On Friday, Oct. 3, Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Release of the highly anticipated album immediately brought many mixed emotions from fans across social media, with some praising Swift’s bold new style while others say they miss the “old Taylor.”
“I thought it was good, but not as good compared to her old ones. I think her past albums made the expectations higher,” sophomore Sarah Alexander said.
The release of the album followed months of building anticipation by Swift, who dropped many hints and reveals on social media. Swift created a huge build-up toward the big release.
For many, “The Life of a Showgirl” was one of the most hyped-up releases of the year. With Swift’s elaborate teasers, her high-profile relationship with NFL player Travis Kelce, and the success of the Eras tour, expectations were high. Many Swifties stayed up until midnight to hear it the moment it came out, sharing their first impressions online within minutes.
“My first impression was staying awake until midnight and buying the CD and listening to it on my record player,” senior Jackie Eveleth said.
The album takes a creative turn from Swift’s past projects. Swift has a new theatrical pop style on this record. Despite the backlash, many listeners appreciated Swift’s willingness to try something new and show a different side of herself.
“I think it’s just different than her other ones, and people are pressed about it. But I think that she is at a different point in her life, and I enjoyed it personally,” Eveleth said.
Some listeners who were first unsure about the new album found it growing on them after a few listens.
“I was first listening to it and I was really disappointed, but now I’m listening to it and I’m kind of starting to get to the phase where I’m like this one’s actually kind of good. You just gotta hear it out,” sophomore Lilly Hammond said.
Hammond also mentioned that mixed reactions are nothing new when it comes to Swift’s music.
“I feel like every time she releases something, there’s always more negative than there is positive. But I also feel like I was expecting more positive than I saw,” Hammond said.
Despite much criticism, “The Life of a Showgirl” still proved to be another massive success for Swift. With every album, she always manages to surprise her audience. Taylor Swift has once again proved that no matter what the reaction, her songs will always keep people talking.
Whether fans love it or not, “The Life of a Showgirl” shows that Taylor Swift isn’t afraid to take risks and tell her story in a new way.
