Evie Editors' Favorite Taylor Swift Songs From "The Life of a Showgirl"
Here we go again, Swifties—the curtain just went up. The Life of a Showgirl dropped at midnight, and after a few (okay, several) spins, we can confirm: Taylor Swift is dreaming of the trad life, clear-eyed and committed.
It turns out, all it takes is a little (okay, huge) ring on her finger to unleash the pop anthems every 20- and 30-something woman’s been waiting for. It’s sequins and spectacle on the outside, but the inside is light, witty, and unabashedly joyful with a love-drunk glow as clear as day.
Feeds are already flooded with bridge breakdowns, captioned one-liners, and “did-she-just-say-that?” loops. The album is a refreshing break from her usual moody and depressing songs. Dare we say, it might even be her first no-skip album in a while. It begs the question: did love make Taylor Swift fun again? Between her gushing love letter to Travis, jabs at Charlie XCX (presumably), and nod to the Blake Lively feud, we found ourselves swaying our hips, singing along, and smirking throughout.
So, after a caffeine-fueled group listen, the Evie team picked our standouts—the tracks that made us gasp in awe, blow up our Slack thread, and plan a date night with our man. Presenting: Evie Editors’ Favorite Taylor Swift Songs from The Life of a Showgirl.
Opalite
It’s so hard for me to pick a favorite song first listen. I know it will change later. But first impulse is "Opalite" which I believe is a nod to Travis Kelcie’s birth stone being opal (October). It’s reminiscent of "Starlight" which is one of my all-time favorites. It seems to be signaling the love and hope she found after being lost in darkness since falling in love with her now fiancé.
Brittany, Editor-In-Chief
Wi$h Li$t
If this isn't the most Evie-coded song, I don't know what is. "I just want you, huh. Have a couple kids, got the whole block lookin' like you. We tell the world to leave us the f**k alone, and they do, wow. Got me dreamin' bout a driveway with a basketball hoop. Boss up, settle down, got a wish list (Wish list). I just want you."
"Wi$h Li$t" makes the trad-wife era read like a love letter, not a costume. It’s not just a bop; it’s a thesis: the girl who could have everything choosing the one thing that can’t be bought. To many, Taylor Swift is the epitome of a "girl boss," yet she would trade it time and time again for something as simple as settling down in the suburbs with a man she can call her best friend, a couple kids, and a basketball hoop. Literally the old-school American dream so many women today scoff at. Tell me that isn't a powerful shift to witness.
Anna, Managing Editor
The Fate of Ophelia
Who doesn't love a good Shakespeare reference? This song implies that Travis has saved her from Ophelia's fate (madness and drowning), but I can't not point out that her ex, Joe Alwyn, is starring in "Hamlet" soon, so I'm just gonna leave that there... I love that this sound felt so different from the sad girl Autumn sound we've been getting from Taylor lately too!
Rachel, Social Media Manager
Wood
It’s catchy, risqué, maybe even a little cringe with the metaphors, but it shows Taylor stepping out of her comfort zone and escaping the pigeonholed “innocent girl” image. It’s age-appropriate and experimental. Whether you call her a genius or awkward (or both), I’m here for Taylor’s new era.
Nikki, Social Media Editor
So that’s our Showgirl set list (for now.) Your turn: drop your top three on our latest Instagram post, tell us which bridge ruined you in the best way, and queue the replay.