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A new Swift Era is here. What to know:
- "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, features a dozen tracks. The 14-time Grammy winner reunited with Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback for the album, diverging from her good friend Jack Antonoff, who produced her most recent albums. There are several playful, upbeat songs on the album, and some lyrics that appear to refer to fiancé Travis Kelce.
- In traditional Swiftie fashion, many fans spent the past few weeks analyzing Easter eggs to decipher what clues Swift may have dropped about the album, including possible lyrics to some of her new songs. Thursday night, fans celebrated the release by hosting their own listening parties, dressing in orange-themed attire and attending events at bars and restaurants.
- This weekend, Swifties are also expected to flock to movie theaters to catch “The Official Release of a Showgirl,” which Swift described as a “dazzling soirée.” The theatrical event will include the premiere of the music video for “The Fate of Ophelia.”
- Meanwhile, Swift is kicking off a media blitz, appearing on a slew of late-night TV and radio shows in the next week. In her first social media post after the album release, Swift wrote: "I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right."
Who’s canceled in Taylor Swift’s ‘Cancelled!’?
“Cancelled!” — stylized in all capital letters — fully embraces that theme by tackling Swift’s life as one of the biggest celebrities in the world. The three-and-a-half-minute track is about a narrator who embraces controversy, singing in the chorus, “Good thing I like my friends canceled.”
This isn’t the first time Swift has written a song about being “canceled.” Her sixth album, “Reputation,” was a response to her feeling like she had a fall from grace following her success with “1989.”
Speaking about that moment in her career to Vogue in 2019, Swift said, “A mass public shaming, with millions of people saying you are quote-unquote canceled, is a very isolating experience.”
With “Cancelled!” — just as she did with “Reputation” — Swift reclaims the narrative and celebrates people who stood by her. She specifically sings about someone joining her in the state of being “canceled” and says she prefers people close to her “cloaked in Gucci” — likely referencing the fashion house’s controversies from over the years — “and in scandal.”
Taylor Swift get playful about Travis Kelce with ‘Wood’ lyrics
“Wood” is the ninth track on the Grammy winner’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” which arrived today after weeks of anticipation. “Wood” is the shortest title on the LP and also happens to be the shortest song at just two and a half minutes long.
Despite its brevity, the song still packs a punch with tales of chasing luck in relationships only to realize she had everything she needed with fiancé Travis Kelce. And yes, there are a few double entendres in the lyrics, as the title might suggest.
“Seems to me that you and me we make our own luck,” Swift sings. “New Heights of manhood / I ain’t gotta knock on wood.”
Even artist Nicki Minaj weighed in on the song in a post on X, writing "Oh Taylor #WOOD was EXACTLY what I needed tonight. Thank you."
Magic Radio show teases clip of Swift’s appearance
In the hours before the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” at midnight, clips from Swift’s promotional radio tour in the U.K. are rolling in.
One clip from Magic Radio features the pop star chatting with journalists Gok Wan and Harriet Scott about her approach to the record-breaking “Eras” tour.
“Every one of us on that tour operated from a standpoint of like, the crowd is your king,” the singer said.
“I think that’s sort of the manifesto of how I approached this tour. There wasn’t the option of, if I’m sick, I’m not going on stage. There wasn’t an option of I’m feeling terrible, I’m not doing the show tonight. The crowd is your king. It’s not the other way around.”
Offices might be a little emptier today. Blame Swift.
For some working Swifties, today is a national holiday.
6% of workers plan to take the day off today because of the “Life of a Showgirl” album release, according to a study from BambooHR. Roughly a third of salaried workers consider themselves Taylor Swift fans, the study found.
For those who do show up to the office, don’t expect peak performance. 10% of fans say their office has a dedicated Taylor Swift Slack channel, and it will likely be abuzz with album chatter today.
Why 'Eldest Daughter' is resonating with eldest daughters everywhere
Swift herself, of course, is an eldest daughter — her only sibling, younger brother Austin Swift, is 33. Of course, Swift doesn’t always write autobiographically from her own perspective, though she did call this album a “self-portrait.” But as the album’s fifth track — a place typically reserved for Swift’s most gut-wrenching works — fans knew to prepare for something emotional.
The song has proven a moving ballad, seemingly about dropping artifice and being unquestionably there for someone. In contrast to the upbeat, pop-heavy album, Swift is accompanied on acoustic guitar and piano as she sings about the core traits of eldest daughters — specifically highlighting their loyalty.
She also makes a reference to marriage — fitting as she just announced her engagement to football star Travis Kelce — as well as youngest children, which her fiancé happens to be.
Across social media, many described the track as one of their favorites on the album thus far. It particularly resonated with people who are eldest daughters in their families.
TikTok will have a ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Los Angeles pop up
For Angelenos who had FOMO over the New York Spotify event, there’s a West Coast alternative coming soon.
TikTok will hold a fan activation for “The Life of a Showgirl” at the Westfield Century City mall on its first floor through Oct. 9.
“The Set is Yours—Lights, Camera, Create,” the mall’s website states.
The event appears to already be sold out on Eventbrite for all the available dates and time slots. However, organizers said there will be walk-up registration for those who still want to try and check it out.
Photos: Swifties worldwide celebrate album release
Fans across the globe celebrated the release of Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” with listening parties and late-night purchases.
Movie theaters brace for Swiftie takeover
“The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” is expected to debut at $35 million to $40 million this weekend, according to Variety, putting Swift on track to earn another No. 1 box office debut following her theatrical release of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”
The 2023 concert film, which had a $93 million debut, became the highest-grossing concert film in the United States as Swifties flocked to theaters with their bedazzled bodysuits and friendship bracelets.
“The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” however, is playing in theaters for only one weekend. Swift posted to her social media accounts on Sept. 19, inviting fans to the film, which she described as a “dazzling soiree.”
Theaters will premiere her music video for “The Fate of Ophelia,” as well as new lyric videos, explanations of what inspired the songs and exclusive behind-the-scenes video.
“Dancing is optional but very much encouraged,” Swift wrote.
No tour anytime soon, Swift says
When asked about touring, and whether she has "the itch for another something soon," Swift told BBC Radio 1 host Greg James that another tour is not in the cards just yet.
“No, no I’m going to be really honest with you," she said. "Like, I am so tired when I think about doing it again. Because I’d want to do it really, really well again.”
Swift says Travis Kelce was 'so supportive' as she worked on album
In her interview with Greg James, Taylor Swift shared how fiance Travis Kelce reacted when she first played him her new songs.
“I’d just like, play it for him," she told the BBC Radio 1 host."And I knew that this was the kind of album that he was going to love the most. He’s like, so supportive of all of it. But he’s a real vibes guy. He is an exclamation mark."
