October 3, 2025 - The songs are well turned, but in terms of genuinely memorable moments, Showgirl evinces just one killer chorus (Elizabeth Taylor), some impressively unexpected key changes on Wi$h Li$t and the authentically heart-tugging Ruin the Friendship, which finds Swift returning to her home town for the funeral of a high school boy she regrets not dating.

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 08 › the-life-of-a-showgirl-what-should-taylor-swift-do-next

The Life of a Showgirl is a massive hit – and massively divisive. What should Taylor Swift do next? | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 10, 2025 - Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled

Videos

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The Life of a Showgirl & The Black Hole of Music Criticism - YouTube

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The Guardian

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 03 › taylor-swift-life-of-a-showgirl-new-album-reactions-fan-critics-lyrics-songs-catchy-goofy-joyful

Taylor Swift: fans and critics react to ‘catchy’, ‘goofy’ and ‘joyful’ The Life of a Showgirl | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 3, 2025 - For the New York Times, Jon Caramanica praised The Life of a Showgirl as “a catchy and substantive but unflashy album” that “takes the songwriting intimacy of her Folklore/Evermore era and renders it with more clarity and oomph”.

The Guardian

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 03 › taylor-swift-release-party-of-a-showgirl-review

Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl review – lazy big screen cash-in | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 4, 2025 - These peeks behind the curtain – a clip of Swift on a Zoom call, jokes with her dancers, refining a take – are as fascinating as they are brief and tantalizing. They glimpse both the community and the machinery behind Taylor Swift industries, ...

The Guardian

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 02 › shes-leaning-into-the-idea-that-her-image-is-a-gilded-fantasy-how-taylor-swift-embraced-the-showgirl

‘She’s leaning into the idea that her image is a gilded fantasy’: how Taylor Swift embraced the showgirl | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 2, 2025 - “She’s leaning into the idea that her public image is a gilded fantasy,” Nobile says, allowing her to present herself as both “the billionaire pop star who dazzles arenas every night, and the same old girl beneath the costumes. It would ring hollow if she just came back with a down-to-earth album of personal songs, as if the Eras tour never happened.” Even the title The Life of a Showgirl, he says, “seems to be suggesting that behind the sequins is a real woman.”

Album of The Year

albumoftheyear.org › album › 1427175-taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl.php

Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl - Reviews - Album of The Year

In a discography where even her initially assumed misstep – the edgy and passionate Reputation – has become a widely acclaimed and rightfully appreciated work, The Life of a Showgirl stands out as just confusing.

The Guardian

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 03 › taylor-swifts-charli-xcx-hit-job-misses-the-point-and-underscores-her-tedious-obsession-with-conflict

Taylor Swift’s Charli xcx hit job misses the point – and underscores her tedious obsession with conflict | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 3, 2025 - There are no more foes to vanquish; like a new phase of Marvel movies, you get the sense of her scraping the barrel for conflict to mine, sucking the IP dry, lacking the imagination to explore and analyse tensions beyond rote hero/villain drama. The Life of a Showgirl was billed as going behind the scenes of Swift’s life on the Eras tour.

Substack

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 - Ann Powers dubbed Taylor “Western ... 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 ...

Metacritic

metacritic.com › music › the-life-of-a-showgirl › taylor-swift

The Life Of A Showgirl by Taylor Swift Reviews and Tracks - Metacritic

‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ has its moments, but lacks the consistency of Taylor’s recent work. All this publication's reviews · Read full review · The Guardian · Oct 2, 2025 · 40 · In fairness, Wood is one clanging misstep on an album that isn’t terrible: it’s just nowhere near as good as it should be given Swift’s talents, and it leaves you wondering why.

