‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ by Taylor Swift: A Break From The Breakups

Album cover of ‘A Life Of A Showgirl’ By Taylor Swift

By Chloe Greer, Photo Essay Desk Lead

Taylor Swift, one of this century’s greatest pop artists, has been through many eras. From country to pop to folk to rock, she truly has done it all. Taylor Swift fans, or ‘swifties’ as they are famously known, anxiously waited all year long to see what their favorite pop sensation will do next. This past August, Swift surprised her fans with the announcement of her 12th studio album, “The Life Of A Showgirl,” which was set to release on October 3. 

Differing drastically from her last album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” this new production from Swift is filled with upbeat, happy tunes. Taking a peek into Swift's life on the Era’s tour, it shows both the glamour and the gore of being a showgirl. 

After listening to the album on repeat for about a week, I narrowed down my top three favorite songs from the album, and my favorite aspects about them. Here they are, from least favorite to most:

Starting off with my third favorite song on the album, we have “Wi$h Li$t.” Even though I usually take a liking to the more downbeat, emotional songs on albums, ‘Wi$h Li$t’ stood out to me the very first time I listened to it. Swift’s message in this song highlights all of the things that typical people wish for. Riches, fame, and other materialistic longings don’t compare to what Swift wishes for. She makes it clear in the song that all she longs for is a life with the one that she loves. I felt this was a sweet song, with sincere meaning. It added a positive tone to the album with its upbeat tune and meaningful lyrics. 

My second favorite song on the album would have to be “Elizabeth Taylor.” While this song has similar themes to “Wi$h Li$t,” the execution of the song is vastly different. Swift creates this song to have rhythms and beats throughout that create a more moody vibe. While the theme of longing is still present in the lyrics, the musical components create a much more serious beat. I enjoy the mood this song displays. I feel it gives a break in the flow of the album, which adds a moment for a bit of drama. 

Lastly, my favorite song from “The Life Of A Showgirl” is “Opalite.” This song is exactly what society needs right now. It provides a reminder that even though life is hard, you can always rely on yourself to create the joy you deserve. It highlights the beauty of dancing through the hard times and keeping your head up. It displays a message that is important to remember when wading through the waters of life. Leaning back into the upbeat pop sound, Swift uses all sorts of musical elements to make sure that this song is fueled with the positivity that the lyrics enforce. 

While every song on the album is unique and vital to the success of “The Life Of A Showgirl,” these three songs are the ones that stuck out to me. While fans initially were a little taken aback by the shift in theme from the last album, they have come around and learned to appreciate the beauty of the new album. Take time to give the whole album a listen and pay special attention to the positive, happy vibes Swift delivers throughout.