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

[Everlore]

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?

I was a big Taylor+Joe fan, and was disappointed when they announced they broke up, and have not quite got on board with Travis yet. But I love So High School and Wood. Perhaps relationships with muses are not meant to last forever.

And Travis is an improvement on that twat Matty Healey anyway.

Ooh and I just saw a very convincing analysis about Actually Romantic being about Charli XCX - love it.

The fate of Ophelia and Opalite are about him as well though and I very much like them.

Wood is funny to be fair - I literally laughed out loud on my first listen

I don't know, it's easy to assume he isn't a good muse because he seems to have simple interests but I actually think if I look at my life, with every bloke you do give a little less and expect a little less - it's inevitable when you have been let down so much. I think she is perhaps cautious about writing anything to OTT because of those exact same songs feeling fake now and not wanting to do that again (and perhaps jinx what she feels now). I can only imagine it is a little awkward as an artist to arrive into a new relationship with a slew of open love letters about exes available to your new beau and then how fake it would feel and seem to do another just for them.

@Karmaisagod did that analysis include the points I read about how Charli’s song was about her own insecurities around a girl like Taylor, and how Taylor’s clap back is both 16 months too late, lacks the grace of Lorde’s reply to Girl, So Confusing, and comes off as punching down?

Eek I am coming off as a hater in my replies and I am absolutely not. I am quite a latecomer to Swift, though, and whilst I have bought every album and immersed myself in her back catalogue very deeply, TLOAS is the first new album I’ve been completely into the pre-release excitement. Perhaps that’s built it up too much for me, when previously I’ve found my own way through the albums and been able to make my own relationships with them, regardless of the hype and mania of the release time.

Looking forward to the film later after comments on here as I’m always interested to hear her stories of song inspirations. That’s why I love the Folklore: Long Pond film.

I LOVE this album. As someone who adored folklore, evermore and TTPD, this is definitely not a “sit and read the lyrics by candlelight” album, its dance around your living room with it blasting and a glass of wine in your hand album. I actually love how a lot of it is so unserious and tongue in cheek. On the first listen I was either open mouthed in shock (Wood 😏) or just laughing at the unserious take on things (actually romantic). I think it’s just a fun loud happy album and that’s ok with me. There are some gorgeous lyrics mixed in there amongst it all and I don’t think that every TS album has to be an earnest literary experience. If I’m feeling down or introspective I can listen to folklore or ttpd but sometimes you just want to blast music and have a dance and this album is perfect for that. I don’t think it makes it any “less” of an album that she’s not writing poetry here.

In my completely uninformed opinion, the reasons why Travis isn't such a great muse are probably the exact same reasons that they're a great couple who will probably go the distance. It appears to be a very uncomplicated, straightforward, devoted relationship, which doesn't necessarily make for great art.

The songs about Joe and or Matty are steeped in uncertainty and anxiety - even the 'obvious' love songs, even Dress (imo). That undercurrent of anxiety means the songs are more layered and interesting than the ones about Travis, because she's clearly completely secure and relaxed in this relationship. It's wonderful for her (and actually I like Travis from what I've seen of him) but maybe not completely brilliant for us as fans who love the complexity of her writing!

But yes, I also agree that a kitchen bop album is a wonderful thing! I love that she can do both, it's just my personal preference is for the more introspective TS.

I woke up this morning with the lyrics to Wood going round in my head anyway, so my subconscious clearly doesn't agree 😂

Obsessed with The Fate of Ophelia!

I love this. At the end of the day, she's smarter than almost all of her haters, and she knows exactly what she's doing and exactly how it will be received. She's at the height of her fame, madly in love, rich and famous beyond her wildest dreams, and making the music that she wants to make. Good on her.

I absolutely agree with this. I think Eldest Daughter is quite telling, it’s an innocent love that makes her feel settled, happy and safe. None of that makes for a good muse. All the best music draws on pain in some form.

Well I love it. A few listens in and it’s catchy and enriching. Did anybody order a cardigan? Not got our despatch note for that yet but the vinyl came.

Yeh, mine came yesterday at the same time as my vinyls

Oh dear! I’m a bit worried now

My CDs have only been "advised" so they won't get here today

Ok I’ll chill out

My vinyl arrived just now.

Taylor holds grudges - so yep, sometimes her songs are petty 😊

but…IMO, you’ve also got to remember, who would she not be punching down to? Not many people 🤷‍♀️ Charli xcx isn’t some little new artist,her first number one was in 2012…

She was Taylor’s opener on the reputation tour with Camila Cabello and there was some drama after that about stuff Charli said, and obviously she’s married to Matty Healy’s band mate - so I suspect there’s more than just her one song that it’s a response to.

I think that either the song is about multiple people, or Charlie did other stuff to her than just write a song.

In general, I don’t particularly like “diss” songs. But there are so many tedious songs from men about someone they don’t like, and I’ve never heard anyone say “but why is Kendrick Lamar being so meeeeeean?”

I saw the cinema show last night with dd. It did really increase my love of the songs as it gives context. She didn’t name anyone directly but you could make a good guess. I think actually romantic might be about Kanye West?
i loved watching the making of the Fate of Ophelia video- that’s my favourite song on the album.
I also like father figure, cancelled and life of a showgirl.
I audience were not happy when the naughty words were swapped out.
dd’s cd and vinyl arrived yesterday.

Just got the despatch notification so I’ll properly chill out now

@indoorplantqueen I also thought of Kanye when I heard Actually Romantic. That's the only beef I'm aware of because I went off the Taylor train for a few years and don't really read or watch things about alleged spats she's had.

No idea what disagreements she has had with Olivia Rodrigo or Charlie XCX (I don't know any of her music) but DD12 is very invested in it all 😶

Yep

I’ve seen theories that it’s about Donald trump - which are at least amusing 😂 and apparently in her intro she’s very much saying it’s about the general concept of, well it’s flattering that you think about me when someone’s having a pop at her.

But mostly I just kind of think, well why is it a big deal if she’s going it when other people do? It’s a fairly mild “diss track” in that the lines that seem to reference Charli are stuff that she’s put out there herself, not private stuff.

@QuickNameChange22

The Olivia Rodrigo stuff is basically, Olivia was a huge fan, interpolated and gave credit to her on one song on her first album, but, there was another that people thought sounded like a paramore song and another that Olivia said in a rolling stone interview was inspired by a Taylor song and her label had a bit of a panic and put writing credits on those two as well.

The only definite thing that’s been said from Taylor’s side is that the writing credit wasn’t asked for, that it was a surprise to her when it was added… and people have tried to attribute stuff being about it in songs, but the one they’re saying could be about Olivia on this album is 100% definitely about Scott Borchetta IMO, like, it’s not even ambiguous, it’s about him selling her masters.

@SoScarletItWas Yes, you are coming across as a bit of a hater. Are you sure you're a fan? I find it interesting how easy people find it to dismiss meanness towards Taylor. Calling someone a boring Barbie and reportedly rejoicing in them being ghosted by your husband's bandmate does indeed say much more about the insecurities of the name caller than anything else. And "Barbie" is well within her rights to issue whatever retort she sees fit, on her own terms and timing. What kind of crybaby fucks around, finds out, then whinges on about lateness or "punching down"? Please.

@Everlore hoping to get on the TS bandwagon here, which album would be best for a newbie like me??