Since the release of her twelfth studio album “The Life of a Showgirl” on Friday, Oct. 3, singer-songwriter and pop sensation Taylor Swift has been receiving copious amounts of criticism — including from her own fanbase of Swifties. Some are going as far as to claim that Swift is a “fascist” and that she is serving listeners a misogynistic tale as old as time — that everything will be better if a man comes and saves you to become a part of a domestic dreamscape.
From its opening track, “The Fate of Ophelia” to the album closer, “The Life of a Showgirl,” fans and haters — such as University of Wisconsin student Paula Andres — alike have flocked to give their two cents on the album.
“I thought it was horrible and ruined her image,” Andres said. “The songs were mediocre at best and none of them had substance like her previous songs.”
This is a common sentiment shared by many disappointed Swifties who claim that Swift’s eleventh studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which was released in April of last year provided listeners with more depth and emotion.
The album walks listeners through Swift’s experience of a doomed relationship, seemingly pointing to the end of her six year long relationship with Joe Alwyn, which ended shortly before the release of TTPD.
On the other hand, “The Life of a Showgirl” nods to Swift’s newfound happiness with fiancée Travis Kelce. But, for some fans, like UW student Grace Marotta, the album did not live up to expectations.
“I think that there were parts of the album that fell short … it felt a little half baked,” Marotta said. “Like she just went into the studio and they recorded the first thing that sounded good.”
Angry fans have taken it to social media to draw comparisons between “The Life of a Showgirl” and Swift’s previous albums, claiming that the image of a showgirl is not a good look on Swift compared to the “tortured poet” persona she donned last year.
Others have critiqued Swift’s attempt at creating an album that at its core can only be described as upbeat, optimistic and hopeful. Drawing all the way back to Swift’s critically acclaimed fifth studio album “1989,” fans can’t help but wonder if Swift could’ve done better with her newest release.
“We know her capabilities, so we know she can make fun pop songs that are better than what we were given,” Marotta said.
As much criticism as it is receiving, there are always Swifties who can’t help but find something to love about the album and everything it represents, despite its perceived flaws.
Marotta noted some enjoyable aspects of the album.
“It’s very catchy and I notice something new about the songs each time I listen,” Marotta said.
And of course, many people, such as UW student Emily Rohr, neither hate nor love the album, taking the “middle-of-the-road” position.
“I would say for me, the highs are high and the lows are low,” Rohr said. “’Ruin the Friendship’ and ‘Father Figure’ are probably my favorites.”
Despite what you may think about Swift and her new album, it’s no doubt that she knows how to get people talking.
