The Life of a Showgirl thoughts
Okay so I just needed a longer forum to get my thoughts out. I (hope) no one reads this or else I will probably get run off the internet for my thoughts.
So here I go:
I think this album The Life of a Showgirl is mediocre and underwhelming at best. I find it disappointing that Taylor has the ability to produce a great album and chooses not to. The album is rushed, mid at best and feels like its just a cycle she's trying complete.
I think there are some really great songs but as an album as a whole, its underwhelming, jarring and doesn't flow. This album feels sonically like few different vault songs thrown together. I find it frustrating that any critique of Taylor's work is automatically seen as hating her whereas I think if you are critiquing her work (vs. what she's wearing, dating etc) is fine! I hate that we have to prove that we are fans and not hating her (I saw her open for Rascal Flatts I am an OG fan don't kill me!!) but why do we have to automatically pretend its the most amazing work?
The songs individually are good, but as an album with the idea that the theme is Life of a Showgirl I'm having a really hard time understanding the songs and their connection to the theme (if that's what Taylor's idea was).
Anyways if you've made it this far, here's my breakdown of the songs and my opinion of them:
The Fate of Ophelia: BOP - this is a great intro song and really made me think this album was gonna be another 1989 banger. I was jamming and dancing around to this song it is so good 10/10
Elizabeth Taylor - Whew well this was a weird second song imo. The transition of bop to this song. It's very reminiscent of Reputation but I'm not really sure if I like it. This song will probably be one of those that will take a while to grow on me but right now its about 5/10.
Opalite - I think this should've been track 2 as its another good bop and would've transitioned from Ophelia better imo 10/10
Father Figure - This is where I get really thrown from the album vibe. I'm not sure what the overall album is going for and this song contributes to that confusion. As a song by itself - its a really good song about hollywood predatory behavior (side eye Scott Borschetta). If we're going for the showgirl lifestyle, this song makes sense, however as the other songs don't really follow that theme this song feels a little out of place. As a song its a 10/10 in this album in its spot as track 4 - I'd say 3/10.
Eldest Daughter - okay this is another song where I'm scratching my head really confused about the theme of the album and then the topic of the song. I also found this song seemed like it was something on Lover. I wasn't a huge fan of this song tbh 4/10.
Ruin the Friendship - This song was a fun song but it sounded something more from Red and it felt random for the album. Also to go from Eldest Daughter to this song - another jarring whiplash juxtaposition. 6/10
Actually Romantic - I actually thought this song was awful. I genuinely thought this song was one of the worse songs she has written - minus all that - I'm not sure what musical vibe Taylor was trying to do with this album but this is another example of the songs not meshing well. 1/10
Wi$h Li$t - It's a cute song but when she drops "leave us the fuck alone" I can't really take her seriously for some reason it just feels forced and takes me out of the song lol. I do find it a bop other than that 8/10.
Wood - Reminded me of Jackson 5. I think its a bop. It's a fun danceable song (Except when she speaks knock on wood whyyyy Taylor whyyyy). But I like it 9/10
CANCELLED! - Another song similar to But Daddy I love Him - this song I think came from Rep Vault because its very Rep Coded. Another weird juxtaposition to come from bop (Wood) to Cancelled. I think this was her best lyrical song on the album though. 9/10
Honey - I really liked Honey (excepts when she speaks Honey WHY TAYLOR WHY). I thought it was a fun bop but ONCE AGAIN the track listing needs to be redone because coming after Cancelled is sooooo questionable. It should've come after Wood or another bop. 10/10
The Life of a Showgirl - I understand the point of the song, but I don't like the song. The lyrics feel clunky compared to the beat behind it. 2/10.
If you made it this far I commend you for reading this and feel free to leave your opinions and comments (nice discourse though, refrain from telling me I'm going to hell I already know this).
