Being one of the most popular artists comes with being one of the most hated, and that has always been the case for Taylor Swift. Her albums were too country, then not country enough. Her lyrics weren’t deep enough, then they were too deep. For twelve albums, it’s been the same story over and over, which brings us back to the same conclusion every time: itís impossible to make an album that satisfies everyone.
Her 12th album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is her return to pure pop, or “glitter gel pen writing,” as she calls it. This is a big switch from the “quill” writing of her last album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which was 31 songs of deeply poetic writing. “The Life of a Showgirl” is much more focused on the production of each song and having fun with the writing.
Contrary to what appears to be popular opinion, I loved this album from my first listen. The first track and lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is just a generally fun and catchy song that goes along with a great music video. I appreciated the video and song even more after going to the AMC movie premiere and got to see the behind-the-scenes of the music video. Listening to this song alone is like a breath of fresh air from the sad and deep writing of her last four albums. The vibe of the album reminds me a lot of her early pop albums like “1989” and “reputation,” which remain some of my favorite albums.
My favorite song from the album is “Elizabeth Taylor,” which is an edgy love song filled with references to the life of Elizabeth Taylor. I loved this song from the very first listen and have only grown more appreciation as I learn more about the references within the lyrics. As an eldest daughter, “Eldest Daughter” is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. While the lyrics for this song are getting a lot of hate, I really resonate with it and can really relate to the feelings depicted in the song. “Father Figure” also stands out to me, especially as I listen to the album more and more. The story and imagery that the song depicts are so strong, and the sound is different from a lot of the rest of the album.
I think that sometimes, a fun pop album is just what you need. Listening to “The Life of a Showgirl” instead of “The Tortured Poets Department” on my way to school puts me in a better mood every day. Overall, I would rate the album an 8/10.
