Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life Of A Showgirl, dropped on Friday, and the 14-time Grammy winner has done it again. Swift collaborated with Swedish duo Max Martin and Shellback for the project, a pair she worked with on 1989 and Reputation. The vibes are very similar to those albums, but The Life Of A Showgirl is definitely its own thing. It’s happy and fun and Swift feels a little more cheeky with her lyrics without losing the skills that make her the best songwriter around.
The Life Of A Showgirl is an immediate hit, filled with upbeat bops that are immaculately produced. Therefore, ranking the 12 tracks feels like an impossibility. I’d hear any argument for these songs in any order, so please read this list with that in mind. One of the songs has to be “last” — I asked my editor and they said I can’t make them all tied for first [EDITOR’S NOTE: Yup.] — but don’t get mad when your favorite isn’t in my top five. Honestly, this would probably be different if I had to do it again tomorrow.
Let’s get to it.
12. Eldest Daughter
I love this song so much. Her use of lyrics that reference internet slang and external pressures to reveal her vulnerabilities is just excellent. She has to be everything to all of these people, but she’s just the eldest daughter inside.
11. Father Figure
Please don’t yell at me I hate putting anything down this low. It’s songs like this — and “Vigilante [Expletive]” from her Midnights album — that take her career power struggles and lay them out for the listener to experience.
10. CANCELLED!
Calling it now that this is the song that grows on me the most. Very Reputation coded, and maybe about Blake Lively?
9. Ruin The Friendship
Definitely didn’t expect the plot twist in this one, and I didn’t expect such a sad song.
8. Elizabeth Taylor
How is this at 8? This is hard. Absolutely LOVE the beat drop in this one.
7. Wi$h Li$t
Such a sweet song about how dreams and desires can be elaborate and rich and gaudy, but when it comes down to it all, all she wants is her little life.
6. The Life Of A Showgirl
Oh Sabrina Carpenter, the woman that you are. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this duo together (thank you, Eras Tour), but their voices fit so well together. Both sound incredible on this track, and the bridge is one of the best on the album.
5. Wood
OK, Taylor. We see you (and Travis).
4. Honey
I might have this higher than other people, but I’m obsessed with the vibes of this song. Taking a word that has been used condescendingly or passive aggressively in her past and accepting it as this loving, all-encompassing thing that can be used endearingly. I love it.
3. Actually Romantic
Just when we think we have Taylor Swift figured out, she makes a song called “Actually Romantic” about dealing with women obsessed with talking about her. It’s rock-ish and biting and raw.
But it’s actually sweetAll the time you’ve spent on meIt’s honestly wildAll the effort you’ve put inIt’s actually romanticI really gotta hand it to you, oohNo man has ever loved me like you do
2. The Fate of Ophelia
Taylor Swift catches a lot of criticism about her inability to pick the right first singles from her albums, but she knocked it out of the park here. Such a great song to open the album, and I’m already excited for the music video.
1. Opalite
This song is going to get SO much play in my house. It’s fun and sweet and her happiness oozes out of this track. That “But now the sky is Opalite, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh my Lord” is going to hit so hard in the car.
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