TAYLOR SWIFT REVEALS TWELFTH ALBUM: AN INSIGHT INTO THE NEW RECORD
Fresh off the biggest tour of the century, and the highest-grossing of all time, international superstar Taylor Swift knows no rest as she announces her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
In typical Swift fashion, the announcement is foreshadowed by innumerous hints and easter eggs hidden in her work dating back as far as 3 years, if not more, as she had left clues back in her ‘Bejeweled’ and ‘Anti-Hero’ music videos, as well as during the European summer leg of last year’s tour, during which, she revealed she was recording this new album with producers Max Martin and Shellback.
Taylor Swift linked a curated playlist consisting on all songs they curated for her in the past, including some of the biggest hits off her pop eras, particularly from her 1989 and Reputation albums, although their resume includes work with popstars such as Ariana Grande and Britney Spears.
After some final clues, she finally announced TS12 - as fans have come to know the record - will be released on 3 October, also known as Mean Girls day, surely not a casualty as most things with the Blonde Superstar do not tend to be.
The album themes do indeed seem to be related to those of the beloved 2004 cult classic, and its now iconic antagonist Regina George. Fun fact: the film was adapted into a Broadway musical by creator Tina Fey and debuted in 2018. In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, one Sabrina Carpenter starred as the main character, the very same popstar who is not only close friends with Taylor, but also the only feature on the new release, and on none other than the title track. Coincidence, or intricate plotting? As always with Swift, it is impossible to know.
What we do know is the singer-songwriter announced four variants of the album on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast New Heights, debuting, as traditional, a whole new era, with new looks and themes, all naturally linked to the Showgirl persona. The YouTube episode drew more than 1.3 million viewers and ran for nearly an hour and 45 minutes.
The tracklist reveals some of the “showgirls” Swift has chosen to pay tribute to, both from literature and history, as first track ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ references the tragic character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, whilst the following ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ will presumably delve into the lives of one of the first Hollywood icons of the 20th century, and what fame might have meant for her.
‘Opalite’ is artificial glass that resembled crystals and moonstone, and can symbolise new beginnings, perhaps another theme of this new era, as well as resembling a mirrorball, a poignant metaphor Taylor used in her Folklore album to speak of fame and the effects it can have on a person.
‘Father Figure’ may elaborate on subjects touched in the past, as in the chorus of ‘Cardigan’, “leaving like a father”, and ‘Eldest Daughter’ is already highly anticipated, not only for what it may explore, but due to it being an infamous Track 5, notoriously where the songwriter places her most agonisingly haunting and beautiful lyrics.
‘Ruin The Friendship’ and ‘Actually Romantic’ may lighten the mood and bring us back to one of Taylor’s strengths, the simple and personal yet incredibly relatable storytelling of life and relationships.
Tracks 8 through 12 might be, judging on the titles only, more focused on the actual themes of the life of a showgirl, exploring every aspect of what it means to be scrutinised for your every move and reconciling your public persona with who you actually are, whilst no doubt leaning into the metaphorical figure as she has done in the past in tracks like ‘Blank Space’, writing in the perspective of who people thought her to be rather than her real self.
Needless to say, we are very excited to see what this new minty green orange has in store for Swift and us all!
The Life of a Showgirl tracklist
The Fate of Ophelia
Elizabeth Taylor
Opalite
Father Figure
Eldest Daughter
Ruin the Friendship
Actually Romantic
Wi$h Li$t
Wood
Cancelled!
Honey
The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
