Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl'

The singer's return has sparked discourse all over social media.

Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most influential icons of the day. 

Her new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’, has brought a new gander into the performer’s life. Despite the discourse echoing on X, I find myself enjoying this new side of her. Performers change throughout their time in the limelight and develop new things, as do we all in our daily lives. Now, as she settles into eventual married life with her fiancé, there are no more songs about ex boyfriends.

Not only does this performer reference some of the most influential women in history, she also delves into the more intimate side of herself. As you delve into the tracks, you hear her grow from the woman believed by many to have made her career writing songs about her exes in a rather Evelyn Hugo-style format (more power to her), to someone who puts her entire self on the line with songs about her own personal struggles and the fame that brought her into the public eye. 

TAS Rights Management

With all the celebrities being called out and the so-called ‘cancel-culture’ fluttering around, ‘CANCELLED’ is indisputably one of the most relevant songs on the album. In it, Swift pokes and prods at the Misogyny, the double standards, and the hidden truths in the industry in her own way of voicing many concerns that are finally being brought to light. There are hints that she could even be calling out her own former ‘friends’. 

However, it is her song - the title piece of this entire album ‘’The Life of a Showgirl’’ - that truly brings her fully into the light, adding another layer into Swift’s vulnerability. When I first saw the advertisement for this album, I was reminded of one of the great musical theatre characters - ‘Satine’. It channels her experience of being a so-called ‘Showgirl’’ for even though there are moments of deep pain that she hides behind ‘’the lipstick and lace’’, she also admits that she wouldn’t change it. Regarding herself now as ‘’immortal’’, perhaps this is hinting that even when she eventually leaves this mortal soil, her music will live on for generations to come. As a musical theatre student myself, I must admit that even when there are high elements of pain in the industry and days of wanting to quit, there is a strange addiction to this art. 

Change in style always brings negative and positive remarks. Perhaps to those who are not accustomed to being on the stage, the album has lowered enjoyment of the singer’s works. There is a certain connection between the listener and the performer, and should she become unrelatable that connection could snap and cease to exist.

Yet, despite the negative comments that have echoed through many fans, I regard her as the modern day ‘Marilyn Monroe’ myself with her unwillingness to accept less than the best from life and her goal to throw her life into her songs. Readers consider that this happier side of the performer could show us all that there is hope for an eventual ‘happy ending.’ Soon enough, the public will become used to this new side of her and appreciate it just as much as they have appreciated her prior songs - Taylor Swift is just getting started in this new ‘era’ of herself.