After four years of non-stop asking for Taylor Swift to release "Cruel Summer" as a single, the singer finally gave in and released the song as a single-with two different versions.
"What a truly mind-blowing thing you've turned 'The Eras Tour' concert film into," Swift wrote on Instagram shortly after the single's release on Wednesday.
"I've been watching videos of you guys in the theaters dancing and prancing and recreating choreography, creating inside jokes, casting spells, getting engaged, and just generally creating the exact type of joyful chaos we're known for.
"One of my favorite things you've done was when you supported 'Cruel Summer' so much, I ended up starting 'The Eras' Tour show with it. For old times' sake, I'm releasing the live audio from the tour so we can all shriek it in the comfort of our homes and cars plus a brand new remix by [LP Giobbi]. Thank you, so much, forever, wow, just thank you!!!"
Taylor Swift Drops 'Cruel Summer'
"Cruel Summer" is a song from Swift's 2019 album, "Lover," and was not initially released as a single, despite her admission that the song is her "pride and joy."
"I was finally, finally, allowed to have my favorite song become the single off of 'Lover,'" the singer revealed during her concert in Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium earlier this year.
"And I'm not trying to blame the global pandemic that we have, but that is something that happened that stopped 'Cruel Summer' from ever being a single."
The singer's new single comes in two versions, in addition to the original version: "Cruel Summer - Live From TS | The Eras Tour" and "Cruel Summer - LP Giobbi Remix."
Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer' Headed to 2025 Grammys?
The "Anti-Hero" singer's new single will also be eligible for the Grammys in 2025, Talk of the Charts, an account on X (formerly known as Twitter) reports.
The news was met with mixed reactions from netizens, with some criticizing the Grammys and Recording Academy, and others congratulating the singer.
"The Grammys are starting to show their bias. The song is an album track from 2019. How does that make sense."
"It isn't bias. Lizzo did that before with truth hurts. If any artist wants to release a new version of a past song they can do that which will make them eligible for nomination," a netizen replied.
"Waiting the unload the remixes until the 2024 eligibility period was over because she knew the song had just enough juice to last that long... she's playing chess while the others continue to play checkers."
