Showgirl, released on Oct. 3, is already breaking records. Since its debut, the album has sold over four million units, including both traditional sales and streaming equivalents, making it the biggest release week in history.
Source: Instagram, @taylorswift
Swift first announced the album back in August on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s podcast, “New Heights.” In her new album, Swift reveals the glamorous, bedazzled façade of the “life of a showgirl” to give fans a special look behind the curtain, offering a glimpse into her personal life, including her relationship with Kelce.
Swift created the album during her days off from the iconic Eras Tour with producers Max Martin and Shellback. The trio have a history of working together on hits like “Shake it Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” off of her Grammy-award winning album 1989.
Unlike Swift’s previous, fans say this album feels different. While the lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” has climbed the charts and sparked widespread attention on social media, other tracks, like “Father Figure,” “CANCELLED!” and “Wood,” have received mixed reactions from fans, sparking debate over the album’s creative direction and lyrical themes.
“She’s known for her lyricism and having people relate to her songs,” said junior Emily Nolan. “This album doesn’t give the same heartfelt feeling and authenticity that Taylor usually has.”
Many listeners see this album as a shift from Taylor’s traditionally introspective and emotionally raw style, favoring a more playful and, at times, raunchy sound.
“I wish some of the songs were more gut-wrenching and jaw-dropping, but it is also nice to have an album with so many upbeat songs,” said junior Elizabeth Llewelyn. “Taylor fans are not necessarily used to this, and I think that is why it is so controversial. The explicit content she sings about in these songs has stirred up controversy as she has never really sung about these things before.”
However, some fans have embraced the shift, suggesting that the lyrics represent the new era of Swift’s life, as she leaves her “tortured poet” era and steps into the spotlight as the “showgirl.”
“A lot of people think her new album is cringey or just straight up not good, but I totally disagree. The album is fun and an easy listen,” said senior Samantha Millerick. “The problem with people judging this album is that they compare it to her lyricism on previous albums like Folklore, but she is in a completely different time in her life.”
Emma Ricotta and Moira Staples contributed to this article.
