Showgirlology

i have so much to say but i want to highlight that per usual i am in line 100% with madeline about wood. do i mentally block out who it is about when listening? absolutely. it's not serious at all, when i listen, i'm like haha dick! and the sound is one of my favorite styles so it's just gonna be one i play a lot. but i respect being disgusted at it lmao.

LILA

During the eras tour, she was falling in love with Travis, so this was the life of the showgirl

Molly

She actually lives with Travis in the middle of suburbia America. I live close to Travis’s house and I will tell you it is the most quintessential suburban America there is.

Molly

I think your youth is showing in the hate you’re giving to this album. When you become middle aged, things aren’t just so black and white.

Andrea C

Slay

Silas Chester

OMG the uproar on Wood is so so funny. I'm in the UK and I know we can have a different senses of humour. Wood to me I funny as fuck to us. She happy. She happy getting laid, and getting laid good. So u go girl! Cocks away lol. Doesn't bother me at all. It's a funny light song! Now actually romantic. That's brilliant... u say shit u getting a song abt it. As if that was never gonna happen... pluuuulease! I would have been surprised if their wasn't a song.

Lynn Rawlinson

I really love father figure! I was feeling it was Taylor/Scott but Zach that's interesting the Taylor/Joe. Tbh I don't care either way as I love the song as some of it I can really relate too. I think as a whole I'm not bothered abt Taylors personal life. She has always said when she puts out her Art. It was hers 1st..... But now it ours. I listen to her Art without really thinking abt what's being reported abt her. I take the gift of her songs then If I relate to them and I love them then they become mine. Just like she has said in the past. U know what I mean? Their is only 12 Songs. I'm into this album and I really love 4 of them. Like a few more and a couple I don't like (eldest daughter 🙄 lol) so for me this album is a win for me x

Lynn Rawlinson

TTPD was emotional purge so she could move on and focus on the tour; LOAS: rushed writing on tour, no tea 🍵 to serve yet; this is in-flight meals while she takes a break 😮‍💨 “Thank you for choosing Taylor ✈️ Airlines. This is your captain speaking. Your meals will be served shortly. Please refrain from blocking the aisles — headphones 🎧 dance 💃🏼 is welcome 🤗” 🤣

Terry B

She cooked, TV dinner 🥘… we ate 😅 until TS13 💿 wonder 🤔💭it’d be buffet TTPD 30+ tracks…Crowd chanting for more…Travis is not a boring muse— current ❤️ is protected 🚧 Ex’s 🍵 always serve… 🤔💭 Eliz. Taylor’s love life was a roller coaster🎢 she married Burton twice. Are we ready for it? 😮🤣 The suspense 🕵🤔💭Happy Turkey 🦃 day everyone 🥳

Terry B

So… predictions on Good Morning America announcement 📣 Monday 😮 what’s your take??

Terry B

This. And she's "that girl," the one who loses herself in relationships, and it's secondhand embarrassing.

Shana R.

The biggest thing I've felt as a listener is that she's put us at arm's length again. Like, "I'm in love with Travis, and I've always wanted to have this, and that's all you need to know about that."

Mari Miranda

This is my take on "The Life of a Showgirl" as a concept: She's been a showgirl for two decades, and the entire time, all she's really wanted, deep down, is true love. She finally found it, and it gave her the freedom to go back to the pure, innocent, dreamy lovergirl side of herself (Eldest Daughter goes through this arc the best). Sooo... the life of a Showgirl is sparkly, baby. It's sexy. What was she doing behind the scenes? Well, Travis. And so.. okay. Lingerie!

Mari Miranda

Haha I'm a straight woman and purely visually speaking Travis is my type (I don't know anything about his character beyond the looks, so only looks based), I can't deny that, I'm married to a beefy bearded bear myself haha and even I find Wood repulsive 😬🫥 It's not sexy in the slightest, it reduces sex to a body part which... it plays a role but isn't the most important thing about a lover and the mood, the vibes whatever are neither funny nor sexy. So it's a No from even me, signed a straight woman married to a Travis-esque guy

Anja Dott

As a straight woman, I can't with Wood so don't put that garbage on me. Production...fine...words....heinous crime against my ears. And it could be I do not find Travis attractive personally and this is just so....Travis. I even tried to remove the Travis from it mentally and potentially related it to someone I find extremely attractive and listen to it but it did NOT help it at all. I mean Vessel from Sleep Token is the definition of dickitizing and it still grated against my nerves.

Brandi Shook

I thought it sounded like it was on the wrong album but I see your point. The show must go on. Interesting.

Stamkitty

YOYOK would have made much more sense as a track 5 on TLOAS if TLOAS was actually delivered on the concept

Lucy

Chaotic rollout, chaotic album, chaotic goals she set herself to accomplished and maybe if it was a surprise album or maybe if the interviews were before the release it would've been better received. i liked it for the melodies and as non native english speaker I can just pretend i don't understand a word she's saying and vibe... and maybe pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes if you will. Great video btw always love to hear your takes.

Juan Pablo Ojeda

Best description I’ve seen of this album : “ JJackxy do i love the album? absolutely. is it her worst album? absolutely”. 😀

Cynthia Clarke

Now hang just a second! Sorry if I'm late to this party, but Madeline has such a pretty voice! I know she's just being silly singing little snippets, but it's enough to reveal the truth! Especially singing phrases from the title track at end? Madeline! So pretty!!

Cat Kanner

For Ruin The Friendship, I actually think it fits the theme of the album. I remember seeing a video when her friend Jeff passed away. Taylor was on stage (I don’t recall the event, sorry) essentially telling a whole crowd that the day before, she was singing at her friend’s funeral. She was on the verge of tears telling the crowd, but she still had to rally to do her job. And that’s a very showgirl moment, if not a contemporary showgirl moment (that I won’t deny!)).

Raphaëlle

YES!!

Ally

replying to my own comment w further thoughts (lol). my least favorite part of eldest daughter is the first verse - the first/second lines, third/fourth, and fifth/sixth lines all make the same point, it's redundant and gets progressively cringier. "i have been afflicted with a terminal uniqueness" is brilliant - the haters question what makes Taylor so special and call her the postergirl of privileged middle-class white girl wannabes, the appreciators understand that she's captured her own je-ne-sais-quoi and put in the work to build it up, but either way "it" is what makes the it-girl. I think the writing could be stronger in that the narrative over the whole song is a bit disjointed? it's not clear (to me on first few listens, anyways) that the first verse is the things that wounded her, and first pre+chorus+second verse is her rediscovering truths about herself. the bridge is such perfect Tayloresque love story that captures the romance she's always wanted, something pure and true, child-like in the sweetness but mature in the longevity (mary's song, 'we were both young when i first saw you', the pre/chorus of Mine, even sweet nothing, etc) I just wish the song (and album overall) showed more than just The Great Romance as the thing that allowed Taylor to feel safe and rediscover her soft self.

Camille Purcell

Loved the Zane Lowe interview. It’s worth a look. It answered some questions I had about how Taylor’s feeling about the chaotic response to her release.

Karen Valentino

🏃‍♀️ Omw to the delulu land of gaylor

Espritlumiere

I agree it’s Taylor’s right to write a diss track. Really great analysis, Zach. And everyone jumping on the “it’s a misogynistic song” train can step off, because this is not about hating women, it’s about clapping back to one woman who provoked the response.

Karen Valentino

Yes I've been thinking this too! The song is very obviously not about Matty but I definitely believe that the Matty situation made her think about past experiences where she wonders "what if?"

Hope

don't censor out the languageeeee

Long Yin Cheng

For those of you who are interested, the Gaylor reddit is public again so if you want to have a good laugh go read some of their "analysis".

Lucia

sometimes i think about that one phone a snake caller back during TS12 predictions who said "i think TS12 is going to give horny taylor" well.....

cami

I have to say this is one of the most extreme cases of grower-not-shower I’ve experienced with a Taylor swift album. I was initially pretty skeptical, but now I cannot get these songs out of my head!! And the more I sit with them the more I can get behind each one (even eldest daughter) (but not cancelled!, im just going to pretend that one doesn’t exist lol)

genevieve

Blake is also the only friend in her group to ever have an ambassadorship with Gucci I think

Elle Kaye

You know I’ve wondered if Taylor made that song so explicit in yet another attempt to get the gaylors to shut up and yet “New Heights of manhood” still isn’t enough

Elle Kaye

random but-- since when are these censored???

Haylee Duncan

The internet has LOST IT! Has anyone else seen the narrative about how “onyx night” is a reference to black women? Like WHAT?!!! Why do people want Swift to be MAGA SO BAD?!

Susana

So I checked Tumblr and the Gaylors are saying Wood is about Karlie and sex toys...

Lucia

I’m not sure what people expected? Can-can dancers and trumpets?! Lol I will say this…..after watching the Zane Lowe interview, it makes more sense to me.

Emma

I have a thought about Ruin the Friendship and i dont know where else to share so ill share it here and i am hoping to hear from you all. So: its about a what if situation mostly, but i think its also a double metaphor for the Matty saga. Its about a specific situation when u’ve circling around each other as acointancees/friendly towards each other for a long time, feeling like thats there something there, but not acting upon it. I feel like Taylor is saying with this song is saying “just go for it” and see, as opposed to “i’ll always wonder”. “Going for it” could have saved her a lot of time and heartbreak with Matty. Especially when shr says “always answer the question” she is literally referring to “Question?” On Midnights. To me this song is kinda a closure to the previous era and the Matty Saga by saying: save yourself the heartache of the limbo, just answer the question just go for it , ruin the friendship rather than always wonder. So it is about the actual story of what happened during her high school years but then drawing the paralel to the Matty Saga. Its kinda closure on that part of her life: i answered the question, i found out that this was not it, it sucked, ive learnt my lesson and now im Moving on and i will never be in this limbo situation again, ill always answer the question, it will always be clear. Anyone with me on this?

Dora Paczur

I 10000000% saw Joe on FF and I had the same ope moment, but I agree with you she made him and he “tolerated” her and she said I’m sorry my dicks bigger

Jessa Jayne

I just found Fantanos whole listen to the wholllee albummmmmm. 1:39min. Unfortunately I don’t know who uploaded it.

lisam

Yeah I'm missing where that is highlighted on the album

Juby

I'm just so sad she didnt do more about the eras tour and her love for the fans. If you disociate, you can pretend some of the loves songs are directed toward us. And even wood is show girlie, but then its like at the end of the day ot feels like she just made an album for travis

Juby

I agree with you that Eldest Daughter is terrible writing. I am disappointed because I love the music. But I am getting annoyed at non-Swifties takes on the writing because they aren’t criticizing correctly. I heard this conversation verbatim today at the hair salon. “She’s in her 30s, why is she writing songs that sound like a teenager?” And then not 10 seconds later the same person said “the songs are too raunchy and old for her young listeners and she should have thought about that.” I bit my tongue because she is in charge of my hair color but MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!! She’s too old and too young? Just say you hate her and you’ve never listened to anything or just say nothing at all preferably!

Sam

I don't know what's happening but the album has grown on me sooo much the last 2 days. Showgirls a grower, not a shower 😭😂

Anas Atassi

the end of Father figure makes me think of Olivia Rodrigo, especially because in the movie she made such a point of how the respectful thing to do is ask artists for permission before using one of their songs (New years day on Olivia’s debut). She also said she relates to the song from the mentor perspective, too - so for me it’s pretty clear!

Alexa

NOT trying to defend Cancelled, I see and agree with many of the critiques of that song. However, I do strongly feel it is mainly/entirely about Blake, due to the following 2 points: "We're the ones with matching scars" - referring to Taylor's and Blake's respective years-long sexual assault/harassment cases. "Tone deaf and hot" - Taylor was cancelled in 2016 mainly because the public perception shifted and it became cool to hate her again. Similarly with Blake, because what are her true crimes besides being tone deaf ? At least that's how I'd think Taylor views the situation.

Anastasia

But why does it focus on women (the b*tch specifically) then? This whole album reeks of attacking women only. Men not at all, except for Father figure and maybe Wood.

Anja Dott

Bye bye

Anja Dott

Yes, yes, yes to all of this!!

Chas

I agree, I took myself out the backyard with a comfy chair and headphones in the song with a nice beverage & had the best listen through. So maybe the positive setting just made me like it more, but I'll take it. I've enjoyed all the critical analysis from this community too ofc. 💖 My partner said they are glad this album is happier than TTPD as music I listen to does impact & amplify my mood. 😂 So I'm happy to embrace the good vibes

Bee Elle

I had another thought about Wish List (I don't personally like the song still). In the movie when they had the lyrics videos up, the image for wish list was this gorgeous replay of her in the Monroe wig, in a corridor on the old school wall phone. She looks back at the camera and then retrieves back into the phone call. I'm wondering if Wish List, being that this was written on the eras, was really her feelings right then in the moment. She was on this insane tour that she absolutely had to complete, no going back. But she'd met this nice guy who was probably promising her a life, let's be honest, she's wanted for forever. When you first meet the person you think you're going to marry, you do truly only want them. It's like you're completely dissatisfied with everything else in life until you're back with them. I think she's saying "everyone else wants this & I hope they get it but right now, I'm here in 'insert random city', seeing the whole world, having everyone tell me I'm the best blah blah blah. But I just want this man who's come into my life & shown me I do want marriage & babies''. Again, I don't feel deeply for wish list, but I'm kinda fed up of the trad wife accusations. (I'm also a stay at home mother and proud feminist & I've personally had some shady comments so this kinda irked me on a personal level). Also watch the Scott mills interview where she shuts down the comments of "she's going to stop making music after she's married". She genuinely looks very offended.

Joanne Dolbear

that's interesting because that's pretty much what I heard on first listening. I feel like the dressed too smug line is a take on "but what were you wearing?" I think it's the Gucci line that taints the song for me because it loses relatability for all women who have, even in real life non internet life, felt sense of "cancellation".

Joanne Dolbear

Girls I agree with you so much about Elizabeth Taylor! I don’t know much about old Hollywood and I was very confused about the connection between her and Elizabeth Taylor… and it was her responsibility to explain, not mine to research (if you’re going to write a song about it)

Lauryn

I think I am siding with Zack on FF being about the heirloom turkey. Being about Scott broschetta just doesn’t add up with the line “covered up your scandals” and just the general feel of the song. And also she uses “my dear boy” and boy is often what she uses when talking about Joe. Idk. There just seems to be something to that theory.

Susana

Honestly, I love the album because it’s silly and cringe and unserious and…feels very authentic to who she is at this moment in time. Like she spent however long on that podcast talking about SOURDOUGH!! The woman is NOT a bad bitch 😂😂😂 (sorry I had to). I also think every song has a sound that reminds me of a previous album. I’d have to dig deeper but I think there is a song for each era. And also I LOVE wood because it’s so STUPID. Idk, I just…the album made be dance along and laugh and gasp, and I loved listening to it the first time.

Susana

In Ruin the Friendship, the part where she says "my advice is always answer the question" scratches my brain and squeezes out a tear every time. It completes the saga that began with the initially inscrutable "Question...?". After all the trauma of TTPD where she agonizingly answers it, her reflection NOW is that she doesn't regret it! And this advice is NOT coming from someone who is falling apart. Also, this song seems the most deliciously executed folklore-meets-earworm-pop of all of them. Now if we took this, Life of a Showgirl and Father Figure and cooked 9 new songs in that language... we would have the cohesive wonderball we were imagining, maybe.

Tanner K

I like this idea!!!

Susana

That’s actually the exact image that comes to mind when I hear that lyric! And it’s so sad how she (and we) have to fake it - being strong. So I love how vulnerable she is on this song

Ally

🤣🤣🤣

Chas

Also… the fact that so many songs on his album are interpolations of other artists who had struggles getting their masters?!!

Chelsea Rose Riggs

I’m just curious.. I’m trying to salvage or understand this song literally at all 😂😂😂 Has anyone thought of “Every eldest daughter Was the first lamb to the slaughter So we all dressed up as wolves and we looked fire” being about the bad blood music video?

Chelsea Rose Riggs

Honey: showgirl bc what do you think the girls in show business get called all the time by old rich men. Esp if it’s someone that makes your skin crawl. To find someone that turns that feeling around is pretty incredible. Tbh, it’s really not my fav. It’s a skip for me. But it is a very showgirl thing to have to deal with behind the curtain. It’s actually super dark if you think about it. (The dude the groped her… bet he called her “honey”... Just sayin.)

Anna

Can y'all do a review of Showgirl through the lens of "The Crowd is King" pls??? 👑🛟🪭

Jackie Lehman

The Crowd is King... Ok from this lens... Things are starting to unlock.... 🔓

Jackie Lehman

She should’ve had Tree review Cancelled.

Nancy Pacheco

Unless she covered them up so well we don't know about the other ones lol

Alena Lawrence

I was so disappointed with eldest daughter. I wanted it to relate to it since I’ve talked about this exact theme in therapy but it flopped. My high school poetry could do better.

Nancy Pacheco

If this past weekend has highlighted anything, it is that the Swiftologist is out of touch with the Swiftie community at large as this album is a MONSTER hit with millions and millions of fans loving it; making it the most sold album and most streamed song of all time. It received high praise by music professors and every musical savant interview that I researched (and I checked many)! Just as Taylor learns from feedback, this should make Zack reconsider your platform and approach. Watching the embarrassing reactions of Madeline, while Zack's reaction just highlighted that he really doesn't react to the MUSIC, but focuses on paternity testing each song for 'tea' as demonstrated by Father Figure, and also embarrassingly interjecting jab after jab about how Ruin the Friendship was not good, only to stop and say "oh wait, it is" after he heard Abigail's name and realized the song wasn't about Kelce. This just highlights that he really wasn't responding to anything but thoughts in his own head. I have mentioned in prior comments (and I saw several of you all had as well) that this site was so negative and content was more ridicule than analysis. Many just defended Zack and Madeline's right to ridicule and be negative, without disputing that they were engaging in those behaviors. The negativity within this group is similarly reflected by the minority of internet trolls on social media, (many of whom seem to be working (aided by bots) to skew the algorithm on social media to trend neg (and failed). It is almost like you seem to actually hate Swift or at least feel a need to engage in an ego driven "I could do it better" and a childish "but I wanted this, not that" while professing to love her. This creates a bipolar world, where folks seem to confuse critical analysis with just ridicule and substitute uninformed opinion for actual informed, substantive critique (there is a difference). When Zack says the song is poorly written, my opinion is that it really means he doesn't understand it and is too lazy to actually learn the literary context of the sentence. (see how raw opinion just comes off as ridicule). But if Zack says the song is poorly written and discusses the rhyme structure, the lack of balance with the alliteration and the historical context of the metaphor, then he has tied his opinion to factual elements that he just disagrees with and that creates critical dialogue. It isn't about LIKING everything. But you would not go up to Van Gogh and say, "you really used too much yellow on the canvas, you need to add some purple." I thought that type of community was what I was signing up for when I joined this platform and have been sadly disappointed. I have ended my membership because I want to join a different type of community that is more positive and actually does critical analysis, not ridicule and negative "she should have's" and "I can do it better" ego driven commentary that too closely resembles the "it's awful but I can tell you how to fix it" world of politics. I wanted to give you feedback as to why I am leaving.

