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Entertainment • Song

You Need to Calm Down

"You Need to Calm Down" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released as the second single from her seventh studio album, *Lover* (2019).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

"You Need to Calm Down" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released as the second single from her seventh studio album, *Lover* (2019). It was written and produced by Swift with Joel Little and became known for its pop production and pro-LGBTQ+ themes. The single reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted highly in several other countries.

Background and release

The song was released by Republic Records on June 14, 2019, as the second single from *Lover*. It was written and produced by Taylor Swift with Joel Little and recorded in studios in Los Angeles and Auckland.

Composition and lyrics

"You Need to Calm Down" is a midtempo electropop and synth-pop track built on steady synthesizer production. Its lyrics target online haters and homophobes and include explicit support for LGBTQ+ rights.

Music video

Swift co-directed the music video with Drew Kirsch and executive-produced it with Todrick Hall. The video drew attention for its appearances by LGBTQ+ figures and its advocacy-oriented imagery.

Commercial performance

The single reached number two in the United States and number one in Scotland. It also placed in the top five in Canada, Australia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Key facts

  • Released as the second single from *Lover* in June 2019.
  • Written and produced by Taylor Swift and Joel Little.
  • The lyrics address internet trolls and homophobia while expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The song is generally described as electropop and synth-pop.
  • It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one in Scotland.
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Canadian context

The song reached the top five on Canadian charts, making it a notable part of Taylor Swift's commercial performance in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who performed "You Need to Calm Down"?
Taylor Swift performed the song.
When was "You Need to Calm Down" released?
It was released on June 14, 2019.
What album is the song from?
It appears on Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, *Lover*.
Who wrote the song?
Taylor Swift and Joel Little wrote it.
What is the song about?
The lyrics address internet harassment and homophobia and express support for LGBTQ+ people.
How did the song chart in Canada?
It reached the top five in Canada.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Need_to_Calm_Down
    Supports: release date, album, writers, producers, genre, lyrical themes, chart performance, music video credits
  2. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wgr1Bjxs7E
    Supports: official music video and release association
  3. Apple Music — https://music.apple.com/gb/song/you-need-to-calm-down/1468058704
    Supports: song title, performer, songwriters, release date
  4. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Need_to_Calm_Down
    Supports: release date, album, writers, label
  5. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Need_to_Calm_Down
    Supports: release date, length, genre, writers, album
  6. Wikipedia (Portuguese) — https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Need_to_Calm_Down
    Supports: studios, genre, duration, label, writers, lyrical themes