False God (song): Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|2019 song by Taylor Swift}} |
{{Short description|2019 song by Taylor Swift}} |
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{{good article}} |
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{{Infobox song |
{{Infobox song |
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| name = False God |
| name = False God |
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| album = [[Lover (album)|Lover]] |
| album = [[Lover (album)|Lover]] |
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| studio = [[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]] (New York City) |
| studio = [[Electric Lady Studios|Electric Lady]] (New York City) |
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| genre = * [[ |
| genre = * [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] |
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* [[ |
* [[neo soul]] |
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* [[smooth jazz]] |
* [[smooth jazz]] |
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* [[sophisti-pop]] |
* [[sophisti-pop]] |
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| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|acQXa5ArHIk|"False God"}}|header=Audio video|type=song}} |
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|acQXa5ArHIk|"False God"}}|header=Audio video|type=song}} |
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}} |
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"'''False God'''" is a song by the American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] from her seventh studio album, ''[[Lover (album)|Lover]]'' (2019). Written and produced by Swift and [[Jack Antonoff]], it has an atmospheric, slow-building production combining [[neo soul]], [[contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[smooth jazz]], and [[sophisti-pop]]. The [[jazz]]-influenced composition consists of a [[saxophone]] |
"'''False God'''" is a song by the American singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] from her seventh studio album, ''[[Lover (album)|Lover]]'' (2019). Written and produced by Swift and [[Jack Antonoff]], it has an atmospheric, slow-building production combining [[neo soul]], [[contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[smooth jazz]], and [[sophisti-pop]]. The [[jazz]]-influenced composition consists of a [[saxophone]] riff, [[Trap music|trap]] beats, and hiccuping vocal samples. The lyrics use religious imagery to depict hardships and intimacy in a long-distance romantic relationship, mentioning New York City and its neighborhood [[West Village]]. |
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Music critics |
[[Music journalism|Music critics]] highlighted the sexually provocative lyrics and the sultry production. Some regarded "False God" as an album highlight, but a few otherwise found it unremarkable. Commercially, the song peaked at number 59 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]] and number 77 on both the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[Canadian Hot 100]]. It received [[Music recording certification|certifications]] in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. |
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Swift performed the song on a 2019 episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', assisted by the show's musical director [[Lenny Pickett]] on saxophone. She sang it live four times on [[the Eras Tour]] (2023–2024). The song has been covered by the English singer-songwriter [[James Bay (singer)|James Bay]] and the American [[Country music|country]] singer [[Ryan Hurd]]. |
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==Background and release== |
==Background and release== |
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[[Taylor Swift]] conceived her seventh studio album, ''[[Lover (album)|Lover]]'', as a "love letter to love itself |
[[Taylor Swift]] conceived her seventh studio album, ''[[Lover (album)|Lover]]'', as a "love letter to love" itself that explores the many feelings evoked by love. The album was influenced by the connections she felt with her fans on her [[Reputation Stadium Tour]] (2018), which helped her recalibrate her personal life and artistic direction.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Suskind|first=Alex|date=May 9, 2019|title=New Reputation: Taylor Swift shares intel on TS7, fan theories, and her next era|url=https://ew.com/music/2019/05/09/taylor-swift-cover-story/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812135902/https://ew.com/music/2019/05/09/taylor-swift-cover-story/|archive-date=August 12, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=August 8, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Calls ''Lover'' Album Her 'Love Letter to Love,' Details 2 Unreleased Tracks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-vogue-intereview-lover-two-new-songs-8526948/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=June 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612104220/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-vogue-intereview-lover-two-new-songs-8526948/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Republic Records]] released ''Lover'' on August 23, 2019. It was Swift's first album under Republic after she ended her previous contract with [[Big Machine Records|Big Machine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Releases ''Lover'' the Old-Fashioned Way |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/arts/music/taylor-swift-lover.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 22, 2023 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828234348/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/arts/music/taylor-swift-lover.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Lover'' consists of 18 tracks, and "False God" is track number 13.<ref name="booklet">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Lover (album)|Lover]] |type=liner notes |year=2019 |publisher=[[Republic Records]] |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}</ref> Prior to the release, Swift included parts of the lyrics in an advertisement on ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="tv">{{cite web |last=Andriotis |first=Mary Elizabeth |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift's New Album ''Lover'' Is Out and Here's All the Hidden References You Missed |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-lover-hidden-references-1989-reputation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330114811/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-lover-hidden-references-1989-reputation |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Teen Vogue]]}}</ref> "False God" entered at number 77 on both the charts of the [[Canadian Hot 100]]<ref name="Canada"/> and the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=2019-09-03 |title=All 18 Songs From Taylor Swift's New Album ''Lover'' Chart On the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/every-song-taylor-swift-lover-charts-hot-100/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-22 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519173543/https://www.billboard.com/pro/every-song-taylor-swift-lover-charts-hot-100/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Australia, it peaked at number 59 on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]]<ref name="Australia" /> and received a [[Music recording certification|platinum certification]] from the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].<ref name="ARIA" /> |
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==Production and music== |
==Production and music== |
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"False God" is 3 minutes and 20 seconds long. Swift wrote and produced the track with [[Jack Antonoff]], who [[Programming (music)|programmed]] the instruments and played the [[Electronic keyboard|keyboards]]. Antonoff and Laura Sisk recorded the song at [[Electric Lady Studios]] in New York City, and both of them provided backing vocals with Brandon Bost, [[Mikey Freedom Hart]], Cassidy Laden, and [[Ken Lewis (musician)|Ken Lewis]]. [[Michael Riddleberger]] played [[Drum kit|live drums]], and John Hanes [[Audio engineer|engineered]] the track. [[Serban Ghenea]] [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] "False God" at MixStar Studios, [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], and [[Randy Merrill]] [[Mastering (audio)|mastered]] it at Sterling Sound in |
"False God" is 3 minutes and 20 seconds long. Swift wrote and produced the track with [[Jack Antonoff]], who [[Programming (music)|programmed]] the instruments and played the [[Electronic keyboard|keyboards]]. Antonoff and Laura Sisk recorded the song at [[Electric Lady Studios]] in New York City (NYC), and both of them provided backing vocals with Brandon Bost, [[Mikey Freedom Hart]], Cassidy Laden, and [[Ken Lewis (musician)|Ken Lewis]]. [[Michael Riddleberger]] played [[Drum kit|live drums]], and John Hanes [[Audio engineer|engineered]] the track. [[Serban Ghenea]] [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] "False God" at MixStar Studios, [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], and [[Randy Merrill]] [[Mastering (audio)|mastered]] it at Sterling Sound in NYC.<ref name="booklet" /> |