Deb

I think canceled would have worked better if it was about the smear campaigns that women have gone through - Taylor, Blake, Amber Heard, Rachel Zegler, etc.

Lucia

Same.

Stephi

Same lmao

Claire Murphy-Sewell

Gorgeous analysis, thank you so much!!!!

Stephi

My thoughts exactly about editing. Even (maybe even especially) an exceptional talent like Taylor needs a honest and bold editor.

Stephi

This is an interesting take!

Stephi

This conversation was the balm my soul needed. Thank you for mirroring back to me how I feel about this album. Thank god for nuanced sanity. <3

Stephi

now what if i said i had a post melatonin gummy thought that father figure was about ed sheeran lmao

Lucy Anne

To me, Ruin the Friendship is like if Dorothea had a very tragic ending, but from her (the Dorothea character/Taylor/The Showgirl) perspective - edit: I know its biographical/about her actual life and late friend, but I still feel that the parallel applies.

Sugar Plum Failure

i like eldest daughter just fine listening to it on its own. i think taylor's 'every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter so we all dressed up as wolves' is a very poignant line about how young women, esp eldest daughters/oldest sisters, are expected to tough it up to the world around them and aren't allowed to be soft - i think a big thing about 'eldest daughter'ism is about healing that inner child. taylor is a sheep in wolves' clothing, having been preyed on by wolves in sheeps' clothing (anyone from SB and SB to ex-friends to internet trolls she references in verse 1). she's not a bad bitch, savage - she's forced into that to survive.

Camille Purcell

I think it's her own doing. She even said in a recent interview her label didn't even know she made TLOAS.

splendidvie

I wish she would have named Father Figure Eldest Daughter because protecting the family is more on brand for an eldest daughter than letting people down like the song does 🙃

CC

So hear me out: ive been thinking about Eldest Daughter a lot. To be honest i found the lyrics repulsive… but then now im thinking… we all know what a genious she is. My take is she knows exactly what she is doing using that millenial terminology (and im a milleanial myself, exactly 2 days older than Tay) that makes some of us cringe (bad bitch, savage, we looked fire etc). Its meant to make us feel as if she is outdated, cringe, as at some point, this is exactly what happens to the showgirl. Its kinda foreshadowing how at some point every showgirl becomes outdated. Is anyone with me?? Is this truly genious what she is doing or just bad writing?? Imo she MUST be doing this on purpose, to create this very specific feeling from the listener…am i cooking? Or the dish is cooked, it is what it is? Note: no hate to those who love the song of course- you do you honey! ;) i just wanted to see if anyone is going through the same thought process…🧡Taylor🧡

Dora Paczur

Zach’s reaction to wood is my favorite thing that happened in 2025.

Grace

Wait, Zach - as you said, "the concept of the album and the images don't match the songs" I had an epiphany and thought to myself: since she is going for "behind the curtain" - could it be that the dichotomy is the point? Like, on the outside - in the media, on social, at shows - it's opulent and grandiose and over the top - but at the end of the night, she's just a girl. She's softer, and wants someone to call ("shouldn't I have someone to call right now?" in Miss Americana). Being a showgirl is a fantasy; it's an illusion. That's also why I think the first four songs on the album give showgirl so hard, and then soften up a little for awhile on Eldest Daughter and Ruin The Friendship. I am a former NFL Cheerleader (for the Chiefs, actually!) and I remember feeling that way. When you put the uniform on, you get to be the best, most confident version of yourself. You're HER. It's an addicting feeling and can also be isolating when you have to reconcile those two parts of yourself. Certainly not comparing my journey to that of our queen, but there is a little showgirl in all of us! I think it's an interesting idea to explore and I will think about it more on my next 1-12 listen. Love you guys!! You bring me SO much joy!!

Claire Murphy-Sewell

I agree with the first 4 songs being great and will carry those forward. I also think the writing feels like it dipped in the last half. I find myself enjoying the clean versions more of some of the songs, as I think they are less distracting (Eldest Daughter, Wood). For Max Martin, I get where some of this is coming through, as those who lived and loved BSB in the late 1990s and early 2000s understand how coherent lyrics are not always the priority. Assuming that as a producer, Taylor executed all of this to her vision. It makes me wonder though, who will help edit Taylor going forward? It feels like she has gotten too big for editing, and I fear there is too much redundancy in her art currently, especially when you add in the music videos, movies, etc. I also was really hoping for a Britney Piece of Me moment, but it did not happen.

Maren

Lol in my defense of thinking it wasn't about Charli, I had no idea lmaoo. The idea of Charli and Taylor beefing sounds AI generated, I didn't know about the hand or that she was besties with Matty's fiancé. I was ready to fight for Olivia's writing credit (what we SHOULD be talking about)

Kyora Wallace

My rose in wish lisst is “wow”

diegoriveraservat250@gmail.com

omg the way i also thought that father figure could be about joe😭

Anastasiia Skliarenko

Using the story of Ophelia to tell a “my man saved me” tale is wild to me. All of Ophelia’s tragedy is from men manipulating, dismissing, and abusing her, and if there was ever a woman whose story demands a happy ending through saving herself rather than being saved by a man, it’s Ophelia. I like mashing up the old and the new, but I think it only works when it stays true to the original story in that the modern twist responds to the problems in the original. Here, Taylor being saved from Ophelia’s fate just kinda feels like someone who picked a story they liked but didn’t actually do a literary analysis. If Taylor is going to call herself our English teacher, I want her to wrestle with the texts she uses instead of just using them superficially at best. Catchy AF, though

Jill

To me, Father Figure is about all the people she ever mentored (or will mentor), she’s kinda saying, „I have the power to make you great, but don’t you dare go behind my back“

Eva

Don’t love this album right away but I do have to say - it may very well grow on me as a romantic at heart and as an extremely dramatic person. Plus The Fate of Ophelia music video is right up my alley.

Alexandra S

Does Taylor have any contractual obligation to release a certain number of albums within a given timeframe? Or is she completely calling the shots with her label? I’m guessing it’s the latter, but I did wonder if maybe she needed to release something this year to check a box and that’s why the album feels rushed in certain parts? I have no idea how this kind of thing works within the music industry - genuinely curious.

Liv

Every time I hear "thank you for the lovely bouquet" I think about Zach's story about how he met Kate Middleton

Emma

I really enjoyed reading this. I think you described how I've been feeling about it. (I also wonder if some of those topics liked getting doxxed by the president are still just a bit too big for her to tackle. I think we sometimes forgot how absolutely insane that must have been for her. And probably very scary for her & the people who love her). I agree with Zack when he says Travis is a bad muse because he is a good partner & you know what.... For that I am so happy for her. But I hope now she goes away for a little while & really works on creating more stories. I'm not asking for another folklore (although I'd always take it), but more world building. Like she did in the title track with Kitty. I love it when she does this.

Joanne Dolbear

The clean version is reeeeeaally good IMO. The superstition metaphor is carried through the whole way and it feels more clever

Elle Kaye

Okay you ate with this. I do think in a lot of ways she didn't write this for her fans. She is not focusing on any of the negativity going on, she's easy breezy beautiful enjoying life with her mans and that sort of attitude bodes well in writing catchy music for the masses. Since many Swifties love her complex, pained work we are not as instantly on board. But I think I am understanding more and more where is coming from on this album. It's just such new territory! Happy with no qualifiers... and that's beautiful and it's new and it's different and we cheered.

mage

Okay y'all here is my dissertation on the album, read at your discretion: I too was afflicted with a case of misaligned expectations. But sanity is slowly being restored to me. I was with the EOAS divas when I thought surely she would use this album to talk about bigger things: surviving Eras, being doxxed by the president, getting her masters back. We get these sort of themes on Father Figure and Cancelled (which I love). But I am being reminded with each listen that we love about Taylor is that she is very human, and these are the themes she focuses on in her work. To her being a showgirl is softer and more personal, with specks of petty, grit, and bravado throughout. She has been obsessed with love and aggrandizing her relationships since the beginning. I think it is us who were delusional to think she wouldn't write about such a monumental relationship. I think the diaristic writing fit more on TTPD and I am starting to think maybe there are some things Taylor can't write through that would have been better resolved in therapy. Maybe Ophelia 'he saved me' is pathological codependency, maybe it's a very human experience of love and hope and no longer feeling alone in the world. It's this beautiful tension - 'is this healthy and hopeful or delusional and crazed' - that I think defines a lot of Taylor's work.

mage

Cancelled might be my fave from the album. Something bout when she says "underworld" is so perfect to my ears.

C. MARIE

Somebody spoiled the same Actually Romantic idea for me here on the Patreon comments and replied to their own comment saying “this isn’t a spoiler, it’s a rumor” …. Why? Some kind of a rush I guess to feel like you’re “in the know” about things others aren’t … which is a spoiler

Cathy Spyr

Wood is fun and yes - the innuendos are shocking but my though was that Taylor’s ex boyfriends are all skinny artist types and I think she finally got with a burly man and was like oh my!!! Redwood! lol and I am happy for her! lol. Love the sound

Amy Versprille

Giiiiiirl

Chas

I really like a lot of the tracks, esp the first four, and I’m definitely not mad about the album as a whole. But someone on Reddit said something like, “half these songs are instantly going on repeat and the other half are forgettable. And that’s a weird ratio for a Taylor Swift record.” *shrug* Taylor’s allowed to have filler songs, like anyone else, but (other than Poets), I’ve never found myself frequently thinking about how much filler is on the album. Im not mad about it though. A lot of it is fun and not everything has to be a masterpiece. And I love the production! So eh, we let it rock.

Jade

I’m just glad I’m not the only one who can forgive the lyrics of Wood because the production is so good 🤣

Bailey T

Ok cancelled isn’t so bad to remove it from the library like damn I’ll at least let it play through if I’m listening to the album 😂

Ashley Villarreal

yes to everything you said about Wish List. clock it!

Zana

New York Magazine interview with Charli. Taylor gave a response: “I've been blown away by Charli's melodic sensibilities since I first heard ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. Her writing is surreal and inventive, always. She just takes a song to places you wouldn’t expect it to go, and she’s been doing it consistently for over a decade. I love to see hard work like that pay off.”

Anna

I would pay large amounts of money to see your text exchanges post first listen.

Kat

I saw someone online say T Swizzle is back for Wi$h li$t lmao

Jaime

Shortly before midnight I had this flash of the near future where her album would be hated. But I decided to ignore that. I sat down at midnight and pressed play. Uh oh I thought. Hmmm. What is this? A couple times I gasped or covered my mouth in shock. But I did bop my head too. And by the second or third listen I was on the hook. And I’ve been singing and bopping ever since. I’ve stayed off socials for the most part because people seem to take such glee in taking down Taylor. Someone said Taylor Swift finally realized she’s Taylor Swift. And she is a different person on this album so I get the unsettled feelings. She’s in love of course but she is also full of bravado and not the meek victim at all. I don’t know if that’s Travis and his world of macho athletes etc. or what. Just think if Travis and her had broken up. People would die over that album. We like our Tortured Poet. But now she’s very much in love, having a good time in the sack, supporting her hated friends, speaking about regrets, reminding us she’s the HBIC, and finally swatting back at the fly that’s been buzzing around her for years.

Dana Hinton

That New Heights reference though 😭😭😭😭 Taylor WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Gia D

My initial take was much like yours, and I’m *not* terminally offline. However, I agree that Madeline’s is a good take, and something I hadn’t initially thought of. Overall The song is still salvageable for me because all of the “cancellable offenses” she names in the song are actually just misogyny, so it seems this is just a spooky/bad girl version of The Man (with an unfortunate and unforeseen hole in the story telling that makes it susceptible to being an anthem for the scum of the earth) .

Gia D

Can we also all agree that in Eldest Daughter it was such a missed opportunity to say, “so we all dressed up as wolves and we looked *fierce*”— which at a minimum could combine outdated millennial slang with an adjective that still makes sense for a lamb pretending to be a fucking wolf?! C’mon!

Gia D

Father Figure is about Matty Healy unfortunately because she explicitly says "Who covered up your scandals?" I don't think she's covered up anyone else's scandals except him, re: Ice Spice.

Shravya Katapally

This is a super interesting observation and makes me wonder how this album will age. In a sense it reminds me of Midnights where there was a lot of keeping us at arms length but in a way, the writing ended up being super revealing in hindsight after Joever - Lavender Haze being on the denial playlist etc. I always call Midnights a “breaking up” album not a break-up album as in she’s still in the thick of it and hasn’t fully removed herself from the situation & processed it yet, but it is still apparent in her writing. NOT saying this is a breaking up album at all but I wonder if this album is once again her “putting up a front”. Aka I’m so happy and unbothered with my man and nothing can hurt me now. But there may still be old hurt, grief, insecurity, pain, underneath it all even after “getting what she always wanted” that she hasn’t fully processed or healed from yet. That will become more apparent in the future. Like what if you get your happily ever after but you don’t feel healed? There is an internal conflict there that hasn’t been grappled with. This is my personal opinion of course and just what I’m extrapolating from her work, I don’t know any of these people or their relationships.

Lin

Omg I thought the last part of FF was Joe and taylor too! It is the best fit!

Jinni

More swiftologist Charli impressions PLS

feeb

I honestly really love this album. I think some lyrics on some songs are blah or confusing but tbh every song has a great sound and I really like it. It's totally diffferent and idk I just think it's so fun to dance to

Brooke Guido

I think you guys nailed it on the head when you said this was mainly an expectation vs reality issue. She marketed it as folklore style lyrics with Reputation/1989 melodic math and we didn't really get either. Are there some really good and catchy bops on Showgirl? yes 100%. But 5 years down the line will it hold up? I highly doubt it. I know there was a lot of backlash for reputation and midnights and such and only in hindsight did more people start liking it...but I genuinely believe this album is not going to be like that. Unless she releases some really cool music videos to atleast tie up the album concept visually, because I loved the Ophelia MV. And I can't believe I am saying this but I preferred the clean version for a lot of the songs lol.

Shruti

Can anyone point me to what Taylor originally said of the album brat, in praise, that Zach referenced? I can't find it on the Internet.

Shannon

Love this video! Opalite is really growing on me, and I love how it’s first ‘but my mama told me…. oh my lord never /made/ no one like you before’ as in god/her mum making her, then turns to ‘and that’s when I told you…. Oh my lord, Never /met/ no one like you before’ as in her talking to Travis/ her audience even. What was offered to her as consolation by her mum is then taken on as wisdom by her and shared with others when she’s gone thru the hard times. Also ‘dancing through the lightning strikes’ really makes me think of how she had to perform in all sort of weather conditions during Eras. She was literally having to dance thru the difficult times and sticking thru it is how she made her own luck. I think there’s a lot to the song behind the bop

feeb

I wonder if there is something to be said about Ruin The Friendship and how that experience with not taking her chance, however inconvenient, (Your girlfriend was away). Could have shifted her stance on cheating from a should've said no attitude, to I got a boyfriend, but you're so gorgeous kind of behaviours. I truly think this thinking pattern really makes songs like Question? feel less utterly insane, because as a true queen said, "And my advice is to always answer the question, Better that than to ask it all your life," and that sentiment has been echoed throughout her discography, and it's so interesting to see the root.

Snake462937

As a newbie here I just have to say I am soooo glad to have a space where critical thinking exists. More than can be said for some other swiftie spaces where you’re branded as negative and a hater for simply thinking the album is not her best work 🤷🏼‍♀️

Bec

Open to be swayed but in my opinion this is the first time shes ever had nothing interesting to say (besides like father figure and the title track i guess). Most of the songs take the most obvious or shallow route available or re-hash themes we've already explored in rep/lover. I dont really see the point of this album being released. I'll still bop along to the songs I like, but theres just this hollowness to them.

Alex

Last comment: the father figure song to me is now obviously first parts + hook are how Scott Borchetta talked/saw himself and when the music shifts, she said “I saw a change in you” she is Adressing him - all fits, everything makes sense

Hilde

Eldest daughter or yntcd

Wild Rain

I wanna see a video ranking the worst Taylor songs where Zack has to choose between wood and thank you aimee

Wild Rain

New member here. A little back story without making it all about ME! Ha. I am, mostly, a very offline person. I live in the middle of nowhere farmlands UK, full time mother (not whatever a trad wife is?), and I came off social media due to postpartum anxiety that was fuelled quite badly by the internet (I didn't believe people hated mothers until I became one with access to the internet). So when Taylor talked about the effects of people online, I related even though I agree ED is all over the shop. So off first listen, Cancelled was my favourite. But now after Madelines reaction (which is fully fully valid by the way), I'm not wondering if it should leave me feeling icky? I love a witchy, spooky song... This scratched that itch for me on a very sparkly album. Ironically, I actually thought of Kamala first (again being offline, I don't know much of anything about Blake). As I knew Taylor had endorsed her. I suppose I'm left here wondering, am I too offline now to understand why people are taking this song as conservative? because I really did see it as the opposite. I did see it as a darker The Man. I also know nothing about Charlie, not my kinda music, so actually romantic I just took as a general of people who talk trash about showgirls ha ha, I'm now learning that was very naive of me. Anyway, maybe this is just word vomit. I mostly became a membership because I like supporting people who make quality work. It also allows me to stay off all the apps. I am too soft for all of it.

Joanne Dolbear

Wood is my diva. It is entirely too much of everything and that whats showgirl about it and I am here for it. The crowd is cringing and booing I am clapping and cheering all the way!

Katharina

I've decided to embrace Wishlist being the evil pop song stuck in my head lol

rhi

i want to know this too

rhi

I absolutely agree with your take. The witch hunts were the first thing I thought of after a defence of Blake Lively specifically. Listening to the song, the parts about flowers, whisky and Gucci are so specifically Blake, and the parts of the song calling out misogyny in our response to famous women speak for themselves. It would be shame if the song was cancelled because it could be repurposed in a way other than the way Taylor is telling us it was intended.

Vikki

One of her main connections between the Eras Tour and this album is that the Eras Tour was a direct link to the love she is experiencing and wrote about on this album. So, as the backdrop to their 'love story' it became the theme of the record.

