E96: Cruel Summer, August, hits different: Taylor Swift Summer Songs Breakdown

"Freedom felt like summer then on the coast." What happens when we explore Taylor Swift's music through the lens of summer? In this episode, we explore how summer functions both as a setting and a symbol in Taylor's songwriting. From the cruel intensity of forbidden love to nostalgic August romances and the catastrophic blues of heartbreak, we explore how Taylor uses summer to capture everything from youthful freedom to emotional devastation. Join us as we discuss "Cruel Summer," "august," and "Hits Different" to uncover why summer hits different in Taylor's discography. Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald A Room with a View, E.M. Forster Harry Potter A Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakespeare My Antonia, Willa Cather EXX: Fall Songs  E31: Shakespeare  Grease The Summer I Turned Pretty White Houses, Vanessa Carlton What Happened to Goodbye, Sarah Dessen A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle Episode Highlights: [01:12] Introduction to Summer in Literature [08:11] "Cruel Summer" Lover [17:03] "august" folklore [30:11] "Hits Different" Midnights Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro Contact us at [email protected]  Affiliate Codes:  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.