The Life of a Showgirl Thoughts

This is not something I usually do, but I was watching the various baseball games, I listened through the new Taylor Swift album a couple of times. Yes, I realize it’s out at midnight tonight. I saw something fall out of the back of a truck and, well…here we are.

Track 1 - “The Fate of Ophelia”

• Good start to the album. It’s a bit moody out of the gate, but with a fairly catchy chorus. Different sections remind me of some other songs but I haven’t been able to figure out exactly which ones just yet (edit: it’s Lady Gaga “Paparazzi” at one point). Instantly familiar.

Track 2 - “Elizabeth Taylor”

• Evermore vibes but not acoustic. Reputation undertones but not angry. The bridge is great. It took me a few listens to appreciate it.

Track 3 - “Opalite”

• Upbeat and very likeable right from the first listen. This is another track like “The Fate of Ophelia” that felt like I had heard it a million times the first time through. One of my favourites on the whole album and for sure a radio single.

Track 4 - “Father Figure”

• I wanted to hate this one after the first 30 seconds, but it does improve a bit the further in you go. There’s a touch of George Michael “Father Figure” at times, and sprinkle of lounge singer interwoven in as well. It’s not my favourite and might be the lone “skip it” track on the album. Sorry George.

Track 5 - “Eldest Daughter”

• Another one with Folklore/Evermore feels and the piano and then strummed acoustic guitar is really nice. Next tour, this is going to be the song in the acoustic set. She uses every bit of her vocal range – there’s low, quiet Taylor and belt out the high note Taylor. It also reminds me of “Enchanted” in a really, really good way. Top five for me, but I’m also a bit of a sucker for the Swift songs that lean a little country, which this track does.

Track 6 - “Ruin the Friendship”

• From that right into a funky electronic bass groove? Somehow it works. The synth drums and bass are cool. Lyrically it’s a fairly typical “high school love” song and it’ll be popular with the younger Swifties for that reason. It screams Red Era with a bit of a “Girl at Home” theme and vibe.

Track 7 - “Actually Romantic”

• Olivia Rodrigo feels with lots of grungy chord progressions. Decent enough. I might be punishing this one unjustly and it might just need more times and plays.

Track 8 - “Wi$h Li$t”

• A solid track with a very appealing layering that runs through the chorus in an especially nice way. The song takes a bit to get rolling, but as soon as the first chorus hits, things get really good. The “boss up, settle down, gotta wish (wish)…list (list)” bit reminiscent of a number of previous era songs.

Track 9 - “Wood”

• Jackson 5 feel with a very generous helping of modernized 70’s funky fun. This could be the “Shake It Off” for the next decade. It comes in well under three minutes and I kinda wanted it to go on a big longer. The lyrics are, ahem, sexy.

Track 10 - “Cancelled!”

• Moody and dark. It sounds like it was pulled forward from the Reputation era. Very orchestral. My second least favourite song on the album after “Father Figure”.

Track 11 - “Honey”

• The electronic bass and drums are back for another go but with a lovely piano intro. Yet again, it’s familiar and brand new all at the same time. Like many of Taylor’s songs, there are musical and lyrical elements of multiple past albums and tracks interwoven into new songs in such an interesting way. On the right day, at the right time, in the right mood, this is my favourite track. Ahhh…it’s so good.

Track 12 - “The Life of a Showgirl” (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)

• On one hand, this feels like it should be the first track, but “The Fate of Ophilia” is easy strong enough to be the bookend to this track and this song works so well as a closing track its not even funny. I might like the Sabrina Carpenter vocals on her verse more and the bridge channels Olivia Rodrigo again. It’s going to go straight to #1.