Taylor Swift released her 12th album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” on Oct. 3. This release follows her record-breaking “Eras Tour” and her months-long break from the public eye.
Swift teased the album the week before the announcement, with an Instagram post and a video of the album cover blurred. On Aug. 13, “The Life of a Showgirl” was announced on the New Heights podcast, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce. According to Rolling Stone, Swift gave a two-hour interview, discussing her life after the Eras Tour, her relationship with boyfriend T. Kelce, and, of course, the new album. Swift states that she was working on the album during the Eras Tour, and it’s “the record [she has] been wanting to make for a very long time,” BBC reports.
“I’m so proud of it, and it just comes from, like, the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life, and so that effervescence has come through on this record,” Swift said. “I wanted the album to feel the way my life felt, and this completely matches the way that my life has felt.”
Tracklist:
“The Fate of Ophelia” – This is the lead single off the album and currently the only song to have a music video. The single describes how Swift’s heart was “saved…from the fate of Ophelia,” who tragically died in Shakesphere’s “Hamlet.” A music video was also released for the song, which featured Swift channeling inspiration from showgirls like Marilyn Monroe and Ester Williams. I liked the chorus of “The Fate of Ophelia,” and it sounds similar to previous pop songs from Swift, such as“Blank Space” and “Cruel Summer.” The storytelling element in this song was enjoyable and very much like her earlier album “folklore.”
“Elizabeth Taylor” – Famous actress Elizabeth Taylor was the direct inspiration for the song, with whom Swift shares many experiences, including being famous and facing scrutiny for being in relationships. Lyrics like “oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me” and “you’re only as hot as your last hit, baby” explore the dark side of fame and the negative experiences both Swift and Taylor have faced. The song starts soft in the verse and gets more intense in the chorus, which I like. This one is not a personal favorite of mine compared to other songs on the album.
“Opalite” – Opalite is synthetic opal, and Swift explains that this song is all about making happiness and success, similar to how opalite is man-made. She used to be in a really dark place, but now she realizes that “you [have] to make your own sunshine” and it’s important to work for what’s important. T. Kelce also stated before the album came out that “‘Opalite’ might be [his] favorite.” This track is upbeat and fun, and also a love song, which has not been featured in Swift’s discography recently. Other songs on the album are heavy, but this is the perfect happy and feel-good song that has been missing in Swift’s other recent albums, like “The Tortured Poets Department.”
“Father Figure” – Singer-songwriter George Michael’s song “Father Figure” inspired Swift to write this song, and she even included a lyric from Michael’s song, “I will be your father figure.” This song describes a relationship between a mentor and a younger person in the music industry. These relationships are frequent in the industry. The song lyrics explore how the mentor “built” the mentee into a star, and how she “showed [them] all the tricks of the trade,” and the only thing she wanted was “loyalty.” However, Swift sings that “this empire belongs to me,” and she holds all the cards over the person who tried to use her. I really enjoyed the message behind his song and the overall vibe it gave off, which resonated with the feeling on the “reputation” album.
“Eldest Daughter” – As the middle daughter, I didn’t relate to this song as much as other songs. Swift sings about the pressures and expectations that sit on the shoulders of the eldest daughter. Traditionally, the fifth track on Swift’s album is the saddest song, and “Eldest Daughter” sits with other heartbreaking songs like “So Long, London” and “The Archer.” Swift describes being the eldest daughter as a “terminal uniqueness” and the “first lamb to the slaughter.” Track fives are usually some of my favorites, but this one isn’t.
“Ruin the Friendship” – “Ruin the Friendship” is about taking chances and “ruining the friendship” by confessing feelings for someone. Swift reminisces about how she “should’ve kissed you anyway,” when talking about a high school friend turned crush. At the end of the song, she advises to “always ruin the friendship” and it’s “better than regretting it for all time.” This happy song quickly turns somber, as Swift details how the friends she liked passed away, and she never got to confess her feelings. I feel like this should have been track five, with the meaning behind this song one of Swift’s saddest, and this is one of my favorites on the album. Even with the sad lyrics, the song has an overall upbeat tone and is similar in the way it gives advice to “How You Get the Girl.”
“Actually Romantic” – Swift believes that people who hate her are “actually romantic,” and it’s sweet that they spend so much time and energy thinking about her. A “love letter to someone who hates me” is how Swift describes this song, with
fans speculating who this song could be about since she has had many negative encounters with other celebrities over the years. The lyric “no man has ever loved me like you do” is used to show how much attention this person is giving to Swift. This song is not at all what I thought it was going to be like, but regardless, I still like it. It’s short and reminds me of “thanK you aIMee.”
“Wi$h Li$t” – Everybody’s wish list looks different, and Swift wants to “settle down” with someone. She sings how others’ wish lists include “yacht life” and “an Oscar on the bathroom floor.” The song hints at Swift and T. Kelce’s personal life and how they might want to start a family. “Wi$h Li$t” has a catchy beat, but overall, I feel like this song was pretty forgettable.
“Wood” – There are many superstitions, such as flipping a penny, picking petals off a flower, and wishing on stars. Swift shares that she has done all of these things to ensure she would be lucky. Swift sings that she’s “been a little superstitious,” but now that she’s cheerful and “ain’t got to knock on wood.” Swift even references T. Kelce’s podcast, “New Heights,” in the song. This song is quick and was different from her other songs in terms of lyrics.
“CANCELLED!” – This song was one of my predicted favorites, and it lived up to my expectations. Swift has been “canceled” many times over her career, with the most memorable being in 2016, when she feuded with Kanye West. She also has many friends who have been canceled, including Blake Lively and Brittany Mahomes. She sings “good thing I like my friends cancelled” and that they will have “matching scars” from all the hate they received. Swift “salutes [s] you if you’re much too much to handle,” which could refer to Sabrina Carpenter and the public backlash she’s faced regarding her lyrics. This song sounds like it comes off of “reputation,” because it really matches that album’s theme.
“Honey” – “Honey” and “sweetheart” are common pet names used in relationships, but when Swift has experienced these names, it’s “passive-aggressive.” However, in her current relationship, her lover has “redefined all of those blues when you say honey,” and the meaning for Swift has gone from horrible to something romantic. She sings that “you give it a different meaning cause you mean it when you talk,” unlike everyone else who said it rudely and to tear her down. Even though I liked the meaning of this song, it’s probably one of my least favorite songs. It doesn’t have a unique beat or anything that differentiates it.
“The Life of a Showgirl” feat. Sabrina Carpenter – Carpenter opened for Swift on The Eras Tour and has even performed with her. The title track is a song with a lot of storytelling, describing how Swift met a showgirl named Kitty and shared how she wanted to be like her. However, Kitty warned her that being a showgirl isn’t all that fun and that Swift “doesn’t know the life of a showgirl.” Swift and Carpenter then became showgirls, and thanks to Kitty, they “knew what to expect” and “paid dues with every bruise.” At the end of the song, Swift sings that she couldn’t be unknown even “if [she] tried.” Like with “The Fate of Ophelia,” I enjoy the storytelling element in this song and was excited to listen to a Swift and Carpenter collaboration, since they are some of my favorite artists.
Overall, I liked this album, but it’s definitely not in my top three Swift albums. I really liked the album aesthetics and all of the media that were released to promote it. “The Fate of Ophelia” music video is also interesting and different from other music videos Swift has released.
