As women, it often feels like people make fun of everything you enjoy. Being a fan of pop music is a prime example, and at the heart of this criticism is Taylor Swift. I first listened to her music in elementary school, staying up late to listen to her new albums. I’d be so excited to talk with my friends at school the next day about her new songs, gushing over her lyrics. I would quickly defend her when someone tried to claim her lyrics were shallow or complained that she dated too many people. Swift was someone I looked up to, someone willing to speak out about real-world issues and unapologetic in her pursuit of being herself.
This current controversy is not new to Swift. In 2016, she was involved in a scandal surrounding Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. This feud ultimately led her to step back from music before returning with her sixth studio album, Reputation. More recently, she has faced criticism for her environmental footprint because of frequent private jet use, especially during her global Eras Tour. In 2023, Bloomberg estimated her wealth at 1.1 billion, and it has only risen since then. At what point does this extreme wealth become unethical for one person to possess?Â
Despite her wealth, this new controversy is specifically about her music. Her lyrical quality is declining, especially on her newest album, The Life of a Showgirl. The relatability Swift’s lyrics once had was completely lost to me. It was hard to take the album seriously when it is filled with sexual innuendo, but when I found out she was releasing four new songs, I decided to keep an open mind. However, after listening to the bonus tracks, I felt even more disappointed.Â
I thought I had grown out of my love for her music entirely, but when I queued up folklore for another listen, I remembered why I loved her music. This album has so many beautifully written love songs and heartfelt lyrics. I struggle to find that in her new music.
It almost feels like a completely different artist. For example, in her song “Cleveland!,” she states, “You only need to find one person in this entire world who doesn’t find you completely insufferable. Well, I found mine.” Personally, this metric of love seems like a very low bar. It feels nothing like her earlier love songs. For example, in “Peace,” she sang, “All these people think love’s for show, but I would die for you in secret.” The switch from such a dramatic confession of love to this weaker version seems out of character.
Throughout The Life of a Showgirl, it feels almost like she has to convince us how happy and in love she is instead of letting it shine through her lyrics. The only song I would actively go back to on that album is “Babylon.” As The Independent puts it, “It [“Babylon”] reminds you of her ability to transport the listener, and you pine for it when listening to the other three tracks.”
I’m not the only one who thinks negatively of Swift’s new songs or has grown distant from her music over the years. People have taken to social media to share their thoughts. Some fans even say her new music sounds like it was created by AI. This demonstrates how unimaginative and repetitive her lyrics have become.Â
The beautiful thing about music is that everyone gets to form their own opinion. So many people did love The Life of a Showgirl and the new release. Even though I might not be a fan, I don’t think anyone should have to apologize for loving it. Taylor’s music has been such a huge part of my life, so even though I no longer consider myself a Swiftie, a part of her music will stick with me forever.Â