Breaking records yet again, Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl” (“TLOAS”), has become the recent obsession of pop music fans around the world. The album dropped on Oct. 3, 2025, with over 6 million presaves on Spotify alone. Like all recent music from Swift, “TLOAS” was highly anticipated and had Swifties counting down the release like it was Dec. 31. While die-hard fans are already busy memorizing lyrics, the majority of reviews on the album have been extremely polarized. Some people are falling in love with the tracks, while others are severely disappointed.
Swift has been dropping hints for this album since her “Eras Tour,” the most recent of her world tours, which ended in December of 2024. Most notable of these clues was an orange door that served as Swift’s exit off stage on the last concert of the tour. This symbolized Swift stepping into a new era of her career, with the orange representing the new album.
Consisting of just twelve tracks, TLOAS is Swift’s shortest album to date. In many ways, though, the shorter length helped the album feel more refined and cohesive. Everything was very thought-out and intentional, as Swift paid attention to even the smallest details to help elevate the album.
The lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” starts off the album with a bang, blending Swift’s poetic lyrics with an upbeat and catchy melody. The song has broken multiple Spotify records and even has self-appointed “non-Swifties” dancing, and for good reason.
Each song on the album is exceptionally polished and infused with the lyrical genius that has become Swift’s musical niche. Outside of the main album headers, songs like “Opalite,” “Ruin the Friendship” and “Honey” are quickly becoming fan favorites. These tracks all display an infectious joy that keeps fans listening on repeat.
Not all songs have received positive reviews, though, as some fans were appalled by tracks like “Actually Romantic” and “Wood.”
Thought to be a diss track on pop singer Charli XCX, “Actually Romantic” has faced a large amount of speculation. The song broadly discusses finding flattery in those who spend their time talking badly about others, a topic that many have found relatable. However there are also quite a few situations referenced in the lyrics that have fans theorizing the song had more specific origins. Although the overall message is valuable, the diss track element of the song feels very out of character for Swift, and made the track less enjoyable.
Similar to “Actually Romantic,” the ninth song on the album, “Wood” has become a significant topic of conversation, although for different reasons. Unlike the sweet innocence of “Wi$h Li$t” or “Honey,” “Wood” features openly suggestive lyrics that have left many fans uncomfortable. Underneath its catchy beat, the song’s lyrics have widely been deemed inappropriate, especially considering how large Swift’s youth fanbase is.
Finally, the last song on the album, “The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter),” has become extremely popular. Swift and Carpenter’s voices blend seamlessly in this song, making it a highlight of the album. The track truly encompasses the theme of TLOAS, with Swift herself calling it a “manifesto of how I’ve had to operate within the industry.”
Despite some controversies, the majority of people are delighted with the new release. Every song is both catchy and meaningful, proving Swift worthy of her fame yet again. From the production of the music to every minuscule easter egg Swift left for fans, TLOAS is making its way into hearts and playlists around the globe.