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"False God" begins with a [[saxophone]] [[riff]] (played by [[ |
"False God" begins with a [[saxophone]] [[riff]] (played by [[Bleachers (band)|Evan Smith]])<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Wilson (writer) |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' Is a More Mature (Mostly) Successor to ''Red'' |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-album-review.html |access-date=2023-12-22 |archive-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121100740/https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-album-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> that recurs throughout the track.<ref name="time-l">{{Cite magazine |last=Bruner |first=Raisa |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Let's Discuss the Lyrics to Every Song on Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' |url=https://time.com/5651207/taylor-swift-lover-songs-explained/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609233017/https://time.com/5651207/taylor-swift-lover-songs-explained/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="guardianreview">{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Lover'' Review – Pop Dominator Wears Her Heart on Her Sleeve |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/23/taylor-swift-lover-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823042510/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/aug/23/taylor-swift-lover-review |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> The [[jazz]]-influenced song progresses into an atmospheric, slow-building track consisting of [[Trap music|trap]] beats and hiccuping vocal samples,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kornhaber |first=Spencer |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift Finds Her Faith on ''Lover'' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review-faith-religion/596725/ |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304200710/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review-faith-religion/596725/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Clive |last2=Edwards |first2=Mark |last3=Cairns |first3=Dan |last4=Verrico |first4=Lisa |date=2023-12-21 |title=On record: Pop, rock and jazz, September 1 |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/on-record-pop-rock-and-jazz-september-1-wxv55ffdt |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-21 |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221062731/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/on-record-pop-rock-and-jazz-september-1-wxv55ffdt |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="spin-l">{{cite web |last=Sargent |first=Jordan |date=August 26, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' Shines in Its Quietest Moments |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review/ |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827090152/https://www.spin.com/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> over which Swift sings with her breathy vocals.<ref name="time-l" /><ref name="spin-l" /> Music critics described the genre as [[neo soul]],<ref name="variety-l">{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/taylor-swift-lover-album-review-1203311445/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816192716/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/taylor-swift-lover-album-review-1203311445/ |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] }}</ref> [[smooth jazz]],<ref name="Johnson-2020">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Chloe |date=2020-07-24 |title=Taylor Swift – ''Folklore'' |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-folklore |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=[[MusicOMH]] |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724123506/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-folklore |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[sophisti-pop]].<ref name="Pitchforkreview">{{cite web |last=Gaca |first=Anna |date=August 26, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Lover'' Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-lover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826051751/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-lover/ |archive-date=August 26, 2019 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Some critics described it as a nod to 1980s [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]],<ref name="Wood-2019" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=2023-10-28 |title='False God' (2019) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/false-god-drake-2019-924552/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221043715/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/false-god-drake-2019-924552/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while Jason Lipshutz of [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] considered the song "faux-R&B".<ref name="Lipshutz-2019">{{Cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=2019-08-23 |title=Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's ''Lover'': Critic's Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-lover-tracks-ranked-8528254/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625164152/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-lover-tracks-ranked-8528254/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lindsay Zoladz from [[The Ringer (website)|''The Ringer'']] described the sound as "sultry",<ref name="tr-l">{{Cite web |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |date=August 26, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Is a ''Lover'' and a Fighter |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/8/26/20833037/taylor-swift-lover-album-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001448/https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/8/26/20833037/taylor-swift-lover-album-review |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref> and ''[[NME]]''{{'}}s Nick Levine opined that the song was a "balmy mix of sax and trap".<ref name="nme-l">{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Nick |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift – ''Lover'' review |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/taylor-swift-lover-review-2541084 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823151842/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-lover-review |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref> Lipshutz and ''[[The Washington Post]]'''s Emily Yahr described the production as a [[slow jam]].<ref name="Lipshutz-2019" /><ref name="Yahr-2019">{{Cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'': A track-by-track breakdown, from coded lyrics to Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake references |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/23/taylor-swifts-lover-track-by-track-breakdown-coded-lyrics-leonardo-dicaprio-drake-references/ |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-12-21 |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829083929/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/23/taylor-swifts-lover-track-by-track-breakdown-coded-lyrics-leonardo-dicaprio-drake-references/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|''Vanity Fair'']], Erin Vanderhoff identified "fun tropes" of 1990s [[dance music]] shown through the combination of saxophone and "an electronic skitter".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vanderhoff |first=Erin |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' Could Hold the Key to Pop Music's Survival |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824051507/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/08/taylor-swift-lover-review |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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There were comparisons to the music of other artists. According to [[Slant Magazine |
