Taylor Swift has done it once again. Her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has broken records all over the world with 250 million global Spotify streams in the first 24 hours. There is definitely a stark contrast between this album and her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department, further showcasing her musical versatility. Here is a track-by-track breakdown of the 12 new songs Swift has released.
Track 1: The Fate of Ophelia
Swift has stated that she loves Shakespeare’s characters so much that she can’t stand to see them ultimately meet their demise. Ophelia is a character in the play Hamlet. She is the female lead who is ultimately driven mad by her lover and met her tragic end. The message behind this song is that her heart was saved from the fate of Ophelia, meaning that she has found love, not just in a romantic partner, but in many aspects of her life.
As for the music video, the visuals are astounding, and they completely encapsulate the song’s melody and storytelling. Overall, this song could be considered one of her best opening tracks of all time.
Track 2: Elizabeth Taylor
This song has arguably the best beat drop of the entire album. The chorus is extremely
catchy, and the production and vocals fit perfectly with the song’s message. This song is a
narration of fame. Swift does this in many other songs, such as Clara Bow and The Lucky One. She discusses how important it is to have someone who is there for you. It has a darker production and vibe alluding to the dark side of fame, further emphasizing the need for support.
Track 3: Opalite
Opalite has the catchiest melody of any of the songs on the album. The message behind
this song is that once the hard times have passed, there is always a brighter side. Many
speculate this could be partially dedicated to Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, as his birthstone is an opal. An opalite is a man-made opal. No matter how difficult times may be, you can always create your own happiness for a better tomorrow. We can expect Opalite to continue to be a fan favorite as it ages in Swift’s discography.
Track 4: Father Figure
It is no secret that Swift has mentored many current pop stars we know today. She
disclosed that the song Father Figure was based on George Michael’s original song of the same name. The lyrics allude to how she got many of the current stars we know today to where they are; however, they do not credit her with any of their success. This song has jaw-dropping lyrics that we rarely see from Swift, as they are vastly different from her usual style. This song is definitely a top-five song on the album
Track 5: Eldest Daughter
As a classic track five, this is a much slower ballad than the rest of the album. Sonically, it is vastly different from the previous four tracks, but it serves its own purpose. It showcases how she has been somewhat relieved of her eldest daughter’s duties, stereotypically meaning having to do absolutely everything herself. Now that she has embarked on a different journey in life, she can focus on other aspects of her career and personal life, no longer feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Track 6: Ruin the Friendship
Despite the initial upbeat production of the song, the story within this song is
heartbreaking. It calls back to Swift’s high school years. She describes a friend from her
teenage years whom she had a crush on, but was too scared to begin a relationship with. A few years later, she finds out he has passed away. In this song, she urges listeners not to wait and not to be afraid to “ruin the friendship” because she knows how it feels to never know what could have been.
Track 7: Actually Romantic
This song claps back at all the critics who continue to tarnish her work and her name
online. Many speculate that parts of this song directly respond to drama occurring with
pop star Charlie XCX and public figure Kim Kardashian. Swift discusses how she couldn’t care less about those who criticize her, but somehow her existence takes up all of their headspace. The production and lyrics of this song are unmatched.
Track 8: Wi$h Li$t
This song is a lot different from many of her others in the way that it discusses how she
longs for a traditional family life. This development could have come from a need for rest
after the Eras Tour. In some ways, it would be healthy for Swift to settle down after her success. She longs for a sense of privacy and normalcy in her life. I wasn’t a fan of the wording of some of the lines in the chorus, but I find the overall song to be a wonderful story and easy to visualize.
Track 9: CANCELLED!
As many know, Taylor Swift has been “canceled” many times on the internet and in the
media. This song is a play on how all her celebrity friends come to her when they are
experiencing media scrutiny. They know she has endured and figured out how to navigate hate; therefore, she gives helpful advice and comfort to them. It is important to note that the title is spelled the British way. Swift has not explicitly stated the reason for this, but nothing she does is ever accidental.
Track 10: Wood
In this song, Swift is playing on superstitions. She uses the phrase “knock on wood” to
describe how she doesn’t need to play into superstitions to live her dream. This is
regarding her personal life, relationships, and career. The production behind this song is
some of the best on the album, as it fits the theme perfectly.
Track 11: Honey
This song is speculated to be about Travis Kelce as well. It discusses how a nickname
such as honey or sweetheart can be used in a demeaning way or a loving way. One word
can have a different meaning depending on its delivery. This song is good, however, I
found it to be extremely similar to Wood melody-wise wise leaving it less recognizable on its own.
Track 12: The Life of A Showgirl (ft. Sabrina Carpenter)
The title track couldn’t be a better end to the album. Firstly, Sabrina Carpenter’s voice fits
so well on this song. The storytelling is unmatched. Understanding their careers, it can be
seen how relatable this song is to both Swift and Carpenter. It really encapsulates the theme of the album, through the production, the outro, and the addition of Carpenter to the track. The lyricism walks the listener through the intended story so perfectly. Overall, it is a perfect title track and album closer.
Altogether, I found the album, The Life of A Showgirl, to be a near-perfect album. This era is definitely starkly different from The Tortured Poets Department, but still encapsulates lyricism and storytelling well, all while having an upbeat production.