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Original poster

Swifties, who would like to join me in the countdown to Life of a Showgirl?

291 replies

Everlore · 12/08/2025 14:31

I woke up this morning to a slew of messages from excited Swiftie friends telling me about the new album, I hadn't dared to hope it would be here so soon and now I am ridiculously excited and have my vinyl copy pre-ordered already!
My husband, also a Swiftie, had warned me not to get my hopes up ahead of the release of TTPD last year as he couldn't see how it could possibly live up to her previous albums, fortunately he was completely wrong and I consider it to be among her finest work, one of the best albums I've ever heard! I therefore have no reservations about getting excited about the new album. It will also be the first album since our baby was born, though I THINK she's more of a folklore and evermore girl so she may not be quite as enthused by the possibility of more Max Martin and Shellback collaborations as we are.
Even though we won't be getting Reputation TV now, I hope the vault tracks still see the light of day, when you consider the quality of the 1989 vault tracks just imagine what the Reputations ones must be like! I have high hopes that this new album might have been inspired from work that had already begun on Reputation TV.
Anyway, just wanted to come on here and share my excitement with other Swifties. What are you hoping or expecting from TS12?

OP posts:
CaptainCarrotsBigSword · 02/10/2025 21:23

Ooooooh I am so bloody excited!!

indoorplantqueen · 02/10/2025 21:51

The GN show is recorded tonight and on tv tomorrow night. TS is on lots of uk radio in the morning- heart and capital

EmeraldRoulette · 03/10/2025 00:30

I don't know how long she's here, but I'm thinking she'll either record something for Strictly or even be on the live show

Or join Deacon Blue at Wembley!

I don't have BBC, so I'm not going to see anything until the weekend when I could watch it at Mum's.

YouForgotToTurnItOff · 03/10/2025 01:38

Just joining in for a quick squeeeee! So excited. It's always so odd to me how so many things in her albums link to my life (names, numbers, places and of course situations and feelings). I don't understand how she seems to manage do this with everyone else of the female gender on the planet as well! I've ordered the CD from the UK site which the first CD for me since about 2002!

ZokaluseK73 · 03/10/2025 02:15

I’m late to this Mumsnet thread..

We pre ordered 5 variants & can’t wait for the delivery.

DD 16 - the strongest full on Swiftie out of us is getting up at 5am to listen to it before school on Apple Music. We’re then off to watch the life of a showgirl at the cinema in the evening.

We’ll also be listening to all her radio interviews & watching all 3 talk shows.

Going to be a great day 😍

ShesTheAlbatross · 03/10/2025 06:28

I’m listening now, hoping to get through it before my 3 year old wakes up!

TheAlcott · 03/10/2025 06:29

I'm just waiting for dh to bugger off to work so i can lie on the sofa with my headphones on and give this my full attention.

Hopefully my vinyl will arrive later. Looking forward to GN tonight - Taytay gives good chat show.

Happy days! 😍

toastofthetown · 03/10/2025 06:45

The one advantage to having a baby who doesn’t sleep is I could listen to at roughly release time without interruption! Overall pretty good. I liked the vibes, but I’m definitely a listener who takes a few listens to get my thoughts together. I was disappointed by Eldest Daughter as a tack 5. And I definitely could have done without Wood. I already have far too much of him in my life anyway and I didn’t need that too 😳

user1471548941 · 03/10/2025 06:49

Listening for my second time round on holiday in Thailand- driving my DH mad 😂.

Definitely think there are some growers in there but think The Fate of Ophelia is going to be a big radio hit- Opalite is also super catchy.

The critics are saying Eldest Daughter is about Travis but if you listen I think it’s also about us, her fans- calling the Eldest Daughter is a real acknowledgement of the fandom I think!

Love both the dis tracks, I know people hate on her for it, but she uses her lyrical talent to provide her come backs and that is great!!!

SafeAndStranded · 03/10/2025 06:59

I was a little underwhelmed on first listen. Second time round and I feel like its a grower.

Igotjelly · 03/10/2025 07:00

I absolutely looove it 😭😭😭😭 it’s everything I love about Taylor in one album 💿 🧡

ShesTheAlbatross · 03/10/2025 07:07

It always happens that the first time I listen to her albums I think “yeah, it’s fine, not my favourite” but then I always end up loving it. It’s happened with every album since Lover I think.

I really liked The Fate of Ophelia.

SoScarletItWas · 03/10/2025 07:31

Oh no. I’m avoiding spoilers but I am so underwhelmed and disappointed.

There is nothing showgirl about this; it’s loved-up Taylor (and god knows she deserves happiness in that department) but it does not give the ‘bangers’ or the showgirl vibe she promised. It’s just …bland. I was going through thinking ‘ok but the next track is going to be IT’ and that brilliance just never came.

And how we’ve got from All Too Well to Wood, I have no idea. I am actually embarrassed. Whole thing is a miss for me.

toastofthetown · 03/10/2025 07:42

There is nothing showgirl about this; it’s loved-up Taylor (and god knows she deserves happiness in that department) but it does not give the ‘bangers’ or the showgirl vibe she promised.

I also felt there was nothing showgirl about it. I was also super disappointed by Midnights for the same reason that it didn’t deliver on the concept for me. I’m more down on Midnights because the concept was more interesting to me and on a first listen I like Showgirl’s music more. And maybe I was already braced for the fact she can’t do a concept album!