There were comparisons to the music of other artists. According to ''[[Slant Magazine]]'''s Sal Cinquemani, "False God" evokes the 1980s R&B-influenced [[electropop]] sound of the Canadian singer and songwriter [[Carly Rae Jepsen]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift ''Lover'' Review: The Album Course Corrects in Multiple Directions |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-taylor-swift-lover-course-corrects-in-multiple-directions/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823203812/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review-taylor-swift-lover-course-corrects-in-multiple-directions/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For [[Annie Zaleski]] of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', "False God" was reminiscent of the music by the English musician [[James Blake (musician)|James Blake]].<ref name="Zaleski-2019">{{Cite web |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |date=2019-08-26 |title=Taylor Swift is done proving herself on the resonant ''Lover'' |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-is-done-proving-herself-on-the-resonant-lo-1837578581 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903224534/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-is-done-proving-herself-on-the-resonant-lo-1837578581 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]''{{'}}s Dave Holmes compared the sound to the compilation album ''[[Pure Moods]]'' (1994).<ref name="es-l">{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Dave |date=August 23, 2019 |title=When Taylor Swift Eases Up On the Self-Mythologizing, ''Lover'' Is Pretty Damn Good |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a28797434/taylor-swift-lover-album-review-lyrics-clues/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224110051/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a28797434/taylor-swift-lover-album-review-lyrics-clues/ |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]}}</ref> Meanwhile, Larry Fitzmaurice from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' deemed the song a take on the [[lovers rock]] sound popularized by the English singer [[Sade (singer)|Sade]].<ref name="Fitzmaurice-2019">{{Cite magazine |last=Fitzmaurice |first=Larry |date=August 23, 2019 |title=''Lover'' is pure Taylor Swift, at her most content and confident |url=https://ew.com/music/2019/08/23/taylor-swift-lover-review/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823221959/https://ew.com/music/2019/08/23/taylor-swift-lover-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Writing for the same publication, Marcus Jones wrote that Swift's vocal [[cadence]] and the saxophone backing evoked the American singer [[Bruce Springsteen]].<ref name="Jones-2019">{{Cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Marcus |date=August 23, 2019 |title=A track-by-track breakdown of Taylor Swift's new album ''Lover'' |url=https://ew.com/music/2019/08/23/taylor-swift-lover-track-by-track-breakdown/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604073112/https://ew.com/music/2019/08/23/taylor-swift-lover-track-by-track-breakdown/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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== Lyrical content and analysis == |
== Lyrical content and analysis == |
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"False God" is about how false promises can help overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship ("We |
"False God" is about how false promises can help overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship ("We were stupid to jump in the ocean separating us/ Remember how I'd fly to you?").<ref name="spin-l" /><ref name="Wood-2019" /><ref name="Bruner-2019">{{Cite magazine |last=Bruner |first=Raisa |date=2019-08-23 |title=Your Guide to the Many, Many References Taylor Swift Drops in ''Lover'' |url=https://time.com/5651221/taylor-swift-lover-references-explained/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=December 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223091643/https://time.com/5651221/taylor-swift-lover-references-explained/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The song extensively uses religious imagery, mentioning [[false god]], [[altar]], [[sacramental wine]], heaven, and hell.<ref name="tv" /><ref name="Jones-2019" /><ref name="O'Connor-2019">{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=2019-09-07 |title=Let's talk about sex, baby: How pop music is changing the way we discuss sexuality |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sex-pop-music-troye-sivan-lgbt-religion-lizzo-sophie-marika-hackman-l-devine-a9094606.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221064147/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/sex-pop-music-troye-sivan-lgbt-religion-lizzo-sophie-marika-hackman-l-devine-a9094606.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Natalie |date=2019-08-26 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift Takes the High Road on the More Mature ''Lover'' |url=https://consequence.net/2019/08/album-review-taylor-swift-lover/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018110256/https://consequence.net/2019/08/album-review-taylor-swift-lover/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Some reviewers thought that the lyrics alluded to oral sex ("Religion's in your lips/ [...] The altar is my hips").<ref name="Pitchforkreview" /><ref name="es-l" /><ref name="Gajjar-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Gajjar |first1=Saloni |last2=Carr |first2=Mary Kate |date=2023-10-30 |title='False God' – ''Lover'' |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-underrated-songs-obscure-tracks-1849666689/slides/15 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221044933/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-underrated-songs-obscure-tracks-1849666689/slides/15 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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The narrator talks about physical pleasure using |
The narrator talks about physical pleasure using heavenly imagery: "I know heaven's a thing, I go there when you touch me, honey."<ref name="tr-l" /> The couple encounters challenges ("Hell is when I fight with you")<ref name="time-l" /><ref name="r29-l">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Courtney |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Knows ''Lover'' Is All You Need |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/08/241346/taylor-swift-lover-album-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529190131/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/08/241346/taylor-swift-lover-album-review |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |publisher=[[Refinery29]]}}</ref> and tries to make amends, but puts up with uneasy silence ("And you can't talk to me when I'm like this/ Daring you to leave me just so I can try and scare you/ You're the West Village/ You still do it for me, babe").<ref name="Gajjar-2023" /> Religious imagery continue in the lyrics, "Making confessions and we're begging for forgiveness/ Got the wine for you."<ref name="tv" /> In the [[Refrain|chorus]], the narrator talks about how "religion's in your lips" and "the alter is my hips",<ref name="O'Connor-2019" /> ultimately accepting the false hopes, "We might just get away with it/ [...] Even if it's a false god."<ref name="ner-et">{{Cite magazine |last=Petrusich |first=Amanda |author-link=Amanda Petrusich |date=June 12, 2023 |title=The Startling Intimacy of Taylor Swif's Eras Tour |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/06/19/taylor-swift-eras-tour-review |url-status=live |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804061915/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/06/19/taylor-swift-eras-tour-review |archive-date=August 4, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |url-access=limited}}</ref> The line "We'd still worship this love" is repeated multiple times.<ref name="time-l" /> |
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For some critics, the mentions of |
For some critics, the mentions of NYC and its neighborhood [[West Village]] illustrate the long-distance romantic relationship.<ref name="spin-l" /><ref name="Yahr-2019" /><ref name="Bruner-2019" /><ref name="r29-snl">{{cite web |last=Fredette |first=Megan |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Was Taylor Swift Singing To Joe Alwyn In The ''SNL'' Audience? |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8531228/taylor-swift-saturday-night-live-lover-false-god-performances |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005183135/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/10/8531228/taylor-swift-saturday-night-live-lover-false-god-performances |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |publisher=[[Refinery29]]}}</ref> Raisa Bruner of [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] and Anna Gaca of [[Pitchfork (website)|''Pitchfork'']] thought that the romance in question was a "transatlantic" one.<ref name="Pitchforkreview" /><ref name="Bruner-2019" /> Mary Elizabeth Andriotis from ''[[Teen Vogue]]'' said the heavenly imagery connected "False God" to the fellow album track "[[Cruel Summer (Taylor Swift song)|Cruel Summer]]", and "[[Blank Space]]" and "[[Wildest Dreams (Taylor Swift song)|Wildest Dreams]]", both from Swift's album ''[[1989 (album)|1989]]'' (2014).<ref name="tv" /> In [[Business Insider|''Business Insider'']], Callie Ahlgrim commented that the religious overtones of "False God" were a throwback to Swift's early-career songs such as "[[Our Song (Taylor Swift song)|Our Song]]" (2006), "[[Christmas Must Be Something More]]" (2007), and "[[Come In with the Rain]]" (2008). Whereas those songs saw Swift praying to God and keeping faith, "False God" hinted at guilt and shame, which Ahlgrim found relatable to a [[queer]] audience.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ahlgrim |first=Callie |date=July 10, 2023 |title=43 Taylor Swift songs, interpreted from a queer perspective |url=https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-gay-songs-queer-lyrics-2022-9#false-god-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814212857/https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-gay-songs-queer-lyrics-2022-9#false-god-22 |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> |
