Last Friday, Taylor Swift released her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, and as anticipated, everyone can’t stop talking about it. Love it or hate it, Swift knows how to make people discuss her music like no other artist out there. Reuniting with her former collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, The Life of a Showgirl isn’t filled with the anthemic pop many assumed it would, but instead finds innovative ways to discuss themes that the pop star has written about at several points of her career.
From referencing Shakespearean characters to once again tackling cancel culture, Swift’s new album proves that her biggest source of inspiration is now herself. Not many artists can achieve that, but she does here, and even though certain songs have lines that feel a bit too trendy for OG fans’ taste, there is still much to appreciate about her recent tunes. Although there is no overall consensus as to what tracks deserve to be at the top, here is a detailed ranking.
12
“Eldest Daughter”
Swift is famously known for reserving the Track 5 of her albums for songs that are typically her most vulnerable, and although that is certainly the case for “Eldest Daughter”, it doesn’t stand out in comparison to her previous songs that occupied this particular spot. “Dear John”, “All Too Well”, and “my tears ricochet” exuded the pop star’s poetic genius in a way that “Eldest Daughter” isn’t able to replicate. The lyrics in this song are predominantly made up of modern-day slangs that detracts from its deeper meaning.
“Eldest Daughter” focuses on the responsibilities that the oldest sibling has to endure, or in this case, the more mature figure paving the way for younger people in the same work field. Swift writes about her becoming an artist that emerging musicians aspire to, and the pressure that might come from occupying this position. It also seemingly discusses how being the eldest daughter makes you fragile, many times having to deal with heartbreak that might shield you from embracing those things you truly want in life. The sentiment here is beautiful, yet its execution isn’t as poignant.
11
“The Life of a Showgirl” (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
The storytelling that Swift has mastered with albums like folklore and evermore is best demonstrated in this album with the title track. “The Life of a Showgirl” focuses on a character named Kitty, who is looking to become a seasoned showgirl, but is faced with condescending remarks from her peers and discouraging advice about being in the business. Sonically, this might fit better into Sabrina Carpenter‘s repertoire, but its message ties with other tracks on the album exploring the pitfalls of being under the spotlight.
In Swift’s film event, the singer-songwriter discussed her decision to collaborate with Carpenter on the track, sharing that the latter knows how to deal with fame like a natural. Their duet feels like a perfect segueway to their partnership during the Eras tour, where the “Manchild” singer was one of the openers. Having the outro be an audio recording of Swift saying goodbye on stage makes this album closer extra meaningful, even if it isn’t the standout from the track list.
10
“Wood”
“Wood” has a few of the lyrics that people online have gasped the most after a first listen, and with good reason. After all, Swift literally sings, “your love was the key that opened my thighs.” Although there is more to this track than the aforementioned line, “Wood” does feel like a very upfront track about how pleased Swift is with her fiancรฉ, Travis Kelce, both on an intimate level and emotionally. Instead of resorting to superstitions about whether a relationship will work out, the pop star shares that she’s so at ease in the relationship that she’s in that even the unluckiest of signs can’t get in the way of what her and Kelce have.
When we look back at her discography and a lot of the ups and downs she’s faced when it comes to romance, it’s sweet to hear about her finding someone that she can trust and who won’t walk away when things get hard. “Wood” also features one of the most exciting productions of the album, with a sound reminiscent to The Jackson 5′s “I Want You Back”.
9
“Opalite”
Catchy and bubbly, “Opalite” is the song to dance to out of The Life of a Showgirl. Despite Swift carrying on with the tradition of attributing a color to a certain emotion, this isn’t her strongest song lyrically. “Eating out of the trash, it’s never going to last,” is likely one of the most cringe-worthy rhymes that Swift has ever written, but this aside, “Opalite” is an upbeat tune. Much like other tracks on this record, this is a love song about surpassing romantic hardships alongside a person that brings you joy and stability.
What’s interesting about it is that it seemingly recounts both Swift’s relationship experiences and that of her partner, proving that they are each other’s ideal match. They are both equally committed to making their love last, and whatever happened beforehand won’t dictate their future. “Opalite” is an optimistic track, and it might be higher in other fans’ rankings, but there are other tracks that are more deserving to be at the top.
8
“Elizabeth Taylor”
Much like “Clara Bow”, in “Elizabeth Taylor”, the singer connects her experiences to that of the titular Hollywood icon. She makes mention of Portofino, a location that the actress was particularly fond of, and happened to be the honeymoon destination for four of her highly publicized marriages. It’s all about how one can find it hard to be both successful and in a loving, solid relationship. In the chorus, Swift sings “been number one, but I never had two”, which perfectly encapsulates the theme of the song.
