Taylor Swift, Lover reviews: What critics are saying about the musician’s latest single

Critics have praised the romantic ballad, relieved at the absence of more bubble-gum pop

Taylor Swift has just dropped her new single “Lover” ahead of the release of her album of the same name on 23 October.

The album’s lead single “Me!” was met with a rather frosty reception by critics, who labelled it “bubble-gum” and claimed it was some of her weakest writing to date. Second single “You Need to Calm Down”, didn’t fare much better, and was accused of lacking vulnerability.

However, it appears with “Lover”, Swift may have finally cracked it.

Writing in The Telegraph, Alice Vincent proclaimed the single “swooning, playful, codified to the hilt and steeped in romance,” and went on to describe it as “practically made for first dances.”

Meanwhile, Raisa Bruna wrote in Time: “Lover is something different than the bright singalong pop that has marked the two singles. It’s certainly catchy, but it treads a more acoustic, folksy path. You can even hear a tambourine. It’s a laid-back love song that draws on her particular style of highly specific storytelling.”

Louise Griffin claimed in the Metro Swift had “gone back to her roots”, and added that it’s a “sweet, breathless, straight-up love song.”

The single also received a positive write-up in Billboard, where Bonnie Stiernberg labelled it “an old-school ballad with a booming snare, keys and a wholesome Sixties vibe.”

Watch the video for “Lover”​ below:

“Lover” is out now and available to download and stream on various platforms.