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== Critical reception == |
== Critical reception == |
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Many critics praised Swift's songwriting on "False God" and deemed it the most sexually explicit track on ''Lover''. Jeff Nelson from ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' called |
Many critics praised Swift's songwriting on "False God" and deemed it the most sexually explicit track on ''Lover''. Jeff Nelson from ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' called the song a "steamy standout"<ref name="ppl-rh">{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jeff |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Ryan Hurd Releases Sexy Cover of Taylor Swift's 'False God' — and She Approves! |url=https://people.com/country/ryan-hurd-covers-taylor-swift-song-false-god/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109025623/https://people.com/country/ryan-hurd-covers-taylor-swift-song-false-god/ |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> while Bruner deemed it "[Swift's] most sensual take yet".<ref name="time-l" /> Courtney Smith of [[Refinery29]] found Swift's songwriting on "False God" to have confidence that evoked the styles of the musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]].<ref name="r29-l" /> Holmes said that the resemblance to Prince was in the ambiguous lyrics about either religion or sex, and he commented that Swift was "somebody [who] has to step up with one of those".<ref name="es-l" /> Mikael Wood of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' thought that "False God" featured Swift's newfound "emotional wisdom" earned through her experience.<ref name="Wood-2019">{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Review: Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' courts—gasp!—adults with grown-up emotional complexity |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-23/taylor-swift-lover-review |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824181310/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-23/taylor-swift-lover-review |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> He ranked the song seventh out of 18 ''Lover'' tracks, saying that it "blends sex and religion with a breathy assurance [Swift's] never mustered before".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=2019-08-25 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'': All 18 songs, ranked |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-25/taylor-swift-lover-songs-ranked |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914082330/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-25/taylor-swift-lover-songs-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref> Miranda Wollen from [[Paste (magazine)|''Paste'']] dubbed "False God" one of Swift's catchiest songs and a "celebration of womanhood, sensuality and intelligence".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-albulms-ranked |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212135621/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-albulms-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Others praised the production. Gaca lauded the track as "terrific",<ref name="Pitchforkreview" /> and [[Alexis Petridis]] of [[The Guardian |
Others praised the production. Gaca lauded the track as "terrific",<ref name="Pitchforkreview" /> and [[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' complimented the production as "beautiful and strangely subdued".<ref name="guardianreview" /> Zaleski lauded the sound because she thought it showcased one of the "best, most effortless" tunes produced by Swift and Antonoff.<ref name="Zaleski-2019" /> Lydia Burgham of ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' picked "False God" as an album highlight and said its "sensual" soundscape signaled a maturity in Swift's music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burgham |first=Lydia |date=August 29, 2019 |title=Taylor's spectrum of love on ''Lover'' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/album-review-taylor-swift-lover/JPQYVJWGLRMN5JN3NXMA3LHU54/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221102843/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/album-review-taylor-swift-lover/JPQYVJWGLRMN5JN3NXMA3LHU54/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lipshutz ranked the song third among the 18 album tracks and wrote: "keep this on repeat, because it'll go down smooth every time."<ref name="Lipshutz-2019" /> In a list ranking Swift's select 100 songs for ''[[The Independent]]'', Roison O'Connor placed "False God" at number 21; she complimented the saxophone, beats, and Swift's "low murmurs" that were "so full of longing, you feel a bit awkward eavesdropping on such an intimate moment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=2020-07-23 |title=Taylor Swift's 100 album tracks – ranked |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/taylor-swift-lover-best-songs-1989-reputation-red-lyrics-music-videos-a9076476.html |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=[[The Independent]] |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203140818/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/taylor-swift-lover-best-songs-1989-reputation-red-lyrics-music-videos-a9076476.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A few critics regarded "False God" as an influence on the musical stylings of Swift's later albums, [[Folklore (Taylor Swift album)|''Folklore'']] (2020)<ref name="Johnson-2020" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=2023-02-21 |title=Every Taylor Swift album ranked |url=https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222932/https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Midnights]]'' (2022).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wohlmacher |first=John |date=2022-10-24 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift – ''Midnights'' |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Beats Per Minute (website)|Beats Per Minute]] |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104144526/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-taylor-swift-midnights/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On a less enthusiastic side, Jane Song from ''Paste'' thought that some lyrics were clunky and the |
On a less enthusiastic side, Jane Song from ''Paste'' thought that some lyrics were clunky and the NYC references ineffective, but complimented the saxophone that "makes it all better".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Jane |date=February 11, 2020 |title=All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625065820/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs |url-status=live }}</ref> Fitzmaurice applauded "False God" for showcasing a somewhat experimental production, but said it made the album "[sag] a bit".<ref name="Fitzmaurice-2019" /> Writing for ''[[PopMatters]]'', Deborah Krieger remarked that the track was a boring one, criticizing the "saxophone-y flourishes" as "about a half-step below '[[Careless Whisper]]' in terms of pure cheese".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krieger |first=Deborah |date=2019-09-03 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Lover'' Finds Her at Peak Creativity in a State of Romantic Bliss |url=https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-lover-review-2640081922.html |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[PopMatters]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221102036/https://www.popmatters.com/taylor-swift-lover-review-2640081922.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[MusicOMH]]'''s John Murphy opined that the track's placement within the album made it mentally draining to listen to.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=John |date=2019-08-23 |title=Taylor Swift – ''Lover'' |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-lover |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=[[MusicOMH]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221102431/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-lover |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Live performances and covers== |
==Live performances and covers== |