For those of us that are drawn to Swift for her storytelling prowess, “Elizabeth Taylor” is a treat. Yet, melodically speaking, this is one of those tracks that falls in the middle of the pack. The reputation-coded beat drop isn’t enough of a hook here, but if the song’s production were a little more compelling, it would definitely occupy a higher placement in this ranking.
7
“Wi$h LI$T”
There is nothing like Taylor Swift in love, and “Wi$h Li$t” exudes the childlike feeling of finding someone that is more important to you than all that money can buy. The singer did say this is one of her favorite songs, and it makes sense. Yes, it does feature lyrics like โBalenciโ shadesโ and “f***ing lit”, which aren’t her best. Still, “Wi$h Li$t” is ingrained in Swift’s songwriting DNA, with her being unapologetically clichรฉ about finding love and wanting to start a family.
When looking at the album as a whole, there are many songs in which Swift shares that she’s been through it all when it comes to love, and the heartbreak made her believe that maybe the picture-perfect relationship wasn’t in the cards for her. This song shows her embracing parts of herself she might’ve been more reluctant to admit, and is now willing to express it through her music. The way she sings the words “wish list” is also playful and fun.
6
“Honey”
“Honey” has an intriguing songwriting prompt, which is to explore how calling someone “sweetheart”, “honey”, or “lovely”, can sometimes come as a backhanded compliment. Throughout the song, Swift shares how the aforementioned terms of endearment have often been said to her with a negative connotation, with people (in this case, predominantly women) either criticizing the way that she dresses or complaining about how her looks can be a distraction for men who are in relationships. The pop star shares how these comments have shifted her response to being called certain nicknames.
Yet, in Swift fashion, the singer changes the storyline of the song in the bridge, sharing how being with the right person has allowed her to resignify these nicknames as coming from a genuine place. “And when anyone called me “lovely”, they were finding ways not to praise me. But you say it like you’re in awe of me, and you stay until the morning” is likely the most beautiful line on the entire album.
5
“Actually Romantic”
“Bad Blood” had to walk, so that “Actually Romantic” could run. Widely considered as the response to Charli XCX‘s “Sympathy Is a Knife”, “Actually Romantic” is both one of the best produced songs on The Life of a Showgirl and one of the freshest perspectives coming from a Taylor Swift diss track. For those who’ve witnessed her describing relationships that went sour with vengeful lyricism, this track proves that there are always new angles to approach rocky friendships.
Instead of denouncing someone’s betrayal, Swift sees it as the ultimate form of flattery. If someone is so obsessed with talking about you behind your back, they clearly think you are a person worth their time. To reframe this situation as romantic instead of just cruel is quite clever on Swift’s part, and just the right amount of petty. The instrumentation on this song also makes it edgier in comparison to the other pop tracks on the album.
4
“Ruin the Friendship”
For those of us that loved the jovial side of Swift’s discography, and missed songs that perfectly captured the high school sentiment, “Ruin the Friendship” has it all. It talks about prom, the uncertainty about kissing a friend and things getting complicated, and it gives a shout-out to Abigail, Swift’s longtime friend who was a part of several of her music videos early into her career. Many believe that this song is about the same person that the pop star wrote about in “Forever Winter”, a vault track from Red (Taylor’s Version).
Yet, regardless who the song is about, “Ruin the Friendship” can resonate with both people later in life who remember what being a teenager was like and those who are now in high school. It’s one of those tracks that reminds us that Swift’s music can resonate with people from all age groups and transports listeners to a specific time and place.
3
“Father Figure”
Swift’s saga to retrieve the rights to her masters is no secret, but “Father Figure” puts a pleasant spin on this well-known unraveling of events. Instead of addressing the elephant in the room (cough cough Scooter Braun), she refers to a mentor in her life who ended up betraying her trust. Likely about Big Machine Records label exec, Scott Borchetta, “Father Figure” talks about him being this mentor and her protector, until he wasn’t anymore.
What makes this track enticing from the very first listen is its storytelling quality, slowing building to a plot twist. Later in the track, Swift begins to refer to herself as the “father figure”, growing into her power after gaining the rights to all of her discography. When she sings, “I protect the family,” it’s like magic to fans’ ears, who’ve seen her do whatever it takes to own her work. It’s safe to say that this is a better take on “The Man.”