From her calculated point of view, I don't really see what her game plan here was supposed to be. Obviously, the songs had to be really good for the overall perception of Showgirl to shift in a more positive direction.

I think, overall, the four new songs make more sense together and are stronger than the original 12, but still, all four of them would have had to be 11/10 for them to meaningfully change the album's perception. Patient Zero most likely won't be another Ophelia. There aren't even any physical versions yet. I just don't see what she was trying to achieve here in terms of her brand.

Yeah, I think people and esp. swifties can't handle the Cleveland lyrics too much because it's too cringe and corny for them and it reminds me of their reaction to eldest daughter because of the verbiage Taylor uses in both songs. it seems like they feel this is beneath Taylor's level to them. but this is on purpose. and if you don't like it, that's fine. to each his own. what annoys me is hardcore swifties feeling the need to trash the songs just to praise their favs like TTPD. suddenly in the past year TTPD has become this holy grail, which fine. I don't get it. to me folklore is better but oh well. it is a bummer for them that they take these songs at face value and can't get passed the cringe and own it. because that's what Taylor is doing. she's not taking herself seriously. just like she said in the grammy museum interview, she likes to do both writing styles. she enjoys it.

1 minute ago, Tal_reputation said:

I enjoy Showgirl so much because of the sound. i'm sound and production first. don't really care about lyrics. if the hook hooks me you have me and Showgirl has it for me. I listen to it on repeat. because of the sound. my favs are Mine, Ready For It, Better Than Revenge, Haunted, Peace, The Lakes etc... I love live instruments and even if Max uses all computers I still hear drums and guitar which is missing for me with her work with Jack. I HATE his synths. can't stand it. I hate these synth sounds in general. not just Taylor. any 80s synths that sound like that I hate. Showgirl is the first album I don't have any skips on. every album I have at least 1 skip but this one isn't. I love eldest daughter, while i'm a 36 y.o. guy I love the theme of the song and I laugh at the lyrics because that's literally what Taylor is trying to convey with the song. but regardless. we all have different taste and that's good. Midnights to me is too monotone, boring, same note, doesn't go anywhere sonically. my biggest issue with Taylor and Jack's work is a lot their songs don't go anywhere. it all stays at the same bit all throughout the song. this is me trying - I just can't.

definitely agree! i enjoy jack's production, especially on other albums, like his work on phoebe's was gorgeous, but the synthpop is so tired. so many songs on TTPD were screaming to have grand instrumentation or country elements rather than a synth beat, when it did not match the vibes of the album like at all. imagine if fresh out the slammer kept the western country sound throughout the entire song with classic guitar production, or if SL,L was piano driven. so many songs were just dying for some drums in them, but no taylor needed jack's synths… even when you listen to the MBOBHFT piano voice memo, it is sooo much better then the final, and then she says "obviously this will have a driving synth beat though" like give me a break girll

i love eldest daughter too lmao, and the bridge isn't even my favourite part! like deep inside i know it's bad, but i learned to ironically enjoy it a lot

All tracks are now charting inside the Top 10 of Apple Music US, Patient Zero leading at #4

IFYOUWANTTOPARTYWITHSOMEBODYWHOMIGHTKNOWABOUTTHEDEVILINHISSHOULDERUNDERHISHALO

A Jack Antonoff album with zero synthesiser would be a welcome concept. I was impressed with the production of IKIIKY.

Pink Clouding is a grower and one of her most faithful 80s sounds

Ranking the OG deluxe albums:

1. 1989 Deluxe

2. Midnights 3am

3. Showgirl Encore

4. evermore deluxe

5. Speak Now Deluxe

6. Red Deluxe

7. Fearless Deluxe

8. Debut Deluxe

I am not ranking folklore because I feel like one track isn't enough to participate. I've always been eh about the lakes anyway.

rwylm might be the best deluxe track of them all, but ittg is just sorta there.

Also calling The Anthology a deluxe seems wrong, but if you wanted to count that it would be number 1.

A really solid deluxe for Showgirl!

3 hours ago, punisher said:

like at the end of the day i'm confused why we're treating some swifties like they're OTH? most of us have spent hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on taylor, know every secret message for each song and have been loving her since her musical peak. we're allowed to be upset and share opinions in the only literal swiftie safe space on this website. sure some critiques are too far but can we please beat the cult allegations…

facts are, she is on a musical LOW with showgirl, we all know that and some can cope all they want. you all know that though, before the deluxe this base was just back-to-back showgirl lashings. i understand some people want to see taypositivity in here since it's negative everywhere else but this era is affecting swifties too, and she just had to drag it on a year later.

yes, we love her miserable music, but we also do love her love songs, just not these ones. i'm yet to see something even close to cornelia street or state of grace. hell even TTPD title track is so intimate it makes us believe matty is the love of her life, and he dated her for a month… these songs about her husband are literally just 'me famous, me happy, travis big d*ck, travis podcast, travis football!' and don't get me wrong i love a lot of songs on TLOAS, but most people don't, and a lot of swifties don't, and you can tell why

the people in this base will not mock her for everything, the people on the other threads will. but right now she is just making it too easy for longtime fans of hers to get fatigue. and why are some people in here so mad that we want good albums, like yes we can go listen to evermore, but we would also like good new music. is that crazy?

CLOCK IT

26 minutes ago, greeneyedsoul said:

From her calculated point of view, I don't really see what her game plan here was supposed to be. Obviously, the songs had to be really good for the overall perception of Showgirl to shift in a more positive direction.

