Style Magazines

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A Swiftie's Honest Review Of The Life Of A Showgirl - Style Magazines

October 4, 2025 - Here’s the thing: Taylor Swift has set the bar impossibly high for herself. Over the span of 20 years, she has given us timeless, groundbreaking albums that have defined an entire generation like 1989, Red, Folklore, Reputation, and Fearless, all of which pushed boundaries in different ways and continue to stay relevant, years later. By comparison, The Life of a Showgirl feels forgettable.

reddit.com › r/taylorswift › music review: on taylor swift’s 'the life of a showgirl,' love and reputation are on the line

r/TaylorSwift on Reddit: Music Review: On Taylor Swift’s 'The Life of a Showgirl,' love and reputation are on the line

October 3, 2025 -

“The Life of a Showgirl” isn’t as seismic, but there are addictive and idiosyncratic Swiftisms here: acerbic wit and thick literary references in glassy pop hooks. Where a song like “Opalite,” if attempted by another other performer, would lose its weightlessness under its voluble aspirations, Swift manages to swoon. Stacked, opalescent harmonies and a vintage swing give the song, fittingly, an almost iridescent quality. “

It’s really fascinating how people’s opinions are completely polarized on this album, even on this sub. I never love Taylor’s albums on first listen, they always have to grow on me, so I don’t have a strong opinion yet. On first listen, I like it better than TTPD and about equal to Midnights.

I’m on the fence, and please don’t come at me because I really love her so much. Been listening to her since day 1!! TO ME, the album feels rushed and not finished? Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely jamming out to The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, and I enjoyed Eldest Daughter. The hype of this album just didn’t match the vibe of my expectation. TTPS was top notch, and boy song after song, it was her best work! I’m really hoping my perspective changes when I see the movie tomorrow. She works absolutely hard and is amazing at what she does. I know my opinion isn’t reflecting that as much right now.

Discussions

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl MEGATHREAD

Half the album is an easy fun listen. The other half should never be heard again. Wait until she has a kid and the classics will come again! She’s just out of material at this point. More on reddit.com

r/popheads

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October 4, 2025

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl MEGATHREAD II

Taylor Swift: “yea, the album showgirl is going to be about the behind the scenes of what it’s like to be a show girl” The album/ “the life of a showgirl” song: “yea, you don’t know the life of a show girl, babe… And you’re never ever gonna!!” More on reddit.com

r/popheads

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380

October 4, 2025

Pitchfork Review: Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl (5.9)

“But it is simply untrue to claim, as Rolling Stone did on Friday, that Showgirl represents “new, exciting sonic turns.”’ the girls are fighting!! More on reddit.com

r/popheads

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October 6, 2025

Music Review: On Taylor Swift’s 'The Life of a Showgirl,' love and reputation are on the line

It’s really fascinating how people’s opinions are completely polarized on this album, even on this sub. I never love Taylor’s albums on first listen, they always have to grow on me, so I don’t have a strong opinion yet. On first listen, I like it better than TTPD and about equal to Midnights. More on reddit.com

r/TaylorSwift

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October 3, 2025

Videos

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl ALBUM REVIEW - YouTube

October 7, 2025

Rolling Stone Gave Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' a 5-Star ...

October 3, 2025

TAYLOR SWIFT - THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL❤️‍🔥 *Reaction/Review* ...

PURE F***ING POETRY!!! | Taylor Swift "The Life of a Showgirl" ...

October 3, 2025

Taylor Swift Reacts to 'The Life of a Showgirl's HARSH Reviews ...

October 7, 2025

pastemagazine.com › home › articles › the life of a showgirl, the death of her past

Taylor Swift, 'The Life of a Showgirl' Album Review

4 days ago - Rather than tying Showgirl up with a bow, it’s more likely to prompt a revisit of other, better Swift duets from the last half-decade, like those with HAIM and Phoebe Bridgers, or the juicy pop fare of Carpenter herself. Everything else lands somewhere in the middle. Opener “The Life of Ophelia” is a starry showtune in search of a “Hamlet” musical (not derogatory).

