Wikipedia

All of the Girls You Loved Before

Not to be confused with To All the Girls I've Loved Before.

"All of the Girls You Loved Before" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and an outtake from her seventh studio album, Lover (2019). After its demo version was leaked online and went viral on TikTok, "All of the Girls You Loved Before" was surprise-released on March 17, 2023, ahead of Swift's sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour. Swift wrote and produced the song with Frank Dukes and Louis Bell.

"All of the Girls You Loved Before"
Promotional single by Taylor Swift
from the EP The More Lover Chapter
ReleasedMarch 17, 2023
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:41
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Licensed audio
"All of the Girls You Loved Before" on YouTube

A synth-pop love song, "All of the Girls You Loved Before" has lyrics about a narrator's gratitude to the women in her boyfriend's life, including his former girlfriends, for shaping his experiences which led him to her. Music critics complimented the song for its affectionate lyrics and dreamy production. The track charted within the top 25 in several countries and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Global 200. It received certifications in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Background and release

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Swift released "All of the Girls You Loved Before" prior to embarking on the Eras Tour in 2023

Taylor Swift released her seventh studio album, Lover, on August 23, 2019. The album received positive critical reviews[1] and was the global best-selling album by a solo artist of 2019.[2] Swift planned to embark on a concert tour to support Lover in summer 2020 but canceled the plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] During the lockdowns in 2020, she released the indie folk albums Folklore and Evermore. After that, she released two re-recorded albums, Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), in 2021, and another studio album, Midnights, in 2022.[4]

To support Midnights and all of her discography up until that point, Swift embarked on her sixth headlining concert tour and her first in five years, the Eras Tour, on March 17, 2023. The day The Eras Tour kicked off in Glendale, AZ she released four songs: three re-recordings of previously-released songs ("Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)", "Safe & Sound (Taylor's Version)", and "If This Was a Movie (Taylor's Version)") and a previously-unreleased track ("All of the Girls You Loved Before").[5] "All of the Girls You Loved Before" is a song Swift had written and intended to include on Lover but did not make the final tracklist.[6][7] Prior to the song's release, a demo titled "All of the Girls" was leaked online and went viral on TikTok in February 2023.[8][9][10] "All of the Girls You Loved Before" was also included on The More Lover Chapter, a streaming-exclusive compilation that also includes select Lover tracks.[11] On July 29, Swift performed the track as a "surprise song" at the Eras Tour show in Santa Clara, California. She sang it again as part of a mashup with her song "Crazier" (2009) at the tour's Edinburgh stop on June 8.[12]

Composition

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"All of the Girls You Loved Before" was written and produced by Swift, Frank Dukes, and Louis Bell.[13] Dukes is credited under his birthname, Adam King Feeney, as writer. Musicians who played instruments on the track include Dukes (keyboard and guitar) and Matthew Tavares (guitar). Bell and Dukes programmed the song, which was mixed by Serban Ghenea and mastered by Randy Merrill.[13]

"All of the Girls You Loved Before" is a synth-pop song[14] that incorporates a doo-wop progression[15] and soft synths, which bring forth a soundscape that critics described as "dreamy" and "ethereal".[9][16] The track is a love song and media publications interpreted it as a message to her then-boyfriend, English actor Joe Alwyn,[17][18] although Swift did not confirm the inspiration.[19] In the lyrics, a female narrator reflects on her past loves before meeting her current lover ("Crying in the bathroom for some dude whose name I cannot remember now");[14] some critics interpreted this lyric as a reference to the events described in Swift's song "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)".[9][16] She discusses her romantic partner's past love life and expresses gratitude to his ex-girlfriends for making him the righteous man he is now.[14] In the bridge, she appreciates his mother ("Your mother brought you up loyal and kind")[20] and all the women in his life and promises to love him forever.[8]

Reception

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In The New York Times, critic Jon Pareles described the track's lyrics as "Swift at her most forgiving".[15] Jake Viswanath of Bustle opined that "All of the Girls You Loved Before" would have "fit perfectly" on Lover and lauded it as a "spellbound yet self-assured" love song.[16] The Straits Times described it as a catchy tune that has all of the characteristics of a "Swift bop": a memorable, catchy melody and lyrical storytelling.[19] The Independent's Annabel Nugent complimented the production as "dreamy and ethereal pop gold" and the lyrics as "breezy",[9] and The Times' Will Hodgkinson picked the track as an example of "what Taylor Swift does best: to feel things deeply, then present those feelings in a way that anyone, whatever their situation, can relate to".[14] Writing for the Philippine newspaper The Freeman, Januar Junior Aguja lauded the song as both refreshing and familiar, and he wrote that it could have been included as a bonus track on Lover.[10]

