Say goodbye to the tortured poet and hello to the showgirl! Taylor Swift is back again upon the release of her 12th studio album.
“The Life of a Showgirl,” is a pop album written and produced by Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback. With upbeat melodies and snappy rhythms, it is reminiscent of Swift’s previous collaboration with Martin and Shellback on her hit album, “1989.” “The Life of a Showgirl” dives into the throes of romance, fame and cancel culture.
The first track, “The Fate of Ophelia,” incorporates a rhythmic drum creating a danceable beat. The lyrics explore the feeling of being saved from a dark fate by a relationship. The song sets the tone for the rest of the album with its upbeat, lively tune.
The pop sound persists with “Elizabeth Taylor,” a song discussing romance, this time with a moodier tone. Lyrics like “Be my NY when Hollywood hates me” and “They say I’m bad news, I just say ‘Thanks’” reveal Swift’s annoyance with fame but satisfaction in her relationship. This electropop song is romantic in a slightly dark way.
The dark vibe quickly dissolves as the next track, “Opalite,” opens with a catchy beat perfect for the dance floor. Its addictive melody and optimistic lyrics make it a classic Taylor Swift pop hit.
On the album’s next track, “Father Figure,” Swift interpolates George Michael’s “Father Figure,” a hit from 1987. Swift uses Michael’s words “I’ll be your father figure” in a confident manner, utilizing synthesizers to create a song that feels like it would curse you out if only it cared that much. The track is rumored to be about one of her former mentors in the music industry, asserting itself as snappy and self-assured.
Taylor Swift is famous for her track fives across her discography, always giving the spot to an emotional, honest song that tends to jerk tears. She attempted to continue this tradition with “Eldest Daughter,” but despite its stripped production and glimpses of raw emotion, some of the lyrics are too chronically online. She includes captivating imagery with the lyric “Every eldest daughter/Was the first lamb to the slaughter.” She goes on to sing “So we all dressed up as wolves and we looked fire,” which, for me personally, takes away from the overall imagery and sensitivity of the song. I am partial to the acoustic guitar and piano, but several of the lyrics felt too forced.
Swift’s lyrics seem to come naturally on “Ruin the Friendship,” one of the stronger songs on the album. The guitar, storytelling and potent vocals create a heartbreaking song that deals with regret and grief. Swift describes prom, second period and drifting away from childhood in an honest, relatable way that makes the song easy to connect to. The upbeat tune paired with depressing lyrics is typical of Swift, and she delivered once again.
As the album progresses, we get “Actually Romantic,” a snarky, sarcastic pop song that addresses someone pouring a questionable amount of time into praying for her downfall. Although the lyrics are not her strongest, the beat is compelling.
The theme of romance returns in the next track “Wi$h Li$t,” where Swift emphasizes that she wants her partner and only her partner. This synth-pop track is dreamy and sweet, but nothing about it is exceptional.
Track 9, “Wood” carries a groovy beat and raunchy lyrics. The lyrics feel scandalous for a Taylor Swift song as she sings “His love was the key that opened my thighs.” It is one of the album’s weaker songs lyric wise, but it is strong in its production.
The next song, “CANCELLED!” gets lost in the mix. The lyrics of this electropop track seem awkward and insensitive. I acknowledge the fact that Swift most likely did not mean for the song to be taken super literally, nevertheless, the track feels cringe-worthy.
Swift lightens the mood with “Honey,” where she gushes over being called the pet name in a positive manner. The song is more of that upbeat, dreamy pop that Swift excels in.
The album concludes with its title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” featuring Sabrina Carpenter. This track feels reminiscent of a song you would find in a musical, including a catchy beat and memorable lyrics. It wraps up the album nicely by Swift declaring herself as the ultimate showgirl.