Aly

My tin hat theory for the moment is, if you look at the lyrical content as a whole, she's not all that happy. She wants us (and desperately so) to believe she's extremely happy but if you look at the lyrics... even so high school had more substance in what she loves about Travis. The fun, the giggles, the sexiness, the jokes etc. All that is more present in So high school than any track on TLOAS. All the tracks in TLOAS (except for the superficial only physicality focused Wood) call back to exes and how she's in a better place now, and now everything's perfect. But it rings hollow, why do you have nothing to say about what is so good actually in 2024 onwards (despite the sex)? Maybe she doesn't want to give details bc of protecting the relationship and that's why she goes back to themes of the past and lovers past bc those are all already well known and a 'safe space' of topics to retreat to. The more I think about it, this all seems like a facade, like she's performing to Travis, the fans, the main public, to her exes, "look at me, I'm so happy now, I wasn't before, but now I am, I finally have my man". It feels like putting on a "but I am happy, I have to be" mask. Ijbol, I just imagined Travis saying to her "when do I get my lover album sweetie?" And her being like "sure Honey, you'll get your love songs 😬" Maybe that is the showgirl of it all? Just to clarify: I went into this album completely believing this was her end game perfect romance. I'm not a Joe widow or Travwife or anything like that and hate when people reduce her work to the man she's with. I also hate when people call Travis intellectually inferior to the artsy boys or stuff like that, those are prejudices and we don't know these people and their actual intellectual capabilities. I'm just observing general themes.

Anja Dott

“Wood” was easily my least favorite song on the entire album and really just sounded to me like corny Sabrina cosplay 😫 then I saw someone on YT say that she made it as a middle finger to the smallest man who ever lived and another person suggested that maybe she actually only included it to kill off any stray Gaylors that were still left for once & for all lol and thinking that it could have possibly been made for petty reasons rather than than horny reasons just might make it *slightly* more palatable for me if that’s the case

Miss_Lippy

me and madeline against the world with our love for wood 🪵 🤎

Maria Godina

The song also remind me a lot of the line in sweet nothing: for you I can admit that I’m just too soft for all of it

Heather

Ooh and that fits the timeline. Are they friends?

Jules

what she’s trying to explain in eldest daughter is better done in i hate it here, she’s is really a sensitive person who struggles in internet culture and i get it but i think she explained it better in i hate it here

Sabrina

How ironic that we thought announcing the album on her man’s football podcast is not fitting for this album. Turns out it’s the most cohesive thing about it… ijbol

Gaussia

Am I the only one who also gets a bit of defence for Ariana Grande in Cancelled? "Something wicked this way comes", "It's easy to love you when you're popular", "took somebody's man" etc.

Sara

This could have been an EP, honestly.

Linneae

YES! Thank you! It was like, girl have you even read the story or did you just want the aesthetics? And it's such a waste because there could have been so much great material if she'd actually engaged with the story! And I can forgive that on Love Story but not for someone who's supposed have been honing her craft for twenty years by now and brands herself as the "English teacher".

Linneae

I really liked Madeline's comment about listening to the album at times being like being in the matrix. You got to be in the matrix and accepting that reality to enjoy it. But sometimes you listen too hard and hear the lyrics and you are suddenly in an alien hell. That is the perfect description of what listening to wood is like for me. Thank you both for being so reasonable, honest and funny.

Kate Lawson-Bradshaw

It's not about being anti-drugs but her hypocrisy about it. She doesn't have any problem with actively seeking out the company and love and approval of known drug users - she only makes it a problem and a character flaw after someone has offended her. It's a very cheap shot and VERY hypocritical coming from Miss "functional alcoholic" and "what's in my system".

Linneae

So right about there being so few tracks on this album so not liking some really affects the overall view of the album. Made me think about Lover and how I really love that album despite ME! and YNTCD because it's 18 tracks and not liking some still leaves a decent size album to like

Elise Cooper

With a fork! Because Miss Swift has table manners

Elle Kaye

Of course it does! This fandom would probably be a lot healthier with more “normies” — we need you here haha

Elle Kaye

In Opalite I interpreted “never made no one like you before” to be Andrea talking about birthing Taylor, because that verse refers to Andrea telling Taylor that Taylor went through a lot (lightning strikes) before she figured out she could transform onyx night (black skies) to Opalite (bright sparkly skies). I.e., you make your own luck. Which is maybe the most transformative aspect to Taylor’s trajectory through life that I see in this new album. No more astrology, no more prophecy - you make your own luck.

Karen Valentino

There’s a good chance Charli puts out a response, and I’d love to do a side-by-side comparison to Zach’s snippet because they’ll probably be the same

Elle Kaye

I agree that Taylor wrote “Cancelled” to be a song about women of fame & notoriety being canceled unfairly by witch-hunt style mobs online who tear down women in a fashion & with a fever that we rarely ever see directed toward their male counterparts. I also saw it as a way for her to also send a message that she stands by Blake bc of all the speculation that she is “done with her”, or they “cut off contact”, etc. Then I saw the movie and in the clip that went along with the song Taylor says that she has learned not to judge other women over this stuff bc she knows how easy it is to be targeted unfairly. She also specifically mentions how you should judge people based on their actions, who you know them to be & what they are actually telling you rather than what the media or online mobs are saying about them. The irony of hearing her say that after I’d already seen the internet mobs deem her guilty in exactly that fashion for exactly this song was surreal…..like does does no one see the irony of people cancelling the song “Cancelled”?? 😆 I mean, obviously no one has to listen to a song they don’t like (I probably won’t ever go out of my way to listen to the explicit version of “Wood” again because it’s just not for me) but if Taylor has clearly made this song to be a feminist anthem of sorts about burning witches and then on top of that tells us specifically (in reference to this very song no less!) to “judge based on what we are telling you” & then we turn around & decide to buck the original meaning of the song & instead choose to view it through a distorted and negative political lens that completely upends the intended meaning -how is Taylor responsible for that???

Miss_Lippy

Look, those albums are objectively phenomenal. But a huge part of their positive reception (because taynegativity still abounded post-Lover) was that they were surprise drops. No time for the fans to set their expectations or the haters to sharpen their knives. Tbh I think she might benefit from surprise drops moving forward.

Elle Kaye

I was so confused when I first heard this album because it doesn’t give showgirl or 12 bullet proof pop tracks. I feel we could have actually gotten more of the theme if we just had a couple songs like the poems she released. I read those poems and was like “why were these ideas not on the album!?!?!?” It would have tied things together so much better having those ideas on the album.

Jessica Freckles

And the bridge of Eldest Daughter

caroline

While I am disappointed with some of the songs, the discourse brewing of Joe being the reason Folklore and Evermore are good is making me want to hand heart so hard. Maybe Taylor has trained me well?

Cecilia

Well she’s held this position for a long time, I wouldn’t say it was her first order of business..

Olivia Donovan

Wood and eldest daughter could have been cut and I would have cheered for this 10 track album

Chas

Okay I have to share my thoughts on Opalite. I bawled all the way through that song, I understand how we can look at every single line and make it about Travis but the overall message I get about that song is that it’s important to make your own happiness when you’re feeling alone or haven’t found your person yet. All of us here know Taylor, and are hopeless romantics ourselves, we understand that if we’re being totally honest her not getting engaged until 35 was hard for her. It was something that plagued her day in and day out to constantly being giving congratulations to others and I know because…. IM TIRED OF ITTTT. Already. I’ve had 4 weddings this year and I’m only 28, imagine going to probably 30+ and maybe not having a plus one or having to hide a ratty Healy. It was incredibly painful and so for Taylor to write a song for all those going through those emotions was incredible for me. and also I personally thought the “all the perfect couples, say when you know you know and when you don’t you don’t” is her kind of mocking them because it’s an annoying thing to hear when you’re going through the trials and tribulations of dating or having your heart broken. How am I supposed to know who will stay? Or who won’t? When in dating them do I decide they’re going to ghost me or that we won’t click anymore? It’s an anthem for those who have had to wait. I adore it

Olivia Donovan

I guess my main issue with fate of Ophelia is that she is objectively wrong about the story. 1. Ophelia didn’t go mad, it’s Shakespeare’s way of showing how after being gaslit for so long and she is impregnated by hamlet who murdered her dad, then she understandably becomes depressed but is dismissed by men as mad. Like her fate has nothing to do with heartbreak, it’s abuse by men. Also it’s objectively sexist to infer that she could somehow be saved by a man, even if it was bc he loved her and treated her well - it’s the oldest sexist trope ever. She needed more than a man, men is what put her there. It’s like oh so the issue isn’t the patriarchal system where she’s a second class citizen, we keep that, she just needs to live in it with coolest nicest bf who we presume would never fall victim to the entitlement of being seen as above her. Like..: It’s not oh she’s so sad she was single and in love with someone she couldn’t have. That’s ironically what the men say about her bc they are supposed to be sexist characters. So it’s sad to reduce and objectively misinterpret her story as “driven mad by love”. No serious Shakespeare scholar would everrrrr say that and again this is proven and objectively not true. So that PMO. Like it’s fine if Taylor wants to misinterpret it but don’t go around schooling ppl on a play you get wrong. Idk just had to vent. My dad’s friend is like a renowned Shakespeare scholar so this just rubbed me the wrong way about the song.

V

If you don’t care, you don’t write a song about it

Chas

I need this in a candle lit studio with a guitar and all black clothing and an orange shawl IMMEDIATELY

Chas

It’s funny because I can trust Taylor the songwriter on every album except this one.

Chas

From the backyard looking at the basketball hoop

Chas

It’s only for them!

Chas

This video is my Super Bowl

Ry

I’m thinking that the title track is disappointing because it’s touching on the idea of showgirl as a vocation. not something you willingly choose but something you are called to do. yet, the song offers no insight into what specifically about taylor made her called to showgirl. the song needed like a folklore-style insightful line or image.

joyce cayre

do we think all the locals not complaining about the literary references on ttpd are responsible for that second verse in fate of ophelia where she goes "okay here's the sparknotes?"

Lex

New Cancelled thought: I wonder if part of what Taylor is trying to say here is that you can't trust people who haven't been canceled, because if they don't understand what it's like, then go join the mob when it inevitably comes. (Not that this ameliorates the points that Madeline made about the "Queen of the Canceled" stuff. Hearing that potterheads are making it an anthem makes me want to barf. Just trying to make sense of this song.)

Cameron Van Sant

Wood could also be a jab at Mattie. She did describe him as the smallest man.

Tammy Sawyer

Actually that’s fascinating and it hadn’t occurred to me both TTPD and Showgirl were written ON the Eras tour. Two albums in one tour!?!

Pamela F

wood being for straight women makes so much sense lmao

Momo

loll i appreciate the sentiment but i would not go as far as that. I have added a couple of other songs that i previously didn't listen to to my roster tho. One of the the silver linings of this album

rhi

“We all dressed up as wolves and we look fire” I am just crying at the Eldest Daughter analysis ijbolllllll

Renee Darline

It means booooooottthhhh

Renee Darline

Maybe Olivia? I could kinda see it if it was a gender flip on both of them

Aaron Davis

Madeline, I actually feel the exact same way as you about Honey. I appreciate that it's cute and catchy but it really is in one ear, out the other

rhi

R we getting Zach’s music video reaction? Does anyone know?

Victoria Cannavino

Hard rock means wedding ring.

Tammy Sawyer

I honestly feel like the only song that felt like “yes that’s the real Taylor” was Ruin the Friendship. There’s something alienating about a lot of the tracks

Mia Sternoff

I agree with Zack that Wood is way too graphic and kinda ruins the perception of our perfect pop diva in her glittering prime. However with her devilish traits coming through on some songs, is Wood a dis track to Matty and Joe? The smallest men whoever lived??? I’ m thinking “well yes”!

Betty O

Who does madeline think father figure is about and why won’t she say it?? i’m dying to know

Gennie Brown

I think Taylor’s peak magical powers come when she is being relentlessly self aware, and she unfortunately is like, so tone deaf to me in this album. Simultaneously flaunting her wealth and saying it doesn’t actually matter to her — in THIS economy??? Girl…

Em Ro

i can not wait to hear the acoustic songs because why are 1 song snippets eating the whole album

samantha

I don't know why more people don't talk about this. Beefing with two of his exes, possibly sabotaging his relationship and then immediately setting him up with her little bestie/protege/hanger-on...idk there's something very weird going on there lol

Leslie

THAT PART 👀 - and yet no Katy shade

Miranda

I cheer every time for you both. Love your analysis. Thank you for more food for thought.

DrEmily

I lost it when Zack did his Charli impression and started singing in a british accent

Hazel

Yes the clean version of Wood will have be my listen

Marilyn

Yes just silly

Miranda

Her next album is gonna be YOLO 😂😂

Rhys P

There’s something to be said on Taylor releasing her Regina George, Mean Girl anthem on Oct 3rd

Terran Milne

4:40 I wonder if she purposely put out a throwaway 12th album so that her 13th album (which I assume she’ll put the most effort into) gets that much more praise and attention

Cassandra Norton

your final takes on it were so right!! would love to hear both of your opinions on the AI controversy going on with the videos

Mia

So… Paper Rings? It really does feel like Lover 2.0 through this lens

MR

Listening and watching Zach talk about Wood (here and in the black headdress) is what I never knew I needed in 2025. 😂

Tiff

When Taylor said that they arranged the track list to form the outline of the Eras stage, I finally realized that the track 5 is not an actual track 5. It was likely supposed to be Ruin the Friendship. Why did she do this? She should have definitely made this clearer. Or just made this track list as an alternate “showgirl” track list and put the real track list in the right order.

DrEmily

Actually, reading this comment made me realize that they may have achieved the perfect pop song with her. Walk with me….Im an old movie buff and I love me some Elizabeth Taylor. So whatever that specific brand of nostalgia is that she has? I can feel it in the song. Couple that Maxx/Shellback production with lyrics that include Elizabeth Taylor, Hollywood hates me, cry my eyes violet, white diamonds and I’m good to go. I’m not even trying to make sense of the lyrics within the context of Taylor’s life, and it’s not on purpose either. Im dick— I mean, Elizabethnotized.

Kylee

The way I cackled at "what's showgirl about that?" "well they looked fire" Lollll

Rhys P

Honestly, this is why I'm fine with waiting for the new Chappell album. She's admitted she's not ready to release a new one yet and I think that's totally fine. Take your time and come back with a banging album, I say! And I don't know if anyone knows Upsahl, but she was going to release an album this year that her record company loved but she didn't think it felt authentic to her so she scrapped the whole shebang. I respect that.

Celiaarrghh!

THAT CHARLI IMPRESSION AHHAHAHAH 100% amazing

Angelo Dudum

i agree zack, i was definitely getting joe+taylor from Father Figure as well as some scott borchetta dynamic! the 'mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled' line specifically lmaoo

Phoebe

Just saw the theater showing - she didn’t talk about the musical influences AT ALL which are so obvious. She also chickened out talking about actually romantic and wood. It’s like say it with your chest! I’m warming up every day, but there are still clunky lyrics that are unforgivable.

Miranda

I've been thinking about it and I think that the album we were expecting to get (thematically) could be the next one, the one after the tour ended and she was given the time to reflect on everything she went through. tloas is a tour album just like ttpd is

laisi

I think Madeline was on the right track when she said in “Wish List” how Taylor was trying for the “some ppl want diamond rings, but I just want you” Alicia Keys-esque take. I think the song is her attempt at restating “Don’t want money, just someone who wants my company” and the theme we’ve seen before of her saying she’d give up all the money and fame for real love. I think the “driveway with a basketball hoop and a couple kids” are just symbols of a regular simple life. I also thought the “they want that…” stuff could even be the things that a younger showgirl or aspiring artists envision for their life, juxtaposed with the things that you want as an older showgirl who has lived the life of yachts & Oscars & what you actually want at the end of the day after you’ve already gotten all that are those more simple, normal life things.

Miss_Lippy

Taylor’s best when she’s in her Style, Cruel Summer Bag. The subject matter on the new album is so tone deaf especially selling her customers which is what she sees her fans as when selling all these variants a different concept. This is coming from a Swiftie btw

Padraic Noonan

It’s the fact that I can’t relate to a single song on there… NOT EVEN ONE, it almost doesn’t feel personal. Ariana, Charli, Billie all spoke out about Palestine too btw

Padraic Noonan

Elizabeth Taylor is very Eras tour to me too, it reminds me of when they had that date in Italy during the European leg. And the song is about her in a hotel pining over Travis not being there reminiscing on their time in Italy together.

Nic

I love the album, but I think I am what you’d consider a ‘normie’. So, not sure if my vote counts 😂

Lauren Markland

agreed

elly belly

I'm a new Patreon subscriber and I had a different take than you both had; however, I'm not mad at either of your initial thoughts for the album. To me the album is "heavily I love my man" coded. which didn't bother me since she wrote somewhat at the beginning of there relationship. I still think there are quite a few boss bitch bangers. I enjoyed "father figure", I claimed that one and it reminded me of her finally getting her masters back. Now she's the king to the empire. Eldest Daughter was also super good to me and it made me think of all the haters that always have something negative to say about her music without facts or logical thoughts to back it up. The broken arm thing could be about snake gate because she says 8 or 9 years old. I remember when I broke my arm and I was 7 almost 8 playing jump rope and a boy grabbed it and made me fall. She will never leave her albums or let someone take her masters away. You can tell me I'm delusional and reading too deeply, I'm fine with it.

lisa adams

I'm actually confused that nobody told her Cancelled is shit. Max Martin, Shellback, where you at

Kikimora

no i also thought it was about joe

Hudson Hong

Bummed I'm never gonna get the Natalie Wood version I imagined in my head

Kikimora

After accepting that this would be my least fav album of hers, listening to it became a lot more enjoyable. Theres always the next album! We'll see her in another 1.5 years

Alex

For some reason Madeline saying she felt like she was on smack cam really made me cackle. We've all been there

Lindsay Deering

They are millennial words, she’s a millennial. What’s wrong with that?

Lauren Markland

That’s funny because I was thinking this is the most relatable she has been in so long! So many of these songs relate to my husband and my family. I don’t see how you came to that conclusion

Lauren Markland

Here’s the tea about Father Figure—loyalty is huge in the Scott-Taylor dynamic. She talks about loyalty being just words to Scott in her 2019 tumblr post about the Masters. “They don’t make loyalty like they used to” is clearly pointed @Scott

Renee Darline

This was so good, you guys truly nailed the good and bad parts about the record and why it's so confusing on first listen

Lillian

I would rather listen to Superman than most of these songs

Maja Gunhold

Cancelled comes from the mouth of the lady who is bathing in diamonds during LWYMMD and I love that!

Renee Darline

the luxurious visuals of the album and the tacky usage of slang do NOT fit all - it all just feels misplaced, unfinished and rushed. i wish she would have taken some more time to finish the album. there is no need to release an album every 1,5 years if it is incoherent and lacks quality

Mira

As someone who covers the region for work, I feel like I have never once been interested in Taylor Swift as a source of advocacy/information on Palestine….also given her friendship with Gigi Hadid and the fact she’s never toured in Israel (yes Israeli Swifties notice)…ppl know whats up

Renee Darline

I enjoy this album and I just think this is an example of her reinventing herself and trying to go 180 on what she did last time. Tortured poets was for the swifties and never about commercial success. Showgirl based on how it’s been rolled out main goal is commercial success. And if she puts out a music video for Opalite and Elizabeth Taylor as good as the one for Ophelia, she’s gonna get it. Like you said the normies loveeee this album and idk seems like that was her goal here. Buuut my hottest take is Sabrina should’ve been featured on Wood not Life of a Showgirl then people would’ve eaten it up cause it’d become less about just Travis and more about the girlies just being silly.

