Taylor Swift, as usual, made an impact when she released The Life of A Showgirl on October 3.
Whether you love her or hate her, it’s hard to ignore the fact that everything she does seems to have a headline these days.
Popular reception has been mixed: some have called tracks “cringey, sour, diet indie rock” (Pitchfork.com), while die-hard ‘Swifties’ celebrate the new music with listening parties and social media posts.
Honestly, the album as a whole didn’t impress me. It sounded polished and tasteful, like most of Swift’s work, but lacked the passion and creativity of previous projects. The style of the album was far more upbeat than The Tortured Poet Department (Swift’s last album), yet it was too slow to dance with.
So how do these new songs stack up against Swift’s so-far hits?
- Wi$h Li$t
Stereotypical. Shallow. Swift sings about the desires of men and her own wishes in this track. The lyrics are superficial, the beat is generic, and the melody is forgettable.
- CANCELLED!
One word: cringe. It’s been said before, and it’ll be said again, but any song unironically containing the line ‘Did you girl-boss too close to the sun’ can never be taken seriously.
- Wood
Ah, it’s the obligatory Travis Kelce song. Too bad that Swift spent the whole development of this song focused on her fiancé’s ‘redwood tree’, and not actually writing a worthwhile song.
- Eldest Daughter
As an eldest daughter myself, I really had high hopes for this song. But instead of a deep, well-crafted song, we instead get yet another shallow, average soft-pop track.
- Father Figure
Again with the offensively cringe lyrics! For such an esteemed lyricist, you’d think that Swift would be able to recognize terrible lines such as, “I can make deals with the devil because my ****’s bigger.”
- Actually Romantic
The most interesting part of this song is the possible beef between Swift and fellow pop star Charli XCX. Besides that, there’s nothing too interesting or too worthy of criticism.
- Ruin the Friendship
Cute but hollow. This song is a poor man’s “Cruel Summer”, with some of the charm and none of the infectious energy.
- Honey
Perhaps I’m just a sucker for earworm beats and mild declarations of love, but this track leaves me with a positive feeling after every listen. It’s just a happy, fun song.
- Opalite
This is Taylor Swift. Glitzy, upbeat, and an enjoyable song to play at parties where nobody listens to the lyrics.
- The Life of a Showgirl ft. Sabrina Carpenter
Carpenter brings a refreshing change in sound with this song, her voice blending well with Swift’s style. The fact that actual instruments can be heard is a big plus, too.
- The Fate of Ophelia
The second song by Swift which references Shakespearean tragedies, this song is a delightful listen. Its catchy melody and interesting premise lift it above mediocrity.
- Elizabeth Taylor
This may not be the biggest hit off The Life of A Showgirl, but I think it’s by far the most interesting. Swift actually sings on this one, and it’s a refreshing break from the crooning and warbling of the other songs.
