“Forgive me, it sounds cocky. He ah-matized me and opened my еyes.”
This was one of the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s new song, “Wood,” part of her album titled “The Life of a Showgirl,” which dropped worldwide on Oct. 3. Despite Swift having a loyal fanbase, “Wood,” among other songs of Swift’s new album, was met with resounding disappointment from loyal fans all around the world due to the low quality of lyrics.
Many fans have taken the initiative to compare the songs on “The Life of a Showgirl” with those of other albums with stronger lyricism, such as her 2020 album titled “folklore.” Compared to songs that contain lyrics such as “and you can aim for my heart, go for blood, but you would still miss me in your bones,” from the song “my tears ricochet,” there is a stark difference in the direction that this album has taken. While the aforementioned lyric stems from a personal, emotional experience of the singer that many across the world related to, many fans have expressed how many of the lyrics on her new album feel disconnected from their realities.
“Although I wouldn’t consider myself to be a fan, I do remember enjoying her collaborations with Bon Iver for ‘exile,’” Phoebe Borst, AP Literature teacher, said. “I also enjoyed her 1989 album, and though I can not tell a big difference in the lyrical qualities from the songs in the new album, I can say that, from a personal standpoint, I don’t understand why people are looking down on her more salacious, graphic lyrics. I think people are lingering too much on her younger self from her songs, but we should appreciate artists’ maturation process as well.”
Indeed, some listeners believe that people have been expecting overly deep, meaningful lyrics rather than appreciating the new, upbeat direction the singer took with her new album.
“I honestly liked ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ especially the songs ‘Opalite,’ and ‘Father Figure,’” Sarah Kim (12), avid Taylor Swift fan, said. “I think people are overreacting to the lyrics, because it was clear from the title itself that the album was going to be more upbeat than others. I think it is a good thing that she is in a place where she can write happily without having songs full of grief. Not every album needs to be sad or deep.”
Some fans, on the other hand, have started to analyze the progression, or rather, degradation, of her lyricism through the lens of her former romantic relationships. For instance, the albums renowned for their emotional lyricism, such as “Lover” and “Evermore,” have been written over the six years Swift had been in a relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn. Their lack of publicity and overall calm, quiet demeanor of Alwyn compared to Swift’s present engagement with tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL, Travis Kelce, have been criticized through the lens of the quality of her songs.
“I definitely think that [Taylor Swift’s] style tends to change based on who she is dating,” Julie Lee (12), Taylor Swift listener, said. “Although it is normal for a person to evolve and somewhat change based on who they are seeing the most often, like a romantic partner, I think that it has been much more evident in Taylor Swift’s case, from the lyrics of her songs to even how she acts and dresses nowadays. It seems like she’s happy in her current relationship, though, based on how there are no heartbreaking lyrics like in her previous albums.”
People have also started to point out how, beyond her music, Swift herself seems to have changed as a person. For instance, her style has become branded with designer logos and daring silhouettes, compared to her previous style, which was more demure with flannels or cardigans.
Despite the controversial reactions to the album, one thing that all of the listeners can agree on is that she is in a happy, healthy relationship, reflected by the upbeat tune of her lyrics. As for the quality of her songs and lyricism, the fans are hoping they can be more united during her next album release.