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[[File:Lenny Pickett, 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Swift performed "False God" on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', accompanied by its musical director [[Lenny Pickett]] (pictured) on saxophone.]] |
[[File:Lenny Pickett, 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Swift performed "False God" on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', accompanied by its musical director [[Lenny Pickett]] (pictured) on saxophone.]] |
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On October 5, 2019, Swift appeared on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') as part of the [[Saturday Night Live (season 45)|45th season]] as a musical guest.<ref name="toc">{{cite web |last=Hermanson |first=Wendy |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Lover,' 'False God' on ''SNL'' |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325081524/https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[ |
On October 5, 2019, Swift appeared on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') as part of the [[Saturday Night Live (season 45)|45th season]] as a musical guest.<ref name="toc">{{cite web |last=Hermanson |first=Wendy |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Lover,' 'False God' on ''SNL'' |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325081524/https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Taste of Country]]}}</ref><ref name="compl-snl">{{Cite web |last=Espinoza |first=Joshua |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift Perform 'Lover' and 'False God' on ''SNL'' |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxjoshua-espinoza/taylor-swift-snl-performance-videos |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814212838/https://www.complex.com/music/a/cmplxjoshua-espinoza/taylor-swift-snl-performance-videos |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]}}</ref> She performed "False God" live on a stage decorated with lightbulbs against pitch-black walls as smoke covered the ground.<ref name="toc" /><ref name="nme-snl">{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift perform 'Lover' and 'False God' on ''SNL'' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-taylor-swift-perform-lover-false-god-snl-2554382 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705160445/https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-taylor-swift-perform-lover-false-god-snl-2554382 |archive-date=July 5, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[NME]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kaplan |first=Ilana |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift Debut 'False God,' Strip Down 'Lover' on ''SNL'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-false-god-lover-snl-895383/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610053159/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-false-god-lover-snl-895383/ |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |url-access=limited}}</ref> She was accompanied by background singers, a drummer, a keyboardist, and ''SNL''{{'}}s musical director [[Lenny Pickett]] on saxophone.<ref name="pitc-snl">{{Cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |last2=Bloom |first2=Madison |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift Perform 'False God' and 'Lover' on ''SNL'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-taylor-swift-perform-false-god-and-lover-on-snl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322034045/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-taylor-swift-perform-false-god-and-lover-on-snl/ |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref><ref name="sl-snl">{{cite web |last=Dessem |first=Matthew |date=October 6, 2019 |title=''Saturday Night Live'': Watch Taylor Swift Perform Stripped-Down Versions of 'Lover' and 'False God' |url=https://slate.com/culture/2019/10/snl-taylor-swift-lover-false-god.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202154002/https://slate.com/culture/2019/10/snl-taylor-swift-lover-false-god.html |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref> Swift wore an oversized black-colored blazer and sequined pants;<ref name="usa-snl">{{Cite web |last=Mallenbaum |first=Carly |date=October 6, 2019 |title=''SNL'': Taylor Swift shows off her voice with performances of 'Lover' and 'False God' |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/10/06/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god/3889769002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207021412/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2019/10/06/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god/3889769002/ |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> De Elizabeth from ''Teen Vogue'' likened this outfit to the aesthetic of her 2017 album ''[[Reputation (album)|Reputation]]''.<ref name="tv-snl">{{cite web|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live|title=Taylor Swift Performed 'Lover' and 'False God' on 'Saturday Night Live'|work=[[Teen Vogue]]|first=De|last=Elizabeth|date=October 6, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928223145/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Media publications generally praised Swift's rendition of "False God", labeling it as "loungy" and "vibey" and highlighting her live vocals.<ref name="toc" /><ref name="usa-snl" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift performs 'Lover' and 'False God' on ''SNL'': Watch |url=https://consequence.net/2019/10/taylor-swift-snl-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129092002/https://consequence.net/2019/10/taylor-swift-snl-video/ |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]}}</ref> Pickett's appearance was also applauded for his saxophone performance,<ref name="up-snl">{{cite web |last=White |first=Caitlin |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift's Overdramatic And True Performances Of 'Lover' And 'False God' On 'SNL' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920111313/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Uproxx]]}}</ref> with Matthew Dessem of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' opining that his performance "has got to be the smoothest saxophone sound an ''SNL'' musical guest has had in years".<ref name="sl-snl" /> In [[NPR]], [[Stephen Thompson (journalist)|Stephen Thompson]] ranked Swift's performance eighth out of 18 musical guests of the 45th '' |
Media publications generally praised Swift's rendition of "False God", labeling it as "loungy" and "vibey", and highlighting her live vocals.<ref name="toc" /><ref name="usa-snl" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Alex |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift performs 'Lover' and 'False God' on ''SNL'': Watch |url=https://consequence.net/2019/10/taylor-swift-snl-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129092002/https://consequence.net/2019/10/taylor-swift-snl-video/ |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]}}</ref> Pickett's appearance was also applauded for his saxophone performance,<ref name="up-snl">{{cite web |last=White |first=Caitlin |date=October 6, 2019 |title=Watch Taylor Swift's Overdramatic And True Performances Of 'Lover' And 'False God' On 'SNL' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920111313/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-snl-lover-false-god-saturday-night-live/ |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[Uproxx]]}}</ref> with Matthew Dessem of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' opining that his performance "has got to be the smoothest saxophone sound an ''SNL'' musical guest has had in years".<ref name="sl-snl" /> In [[NPR]], [[Stephen Thompson (journalist)|Stephen Thompson]] ranked Swift's performance eighth out of 18 musical guests of the 45th ''SNL'' season; he described "False God" as a "[less] emotionally rich but more visually eventful" number compared to "Lover".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Thompson (journalist) |date=May 11, 2020 |title=''SNL'' Just Wrapped Its 45th Season: It's Time To Cruelly Rank Its Musical Guests |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/05/11/853565668/snl-just-wrapped-its-45th-season-it-s-time-to-cruelly-rank-its-musical-guests |access-date=December 21, 2023 |publisher=[[NPR]] |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221093116/https://www.npr.org/2020/05/11/853565668/snl-just-wrapped-its-45th-season-it-s-time-to-cruelly-rank-its-musical-guests |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On [[the Eras Tour]], Swift contained a segment of "surprise songs" when she performed random songs from [[List of songs by Taylor Swift|her discography]]—one on guitar and another on piano.