Written by: Maya Paddon
As a lifelong Taylor Swift fan, I almost expect my life to be changed once I hear her new music. I listened to the evermore album seven times through on its release day, nearly cried tears of joy when I first listened to the Midnights album, and excitedly took detailed notes during my first listen-through of The Tortured Poets Department. I truly think these are natural results of being a hopelessly devoted Swiftie. Consequently, as I impatiently waited around on the eve of October 3rd, I anticipated Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, to immediately have a transformative effect on my life in some way, anxiously wondering what songs would make me shed tears, turn into my go-to’s for dance parties, and maybe even become some of my favourite songs of all time.
Thus, when I concluded my first full listen of The Life of a Showgirl and wasn’t completely blown away, I thought that this album would be a complete flop. I mean, these new lyrics weren’t as poetic as, say, every song on folklore, evermore, or The Tortured Poets Department were. There were 12 songs on the whole album (not very many compared to the 31 that made up The Tortured Poets Department), and Swift didn’t tease anything filled with ‘easter eggs’ on her socials the day of the release. Everything just felt different from her other album releases, at least in my experience.
However, now that I have had a few weeks to process the album’s entirety (i.e. meticulously analyze each and every lyric, theme, and production element on the album) my perspective on The Life of a Showgirl and its place within Swift’s discography has shifted entirely.
But first, let’s take a look at just how globally popular and notable this album has been over the past month, while also analyzing some key aspects of The Life of a Showgirl…
Record-Breaking Release
Even before its official release, The Life of a Showgirl was breaking records. For instance, news outlets revealed that it became the most pre-saved album in Spotify history (Spotify). Moreover, Swift’s appearance on fiancee Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast where she first announced her twelfth studio album earned 1.3 million concurrent views, the most of any podcast episode on YouTube (MTV Lebanon).
The album only continued to break records on its release day. On the Billboard Hot 100, all twelve songs on The Life of a Showgirl occupied every single top spot on the chart (Sherman). Additionally, Swift broke the record for most vinyl copies of an album to be sold within just one week in the United States, with approximately 1.2 million copies purchased. The Life of a Showgirl also marked Swift’s fifteenth number one album in her career, and she now has the most number one albums out of all music artists in the 21st century (Siwak).
Regardless of the general public opinion on The Life of a Showgirl, there is no doubt that it has quite literally taken over the world since its release, generating millions of dollars worldwide, inspiring new TikTok trends, and adding to Swift’s already admirable list of accomplishments.
Production Elements
For each song on The Life of a Showgirl, Swift collaborated with Max Martin and Shellback, two big-name music producers whom she previously worked with on the Red, 1989, and Reputation albums. Swift’s collabs with Martin and Shellback are known to be some of her biggest pop hits in her career, including “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “Blank Space,” “Bad Blood,” and “Delicate,” among others.
The songs on The Life of a Showgirl have proven to be no different. For instance, the production on “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Opalite,” and “Honey” is incredibly catchy and infectious; the type of music that gets played on the radio every hour.
Other tracks have some different production styles. “Eldest Daughter” is slower with piano accompaniment all throughout, whereas songs such as “Actually Romantic” and “CANCELLED!” feature some electric guitar and synths, all while working together with the rest of the songs to keep the album cohesive sound and mood-wise.
Some tracks even take inspiration from theatrical sounds and elements. Take the title song, “The Life of a Showgirl” featuring Sabrina Carpenter, for example. Sonically, the bridge sounds like it came straight from a musical theatre performance. The song’s outro even contains a clip of fans cheering at Swift’s final Eras Tour show in December of 2024, allowing fans to reminisce about what was truly a dramatic and absolutely iconic tour.
Lyrics
Like some of the production components, the storytelling and pop culture elements give The Life of a Showgirl a theatrical quality lyrically. For instance, in “The Fate of Ophelia,” Swift references Shakespeare’s Hamlet character through exploring the parallels between her life and Ophelia’s. And, in the second track, “Elizabeth Taylor,” Swift compares her life to the 50s film star as she discusses their shared experiences with regards to love and living in the public eye.
Swift also places a large emphasis on the emotions and life events she experienced behind-the-scenes throughout the Eras Tour. In the title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift and Sabrina Carpenter analyze both the challenges and rewarding aspects of show business, explaining how music stars like themselves will “never know another” way of life. And in “Opalite,” Swift sings about moving past obstacles and creating her own happiness. This is something she presumably learned to embrace over the course of the Eras Tour.
For the most part, however, Swift’s lyrics on The Life of a Showgirl communicate her current happy state; they are sweet, cheerful, and light. This exemplifies a shift from Swift’s past four albums (folklore, evermore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department) which were incredibly metaphorical and poetic from a lyrical standpoint.
Fan Opinions and Personal Conclusions
At first, many fans (including myself) thought these songs on The Life of a Showgirl would turn into the “Shake It Off”’s and “Love Story”’s of Swift’s discography; so catchy and iconic that they would become overplayed and immediate ‘skips’ on playlists. Even Swift described the tracks as “so infectious you’re almost angry” on Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast. But, after a few weeks, I have come to the personal conclusion that this album may not ‘fit’ perfectly with the rest of her works, but it doesn’t really need to in the first place.
Throughout her career, Taylor Swift has proved time and time again that she has an incredibly wide range of musical abilities, hopping from genre to genre, exploring unique ideas through her lyrics, and working with numerous musicians. For instance, she made the transition from country to pop music in between the Red and 1989 eras, and began writing about fictional characters for folklore. The Life of a Showgirl marks another change in Swift’s music style as she writes about the vibrant, dramatic, and generally happier aspects of her life while touring, which could easily be why the album has received some criticism for not being as poetic or complex as her last few albums.
But ultimately, The Life of a Showgirl’s upbeat production, energetic nature, and primarily lighthearted lyrics are simply a reflection of Swift’s current life stage; she is recognizing her success, accomplishments, fame, and overall happiness. All of Swift’s past albums have served this same purpose in that they reveal to listeners her current emotions, thoughts, and desires. Her more recent albums have just featured more melancholy production than The Life of a Showgirl does.
The point is that this album is unique for Swift. She has fully utilized her musical and lyrical skills to convey her honest thoughts, just like she did for albums one to eleven. And even if The Life of a Showgirl isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, its distinct style, aesthetic, and themes only further expand Swift’s impressive array of talents and overall flexibility as a musician.
Works Cited
MTV Lebanon. “Every Record Taylor Swift Has Broken so Far with the Life of a Showgirl.” MTV Lebanon, 2024, www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/International/1621960/every-record-taylor-swift-has-broken-so-far-with-the-life-of-a-showgirl#:~:text=Even%20before%20the%20album%20was,15%20UK%20No.1%20albums.&text=%2D%20New%20record%20for%20most%20copies,U.S%20(1.2%20million%20sold). Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Sherman, Maria. “Taylor Swift’s the Life of a Showgirl Makes Album Sales, Music Chart History in 1st Week.” CBC, 14 Oct. 2025, www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/taylor-swift-album-selling-record-9.6937525. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Siwak, Miranda. “All the Records Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl Has Broken so Far.” Us Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025, www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl-records-broken-so-far/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Spotify. “Taylor Swift’s ‘the Life of a Showgirl’ Breaks Spotify’s 2025 Single-Day Streaming Record — Spotify.” Spotify, 3 Oct. 2025, newsroom.spotify.com/2025-10-03/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-spotify-record/#:~:text=Another%20record%20in%20the%20books&text=Just%20days%20before%20its%20release,by%20THE%20TORTURED%20POETS%20DEPARTMENT. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.