The Life Of A Showgirl, aye?
Where to begin? I suppose, with Act 1. Because this is only the first act, isn’t it? This can’t be the full body of work. Yes, I can be prone to believing a conspiracy or two, but I will not bore you with the tangled, red-twine-like details. The bottom line is, this isn’t Taylor’s finest piece of work, which is what I said for her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department. Considering that I’m only prone to skipping two of the 31 songs on that album, I have a feeling I will be just as fond of this album in a few months.
Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, is out in the world and was the most-streamed album in a single day on every single streaming platform (Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc). However, I am not here to boast about how much my idol has dominated charts, because although it’s definitely an impressive feat, it is made easier when you have the support of an army-like fanbase behind you.
My first listen at my desk in the office had me moving and grooving, before those feelings waned. Upon the end of my second top-to-bottom listen of the album, I had picked my favourites in the unapologetically pop sound of both “Elizabeth Taylor” and “Wood”. The upbeat melodies of “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Opalite” were also top contenders, being the kind of songs I was promised.
And by promised, I mean Taylor’s inclusion of crediting the album’s producers, the brilliant Max Martin and Shellback, in every Instagram post led me to believe we were getting a 1989-style album (pun intended), packed with banger after banger. Production-wise, it's an amazing album. In terms of the storytelling and cohesive sound… this feels like a slightly incomplete project.
Multiple TikToks and analysis with my fellow Swiftie friend, result in fans easily fitting every song on the album onto a previous Taylor album. Now, this could be a result of the previous 11 sonically independent albums to choose from, but it could also be due to the lack of thematic cohesion on this new record.
You’re probably thinking, “but Lottie, the framed Taylor picture in your kitchen and knack of subtle ‘Swiftie Street’ sign in your hallway begs to differ - you love this woman and all of her work!”. And while, yes, I am a fangirl by trade (insanely neurologically wired to detect her songs at the drop of a hat, Taylor’s Version included), I am someone who maintains journalistic and creative integrity
So if I’m feeling awry about the work I have been served after being told it was going to be something different, then I’ll say that. My days of being a fiercely defensive fangirl are over*. Do I need to have something expected? Not necessarily, because Taylor has impressively proved again that she never does the same thing twice. I just can’t quite pinpoint what has disappointed me about this album.
That being said, nothing is ever as it seems with the recently betrothed Ms Swift. Where coworkers have had daylight savings to blame for their disrupted sleep schedule, I could only blame mine on the doomscrolling I feel contractually locked into. Swiftie hat on, I’m watching countless TikToks and doing my own research into possible Easter Eggs that could point to more music or perhaps a documentary that will play as a final piece of the puzzle to bring clarity to this confusing yet catchy album release.
To summarise, I am evolving. I am more than happy to have these conversations as a writer and woman who acknowledges that not even her celebrity idols are perfect, and to focus on the art; I have been trying to tell you this. Here is my current** ranking of songs without explanation; do with it what you will. It’s my first time releasing such sensitive information, and it was not easy to do.
Elizabeth Taylor
Wood
The Fate of Ophelia
Wi$h Li$t
Actually Romantic
Honey
Eldest Daughter
Ruin The Friendship
Father Figure
Opalite
CANCELLED!
The Life of a Showgirl (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
All this being said, I have not listened to anything else since it was released. Duh.
*This fangirl may relapse at any time. Please grant her grace in those moments.
**Positions on this ranked list are subject to change; do not blame the writer when this inevitably happens.
