Taylor Swift Made Me Resurrect This Blog - Encore Track by Track
📖 13 min. read
Well hello, stranger. It's been a while.
Unfortunately, the biggest female popstar on the planet just released a deluxe version of an album she said there was no deluxe version of.
That's it, I'm talking about The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore. Conveniently timed to boost Taylor's Grammy nominations and just in time to clash with Olivia Rodrigo's tour starting. How interesting.
Nevertheless, I have some notes I'd like to share with the class, so let's proceed.
The Life of a Showgirl: Encore
Album rating: 2/5 ⭐
The Fate of Ophelia
We start off the album with the opener. Usually we get either "fun" Taylor or "deep" Taylor. In this case we managed to get both for this song - one that combined the upbeat tunes from Max Martin and Shellback but also the metaphors and poetry akin to an Aaron Desner/Jack Antonoff collaboration.
I really liked the video for this song because, yes Taylor directed it, but it's actually cinematic and interesting, not just littered in Easter Eggs (i.e. Bejeweled).
No notes, a fab opener.
5/5 ⭐
Elizabeth Taylor
Not sure how I feel about the random "Elizabeth Taylor" throughout but when the bass drops it is an absolute banger.
"You're only as hot as your last hit baby" - had my jaw on the floor first time I listened because in regards to the pop world, it felt like saying the quiet part out loud.
"Be my NY when Hollywood hates me" I loved this, it's giving Lana Del Rey vibes.
"Been number one but never had two" a year on and I still don't know what this means??
4/5 ⭐
Opalite
"I thought my house was haunted; I used to live with ghosts" I assumed this was in reference to Joe Alwyn. Especially after the ghosts featured in the Anti-Hero music video.
Another happy upbeat Taylor song!! This song has been described as the antedote to a few of her other sadder songs, which I can see.
Music video is a work of art ✨
5/5 ⭐
Father Figure
This song is interpolated with George Michaels song of the same name. I would be lying if I knew what an interpolation was before Showgirl was released. When I first listened to this, I was waiting for the song to build up and go into a place it didn't end up going.
Does she have to repeatedly say her dick is bigger? I've never known so many size references before Travis arrived on the scene.
The latter part of the song, particularly "I protect the family" is made for TikTok clips - if not intentionally, it's doing numbers regardless.
On first listen of the album, I thought we were doing well so far!
3/5 ⭐
Eldest Daughter
Track 5. Here we go...
For those unaware, Taylor began a tradition of placing the most heartfelt, meaningful song of the album as Track 5. This was unintentional at first but now feels very purposeful and somewhat forced.
The lyrics really don't make sense and there's not much flow to the topics in the lyrics??
Starts off with internet hate, then she was too busy to meet Travis back in 2023, trying to seem cool...
"Every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter so we all dressed up as wolves and we looked fire?" What does this mean?
2/5 ⭐
Ruin the Friendship
This has always been on of my favourites since day one but it's nice to know TikTok and the internet in general is finally catching up with me!
Swifties like to imagine what songs would fit another Taylor album better... I would argue this song would fit on all if not most of her albums. It is a true Taylor Swift song through and through. The storytelling, twist at the end that he's died... "Abigail called me with the bad news"
I cried at the first listen, probably on my period.
5/5 ⭐
Actually Romantic!
This song has been heavily suggested to be about Charli XCX, who Taylor was once friends with and had as a support act on the Reputation Tour back in 2018. I am not a fan of Charli XCX, but this song is supposed to be a reaction to Charli's song 'Sympathy is a Knife'. To this day, I have not listened to that song in full.
Taylor says "Hadn't thought of you in a long time" but we're here writing a song about this person? We did this back on the Love album with 'I Forgot That You Existed'.
"You think I'm tacky baby - Stop talking dirty to me" That bit does tickle me, but the song is just not necessary.
2/5 ⭐
Wi$hli$t
Why is it spelt out with dollar signs? She's worth 2bn and isn't far off turning 40!
