"Love Story" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on September 15, 2008, by Big Machine Records, as the lead single from Swift's second studio album Fearless (2008). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the song was inspired by a love interest of Swift who was unpopular to her family and friends. Swift based the song's narrative on the plot of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1597), as told from the perspective of Juliet, but replaced the play's tragic conclusion with a happy ending. Musically, "Love Story" is a midtempo country pop song featuring soprano vocals and a slow-building melody.
The song received widespread critical praise with many complimenting Swift's writing style and the song's catchiness. The single peaked atop the chart in Australia, where it was certified ten times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). It reached the top five on charts in Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and the U.K., and was one of the best-selling singles of 2009 worldwide. In the U.S., "Love Story" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A success on pop radio, "Love Story" was the first country song to top the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. It has sold over six million copies in the U.S. and 18 million copies worldwide.
The accompanying music video was directed by Trey Fanjoy. The video is a period piece that drew influences from the Medieval, Renaissance, and British Regency eras. It follows Swift and model Justin Gaston as they meet in a university campus and imagine themselves in a prior era. "Love Story" was included in the set lists of all of Swift's headlining tours: the Fearless Tour (2009–2010), the Speak Now World Tour (2011–2012), the Red Tour (2013–2014), the 1989 World Tour (2015) and the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018).
The re-recording of the song, "Love Story (Taylor's Version)", was released on February 12, 2021. Critics praised it for its crisper production, nostalgic emotion, and Swift's matured vocals. The song topped the Hot Country Songs chart, making Swift the second artist after Dolly Parton to reach number one on the Hot Country Songs with both the original and re-recorded versions of a song.