Rating: 69/100 - 23 votes

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Guardian Series

guardian-series.co.uk › news › national › 25514665.taylor-swift-receives-mixed-reviews-life-showgirl

Taylor Swift receives mixed reviews for The Life Of A Showgirl | East London and West Essex Guardian Series

October 3, 2025 - The Telegraph, which gave it three stars, said: “It is a fine album – a witty, literate, mellifluous collection of overwhelmingly romantic singer-songwriter-style pop songs about the triumph of love, almost certainly spelled L-U-R-V-E. But ...

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 - No one could begrudge her happiness, but Swift’s new album has all the bite, realism and piercing psychological acuity of a Barbara Cartland fever dream.” · The Guardian (two stars): “Dull razzle-dazzle …

reddit.com › r/travisandtaylor › guardian review of the showgirl movie: "lazy big screen cash-in"

r/travisandtaylor on Reddit: Guardian review of the Showgirl movie: "Lazy Big Screen Cash-In"

October 4, 2025 - The Life of a Showgirl - Official Album Review By Honest.

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!

Top answer

1 of 5

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!!”

2 of 5

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

reddit.com › r/taylorswift › taylor swift: the life of a showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled

r/TaylorSwift on Reddit: Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled

August 22, 2025 - I've been so happy listening to Showgirl. The first part especially has a 1990s Garbage vibe to it (the band, not literal trash) and I love it! ... I loved Garbage when I was younger! I totally see the comparison. Shirley Manson is such a badass. Continue this thread ... Agree, I love it. I loved TTPD and the discourse around it took away my joy, so I’m gonna skip all the reviews/discourse this time and just enjoy it myself. The Guardian has been trash lately anyways, I wonder what happened to them.

Just Jared

justjared.com › 2025 › 10 › 03 › life-of-a-showgirl-reviews-critics-ratings-revealed-for-taylor-swifts-12th-album

‘Life of a Showgirl’ Reviews: Critics Ratings Revealed for Taylor Swift’s 12th Album | Longform, Music, Reviews, Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl | Celebrity News and Gossip | Entertainment, Photos and Videos | Just Jared

The Telegraph – 3 out of 5 stars: “The Life of a Showgirl gives us romance and wit, but it lacks the drama of her earlier music.” · The Guardian – 2 out of 5 stars: “Wood is one clanging misstep on an album that isn’t terrible: it’s just nowhere near as good as it should be given ...

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PEDESTRIAN.TV

pedestrian.tv › music › from ‘immaculate’ to ‘dull’, how has the life of a showgirl fared among critics?

How Has The Life Of A Showgirl Fared Among Critics?

October 3, 2025 - “The new music is catchy and bold but often leans cringey,” the outlet wrote. Shake it off, T-Swiz! (Image: Taylor Swift/Instagram) Like any piece of art, there’s going to be a few detractors, which came in the form of The Guardian’s ...

The Guardian

theguardian.com › music › 2025 › oct › 10 › taylor-swift-scores-second-biggest-uk-charts-opening-week-ever-with-the-life-of-a-showgirl

Taylor Swift scores the biggest UK charts opening week since 2017 with The Life of a Showgirl | Taylor Swift | The Guardian

October 14, 2025 - The Guardian’s Adrian Horton rated it two stars. The record has received mixed reviews, from five stars at Rolling Stone to one star from the Standard and two from the Guardian’s Alexis Petridis.

reddit.com › r/fauxmoi › taylor swift: the life of a showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled (2/5)

r/Fauxmoi on Reddit: Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled (2/5)

June 29, 2025 - Legit will only save the first four songs and Life of a Showgirl the rest are just cringe. The lyrics don’t even let them get stuck in your head.

Sportskeeda

sportskeeda.com › home › music › "clearly someone woke up and chose violence" - internet reacts to the guardian rating taylor swift’s “the life of a showgirl” 40 out of 100

"Clearly someone woke up and chose violence" - Internet reacts to The Guardian rating Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” 40 out of 100

October 3, 2025 - British publication The Guardian recently reviewed Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and rated the LP 40 out of 100, giving it a 2/5 star rating.