This week, Taylor Swift returns to the top of the Adult Pop Airplay chart with her single ‘Cruel Summer’! 

With their unique styles and passionate fan bases, Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift have long been at the forefront of pop music. From Swift’s transition from country darling to pop sensation to Cyrus’ iconic Hannah Montana days, both performers have captured the attention of audiences of all ages. But it seems that 2023 is the year for the Blank Space singer to shine.

Yes, Swift has once again proved her dominance in the industry by dethroning none other than the ‘Pop Chameleon’. The former’s chart-topping single Cruel Summer has stolen Cyrus’ Used To Be Young top spot on the Adult Pop Airplay chart, just days after the Hannah Montana alum’s victorious comeback to the top. Only one week after Swift lost her position at the top of a particular count to Cyrus, the Bad Blood singer has now reversed the order, taking back command of a competitive radio chart.

Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer

Miley Cyrus Loses to Taylor Swift in a Musical Showdown
When Miley Cyrus’ powerful anthem Used To Be Young seemed to have sealed her comeback for fans a few days ago, Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer took the radio by storm and dethroned the singer.

Well, Swift is once again leading the Adult Pop Airplay chart this week. Returning to the top of the charts with her hit song “Cruel Summer,” she secures another stay in the penthouse. The track, which is taken from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019), talks about a summer romance that ends in intense, painful circumstances. The list keeps track of the songs that are playing best on adult pop radio stations in the United States.
Miley Cyrus’ Used To Be Young
Until now, Swift’s single has only ranked number one once on the list. According to a recent Forbes report, her 2023 single has topped the charts for the last fifteen weeks. That is one of the most amazing winning runs ever for any song in the history of the chart.

Music critics have praised Cruel Summer, highlighting its appealing melody, energetic production, and clever hook and bridge arrangement. The layered melodies, catchy hooks, and moving lyrics of the song prove how Swift is still evolving and breaking new ground in the pop genre.

Taylor Swift in the music video for Anti-Hero

Cruel Summer: Why Was it Released as a Single?

To the joy of Swifties worldwide, Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer, which made its debut four years ago, is now available as a radio single. She herself confirmed the song’s promotion on pop radio, as reported by Billboard, during her June 17 concert in Pittsburgh. As aforementioned, the song was not included as a single when her seventh studio album, Lover, was released in 2019.

Fans were taken aback to hear Lover, an openly summery song, for the first time when it was released at the end of August 2019. Many questioned why Swift did not make it available as a single sooner in the year so that it could be considered for Summertime Song of the Year (as per POPSUGAR).

Swift’s plans to tour were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the song was never released as a single. Her two surprise albums, Folklore and Evermore, in 2020 did not really let the fans complain, but it seemed like Cruel Summer had become outdated since the singer had never performed it live.

Taylor Swift’s Era Tour ( Picture by Marina Kozak, Credits: TAS Rights Management)
Nevertheless, Swift decided to play the song during her Eras Tour. It is actually the second song in the show, and fans have responded really well to it, which has naturally increased the song’s streaming count. The song already had a lot of support because it reentered the Billboard Hot 100 in June without any promotion, marking the first time that this has happened since Lover was released in 2019.