Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl (October 3, 2025) • Page 67

Yeah I was telling my buddy before this came out that I was worried she's at a point where people are afraid to tell her when an idea isn't good.

 

i’m a very surface level fan, i listen to the full lengths that i like and that’s about it, and i thought Poets was going to be that revelation for her

 

Tell you what, I’m glad I didn’t get suckered into buying a movie ticket for whatever the hell is playing in theaters.

after letting it marinate, I *like* 4 of the 12 songs. I don’t love any of them.

 

I really love the bridges on Ophelia, Opalite, Eldest Daughter, Ruin the Friendship, Honey and the title track. I think they all elevate those songs and some are even the best parts. I think the best part of Actually Romantic is the bridge too.

 

I did too, but I feel like that got pretty good press overall? I remember Midnights getting a little bit of actual mainstream criticism, but it’s not surprising to me that the epic success of Anti Hero and the tour won out over any criticism of that album’s sound. (Also I’m very much a Midnights defender so maybe I’m part of the problem.)

 

Didn't she say like five people heard this before she announced the title and release date?

 

Five people, probably her closest inner circle who are terrified to tell her no or to rethink.

 

I don't even bother with atmos these days, almost every mix is terrible.

 

Yeah, I don't think Travis is going to be like "Hey, maybe tone down the dick commentary on this one."

 

I feel like even on those first four the changes were only incremental, each one sounded a lot like the one before it with a few new experiments and evolutions. I feel like these last three have about as much sonic identity as those do, although maybe I feel the individuality more because I appreciate this sound more and vise versa. I feel like a lot of people are less into the style of writing she's had on the last few records so they're more anxious/excited to hear her make a complete style shift but she's only really done that a few times and I don't even think those were worlds away from what she'd done before.

I just don't think she feels as great a need to completely shake up her style of songwriting as much as people would like her to. I think her goal is just to write songs as they come to her and build whatever sound fits it best. I still think she's trying new things and exploring new sounds each time, she's just letting her style develop naturally rather than forcing a drastic change.

 

I just disagree on your take, re: the first four. As someone who jumped aboard with Fearless shortly before Speak Now came out, I was blown away hearing in real time how many new influences and new aspects she was adding to her sound every album. I don't really think Speak Now sounds anything like Fearless, and I don't think Red sounds like Speak Now.

 

You don't remember the EDM breakdown in Teardrops on my Guitar?

 

LOL I needed that

 

I feel like they're all pretty poppy country with some light rock influence. I think they sound distinct and there's a clear evolution each time but I feel the same about the last three records.

 

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitarBWAAPP WAPPP BAAPPP BWWAAAPP

 

At the movie thing, the music video for “Ophelia” is pretty great.

The lyric videos are edited. Audible groans at the “checks bigger” line instead of the explicit one.

 

Do you think the reception of the vault tracks helped Taylor steer more to the "just release stuff" mentality? Like you know she had people telling her she couldn't release the 10 minute version of all too well and then it turns into one of her biggest songs. Makes me wonder if its less about people being afraid to tell her something is a bad idea and more about her not caring what others think because shes vindicated herself in the past

 

I have Opalite stuck in my head now, I think that might be my favorite on here.

 

for sure, but eldest daughter has the best one

 

What the hell does Ophelia sound like. The chorus sounds exactly like another song but I can’t place it

 

On my second listen and a lot of this is sounding like coworker music

 

jumping around and feel pretty comfortable saying i think this shit sucks. ai uncanny valley-core. i've been unplugged from her for a minute now, have the last few records felt this uninspired?

 

yes

 

I’d say the last few have felt like rehashing the same handful of good songs 30 times, but there is a huge quality difference to me in a vacuum where you’re ignoring what’s retreading the same ground or not.

 

the cover art feels so aimless, like a friend of a friend's first boudoir shoot that gets no engagement on social media. the lyrics are the worst though, faux-swagger delivered with no confidence and double cringe. i had to walk away from my computer when she turned palme d'or into three syllables...