The Life of a Showgirl — Taylor Swift
Overall:
3.7/5
Production:
3.7/5
Lyrics:
3.1/5
Musicality:
4/5
Vocals:
3.8/5
I think we all went into this album not knowing what on earth to expect, but I enjoyed this album a lot. The Life of a Showgirl feels like Taylor Swift in full command of her artistry — playful, confident, and fully leaning into the spectacle. At just 41:40 across 12 tracks, it’s tight, glittery, and surprisingly self-aware. You can feel the showgirl concept come through from the jump — sparkly on the surface, but layered with reflection, legacy, and a wink that says, “I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Taylor brought back Max Martin and Shellback, the duo behind Red, 1989, and Reputation, and you can tell. The production is sharp, the hooks hit hard, however the album still feels like it’s lacking from a pop perspective. All that considered, my money’s on “Honey,” “Wood,” or the title track “The Life of a Showgirl” blowing up — they’ve got that instant-classic energy.
“Elizabeth Taylor” sets the tone early: smoky, cinematic, and clever as hell. Lines like “Been number one, but I never had two // Be my NY when Hollywood hates me // You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby” feel perfectly on-brand for this next era. Then “Wi$h Li$t” brings that cheeky, middle-finger-to-the-world vibe that’s been missing. It’s bold but sweet, essentially saying “forget what they want — I just want you,” and it works.
“Wood” is one of my favorites. The guitars absolutely rip out the gate, the chorus is so catchy, and it’s just fun. You can hear how much she’s enjoying herself. Then the closing track, “The Life of a Showgirl” featuring Sabrina Carpenter, ties it all together beautifully. It feels like Taylor literally passing the torch — one showgirl to the next. Ending with the audio snippet of her thanking her team (and Sabrina) on tour? That one got me. It’s real, full-circle, and I’m just in love.
Alex’s Top 5 Songs (In no particular order):
Honey
Wood
Wi$h Li$t
Actually Romantic
The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
Lyrically, this album has bite. There are some wild moments — “I’ll be your father figure, I’ll drink that brown liquor, I can make deals with the devil because my dick’s bigger” from “Father Figure” actually made me laugh out loud. Then “Eldest Daughter” grounds it: “But I’m not a bad bitch, and this isn’t savage, but I’m never gonna let you down.” And of course, “Actually Romantic” is pure softness — “No man has ever loved me like you do.” We all know who that’s about. It’s Travis, if you somehow missed that.
Overall, The Life of a Showgirl feels lighter than some of her other records, but just as intentional. It’s shimmery without feeling fake, emotional without being too heavy. I don’t think we’re looking to Taylor doesn’t need to prove anything — she’s having fun, and it shows.
And that’s show business, baby.
Check out the album now on Apple Music or Spotify and let me know what your top songs are!