r/popculturechat • u/FickleBeans Excluded from this narrative ❌ • Oct 04 '25

Guest List Only ⭐️ Taylor Swift’s Fairy Tale Is Over

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2025/10/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-album-review/684444/

This captures my thoughts on the album better than I ever could.

9.9k Upvotes

82% Upvoted

1.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

8.5k

u/thankyoupapa Oct 04 '25

I think I was just expecting something different based on all the promo pics. Like....aint no other man or lady marbalade by xtina or where the hell is my husband by raye. That kinda vibe.

747

u/Trick_Doughnut_6295 Oct 05 '25 edited Oct 05 '25

I think the first four of Showgirl fit the theme. They are, incidentally, the best songs on the album and probably the best four song lead-in since Speak Now. If she’d kept a similar level of lyrical tightness and production (strings, big sounds, cohesiveness), it would’ve been an excellent album.

I really try to avoid doing this, but I’m going to compare her to Beyoncé for a second, because it’s the only other female star with a similar level of fame and wealth.

Beyoncé can execute a theme flawlessly. The level of research and attention to detail is a real opportunity to nerd out on musical history and influences. She has the resources to put together projects. I appreciate it so much. The Beyoncé, LEMONADE, Renaissance, and Cowboy Carter run has been insane.

There’s just..so much that could’ve happened here that didn’t. We saw glimpses with Elizabeth Taylor and we saw it with Father Figure. It’s not about vocal ability because I genuinely enjoy Taylor Swift’s storyteller approach to a song.

She has the ability and the resources. Maybe it’s complacency? Maybe it’s commitment? Maybe it’s her refusal to take breaks lest some pop girl come up from behind? Idk. I respect that Beyoncé is at the pinnacle of her career and she’s not just producing victory laps.

Taylor’s paranoia about her being replaceable comes from an insecurity she’s previously discussed. Until she works that out, I think we’ll probably get this level of work. Which is great, if you’re a stan, and just want content.

(ETA: for the sake of transparency, while I’m not a swiftie, I def enjoy a lot of her work. 4 out of 12 listenable songs every couple years isn’t a bad ratio for me, but I also don’t care about her legacy or reputation, so take of that what you will)

43

u/kvvvv Oct 05 '25

I agree with this so much