Album: The Life of a Showgirl
Label: Republic Records
Release date: October 3, 2025
Rating: 9/10
On Aug. 13, Taylor Swift made an appearance on her fiancé, Travis Kelce’s, New Heights podcast. She announced her upcoming twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Prior to its release on Oct. 3, Swift promoted the album by using glamorous ‘showgirl’ aesthetics and luxurious visuals.
The album opens with its lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” a melancholy, synth-driven song inspired by Ophelia, a tragic figure in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet who was driven to insanity, which later resulted in her death. Swift expresses that the listener had ultimately saved her from the fate that Ophelia had suffered — a possible nod to her relationship with Kelce.
“Elizabeth Taylor,” on the other hand, uses strings and bass to tell a glamorous tale worthy of Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor’s name. This song conveys Swift’s desire to keep a romantic partner despite constantly being in the spotlight, which is something that she had previously struggled with.
“Opalite,” the third track, carries a somewhat similar theme to “The Fate of Ophelia” and “Elizabeth Taylor.” In this particularly upbeat song that is driven by soft guitar, bass and drums, Swift reveals that despite previously struggling with finding love due to being a global superstar, she had finally been able to do so. Similarly, the synth-backed “Wi$h Li$t” and piano-driven “Honey” are both lighthearted songs in which Swift declares her love for her partner.
“Father Figure,” stands out on this album, mainly due to it being an interpolation of George Michael’s 1987 smash hit of the same name. In this song, which is driven by soft synths and heavy drum beats, Swift addresses the listeners as if they were her protégés, and that all she requires from us is our loyalty, that of which she already has from her millions of adoring fans.
In true Swift fashion, her fifth track, titled “Eldest Daughter,” is her most vulnerable, as all her fifth songs on each album are. Backed by piano and guitar in an almost-acoustic ballad, Swift laments on her experiences in the music industry and how she had to put up a strong persona in order to survive. However, she notes that this persona is nothing more than a facade, and that all she wants is to not let the person she loves down.
“Ruin The Friendship,” is a guitar-driven anecdote about a high school friend whom she had feelings for. Despite having upbeat instrumentals, “Ruin The Friendship,” also tells the heartbreaking story of her old friend passing away after Swift had already left town to pursue a career in music. Many fans have theorized that this song could be about Jeff Lang, Swift’s longtime friend who had passed away and the inspiration behind “Forever Winter,” a song from Red (Taylor’s Version), her second re-recorded studio album.. Additionally, Swift mentions her high school best friend Abigail Anderson, who had previously been mentioned in her song “Fifteen,” from her second studio album, Fearless (2008).
This album is not just about romance and heartbreak; it’s also about acceptance. In “Actually Romantic,” Swift makes a bold statement on how she cannot control the actions of others, and instead of being hurt by hatred and jealousy, she chooses to see these behaviors as flattery instead. Similarly, in “CANCELLED!,” she expresses how in the worst of times, that’s when you’ll figure out who is real and who is “fake.”
“Wood” is more than just a cheeky song that talks about superstitions and knocking on wood. Swift boldly alludes to the sexual aspect of her relationship with Kelce, which is something that she hasn't discussed much in previous albums.
The album ends with its title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” featuring Sabrina Carpenter who opened for Swift in the Latin American, Australian and Singaporean legs of “The Eras Tour.” In this song, which primarily consists of softer-sounding instrumentals, Swift and Carpenter both sing about the reality of being a showgirl: being broken while also being beloved.
The Life of a Showgirl is more than just another Taylor Swift album. It dives into a number of aspects of Swift’s own personal life, such as how she deals with fame, as well as how she maintains a relationship while being in the prime of her career. Whether it be from the life of a celebrity or the life of a person in love, in this alluring album, Swift elegantly describes what really goes on behind the scenes in the life of a showgirl.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