Janelle

When you were talking about Wi$h Li$t all I could think about was how like three songs earlier in Elizabeth Taylor she says “Babe, I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust” and then you hear her say “just kidding” in the background. Yikes.

Sage

I love the album, it’s just so much fun. I can’t stop listening to it. I appreciate your thoughtful and intelligent takes.

Gretchen D'Antico

I think it really kinda is Lover 2.0 especially in the fact that the actual stated theme of Lover was "a love letter to love" and exploring all its different varieties of relationships and expressions. It's why "Soon You'll Get Better" and "It's Nice to Have a Friend" are included on that album. So LOAS has that same "love letter to love" theme, especially with "Ruin the Friendship". "Actually Romantic" is in fact a clever subversion of the 'love song' idea and at a stretch you could include "Cancelled!" as being how she feels about her friends.

Rachel Sherlock

I also feel that this album is missing cohesion. One thing I thought of the day it came out was that it feels like these songs seem loose and aren't tied to each other, and much less the visuals except for the title track. I like many of these songs individually but I don't think they work as an album. I also feel that she's way too happy and in love to think critically of this work right now because it's so tied to her love for Travis.

Carla Ferreira

Her album is so distasteful coming from someone who hasn’t said one word about Palestine. And don’t give me the whole oh her safety bullshit because anyone who’s spoken up about Palestine has been fucking FINE and it’s not like she will lose gigs over it? Then you hear oh but “she voted for Kamala” Kamala being the reason the genocide is happening in the first place, Mrs I love Israel? If I endorsed a candidate like Kamala Harris and I was pro Palestinian I would MAKE SURE people knew..

Padraic Noonan

I had already been thinking on how, unfortunately ICDIWABH and Clara Bow deliver a lot more on the Showgirl theme and pretty much all the album, but now I'm also thinking that it is kinda a shame that this is also supposed to be Max Martin delivering on the Showgirl theme too, but he wrote Britney Spears' Lucky 25 years ago. He's already done a track that perfectly executes this theme and I don't think we reached those levels of 'bullet-proof' pop here.

Rachel Sherlock

I was really surprised to hear Madeline's take on Cancelled! because I did not think of it that way at ALL. My first thoughts were really only about Blake and Sophie Turner. I'm not american so I know almost nothing about the Mahomes family. And regarding the "i like em cloaked in gucci and scandal" and other mentions of wealth, I saw that as her playing into an exagerated version of that character, that version of herself that is the "boss" and the "father figure" in the industry. Sort of like she did with Blank Space and I Did Something Bad. I might be giving her too much grace but one thing she said in that BBC 1 interview is that the one thing she learned how to do since 1989 was to write from character and I do tend to see some of these songs from that perspective.

Carla Ferreira

this is just the beginning u get like 3+ episodes a week diva

chris

I’ve had myself a great time with TLOAS but I’m feeling similarly to how I feel with Man’s Best Friend where I just think we could have spent a few more months or another year and came with something better. There are bones but if she had just really honed and chiseled we could have had something up to par with Blank Space or Style. I think there’s a problem across the industry with just getting everything out as soon as possible (which very well may have started with Taylor) but it’s coming at the cost of really excellent bodies of work. I hope she spends some more time on whatever happens next. I know the two year cycle frustrated her but I think that time helped build more excellent songs.

Lauren Vorreiter

Do you actually know it’s a lie? How many people have become rich and famous and said that in the end money doesn’t bring happiness and at the end of the day isn’t the end all and be all of life. Maybe Taylor is learning that what she has with Travis is far more valuable than anything she could ever buy. And it’s a very sweet and romantic song. Imagine her playing this on the guitar for him and how he would feel. They are just people after all.

Brianna Tullius

Thinking it threw It isn't really lover 2.0. I mean 6 of 12 songs are not about travis. Lover and also reputation have a higher percentage of love songs than tlos.

Adrian Sidler Pena

Now why didn’t the podcast with video show up on Patreon this morning when the audio-only version was posted? Sorry fam, this is my first time subscribing to anyone’s patreon and although I love supporting good pop culture journalism, I’m struggling to see the value of the subscription as a buyer. I ended up just watching this on YouTube because the video version wasn’t on patreon. I already have YouTube premium so I’m already used to not seeing ads, is that what people get patreon for?? Is there content I’m just missing?? So far everything unique I’ve wanted to check out is still gate-kept for higher tiers… which is fiiiiinne, get your bag snakes, but this just sort of feels like a donation at the $10 tier… I’m not mad, just confused

reckless mermaid

I’ve caught myself humming in falsetto and then Madeline said evil pop and I saw my life flash before my eyes.

Kylee

Has anyone else seen the rumors that Von Dutch is about FKA Twigs? If true, it’s interesting Charli seems laser-focused on Matty’s exes 👀

Elle Kaye

Oooohhhh plot twist, I like it. The look on her face when she was setting it up in the movie? Diabolical.

Kylee

my thing with wishlist is, that if just at the very end we'd have something tucked in of "I just want you, and wish that were true" because as established - this is not all that she wants. and that's okay and it would make the song not only infinetly more interesting, but infinitely more showgirl. I understand that if we're doing keeping people at arms length lyricism, that's perhaps not something you want to say, because people may read that as you not wanting to be with Travis. But I think it would be a really interesting take on the idea that this is supposed to be what you, as a woman, should be all you want and society tells you to want and yes, you do surely want it, but it's not ALL you want.

thea

i really liked the album!! the sound is luxurious and pop is popping and i dance to it nonstop this weekend. BUT what i hate about wish list the most that it’s not only hypocritical but it’s a blatant lie to the point that it’s offensive. do you think i am stupid? so you say on the same album that you are a boss (father figure) you kid that you will give up cartier for someone to trust, that you love attention and you love this love that you worked your whole life for, actually (pun intended). you worked your whole life for the yacht life and now when you are literally on top of the world and enjoy it you try to tell me how you are above us peasants because we want balenci shades and you want love? that would have been cute from teenage taylor not six vinyl variants cause i want that cash taylor. that’s why i can accept cancelled. i agree with every point madeline made and that optics are bad, but at least she is being honest with herself and us. and i will hop on an honest power trip train any day over this $$ bullshit

chapaeva

LOL i feel like a plebe too 😭 everything is worth it for fate of ophelia and elizabeth taylor

alleahmae

There are so many all time great pop songs on this album- I feel like a pleb. I’m so confused. 😭 Opalite?! Come on!!!! I genuinely feel like this pop is nostalgic and also ahead of its time at the same time. It’s so fresh. Am I just dumb? HELP.

Galactic

Sorry if someone else has already said this, but instead of Actually Romantic sounding like Olivia, does it sound like a Nasty Cherry song? (Gabbriette’s band). So the overt person she’s talking to is Charli but she’s also subtly directing it to Gabbriette too?

Melissa D

So well said Erin! I agree. I was soooo disappointed with eldest daughter but it had grown on me and so is the rest of the album. As Madeline and Zach said it was confusing to start out with cos of what she was talking about when describing the album and she’s not great at that…

Ellajoy

Taylor talking about wealth and privilege and power in a year of near authoritarian takeover, erosion of rights and freedoms is a complete joke. This is the year to be vocal. Look at the horrific things happening in the US. In the world. Idk. While I agree that it’s not her role to fix anything, at the very least read the room. Have some empathy. She is a privileged white women., and while that is not a sin per si, we’ve lost the plot of the brand and its ability to remain relatable and authentic. In all honesty, It feels kinda wrong to keep engaging with her music. Which is sad 😢

Maria G.Q.

Omg, i didn’t know what bothered me about “wi$h list” until you talked about it!!! You are soooo right!!!

Valentina Paredes

Have you guys seen about the 'performance art' theories on tiktok? They are calling themselves artlors and you won't be surprised to know it all comes back to gaylorism

Robyn Harp

I think the songs that hit just scratch my brain in such a good way and hit so so good. And I think assumptions we all made (some based on Tay’s promo and some not) put a tint on our initial reactions. I think some of the problem is that having 2 or 3 skips on an album is normal but when it’s only 12 songs or when it’s a Taylor album where we demand no skips it feels like a bigger let down. If I had even 4 skips on any other artist’s album I wouldn’t think twice about it. I really think with some time more and more support will come for the album. TTPD at first was seen as her death. Now it’s people’s alter of prayer!

Isabela Krall

Making no comment on whether or not this was intentional, but I think no song about the eras tour/the specific experience of what it was like actually says a lot. Do the show, but don't talk about the show lol. I don't think she's processed it yet 😂

Jenny

Omg yes. The dichotomy of what a standard person might have on a Wi$h Li$t vs. what Taylor wishes for - having kids playing with neighbors on the block, Travis throwing a ball with them in the yard, the ability to move through the world anonymously and to be left alone..... It's honestly very, VERY sad and tragic.

Amber

I really was let down by Eldest Daughter on first listen… it didn’t quite seem to live up to the track 5 pedestal and the “we looked fire” did kind of take me out of it. But as the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter of an eldest daughter, the song did hit after a few repeat listens. If you aren’t an eldest daughter, you can’t begin to understand that unique position in a family… no matter how much you think you have read up on the concept. And I’ll leave it at that. Nevertheless, I think Max and Shellback are not her best writing partners. They can produce infectious pop hits with wonderful layering and great ad libs, but I think I do miss Jack and Aaron when it comes to the writing. Maybe what this has taught us is that her best pop albums are when she does have multiple collaborators. So this album is fun and gets better on multiple listens, but it definitely doesn’t take rep, 1989, red, TTPD, folklore or evermore down in my album rankings.

Erin S

I need the snakes to talk about the spaghetti photo in the gate fold

Landon 🦅

wood is so fun i love how madeline was just smiling while zach went feral on it

the tortured briggy department

I actually think the point of the Wi$h Li$t chorus is that it is things that are weirdly out of reach for her. The verses are things that are unachievable for regular people whereas the chorus is things that are attainable for everyday people but, like you guys said, impossible for Taylor. Like normal people can’t possibly have a yacht life but they can have a basketball hoop in the cul de sac driveway and the world won’t ever care about their life. Taylor could get on a yacht any day of the week yet she can’t have the normal suburban life that she describes in the chorus, which is why it’s on her wish list. I do agree that it feels out of touch though to convey the message that “I already have all the money in the world” but it’s the same thing as “don’t want money just someone who wants my company”

Maddie

Here’s a tidbit that you fail to consider about charli: getting a response from taylor is exactly what she wanted. I don’t think she’s running her mouth behind the scenes or writing sympathy is a knife not expecting some kind of response. she’s kind of a messy bitch (affectionately), and getting a song dedicated to you by the biggest popstar on the planet is only gonna put more eyeballs on her and further her career…attention is attention in this industry after all. for an artist like charli, who sort of has a ceiling when it comes to mainstream success because of the kind of music she makes, this is only a positive for her. also, charli isn’t the kind of artist that stays quiet, so there will be some sort of response back in song form GUARANTEED and people WILL listen and look forward to whatever that response will be. I don’t think Taylor is the kind of artist that goes tit for tat on songs, and if she does respond back, well… I don’t think the public court of opinion will be on taylor’s side. People already see actually romantic as her punching down on charli. also, not buying anything about taylor not starting shit (see: bad blood)

ethan

Taylor is in dire need someone in a normal tax bracket under the age of 30 to enter the studio just once. Only to and veto the bad bitch, the savage, the trolling and memes, the gucci and the balenci shades. 😭This would truly do wonders for her.

alice

I get the optics issue re: cancelled, but I do think so many of Taylor’s friends were getting dragged through it in such a short period of time: Sophie Turner, Blake, Sabrina, Selena (off and on) — dare I say Kamala? I also note that in the list of “sins” she makes no allusions to anything political Britney has been canceled for. My guess is if she had released this as soon as she wrote it, it would’ve been received better.

Elle Kaye

My rose for Max Martin’s production is that he really knows how to produce Taylor’s voice for pop songs. I’m no expert in the specifics of vocal stacking and all that, but I just know it sounds… pleasant. Some of the other guys, even Jack sometimes, take her to a place of Kidz Bop when she does high notes. The worst culprit was Joel Little. 😂 For context, I’m talking about songs like: Me! We Are Never (TV) I Think He Knows Bejeweled …to name a few. Max doesn’t do that! He opts for a richness that just… sounds nice I guess. So, even if this is a sister album to Lover, I still think I like this one better sonically.

Tony

As someone that loves mindlessly listening to both Wi$h Li$t and Honey, I feel like the child of divorce now. Also, “that could be about anybody” is the funniest thing said on this podcast since the Ashley roast 😂😂😂 Zack said almost something word-for-word that I said in a group chat with friends: this is Lover without Cruel Summer and DBATC. Now that I’ve spent time with this album, I don’t hate it… but there’s not a single song that would be in my top 20. Ruin The Friendship comes close, but Madeline had the same thought I did: Foolish One does a much better job of evoking this old Taylor that I love. I think a lyrically Lucky One-like song or two would have done WONDERS for this album, but instead the album just feels a bit… mid? I just wish the music had matched the photoshoot. Like hell some cunty shots of her doing ~everyday~ life could have been better at depicting what was to come. I thought we were gonna serve Vegas cunt, instead we’re having beers in the back yard. I like that! But… why I am dressed like I’m going to the club?

David

I fear she is one of the locals now 😭

K.C.

with eldest daughter i think she was KINDA getting there talking about breaking her arm as a kid. i thought that was getting to "I had to learn hard lessons on my own the hard way because I'm the eldest daughter", and bring that over to her place and experience in the industry but instead we got....yeah...

Kyla

do they also own homes?

K.C.

Ok also knowing that Charli is talking shit behind the scenes — after the generous quote AND dancing to brat at the Grammys— SIAK feels so incredibly mean. The gaslighting behavior of “oh who me? No I’m not saying you’ve done anything wrong, except maybe implying that your kindness is fake. I’m just an insecure little girl.” She was really trying to talk shit in a way that would make Taylor look “bad” for responding, yet Taylor said I KNOW THE TRUTH and responded anyway and that’s why she’s my queen.

Elle Kaye

Ugh ok I hope this isn’t totally random but re: anti-drug Taylor…I get it. When I was younger I gave so much sympathy and grace to addicts in my life despite how shitty their behavior was toward me because I thought that was the progressive thing to do. But the truth is you can have sympathy for someone struggling and also acknowledge that they own their behavior, even if they’re high.

Elle Kaye

gonna push back on the Olivia discussion being over bc there are Olivia guitars for sure on AR *ETA: the snakes acknowledge the sonic alignment!! but not so much how it's a dual hit job 🧐

K.C.

I mirror this!

Foob

Really? Where!? I can't find it. I'm just seeing backlash with Finneas on X

Foob

What sucks is people are being way too hateful at an album that’s actually good. Sure some missteps but it’s fueling these haters

Josh Barrett

I think she said Cancelled! She said she removed it entirely from her playlist.

Foob

I’m curious what the other song that Madeline can’t deal with (before Eldest Daughter) is?

Malin

not zach "and by the way, and by the way, and by the way" for track 5. lol

Hannah

eldest daughter sonically kinda sounds like olivia rodrigo's piano ballads. idk if this is supposed to mean anything, just a thought. LOL

Hannah

Madeline your make-up looks especially gorgeous in this video!!! Honey is a bop

Dulcie Bassant

I totally agree with zach - the second she said I cancelled your card I immediately thought she was weaving in her disdain and disappointment with Joe

Lindsay

Father Figure could be an amalgamation! At 38min you said “I will never be anything if I’m Taylor Swift’s boyfriend” and we all know Matty Healy famously echoed that sentiment in interviews years ago. I see Father Figure as about getting into the music industry / fame / contracts in general, with the main point being that Taylor *will* protect her family as long as they’re loyal — whether that’s Scott Borchetta, Scott Swift, Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy, Travis, etc. I’m focusing on men here rather than girls/women because I think that’s a big part of the song; her saying her dick’s bigger definitely suggests the song is directed at men she’s dealt with in this combined personal/professional capacity.

Jules

To be fair, she mentioned in the movie that she relates to both characters and was writing from a number of experiences, so very plausible!

Josephine Hugo

In some ways I think Taylor may have misinterpreted some of the TTPD criticism and then way over-corrected on this album. Also Max Martin and Shellback cannot be trusted to edit lyrics beyond “the syllables must fit the melody.” (That said, I’d still give this album a 7/10 personally. It’s truly infectious.)

Elle Kaye

I feel exactly the same way! Taylor made some not great, cringy music, (and some really good music) and people are acting like she dropped bombs from her private jet. The reaction is just not proportional to the output.

K

There’s a theory that ruin the friendship is about the same guy from forever winter

Sarah

Did anyone catch that Billie Eilish put out a glowing post to Taylor? Love Billie, not saying anything bad, just curious if you think she was getting ahead of any backlash from the Charlie situation.

Shannon

Hearing the “because my checks bigger” in theaters really did not hit the same!

Audrey

This is her finally getting properly fucked album.

Leslie M

Thank you SO SO much for how you intro’d this episode. I’ve felt like a crazy person the last few days. I never expect everyone to cupcake all the time, but I’ve been shocked by some of the response by “swifties” to this album. I love nuanced criticism of Taylor’s work (hence why I’m a snake). There are some really poor writing choices on this album (I think the gas tank was empty when she was making this). But I’ve seen so many vitriolic reactions like either (a) people feel personally betrayed because Taylor has failed to reflect their desired projections onto her in this album or (b) like you said, they’re praying on her downfall. Thank goodness for you two stating objective and true to yourselves 🫶🏻

Elle Kaye

It’s so nice to have options!

Ally

i really like the album but i feel like the mission statement was not achived. there is at least one song missing about the eras tour…

Aline Tschopp

I think this a GREAT point and I agree

Ally

They are just pop formulas used by lots of artists over and over again

Leslie M

I think the use of quotation marks in the lyrics could have greatly helped what I think was the intention of Eldest Daughter, which was that you're faking to cover your insecurities. Everybody's so "punk" on the Internet, everyone's "unbothered" til they're not, everything's just "trolling" and "memes", sad as it seems, apathy is hot. But I'm not a "bad bitch", and this isn't "savage", but I'm never gonna let you down, I'm never gonna leave you out. We all dressed up as wolves and we looked "fire".