Namechangedone · 03/10/2025 07:48

Have been listening on repeat since 5am, wasn’t sure at first but it’s absolutely growing on me, Fate of Ophelia and Opalite are my favourites so far. Such a different vibe from TTPD and not what I expected but I think I’ll love it

ShesTheAlbatross · 03/10/2025 07:48

SoScarletItWas · 03/10/2025 07:31

Oh no. I’m avoiding spoilers but I am so underwhelmed and disappointed.

There is nothing showgirl about this; it’s loved-up Taylor (and god knows she deserves happiness in that department) but it does not give the ‘bangers’ or the showgirl vibe she promised. It’s just …bland. I was going through thinking ‘ok but the next track is going to be IT’ and that brilliance just never came.

And how we’ve got from All Too Well to Wood, I have no idea. I am actually embarrassed. Whole thing is a miss for me.

Wait, what are the spoilers for if you’ve already listened to it?

I agree with you about the showgirl stuff. It feels like she had a fun idea for an album aesthetic and just put it on an album without it actually matching.

I find Travis a little irritating in interviews and stuff, so that may be unfairly prejudicing me against songs about him, but I’m not sure that he inspires particularly interesting or complex ideas or lyrics. I wasn’t particularly a fan of So High School either.

SoScarletItWas · 03/10/2025 07:58

ShesTheAlbatross · 03/10/2025 07:48

Wait, what are the spoilers for if you’ve already listened to it?

I agree with you about the showgirl stuff. It feels like she had a fun idea for an album aesthetic and just put it on an album without it actually matching.

I find Travis a little irritating in interviews and stuff, so that may be unfairly prejudicing me against songs about him, but I’m not sure that he inspires particularly interesting or complex ideas or lyrics. I wasn’t particularly a fan of So High School either.

Show quote history

Ah I meant I wasn’t going to do a track-by-track to avoid giving any spoilers.

Totally agree with you re Travis as a muse. This is going to play right into the other thread running about Taylor being ‘repositioned’ and becoming a tradwife.

Stressfordays · 03/10/2025 08:08

Joining the party late. Just got through it for the first time and I'm underwhelmed. But I am usually at first then it grows on me. Actually romantic was the one to jump out at first that might be my firm favourite.

ShesTheAlbatross · 03/10/2025 08:11

SoScarletItWas · 03/10/2025 07:58

Ah I meant I wasn’t going to do a track-by-track to avoid giving any spoilers.

Totally agree with you re Travis as a muse. This is going to play right into the other thread running about Taylor being ‘repositioned’ and becoming a tradwife.

Show quote history

Oh I see.

Yes I agree it might be seen that way. I do think that would be unfair - you can want to get married and have children without it being a tradwife thing. And an album with lots of love songs about how great her partner is isn’t any different from Reputation and Lover. Those were just better.

My favourite albums of hers are TTPD, Folklore and Evermore, so I did know that this album probably was going to lean further away from my taste than others.

SoScarletItWas · 03/10/2025 08:22

@ShesTheAlbatross it would indeed be unfair (and lazy) but I bet it’s a stick coming to beat her. I’ve already seen comments online that the exit signs are her taking a break into her ‘wife and mom’ era. And why not, she’s hardly made a secret of the fact that she wants that in her future.

My top albums are Midnights, Folklore and the parts of Rep that don’t include Gorgeous, but I am also hugely into the burlesque and cabaret scene so was expecting Rep meets Moulin Rouge from the aesthetic.

’Life behind the curtain’ turned out to mean ‘when I get off stage and snuggle into my loved up life away from the haters, and let go all the wrong boys who brought me to this one’. And that’s fine; it just doesn’t excite me or move me emotionally like other TS albums and deeper lyrics have.

Wirdle · 03/10/2025 08:39

7 tracks in and wishing my commute was longer, I know I'll need a few listens. Nothing feeling too new yet, did really like Father Figure.
Anyone hear any radio interviews yet?

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/10/2025 08:46

Just started.

TheAlcott · 03/10/2025 08:53

Not blown away at thr moment, but expect it will grow on me. I am very much a Folkmore/TTPD gal - depressed Taylor is my vibe I'm afraid - but I do appreciate a well-crafted pop banger too. There's nothing here yet that stands out for me, but I do have ultimate faith in her ability to write songs that you find yourself humming all fucking day without even realising it.

I really don't think the world needed a whole song about Travis Kelce's dick, though.

YouForgotToTurnItOff · 03/10/2025 09:36

It's a grower for me - on first listen I like The Fate, Opalite and Cancelled. I think it's an album for people in love/falling in love mainly. Can't blame her for that. It's good to remember there can be good times (as a 4yr single lady) with men, but I'm not the age that's appealing to tnh! I can't wait to see Taylor in peri though! I think being able to see them for the joy and happiness is as important as empathising with her rage and sadness at all of the pricks life has thrown at her. Just about to hear Life of A Showgirl single for the first time as it's up next...

Purple89 · 03/10/2025 09:56

First listen nearly finished and I really like it. There are some misses for me and I completely agree with the concept and artwork not matching how the songs sound at all. Wasn't expecting this.

On first listen I LOVE The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, Actually Romantic, Life of a Showgirl and Cancelled. I also like Elizabeth Taylor, Wood (catchy but odd lyrics lol) and Eldest Daughter.

Not enjoying the references to genitalia though tbh. Multiple on multiple songs and the lyric on Actually Romantic about being (erm) damp made me cringe.