The song topic is been done before. Over. And over. The whole point of reputation was "screw everyone else and their materials things, I just want you" I had deja vu listening to this first time.
"We tell the world to leave us the f*** alone and they do" no sweetie, you have security.
Also this sounds like it could be a Jack Antonoff song so what are we actually bringing to the table?
1/5 ⭐
Wood
I like this but it does make me think of the twerking squirrel puppet grinding up by a window that frequent my FYP. And I'm not really sure how I feel about that.
2/5 ⭐
Cancelled!
Everyone seems to think this is about Blake Lively. I don't think it is, if it's about anyone in particular, I think it's Sophie Turner.
"Did you girl boss too close to the sun?" Is a quote from Candace Owens. It is a brilliant line. Argue with a wall.
Could've been good but it's a bit vindictive, I feel like Jack could've improved the lyrics instead of just making another pop song.
"But a shard of glass it's a lot more sharp" hits rather well.
2/5 ⭐
Honey
Eyeroll.
This belongs on Reputation or 1989 not album 12!
1/5 ⭐
The Life of a Showgirl (ft Sabrina Carpenter)
I really wish the whole album was cohesive and more in this vein. I also really wish we had a music video with Sabrina. We got a music video for Karma with Ice Spice that nobody asked for...
Also Sabrina is arguably the stronger singer on this track.
5/5 ⭐
**Deep breaths, bracing myself**
"There will only be 12 songs" girly you can change your mind but I think we were exhausted about all the variants being sold for previous albums that a standard album would be nice. Is she against EPs?
It would be impossible for Taylor Swift to produce an album with only 12 songs. 31 on TTPD.. 16 on Red.. etc can't get mad because we know what she's like but can get mad because not everyone wants to be buying multiple of one album.
(On we go...)
Patient Zero
If this is an encore vibe... Why wasn't this incorporated into the start? The previous song finishes with a cheering crowd at the Eras Tour, Taylor and Sabrina saying "goodnight". It doesn't flow sonically at all.
I do like the strings - which is a recurring comment I've seen about this song - but I wish it was more dramatic.
Lyrics are clumsy... "So let's get into it" STOP TALKING YOURE RUINING IT!
Bridges are her thing but this is so bad. The music video is better than the song.
Take a break. Stay away from studio for a year, minimum. Please.
3/5 ⭐
Cleveland!
Eyes rolled immediately when I saw the song title.
The implied swear words - why??
Get over yourself, we've been here before.
Nothing detailed about Travis, we don't learn anything about him or their relationship - Reputation was so descriptive of Joe Alwyn.
MORE TALK SINGING!?
You're nearly forty why are you singing about "haters" please stop.
"He likes what he likes" Matty got a double album, with 31 songs plus whatever else she put on earlier albums.
1/5 ⭐ (but that feels too generous)
Pink Clouding
What even is that?! What does it mean? We don't know or get told.
P-p-promises ... Eww.
My guess is it's about Tom Hiddleston.
10 years after the fact and he still gets a better song than Travis? This belongs on Lover.
1/5 ⭐
Babylon
The lyrics, rhythm and beat reminds me of Long Story Short from Evermore. And that is perfect so now I'm feeling territorial.
I'm unsure what phase of life or person this is about and honestly, I'm too tired at this point to try and figure it out. I may come back to this in future but not in the next 6 months. I want this album to be over so I can go back to the Manuscript and Safe & Sound!!
1/5 ⭐
44 stars total making a 2.75 average for the 16 songs!
Honestly I was pushed to write this after the release of the Encore version which wasn't really an encore at all. It was such a late release for a deluxe version so I don't understand the timing or why take so long to put out such poor songs? When I say poor, they are average in the pop world but poor for Taylor. I've seen comments online that Taylor is upset with the negative feedback after this latest release - to which I would say good. She needs to step away from making endless same-y pop music and get away from being surrounded by "yes men". When she was releasing one album every two years the standard was higher and it felt as if she was actually being challenged.
Brb, going to play Evermore til March,
Bryony.