Amber

Thank you guys for having this conversation - it delighted me in a way i was craving since i listened to the album. I adore the way you two are agree to disagree in some cases and it’s really intelligent and relatable, thank you for your video, you are doing the Taygod’s work.

madatmeisland

I think ttpd has aged so extremely well and even though there is no banger and barely a bob on this album, I just love it and find it very interesting sonically. All the details jack put in the background, some songs start in one place and then end up in an entirely different place such as fresh out the slammer. Yes, it's a slow album but I find it so compelling and not at all boring and it is very hard to achieve that with an album that has mostly ballads. In hindsight i think ttpd is a a great album. I've always liked it but I always thought that it is lacking in energy. But I don't actually feel that way anymore, because it's an entire journey. I think showgirl is the fans' fault. I'm not sure whether she would have returned to Max and shellback had it not been for the fans demanding it, and after showgirl frankly I'm not sure she should do it again... Some things work for a certain time and sometimes that time has come to an end and instead of clinging onto something, you should just embrace but it is over...

maryna

Wish list is also meh for me except I am addicted to "Boss up settle down" 😆

Moonbeam009

My whole family who aren’t swifties LOVE wish list and don’t care abt anything else

Malcolm

Madeline I’m with you on every take (minus wishlist)….

Chloe Blakesley

Guys why does it feels like I waited ages for this!!! So excited to listen on my walk

charisma

And none of them had anything to do with being the Eldest Daughter 🤦🏻‍♀️

Linneae

Wood is literally Sunset BLVD by Selena in a different font... like I fear they're a little too mature to be writing in the "Sabrina Style". Dress and Hands to Myself are so good because they're sexy, leave something to the imagination and just GOOD pop songs.

flwd

I can’t wait to hear ruin the friendship acoustically

Elena

I also really don't like all of the kaleidoscope effects on the visuals. I don't think that it enhances the images or the themes. For my taste, I think I was hoping for a bit more old glamour, aesthetics, and less modern effects on the visuals.

Megan Hensley

I have some ideas about 2 polarizing songs: Wood and Wi$h Li$t. — Wood — my quess is that she created and put that song on the album because of the recent trend from Sabrina’s songwriting (I’m not saying she did it well, just that she participated in it). Maybe because of their fanbases intertwining nowadays she wanted to produce something for that specific crowd. — Wi$h Li$t — I saw this song being mentioned and praised in many interviews. My guess and opinion is that the mention of it is a little bit staged. Maybe Taylor wants people to hear the lyrics " […] leave us the fuck alone And they do". — And when it comes to dreaming about the normal life, I agree that she doesn’t fully want it, she probably likes to fantasize about it. Probably about the aspect of a normal well-off life without the downsides of fame. But idk why she put it on the album, the sound is catchy

Ula Baśka

Robin walked so Eldest Daughter could run

Josephine Hugo

I agree! So interesting how she said in the movie that she relates to both characters

Josephine Hugo

As an eldest daughter and longtime fan - PREACH. EVERYTHING you said about Eldest Daughter, no notes. I don’t have words for the disappointment of hearing Taylor Swift - who has written folklore, Fifteen, and YOYOK - address this experience with this result. I have no words. Biggest letdown of her music in my memory, ever. I hate this song with a passion

Josephine Hugo

100% and in my playlist it is bc i cut out eldest daughter lol

cat

I need yall to address the plaigarism allegations next! The Jackson 5 in Wood, Lorde’s Yellow Flicker Beat, Jonas Brothers’ Cool I mean the similaries are uncanny and tbh she has to recalibrate because this is her worst album yet. Like ylu said, there is no CANONICAL Taylor Swift song on here

Mikee Dayrit

Totally agree with the clean versions I feel like for eldest daughter and Wood the clean version is executed better.

Shannon

I always think there are layers of people/inspiration in almost every song of hers. So I do like that this may be an amalgamation of both Joe/Scott and honestly the industry as a whole.

SP

Can you imagine, an album marketed as 12-track bullet proof pop bangers has not one but TWO of her worst songs of all time.. We’re so over

Mikee Dayrit

Hahahahaha I mean, yeah I can see this. I can also relate because, not to be tmi, but they are not lying that late 30s and 40s are peak for women… in my experience. And finding a man that does all the things for you (and to you 🫣) really brings something out in a girl 😂😂

SP

I thought the Pinocchio was for the “I said I was busy, that was a lie” / “When I said I don’t believe in marriage, that was a lie” but I like this theory too

Erin O

I read a review that says: "The person Swift is competing with most now is herself, and the bulk of The Life Of A Showgirl can’t measure up to the dizzying heights of her previous triumphs. Perhaps that’s because there isn’t a clear sense of who she is or what she truly wants on The Life Of A Showgirl." > This is exactly how I feel when I listen to the album. It is giving "I don't really know who I am as an artist anymore". I think this album was not created because she had a vision or she wanted to express something but because she thought she had to because of the mixed reviews for ttpd. I assume that it is not a great feeling to be celebrated for your tour while at the same time met with reservation about your latest work, and knowing Taylor she wanted to makeup for a mediocre album as ttpd was perceived. However, this is not the right reason to record an album, especially if you're physically exhausted and mentally drained from one of the longest tours of all time. Even now she keeps repeating how exhausted she was during eras and clearly stated she won't be touring Showgirl. I think she had a severe case of burnout, at least in 2024. I think she has to take a break - a long one! - and approach music from a different place again at some point... She should take a break, fill up her block with children that look like Travis and do some living...

maryna

“Enjoy spaghetti hands” CRYING 😂

Athena Bermudez

wi$h li$t panders to the locals

Gabriela Cameron

Those are all my favs too!! I’ve had the choruses stuck in my head all weekend. Have to immediately skip eldest daughter though.. can’t even let it play

K

Hahaha I literally thought the same about father figure at 1st, that it was about Joe too🤣💀

DemiMarie🤍🖤

I'm so surprised at the focus from not only the Snakes, but a ton of people online who are disappointed that the theme of Showgirl wasn't more directly referenced in the songs. Aside from the idea that it's about what's going on behind the curtain, not the show itself, I think that the theme of Showgirl is gorgeous and gave her the opportunity to take the absolute hottest photos of herself that have ever existed. It was like a giant boudoir photoshoot as a present for Travis and a middle finger to every ex or every dude online (and idiots like Trump) who said she's not hot. I watched the absolutely lush music video, and that's enough for me. Lol I was fed, and I'm grateful. I can't imagine being bothered that there weren't more Showgirl themed songs on the album, but maybe that's because I didn't really focus on my predictions for the album, so nothing to be disappointed by. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The Miss

even tho actually romantic is the charli smackdown.... charli is getting press. taylor still doing charli favors

Gabriela Cameron

Yeah. She went to Max and Shellback with Blank Space fully written and they turned it into gold.

Leslie

This is the first album where I feel like the explicit songs take away from the song, except for Father Figure. That really surprised me quite a bit.

Megan Hensley

i was nervous for this bc of how insane everything is rn but i AM SOOO APPRECIATIVE of how you guys have approached your review. honestly ty so much for being respectful and giving a NORMAL fan’s insight ❤️

jacqueline

I am single and I am living in the delusional world of FOO, Elizabeth Taylor, Opalite, Wish list, Honey. :P

akr

You were soo right about how reputation was spot on the theme. Finding love through the dark and the drama, and the life of a showgirl was her chance to make an album about finding love through being a showgirl and on top of the world. My other issue is every songs makes me feel like I’ve heard them before, not the exact lyrics but the idea behind it, it’s always I decided to be single but you changed my mind and I wanna be vulnerable with you and you’re better than my exes and we don’t care what the internet says, can you come up with something new?? It’s interesting how she can find a million ways to write about heartbreak, all too well and loml sounds nothing alike but they’re both heartbreak songs, but when it come to love songs I don’t get a new perspective except honey witch is soo cute, all that to say I think overall it’s a good album and as you said she has 12 albums not all of them will be great.

Esraa M

"Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled" -me when my cat is begging me to let her outside for the 500th time that day and I refuse because I know she'll just want back in two seconds later

Leslie

Glad to see Madeline speaking her truth about Wood. 💃🏻 It's fun and cute, the sound and vibe are immaculate. But also maybe Zach is right that it's a song for women who are attracted to straight men? It's a fun, tongue in cheek song about her boyfriend's huge dick, just for the lulz. I love it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The Miss

OMG, yes! I can hear Lana in Cancelled!, too.

Elaine D

Zach I do find your alternate take on Father Figure very intriguing and think there's a strong chance that it is at least one ingredient in the mix. Reminds me of "walked all over my peace of mind, in the shoes I gave you as a present". But in the movie (or maybe in an interview somewhere, it's all a blur), Taylor says the song changes perspective in the middle. If it were a Joe song, the narrator would stay the same, would it not?

Ursula Vesala

In fairness house tour is literally just about her showing a guy around her house. No metaphors in that song. She said so.

Leslie

Her explanation in the movie for Eldest Daughter also made NO sense. She just rambled about “fitting many stories into one song” and girl you did but at what cost

Chas

Ruin the Friendship would have been a bellissimo track 5...

Moonbeam009

This rational take was really needed!! This is not her greatest work and it does not live up to the advertising… but people are getting a little hysterical about a POP ALBUM. There is a reason to be annoyed or put off here. But I think we need to recalibrate our ideas about the consequences of this album, politically/socially/personally, etc.. which is probably not much.

K

I think the fate of Ophelia sounds like summertime sadness

Shannon

I dream of cracking locks, throwing my life to the wolves or the ocean rocks - the most recent wolves reference iirc (?) to we dressed up like wolves and looked fire. I am a millenial and I don't know what this reference means

akr

And when he tried to sip his matcha right before the Elizabeth Taylor piano gagged! Lol

Bernice Trapp

Ohh this would be interesting. And would position it as a Lover 2.0 more than a statement of showgirl life

Bella

they are swifties.... yeah

Matthew Manning

Everything that needed to be said was said. Lick your fingers, no crumbs.

Bernice Trapp

I'm seeing a lot of edits to the title track on tiktok, they're cute

Leslie

We need uncensored on Patreon pls!

Marina Heath

Ooooh this makes a lot of sense

Leslie

No I think you're cooking. Especially when you combine it with the sentiment of the title track which is very much like, "Don't think for a second I'm going to gracefully pass the torch to you bitches"

Leslie

You know what I remember I had similar reactions to end game and similar dated language when it first came out, but it has aged so well and became camp

Molly M

I genuinely think it might be her worst song

Leslie

Same, it sounds so good! This is also the first Taylor album where a lot of my emotional response is created by how it sounds rather than what is being said. Which is intetesting because I'm always a lyrics first -person in all music. I have a lot of friends who mainly care about music in terms of how it sounds, not the lyrics and with this album I'm like is this what that is like?! 😅 And I don't mind it.

Satu

“Song debuts at #99 on the hot 100” took me out 😂

Anthony Cahoon

Combo of COOL and No Air! Most excellent track but I can’t unhear those two songs. I must say it’s very showgirl to steal your exes song though and I nod my cap to her for this behavior.

Mary McFillin

I love showgirl 🙌❤️

Ellen Kay

This is what I've been thinking as well. I admit I was expecting a masterpiece, and now realize that was kind of dumb of me 😅. Something has to give if you are performing 2-4 nights a week and then flying to Stockholm to create for a few days in between (when you probably should just be laying in your ice bath). And what gave was not the quality of her performance on the tour, nor her mental/physical health (I presume and hope), not her personal relationships etc. It was the quality of her writing, especially the lyricism. And honestly, I forgive her that when I dance my heart out to this album 😄. But just a note to Taylor, next time, we expect more.

Satu

Everytime there is a new album out, at first it's not clicking for me. But the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me. But I already have the Fate of Ophelia on repeat in my mind.

Lise Caillaud

It’s also one of my three skips on the album, including actually romantic and cancelled

Natalie Topalian

My issue with Wood is this is a Sabrina carpenter song, and if I wanted to listen to Sabrina I WO(UL)OD. It just feels…. kind of tacky. Obviously, just my opinion.

Kenna

Thank you for this!!!

Kat

I agree with you. Some of the writing on Eldest Daughter is cringe, but I'm not going to throw the whole song out. If you're an eldest daughter who's always felt you had to be perfect, be a caretaker of everyone else, it just hits deeper. I think this song was a promise to Travis, the youngest child, to always take care of his heart. I get why she made it track five, even if the lyricism is clunky in parts.

The Miss

My interpretation of eldest daughter, as an eldest daughter, is that we’re typically seen as being behind the times with our younger siblings on the current slang and trends etc… I’m choosing to believe her intention was to purposely use bad bitch and savage, even “we looked fire,” by basically saying, “I know I’m not the coolest big sister but you can always count on me, I’ll never let you down.” … which eldest daughters are also known for. Basically being the glue of the family out of necessity. AND for being self conscious of what they find cool and interesting, and cosplaying as what other people believe is actually cool and interesting. All that to say, this is my least favorite track 5 maybe ever lol.

Natalie Topalian

i have a small thorn. i don't know why, but i hate how she sings/pronounces the Plaza Athénée line. Send it to radio anyway. I love everything else.

splendidvie

You guys are being very generous towards Taylor and this album. Respect that cause i just can’t

Anastasia Davydova

I also like wood very much it’s very catchy but the line new heights of manhood is giving porn to me and I don’t like it

Turki

It's not though...🫤 And I'm honestly so over her bringing up people's drug use as a way to get them when she has literally just described herself as an alcoholic on the previous album. And she only ever does it to people who have hurt her like Matty and Charli so it's not even about being categorically against illegal substances when she happily seeks out and spends time with people who partake in that so long as they don't personally offend her. It's just completely hypocritical in every way.

Linneae

I do get your point, but i'm 40+ and still find the whoah oh oh oh annoying. But then, it's basically an ABBA rip and i never really loved them. You're on to something though.

splendidvie

The theme that Taylor picked could’ve really been such a great way to compare her time on tour compared to the harsh realities from being a showgirl. If she really wanted to have a I love Travis album she could have added them as a bonus tracks while the main 12 tracks being the tribulations of being a showgirl.

Empty Chair

I do think we missed an opportunity to talk about what Taylor said about Father Figure in the movie and how “sacred” songwriting is and giving credit….even though Father Figure is barely interpolated. That to me felt very, very shady towards Olivia and supports that idea that Taylor has become the father figure.

Courtney Smith

Yet she didn't credit any of the other ones that she directly ripped off on this album. Or even make a passing mention of being the source of inspiration.

Linneae

Yeah, I can't argue with you, Z and M, on most of these takes! Overall, I'm spinning the album and having fun. Will it ever crack my top 5 Taylor albums? Well, no....but I'll clap and cheer and stream. Highlights for me are father figure, Ruin the friendship, title track, Opalite, Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor.

Ari

tell us, please

splendidvie

I just listen to Glitch instead 🤷🏻‍♀️

Linneae

Same!!!

bec846

Favorite Daughter is in fact my favorite daughter

Cameron Van Sant

Father Figure and Elizabeth Taylor are by far the best songs on the album (to me) and I think could worm their way into my "all time great" Taylor songs. I have Thoughts about Elizabeth Taylor but I feel like saying them will get me put in front of the tayvis firing squad.

Leslie

Cancelled!! Is also so obviously not political. I thought we already established that she is myopic and probably doesn't scroll social media very much. Her publicist dept probably gives her updates on herself so she doesn't have to damage her payche reading negative stuff all the time. Maybe that applies to avoiding political stuff too. Maybe she just doesn't care. Cancelled!!, to me, is so obviously about Blake Lively and how she was there for Taylor and now Taylor is there for her. All the examples in that song are silly things women get "canceled" for, and that applies to Taylor and her small celebrity world. She literally endorsed Kamala Harris! Dump was literally using AI to make it look like Taylor was endorsing him and she had to respond to it in that endorsement post. There's no bloody way she would ever be an American fascist. If she's hanging with them, it's only because they are on Travis's team... Sometimes you bite your tongue and do things to keep the peace, sadly, when you're in a relationship with someone. You put up with their shitty friends and teammates on occasion. She is a human with a personal life.

Moonbeam009

honestly i think it’s very tired that she keeps describing all her new boyfriends as this “savior” like joe saved her from calvin/tom mess, matty saved her from joe mess, and now travis saved her from joe/matty. like if she and travis ever were to break up and she dated someone new, we can 100% expect a song where she will say that the new guy saved her from travis.

Clara

I think the sounds on songs like Opalite that might feel annoying (as Madeline pointed out the whoah oh oh oh) are all mostly musical allusions to vintage music. Opalite sounds like 60s girl group music. 70s funky bass lines run throughout the album as well, and even sounds from the 80s and 90s. Perhaps this explains why there's such an age-based divide over appreciation for this album. Younger people rarely listen to older music, so they are lacking interest or appreciation for it. People 30+ grew up listening to more oldies stuff just out in culture that doesn't exist so much anymore, so we appreciate the retro beats on this album. I've also seen a lot of people saying Opalite feels Christmasy, and I think that's because younger people only listen to music from the 50s/60s at Christmas time when all those old classics are constantly being played.

The Miss

I agree that the writing on Eldest Daughter leaves much to be desired. HOWEVER. I still cried hearing "first lamb to the slaugther..." There are underlying themes there that resonate with the experience of being an eldest daughter; the responsibility, protectiveness (I’m never gonna leave you out) and having to put on a strong front for others while your soft side gets pushed aside. It gets lost in bad writing, but the feeling comes across to me, even if it might not make sense for those who aren’t eldest daughters and haven't been shaped by those experiences. 🫠

Emilia Kavilo

Nope I noticed that too

Leslie

I can’t get over title track being ripped from cool by the Jonas brothers ???

Gail

Oh, and genuine question. I think I’ve watched pretty much every interview Taylor has given so far, including Graham Norton show, but! It feels like she has barely/never spoken about the title track or Sabrina. Am I wrong, did I miss something?

Marianna

The last few days on social media have made my brain hurt with all the takes. Love this space with thoughtful commentary. I don’t think this album produced any “all time” Taylor songs for me but Father Figure might end up there. It’s by far my favorite from the album.

Meagan

I don't have a problem with most of the songs, tbh. They are catchy and fun to sing along with. A couple of them suffer from clunky, crappy writing though. Eldest Daughter being my biggest disappointment... I was so excited bc I have the same exact sibling dynamic as TS- 2 years younger brother, high-achieving, constantly seeking perfection, trying to take care of the family, etc. But omg that song was... Flop writing. I thought she was onto something with "lambs to the slaughter" but then flipped HARD with "looked fire". Ugh, pls no. Also "cautious discretion" "mustve been 8 or 9". Clunky. Also Honey may be cute, but also clunky. No thank you. I can get over some of the ridiculosity in the writing of Ophelia, ET, and even Wood. Fun! But wtf was Eldest Daughter? ;-;

Moonbeam009

Great video, as always. I have 6 new songs to enter the rotation so I am satisfied but wholeheartedly agree it was mismarketed. I think my two big take aways are 1) bring new writers and voices into the sessions. I love how fiercely protective of her craft she is, but a fresh voice to be like "huh, I get what you are tying to say, but let's tweak it a little more to be more modern/succinct/different" would really help some of the issues we've had on the past set of albums. And 2) someone else said it but as her life continues to get bigger, it's also getting smaller. I can't even imagine the stressors she lives nor can I imagine the insane amount of wealth she experiences. But with that, she doesn't have anything that's relatable to the masses right now nor particularly new to say. She needs a lot of time off to live life and bring something new or updated to the table. Anyway, love you both and look forward to more content!

