It’s October 3, which means the biggest day of the year for Swifties is here. Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl officially dropped at midnight Eastern Time and has predictably taken over the internet, the culture, and our lives.
To mark this momentous occasion, we at Glamour gathered around our laptops and listened to the album together, sharing our unfiltered thoughts in real time. As a diverse group of die-hard Swifties, pop lovers, and even some Swiftie skeptics, our opinions are as different and varied as Folklore is to Reputation.
Here’s every thought we had on Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl, track by track.
Track 1: “The Fate of Ophelia”
FWIW, this is my third listen. Sorry, I couldn’t wait. —Anna Moeslein, deputy editor
This is very Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood coded. —Chantal Waldholz, director of audience development
So…is she Ophelia? —Sam Reed, senior trending news and entertainment editor
I kinda feel bad for The Lumineers. I will never think of them first when it comes to “Ophelia” moving forward. —C.W.
Taylor loves her English-lit references. —A.M.
Oooooh the “Eldest Daughter” lyric is foreshadowing what’s to come in the album. —C.W.
Who is OPHELIA! Her? We must know. —Falak Khoja, designer
This is not pop-y enough for me. I’m like Zendaya in Challengers, I just wanna see some good fucking pop! —Stephanie McNeal, senior editor
Steph, agree. I want a pop BANGER. —C.W.
Unfortunately, Steph, I hate to spoil but this is one of the peppiest songs on the album. —A.M.
There’s more substance here production-wise IMO! —S.R.
“Keep it 100” Travis’s influence…his mind. —S.M.
That Max Martin, man. Though…I am surprised there isn’t anything muhteşem pop-y given he’s the producer. —C.W.
I can’t wait to English major–splain this to a man. —Grace McCarty, associate beauty editor
“Pledge allegiance to your hand, your team, your vibe,” is that the lyric? —S.R.
“I wanted/expected it to be bangers because she played up working with Max Martin and Shellback so much. So I’m feeling a little disappointed because this album is not quite that.” —A.M.
Track 2: “Elizabeth Taylor”
I’m listening, and I like it, but I miss the old Taylor songs LOL. —F.K.
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me” is also what I wrote in my journal at 12. —S.R.
OK so with “Elizabeth Taylor,” I immediately think of Charlotte York’s dog in Sex and the City. —C.W.
I like how sweeping this song is. It feels cinematic, which obviously was the point. —A.M.
I like this one better than “Ophelia.” —S.M.
I’m so distracted by her in this wig in the Spotify preview. Stop looking at me so I can listen. —G.M.
She won’t give us Reputation TV, so this song feels like the next best thing. —A.M.
Track 3: “Opalite”
I will be using that line: “eating out of the trash.” —A.M.
I doubt Austin said that. —C.W.
This is giving “Domino” by Jessie J. —S.M.
“You were dancing through the lightning strikes,” I can see people getting a tat of this phrase. —F.K.
Feel like she was trying to do a Motown thing, but it’s giving children’s TV show theme song. —S.R.
I have a confession for the group, I am not a lyric listener, I am a “I like the beat” listener. So I like this. —S.M.
Swifties think the “onyx night” and “lightning strikes” references are proof that Taylor’s read Fourth Wing. I can see it! She’s for müddet a romantasy girlie. —A.M.
Track 4: “Father Figure”
If this is about Olivia Rodrigo, it’s brutal. —C.W.
It’s about Scott Borchetta, allegedly. “Deals with the devil because my dick’s bigger” and “I’ll protect the family” very much from HIS POV. —S.R.
Oh, it’s supposed to be from Scott’s POV? —S.M.
Ohhh. HIS point of view, okay, that makes more sense. —A.M.
Yeah, I’m convinced. —S.M.
“I covered up your scandals”…do tell. —A.M.
Track 5: “Eldest Daughter”
A pop song about being too online? —S.R.
Okay, so Travis better be in it for the long haul. —C.W.
More Joe marriage shade. —S.M.
Okay, I love the “bad bitch” part. It’s like Kylie Jenner’s “rise and shine.” —F.K.
As an only daughter of an eldest daughter, I need to watch my mom listen to this song very intently. —G.M.
I wanted lyrics like “I always remind everyone of my parents’ birthdays” in “Eldest Daughter.” —S.M.
Track 6: “Ruin the Friendship”
This song is about high school? —S.R.
