Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, debuted on October 3, 2025 after weeks of highly publicized online promotion. As a Swiftie myself, I was excited for the new album and captivated by its glitzy vinyl covers and bold track titles. On my first listen, I was disappointed by the album because it didn’t contain the angst and depth of Swift’s previous albums. However, after several listens, I appreciate the album for its catchy pop hits, and would recommend it to people who enjoy more upbeat, happy music.
The Life of a Showgirl delves into Swift’s personal experience with the music industry and fame, her relationship with now-fiancée Travis Kelce, and even her 21-month Eras Tour. Swift described the album as coming from an “infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place.”
TLOAS had big shoes to fill: Swift’s 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department, spent 17 weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The album contains 12 songs, including a track with pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Unlike previous albums, Swift promises that there will be no extra surprise songs to go along with the release.
My favorite song on the album is “Father Figure” with its self-assured tone and catchy bridge: “Whose portrait’s on the mantle? / Who covered up your scandals? / Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled.” In this song, Swift “pays homage to late music legend George Michael” by borrowing the melody and title from his 1987 hit. I love how confident Swift is in this empowering song and how it feels like the more mature version of “The Man” from her Lover album. My second favorite song on the album, “Elizabeth Taylor”, is another tribute to the late Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor who, like Swift, was well-known for her publicized love life. I love the song’s bold chorus: “Be my NY when Hollywood hates me / You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby”, and I highly enjoy its catchy beat and rhythm,
Not all of the album’s tracks resonate with me. I dislike how sexually explicit “Wood” is, and “Honey” just blends in with the rest of the album for me. However, I think that the overall album is quite well-made and that some of my and others’ initial disappointment was due to comparing it to her other albums that explore very different themes and musical styles. I highly recommend that you give The Life of a Showgirl a second listen if you didn’t like it the first time around. While it diverges from the path set by Folklore and Evermore, it is a powerful album that will resonate with hard-core Swifties who are excited to participate in Swift’s bright, confident, “showgirl” era.
Cover Image Source: ELLE