Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl” on Oct. 3. The tracklist featured 12 songs, produced with familiar names such as Max Martin and Shellback, who also helped create hits such as “Red” (2012), “1989” (2014) and “Reputation” (2017).

Overall, the album has received mixed reviews. Although the title song, “The Fate of Ophelia” broke Spotify’s single-day streaming record, fans, including myself, were disappointed. Swift explores themes of love and the pressures of fame, with a shocking lack of relatability or catchy lyrics. I expected her return to her original pop producers to bring back elements of what gave Swift her fame in the first place, but instead, Swift took some miscalculated risks that resulted in a mediocre album with only a few iconic hits.

1. The Fate of Ophelia:

I appreciated the fun beat, Shakespeare reference and catchy lyrics. However, the spasmodic bursts of energy felt accidental and forced. I loved the reflective piano sections, and I appreciated the more lively verses, however, they just didn’t flow together in the same song. Why exactly are we so energetic whilst referencing a tragedy? This is one of the better songs on the album, it just wasn’t the representation of Swift’s pop legacy and lyrical genius combination that I expected.

2. Elizabeth Taylor:

Elizabeth Taylor was a golden age actress who faced controversy from the media, mostly due to her tumultuous love life. The comparison is easy to make, and this song is a thoughtful sentiment. I loved the idea of this song, but the execution was an overall fail. Originally, I loved the “Reputation” energy, but the repetitive and bland chorus made this song annoying and disappointing.

3. Opalite:

This song wasn’t memorable. Swift’s vocals are beautiful, and the lyrics are somewhat catchy, but there was nothing special about this song. 

4. Father Figure:

I have to say I was entertained while listening to this song. Swift tends to incorporate somewhat family friendly lyrics, but “Father Figure” broke this stereotype. In the past Taylor has used some explicit language, but usually shied away from being outright vulgar. However, in “Father Figure” she did not hold back. I enjoyed the storytelling and shifting perspectives, especially the key change and switched roles at the end. Swift’s masterful lyrics and mafia allusions brought some much needed lightness to a melancholic topic. Unfortunately, this song felt out of place on this album, with a much different theme and lyrical style compared to other songs.

5. Eldest Daughter:

Swift has a habit of placing the most devastating songs as the 5th track on her albums, so I had high expectations. I loved the piano, and the instrumental intensity built throughout the song. The lyrics feature modern slang such as “savage,” “looked fire” and “bad bitch.” I originally cringed at this, but after further listening and analysis I think these lyrics are hilarious and perfectly placed, making this one of my favorite songs on the album. 

6. Ruin the Friendship:

The deceptively cute soundtrack made the lyrics in this song even more shocking. Taylor sings lyrics such as “But your girlfriend was away, should’ve kissed you anyway.” Fans speculate that this song is actually describing Swift’s former high school classmate who died very young, but the cheating-promoting lyrics still surprised me, especially as Swift is currently engaged.

7. Actually Romantic:

The guitar was actually interesting, and the sound felt different than anything Taylor’s released before. The sarcastic tone reminded me of something Sabrina Carpenter would release, combined with “Reputation” adjacent lyrics. Although I wish there were more to analyze here, this song was a successful tonal shift from the rest of the album, the lyrics just didn’t stand out.

8. Cancelled:

I love the idea of this song. But the execution was extremely flawed. Swift repeated her mistake from “Eldest Daughter,” singing modern slang such as “girlbossed too close to the sun.” Fans theorize that this lyric was a quote criticizing Swift’s friend Blake Lively, who has recently been involved in a scandal, and has had allegations of being “cancelled,” which is actually a really interesting touch! Unfortunately, Swift incorporated some boring metaphors in this song, such as how she has “matching scars” with friends who have also faced judgement from the media. Swift has a truly amazing mind that just wasn’t featured on this song.

9. Wi$h Li$t:

Yet another song criticizing society’s expectations for famous women, and the jealousy caused by social media. Obviously, this is an issue that should be focused on, especially with the title of the album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” However, this seems like a repeated instrumental from “Glitch,” and redundant ideas already explored in other songs, and her documentary “Miss Americana.”

10. Wood:

Swift channeled her inner Sabrina Carpenter on this song, and further shed her family-friendly image. This was still a fun song, with an upbeat backtrack and only mildly concerning lyrics. One of my favorite parts of the album was that Swift sounded happy, and this song was a clear example of this trend. 

11. Honey:

This song reminded me of “Midnights.” Swift just seemed happy, and clearly contrasted her healthy relationship with Travis Kelce to her toxic exes. The lighthearted piano and vocal tone added to the recurring theme of Swift’s love and positive well-being in this period of her life. However, this song wasn’t memorable or unique compared to other songs on the album.

12. The Life of a Showgirl ft. Sabrina Carpenter:

The fast-paced beat and harmonious vocals made this song stand out. This was a perfect song to end the album, with its reflective lyrics and the thematic explanation of the entire album. Although I wish I had heard more of Sabrina Carpenter, I hope Swift will release a second version of this song, similar to “Snow On The Beach (feat. More Lana Del Rey).”

“The Life of a Showgirl” was a risky move by Swift, but proved that she’s capable of reinventing herself and her music to be original time after time. Although some of the songs require research to fully appreciate instead of cringing, Swift just demonstrated her lyrical genius. I’ve seen a pattern in Swift’s recent work of the album originally facing controversy, but eventually growing on critics and becoming widely loved. Personally, I think Swift’s focus on themes that she’s previously explored through other works wasn’t revolutionary, but her narrative voice and style shone through, making this an enjoyable album to listen to. Swift sounded happy singing, and though the album lacks some of her characteristic deep metaphors and tragic storytelling, Swift still sounded true to herself in the best way. This wasn’t my favorite album by far, but Swift did an excellent job executing the contrasting themes of love and fame and finally finding herself, which is a win in my book!