Taylor Swift - "Cruel Summer"

[13]

I really didn't mind the chorus of ME!, but the abrasive and annoying drums in the prechorus and bridge make the song difficult to listen to. I just feel like it needed a little more polish to be a good song.

I think that Cruel Summer isn't a huge break from some of her rep era songs, although in terms of public perception of the rep era (LWYMMD and RFI) it would be a huge change. For that reason, I think Cruel Summer would have worked well as a lead single.

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2019 19:52:35 GMT -5 13 said:

I really didn't mind the chorus of ME!, but the abrasive and annoying drums in the prechorus and bridge make the song difficult to listen to. I just feel like it needed a little more polish to be a good song.

I think that Cruel Summer isn't a huge break from some of her rep era songs, although in terms of public perception of the rep era (LWYMMD and RFI) it would be a huge change. For that reason, I think Cruel Summer would have worked well as a lead single.

You raise some good points there. Swifties would find the sound and vibe of "Cruel Summer" similar to the deep cuts of "reputation", but the general public only heard the more abrasive, trap-inspired early singles from the album and "Delicate", so it could have definitely worked well as a lead single. I would have still gone for "Paper Rings" first because Taylor Swift is the kind of artist that can get a high debut with whatever sound she chooses for her lead single (see "ME!"), and it would be really nice to see a 90s pop rock sitcom-esque throwback track on the charts. "Cruel Summer" is classic pop Taylor, so it would have been fairly successful anyway amid the current mainstream climate.

[Glove Slap]

This should have been the lead, or if it wasn’t ready then, then the second.

[#brayden]

I still don’t get it with this song. Like… it’s fine? I wouldn’t change the station, but I wouldn’t turn up the volume either. Both “ME!” and “You Need To Calm Down” have stronger hooks and production so it’s no wonder they were chosen over this.

I’d rather we get “False God” as a single over this… or “Afterglow”… or “Death By A Thousand Cuts” even. That’s the Taylor Swift people in 2019 want to listen to. Not her screaming like a 15 year old on the bridge of a diluted 1989 reject.

[13]

Dec 6, 2019 11:29:45 GMT -5 #brayden said:

I’d rather we get “False God” as a single over this… or “Afterglow”… or “Death By A Thousand Cuts” even. That’s the Taylor Swift people in 2019 want to listen to. Not her screaming like a 15 year old on the bridge of a diluted 1989 reject.

Cruel Summer had almost as many first-week streams as False God and Afterglow combined, so I'm not sure what you mean by this part.

[insen_13]

Dec 6, 2019 11:29:45 GMT -5 #brayden said:

I wouldn’t change the station, but and I wouldn’t turn up the volume either.

[blanksnake17]

This deserves to be a single. It’s title and lyrics are perfect for a #anticoronavirusanthem

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2019 11:29:45 GMT -5 #brayden said:

I still don’t get it with this song. Like… it’s fine? I wouldn’t change the station, but I wouldn’t turn up the volume either. Both “ME!” and “You Need To Calm Down” have stronger hooks and production so it’s no wonder they were chosen over this.

I’d rather we get “False God” as a single over this… or “Afterglow”… or “Death By A Thousand Cuts” even. That’s the Taylor Swift people in 2019 want to listen to. Not her screaming like a 15 year old on the bridge of a diluted 1989 reject.

Afterglow is that bitch. Hands down my favourite from the album.

[blanksnake17]

she has teased this a little lately, including posting a video of Olivia Rodrigo singing the song on her story.

[tamed09]

Adds date now

[Mylo13 💜]

Apr 23, 2020 2:27:40 GMT -5 tamed09 said:

Adds date now

[𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤]

Bill Nye put this on his Earth Day playlist, the man has good taste

[Raccoon]

I can feel this being a single

[Au$tin]

Pop 5/19
126 82 SWIFT, TAYLOR Cruel Summer 67 45 22 0.852

[theflying]

OMG PLEASE PLEASE

[𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤]

Idk how it’s doing now but I hope it’s good, Taylor we are BEGGING you make this a single

[Choco]

Much like fetch, this is never going to happen.

It will sit pretty with "Getaway Car", "All Too Well" and "I Know Places" in the non-single gems category.

[Deleted]

Yeah, this is alright, but definitely not a smash waiting to happen.

[NeRD]

Added by Q100 Atlanta today, a Top 10 market.

Probably doesn't mean anything but it's impressive.

[avatar]

Heard this on the radio today.

[𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤]

Screw it, let’s force Taylor to make it a single by getting it airplay & streaming it

I won’t leave my computer online overnight w this on loop, but I do need a fun, euphoric pop song on the airwaves right now

[Suono]

WAIT STATIONS ARE PLAYING THIS?!?!?!

[BB🌕]

Added to Sirius XM Hits 1

[MissAmericana]

Jun 13, 2020 14:30:43 GMT -5 BB🌕 said:

Added to Sirius XM Hits 1

If this goes Top 50 without being serviced, girl-

[g8erboi]

What do they have to lose by at least giving this an adds date? This is just too good to be ignored :’(

[Juan Carlos]

MOCK UPDATE:

POP:
?? ?? TAYLOR SWIFT Cruel Summer 211 112 99 1.727

[fearlessarrow]

Jun 14, 2020 12:55:22 GMT -5 Leo ✔ said:

TAYLOR SWIFT Cruel Summer 197 109 88 1.787

Jun 15, 2020 10:59:27 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

MOCK UPDATE:

POP:
?? ?? TAYLOR SWIFT Cruel Summer 211 112 99 1.727

So based on these...

POP (MOCK UPDATE):
?? ?? TAYLOR SWIFT Cruel Summer 211 112 99 1.727

+14 Spins
+11 Bullet
-0.060 Audience

Three big supporters of the song: Sirius XM, KHKS (Dallas, TX), and WSPK (Hudson Valley, NY) - all over 40 plays for the song.

No leaders/starters for HAC/AC.

[Mayman]

This could actually hit the top 50.

[Deleted]

Dammit radio, you should of picked up False God not this

[Taylor.]

This is just over 50 spins from the top 50... wonder if they'll do anything with it or nah.