Taylor Swift’s newest album, “The Life of a Showgirl”–commonly referred to as “TLOASG”–was released on Oct. 3. Forgive me if I’m not too impressed.
Fans have mixed opinions about it, and as an avid Swiftie, I agree. While I thoroughly enjoyed the album since it was something new from Swift, overall, I can only give this album a 5 out of 10. It’s just alright, but it did not live up to all the hype. In fact, I’d say this is one of her worst albums yet, with some parts almost sounding like they were generated by AI.
You’ll have to decide for yourself what you think–fellow Swiftie or not–but if you want a sneak peek of what to expect, here’s a breakdown of the songs on the album.
The Fate of Ophelia
The opening track references the death of Ophelia, the lead character in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” It depicts her pledging loyalty to Prince Hamlet, which contrasts with the cowardly Hamlet in the original play. When I say some parts sound AI, I really mean it in this track. Between the lyrics and Taylor’s voice, I feel like I could have made this myself using virtually any AI platform.
Elizabeth Taylor
The second track, titled after the American actress Elizabeth Taylor, has Swift contemplating romance and fame. She sings “Do you think it’s forever?”, a possible reference to either Taylor’s many marriages (eight, that is) or to her long-time fame as an actress. One of the better-written songs on the album, this song reminds me of a “Reputation” vault track.
Opalite
This upbeat track is one of my favorites. Swift describes celebrating the happiness of being in a relationship with the right person, in this case, her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
As noted in People, which referenced Swift’s interview with Hits Radio, Swift said, “Opalite’ is a song about forgiving yourself for having gone through something that didn’t pan out the way you wanted it to. It’s giving yourself permission to not have it all figured out or not marry the first person you ever dated.”
Father Figure
The fourth track reworks George Michael’s 1987 song of the same title. Featuring an orchestra, it shows Swift as the leader of her career, standing up against other strong and influential men in the industry. I enjoyed this track, but it’s not one of my favorites.
Eldest Daughter
The fifth track, considered by some to be the saddest on all of Swift’s albums, is a minor-key piano ballad in which Swift sings about her insecurities and her awareness of public opinions about her. It concludes with her being in a happy relationship. This song is one of the better songs on the album–that is, until the cringe line where she says, “This isn’t savage.”
“It’s about unmasking the facades we put in front of ourselves,” said Swift in “Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” and just saying, like, ‘Yeah, I’m not all those things we aspire to be culturally.’ Sometimes you do want connection, softness, and sincerity, and that’s okay.”
Ruin The Friendship
The sixth track blends elements of teen pop and 1990s country, and it tells the story of Swift’s teenage romance with a boy from her high school, which never developed into a real relationship. She feels regret about it because the boy has passed away. I liked the song, but it’s not in my top five.
Actually Romantic
Some say Swift’s seventh track is a diss track directed at the British singer Charli XCX’s song “Sympathy is a Knife”, which was claimed to be about Swift. The song also references XCX’s “Everything is Romantic.” The lyrics of the track express confusion and frustration over another woman’s intense obsession with Swift, with her finding the situation “actually sweet.” I personally loved BRAT Summer and Tortured Poets Spring, so seeing their beef still going on is actually painful (no pun intended.)
WI$H LI$T
The eighth track is a power ballad in which Swift expresses her desire for a peaceful domestic relationship, rather than just wealth or fame. Some people online have labeled this as “tradwife core,” but honestly, it’s unfortunate that someone would want to live a simple, settled life and be judged for it.
CANCELLED!
In the tenth track, Swift places herself among the figures that the public has previously mocked. To me, this song feels like a “Reputation” vault track, and almost like an Olivia Rodrigo pop-rock. The “Did you girl-boss too close to the sun?” lyric made me audibly cringe.
Honey
The eleventh track is an R&B-influenced country pop song. In it, Swift talks about the joy of being with someone sincere and not passive-aggressive or arrogant. This is such a fun love song; it reminds me of a track from her much-better album, “Midnights.”
The Life of a Showgirl
The closing and title song, “The Life of a Showgirl,” references American singer Sabrina Carpenter, who was one of the opening performers at the Eras Tour. The lyrics tell the story of a showgirl named Kitty, who comes from Las Vegas and faces the difficulties of working in show business before becoming a successful performer. The spoken outro was recorded after the last Eras Tour concert in Vancouver in December 2024.
You can see what you think for yourself by streaming Swift’s “TLOASG” on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
