On Oct. 3, artist Taylor Swift released her twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl (TLOASG). Shortly after being released, there were mixed reactions and comparisons made online by fans. This 41-minute album was different from what many expected it to be.
“I was really excited when she announced this album. It had been a long time since she released an album, and I was looking forward to listening to it, and it matched my expectations. I really enjoyed it, and I think it’s really different from anything she’s produced,” said junior Vivienne Gilliar-Smith.
TLOASG is the shortest album Swift has released since her first album, Taylor Swift, in 2006, and this is her first release since ending her record-breaking world tour, The Eras Tour. The album takes listeners on a journey through her time behind the scenes during the tour, how her life has changed, and her life now. Throughout TLOASG, Swift gives listeners a deeper insight into who she is and where she is hoping to go in her future.
TLOASG is primarily a love letter to her fiancé, Travis Kelce, describing how happy she is right now, with over half the album written about him. Half of the album’s twelve songs are about falling in love, while the rest tackle the struggles that come with fame.
When Swift announced the title, there was a huge shift from the somber mood of TTPD, The Tortured Poets Department, with glittery orange fonts and vibrant backgrounds. Speculation continued with Swift’s acknowledgement of the album being “infectious,” and Kelce’s claim that “they’re all twelve bangers,” in reference to the album.
A lot of the album’s criticism highlights the album feeling rushed and disconnected, while not on par with Swift’s songwriting skills. The album is a victim of mismanaged expectations from many. Unfortunately, those expecting infectious melodies were left disappointed by this album. To a lot of listeners, TLOASG feels musically safe and unexciting.
“I’ve never been a huge fan of Taylor Swift, but since I had seen the album being talked about all over social media, I listened to it. I didn’t like it very much, and I think a lot of the tracks sounded very similar to each other,” said junior Siena McGuffin.
To capture the behind the scenes of her life throughout The Eras Tour, Swift produced the album with Max Martin and Shellback, who have worked with Swift in the past on hits like “Shake It Off” and “I Knew You Were Trouble,” to give this album an electric and vibrant feel.
Many fans defend her choice of lyrics, claiming that Swift has given up on trying to fit in and instead appealed to the Gen-Z audience. Fans of the album claim her production and lyricism made TLOASG stand out among her previous albums, maintaining poetic language while providing listeners with catchy tunes and a danceable beat.
“I found the album to be really catchy. I like how bite-sized it is, and it made it really fun to listen to. My favorite album is 1989, and I think this album is representative of it, with a pop, light-hearted feel,” said junior Simone Gordon.
The album immediately dominated the charts and quickly became one of the biggest debuts on Spotify ever, breaking the record that Swift held with her last album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD). In the US, Swift topped billboard charts, surpassing Adele’s first-week sales record, and also topping the global box office with its accompanying cinematic release. It came in second for first-week streams this year, falling behind country singer Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem.
While many fans are absolutely loving TLOASG, others have criticized it for its simplistic lyricism on certain tracks. An artist like Taylor Swift will always be subject to criticism, especially since she took some risks with this album. Despite this, she welcomes this criticism, explaining that a lot of the lyrics she put in were intentional.