Travis Kelce has declared Taylor Swift's new song 'Cleveland!' a 'banger,' but some listeners responding online are far less convinced, with one commenter directly asking the NFL star: 'Are you sure?'
Kelce praised the track during the 30 September episode of New Heights, giving a shout-out to Swift for writing about his hometown. His brother Jason Kelce was equally enthusiastic, saying he and wife Kylie Kelce had been listening to the song 'so much.'
The reaction comes as 'Cleveland!' continues to receive mixed responses online, with some listeners defending the upbeat track while others have mocked Kelce's assessment and questioned the song's quality.
Travis Kelce Calls Taylor Swift's Song a 'Banger'
Discussing the song on New Heights, Travis said: 'Cleveland is rocking right now!' before giving Swift a shout-out for 'just giving the city a little more punch.'
He then delivered his verdict on the track: 'It's a banger. Come on, man.'
Jason was similarly enthusiastic, calling the song 'incredible' and revealing that he and Kylie had been playing it frequently.
The enthusiasm is understandable given the song's personal connection to the Kelce family. Travis and Jason grew up in the Cleveland area, while Swift uses the track to reference Travis' childhood, their relationship and his connection to Cleveland Heights.
Why Taylor Swift Wrote 'Cleveland!' About Travis Kelce
'Cleveland!' is one of four songs added to The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, the expanded edition of Swift's 2025 album. The track was released on 25 September 2026.
The track focuses on Swift's relationship with Kelce while addressing criticism she says has been directed at her.
She sings about Kelce taking her to Cleveland and showing her 'The Heights,' before declaring: 'This is the love of my life.' The song also references their 3 July 2026 wedding with the line, 'Now I'm wearing white.'
The accompanying lyric video also features previously unseen footage of Swift and Kelce visiting places connected to his Cleveland background.
Fans Ask if 'Cleveland!' Is Really a 'Banger'
While the Kelce family has embraced the song, some listeners responding online have openly challenged Travis' description.
One commenter directly addressed him, writing: 'Are you sure @killatrav ... are you sure it's a banger?' Another simply asked users to 'define "banger,"' while others wrote 'Uhm, nope', 'It really isn't' and 'It is in fact, not a banger'.
Some responses mocked the word itself. One commenter joked that 'banger' was being used 'very loosely', while another asked: 'It's the banger in the room with us?' Someone else quipped that Kelce may have meant 'burger'.
Some commenters went beyond jokes, with one writing, 'I love Taylor's music and this song made my ears bleed', while another called it 'the worst song I have ever heard.' A separate commenter wrote: 'When Travis says it's a banger that's when you know it's bad.'
The reaction reflects the mixed response reported elsewhere, with Vice documenting criticism of the track alongside enthusiasm from some Ohio-based listeners.
Other Listeners Defend Taylor Swift's Cleveland Song
Not everyone agreed with the criticism. Some commenters described 'Cleveland!' as uplifting and enjoyable. One called it 'one of the most uplifting songs I've heard in such a long time,' while another said the track had grown on them.
Another listener praised its connection to the couple, writing that Swift had made the song for Kelce and that 'for him it is a banger.' Others said the track made them 'want to dance and smile' and described it as 'a lot of fun.'
That split reaction puts Kelce's enthusiastic verdict at the centre of the online debate. While he and his family have embraced Swift's personal Cleveland tribute, some listeners are still asking whether 'Cleveland!' really earns the 'banger' label.
