Love to Love Lover

Released in the summer of 2019, Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album ‘Lover’, often does not get the same credit as some of her other albums. With an unclassifiable genre, and varied influences, 'Lover’ has evolved into a fan favorite and one of my favorite Swift works.

'Soon You’ll Get Better’ is one of Swift’s more vulnerable pieces. The singer has shared her difficulty of performing the piece in public. I have only been able to listen to it twice. The song tells of her relationship with her mother, her battles with cancer, and specifically her latest diagnosis. My own mother passed away from cancer ten days before this album was released. Swift is a beautiful storyteller. During good and bad times, she knows how to reach a listener. Along with the song ‘Marjorie’ off of her most recent release ‘evermore’, a song about Swift’s grandmother’s passing, ‘Soon You’ll Get Better’ chokes me up and tears me down. I could relate to sitting in the doctor's offices, the worries a daughter has while trying to stay strong for the parent. Swift’s lyric “I'll brighten up the sky” reminds me of the W.H Auden poem and one of my mother's favorites, “Stop All the Clocks” from 1936. The line “Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun” because a loved one has passed away reminds me of Swift wanting to brighten her mother’s world. When we love someone and want to help them, the internal power and strength that comes from within becomes godlike, as we want to do whatever we can to make them better, even if it’s as unattainable as brightening up the sky, or dismantling the sun.

Other notable tracks include ‘False God’, a song with an 80s sound. I am reminded of Hall and Oates’ ‘Maneater’ from 1982. Swift’s sultry vocals mixed with the smooth saxophone make this tune timeless.

The songs ‘Cruel Summer’ and ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’, encapsulate toxic relationships and sad goodbyes. I remember the first time I heard ‘Cruel Summer’ and it felt as though Swift had written it for me. I immediately messaged some friends that I was convinced this song was about myself and…he who shall not be named…

On the other end of the relationship spectrum, there’s the title track, ‘Cornelia Street’ and ‘Paper Rings’, for established romantic partnerships and ‘I Think He Knows’ is perfect for budding relationships.

At any stage, ‘Lover’ has a song that would be the perfect backing track to your romantic life.

Favorite song on the album: Cruel Summer