<P> "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is a song recorded by American singer - songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift co-wrote the song with its producers, Max Martin and Shellback . The song was released as the lead single from Red on August 13, 2012, by Big Machine Records . Its lyrics depict Swift's frustrations at an ex-lover who wants to re-kindle their relationship . Rolling Stone magazine named the song the second best song of 2012 while it took the fourth spot in Time's end - of - year poll . It has received a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year . It also received a People's Choice Awards nomination for Favorite Song of the Year . </P> <P> The song was an instant commercial success, becoming Swift's first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the first song to hold the top spot for more than one week after a huge leap, since Kelly Clarkson's two - week run of "My Life Would Suck Without You" after the song rocketed from number 97 to the top spot . A music video for the song was released in August 2012 . It was the first music video to be presented in 4K resolution and received positive reviews from critics . A CD single was released in September 2012 by Swift's official store, Amazon.com and US Walmart stores . The single has been certified Quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song is one of the best - selling singles worldwide, with worldwide sales reaching 7 million copies to date (according to the IFPI). </P> <P> After writing Speak Now (2010) entirely solo, Swift opted to collaborate with different songwriters and producers for Red . Thus, she called Max Martin and Shellback, two songwriters and producers whose work she admired, to discuss a possible collaboration . The trio conceived the concept for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" shortly after a friend of Swift's ex-boyfriend walked into the recording studio and spoke of rumors he heard that Swift and her former flame were reuniting . After the friend left, Martin and Shellback asked Swift to elaborate on the details of the relationship, which she described as "break up, get back together, break up, get back together, just, ugh, the worst". 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 . She described the process as one of the most humorous experiences she had while recording, and said the musical partners matched her expectations . An audio clip of her sarcastically speaking about breakups can be heard before the final chorus . The song is reportedly about Swift's ex, Jake Gyllenhaal, as the two had broken up in January 2011 but had been seen on a date a few days later . After the release of the music video, more clues linking the song to Gyllenhaal emerged, with the actor looking like Gyllenhaal, the actor in the video giving her a scarf as Gyllenhaal had reportedly done for Swift and a bracelet Swift wears in the video that is speculated to look similar to that of which Gyllenhaal was rumored to have given Swift for her birthday . </P> <P> Swift premiered the single on August 13, 2012, during a live chat on Google+ and the song was released on Google Play that day for digital download with it being released to iTunes and Amazon.com the next day, August 14 . A lyric video also premiered on Swift's official Vevo that same day . The song was released to Adult Contemporary radio stations on August 13, 2012 with it being released to mainstream radio stations the next day . The song was later released to country radio on August 21, 2012 . The music video for the song premiered on August 30, 2012 . A limited edition individually numbered CD single was released to Swift's official store and Amazon.com on September 4, 2012 . The limited edition CD single was packaged with a "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" T - shirt and backpack . The CD single was also able to be bought individually . The CD single was also released exclusively to US Walmart stores the same day . </P>

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