The Yale Review

yalereview.org › homepage › how we’ve misunderstood taylor swift

The Yale Review | How We’ve Misunderstood Taylor Swift

October 21, 2025 - All the best parts of the album look back in some way, but they do not sound like one another: there’s bubblegum pop; 1970s soul; neo-disco; a drumless, indie-guitar diss apparently addressed to Charli xcx, who seems to have sided with Taylor’s tortured-poet ex; that piano ballad; and more. The eclecticism implies that no single style can fit all that experience (all those eras, as it were). It also suggests that her new life will not, artistically, tie her down. does devoted monogamy foreclose the life of a showgirl? Can a celebrity as shiny as Swift avoid the marital fate of Elizabeth Taylor, who exchanged rings eight times (twice with the same man)?

Atwood Magazine

atwoodmagazine.com › home › roundtable discussion: a review of taylor swift’s ‘the life of a showgirl’

Roundtable: A Review of Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ - Atwood Magazine

October 9, 2025 - Josh: I just concluded my first listen to this album, and I can safely say that Taylor Swift has done it again! The Life of a Showgirl is continually entertaining and likable, and the production from Swedish music titans Max Martin and Shellback ...

taylorswiftstyle.substack.com › p › the-life-of-a-showgirl-review-taylors

The Life of a Showgirl Review: Taylor’s Greatest Performance Is Herself

October 10, 2025 - Mikael Wood praised Showgirl’s hooks for The Los Angeles Times, but admitted its failure to reach the “psychological portraiture” that Poets laid bare. Ann Powers dubbed Taylor “Western pop’s definitive presence” and an undimmable star for NPR but confessed the album’s flirtation with innuendo is “sometimes awkward.” Alexis Petridis threw in his two cents on a two star review for The Guardian, asking the quiet question in print when wondering if Showgirl’s “distinct lack of undeniable hooks and nailed-on melodies” is due to a rush job.

depauliaonline.com › 79347 › artslife › the-life-of-a-showgirl-review-it-didnt-make-my-wish-list

‘The Life of a Showgirl’ review - The DePaulia

October 13, 2025 - Charli XCX’s husband is in the same band as one of Taylor’s ex-boyfriends and even opened for Swift on her 2018 tour, so it is possible there is more context to this story. But without that context, this song just seems like a brutal, unjustified punch down. I think Swift delivers on some of her promises. “Opalite” is a fun and carefree track and makes me feel like I’m at a 70s themed party. “The Life of A Showgirl” calls back to songs like “Starlight” and “Clara Bow,” telling the story of a fictional performer inspiring Swift’s career.

The Alternative

getalternative.com › home › album review: taylor swift – ‘the life of a showgirl’

Album Review: Taylor Swift – 'The Life of a Showgirl'

October 5, 2025 - Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, her fifth this decade, is the year’s most disappointing blockbuster pop record. It is disappointing in a way that sparks frustration beyond the apathy that I felt after hearing Midnights, beyond the dejectedness I felt after hearing The Tortured Poets Department. That album’s worst offense was being boring, but The Life of a Showgirl enters the territory of being offensive at its worst moments.

Find elsewhere

Google Bing Mojeek

countrylowdown.com › 2025 › 10 › 13 › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-album-review

Taylor Swift ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Album Review | Country Lowdown

October 13, 2025 - Only eight months after the end of the ridiculously successful ‘The Eras Tour’, Taylor Swift has released her latest album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ – and here may be where the first problem lies for me. Part of the fun of Taylor’s music is often the build-up: the suspense, excitement to be immersed in a whole new style and aesthetic.