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/|title=All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Ashley|last=Iasimone|date=August 10, 2023|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Maddie |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift Performed the Same Surprise Songs As 'Eras Tour' Night 1 During Last Show Before Hiatus |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/music/eras-tour-surprise-songs-rcna141380 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415114543/https://www.today.com/popculture/music/eras-tour-surprise-songs-rcna141380 |url-status=live }}</ref> Each night, she changed tracks to perform, which she picked based on show's location.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs-odds.html|title=What Are the Odds Taylor Swift Plays Your Surprise Song?|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|first=Eli|last=Miller|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=August 14, 2023|url-access=limited|archive-date=June 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617141459/https://www.vulture.com/2023/06/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs-odds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During the stop in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]] on May 27, she sang "False God" on piano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs-7509877|title=Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Surprise Songs: The List So Far|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|first=Liza|last=Esquibias|date=August 10, 2023|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=August 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809192446/https://people.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs-7509877|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bb-et">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-metlife-new-jersey-concert/surprise-song-2/|title=Taylor Swift's Best Moments at MetLife Stadium on Night 2 of Her Blockbuster Eras Tour|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Joe|last=Lynch|date=May 28, 2023|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=August 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814212839/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-metlife-new-jersey-concert/surprise-song-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The New Yorker]]''{{'}}s [[Amanda Petrusich]] opined that the "False God" piano rendition showcased how Swift's voice improved over the years and turned it into a reflective number.<ref name="ner-et" /> Ranking all the "surprise song" sets that Swift performed on the 53 U.S. dates, Nora Princiotti of ''[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]'' ranked it the 28th best.<ref name="tr-et">{{Cite web |last1=Princiotti |first1=Nora |last2=Jones |first2=Lindsay |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Ranking Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Surprise Song Sets |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2023/8/9/23824179/taylor-swift-eras-tour-ranking-best-surprise-songs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813013049/https://www.theringer.com/music/2023/8/9/23824179/taylor-swift-eras-tour-ranking-best-surprise-songs |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |work=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref> In 2024, she performed a piano [[Mashup (music)|mashup]] of "False God" with {{"-}}[["Slut!"|'Slut!']]{{-"}} during the March 8 concert in Singapore and the July 17 concert in [[Gelsenkirchen]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/a-guide-to-all-of-taylor-swifts-eras-tour-surprise-song-mash-ups/|title=Breaking Down All of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Surprise Song Mash-Ups and What They Could Mean|work=[[Us Weekly]]|first=Paige|last=Strout|date=March 8, 2024|access-date=March 9, 2024|archive-date=March 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308235746/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/a-guide-to-all-of-taylor-swifts-eras-tour-surprise-song-mash-ups/|url-status=live}}</ref> and a piano mashup with "[['Tis the Damn Season|{{-'}}Tis the Damn Season]]" during the November 14 concert in [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=West |first=Bryan |author-link=Bryan West (journalist) |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift thanks Toronto for Grammy noms, plays 'This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/11/14/watch-taylor-swift-plays-mashup-of-tortured-poets-reputation-songs/76269204007/ |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=[[USA Today]] |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117231808/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/11/14/watch-taylor-swift-plays-mashup-of-tortured-poets-reputation-songs/76269204007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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"False God" was [[Cover version|covered]] by two musicians, which both received acknowledgements from Swift. The English singer-songwriter [[James Bay (singer)|James Bay]] shared a 45-second-long clip of him |
"False God" was [[Cover version|covered]] by two musicians, which both received acknowledgements from Swift. The English singer-songwriter [[James Bay (singer)|James Bay]] shared a 45-second-long clip of him singing the song's chorus in [[falsetto]] and on guitar in September 2019, which Gil Kaufman of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' dubbed as "gorgeous".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/james-bay-covers-taylor-swift-false-god-video-8529786/|title=James Bay Covers 'False God,' Taylor Swift Flips Out: 'The Talent'|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|date=September 12, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2023|archive-date=December 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210090218/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/james-bay-covers-taylor-swift-false-god-video-8529786/|url-status=live}}</ref> The American [[country music|country]] singer and songwriter [[Ryan Hurd]] performed his rendition of "False God" on his 2020 Platonic Tour, replacing the saxophone with drums and echoing guitars; Swift [[retweet]]ed his performance afterwards.<ref name="ppl-rh" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |date=2020-04-15 |title=Watch Ryan Hurd's Haunting, Taylor Swift-Approved Cover of 'False God' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/ryan-hurd-false-god-cover-taylor-swift-9358673/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |archive-date=June 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620090344/https://www.billboard.com/music/country/ryan-hurd-false-god-cover-taylor-swift-9358673/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
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==Certifications== |
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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "False God"}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=June 14, 2024|refname="ARIA"}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=False God|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2019|access-date=July 25, 2024}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=False God|award=Gold|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|refname="rmnz"}} |
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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Taylor Swift|title=False God|award=Silver|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2019|access-date=September 26, 2024|id=20358-1598-1}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 06:13, 25 December 2024
| "False God" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Taylor Swift | |
| from the album Lover | |
| Released | August 23, 2019 |
| Studio | Electric Lady (New York City) |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:20 |
| Label | Republic |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
| Audio video | |
| "False God" on YouTube | |
"False God" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it has an atmospheric, slow-building production combining neo soul, R&B, smooth jazz, and sophisti-pop. The jazz-influenced composition consists of a saxophone riff, trap beats, and hiccuping vocal samples. The lyrics use religious imagery to depict hardships and intimacy in a long-distance romantic relationship, mentioning New York City and its neighborhood West Village.
Music critics highlighted the sexually provocative lyrics and the sultry production. Some regarded "False God" as an album highlight, but a few otherwise found it unremarkable. Commercially, the song peaked at number 59 on the ARIA Singles Chart and number 77 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian Hot 100. It received certifications in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Swift performed the song on a 2019 episode of Saturday Night Live, assisted by the show's musical director Lenny Pickett on saxophone. She sang it live four times on the Eras Tour (2023–2024). The song has been covered by the English singer-songwriter James Bay and the American country singer Ryan Hurd.
