NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 26: Taylor Swift attends the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential ... [+]
It was just a few days ago that the exciting news broke: Taylor Swift's song "Cruel Summer" is officially being released as a single. This unexpected turn of events has left even the superstar herself in awe, as she struggles to comprehend the resurgence of this beloved tune.
Originally featured on her album Lover, which is now almost four years old, "Cruel Summer" will now be sent to radio and heavily promoted as a focus cut from the CD. This kind of revival rarely happens in the music industry, as it’s often all about what’s next and what’s next, not what happened years ago. The unlikely nature of how the tune got to where it is now makes this moment all the more special for Swift.
During a recent stop on her highly anticipated The Eras Tour, Swift took a moment to address the tens of thousands of fans in attendance and discuss the surprising success of "Cruel Summer." The confirmation of the news was met with thunderous applause, and Swift couldn't help but express her amazement at the song's current popularity.
"You guys have streamed 'Cruel Summer' so much right now in 2023 that it's like at the top,” she started, adding, “it's like rising on the streaming charts so crazy." Indeed, the statistics support her statement, highlighting the growing traction the song has gained since the beginning of The Eras Tour.
The global pandemic prevented Swift from touring her album Lover when it was initially released. She attributes this unfortunate circumstance, in part, to the track never becoming a proper single. However, with the resumption of her touring schedule, interest in "Cruel Summer" has been reignited. Fans have long adored the song since its release, but its popularity continues to soar to new heights, with millions of people enjoying it, particularly during its seasonal namesake.
Swift then proceeded to explain that “my label just decided to make it the next single,” which also elicited cheers and screams from all the Swifties in attendance. Remarkably, this decision was made while she was already busy promoting her most recent album, Midnights. Her current hit single, "Karma," recently reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart and continues to maintain its strong presence. Nevertheless, Swift's label firmly believes in the potential of "Cruel Summer" and is willing to strike a balance between the two releases.
In the music industry, it is a rare occurrence for an artist to revisit an album from several years ago and witness the label invest significant resources in promoting a track that has already been extensively streamed and purchased. This anomaly highlights the significance of "Cruel Summer" and its impact on Swift's career. Even she finds it difficult to fully comprehend the situation, exclaiming, "The weirdest, most magical thing is happening. It’s never happened to me in the whole time I’ve ever been doing this."
Undoubtedly, "Cruel Summer" holds a special place in Swift's heart, and it is clear that her fans share her sentiment. In front of the massive stadium crowd, she referred to the single as her "pride and joy" on Lover. Now, all that remains is to see how the song will fare in the coming months as radio stations embrace it and it gains further exposure. Perhaps a music video will accompany this unexpected release, adding to the excitement surrounding "Cruel Summer."