Yes, but there’s a twist at the end…just wait. —A.M.
Okay, well, THAT took a turn. —C.W.
Track 7: “Actually Romantic”
“STACEY’S MOM HAS GOT IT GOIN’ ON.” —S.R.
It’s giving “Teenage Dirtbag” and “Say It Ain’t So.” —A.M.
I think Charli can talk about herself doing coke, but IDK about other people saying it. —S.M.
“Sympathy Is a Knife” is such a masterpiece that it’s…an uphill battle…to try and compete with a diss track. —A.M.
“It’s kind of making me wet.” WHAT. —C.W.
“But I would so listen to Taylor doing a pop-punk album! That’s my takeaway from this song. —A.M.
Track 8: “Wish List”
“Balenci shades” is some big time cringe. —S.R.
Oh no baby what is u doing. —S.M.
Suburban ovulation song. —G.M.
Sonically, I love what’s going on in the background. —S.R.
I think this is her “thank u, next.” Each verse is about a different ex. —A.M.
“They want that complex female character / They want that critical smash Palme d’Or / And an Oscar on their bathroom floor.” Totally about Joe. —A.M.
I might be taking this too literally, but if they’re just gonna have a couple of kids, how does the whole block look like him? —C.W.
This is going to be a hit on TikTok with the meanest girl you ever met and the cringiest caption the world has ever seen. —S.M.
So she’s really moving to Ohio, huh. —S.M.
The tradwives will eat this up I fear. —C.W.
Track 9: “Wood”
Taylor Swift is officially in her Yacht Rock era. —C.W.
Of all my predictions, I’m pleasantly surprised that “knock on wood” is the way into this title. —G.M.
“Wood” is one of my favorites on the album, but I really can’t help but hear some Sabrina Carpenter influence in it with the sexual innuendos, vintage sounds, and notable background singers. —A.M.
Forgive me, but is this song about a boner? —C.W.
Yes. —S.M.
Travis walking into his next practice like 😎. —A.M.
Track 10: “Cancelled”
“Cancelled” is my favorite on the album. It’s giving Reputation, and I am here for it. —C.W.
Taylor just give us REPUTATION TV!!! —A.M.
Oh you’re right SO Reputation. —F.K.
This is like if a bunch of hit tweets were lyrics. —S.R.
Is my fave song on this album going to be “Cancelled?” —S.M.
I’ve been begging for Rep scraps for years, and I finally got one. —G.M.
My first thought was that this was about Blake Lively, but upon further listen I think it’s her saying she’ll stay friends with Brittany Mahomes. —A.M.
It’s definitely about Britt. —S.M.
Track 11: “Honey”
“You can call me honey if you want bc I’m the one you want.” OKAY rhyming. I’m going to use that line now. —F.K.
We needed our glitter gel pen moment. —G.M.
Track 12: “The Life of a Showgirl” (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
Why is this album called The Life of a Showgirl? What’s the theory? —C.W.
I think this is a good last-track-slash-thesis-statement vibes. —A.M.
This song has soothed my fears that she’s going to fall off the face of the earth and make bread forever. —G.M.
The outro with the crowd that was clearly recorded during the Eras Tour—probably my favorite way she’s ever closed an album. —A.M.
Final thoughts?
I’m sad because I was excited about the Max Martin of it all, and there’s no instantly lovable pop bangers. —S.M.
I fully expected pop banger after pop banger…and it just wasn’t that. Especially with Max Martin as a producer. But Taylor’s in love and happy, so at least we can celebrate that. —C.W.
As the resident Swiftie on staff, I feel OK saying it’s not her strongest showing. I can only really compare Taylor to her own work, and I don’t think the marketing and packaging of Showgirl matched the music as well as, say, Reputation or Folklore or even Lover. There are good tracks on here, and my appreciation may grow over time. I was skeptical about Lover and Midnights at first, but now both have some of my all-time favorite songs she’s written. That said, my first reaction is: Pop songs about falling in love but also some bite…can’t we just get Reputation TV instead? Please? —A.M.
My final thoughts are, Some songs I really like, and I do see it growing on me, but I wasn’t like, WOW. —F.K.
Who knows, I’m going to the “Release of a Showgirl” movie this afternoon and maybe by then I’ll be fully drunk on the Kool-Aid. —A.M.