"All of the Girls You Loved Before" debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Global 200 and was Swift's 14th top-10 entry on the chart, a record among women.[21] In the United States, the song opened at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. It extended three of Swift's all-time records: the song marked the 189th Hot 100 entry of her career (the most among women), her 80th top-10 entry on the Digital Songs chart (the most for any act), and her first new Hot 100 entry in 2023 (Swift holds the longest streak on the Hot 100 as the first artist with an uninterrupted 18-year run on the chart, having charted a song every year since her debut with "Tim McGraw" in 2006).[22] Elsewhere, "All of the Girls You Loved Before" debuted on the charts of several countries: it peaked within the top 25 in the Philippines (6),[23] Ireland (9),[24] the United Kingdom (11),[25] Canada (12),[26] New Zealand (13),[27] Singapore (13),[28] Australia (15),[29] Malaysia (17),[30] and Hungary (22).[31] The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) gave the song a platinum certification, which denotes 70,000 units based on sales and streaming figures.[32]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal[13]

Charts

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Chart performance for "All of the Girls You Loved Before"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 15
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[26] 12
Global 200 (Billboard)[34] 10
Greece International (IFPI)[35] 47
Hungary (Single Top 40)[31] 22
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 9
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[36] 18
Malaysia (Billboard)[37] 21
Malaysia International (RIM)[30] 17
Netherlands (Dutch Global Top 40)[38] 24
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 90
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] 13
Norway (VG-lista)[41] 32
Philippines (Billboard)[42] 6
Portugal (AFP)[43] 64
Singapore (RIAS)[44] 13
South Korea BGM (Circle)[45] 124
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 55
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 12
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[48] 35

Certifications

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Certifications for "All of the Girls You Loved Before"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Moniuszko, Sara (August 23, 2019). "Taylor Swift Lover reviews: Critics are enamored by the 'earnest,' 'romantic' new album". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  2. ^ "Biggest-selling album worldwide for a solo artist (current)". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Atkinson, Katie (February 26, 2021). "Taylor Swift Officially Cancels Lover Fest Concerts". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  4. ^ "Taylor Swift launches Eras tour with three-hour, 44-song set". BBC News. March 18, 2023. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Hines, Morgan (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift surprises fans ahead of Eras tour with four new songs coming at midnight". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Lane, Lexi (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift Drops 'All Of The Girls' And More Re-Recorded New Songs". Uproxx. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Rettig, James (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift Shares Previously Unreleased Song 'All Of The Girls You Loved Before': Listen". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Sanchez, Rosa (March 17, 2023). "Everything Taylor Swift Says About Joe Alwyn in 'All of the Girls You Loved Before'". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Nugent, Annabel (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift's new song seems to be a love letter to all of Joe Alwyn's exes". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Aguja, Januar Junior (March 30, 2023). "Reviewing Taylor Swift's latest four singles". The Freeman. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "The More Lover Chapter – EP by Taylor Swift". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  12. ^ Smith, Katie Louise (June 9, 2024). "Here's Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour". Capital FM. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "'All of the Girls You Loved Before'". Tidal. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d Hodgkinson, Will (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift: Four new songs review—what the queen of pop does best". The Times. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Pareles, Jon; Zoladz, Lindsey (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift's Lover Outtake, and 8 More New Songs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Viswanath, Jake (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 'All Of The Girls You Loved Before' References This 'All Too Well' Lyric". Bustle. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  17. ^ Bailey, Alyssa (March 17, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 'All of the Girls You Loved Before' Lyrics Seem to Address Joe Alwyn's Romantic Past". Elle. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  18. ^ Bonner, Mehera (March 17, 2023). "Fans Think Taylor Swift's 'All of the Girls You Loved Before' Lyrics Are a Note to Joe Alwyn's Exes". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Hadi, Eddino Abdul; Lee, Jan; Ang, Benson (March 22, 2023). "Life Listens: New music from U2, Taylor Swift, Jimin, Mirror and Jasmine Sokko". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Sheffield, Rob (July 8, 2023). "'All of the Girls You Loved Before' (2023)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Trust, Gary (March 27, 2023). "Miley Cyrus Keeps Atop Billboard Global Charts, Jimin & Taylor Swift Notch Top 10 Debuts". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  22. ^ Trust, Gary (March 29, 2023). "Taylor Swift Scores 189th Hot 100 Hit With 'All of the Girls You Loved Before'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
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  25. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  27. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 13 (24 – 30 Mar 2023)". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  29. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 3, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  30. ^ a b "Top 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 12 (17/03/2023-23/03/2023)". RIM. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023 – via Facebook.
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  32. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  34. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  35. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)(Week: 13/2023)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  36. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of March 29, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 29, 2023. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  37. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "Nederlandse Global Top 40 – week 15, 2023" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  39. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  40. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  41. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before". VG-lista. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  42. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  43. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  44. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 13 (24 - 30 Mar 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  45. ^ "BGM Chart – Week 11 of 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "Taylor Swift – All of the Girls You Loved Before". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  47. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  48. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  49. ^ "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – All Of The Girls You Loved Before". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
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