By Matija Šerić
When Taylor Alison Swift released her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl (popularly abbreviated as TS12) on Friday, October 3rd, 2025, the world’s imagination was once again set ablaze. Whether they wanted it or not, a new wave of Swiftmania swept across the globe. Millions of fans rushed to streaming platforms—or to record stores to grab their CD or vinyl copy. Alongside the album, a promotional film titled Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl premiered in the United States and in about 50 other countries, offering a glimpse into the making of the record.
Plaidurday sparked polarization
Whether you’re a diehard fan, a critic, or a neutral observer, one cannot ignore that the release of the world’s most popular singer-songwriter’s new album exploded like a bombshell. Swift has once again created a cultural megaspectacle. From now on, the International Plaid Day (Plaidurday), celebrated on the first Friday of October, will forever be marked by TS12.
Although Taylor had been hinting for a year—often wearing plaid outfits—that something big would drop on that very date, few managed to decode the brilliant Easter egg. The unique thing about TS12 is how deeply it polarized listeners—not only the general public but even the Swiftie fandom itself. Some absolutely adore it; others see it as a disappointment. Two weeks after release, enough time has passed to analyze this musical phenomenon.
Celebration of album release at NYC
A secret only a few knew
Remarkably, the album had been one of the music world’s best-kept secrets for a year. It was created in the summer of 2024, while Swift’s Eras Tour was breaking records across Europe. Despite her exhausting schedule, sometimes performing on consecutive nights, she found time to recharge creatively and physically. In secret, she flew to Sweden, where she reunited with producers Max Martin and Shellback—her collaborators on Red (2012), 1989 (2014), and Reputation (2017).
Together, they had previously produced hits like 22, Blank Space, and Delicate. This reunion marks a creative shift, considering that in recent years Swift had primarily worked with American producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. The Swedish sessions proved to be a perfect move—yielding a refined and powerful artistic statement.
Name and concept
Although hints were everywhere, no one expected this particular album. The signature orange color had appeared during her tour performances of surprise songs, and the orange door she walked through at the end of her final Eras concert in Vancouver on December 8, 2024, now makes sense.
The world finally learned the album’s name on August 13, 2025, during the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce: The Life of a Showgirl.
The album’s title and concept reflect everything Swift experienced during her two-year Eras Tour, when she quite literally became a showgirl whose sole purpose was to entertain millions. With 149 shows across five continents, 21 countries, and 51 cities—and revenues exceeding $2 billion—it was the most ambitious project of her career, one she executed flawlessly.
The record also draws inspiration from her relationship with Travis Kelce, which culminated in their engagement in August and an expected wedding to come. The album’s 12 tracks explore themes of show business, love, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and the highs and lows of fame and friendship in the celebrity world.
TS12 – A return to classic pop
Released under Republic Records, The Life of a Showgirl runs for 41 minutes and 40 seconds. Unlike the genre-blending of The Tortured Poets Department, TS12 represents a return to classic pop—though it also leans into soft rock. There are even touches of disco-pop and reggae throughout.
Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia
From Shakespeare to Elizabeth Taylor to true love
The lead single The Fate of Ophelia pays homage to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the tragic figure of Ophelia. Unlike the play, Swift’s Ophelia finds salvation—clearly an allusion to Kelce.
Late one night
You dug me out of my grave and
Saved my heart from the fate of
Ophelia
Another standout, Elizabeth Taylor, draws a parallel between the two global icons—both endlessly scrutinized by the public and media.
All my white diamonds and lovers are forever
In the papers, on the screen and in their minds.
In Opalite, Swift celebrates finding her soulmate, with lyrics that radiate joy and devotion:
Oh oh oh oh, oh my Lord
Never made no one like you before, no
You had to make your own sunshine
But now the sky is opalite
The dark side of fame
Father Figure, the fourth track, addresses the harsh realities of the music industry, dominated by powerful men who exploit young artists. It’s a pointed nod to producer Scott Borchetta—who discovered Swift only to later betray her. Yet she had the final word, reclaiming ownership of her masters.
Eldest Daughter reflects on the pressures of being a pioneering female artist in the global music scene. Ruin the Friendship is the album’s most heartbreaking track, inspired by the death of Swift’s young friend Jeffrey Lang in 2010.
Mocking haters, celebrating love
Actually Romantic takes aim at those obsessed with criticizing her—possibly a veiled jab at Charli XCX, though Swift leaves it open to interpretation.
Wi$h Li$t is a sentimental ballad about valuing love and family over material wealth. Wood is both playful and provocative—balancing superstition with sexual innuendo. It’s one of Swift’s most daring lyrics to date:
Forgive me, it sounds cocky
He ah-matized me and opened my eyes
Redwood tree, it ain’t hard to see
His love was the key that opened my thighs
Sexual themes appear elsewhere too. Cancelled! comments on fame and friendship—rumored to reference Blake Lively—while Honey is a classic sweet love song. The title track The Life of a Showgirl, a duet with Sabrina Carpenter, perfectly captures the glamorous yet exhausting life of women in the spotlight.
A brilliant record
After some time to let it settle, one thing is clear: The Life of a Showgirl is an excellent album. Vocally, melodically, and production-wise, it showcases Swift’s artistic maturity—merging emotional honesty with sophisticated, catchy arrangements. It feels like a blend of Reputation, Midnights, and Evermore.
While some lyrics are unusually explicit for Swift’s standards, they reflect her desire to be playful and bold.
Swift at Jimmy Fallon show
A natural evolution
The sensual visuals and confident lyrics represent where Taylor is in her life—35 years old and fully in control of her artistry and image. What once would have been unthinkable a decade ago now feels authentic. This is part of her artistic evolution.
Though TS12 may not rank among her top five albums, it’s far from disappointing—it’s a logical continuation of her career. Some fans may miss her country roots or radio-friendly singles, but time will soften those opinions.
Commercial dominance
Even if it’s not her best musical work, commercially, The Life of a Showgirl is an unstoppable juggernaut. It broke streaming records across platforms, becoming the most pre-saved album in Spotify history, surpassing TS11.
In its first week, it sold 5.5 million copies worldwide and achieved 1.5 billion streams. In the U.S. alone, it sold 2.7 million copies on day one, and 3.4 million in its first week, making it the fastest-selling album of 2025.
It also became Swift’s 15th No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, breaking her own record as the solo artist with the most chart-topping albums. All 12 songs simultaneously occupied the top 12 spots on the Billboard Hot 100—an unprecedented feat.
The GOAT
According to some metrics, The Life of a Showgirl pushed Taylor Swift past Madonna as the best-selling female artist in history. This cements her status as the greatest musician of this century—and possibly the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
Even The Beatles didn’t last as long, and while Michael Jackson reigned for decades, he never crossed genres with the fearless versatility that defines Swift.
We are fortunate to live in the era of Taylor Swift—an artist whose legacy will not only define this decade but echo through generations to come.
The greatest artist of the 21st century—without question.
References:
https://stylemagazines.com.au/lifestyle/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-album-review/
https://genius.com/albums/Taylor-swift/The-life-of-a-showgirl
https://capsulenz.com/do/music-do/the-life-of-a-showgirl/
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl/
