be aquote love letter to love in all It's

(04:38):
maddening, passionate, exciting, andchanting, horrific, tragic, wonderful,
glory. Thanks for listening as webegin the new season of the Best Song
Ever this Week. Originally we intendedto take August off before resuming a back
to school like schedule, but asong with the lyric Summer is a Knife

(04:59):
is too good to pass up forLabor Day weekend. If you're new here,
welcome. Even if focusing on acurrent song isn't usually what we do,
we hope you stick around. Theidea for the Best Song Ever this
Week isn't criticism. Is to sharewhy, or maybe why, a song
makes us feel something and want toknow more of its story, like something

(05:19):
we would do with friends. It'snot arguing that one song is better than
another. There's enough of that already. The songs aren't from any one genre
or eric. You don't naturally likesome more than others. But our goal
is to give you something to connectto for the short time we beg your
attention. Thanks again, see younext week.