Review: The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift

Symran Basra
2 days ago
2 min read

When Taylor Swift announced ‘The Life of a Showgirl’, I was fully expecting a return to pure glossy, upbeat pop. The title alone sounded like a full comeback to glittery anthems and Vegas energy, but after listening, it’s clear this album isn’t about the on-stage showgirl at all, but rather about the woman who steps offstage. This album feels like Taylor’s way of closing the curtain on one of the most defining eras of her career.

The album opens with the lead single, ‘The Fate of Ophelia’, and it’s an instant standout. I was hooked immediately; it worked perfectly as an opener to the album and was an excellent choice for a lead single. It’s cinematic, and lyrically brilliant. Taylor reimagines one of literature’s most tragic women, but instead of drowning she learns to swim. It sets the tone perfectly; this isn’t about tragedy, but transformation. She frames herself as having been saved from facing the same ‘fate’ as Ophelia, reimagining her not as a tragedy but as a survivor, turning her pain into power; a perfect metaphor for where Taylor herself is now.

The lead single is followed by ‘Elizabeth Taylor’, another favourite of mine, which shimmers with old Hollywood glamour but also explores vulnerability, beauty, and the fleeting nature of fame. Then comes ‘Opalite’, which also instantly became one of my favorites. It’s dreamy and nostalgic, with that ethereal 80’s style pop sound that Taylor Swift absolutely nails! It’s the kind of song that feels timeless.

And then, of course, there’s the title track ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ (featuring Sabrina Carpenter) which ties it all together. Their voices compliment each other beautifully. It feels like both a duet and a handover, a conversation between two generations of pop stars/’showgirls’. And the use of the real Eras Tour crowd noise from closing night woven into the ending? It’s such a bittersweet, touching detail to the ending, it’s like watching Taylor take one last bow after one of the most defining chapters of her career. A final bow before moving on.

As for the online discourse; well it’s Taylor Swift, so of course everyone has an opinion. Some people have said it's “too simple” or “not pop enough”, especially in relation to the hype surrounding the title and the covers. However, this criticism seems unfair; she told us exactly what this album was meant to be- not a spectacle, but instead a reflection. It’s about what happens when the applause fades. I get where some discourse is coming from, a lot of people were expecting full pop bangers, and this isn’t that. But personally, I think that criticism misses the point. Taylor was very clear that this is the life behind the sparkle, behind the stage lights. Once you listen with that in mind, everything clicks.

Sure, some tracks might take time to grow on people, and some tracks may be complete skips for people (‘Wood’ and ‘Wi$h Li$t’ are yet to fully grow on me), but the heart of this album lies in its subtlety. It feels like a graceful epilogue to the Eras Tour era. It’s reflective, tender, and quietly powerful. She’s not reinventing herself here, she’s closing a chapter.

Edited by Gabriella Whiston