"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her fourth studio album, Red (2012).

Music critics praised the track for its catchy melody and radio-friendly sound, though some described its lyrics as subpar for Swift's songwriting abilities.

The single spent a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks topping the Hot Country Songs chart and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the US.

When Martin suggested that they write about the incident, Swift began playing the guitar and singing, "We are never ever...", and the song flowed rapidly afterwards.

[16] The production features prominent electronic elements—pulsing synthesizers, processed vocals, and a drum machine, alongside acoustic instruments of guitars and banjo.

Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine and Spin described it as bubblegum pop,[20][21] and AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine categorized the song as dance-pop.

[23] James Lancho, reviewing Red for The Daily Telegraph, called the song "sassy pop-rock in the mould of Katy Perry",[24] and Marc Hogan of Spin deemed the single "saucy electro-pop".

[26] Swift said that the cited lyrics were the song's most important detail because they reveal her real-life ex-boyfriend's judgment of her music, "It was a relationship where I felt very critiqued and subpar.

"[27] Upon initial release, music critics commented on the single's pop production and related it to Swift's country-music identity.

"[33] Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly drew comparisons with Avril Lavigne and praised the "undeniable, instantly catchy hook".

Club commented on "what a good song it is": "With its thumping kick drum, clipped syncopation, and mildly snarky lyrics, it's a teen dream in the vein of Swift's other sing-along jams like "Love Story" or "You Belong with Me.

"[34] Kevin Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a failing D grade, calling it a "huge step backward".

[36] Amy Sciarretto of Popcrush praised Swift for capturing a "universal feeling in an upbeat, empowering song" and described it as "one of the catchiest tunes she's ever penned".

[37] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine described "the melodic hook" as the song's best attribute but criticized Swift's "stilted phrasing".

[20] David Malitz of The Washington Post found the song immature and remarked, "the chorus is catchy but if this is representative of what awaits on Red, it's hard to be too excited".

[38] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday described it as "anthemic in a slick pop way, rather than her usual modern country way ... Part of T. Swizzle's charm is the way she makes her songs sound genuine and conversational and 'Never Ever' is no exception".

[41] "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" featured on 2012 year-end lists by Rolling Stone (second),[42] Time (fourth),[43] The Guardian (fifth),[44] The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll (sixth),[45] PopMatters (11th),[46] NME (24th),[47] and Consequence (40th).

[note 2] The single debuted at number 13 on the Hot Country Songs chart week ending September 1, 2012, based on airplay alone.

[100] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the single six times platinum, denoting six million units based on sales and streaming.

[101] In neighboring Canada, the single peaked atop the Canadian Hot 100, Swift's second number one following "Today Was a Fairytale" (2010).

[120] According to Swift, she wanted the video to be as "quirky as the song sounds" and stated that "There's just knitting everywhere; there's just random woodland creatures popping up.

[122] The video, which is done as one continuous shot,[123] begins with Swift in colorful pajamas recounting the events of her off and on again relationship with her ex-boyfriend (played by Noah Mills).

[125] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News commented that "[Swift's] tone and demeanor in the clip is conversational and sarcastic, ideally suited to simulating intimacy with her massive teen girl fan-base.

[128] David Greenwald of Billboard stated that the video "is a quirky celebration that finds Swift singing and dancing with band members in animal costumes in between relationship flashbacks – all filmed in an elaborate long shot.

Swift wears large glasses and a pair of printed pajamas as she shrugs off her not-so-nice ex-boyfriend, a scruffy, seemingly older musician-type with a penchant for drama.

[130] On September 6, Swift performed the song live at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

[133][134] "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is the opening theme song of the reality TV show Terrace House: Boys × Girls Next Door, which began on October 12, 2012, and is included on some of its soundtracks.

More recently, the song was performed as a mashup with "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" as the finale on Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour.

[146] Sky News remixed portions of speeches by David Cameron to make it appear as though he was reciting the chorus as a promotion for their coverage of the 2014 Scotland Independence Referendum.

[221] According to Hannah Mylrea of NME, Swift's vocal maturity can be observed in the spoken-word moments, including in the line: "With some indie record that’s much cooler than mine".