Morgan Pettit

We're all human, we all need other people showing up for us in our darkest times in order to heal. I heard someone say she has always been the strong one in a relationship, the one that had to do most of the emotional labour, most of the "saving" I suppose. She's been "the fire to keep your brittle heart warm" but Travis is the fire that is keeping her warm. She seems to feel so secure and emotionally safe with Travis - allowing her to be vulnerable and admit he really did heal something in her that seemed incurable. Especially after experiencing being the "soldier who's returning half her weight" who has been "fighting in only your army".

Tara

I agree eldest daughter is probably the most disappointing. It has some good moments, but it's confusing to me so I guess I'll have to sit with it a bit longer

Lindsay Bennett

Eldest Daughter was probably the biggest disappointment I’ve ever experienced with Taylor as a fan since debut. It was so….bad 😭

Chelsea

Zach I know you talked about misinterpreting father figure to be about joe on first listen but honestly I don't think you were wrong. I think that song is about Scott, but also probably about joe on a different level. I'm actually glad you shared that perspective cause it made the song even more interesting

Lindsay Bennett

i’ve been saying this! it’s graphic, almost sterile, rather than erotic or seductive

Lindsay

Thank you for articulating how I feel about the album overall and the middle ground, in which I stand. 🫶🏻

Melodie Roehrig

so glad we had a wood defender on the pod today!! wood stans that enjoy it in a non weird and invasive way rise up!!!

alexander

I am at the eldest daughter part and I personally didn’t like it too much but I know many who felt 100% seen by everything she said here. I also personally believed from the beginning (and still do) that this is a moment of using a love song to actually don’t tell a love story. I think she’s talking to her fans here, not travis. I think she’s explaining herself to a female not to a male adressee and I also I think she’s more like making a promise to not leave that part of herself and her art; the music, writing diary songs, etc. And she’ll always try to come back to it. To herself, when she was young, writing by herself. The periods of trying to impress everyone are over, but even with her being on the biggest stages, she remembers her past. And the joy she feels now (could be Travis, could also be the joy of performing on the biggest tour ever, finally feeling free and loved etc.) reminds her of the time she felt joy like this before - and writing music was a joyful part of herself. And then came the responsibilities and the negative consequences and it toughened some parts of her. And maybe she thought about quitting more than once. But now she relives happiness and is making the promis (to herself but I think first and foremost to her true fans) to never quit it. I don’t love the song but I feel like warm about it. :)

Hilde

I love how father figure has so many potential layers of interpretation. I do think the Scott Borchetta reading makes the most sense, but even then there’s the question of the implications of Taylor pulling a uno reverse card on him and becoming the mob boss herself. Is it just a girl boss female empowerment moment (huzzah I am in control now and will use this power for good) or does it hint at something darker, the possibility of this power corrupting Taylor too in her relationships with protégés and other dependents? Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but I am kind of hoping she is thinking about this in a more critical and self-reflective way than the ideas she expressed in her Times PotY interview

Sophie R

You're right about how it will be interpreted by terrible people. With Cancelled, I think the first impression depends a lot on the environment you live in. I am very removed from the clusterfuck of American politics (and live on the opposite side of the planet), and in no way did I consider the optics of releasing this song right now. I think I live in a bit of a bubble in that sense. So when I expressed the fact that I love the song on socials, and got eaten alive for it (someone even called me MAGA and told me to off myself), I was shocked to the point of tears :D. So yeah...did some research after that, and agree on the very bad timing. Unfortunately, can't get the song out of my brain now, the cursed melody pleases me for some reason...

Dominika Linzerova

I feel like if you skip track 5 it flows

Leslie M

I saw someone on twitter say that this album sounds like she listened to Sabrina’s music and wanted to do the silly sexy lyric thing but it’s not quite working for her… but also my fiancé said that my reaction to this is exactly the same as TTPD and apparently I’m saying the exact same things so we’ll see how time affects this music!

Madeline

As a straight woman, I hated wood😆😆😆 The sound is great, but I can’t get over the icky lyrics. I read romance, spice, dark romance, all that, I have no problem with graphic descriptions whatsoever but they need to be !!tasteful!!. And wood really isn’t.

Marianna

It's crazy how many new people are here in the Patreon. It makes me think of that SpongeBob meme, "Who are you people?!" 😆

Moonbeam009

I just started watching, and Zach's comment about Travis saving Taylor in Ophelia got me because my theory is that Taylor emphasized this so much because Travis himself wants to be a savior. Remember in the podcast when they were talking about otters? He wants one, but Taylor very specifically clarified that he didn't want to just adopt one, he wanted to rescue one by saving its life. And he talked extensively about it. I think she did what tons of women partnered with straight men do: she clocked how he wants to be seen and needed, and she gave that to him. Like if your husband thinks he's the best at whatever, even if he's not, you might hype him up about it because it makes him feel good and makes you more endearing to him.

The Miss

I actually went back to watch that twice— it might be my favorite part of this entire video. It’s impeccable. 💀

Kylee

Agree! They are terrible!

Allison Gobeil

NO thorns for elizabeth taylor wbk!!!! send her to radio NOW

RJ

Yeah I agree, the song undermines its own premise. I would have believed Taylor was unbothered or even flattered by the whole Charli thing until she devoted a whole song on a 12-track album about it lol. I do think it’s embarrassing for Taylor, especially in the light that most people will view it, which is as a response to SIAK. It makes her seem really immature and unable to grasp nuance.

Sophie R

I just want to thank you for keeping me normal and sane in these trying times. The internet always makes it hard for me to be rational and not sink into extremism so thank you for helping me see both sides divas.

Margaret Schinkel

Zach your charli impression… killed me 😂😂

aliciaaa

I love it, and I love the parallels she draws in Elizabeth Taylor. The idea of her on the phone with Travis, thinking of the view in Portofino… where ET and RB got engaged, it says a LOT about her feelings during this time

Hannah Polden

I agree 100%. Always appreciate your commentary… however, I’m with Zach on Wood… I just cannot!

Allison Gobeil

Eldest daughter was such a meaty premise... I thought we were gonna get a glimpse of her relationship with Austin.. instead its a forced moment of a nothing burger

VK

Thank you snakes! This album actually did make me want to go listen to the back catalogue so that's what I'm happily doing!

Bryn

The hulk fist punching from above is such a powerful image, I could see it through my aphantasia

Claire

tea on Ruin the Friendship is that she was re-recording our song and had the “ first date man didn’t kiss him and I should have” line and then went home and wrote ruin the friendship because that person isn’t alive anymore

Jeannie

THIS. I absolutely hated it but now I’m started to enjoy some songs. Ofc I’m gonna hate it when every song isnt style or the 1, bc that’s what was promised. It’s not great, but it’s good, and I can listen to good songs, but they sound like bad songs when you told me it would be great songs

Deli

It's literally an unsolicited dick pic in song format 😭

Linneae

I had the same thought

Leslie

“The cokes got you brave,” my sister was like “oh like jack and coke?” I was like babe, no. 😂

Sarah

Also, in the movie she says that Honey was one of the first songs they finished for the album. Which I think is very revealing about the back half of the album. It's like they didn't set out to do the showgirl angle at all. That came later in the process which is why I think album feels like 4 different albums rolled into one. We have the showgirl in The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, title track, Father Figure, and maybe Opalite production wise. Then we have the I'm in love and maybe doing stupid stuff in Wood, Wi$hli$t, and Actually Romantic. Beautiful but why is it here in Ruin the Friendship and the "I need 12 songs so put them on here" in Eldest Daughter and Cancelled!.

Shanice Marie

Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life to we dressed up like wolves and we looked fire 😭

Jeannie

I actually see where you’re going with Eldest Daughter, this reminds me of a take I had on it, but then I stopped myself because I realize that’s just me putting way too much meaning on it. Just for showgirl shits and giggles though, I am the oldest of three daughters, so I’ve heard all of the first born tropes. The ones that I would apply to this song is ‘the first pancake’ phenomenon which is an analogy based on the idea of the first never coming out quite right, coupled with the first born’s tendency to be unfiltered because no one is guiding/leading them by example. But that just felt a little too deep bro (doing my best Trav there, how did I do? 🤓).

Kylee

We need a Ruin the Friendship/Question/Chloe et al sister songs episode

Leslie

Omg thank you for pointing this out. Folkmore Taylor has become so incredibly mythologized as this flawless writing genius when those albums also had their fair share of clunkers (epiphany hello??).

Esther

Father Figure is about Olivia!!! She made it a point in the movie that this song was about it crediting artists and how she credited George Micheal.

Sophie Kresge

Same... Ophelia just feels like a waste of the actual story and is there just for the aesthetics. And like, that was fine on Love Story but she really should have evolved past the shallowest of literary references by now - especially when she herself brands herself as "the English teacher".

Linneae

Ophelia is going crazy on tiktok 😭

sofia starkey

No woman in recent history has had as much money, power, and influence as Taylor has in this moment in time and anyone with any interest in feminism (good or bad) is going to be very closely watching what she does with it. Interesting that her first orders of business were to wax poetic about her boyfriend's cock and punch down at Charli XCX.

Nika

what i love about actually romantic is how unabashedly ruthless it is. is it punching down and evil behaviors? well yes. is it hilarious and infectiously a vibe? also yes

hayleywilliamsmademegay

One last thing. This album isn’t bad. It’s fine. But when you describe the work as the second coming, it’s a fail

Ohdearjon

It’s not. Travis says it constantly and so does she now

Ohdearjon

Personally I'm in love with the album from first listen. Fate of Ophelia has me in a chokehold. And what's interesting about that is my top three TS albums are TTPD, Evermore, and Folklore. The writing on TLOAS doesn't bother me in the least, I get the humor which is what I think she was going for in Eldest Daughter (it's supposed to feel "put on" and unnatural, that's the point) and Wood (this song is HILARIOUS to me that it came from TS, and as Zach said "against my better judgement, I have to bang" 😜). This was what I wrote in my notes app at 2am on 10/3 "I am just obsessed with how this album seems to be saying she is SOLID on who she is and what she stands for, doesn't give a FUCK what you think, and your hate gives her LIFFFFEEEE. As one who was still at the restaurant, I must say - I'm devilishly enjoying my digestif and cigar 🚬🍸."

Amber

My only comment is that I have the same derangement about WI$H LI$T as Madeline! If I turn my brain off and just vibe it’s the best thing ever lmaoo

Gregabug

Ummm how do you define "bangers" because save for track 5, they all meet my definition

Leslie M

The last few lines of Ruin the Friendship are so interesting to me post-TTPD and Midnights. “My advice is always answer the question, Better than to ask it your whole life.” Matty answered Taylor’s question, and even if it knocked her down for a period of time, now she doesn’t always have to wonder (Chloe or Sam et al mentioned!!) what it could’ve been like with him. Now, was Ms. Swift thinking about all of this when she was writing RTF, idk. Who knows lol but I think it’s a compelling thread between Midnights, TTPD, and TLOAS, and why I keep reaching for RTF over any other song on this album. Also thank you for creating this community, Zach and Madeline! It’s so fun to read everyone’s nuanced povs on the album, whether I agree with them or not 🫶

Liv

I feel it's my duty to remind you that Evermore Taylor wrote "I come back stronger then a 90s trend." I don't think she would cry

Leslie M

who is saying they hate the album because they want to be contrarian? 😱 I wish I loved the album and would want to listen to the songs all the time and be excited. But I'm not, I'm just not... I have actually been trying for ophelia to grow on me and have listened to it on repeat, because technically it has everything I love in a song, but I cannot be excited about it. Something is just off for me... :( I too think that there is not a long lasting hit on this album... But well time will tell... Maybe there is a midnights effect where we find out something and mit change is things...

maryna

We looked fire is mocking Internet culture. It's a sigh

Me!

2024*

eeeee

I feel like she should’ve titled the album “Actually Romantic”. I feel like it fits the vibes of each song and the tone of the record a lot better

Figment

Taylor makes her best music when she’s backed into a corner, she was at her highest high during this album, therefore we got this music. I actually do love this album but it feels very Lover to me

Kellie Mahoney

I liked most of it. Great bop’s to have on when I clean the house or go on a walk! The video at the theater was really enjoyable.

Lee Darby

I mean that’s pretty normal

Stephen

my beloved snakes, thank you so much for this nuanced take. you pulled me out of my misery a little, because i was super sad about not liking the album (the worst thing to happen to a fan). i agree with many of your takes, but i can't not focus on the bad writing, so i'll just have to accept it's not for me and move on.

Jenny

My biggest disappointment is that both taylor and travis promised me bangers and there are none!!! Like the most upbeat song is opalite and that one is not even a “banger”

Ivan Cervera

Soo I do think this album appeals more to the general public, cause most people just like good production, catchy melodies.. People are like "omg Shakespeare she's so smart!" not paying too much attention to the writing. Honestly, most people don't really care for good writing they just want to bop, which is fine!! We're going to let them have this one, enjoy the tay-positivity from the masses and dance along with them. I can’t shake the feeling that sadly, a key reason she’s being welcomed back into the public eye is because society is incredibly misogynistic — people respect Travis, and that respect is now extending to Taylor because of him. I hate that, but I think it's true, especially since the engagement.

Tara

Wait totally agree. The album overall is like a 5/10 for me, and most of that 5 is coming from the weight of Father Figure being a “best of all time” Taylor song.

Stephen

I agree completely! A lot of songs are not bangers or showgirl. They are also often too wordy. Simple can still be smart

Abby

The album feels like a loose collection of songs... There is no album feel to it. Which I find funny considering that all songs are very pop and there's only three people who produced them. you would think that it would feel very cohesive. But having a folk-more/ttpd song like ophelia and songs like wood and actually romantic on the same album, this really creates a stylistic and thematic tension that I don't think is helpful here...

maryna

We need Elizabeth Taylor as the next single for sure. She needs to go dust off her Wildest Dreams black wig and get to work!

liv

Father Figure to TLOAS is what WAOLOM to TTPD, but better

VK

For whatever reason, I got a very selena vibe from this album. Aren't these the kind of songs that she just released? Just an observation..

Vinaya

I think Father Figure is up there with the best of all time Taylor songs.. it's like a good strong alcohol that gets better with time

VK

Remember how she said Joe, Blake, and Ryan were the first to hear her songs? If TK is that person now it explains a lot. Also, how did we go from "Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride. Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife." To "I'm not a bad bitch", i'm smol girl & you saved me 🥺👉👈

bubb

And the bit when she poetically describes an orgasm is my go to when people tell me she isn’t a poet, and now there’s this 😭

April

Anyone see the spaghetti with an actual fork on the plate in the pictures? Delicious but I kind of hate myself for noticing.

ProvoloneWanderer

Wood is going directly in “never listening again”

Jaqi Jarboe

Pretty much all of the clean versions sounded better lol. Especially wood

Morgan

I am obsessed with the album front to back right now. I’m very much hand hearting. Love yall

Josh Barrett

I really enjoyed the album on first listen. But it’s true that it’s not in my top 5 albums. I think it’s just different from what I was expecting and when the album is so short there isn’t room for any less than great songs. I loved the first 4 songs a lot but the rest of them are just ok for a Taylor Swift song. Until I get to the title track which is everything to me. I do think that we hold Taylor to a much higher standard for her songs than we do for other artists, but that is because she has proven herself in the past so many times.

Marymary08

He did mention somewhere else that he won't and would rather we didn’t keep asking.

Tara

My hot take is that Father Figure is about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Cancelled is Vigilante Shit for people with a concussion.

Ryley

I loved this conversation. I really like this album (looove the run of the top four songs). But, I don’t think it has a song for weddings, graduations, and funerals. Wood is so, so catchy to me and could be that girl. But, it is ruined by the repetition of all the d*** jokes. And you can’t just play the clean version at the bat mitzvah bc half of the people will sing the explicit lyrics. Sabrina is a bit different to my ears - we don’t really know specifically who she is talking about and often it is about men in general. I also spent half a day thinking Actually Romantic was about Matty. It was nice to live in that ignorant bliss for a while. Thanks for all your thoughts, snakes! And the outfits servitude!

maura

Wood is humiliating even if it’s fun

Ohdearjon

Her explanation of eldest daughter in the movie made zero sense at all. She was talking about two different things that had absolutely nothing to do with each other

Morgan

its so interesting because I disagree with y'all's take on actually romantic, it feels like she wants to eat her cake and have it too when she says she doesn't think about Charli at all, but then she wrote about it. Like, let's be honest, how you feel about her. If you wanna whack her, go right ahead (its her right), but don't act like she didn't get underneath your skin a little bit. I will say on both sides, the moralizing of pop girl beef is so ANNOYING! If they wanna get at each other, let them, to me the only important factor is if the song is good.

liv

I 100% am with you about father figure being about Joe! When I first heard it that’s what I thought too lol sjdhslsjshdhd

Ria

My reaction to this album can be summed up by the fact that in the first verse of Fate if Ophelia when Taylor sang ‘ I pledge allegiance to me myself and I’ I was nodding along. Maybe this isn’t an album for the singles

Mae Osbourn

I went to a Taylor Swift dance party on Friday and Opalite was hitting at the club. The people like it!

Elli

I think that’s what she was trying to do with the original cover image with the end of the night in the tub.

Kylee

I don’t think so, I have the mouth of a showgirl and I haven’t been.

Kylee

All I know is that the best thing to come out of this album is Zack's reaction to Wood while wearing that headdress. I laughed so hard I cried.

Deanna

"I'm happy for you and imma let you finish ..." Not that comment on 'Wood'! 🫣😁

moi_la_desi

I do enjoy this album a lot but my issue(s) with it is the same as for midnights and ttpd: 1) she explains a theme for the album and then the album has nothing to do with the theme and 2) if so many songs have to be explained to make sense to listeners then perhaps the writing isn’t there. FORGET the folklore/ttpd writing, she needs to remember her best hooks, her best lyrics have been simple and not entwined in hard to follow metaphors- see debut through to 1989.

Ria

Zach could you plssss drop the live that you recorded the day of the album release. It really resonated with me and I’m dying to listen to it again!

Shiv Patel

are we censoring in patreon now? :(

hayleywilliamsmademegay

Can we admit that if we had seen the images of her on the bed in the robe before the album was released the album wouldve made more sense? bc girls... 👏🏼

Mrs.Th3_Wood

I feel like it’s very easy to say ‘money doesn’t matter, why do you care about material objects?’ When you’re a billionaire

Mae Osbourn

I had this thought in my head the other day when everyone started losing their shit. The Showgirl Ship was sinking fast, swifties are hanging on for dear life as they float on an orange door, Jack is in the water with his frozen little spectacles, and swifties are whispering, come back….come back, Jack…come back…… Ok, I’m done. 💀

Kylee

Seated!!!! The Swiftologist and the Lizard breaking it down-the best thing in the world to wake up to!!!🔥😍 And right out of the gate Zach describes his journey with this album so far and I couldn’t relate more!

