You Need To Calm Down

"You Need To Calm Down"
Single by Taylor Swift

Single
Alternative
Clean Bandit Remix
Live from Paris

General information

Artist

Taylor Swift

Recorded

November 2018-February 2019

Released

June 13, 2019 (single)
August 23, 2019 (album)
May 17, 2020 (Live from Paris)

Genre

Electropop, synth-pop

Length

2:51

Album

Lover

Label

Republic Records

Writer(s)

Swift
Joel Little

Producer(s)

Little
Swift

Singles chronology
Previous	Current	Next
"Me!"	"You Need To Calm Down"	"Lover"

*Lover* track list
"False God"	"You Need To Calm Down"	"Afterglow"

Music video

"You Need To Calm Down" is the fourteenth track from American singer and songwriter Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, Lover, released on June 13, 2019, through Republic Records.

Background[]

In the Spotify storyline for this song, Swift said of the song: "I wrote this song about the energy and effort that some people put into spreading negativity. With all of the trolling, cancel culture, telling people how to live their lives, or pitting women against each other... you're being too loud. This is a song where I'm just saying, "You Need To Calm Down." Go outside, it's the summer."

Music video[]

The music video, filmed on a set in Santa Clarita, California, was released on June 17, 2019, as a premiere on Good Morning America and YouTube. It featured over 21 special guests, most of which are a part of the LGBT+ community.

Much of Taylor’s new merchandise was featured in the video as part of the wardrobe and accessories worn by Taylor, like the Cat watch, sleeping mask that says "calm down", and her glittery phone case that reads "Lover".

Full list of who was in the video in order of appearance, not counting Swift herself:

Dexter Mayfield
Hannah Hart
Laverne Cox
Chester Lockhart
Todrick Hall
Hayley Kiyoko
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Justin Mikita
Ciara
Queer Eye‘s Fab Five:
- Tan France
- Bobby Berk
- Karamo Brown
- Antoni Porowski
- Jonathan Van Ness
Adam Rippon
Adam Lambert
Ellen DeGeneres
Billy Porter
RuPaul
Katy Perry
Ryan Reynolds

Drag queens as female pop singers

Tatianna as Ariana Grande
Trinity The Tuck as Lady Gaga
Delta Work as Adele
Trinity K. Bonet as Cardi B
Jade Jolie as Taylor Swift
Riley Knox as Beyoncé
Adore Delano as Katy Perry
A’keria C. Davenport as Nicki Minaj

Behind the scenes[]

You Need To Calm Down Behind The Scenes-YNTCD - Pop Queen Pageant

You Need To Calm Down Behind The Scenes - Trailer Park

You Need To Calm Down Behind The Scenes- Morning Routine

You Need To Calm Down Behind The Scenes- Friends & Neighbors

Awards and nominations[]

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref
2019	Teen Choice Awards	Choice Summer Song	Nominated	^[1]
	MTV Video Music Awards	Video of the Year	Won	^[2]
		Song of the Year	Nominated
		Video for Good	Won
		Best Pop	Nominated
		Best Direction	Nominated
		Best Art Direction	Nominated
		Best Editing	Nominated
		Best Power Anthem	Nominated
		Song of Summer	Nominated
	BreakTudo Awards	International Clip of the Year	Nominated	^[3]
	American Music Awards	Favorite Music Video	Won	^[4]
	Telehit Awards	Best English Video	Nominated	^[5]
	Telehit Awards	People's Best Video	Nominated	^[5]
2020	Grammy Awards	Best Pop Solo Performance	Nominated	^[6]
	iHeartRadio Music Awards	Best Lyrics	Nominated	^[7]
	Queerty Awards	Anthem	Runner-up	^[8]
	Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	Favorite Song	Nominated	^[9]
	Berlin Music Video Awards	Best Cinematography	Nominated	^[10]
	BMI Pop Awards	Award-winning Song	Won	^[11]
	BMI Pop Awards	Publisher of the Year	Won	^[11]

Lyrics[]

[Verse 1]
You are somebody that I don’t know
But you’re taking shots at me like it’s Patrón
And I’m just like, "Damn, it’s 7 A.M."
Say it in the street, that’s a knock-out
But you say it in a Tweet, that’s a cop-out
And I’m just like, "Hey, are you okay?"

[Pre-Chorus]
And I ain’t trying to mess with your self-expression
But I've learned the lesson
That stressin’ and obsessin'
‘Bout somebody else is no fun
And snakes and stones never broke my bones

[Chorus]
So, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to calm down
You’re being too loud
And I’m just like
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to just stop
Like, can you just not step on my gown?
You need to calm down

[Verse 2]
You are somebody that we don’t know
But you’re coming at my friends like a missile
Why are you mad? When you could be GLAAD
(When you could be GLAAD)
Sunshine on the street at the parade
But you would rather be in the dark ages
Making that sign, must’ve taken all night

[Pre-Chorus]
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

[Chorus]
So, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to calm down
You’re being too loud
And I’m just like
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to just stop
Like, can you just not step on his gown?
You need to calm down

[Bridge]
And we see you over there on the internet
Comparing all the girls who are killing it
But we figured you out
We all know now
We all got crowns
You need to calm down

[Chorus]
So, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to calm down
You’re being too loud
And I’m just like
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
You need to just stop
Like, can you just not step on my gown?
You need to calm down

Live performances[]

Swift performed the song live for the first time at the Amazon Prime Day Concert on July 10, 2019. It was also performed at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. Swift performed the song at the City of Lover concert in Paris, and it was performed multiple times while Swift was promoting Lover, including at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball 2019 in London, and at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball in New York City. "You Need To Calm Down" is also on the main setlist for The Eras Tour.

Merchandise collection[]

For a full list of merchandise from the collection, visit You Need To Calm Down/Merchandise.

Trivia[]

The scene featuring Ellen DeGeneres was shot 20 minutes before Taylor's interview on The Ellen Show.
The song's lyric video was posted on Donald Trump's birthday.
Taylor stated Ariana Grande, Adele, Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj were some female artists that have been pitted against each other by the industry and media.