Taylor Swift returns to pop music, but can she stick the landing?
(Zoey Lawrence | CM Life)
Coming hot off the heels of her worldwide tour, global singer Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," on Oct. 3.
This new release marks Swift’s return to traditional pop music, after releasing deep, synth and folk music for the last five years. While the first six tracks are fresh pop beats, the latter half of the album is more so a return to her former albums, with tracks like "CANCELLED!" and "Wi$h Li$t", sounding more akin to what fans would’ve heard on "reputation", back in 2017. Track 11, "Honey", sounds similar to something Swift would've released on her "Lover" album in 2019.
The album opener and lead single, "The Fate of Ophelia", pays homage to the character Ophelia from Shakespeare’s play "Hamlet". Swift subverts the character’s fate of death, noting that her lover has saved her from facing a similar fate to the character. This song is a phenomenal opener, with its catchy beats, easy lyrics and one of her best music videos.
Although she’s done pop in the past, this song is an entirely new kind of pop. It’s catchy, it’s loud, and it’s making a statement that the sad, melancholic Swift that fans have come to know, is no longer available.
The album continues into "Elizabeth Taylor" and "Opalite", which respectively sound different than anything she’s done before. "Elizabeth Taylor" has a strong jazz club lead-up into the chorus and an incredibly good beat drop, while "Opalite" feels like a spiritual successor to "Bejeweled," from her album "Midnights," which was released in 2022.
"Father Figure" is an interpolation of George Michael’s song of the same name, but instead focuses on the power dynamics of the music industry. "Eldest Daughter" is a painful reflection on growing up, being the one leading the pack. "Ruin The Friendship" chronicles Swift’s regret of never expressing the feelings she had for a friend in High School who tragically passed away.
This is where the album begins to struggle.
"Actually Romantic" serves as a poorly done diss track towards EDM/Pop singer Charli XCX. The two were once friends, but after hearing the lyrics of this song, it seems as if things have changed between them. While it has a great beat, one that Swift has never used before, its lyrics tend to bog it down.
"Wood" is up next, and it is already shaping up to be one of the most controversial tracks on the album. Swift starts by talking about superstitions, but quickly veers into talking about her private affairs with Travis Kelce, making numerous references to it. The lyrics have quickly stirred debate online among parents who believe the inappropriate lyrics are not safe for young listeners.
The closing track of the album, "The Life of a Showgirl," featuring Sabrina Carpenter, is a return to Taylor Swift’s storytelling through her music. This song details two young girls meeting a showgirl after a performance and how they crave to also be in the spotlight. It’s a fun, catchy song that long-time fans are sure to enjoy.
"The Life of a Showgirl" is a fun, campy pop album with sometimes incredibly unserious lyrics and catchy beats. Swift sticks the landing, but not without some controversy from the mainstream media. I give this album 8/10