Lisa M Lamarche

Not yet listen to anything of the video yet - but your outfit, Zach, is cheeeeeeeefs kisssssssssss

Hilde

Teenage birth bag is cracking me up! An incredible autocorrect moment

Hannah T

This album feels like a victory lap to me, a victory lap that is well deserved, yet perhaps the path towards victory can be more interesting and artistic than the commemoration of the achievement itself. Congrats Taylor, she deserves to celebrate eras, engagement, etc, even if it’s not what some (me) ‘wanted’.

Mae Osbourn

I actually love this album. Do I think every song is amazing? No. But I actually think she went too far into the "Vegas showgirl" but it really is more Elizabeth Taylor 1970s showgirl. I think the music video show it more. She should've done more decades stuff in the photoshoot. I also don't think the lyrics are bad but they are written from a 35 year old millennial perspective. Eldest Daughter isn't my favorite song by far, but when I sat with the lyrics they made me cry. It encapsulates the full feeling of being the oldest girl as a millennial expected to get straight As, look perfect, and girlboss through life. It spoke to me as an also 35 year old millennial woman and eldest daughter. The lyrics aren't deep and angsty but they do worm their way into my brain in a way that I personally really connect with. I just don't think that other people might have that experience. That's what Taylor does well, but she's writing about herself, which she has always done, not about what any group of fans has made her to be in their mind and so the expectations vs reality sometimes has a big gap because we think of her differently than she thinks of herself.

Maria

people can never stop at valid criticism, they always have to take it to a level of derangement

Zoë

I took the contrast bn KOMH and Ophelia as somebody is having doubts from the beginning "this ain't for the best but can we see what happens" (you don't need to save me) to a solid you're definitely the one, I have no doubts when u know you know

Me!

I feel like this album gets worse the more you listen. I loved it on first listen. Now, not so much. I’m just not interested in this particular set of songs. She said this would be what was going on after the show, and we all know that during the writing of this album, mostly what was going on was Travis. I don’t think he’s an interesting muse. I DO LOVE that these songs sound so different. Cheers to her for trying a new sound. Overall, I’m just meh on this album though. I think I’m heading back over to Red & Speak Now, my usual October playlists. Heard in the rumor mill that each song represents a different era. Would be cool if you guys did a video, matching each song to another era/album. Obviously the last track is the Showgirl Era. Where do the others fit? Would be fun to see you guys play with that idea at some point.

Celeste

I think we have to remember that this was done in 2023... It was a VERY different world 😭

Jackie Lehman

While quite a few years have passed since her cancellation, things got cleared up and she has become extremely succesful, I think Taylor struggles to move on from that period of her life emotionally. The public really ripped her apart unfairly and when the truth came out... it was quiet. It’s as if she’s still craving that public acknowledgment or apology — which might be why she continues to revisit the theme of being cancelled. The Life of a Showgirl being received pretty well by the general public as a pop album - maybe even for the first time since 1989 (Lover was deemed childish by many people and tay-negativity was still very present, Midnights was still received with a level of skepticism) - might give her some satisfaction. So "CANCELLED!" might be the last time she addresses snake gate in depth in her discography. Also attempting to re-record Reputation was probably another reason she was prompted to write songs like thank you aimee, Cassandra and now CANCELLED! That period left a deep emotional scar, though. There will likely be moments in the future when she’s reminded of that wound and processes it through her writing. She’s probably going to be healing from it for years to come.

Tara

dublin girl is the « she aint no divaaaaa » of the snearas nation 😂

Sarah

We owe Jack apologies 😂💖

Jackie Lehman

Since everything was supposed to have happened during eras tour, I wonder how much her experience in ruin the friendship influenced her decision to just go for it and go back to Matty- and that’s why it’s here. I also think she was very clear on new heights about how TLOAS would specifically not be about what happened on stage, but off it- which is why Icdiwabh was on TTPD. I just want to say, these songs are boppy AF pop songs but sound NEW somehow. Love love love.

Galactic

Yes we’re like appointed lawyers for her without our consent lol

Shantini Vyas

What struck me was how you could merge this album with Rep, and effectively expunge the entire Joe and Matty interlude. It’s like she is rewriting her history.

Trish Veneziano

So I agree with Madeline and think that some of the clean versions are easier to listen to than the explicit ones. I went as far as creating a playlist for the album where I cherry picked the clean versions and mixed them with the explicit ones to create my perfect album haha FYI, those are: Eldest Daughter, Wood, Wish List, Honey and TLOASG. Not having the words « bitch », « fuck » or « ass » randomly sprinkled over them sounds better in my opinion :)

Claire

Oh! This is censored!

Shantini Vyas

It occurred to me that Ruin the Friendship sounds kind of like a Red vault track and now I can't get it out of my mind. I think its a good song and definitely one of the highlights of TLOAS to me, but it does feel out of place and I can't help but think it would have felt more at home on Red TV

Eleanor

this is sendingggg me

Holly

I’m sorry. I forgot to say howmuch I love the bass on this album. It’s in my cellular composition what it does to me.

JD IHateItHere

Loved your breakdown of Cancelled, it’s exactly how I feel. It’s not a good enough song to warrant how it will be interpreted by the worst people alive (e.g. JKR defenders). I would love a song that defends maligned women, I don’t think that song should have the word cancelled in it.

Laura E

“Pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes” is literally the American football bro version of “Salute to me, I’m your American Queen.”

Indy Behr

It is not up to Travis to be the one to critique her work. He's not in the room when the songs are being made; he's not working on the album. Maybe you should direct that statement to Max and Shellback or whoever the creatives are in the room?

Holly

I just saw a tiktok saying that Taylor making Actually Romantic is in line with the rise of fascism because it’s conservative to say coke is bad and reduce the cultural moment Brat was like that ….and i had to log off.

Jordi

kinda out of the blue but does anyone else have friends that keep trying to get your takes on every little thing taylor gets criticized on stantwt every time a new album comes out? this time they're trying to argue with me about the whole actually romantic discourse and make fun of taylor for it but like idk how to respond without starting an argument with them nor want to have discourse about the song. does anyone else have a similar experience or tips on how to navigate this kind of stuff every album cycle? :(

roscentbreeze

Wish List bothers me. Like, you've already said, "fancy me not fancy stuff" / "Don't want money Just someone who wants my company". We get it. But also, saying all that as a billionaire is...... I just don't understand the point and the need to even highlight it.

Annalisa van den Bergh

Knowing that she wrote the album (which I love) during her much needed rest days on the tour, you can actually feel a frenetic and inconcise energy. You need an editor when you’re exhausted.

Trish Veneziano

I think this album shows some of the less appealing aspects of taylor – the cringe, the petty, the tone deaf, all at once, and that might get diluted in a longer album, but it can't here.

April

I get you, ive listened to this album twice now and at first i thiught was atrocious, now id give it 4/10, melodys are catchy but definitely not my vibe. Feels like music that plays on the store radio.

Andrea Peterlechner

Being a Swiftologist means at some point we all will feel “Suddenly I feel foolish in my “ headdress. Please, please, merch with the picture. I am begging because no matter how anyone feels about an album or song by our Queen, a tomato in the face is coming at some point, and nothing epitomizes that more than that moment. I use Elizabeth Taylor as the Rosetta Stone of the album in the messy boots, vulgar, consumerism, don’t we all try to love love with 8 marriages staying true to love with a happy hetero ending but if you love non hetero she co-signs that but she is a girl’s girl and she’s bigger than life Cleopatra and Hope Diamond of it all. Embarrassing? Well yes. True to Taylor? 100% this is her. She hasn’t changed at all, Folks. Catchy as fuck? Absolutely. She did not lie when she said people will find the catchiness annoying. It is. The fact that Actually Romantic is a slay for me and a right for women who have been dissed badly and professionally so…….Girls, don’t say Tay can’t do what Kendrick does. Don’t. It happens. Do not have the conversation about hating this song because I can’t. I could care less about its inspiration. I know this sentiment personally. For me, it is incredible and I don’t direct it at all fan base or celebrity. This song is iconic. My novel basically says I get this album as a showgirl’s experiences offstage even when wistful about a so-called normal life she wouldn’t actually choose if her life depended on it. I see the discord about this album in factions saying other factions are categorically unacceptable is invalid. In fact, it is emblematic of where factions put others. The selective cringe over Taylor by so many is very interesting.

JD IHateItHere

yes, yes, yes- this is exactly what I’ve been saying the entire time and you said it in a perfect way here!

SP

Did she really need to create an album so polarizing for the gp… is it really not in her to create an album for everyone like I’m lowkey so confused

Eddy

If you think Travis has any input on these songs besides “it’s so good babe” you’re sadly mistaken. He likes art in the sense that he likes all art equally. He’s a hype man. He’s a modern review. There’s no critique. And that must feel good for her but it’s not useful. I don’t think this bodes well for her going forward. Even and especially if her exes hated her work, she went out to prove them wrong. If someone likes all your work you just put it out there. This album is fine but I think this is the start of a decline.

Ohdearjon

She made be a billionaire but clearly she put a lot of money back into her music

Maria Chavez

Zach I also thought Father Figure was Joe and Taylor!! “Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card canceled” was the line for me! Dont let them silence us lol

Cassandra Griffiths

Zack for what it's worth, your interpretation of Father Figure was exactly my interpretation on first listen as well. And I still think it makes sense!

Esther

WOOD - absolutely agree with Zach. I was so annoyed with the "magic wand" lyric because Chappell has the BEST wand lyric of all time, ALL TIME! If you are gonna bring it up, it has to be better.

Jackie Lehman

I'm so glad your overall impression is good!! I was really worried there after Zach's live and Madeline's reaction

Nitzan

A final note: First and foremost, so happy to see Madeline in better spirits. As we say, this too shall pass. 🫶 Girly, I am not one to ever be judging expectations vs. reality— I didn’t know my favorite TS song, Style, was about Harry until Zach inadvertently told me 2 years ago. She really had me that convinced that we were straight girl bossing in ‘89. I get it. I just had this epiphany thanks to the discussion, and it’s all about semantics when deciphering the title ‘The Life of Showgirl’ because what that life actually entails is subjective. And maybe, just maybe, the message is a commentary on how we do immortalize the celebrities & showgirls of the world but at the end of the day, they’re all just humans that are uncomfortably horny. At least, that’s what I’m going to pretend she’s trying to say. Thanks for the food for thought, snakes, as always 😘🫶

Kylee

"What's 'Showgirl' about that?" -Well, they looked fire. 💀🤣

moi_la_desi

If people respond to me not liking Wood but saying that I’m too serious and it’s a joke and just fun my reply is that actually I really like house tour by Sabrina because its clever and playful, Wood is just vulgar and gross

April

You're not the only one who thought father figure was about Joe lol. When she said she canceled the card, I went oh, she's calling him poor and jobless again 😂😂😂

Shanice Marie

Say what you want about Eldest Daughter (horrible title) when she gets to the part about lying back in the beautiful lilacs, etc my eyes fill with tears on every listen so far.

Laurel

Madeline, I still follow Michael D. on Instagram and yes he posted a story to CANCELLED!

Dana Hinton

I also just think this album is meant to be for the regulars. It’s the first Taylor Album since Lover that I’m going to recommend to my bubble gum pop lover friends. Is it her greatest work, not to me personally, but I’m a sad autumn girl at heart 🤷🏻‍♀️

Katherine Trosclair

I ADORE this album! There’s a few clunkers… (looking at you eldest daughter) but! For the most part I love all the music. And even with eldest daughter I love the way it sounds, I just don’t enjoy the lyrics. However during my first listen I was disappointed! It wasn’t the album that Taylor had built up for us. And my biggest gripe with the album is the theme. I feel like the showgirl theme was SO wasted on this album. When you listen to the music and then look at the visuals - it genuinely doesn’t align. Even my mom felt that way and spoke up about it unprompted. I feel like “behind the curtain” or something else along those lines would’ve fit better thematically with the music. And that this theming should’ve been saved for a holy bible, infectious, bullet proof pop album that would’ve had us all going “THAT’S a showgirl.” Regardless, this album has really grown on me after my first initial listen! And I’m choosing to enjoy it for what it is instead of what I thought it was going to be. :)

Hunnio

I had such high expectations for eldest daughter but the lyrics just didn't hit me at all whereas the things she was saying about the eldest daughter "phenomenon" in the movie was so much deeper and emotional I actually got teary eyed but those things are not portrayed in the song.. also father figure is 100% about scott borschetta in my mind, it was so clear on my first listen

Julie P

Well tbh she’s been touring since she was like 17

.

Unfortunately

Ohdearjon

George Michael unsuccessfully sued his record label and it ruined his life.

Ohdearjon

Lol this is a very different Madeline than I expected

John Santana

There is something i deeply connect with in this song- particularly the lines that everyone deems bad and cringe- because at the end of the day so many of us millenial eldest daughters are cringe

Meghan Cisar

This! Like baby I believe you’re happy, those engagement pictures felt 100% real but this album makes you sound bitter. Why?

Yara

I need our father figures and a save space to talk about this album

Erika

Father Figure is very obviously about Scott.

Kelsea Sisler

OMG You’re right, I knew I had heard it before!

Yara

When you mentioned the theory about Father Figure being about Olivia, I thought you were talking about her cat, and thought you had really lost it for a second 😂

newtdog

Ok I’m sorry I get taylor’s pov but the friendship bracelet picture was not a Taylor thing? In the photo it’s clearly Charli’s hand that’s been chopped off.

Lana Stanczak

I never understood the hate for Aaron and Jack but I feel like this is why she uses them, I don’t think either of them would have cheered her on going forward with some of the lyrics. They help shape her writing and maybe filter things here and there.

Yara

"Sympathy like a knife" would be a stunningly beautiful song if she didn't reveal how mean her insecurities make her... It's gas lighting... If she was open to a remix it could have healed the world.... But... Here we are.

Jackie Lehman

The Wood discussion is sending me comedic duo for real

Sophie M

The look on her face when she was introducing Actually Romantic too…..she’s absolutely diabolical. Forget dickmitized. She came for Charli oh so hard. But also, love the Liz Phair pop rock production on that track.

Kylee

The fate of Ophelia is double:about Travis but also about the showgirl in her saving her the person(pledge allegiance to your hands(music)your team(band) your vibes(music)…it’s also about HER…genius….

Annie Turgeon

This is so random but I was just thinking about what Zack said about the slang on Eldest Daughter and how not even millennials talk like that and thinking about who might actually connect with that song and for some reason my mind said Tati Westbrook 😂 and I think I might be right. I think she loves Eldest Daughter

Maria

I heard someone else say that the word "convenient" in ruin the friendship kind of suggests that this was a different friend who passed away and that this, in fact, happened during eras. The idea is that even though it wasn't convenient for her to go to the funeral or visit the grave, because she was touring she did go

maryna

girls i'll be honest, i actually really love the album and i'm tuned in in a way i haven't been since Hits Different

Rose

I feel like the difference between Sabrina and Taylor is that when Sabrina sings about sex، she sings in a fun way using her voice. Her voice is matching that style and doesn't feel like she is imitating someone else or faking it. But when Taylor did it now, I feel like there is no emotion involved in it and rhe notes are very straight. So ut feels weird, especially knowing her discography. Featuring SC on the album and singing soo openly about sex, it feels forced

Berfin

This is a vibe album for me, not a lyrics one :,) I feel the same as you

Nefelibata

I thought about how Wood compares to the other track 9s and then it hit me that we went from Guilty As Sin to this and that made the song even worse for me. Guilty As Sin is just as horny but it’s so classy and clever, and I think Taylor has always gotten praise for her sexy songs for this reason. And now we have Redwood tree and magic wand and no matter how much I love the production, I cannot get over the lyrics 😭

Alessa Hampel

The rope dress IS MY FAV

Natalie

We need messy queens and 90’s pop craziness

Nefelibata

i love this album but eldest daughter is giving me a visceral reaction. the music is so beautiful but the song itself is so bad and it’s deeply upsetting to me lmfao

Molly

i think a lot of us were surprised because we were expecting 'life of a SHOWGIRL' whereas what we got (and what in hindsight, taylor mentioned in new heights) is 'LIFE of a showgirl'

hayleywilliamsmademegay

Same on skips! My obsessions are Opalite and weirdly surprising for me I’ve been having ruin the friendship stuuuck in my head

Heatherist

One of my favorite episodes to date. Btw. Charli is already in the studio. Will Zack react to the Music Video?

splendidvie

Madeline is my witch delulu queen. Thank you for being here

Nefelibata

On my break! The merch looks stunning! I ordered the necklace one for my niece and the bracelet for myself I can’t waaaait! They arrive tomorrow!

Heatherist

Taylor has always been "goofy, cringe" adding "too much locker room"

kerri Holloway

I feel this is an album that will need a new video after a year. And we will see it differently after some time and more lore

Nefelibata

Yes she is. The female rage show that never was.

Nefelibata

I LOVE IT!

Kelsea Sisler

Zach has the correct answer on Father Figure, couldn’t be anything else.

Erin

Taylor started working on Eldest Daughter and Maxx said, is it too late for me to make some tweaks on Style tv? Let’s put whatever this is aside, and pull that bad bitch up. As the eldest daughter of three, I just chalk this song up to the first pancake behaviors.

Kylee

I think a lot of us thought we were getting "what it takes to be a Showgirl" as in the grit of it... Father Figure, Elizabeth Taylor, and TLOAS were what I expected, but having so many love songs to Travis doesn't follow that theme.

Jackie Lehman

What a good approach for a video and also the album. Love you guys <3

Nefelibata

Re: wishlist, you can't read the lyrics - big agree. Same with wood tbh. I love how it sounds, when I think about it for too long or consider the implications I become silent. It kinda makes me wish I didn't know english LMFAO. I really like kpop and something nice about it is that you don't immediately have to engage with lyrics if you don't want to so you can just enjoy a song for what it is... The lyrics and meaning elevate it to another level, but if I don't like them I can still listen and enjoy the song without being reminded of how much I dislike them 😭😭😭

jam

The photos/visuals were part of the point. On the outside she was showgirling. The ALBUM is what takes you behind the scenes to what was going on in her life while she was showgirling. The promo was showing us the showgirl. The album takes us into her life and shows what the human being was doing and feeling and dealing with. It makes perfect sense to me. That's the whole point of a showgirl. In public you're the character. You're the showgirl. No one wants to see the human. The promo was on purpose and makes perfect sense, people just misinterpreted because they don't get what she was saying. That's no one's fault but their own.

Kelsea Sisler

But Taylor danced to Charlie xcx at the grammys.. and the album was out and everythink.

