It's a piece of music with a message — directed at trolls, homophobes and sexists — and a lot of people have a lot to say about the new song.
Some are praising the singer for finally speaking out in support of LGBTQ+ rights despite having a fan base largely rooted in the conservative southern United States, spouting slogan-esque lines like: "You just need to take several seats and then try to restore the peace / And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate 'cause shade never made anybody less gay."
On top of that, shutting down trolls and telling people to stop pitting women against each other are commendable enough messages.
Taylor Swift really went out there and tackled bullying, homophobia and pitting women against each other in the span of 2 minutes and 51 second. Can someone say ICONIC?
— Brandon "LOOK AT YOUUUUU!" (@brando_swift) June 14, 2019
Haters: "TAyloR SwifT ONLy wrITEs soNGs abOUT heR ex BOyfRieNdS."
— 4.26 Fan account since 2010 (@Swiftness13) June 14, 2019
Taylor in 2019:#YouNeedToCalmDown pic.twitter.com/LbabpNqSoq
Y'all!!! The new @taylorswift13 song #YouNeedToCalmDowm is the song of the summer. It's a gay anthem and it's empowering. Thanks TayTay for using your platform to defend the LGBTQ+ community 🙏🏼
— A.J. Mayers (@aj_mayers) June 14, 2019
good morning taylor swift did more for the lgbt community than the us government
— alex (@maergery) June 14, 2019
i don't understand people that don't stand for the national anthem. how can you not feel ANYTHING at all while listening to the national anthem? i tear up, i get goosebumps, and get chills the moment i hear "shade never made anybody less gay" #YouNeedToCalmDown
— zack (@linsazack13) June 14, 2019
BITCH DID SHE JUST? #YouNeedToCalmDown pic.twitter.com/GSRm3UoLrf
— Kantinan Bandasak (@hiimpeam) June 14, 2019
Others, though, have decried the song's lack of authenticity, likening it to the well-intended but awkward commercialization of Pride Month by major corporations. And then there's the issue of her linking her own criticism as a public figure to the injustices faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
please remember that, although taylor swift resembles an ally with her new track, that she is a celebrity that mass produces for a label which conveniently released this track during pride month. also, she is not a gay icon because she is not gay. food for thought
— mason 🌞 (@boiiikin) June 14, 2019
Taylor Swift feat. Katy Perry - "FAG PALZ!!!" Out on JULY 4TH!!!!
— Matt Rogers (@MattRogersTho) June 14, 2019
lmfaooo if you're a gay person of color, taylor swift is not your ally, i can promise you that
— christian (@_cjmnz) June 14, 2019
Taylor swift mentioning gays is the equivalent of Companies using Pride to sell their merchandise....
— zachary O (@zacsmashyou) June 14, 2019
prove me wrong d
T***** S**** is pandering to the LGBT community, and it's incredibly hard to voice this observation on a public platform but it's the truth. There's music of hers that I really love, this song isn't it though and I shouldn't be harassed by her fans for talking about it
— jude (@dearjudence) June 14, 2019
Then there are some people who are just plain over listening to Swift singing about how much she doesn't care what other people think about her.
Taylor swift sure makes a lot of music about being unbothered for someone who is unbothered
— Sarah Hagi (@geekylonglegs) June 14, 2019
And those who straight-up don't like her music.
Taylor Swift makes AWFUL music
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) June 14, 2019
Regardless of what you think of the song, people are going to be talking about it for a few more days at least; a colourful, sprinkle-topped video will be released on Monday (June 17).
A delicious new video comes out Monday morning...💗🎂💗 pic.twitter.com/fnZMz6P5dg
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 14, 2019
UPDATE (6/17, 10 a.m. EDT): Watch the video for "You Need to Calm Down" now.
Lover is due out August 23 via Republic.
