Grammy-winning pop superstar Taylor Swift saves her best ‘advance single’ for last, “Lover,” ahead of her highly anticipated seventh studio album, ‘Lover.’

The rollout for lover, the highly anticipated seventh studio album by Taylor Swift, has received its fair share of criticism.  The promo single, “ME!”, paired Swift with Brendon Urie for a single many considered to be cheesy and schmaltzy to the nth degree.  Follow-up single, “You Need to Calm Down” found many accusing the Grammy-winner of queer-baiting – ouch!  Third single, “The Archer”, arguably is the best record lyrically, if less exciting than “ME!” or “You Need to Calm Down.” I say this to say that maybe, just MAYBE, Swift saved her best advance single, the title track, for last.

“Lover” sounds completely different from the previous advance singles, which is actually a pro.  Perhaps it’s because she’s reunited to a certain extent with country music.  No, “Lover” isn’t explicitly country, but there are retro cues in place that remove it from the pop she’s served up since 1989 in 2014.  That said, “Lover” sounds nothing like some of her country records either.  Genius may not be far off giving “Lover” multiple genre tags including country, dream-pop, singer/songwriter, and of course, pop.

“…I take this magnetic force-of-a-man to be my lover
My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue
All’s well that ends well to end up with you
Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover…”

What isn’t brand-new about the record is a topic of familiarity for Taylor Swift – love.  Clearly, as she sings to and about her boyfriend, and, she’s TOTALLY feeling him:

“Can I go where you go?
Can we always be this close forever and ever?
And ah, take me out, take me home (Forever and ever)
You’re my, my, my, my lover.”

Final Thoughts

Thematically, it’s simple.  Lyrically, the chorus is simple to.  But hey, “Lover” is effective to the nth degree – Taylor Swift knows her love y’all.  As aforementioned, MAYBE – rather, DEFINITELY – Swift saved her best advance single for last.

Taylor Swift • Lover • Taylor Swift • Release: 8.23.19

Photo Credit: Taylor Swift