Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album The Life of A Showgirl on Oct. 3. She started as a 12 year old with a guitar and a passion for country music, and became a billionaire pop star known all over the world. Between her engagement to Travis Kelce and her new album, the media has become a storm of opinion.
Swift has been in the eye of pop culture since the second she entered the music industry. Do we really care who she’s recently dated or her style of music? Her new album may be different, but Swift proves her worth.
“She tried to replicate what other popular artists were doing with their music. Like Sabrina Carpenter for example, she’s better known for her innuendos,” said sophomore Lindsi Martin-Trainor. “It didn’t work out and honestly fell flat because of her previous image of being this ‘innocent child,’ which was created by all the songs she released as a minor.”
At the start of Swift’s fame, she aimed towards a country and pop-country image. Over time, her interest in country music faded and she leaned towards pop, indie folk, synth pop and alternative rock styles. The Life of A Showgirl, however, focuses on soft rock and pop. Controversy over the internet claimed the album did not have the same “spark” her past albums obtained.
“A lot of her lyrics were trying to relate to the youth more than her main demographic, which tends to be millennials, or older Gen Z at this point,” said Martin-Trainor.
The album consists of a mix of current social propaganda such as social media and the insecurities that reflect on young women. It also refers to Swift’s own personal achievements like the love interest of her fiancee, Travis Kelce. Some found that her lyrics were “too mature” or “not mature enough”, developing mixed opinions.
“Overall the album is vastly fun and full of hits. I think a lot of judgement comes from a few lyrics that people feel are not up to Taylor’s usual standard, and they overshadow all of the great aspects of the album,” said sophomore Sage Mersch. “Which in my opinion, this album far outnumbers its faults. While there are valid criticisms of The Life of a Showgirl, I feel it fits well in Taylor’s discography and it is very infectious.”
I personally love The Life of A Showgirl. I have a lot of vivid memories of dancing to her music around the house when I was five after she released her 5th studio album, 1989. I grew up with her music and have loved her throughout her changes. The contrast of her lyrics gives me a way to imagine my own emotions in a twist of hers. That has always been the thing I admire about her music
“With the return of collaborators Max Martin and Shellback as producers, the album was set up to be an album that everyone could enjoy, even those who aren’t necessarily Taylor Swift fans,” said Mersch.
The Life of A Showgirl feeds into Swift’s growth throughout the years of her songwriting and her improvements as a person. After listening to Swift for so long, her music has always given me something to look for. This album allowed me the opportunity to see my own growth right along with hers.