Background and release
Taylor Swift conceived her seventh studio album, Lover, as a "love letter to love" itself that explores the many feelings evoked by love. The album was influenced by the connections she felt with her fans on her Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), which helped her recalibrate her personal life and artistic direction.[1][2] Republic Records released Lover on August 23, 2019. It was Swift's first album under Republic after she ended her previous contract with Big Machine.[3] Lover consists of 18 tracks, and "False God" is track number 13.[4] Prior to the release, Swift included parts of the lyrics in an advertisement on The New York Times.[5] "False God" entered at number 77 on both the charts of the Canadian Hot 100[6] and the US Billboard Hot 100.[7] In Australia, it peaked at number 59 on the ARIA Singles Chart[8] and received a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association.[9]
Production and music
"False God" is 3 minutes and 20 seconds long. Swift wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff, who programmed the instruments and played the keyboards. Antonoff and Laura Sisk recorded the song at Electric Lady Studios in New York City (NYC), and both of them provided backing vocals with Brandon Bost, Mikey Freedom Hart, Cassidy Laden, and Ken Lewis. Michael Riddleberger played live drums, and John Hanes engineered the track. Serban Ghenea mixed "False God" at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Randy Merrill mastered it at Sterling Sound in NYC.[4]
"False God" begins with a saxophone riff (played by Evan Smith)[10] that recurs throughout the track.[11][12] The jazz-influenced song progresses into an atmospheric, slow-building track consisting of trap beats and hiccuping vocal samples,[13][14][15] over which Swift sings with her breathy vocals.[11][15] Music critics described the genre as neo soul,[16] smooth jazz,[17] and sophisti-pop.[18] Some critics described it as a nod to 1980s R&B,[19][20] while Jason Lipshutz of Billboard considered the song "faux-R&B".[21] Lindsay Zoladz from The Ringer described the sound as "sultry",[22] and NME's Nick Levine opined that the song was a "balmy mix of sax and trap".[23] Lipshutz and The Washington Post's Emily Yahr described the production as a slow jam.[21][24] In Vanity Fair, Erin Vanderhoff identified "fun tropes" of 1990s dance music shown through the combination of saxophone and "an electronic skitter".[25]
There were comparisons to the music of other artists. According to Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani, "False God" evokes the 1980s R&B-influenced electropop sound of the Canadian singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen.[26] For Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club, "False God" was reminiscent of the music by the English musician James Blake.[27] Esquire's Dave Holmes compared the sound to the compilation album Pure Moods (1994).[28] Meanwhile, Larry Fitzmaurice from Entertainment Weekly deemed the song a take on the lovers rock sound popularized by the English singer Sade.[29] Writing for the same publication, Marcus Jones wrote that Swift's vocal cadence and the saxophone backing evoked the American singer Bruce Springsteen.[30]
Lyrical content and analysis
"False God" is about how false promises can help overcome the challenges of a long-distance relationship ("We were stupid to jump in the ocean separating us/ Remember how I'd fly to you?").[15][19][31] The song extensively uses religious imagery, mentioning false god, altar, sacramental wine, heaven, and hell.[5][30][32][33] Some reviewers thought that the lyrics alluded to oral sex ("Religion's in your lips/ [...] The altar is my hips").[18][28][34]
The narrator talks about physical pleasure using heavenly imagery: "I know heaven's a thing, I go there when you touch me, honey."[22] The couple encounters challenges ("Hell is when I fight with you")[11][35] and tries to make amends, but puts up with uneasy silence ("And you can't talk to me when I'm like this/ Daring you to leave me just so I can try and scare you/ You're the West Village/ You still do it for me, babe").[34] Religious imagery continue in the lyrics, "Making confessions and we're begging for forgiveness/ Got the wine for you."[5] In the chorus, the narrator talks about how "religion's in your lips" and "the alter is my hips",[32] ultimately accepting the false hopes, "We might just get away with it/ [...] Even if it's a false god."[36] The line "We'd still worship this love" is repeated multiple times.[11]
For some critics, the mentions of NYC and its neighborhood West Village illustrate the long-distance romantic relationship.[15][24][31][37] Raisa Bruner of Time and Anna Gaca of Pitchfork thought that the romance in question was a "transatlantic" one.[18][31] Mary Elizabeth Andriotis from Teen Vogue said the heavenly imagery connected "False God" to the fellow album track "Cruel Summer", and "Blank Space" and "Wildest Dreams", both from Swift's album 1989 (2014).[5] In Business Insider, Callie Ahlgrim commented that the religious overtones of "False God" were a throwback to Swift's early-career songs such as "Our Song" (2006), "Christmas Must Be Something More" (2007), and "Come In with the Rain" (2008). Whereas those songs saw Swift praying to God and keeping faith, "False God" hinted at guilt and shame, which Ahlgrim found relatable to a queer audience.[38]
Critical reception
Many critics praised Swift's songwriting on "False God" and deemed it the most sexually explicit track on Lover. Jeff Nelson from People called the song a "steamy standout"[39] while Bruner deemed it "[Swift's] most sensual take yet".[11] Courtney Smith of Refinery29 found Swift's songwriting on "False God" to have confidence that evoked the styles of the musician Prince.[35] Holmes said that the resemblance to Prince was in the ambiguous lyrics about either religion or sex, and he commented that Swift was "somebody [who] has to step up with one of those".[28] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times thought that "False God" featured Swift's newfound "emotional wisdom" earned through her experience.[19] He ranked the song seventh out of 18 Lover tracks, saying that it "blends sex and religion with a breathy assurance [Swift's] never mustered before".[40] Miranda Wollen from Paste dubbed "False God" one of Swift's catchiest songs and a "celebration of womanhood, sensuality and intelligence".[41]
Others praised the production. Gaca lauded the track as "terrific",[18] and Alexis Petridis of The Guardian complimented the production as "beautiful and strangely subdued".[12] Zaleski lauded the sound because she thought it showcased one of the "best, most effortless" tunes produced by Swift and Antonoff.[27] Lydia Burgham of The New Zealand Herald picked "False God" as an album highlight and said its "sensual" soundscape signaled a maturity in Swift's music.[42] Lipshutz ranked the song third among the 18 album tracks and wrote: "keep this on repeat, because it'll go down smooth every time."[21] In a list ranking Swift's select 100 songs for The Independent, Roison O'Connor placed "False God" at number 21; she complimented the saxophone, beats, and Swift's "low murmurs" that were "so full of longing, you feel a bit awkward eavesdropping on such an intimate moment".[43] A few critics regarded "False God" as an influence on the musical stylings of Swift's later albums, Folklore (2020)[17][44] and Midnights (2022).[45]
On a less enthusiastic side, Jane Song from Paste thought that some lyrics were clunky and the NYC references ineffective, but complimented the saxophone that "makes it all better".[46] Fitzmaurice applauded "False God" for showcasing a somewhat experimental production, but said it made the album "[sag] a bit".[29] Writing for PopMatters, Deborah Krieger remarked that the track was a boring one, criticizing the "saxophone-y flourishes" as "about a half-step below 'Careless Whisper' in terms of pure cheese".[47] MusicOMH's John Murphy opined that the track's placement within the album made it mentally draining to listen to.[48]
