Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, set to release on October 3. The pop star shared the album cover, tracklist, and details during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce. The album marks a return to upbeat pop music and features a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
The Album Cover and Concept
The album cover shows Swift floating underwater in a silver beaded bra and bracelets, with the title in orange glittery font. The artwork was shot by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who also worked on her Reputation album. Swift explained that the image represents her post-concert routine during the Eras Tour.
“My day ends in a bathtub, not usually in a bedazzled dressโฆ I wanted to glamorize all the aspects of how the tour felt. This album isnโt really about what happened onstage, but what happened offstage.”
The underwater theme symbolizes the behind-the-scenes life of a performerโexhausting yet glamorous. Three alternate deluxe covers were also released: “Itโs Beautiful,” “Itโs Rapturous,” and “Itโs Frightening.”
Tracklist and Collaborations
The album has 12 songs, including:
- The Fate of Ophelia
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Father Figure (a cover of George Michaelโs 1987 hit)
- Eldest Daughter
- The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
Unlike her last album The Tortured Poets Department, which had 31 songs, Swift said this one is more focused.
“With Tortured Poets, I gave a data dump of everything I thought in two years. This is 12 songsโno extras. Every song is here for a reason. You couldnโt add or remove one without changing the album.”
Sound and Production
Swift teamed up with producers Max Martin and Shellback, who worked on her biggest pop hits like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” She described the album as “infectiously joyful, wild, and dramatic.”
“Itโs a complete 180 from Tortured Poets. This is fun pop, more upbeat. Life is more upbeat now.”
Travis Kelce added that the songs are “bangers” and reflect Swiftโs high-energy tour life.
Easter Eggs and Fan Theories
Fans noticed orange has been a recurring themeโSwift used orange confetti at some Eras Tour shows and exited her final concert through an orange door. She confirmed this was a hint about the new album.
A Spotify playlist titled “And, baby, thatโs show business for you” featured 22 of her past Max Martin-produced hits, hinting at the albumโs pop direction. Some fans think the playlist title might be a lyric from the new album.
Pre-Orders and Merch
Pre-orders for vinyl, CD, and cassette versions went live on Swiftโs website, causing it to crash briefly. The orange glitter vinyl sold out quickly.
Personal Touches and Emotional Moments
During the podcast, Swift got emotional talking about reclaiming her first six albumsโ masters earlier this year.
“When my mom told me the masters were finally mine, I hit the floor crying. This changed my life.”
She also shared sweet moments with Travis, including an on-air kiss that made Jason Kelce joke, “Oh my gosh, alright!”
Fan and Hater Reactions
Even critics are impressed. Social media reactions include:
“Not a fan of hers but god damn she looks GOOD.”
“Finally some grown-up music.”
“Sheโs not playing around ๐๐ฝ”
Swifties are counting down to October, calling the album “the best this year.”
Also Read: Taylor Swift Explains Why She Chose Orange for Her New Album โThe Life of a Showgirlโ
