Lover

The 2019 album is named after its title track, "Lover," which is a romantic ballad dedicated to her then-boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn. The title reflects the overarching themes of the record, which focus heavily on love, acceptance, and finding peace. The word also fits the bright, pastel-toned aesthetic Swift adopted for this era.

The album was released in 2019 under Republic Records and Universal Music Group. This was highly significant because it was her very first album after leaving her original label, Big Machine Records, following a highly publicized dispute over her master recordings. The switch allowed Swift to finally own the rights to her new music.

The album produced massive radio hits, including the upbeat summer anthem "ME!" featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, and the colorful pride anthem "You Need To Calm Down." The album also features the critically acclaimed, deeply emotional synth-pop track "Cruel Summer," which later became a smash hit in 2023.

Yes, *Lover* is primarily a pop album, but it incorporates a wide variety of subgenres, including synth-pop, punk-pop, and retro bubblegum pop. It deliberately abandoned the dark, vengeful, and urban electropop sound of her previous 2017 album, *Reputation*. The record feels much lighter and more experimental, drawing heavy inspiration from 1980s and 1990s pop music.