Wood is such an embarrassing track to release like holy shit
It really felt like she had fun this album and people are not used to her happier site. There are some good songs and great performances as always. We always look back favorably at the best songs of each album and this one got a few.
I can’t wait for us to be disappointed when the next album isn’t as danceable as this one.
I’m actually really surprised about how many negative (and neutral)* comments I’ve seen about the album!
I personally really like it, but my first Swift album was 1989, and really love that happy “glitter gel” pop songs from each album. I actually was a huge hater of Reputation until I got some headphones that could actually play the bass sounds and then was a believer.
Lyrically I don’t think it’s her best album, but the album is short and definitely sweet. It’s an album full of ear worms, which is what I like.
It’s kinda something else - she has put that backstory of her “coming undone” after the eras tour but I’m not convinced. It feels way to curated and at the same time zusammenhanglos. I watched the New Heights Podcast and two or three Swiftie-explain-Videos, so I have some sort of understanding of some expectations. I’ve been to the album release cinema experience and we had a fun time. I was stunned about getting a look into the very cool executed art of the “Fate of Ophelia” video. But that’s it, no deeper connection to that album.
I’m a Folklore-stan, so this it not my album at all. But: I like her being snappy in “Cancelled”. That is the only song that resonates with me 💅
For myself it’s not extremely memorable. There are some bops like Opalite, Cancelled, and The Life of a Showgirl. I don’t see myself putting the album in my main rotation, however. On their own, the tracks don’t fit anywhere in my playlist. (Sidenote: she really likes the word bouquet in this one, lol)
Anyway, I did say that TTPD wouldn’t go in my main rotation for a while when it came out, and it’s now my third most played album next to Midnights and folklore so… maybe my opinion will change.
What I appreciate about this one is that The Life of a Showgirl was my introduction to Sabrina Carpenter. I have to admit that I like Man’s Best Friend a lot more, lol
The album is mediocre. Catchy songs, but it’s mediocre. I walked into this album coming off the highs of Folklore, Evermore, The Tortured Poets’ Department anthology, and was overall optimistic for The Life of a Showgirl.
In her previous albums, I thoroughly enjoyed Taylor’s insightful lyrics, stories, and honesty. I enjoyed those previous albums because of how well-written they are. TTPD is one of my favorites because of the honesty, the emotion, and the artistic and masterful writing. Showgirl left me disappointed, and it’s the one Swift album I’ve listened to only a handful of times to try to force myself to figure out what this album means, no matter how catchy some of the songs are. Turns out the album is direct, and I don’t detect any metaphors or hidden meanings. But I’m also not a full-fledged Swiftie and don’t know the lore and all the intricate connections between the albums. So, the only conclusion I can draw is that Life of a Showgirl is just… vapid.
I talked about this new album with my swifty spouse, and they gave me some backstory I wasn’t aware of. My spouse watched the lead-up podcast with Jason and Travic Kelce. Taylor Swift talked about this album, the production, inspiration, etc. I’m paraphrasing my spouse, but basically Taylor Swift said that she loves getting the recognition for her albums because she’s competitive. When she didn’t get anything for TTPD, she was disappointed. So she did a 180. Her inspiration for Showgirl was to make a catchy and showy album, with lots of bops and bangers. She decided she wasn’t going to use her eloquent lyrical prowess, and thus, we get Showgirl. A vapid album that doesn’t mean much to me. There’s no honesty. The lyrics suck. It sounds like a pop album rather than a Taylor Swift album. The notorious track 5 was a let down. But I guess she wants an award and the accolades or something.
How can we go from beautiful lyrics like this:
We hereby conduct this post-mortem He was a hot house flower to my outdoorsman Our maladies were such we could not cure them And so a touch that was my birthright became foreignSay it once again with feeling How the death rattle breathing Silenced as the soul was leaving The deflation of our dreaming Leaving me bereft and reeling My beloved ghost and me Sitting in a tree D-Y-I-N-GTo the lyrics in “Wood” from The Life of a Showgirl. I’m flabbergasted.
Frankly, I’m disappointed in the album. I’ll still listen to Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, and The Life of a Showgirl (track), but the rest of it is just mediocre, and I can think of at least one song that I genuinely hate. That final track introduced me to Sabrina Carpenter, and she has a lovely voice. Haven’t heard anything from her but I’ll check out some of her work.
As for Showgirl, this one will sit in a drawer. I hope that, if she puts out a new album, she’ll return back to the masterful writing of Folklore, Evermore, and TTPD.
The “make a completely different album because the last one didn’t win any awards” thing sounds exactly like what she did going from Reputation to Lover, as well. I remember seeing her reaction when she didn’t win anything for Reputation and she just says, “it’s fine, I’ll make a better album.” Of course, changing things up is not necessarily a recipe for success…
@CatZoomies @TheMinions I find she has varied quite a lot through her career. The earlier albums were a bit all over the place. TTPD & Folkmore where special and had a consistent feel.
I think the contrast make TLOAS seem disjointed.
There’re some of that witty writing in this album. Just look at the classic links between songs and previous ones.
Also, bringing a “tiny violin to a knife fight” is pure Taylor gold, as it’s such a wonderfully absurd phrase.
Less intense, but some highs.
There’s a few catchy poppy songs but the lyrics aren’t as good as The Tortured Poet Department and musically not as good as Midnights. I don’t think it’s bad but it’s not a record I would put on for just myself.
