Yesterday was June 13, 2019, the day the North with remember forever. #WeTheNorth
The number 13, however, as we all know, is Taylor Swift’s favourite. So she made some announcements yesterday. It is now confirmed that her new album is titledLover.It comes out August 23 (8+2+3=13). There will be 18 tracks. Also the second single has been released and since it’s Pride Month as well, “You Need to Calm Down” is at once an LGBTQ+ anthem and a message to the haters.
When “ME!” came out, I wrote that Taylor’s album drops always lead with songs thataren’t necessarily the strongest of the new collection. See also “Shake it Off” and “Look What You Made Me Do”. What follows after the kickoff single is usually stronger. I like “You Need to Calm Down” more than “ME!” for sure, although sonically it’s obvious that the songs are related. As Taylor often says, especially when she’s campaigning for Grammys, they’re “sonically cohesive”. But…does “You Need to Calm Down” also sound kind of... familiar?
Familiar isn’t a bad thing necessarily. She knows what works. We know what to expect. It’s summer, these are fun summer songs. But I don’t know that musically we’re exploring new territory where Taylor is concerned.
So what’s next between now and August 23?
Well, the video for “You Need to Calm Down” is expected in a few days. Here’s the artwork for it – the snake that turns into a butterfly, a visual that was already teased in the “ME!” video:
What do you notice about the font? It’s groovy and curvy, right? That’s the trend. As I’ve been writing about for months, I evenwrote about the font, we’re in a full 70s takeover right now and Taylor’s landed on it right on time – typical. Like I’ve been telling you, do not be surprised if Taylor Swift ends up becomingDaisy Jones inDaisy Jones & The Six.She knows Reese Witherspoon. Reese is producing the series. I cannot imagine that they haven’t considered it. And now she’s practically cosplaying the part.
