When Lover first came out on 23rd August 2019, many felt like the album was the worst one on her discography. To this day, YouTubers make videos titled “Is Lover Taylor Swift's Worst Album?” and don't seem to have as many positive reviews for it on their first listen.

But, almost everyone who felt that way later said they loved the album. How did this happen? Fans feel like the album is a grower - you don't understand the concept of some songs and with Taylor's reputation of extremely skillful songwriting, the “fun” songs are given more criticism. After a few chances, listeners have said they've had the album on repeat.

I'm going to revisit Lover hits, look into the diverse themes explored by the album, and as well as talk about the Lover set on the Eras Tour!

What was the Concept of the Album?

Taylor wanted to reflect different kinds of love through this album. She did just that and more as the album explores love, anxiety, heartbreak, and love in friendship as well as some nods to politics. This makes sense since this was the time when she first started becoming vocal about political themes, as seen in her documentary, Miss Americana.

The album expertly navigates feelings of nervousness, uncertainty, happiness, apprehension, excitement, and more when it comes to being in love with clever references and experimental production. This was also her first album with her new label.

Photo by Paolo V on Wikimedia Commons

The Pop Hits on Lover

Some songs were immediately embraced by audiences and made it to the top of music charts.

Cruel Summer

Cruel Summer is a pop anthem and has spent weeks on the top of the charts, especially after its feature on the Eras Tour setlist. With a catchy pop tune, iconic bridge, and enjoyable lyrics, it quickly became a fan favorite. We can clearly see this through how loudly fans sing the song with her during her concerts!

Lover

A beautiful ballad with a well-directed music video, Lover has claimed everyone's heart. The title track is beautifully emotional and expressive, talking about sweet moments in a secure, long-term relationship with the hope of a future together. Videos of fans crying and embracing their partners during the Eras tour performance of the song have gone viral on social media and it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being in a loving relationship.

The Man

This song is a reference to the structural patriarchy women face across institutions. Taylor brings out the hypocrisy of putting women down for tasks that men are commended for. She mentions experiences many women face such as being questioned about their authority in the same position as a man, who would be applauded for being a hard worker. With the hook saying “wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man”, she highlights how women have to prove themselves in areas that men aren't even questioned about.

Paper Rings

This cute, catchy love song has had people on their feet! It represents the bubbly feeling of being deeply in love with someone who makes you happy, saying that your love and commitment are so deep that you're ready to get married with paper rings. The verses also recount specific little moments Taylor would have had with her partner, all leading into the chorus saying “I liked shiny things but I'd marry you with paper rings”.

You Need to Calm Down

With a fun and bold music video, this dance number has had everyone on their feet. The song addresses hateful comments from trolls and expresses her support for the LGBTQ+ community, with many LGBTQ+ celebrities making appearances in the music video. She also performs the song at the Eras Tour concert as a part of the Lover set.

Taylor Just Wants to Have Some Fun

Some songs on the album felt too “immature” and people felt like they did not reach the standard they held Taylor to. But, it's important to realize that the album belongs to her and she can do what she would like to on it.

I Forgot That You Existed

Many found this song underwhelming in terms of the production and didn't seem to understand why it was an album opener. It talks about Taylor moving on from someone who hurt her to a point where she forgot about their existence. She expresses how a situation that she did not think she would get through is now just a blur in her mind as she has moved on to a better place.

I Think He Knows

This song seems to be a precursor to Mastermind, in which she talks about having planned her interactions and everything leading up to a relationship, with the lyric “I am an architect I'm drawing up the plans”. It talks about the exciting beginning of a relationship when things have just started and are only beginning to get serious.

ME! ft. Brendan Urie

This appears to be the most criticized song on the album. With a music video like a massive, colorful party, many felt like the song was “immature” and didn't live up to Taylor's songwriting standards, especially the infamous “you can't spell awesome without ME!” verse. But, fans need to understand that Taylor does not always have to live up to those standards! She may have written much better lyrics for other songs, but that does not mean that she can't use a song to let loose and have fun.

Other Fan Favorites

A few other songs simply swept people away with their wonderful songwriting and production.

The Archer

While criticized for not having an element of ‘release’ in the production, this song perfectly encapsulates the feeling of anxiety when it comes to maintaining a relationship. Once this message is understood, we understand why the song doesn't have a release and seems to continue to build up.

False God

This song continues to have a chokehold on many fans. It uses religious references to indicate that love is a larger entity that is ‘worshipped’ by Taylor and her partner. Her stunning performance of the song on SNL went viral. With an addictive saxophone melody played by Evan Smith and produced by Jack Antanoff and Taylor, the song was immediately an underrated fan favorite.

Soon You'll Get Better ft. The Chicks

Taylor wrote this song for her mother Andrea who was diagnosed with cancer twice, in 2015 and 2019. She expresses feelings of anxiety and includes descriptions of hospitals and nurses, talking about wanting Andrea to recover and how it would feel to lose her. What makes it more touching is that it features Andrea's favorite band.

Daylight

The last track on the regular album perfectly closes the journey Taylor takes her listeners on across 18 tracks. She talks about how she feels like she has left the darkness behind and now only sees “daylight”. She refers to her previous downfalls and points of anxiety, and how she feels like things are brighter now.

The song and album end with a lovely little voice memo: “I want to be defined by the things that I love, not the things I hate. Not the things I'm afraid of. Not the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think that you are what you love.”

Bonus Tracks

There are a couple of tracks on the album that are not on the regular list.

Only the Young

While this song did not make the cut for the regular album, it is featured in Taylor's documentary called Miss Americana. The song attempts to motivate youngsters to participate in politics and be a beacon of change to express what they believe in. This was when Taylor had first spoken up about her own stance in politics.

All of the Girls You've Loved Before

This song expresses a very mature perspective in a relationship, talking about how all the girls her partner has been with before shaped the man he is today. She acknowledges his past not with a sense of resentment but of acceptance and gratefulness, and now that they have ended together, she loves him more than the love he may have experienced before her. Her reference does not only address romantic relationships but also other women in his life who shaped him like his mother.

Lover: The Opening Set of the Eras Tour

When Taylor announced the Eras Tour, she ended the announcement with “it's been a long time coming”, a reference to her song Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince. Fans thought it was a clever reference, but little did they know that it was also the opener of the tour! The very first line by Taylor as the tour starts is “it's been a long time coming but it's you and me, that's my whole world”, an ode to her fans and how she was touring after such a long time.

The brief opening is followed by Cruel Summer as she crosses “the first bridge of the night” with the audience. She continues with The Man, You Need to Calm Down, and Lover. She used to also sing Archer, which was cut out as she added another era to the tour.