Taylor Swift has once again captured millions of people’s attention, as she released her twelfth album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” on Oct. 3. 

Swift makes a return to theatrical pop, covering the complexities and tensions of fame. This album shifts away from the deep emotions of heartbreak and loss that were included in many of her recent albums and is more focused on romantic joy and confrontation. 

Swift stated that this album came from “the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life.” She looks to channel the feelings of success, love, performance, and the pressures that come with fame.

Starting with the first track, “The Fate of Ophelia,” you can automatically identify that this album is going to have a completely different vibe and style from her others. She uses a lot of imagery to paint the picture of someone being torn between being seen and being understood. Swift discusses how a showgirl gained her spotlight, but it came with the imperative cost of vulnerability. 

Songs like “Cancelled!” and “Actually Romantic”  approach online hate and criticism from peers, which allows you to feel the tension through the lyrics. Swift aims to highlight the unseen shadows of the spotlight.

Switching into more performative tracks, like“Wi$h Li$t” and “Elizabeth Taylor,” the songs reveal the hopes and fears of performance, rather than just projecting the show. They highlight the biggest tension of the album, glamour versus reality, and how people never understand mental struggles once you’ve gained that fame. 

Commercially, the album set numerous records, including the highest single-day sales in the U.S. at 2.7 million copies, and became the most pre-saved album in Spotify history. Streaming numbers also rocketed along with the cinematic release, “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” merging narrative and visuals to make a bigger, more creative vision. 

However, in light of the release, this album has faced controversy due to her lyrics and choice of music. She’s getting lots of praise for the catchiness and joy that is felt in the album, as it’s more upbeat than her previous album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” It’s less about heartbreak and sadness, and gives you the feelings of empowerment and passion. 

For as much praise that this album is receiving, many disapprove of it, as they feel that the choice of lyrics is seen as awkward and say it does not fit Swift’s style of writing. Numerous people expected this album to be as emotional and poetic as her last, even though she explained how she was striving for a more upbeat, fun album similar to “1989”. 

Overall, “The Life of a Showgirl” reflects fame, love, and self-expression. It covers the powers of having fame, along with highlighting the lowlights behind the scenes.