Taylor Swift 'The Life of a Showgirl': Every track ranked from best to worst

Taylor Swift has officially released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. With this latest record, Swift has shifted toward a relatively brighter and more playful sound compared to her previous albums.

In place of last year's The Tortured Poets Department, the latest 12-track project now sits as Taylor Swift enters her new era. The album also features her reunion with producers Max Martin and Shellback.

It is worth noting that Taylor Swift is newly engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce. In The Life of a Showgirl, she has chosen to write about romance, a few rivalries, and more. Overall, it is mainly a love-filled album. Below, every track from the record is ranked from best to worst. Read on to get an insight into each track.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's personal opinions. Please share your thoughts on how you would rank the songs in the comment section below!

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Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl': Every song ranked from best to worst

1. The Fate of Ophelia

The opening track doubles as the lead single of Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. It is the strongest track on the album. The song features a tragic Shakespearean reference. In Taylor's rendition, it has been rescued by love instead of being dragged down. Max Martin and Shellback have built a propulsive beat that sets the album's upbeat tone. Lyrics include:

"All that time, I sat alone in my tower/ You were just honing your powers/ Now I can see it all (See it all)/ Late one night, you dug me out of my grave and/ Saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia (Ophelia)"

2. Ruin the Friendship

Swift's storytelling made this song a standout one. Ruin the Friendship recalls a secret high school crush. The singer draws a complete circle years later at the boy's funeral. Lines like "Should've kissed you anyway" cut deeply. However, the production feels seemingly uplifting. Swift sings:

"Shiny wood floors underneath my feet/ Disco ball makes everything look cheap/ Have fun (Mm-mm), it's prom (Mm-mm)/ Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist/ Over his shoulder, I catch a glimpse"

3. Eldest Daughter

Every Taylor Swift album has one emotional centerpiece. For The Life of a Showgirl, "Eldest Daughter" is the one. It/ talks about confessions, family dynamics, and identity. The lyrics are notable in places: "Every eldest daughter was the first lamb to the slaughter." Swift also sings about a trusted partner:

"I'm never gonna leave you out/ So many traitors, smooth operators/ But I'm never gonna break that vow/ I'm never gonna leave you now"

4. Wood

Wood might be one of the most surprising songs in Taylor Swift's catalogue. It has funky guitar riffs and Motown-inspired grooves. The playful and almost cheeky lyricism also makes it stand out. Swift rarely writes something this unabashedly flirty, and it has worked for this one. She writes:

"Forgive me, it sounds cocky/ He ah-matized me and openеd my eyes/ Redwood tree, it ain't hard to see/ His lovе was the key that opened my thighs"

5. Actually Romantic

The song is Taylor Swift's reply to past industry drama. She delivered it with humor. The mainly guitar-driven production feels like '90s alt-rock. Swift laughs at the insults that were once hurled her way. This track is lighthearted but sharp, as she sings:

"Hadn't thought of you in a long time/ But you keep sending me funny valentines/ And I know you think it comes off vicious/ But it's precious, adorable"

6. Father Figure

One of The Life of a Showgirl's most direct songs is Father Figure. It is believed to be about Scott Borchetta and Taylor Swift's masters. She borrows from George Michael's hit and features it in her own narrative in the track. Swift reclaims power with lines like "This empire belongs to me." It is one of the most sonically lush productions on the record. Taylor Swift sings:

"I'll be your father figure/ I drink that brown liquor/ I can make deals with the devil because my dick's bigger/ This love is pure profit/ Just step into my office"

7. Opalite

Opalite is a slow build that erupts into a chorus. The song carries a beat that might be reminiscent of Taylor Swift's best mid-2010s pop for some fans. The lyrics use imagery to symbolize resilience, among other understated themes. Notable lines are as follows:

"I had a bad habit/ Of missing lovers past/ My brother used to call it/ "Eating out of the trash"/ It's never gonna last"

8. The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)

This is the closing title track of The Life of a Showgirl. The song features her former tour opener Sabrina Carpenter. The duet comes with storytelling with real-life references to touring life. It is a good closer. However, Swift is less intimate here than in other tracks. Some notable lines are:

"Hеy, thank you for the lovely bouquet/ You're sweeter than a peach/ But you don't know the life of a showgirl, babe/ And you're never, ever gonna"

9. Honey

The track brings Taylor Swift's country past and some modern pop elements together. It layers banjo tunes over hip-hop beats. Honey is not as strong as some of the higher-ranked songs. However, it offers a balance to the album's relatively brighter songs. Swift sings:

"When anyone called me "Sweetheart"/ It was passive-aggressive at the bar/ And the bi**h was tellin' me to back off"

10. Wi$h Li$t

This track plays like a song about consumerist desires. It features brand references and an exaggerated vibe. Wi$h Li$t might sound fun, but it lacks the emotional weight or strength of the standout cuts from Taylor Swift's latest studio album. Some of its lines are:

"They want that yacht life, under chopper blades/ They want those bright lights and Balenci' shades/ And a fat a*s with a baby face"

11. Elizabeth Taylor

This track does not live up to its promise. Elizabeth Taylor mainly circles around surface-level references. The production slightly feels like Reputation. However, it sounds underdeveloped compared to the rest of the album. Taylor Swift sings:

"I'd cry my eyes violet, Elizabeth Taylor/ Tell me for real, do you think it's forever?"

12. Cancelled!

Historically, every Taylor Swift album has at least one experiment. "Cancelled!" lands here. It comes with seemingly brash lyrics. Some fans might enjoy its jabs at online culture. However, the track lacks the subtlety of her other diss tracks. Notable lines include:

"Did you girl-boss too close to the sun?/ Did they catch you having far too much fun?/ Come with me, when they see us, they'll run/ Something wicked this way comes"

Taylor Swift's twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, is a lighter record that has been designed to celebrate love and storytelling. Her reunion with Martin and Shellback helps the album stand out. The track are available for streaming across major audio platforms.

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