Live performances and covers
On October 5, 2019, Swift appeared on Saturday Night Live (SNL) as part of the 45th season as a musical guest.[49][50] She performed "False God" live on a stage decorated with lightbulbs against pitch-black walls as smoke covered the ground.[49][51][52] She was accompanied by background singers, a drummer, a keyboardist, and SNL's musical director Lenny Pickett on saxophone.[53][54] Swift wore an oversized black-colored blazer and sequined pants;[55] De Elizabeth from Teen Vogue likened this outfit to the aesthetic of her 2017 album Reputation.[56]
Media publications generally praised Swift's rendition of "False God", labeling it as "loungy" and "vibey", and highlighting her live vocals.[49][55][57] Pickett's appearance was also applauded for his saxophone performance,[58] with Matthew Dessem of Slate opining that his performance "has got to be the smoothest saxophone sound an SNL musical guest has had in years".[54] In NPR, Stephen Thompson ranked Swift's performance eighth out of 18 musical guests of the 45th SNL season; he described "False God" as a "[less] emotionally rich but more visually eventful" number compared to "Lover".[59]
On the Eras Tour, Swift contained a segment of "surprise songs" when she performed random songs from her discography—one on guitar and another on piano.[60][61] Each night, she changed tracks to perform, which she picked based on show's location.[62] During the stop in East Rutherford on May 27, she sang "False God" on piano.[63][64] The New Yorker's Amanda Petrusich opined that the "False God" piano rendition showcased how Swift's voice improved over the years and turned it into a reflective number.[36] Ranking all the "surprise song" sets that Swift performed on the 53 U.S. dates, Nora Princiotti of The Ringer ranked it the 28th best.[65] In 2024, she performed a piano mashup of "False God" with "'Slut!'" during the March 8 concert in Singapore and the July 17 concert in Gelsenkirchen,[66] and a piano mashup with "'Tis the Damn Season" during the November 14 concert in Toronto.[67]
"False God" was covered by two musicians, which both received acknowledgements from Swift. The English singer-songwriter James Bay shared a 45-second-long clip of him singing the song's chorus in falsetto and on guitar in September 2019, which Gil Kaufman of Billboard dubbed as "gorgeous".[68] The American country singer and songwriter Ryan Hurd performed his rendition of "False God" on his 2020 Platonic Tour, replacing the saxophone with drums and echoing guitars; Swift retweeted his performance afterwards.[39][69]
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Lover.[4]
- Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriting, production
- Jack Antonoff – songwriting, production, recording, programming, keyboards, backing vocals
- Michael Riddleberger – live drums
- Evan Smith – saxophones
- Laura Sisk – recording, backing vocals
- Brandon Bost – backing vocals
- Mikey Freedom Hart – backing vocals
- Cassidy Laden – backing vocals
- Ken Lewis – backing vocals
- John Hanes – engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[8] | 59 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] | 77 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[70] | 77 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[9] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[71] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[72] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[73] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Suskind, Alex (May 9, 2019). "New Reputation: Taylor Swift shares intel on TS7, fan theories, and her next era". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (August 8, 2019). "Taylor Swift Calls Lover Album Her 'Love Letter to Love,' Details 2 Unreleased Tracks". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift Releases Lover the Old-Fashioned Way". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c Swift, Taylor (2019). Lover (liner notes). Republic Records.
- ^ a b c d Andriotis, Mary Elizabeth (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift's New Album Lover Is Out and Here's All the Hidden References You Missed". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Trust, Gary (September 3, 2019). "All 18 Songs From Taylor Swift's New Album Lover Chart On the Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "ARIA Chart Watch #540". auspOp. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Carl (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift's Lover Is a More Mature (Mostly) Successor to Red". Slate. Archived from the original on November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Bruner, Raisa (August 23, 2019). "Let's Discuss the Lyrics to Every Song on Taylor Swift's Lover". Time. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift: Lover Review – Pop Dominator Wears Her Heart on Her Sleeve". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift Finds Her Faith on Lover". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clive; Edwards, Mark; Cairns, Dan; Verrico, Lisa (December 21, 2023). "On record: Pop, rock and jazz, September 1". The Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Sargent, Jordan (August 26, 2019). "Taylor Swift's Lover Shines in Its Quietest Moments". Spin. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Willman, Chris (August 22, 2019). "Album Review: Taylor Swift's Lover". Variety. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Johnson, Chloe (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift – Folklore". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Gaca, Anna (August 26, 2019). "Taylor Swift: Lover Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 26, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c Wood, Mikael (August 23, 2019). "Review: Taylor Swift's Lover courts—gasp!—adults with grown-up emotional complexity". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (October 28, 2023). "'False God' (2019)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c Lipshutz, Jason (August 23, 2019). "Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's Lover: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Zoladz, Lindsay (August 26, 2019). "Taylor Swift Is a Lover and a Fighter". The Ringer. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ Levine, Nick (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift – Lover review". NME. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Yahr, Emily (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift's Lover: A track-by-track breakdown, from coded lyrics to Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake references". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Vanderhoff, Erin (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift's Lover Could Hold the Key to Pop Music's Survival". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift Lover Review: The Album Course Corrects in Multiple Directions". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (August 26, 2019). "Taylor Swift is done proving herself on the resonant Lover". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c Holmes, Dave (August 23, 2019). "When Taylor Swift Eases Up On the Self-Mythologizing, Lover Is Pretty Damn Good". Esquire. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Fitzmaurice, Larry (August 23, 2019). "Lover is pure Taylor Swift, at her most content and confident". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Jones, Marcus (August 23, 2019). "A track-by-track breakdown of Taylor Swift's new album Lover". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c Bruner, Raisa (August 23, 2019). "Your Guide to the Many, Many References Taylor Swift Drops in Lover". Time. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
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