Swift’s groundbreaking nature is what keeps her so interesting and keeps even the haters interested in watching her next move. While successfully re-releasing her old albums and having “All Too Well,” a 10-minute-long song, go number one seemed like the craziest thing she could do, Swift knows there’s always more where that came from. In fact, one of her most intriguing accomplishments was when a four-year-old song rose so much in popularity it hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts.

“Cruel Summer” Is Taylor Swift’s Most-Streamed Song On Spotify

The Lover Track Has Almost Three Billion Streams

While it wasn’t an official single during Lover‘s initial release, “Cruel Summer” is Taylor Swift’s most streamed song. The hit currently has over 2,800,000,000 streams on Spotify, nearing 3 million. Upon release, it became a fan favorite because of its synth-pop beat and sharp lyrics. Swift wrote the song with Jack Antonoff, with whom she has written some of her best pop songs.

Antonoff has become known for his synth production style and he didn’t hold back on “Cruel Summer.” What makes the song so special is Swift combined the clever lyrics she was known for early in her career with the pop anthems she became accustomed to later on. It’s euphoric, which is why it’s no surprise that it’s been streamed as many times as it has.

The Song Was Originally Released In 2019, But Hit Number 1 In 2023

“Cruel Summer” was the second track on the Lover album and despite being immediately beloved, Swift didn’t release it as a single. It’s widely assumed that Swift planned to release it as a single in the summer of 2020 while she was on her Lover Fest tour. Unfortunately, Covid-19 prevented the tour from ever happening. Instead of promoting “Cruel Summer,” she released folklore and began a whole new era, leaving the pastel skies behind and getting lost in the enchanted forest.

“I’m drunk in the back of the car

And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar

Said I’m fine but it wasn’t true

I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you

And I snuck in through the garden gate

Every night that summer just to seal my fate

And I scream for whatever it’s worth

I love you ain’t that the worst thing you ever heard?

He looks up grinnin’ like a devil.”

When Swift released “ME!’ and “You Need To Calm Down” she was battling against the ultra-popular “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. However, by the time “Cruel Summer” reached number one, the country-pop hit had long left the #1 spot. While it may have taken a few years, Lover finally got its time to shine.

Why Cruel Summer Blew Up 4 Years After Its Release

“Cruel Summer” Gained Popularity In 2023

While it might seem strange that a song would go number one so long after Lover dropped, it was all thanks to the Eras Tour. After releasing four albums since her reputation tour, Swift thought it was only appropriate to celebrate the new albums and her rerecording era on the Eras Tour. Since the Lover Fest never happened, Swift kicked off the show with the Lover era. While the first song Swift sang was “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince,” she only sang a portion of it.