The Colgate Maroon-News

thecolgatemaroonnews.com › 63618 › af › is-taylor-getting-tired-a-review-of-the-life-of-a-showgirl

Is Taylor Getting Tired? A Review of “The Life of a Showgirl”

October 12, 2025 - “The Life of a Showgirl” is not a bad album, it is just not at the level fans have come to expect of Swift. For once, the strongest part of the album is not Swift’s writing but rather the production of Martin and Shellback.

bbc.com › news › articles › cn4wpe5z52qo

Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl is a loved-up pop victory lap

Swift's new music is more cool and collected than her previous collaborations with Martin; tapping into the atmospheric textures of his recent hits for The Weeknd and Ariana Grande.

Published October 3, 2025

rollingstone.com › music › music-album-reviews › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-album-review-1235439733

Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' Album Review

October 3, 2025 - Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' combines new, exciting sonic turns with incisive storytelling.

stereogum.com › 2325068 › premature-evaluation-taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl › reviews › premature-evaluation

Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl

October 25, 2025 - There but for the grace of Travis Kelce, apparently, goes Taylor Swift. She sings that she didn't go out like Ophelia because you saved her, and that's why she's ready to "pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes." If you haven't yet made your peace with that kind of writerly excess, then "The Fate Of Ophelia" won't convince you. Neither will anything else on The Life Of A Showgirl.

npr.org › 2025 › 10 › 03 › nx-s1-5560870 › life-of-a-showgirl-taylor-swift-takeaways

8 takeaways from Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

October 3, 2025 - Swift's 12th studio album returns to her pop roots, with lots of love-struck lyrics and upbeat melodies. But it's also a warning about the darker side of an industry she has battled — and bested.

The Hollywood Reporter

hollywoodreporter.com › music › music-news › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-critic-reviews-1236392461

Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' Critic Reviews Rundown

October 3, 2025 - Business Insider: “The Life of a Showgirl has some of her best songs in years — and some of her cringiest … I certainly admire and applaud Swift for going full throttle and committing to her vision.

reddit.com › r/popheads › taylor swift - the life of a showgirl megathread

r/popheads on Reddit: Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl MEGATHREAD

October 4, 2025 -

Please use this megathread to post your thoughts on The Life of a Showgirl, as well as any articles, news or reviews relating to the topic. Separate threads will be created for certain reviews/reactions from notable publications at the mod team's discretion. This will be sorted by new and pinned for a while to allow for further discussion.

Fresh Album Thread

YouTube Visualizers playlist

Reviews:

The Guardian: Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled - 2/5
The Telegraph: Taylor Swift’s new album is as sickly sweet as a Barbara Cartland fever dream - 3/5
The Independent: Taylor Swift review, The Life of a Showgirl: As compelling as she’s ever been – the star, the ringmaster and the circus all in one - 4/5
Rolling Stones: Taylor Swift Conquers Her Biggest Stage Ever on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ - 5/5
Billboard: Taylor Swift Brings the Bangers on ‘Life of a Showgirl,’ But Don’t Call It ‘1989, Pt. 2’: Critic’s Take
Variety: With ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ Taylor Swift Has Made Such a Contagiously Joyful Record, Even Her Score-Settling Detours Sound Sunny

Interviews:

The Telegraph: Taylor Swift: I thought I had to be sad to write songs

Articles:

The Guardian: Taylor Swift’s Charli xcx hit job misses the point – and underscores her tedious obsession with conflict - Opinion piece by Laura Snapes

Megathread I (You're here!) | Megathread II | Megathread III

Rude, combative and inappropriate comments will be removed. Behave yourselves!

Half the album is an easy fun listen. The other half should never be heard again. Wait until she has a kid and the classics will come again! She’s just out of material at this point.