Berfin

Oh, she WAS talking about sweating!!! Just nothing to do with Eras tour! LoL

kerri Holloway

There are a few good songs, but the low points are so bad that they drag the good songs down with them. I wouldn't mind a happy Taylor album, but she sounds so bitter the whole time, and it's not fun to listen to once you read the lyrics. Even the happy songs have to take some potshots at someone, which undermines the message. What happened to burying hatchets and letting go of petty things? It feels like she's regressed back 8 albums to when she wrote 'Mean'. A really painful listening experience, I think there's hope since her talent is buried in there, but it doesn't bode well at all.

Octomew

wish list inspired a rage in me that i can’t let go of. it is the most tone deaf, sanctimonious, un-self aware song i’ve ever heard. we really did not need a song with this message from taylor swift of all people. it’s so offputting.

Zoë

interesting take on who's responsible for the bad bitch of it all, I was actually thinking that might have been Max Martin's fault not Taylor's 😩😂

Jenny

I question Taylor’s writing process. She’s mentioned her files of lyrics that she likes and stores for later, and we see videos of her writing live with collaborators (imho often coming to lyrics that aren’t thoughtful and sometimes don’t make sense). I think this album suffers from those two process elements. I think Taylor’s magic happens when she’s alone writing from her emotions. She can then take her pages of fully realised concepts to a producer / co-writer and get to a bop, but starting from ‘let’s make a bop’ will never unlock her magic.

Dorene

I am reading the use of “bad bitch” and “savage” in quotes, as in she is mocking the cringe use of these terms in social media comments about her.

Blue Lady

I think we're going to get more extreme iterations of Taylor Swift moving forward. This is just the beginning of Taylor's "untouchable era". She's got her masters, a multi-billion dollar net worth, and she's getting married. She's got everything she wanted, so the gloves are off. All decorum is out the window. Welcome to the new Taylor Swift.

Nika

Ok. What did y'all think you were getting? I didn't understand how this isn't "showgirl." She said it's about my life during the tour.... That's exactly what we got and I love it

Leslie M

ie : last time she was face of the brand was in 2012 and it was ONE perfum (had to comment, i worked for the brand for a while)

Sarah

Immediately clocked and agree with the Joe discourse of Father Figure! LMAO

Róisín

The Gucci line is probably bc Blake was the face of the brand.

Madelyn Davis

It's crazy to me that her fans hate the album so much but non-swifties like for example my husband -who is supportive of Taylor, went to the eras tour w/me but doesn't listen on a daily basis, love it! Tbh, I love the album, I woke up with the melody of Ophelia in my head. That says something. Give it time, it's been 3 days

Maeva Gerovski

Always love to hear both of your perspectives even when I respectfully disagree with some of your assessments (i.e., the Eldest Daughter hate). I am streaming this album like crazy. It is a whole bop and vibe right now and I needed some cheer given the state of the world right now. Zach, I love the headdresses! Can’t wait to see what you have next.

Kristi

Agree so good

Heather

The way I thought Lorde's Favorite Daughter and Taylor's Eldest Daughter would be spiritual sisters....... in that sense Favorite Daughter is a straight A student, valedictorian, found a cure for cancer and Eldest Daughter is the black sheep of the family that got kicked out of the house for being a druggie

Mikee Dayrit

People are overthinking the title/theme. It's the LIFE of a showgirl. She said it was more life than showgirl. She said that. No one listened. It's literally just what was going on in her life while she was showgirling on the eras tour. The album is EXACTLY what she described.

Kelsea Sisler

take: Opalite is Mastermind for travis

Ari L

Ok thank god the AR Olivia Rodrigo sound was also picked up by y'all too bc I heard it on first listen and thought I was going crazy and was scared to speak it into existence... The rockish production, the grit and attitude, the cuntiness, the fun and wit... There's something to be said there.

jam

agreed - however, the MARKETING was soooo explicitly leaning into the showgirl/burlesque/theatrical elements and I think that’s really the reason why people’s expectations got mismatched. I think if there hadn’t been such a strong emphasis on the whole “behind the scenes of the eras tour” people might have been able to receive this album more objectively

aliciaaa

I definitely think Father Figure is about Scott and then the perspective shifts to Taylor. “This empire belongs to me” is a great descriptor of the masters saga.

Julia Crusius

I may be a weirdo but I totally pictured Scooter Braun and Bieber when’s she’s singing about Father Figure. Something about that random Pinocchio figurine clicks also.

Julissa J

I think expectations bit people. If you just heard this with nothing hanging over you it is what it is - a fun infectious pop album that gets you up and dancing. I love it. I needed this kind of album. The lightness is much needed right now.

Erika Rodriguez

I completely agree… I keep thinking about how catchy the song is and how melancholic the chords are (thanks Max Martin) and she absolutely butchered the lyrics!! imagine her singing “I’m never gonna let you down” to her younger self, instead of her partner (🥱) it would’ve been so much more cathartic and powerful as an overall theme for a track 5

aliciaaa

"Aryan trad wife fantasies" is a complete bad-faith reading of her lyrics. Wish List is the exact same sentiment of not wanting money, accolades, etc. just true love that Taylor has been writing about for multiple albums now. You can call it cliche - it is - but accusing her of pedaling white supremacy and traditional gender roles willful misinterpretation.

hannah 🍌

Father Figure is so Sucession coded. I’m obsessed. Def my fav on the album.

Bell

Babe I love you but that song is not about Joe ahahaha but you keep on deluluing, I support you

🫧Elle🫧

So my thought listening to you guys is that maybe she went too far in the Max Martin&Shellback direction and actually needed some Aaron Desner and Jack Antonoff productions on this one? Or all 5 of them in the studio together, even to blend the great writing with the great production.

Cathy Stephens

20:36 he did save her from drowning though… that’s what’s very interesting about it she was DOWN BAD. She is a hopeless romantic not this bad ass feminist that everyone wishes her to be!! She’s just a girlie

jessiekat

I THOUGHT FATHER FIGURE WAS ABOUT THE HEIRLOOM TURKEY TOO! I feel so seen rn. Also “I protect the family” he was so enmeshed with her family and she’s said before that her family is also a business enterprise.

Erin O

Eldest Daughter and Cancelled! might be worse than ME! The former because there is no clarity of vision (at least ME! had a vision and was consistent with that vision) and Cancelled! is just a cringefest because of how problematic it is.

Mikee Dayrit

I have a two hour drive home today GOD BLESSS I can’t wait to hear this

Linds

Eldest Daughter lashings. It needed to be done. Truly the biggest offence to ME on this album as an eldest daughter. It's even worse bc it COULD'VE been great. There is a good song buried underneath slop. And worse still because she has expressed all of these ideas much more elegantly elsewhere. Truly. How could she. It upsets me in a deep personal way...

jam

ok the theory that father figure is at least partially about joe is kind of working for me..

Zoë

YAS A TREADMILL VIDEO EXACTLYYYYYY THANK YOU SO MUCH

Kate!!!

Her fans had so many better ideas for the album 😅

Jackie Lehman

I thought exactly the same about Father Figure: starts Scott Borchetta to Taylor & ends Taylor to Joe. The middle, I’m undecided…

Mskyma

I absolutely love the album. The only no skip album she has

Rebecca Ryan

Madeline dressed like she is going to the funeral of what Showgirl was supposed to be 😅🪭🖤

Jackie Lehman

Swiftologist? I think Fashionologist with these head pieces, where do you get them?

Maya

Thank god for intelligent conversation I can’t even be on twitter rn

luke!!

Haven’t watched this yet because it’s midnight here in Australia but I really REALLY loved the album. I know there’s a lot if mixed reactions but I’ve been playing and dancing to it all weekend. 🥹🪩✨ I think it’s fun, happy, a little bit cheesy, a little bit sassy, a little bit campy, a little bit unserious yet it sounds polished, lush and well-produced. I love listening to music from a happy and in love Taylor. Right up my alley. No skips! 🥰

Kathleen Faye Amorado

I love the album! Going to the movie and seeing the music video only made me love it even more♡ It isn't as poetic as TTPD or Folklore/Evermore but it has some really catchy production and fun sweet songs!

Taylor Makenzie

Yes! The title track is just a note-for-note copy of that Jonas Brothers song though.

Linneae

I’ll say this for free: the fate of Ophelia sounds like give your heart a break by Demi lovato!!!

Belle Zhao

So I feel like she's doing a new version of the arm lyrics but by hiding samples of other songs in her songs. As I was listening to the new songs pretty much every song I felt like it sounded familiar: "Actually romantic" has a riff from "Teenage birth bag", "Eldest Daughter" has "White horse", "Cancelled" i found the most with "Teen spirit", "I did something bad" & "Heathens". "Wood" is "I want you back", "The life of showgirl" has "cool" & I feel like also "cruel summer", "The fate of Ophelia" = "summertime sadness". "Elizabeth Taylor" is a Halsey song but can't quite remember which one. Opalite has 1+1=2 enamorados from Luis Miguel

leticia hernandez

I think she mislead us with the advertising and she broke her brand mythology by not meeting the standard she set for herself which is vivid storytelling about love. Thinking this album is up to par with her previous work is just... not true and very disappointing. This whole thing had seemed like a big money grab that's concerned more about photos and variants than quality of music

rachel☁️

Zach loves father figure I know taste

Gursimran Singh

seconded! their showgirl accessories are so fun 🫶🏻

Bella

Would love to see your music video reaction!!

Mallory Moran

She took us behind the curtain and flashed us with the redwood tree 😭

Tara

Now hold awn where was Max Martin's melodic math here???? Is this the implication of them being of "equal footing" this time around, hence he can't veto some of her choices? Cos these are wordy songs

Mikee Dayrit

After listening more, the chorus of honey slaps, that song gets a 10/10. lol

Hannah

Wish List is just Glitch reworked and since that's likely about Matty it's just letting him know how she's totally over him and btw he's still The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived who never even gave her any good Wood. It's all really quite embarassing 🫤

Linneae

woodology

sara :)

I have to second Madeline’s appreciation for the physical packaging. I have been collecting vinyl for coming up on a decade and I have never seen vinyl packaging as beautiful and high quality for a new release. Makes me upset i didn’t get more variants tbh

Erin Howell

The moment when Zack brings Madeline back down to earth about the second verse in Opalite IJBOL

No Thoughts

Just what the Doctor ordered. Appreciate you both. Can’t wait to dive in.

Alexandra S

don’t you dare!! edward was inspired by king gerard way😂😂

Sarah

i don't think that's it. a lot of the songs on red, 1989, rep, and lover aren't sad and have pop perfection bangers. that's what i wanted again

Momo

Hasn't the search thing been the case since people were making those disgusting AI images of her? (but if the promo is using AI I do hate that, very disappointing)

Abby

I actually think Fate of Ophelia is a good first single

Asher Long

agree!

Momo

I definitely expected some darker themes as well. It is present on some songs but not all. But the more I listen to it the more I’m loving it and it’s such an ear worm. Blocking out the twitter nonsense!

Elsa ✨🩷

Gary Smith

I love the album xD i never like every song on first listen and i did ahha. I just wanna dance and not think. Ahahhahah I JUST WANT YOOOOU HOUHOU

Maya Reads

React to Mariah’s new album !!!!!

belle

I know this was probably filmed before all of this but I would love to hear your thoughts on the AI promo videos…..personally I’m very disappointed and it’s tainting this whole album release even more

Hannah

Edit to add: I think it’s her favorite because she was the happiest while making it

Cici O

Been waiting to watch this (on Youtube for the views) because amidst all the noise the silence from the snakes has been deafening.

Pete

I’M SEATED

Valtteri Iivarinen

I agree! Track 1-Track 4, title track, and maybe 2 more are good. the rest is like, how tolerable I am with the cringe

Bell

I think she said “behind the curtain” and people heard backstage when she meant outside the stadium

Cici O

SEATED FOR THE ONLY TAKES I CARE TO HEAR😍😍😍

Emma-Lee Steer

Also can we talk about clean versions beating better

Justus 🤍

I’m obsessed with it.

Christina Ingham

There are some Taylor albums like lover, midnights, showgirl etc. that I've realised are just better the less you know about her 😭 Sometimes I feel like I'm too IN IT to look past some of the more egregious offences on the album 😭 like I know too much about her and expect a certain standard from her that locals DGAF about...

jam

Wood screams of overcompensating, it’s giving the D is meh but let’s give the Tayvis’ what they want. Stephanie Meyer-core 😭 The muse ain’t musing. And I doubt he even knows what that word means.

bubb

Definitely my least favourite album of hers so far. Already deleted the download out of my Apple Music as I don’t want to be bothered further by any of it, haha. THAT SAID, the first 3-4 tracks are OK. Ophelia and Opalite both very catchy but still fall short of her best pop writing.

Alison Bell

The way I've been WAITING FOR THIS. Divas, please, whether it's negative or positive, whether we agree or disagree, I love hearing your thoughts ❤️ Don't let the jobless make you think otherwise! It's why we pay!!!!

🫧Elle🫧

I wrote that comment and then that’s literally what he opened with 😂

Becca Gilgan

I am soooooo sad I couldn’t afford any variants as a vinyl collector. Getting fired for back surgery suuuuuucks. I’m so jealous of them.

Caitorade

UMG has also upgraded the quality of the cardigans. No more unraveling! The fittings has also improved because of the new machine knitting style.

Tha P

So looking forward to hearing your thoughts!!

Alexandra Cambra

I hope the AI stuff is addressed, maybe it was recorded before the drama because Twitter is crashing tf out I cannot believe here team blocked “Taylor Swift AI” omg

Padraic Noonan

I agree with it being bland for Max Martin/Shellback! I was expecting more bass or a deeper sound.

Hanna Cannon Colm

10:18 the first showgirl lyric reference on the pod and it’s wi$h li$t💃

stfu.liamb

Why am I at work 🙇‍♀️

Heatherist

On her Emma Bunton radio interview she said her favourite song on the album was W$SH L$ST and that shook me. It’s not my favourite album as a swiftie but everyone has got to admit it is 90/10 bops. Life of Ophelia, Father Figure, Opalite, Ruin the Friendship & Honey are my favs ❤️‍🔥🧡

JaneyB93

One of my friends said that some fans seem to be bummed out that it is bubbly and fully happy. You don’t hear much of the anxiety in the love songs on this record because she’s in a healthy relationship. I like 7 of the songs and love 1 of them. I’m gonna let TS have her little kiki.

Hanna Cannon Colm

I just have to say that you look amazing in that headdress so I don’t mind that my money is going toward it lol

Libby Stephenson

The 1989 pt. 2 allegations was truly her doing she was leading us there... Even rep vibes... All those playlists and the hints etc. she was doing on Apple music with the songs Max Martin and her had worked on together in the past 😭 My mistake for getting my hopes up........jfnsfkekfn

jam

Seated

Jonpier Veliz

I have to disagree that this is her catchiest album. Now I don’t think the entire album is bad but not a single song has stuck with me or gotten stuck in my head no matter how many times I listen. I just can’t connect to anything about it

Morgan

Cancelled is one of my favs on the album!

Kelsea Sisler

I Can Do it With a Broken Heart is THE true showgirl anthem and none are going those maybe except for the title track.

Mikee Dayrit

What!!!

Renee Darline

I HAVE BEEN patiently WAAAIIITTTIIIING FOR THIS!!!!

Bridgitte

I think, like most TS albums, it’s got a few clunkers but is mostly a Very Good album. Personally I switched to the clean versions of a few songs just to avoid the cringy lyrics, but that’s just my subjective opinion

Elizabeth B

Skips for me are Cancelled, Eldest Daughter, and Wi$hlist... I really love the rest. I'm obsessed with Father Figure and Elizebeth Taylor

ducky

And to clarify, I like the album !!

Lunarlakes

Did you guys see taylor using AI for promo? 😬 that’s really disappointing to me.

Afonso Campos

She definitely fed the delusions, and what with all the allusions to the eras tour in the photo shoots and the promo material… is it really a wonder we expected something completely different 💔 but clowning is part of the experience so I’ll take it bahahaha

Lunarlakes

Very curious where Zach is going to go with this. I feel like he’s had some back and forth reactions/feelings over the past two days!

Becca Gilgan

Cardigan update: it’s not as Orange, quite thick and it not as scratchy if at all when it’s on. Pleasantly surprised and no longer regretting my moment of insanity for all things glitter ❤️‍🔥🧡

JaneyB93

you both look gorgeous i’m so excited to hear all your thoughts <33

Zoë

Zac you keep eating with these outfits 👏👏👏👏

Noelia

I personally thought how she spoke about it on New Heights set me up for exactly what is was going to be. When she specifically said it’s more “life” than showgirl I figured we’d only have 1 Eras tour moment with the life of a showgirl. But I can understand why people had different expectations and were disappointed.

Mckinley Belnap

Honestly if you guys love the album don't let the internet ruin it for you. Sometimes people can be too reactionary and defensive of their faves.

Ethan

Haven’t even pressed play yet but just have to say Madeline you look so cute in the thumbnail!! 🫶

Hannah

It’s about the life behind the scenes which does seam to follow theme. Again it’s just what people expected the life of a showgirl to sound like

Justus 🤍

Madeline's silent protest screams in her lack of a killer eyeshadow 👸 i feel you, diva. I feel you!

Tha P

🥳🥳🥳

Valentin Bellegarde

It’s her worst album, the production was very bland considering it was max martin. Will never listen to it again

IrishSwiftie

the way i…. RAN

Sarah

I just started watching but Madeline wearing all black and Zach wearing full show girl is cracking me up 😂

Caitorade

What a beautiful notification while on the bus thinking wonder when the Sunday video is coming out 🩷 mind readers 😂

Jax Wallace

FINALLYYY

Ahmad

My show is on. Can't wait to hear mother and father discuss 🙏

Amy McCraith

Also you weren't completely wrong about Father Figure. Taylor said she relates to being the Father Figure character in the song sometimes

Phoenix Flames

the way i moved

Carolina Barin

I really think people want to see her sad. It’s also extremely disturbing to see people crediting her songwriting to Joe.

Justus 🤍

Join clubs you like even it’s super cringe 🤣

Beckie Whittle

Ive been awaiting my food, time to feast.

Alexandra Sansone

Zach's looks are eating more than some of Taylors

Will

Absolutely seated for this!!! Thank you for all you do snakes 🫶🏻 always love hearing your (very fair, considered, reasonable) perspectives, you're needed now more than ever in these taytrying times

jam

Thank you for all the content divas 🫶💗

Susannah Wallace

now this is exactly what we’ve been waiting for

Ryan Johnson

Was about to study, but I’m sattttt

Cíara Dempsey

RAN!! I’ve been waiting ❤️‍🔥

Caitlyn Greemon

oh i’m seated!

reme

seated.

Heather Wright

Seated ❤️‍🔥

Omar

random but does anyone have good tips for making true friends at college😭 i started a few days ago

Mojca Prapotnik