I think, overall, the four new songs make more sense together and are stronger than the original 12, but still, all four of them would have had to be 11/10 for them to meaningfully change the album's perception. Patient Zero most likely won't be another Ophelia. There aren't even any physical versions yet. I just don't see what she was trying to achieve here in terms of her brand.

i'm starting to think it's some sort of agreement with her current label. In order for her to own everything she creates, she needs to maintain certain level of productivity and of income. Her KPI's must be CRAZY in order for her to keep this level of productivity, it just doesn't make sense

Just now, Strawberry Bubble said:

i'm starting to think it's some sort of agreement with her current label. In order for her to own everything she creates, she needs to maintain certain level of productivity and of income. Her KPI's must be CRAZY in order for her to keep this level of productivity, it just doesn't make sense

i honestly disagree, owning your masters is just like an industry standard now, especially for established artists. i highly doubt her deal is high stakes or high payout, i think she just wanted to distribute her music well so she signed a pretty loose deal. i doubt an artist of taylor's calibre would be stuck in any difficult deal, like she signed with them after selling 1M first week with rep. they need her more than she needs them

this was so... bleh

i keep hyping her up only to serve these mid ass songs (except Pink Smashing thats a bawp!!!) TTPD was a way better album. Fortnight was a banger and I will always stand by it Ophelia is pop perfection though i'll give her that.

If yall wanna hear more Pink Clouding (banger!) listen to Day and Night by princess of pop CRJ!

6 minutes ago, YR. said:

CLOCK IT

When the first stone's thrown, there's screamin'

In the base, there's a raging riot

When it's "Burn the b****," they're shrieking

When the truth comes out, it's quiet

So, they killed Cassandra first 'cause she feared the worst

And tried to tell the swifties

So they filled my cell with snakes, I regret to say

Do you believe me now?

stream this classic !

pink clouding and patient zero are highlights on showgirl as a whole though! ophelia, opalite, pink clouding and patient zero would've been a great singles run!

I kinda am living for the clunky / wordy lyrics

Just got home from an overnight shift and I am living for this cute little gift I hope she makes Pink Clouding a single too for early January.

She's so fun to stan like there's ALWAYS something going on or coming. It feels comforting knowing she's been there for 20 years and will likely be there another 20 years consistently giving us music, mvs, tours, fun releases etc. I hope this train ride never ends sistrens

not me randomly getting emotional I-

This just made me sad fr.

She's hilarious sorry

omg Clevland! gives off MAJOR Billy Joel! I hope im not the only one who noticed it lol! It's like VERY VERY Billie Joel

can someone tell her that songwriting is not just about lyrics please? the lack of space for instruments and production to shine and the melodies are quite meh tbh. there's nothing remarkable about the encore

Biggest popstar on earth. A music legend. And she settled for that man

Misogyny is insane

3 minutes ago, IBeMe said:

I kinda am living for the clunky / wordy lyrics

Just got home from an overnight shift and I am living for this cute little gift I hope she makes Pink Clouding a single too for early January.

She's so fun to stan like there's ALWAYS something going on or coming. It feels comforting knowing she's been there for 20 years and will likely be there another 20 years consistently giving us music, mvs, tours, fun releases etc. I hope this train ride never ends sistrens

not me randomly getting emotional I-

I think the ride will end sooner than later. If I was Tay I'd just stop dropping music altogether, never drop TS13, with the way some people have reacted about her finally finding someone worth spending her life with, I'd be pretty p*ssed off too.

But I'm not her, so I know she'll keep writing and releasing music until she physically can't anymore.

damn i didn't know the reception was so bad even in the fandom i'd say these songs are harmless at least especially compared to showgirl og everyone chile..

Yeah I am reading yallz reviews and comments and stuff and I deff think the criticism is fair but some of yall are criticizing her for the wrong things low key. My biggest gripe with Showgirl was that it just didnt sound Max Martin enough and that she seemed way too focused fitting as many lyrics as she could into pretty vanilla production that didnt allow the lyrics to flow and when they did the substance of much of the lyrics fell a little flat but that was just for like 4 ish songs imo. My ONLY recent concern is her melodies. Her songwriting overall is still solid but the production of her music and the melodies themselves feel way too spaced out on Showgirl and The Encore? I cant explain it properly but it feels like smoke u cant hold on to...it's very scattered and misty. I view Showgirl as a pretty transitional album and these deluxe tracks kinda confirm it for me. It's a bit like how Lover was kinda pretty vanilla sounding for the most part and then it ended up leading to something great aka Folklore. It's like she came at an impasse with Lover and I think the same is happening with Showgirl. I think TS13 is going to be a lot stronger and possibly an entirely different sonic palette again. A new pivot that will also last another 4-5 years before she once again transforms. She sheds skins like a snake. It doesnt happen from album to album. It happens after she completely uses up every bit of the current sound she is on and then pivots after a transitional record.

9 minutes ago, YellowRibbon said:

I think the ride will end sooner than later. If I was Tay I'd just stop dropping music altogether, never drop TS13, with the way some people have reacted about her finally finding someone worth spending her life with, I'd be pretty p*ssed off too.

But I'm not her, so I know she'll keep writing and releasing music until she physically can't anymore.

orrr TS13 could be a collapse and absolutely nobody would gaf about travis anymore

5 hours ago, TaylenaStan said:

You're using nostalgia as a weapon to hurt yourself
But darling, you end up hurting everybody else
The self-harm of never being where you are
It's bedtime, but you're sitting in your car
You're missing all the best parts

This bridge is straight out of evermore era. Love it.