It’s really bad 😞

The Needle Drop

theneedledrop.com › album-reviews › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-album-review

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl

October 8, 2025 - A surprisingly immature album from Taylor at this point in her life and career.

purewow.com › entertainment › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-review

"The Life of a Showgirl" Review - PureWow

October 3, 2025 - In this vein, I don't think Swift quite hit it—some tracks, including "Elizabeth Taylor," felt rather clunky to me. But she's inching her way back with the lyrics on "Opalite," "The Fate of Ophelia" and "The Life of a Showgirl." Specifically, "The Life of a Showgirl" really harkened back to that Folklore intensity of transporting the listener to another world and another story.

reddit.com › r/popheads › taylor swift - the life of a showgirl megathread ii

r/popheads on Reddit: Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl MEGATHREAD II

October 4, 2025 -

Please use this new megathread to post your thoughts on The Life of a Showgirl, as well as any articles, news or reviews relating to the topic. Separate threads will be created for certain reviews/reactions from notable publications at the mod team's discretion. This will be sorted by new and pinned for a while to allow for further discussion.

Fresh Album Thread

YouTube Visualizers playlist

The Fate of Ophelia Music Video - coming Oct 5th, 7pm EST

Reviews:

The Guardian: Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled - 2/5
The Telegraph: Taylor Swift’s new album is as sickly sweet as a Barbara Cartland fever dream - 3/5
A. V. Club: Taylor Swift takes the bait on The Life Of A Showgirl - C+
The Independent: Taylor Swift review, The Life of a Showgirl: As compelling as she’s ever been – the star, the ringmaster and the circus all in one - 4/5
AP News: On Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ love and reputation are on the line - 4/5
Rolling Stones: Taylor Swift Conquers Her Biggest Stage Ever on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ - 5/5
Billboard: Taylor Swift Brings the Bangers on ‘Life of a Showgirl,’ But Don’t Call It ‘1989, Pt. 2’: Critic’s Take
Variety: With ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ Taylor Swift Has Made Such a Contagiously Joyful Record, Even Her Score-Settling Detours Sound Sunny
NPR: On 'The Life of a Showgirl,' Taylor Swift feels love's glow and the spotlight's glare
Teen Vogue: The Life of a Showgirl Album Review: A Taylor Swift Who Is Unafraid to Fail
The New York Times: On ‘Showgirl,’ Taylor Swift Has a Lust for Love (and Her Foes)
The Atlantic: Taylor Swift’s Fairy Tale Is Over: The singer has everything she ever wanted—her new album suggests that it’s all sort of a drag

Track Reviews:

Pitchfork: Actually Romantic | Thread
Pitchfork: Father Figure

Written Interviews:

The Telegraph: Taylor Swift: I thought I had to be sad to write songs

Radio Interviews:

Hits Radio
Heart Radio
Capital FM
BBC Radio 1
Magic Radio
This Morning
Elvis Duran Show

(Thank you r/taylorswift for compiling these for easy copying for us)

TV Interviews:

Taylor Swift Shows Off Her Engagement Ring | The Graham Norton Show (Sneak Peak)

Articles:

The Guardian: Taylor Swift’s Charli xcx hit job misses the point – and underscores her tedious obsession with conflict - Opinion piece by Laura Snapes
Vox: Taylor Swift is done pretending she doesn’t absolutely love this life
Teen Vogue: Ophelia Explained: Why Taylor Swift Reimagines Shakespeare in The Life of a Showgirl
The Telegraph: Taylor Swift is settling some scores: The Life of a Showgirl decoded
Stereogum: Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl
New Yorker: Why Does Taylor Swift Think She’s Cursed?

Podcast Episodes:

NYT's Popcast: Breaking Down Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl'

Megathread I | Megathread II (You're here!) | Megathread III

Rude, combative and inappropriate comments will be removed. Behave yourselves!

Taylor Swift: “yea, the album showgirl is going to be about the behind the scenes of what it’s like to be a show girl” The album/ “the life of a showgirl” song: “yea, you don’t know the life of a show girl, babe… And you’re never ever gonna!!”

Your English teacher wrote an essay about your gym teachers d*ck.

pitchfork.com › reviews › albums › taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl

Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl Album Review | Pitchfork

October 6, 2025 - The rest of the time, Showgirl sounds like much of the pop music you have heard over the past 10 years and throughout your lifetime; it asks that this time, you listen more closely, because this is Taylor Swift, with the enormity of commercial power and cultural significance and algorithmic rank that implies.