By Molly Lynch – Editor-In-Chief

Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” on October 3. This album is unique from her past albums because of its upbeat, pop-focused style with themes centered around love, identity, and the thrill of being in the spotlight. Fan reactions have been mixed, with some praising the album’s energy, catchy hooks, and sense of fun, while others find it uneven, vague, and less emotionally deep than her previous albums. 

Swift deserves praise for this album because of the risks she took and how she highlights fame, spectacle, and love in the public eye. This side of stardom has not been acknowledged in recent media, which makes this album stand out from others of its genre.

The best songs from this album are either “Opalite” or “The Fate of Ophelia.” Both of these songs are extremely catchy and have been on repeat for many since the album’s release. Behind the song’s melodic production, produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback, the messages of these songs correlate with each other really well. With “The Fate of Ophelia”, Swift references the tragic Ophelia from Hamlet by using imagery of drowning in emotional mayhem, then rephrases it as being rescued by love and connection. “Opalite” is a more optimistic song about finding clarity and love. The opalite gemstone metaphor symbolizes transformation, light after darkness, and finding the right person at the right time. 

Another highlight of this album is the title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” featuring Sabrina Carpenter. The song chronicles the showgirl persona, the glamour, as well as what goes on behind the curtains. It is a story about meeting one of your idols and informing them that you want to follow in their footsteps. This collaboration is significant because Carpenter fits perfectly into the story that the song portrays. With being a rising pop star as well as opening for The Eras Tour, Carpenter and Swift bridge the gap between the two generations for pop stardom.

“The Life of a Showgirl” has a distinctive sound that sets it apart from others of its caliber and has valuable messages laced throughout each song. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars