"CRUEL" TO BE KIND: TAYLOR DROPS MORE MUSIC

Taylor Swift can't stop, won't stop. The Republic megastar surprised her fans on Wednesday night (10/18) with the live tour version of "Cruel Summer" and an accompanying remix by producer LP Giobbi, packaged, along with the original single, as The Cruelest Summer. Swift explained in an Instagram post that she was so moved by the response to The Eras Tour film that she felt it was only right to reward her ever-loyal Swifties.

All three cuts from the mini-release (maxi-single?) occupy the top three positions at iTunes as of this writing.

"I’ve been watching videos of you guys in the theaters dancing and prancing and recreating choreography, creating inside jokes, casting spells, getting engaged, and just generally creating the exact type of joyful chaos we’re known for," reads her post. "One of my favorite things you’ve done was when you supported Cruel Summer SO much, I ended up starting The Eras Tour show with it."

Written by Swift, St. Vincent and Jack Antonoff, the original version of "Cruel Summer" arrived in 2019 as part of the Lover album and quickly became its signature track.

Reports of Travis Kelce singing background vocals on the live version have yet to be confirmed. In the meantime, listen to all three versions below.

HITS LIST GOES
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. (6/28a)
ON THE COVER:
SABRINA CARPENTER
Not one but two songs of the summer (7/1a)
ISLAND KINGS
Perpetuating Blackwell's legacy (7/1a)
GEORGE PRAJIN: PUNCHING HIS WAY TO THE TOP
The man in Peso's corner (6/28a)
MERCK TO STEP DOWN AS HSM CHAIRMAN
End of an era (7/2a)
THE GRAMMY SHORT LIST
Who's already a lock?
COUNTRY'S NEWEST DISRUPTOR
Three chords and some truth you may not be ready for.
AI IS ALREADY EATING YOUR LUNCH
The kids can tell the difference... for now.
INDIE DISTRIBUTION'S RISE TO GLORY
The discovery engine is revving higher.
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