Article by Sarah Rose
Photo from TAS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
"See you next era."
That’s how the world-famous Taylor Swift left her fans in suspense; a teasing farewell after wrapping up the biggest concert tour in history. Because on December 9th, 2024, Taylor officially ended “The Tour of the Century”: The Eras Tour.
The tour was a monumental success: over the course of two and a half years, Swift visited 51 cities and performed 149 shows across the entire globe. The show was divided into her “Eras”—all her past albums—each with its own unique stage design, atmosphere, and style. The concert felt like a trip through memory lane, and brought millions of fans together. Not only at the show itself, but online as well; during every concert, fans who couldn’t attend would watch the show via live streams. Every night. Even at 3AM! Timezones don’t matter when it comes to the Swifties. The fan-favorite set was the “Acoustic Section”, where Taylor would play surprise songs from her discography that weren’t on the setlist. It kept the fans nervous every night. The fans would even play games to win prizes, by guessing what songs Taylor would play and what outfits she would wear.
It was a tour like no other. And when the curtain finally closed, Swift released a book chronicling her journey. On the very last page, one cryptic sentence stood out: “See you next era.”
But what was the next era? When would it begin? What would it be about? These were the questions that haunted “Swifties” everywhere. Taylor, however, already knew. Because during The Eras Tour, she had secretly been writing and recording her twelfth studio album: The Life of a Showgirl.
Then, on August 12th, at exactly 12:12 AM (of course, it’s her 12th album), she finally announced it to the world.
12, 12, and More 12
Taylor has an obsession with numerology, which led to an obsession with “Easter Eggs”: cryptic clues that would drive her fans absolutely crazy. Being a Swiftie means constantly solving puzzles. And the fans love it. Obviously, “see you next era” was a clue, but it goes further than that. Her 12th album (with 12 tracks), as we already know, was announced on the 12th of August at 12.12 AM. But before that, her management “TaylorNation” posted exactly 12 pictures of Taylor in orange outfits (orange being the color of the album) at 9.12 PM. That’s not all, on the Eras Tour—right before Taylor would come on stage—the song “Applause” by Lady Gaga would play before a countdown clock would appear with the time 2:24. The album was announced on the 224th day of the year: August 12th. Coincidence?
I think not. And when did the song “Applause” come out? August 12th 2013, exactly 12 years before August 12th 2025!!! That’s right, Taylor Swift really is a mastermind.
Author’s Review
The Life of a Showgirl is a refreshing, sparkling pop album. It’s been quite a few years since Taylor leaned this hard into pure, feel-good pop and it’s such a joy to hear her having fun again.
My favorite track is “The Fate of Ophelia”. It stays stuck in your head for hours, and that viral dance is completely addictive. The subtle references to Shakespeare’s Hamlet make the lyrics especially clever. Swift has said she adores Shakespeare’s tragedies but always hated how tragic they end. So, in true Taylor fashion, she rewrote Ophelia’s fate, giving her the happy ending she never got. Just like she did for Romeo and Juliet in “Love Story” from Fearless.
Another song that truly stood out to me was “Elizabeth Taylor.” It starts out soft and cinematic, then drops an electrifying beat in the chorus—which had me gasping the first time I heard it. Other tracks like “CANCELLED!,” “Opalite,” and “Wood” are also full of playful energy.
Swift doesn’t just bring catchy tunes; she brings sharp wit. Many songs are laced with satire, something casual listeners might miss at first. For example, “The Eldest Daughter” opens with tongue-in-cheek commentary about online discourse and “CANCELLED!” pokes fun at modern “cancel culture". “Wi$h Li$t” also contains satirical lines, cleverly reflecting society’s obsession with luxury and instant gratification. Some might have described these lyrics as crappy and corny, yet I think it’s an incredibly clever way to satirically mock certain things about today’s society. And ironically, the people who the lyrics are about seem to be barking the loudest about how “bad” these lines are.
Then there’s “Father Figure”, a fascinating interpolation of George Michael’s classic. While Michael’s version explores romantic devotion, Swift’s take transforms it into a mentorship story, exploring power dynamics and emotional shifts between teacher and protégé.
And of course, the title track “The Life of a Showgirl”. A collaboration between Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. Ever since Sabrina Carpenter was an opener for The Eras Tour, fans have been begging for a collaboration. Their wishes came true, because the two Showgirls close up Swift’s album together with this beautiful track.
Overall, The Life of a Showgirl is irresistibly catchy, layered with surprisingly thoughtful lyrics, and proves yet again that Swift is both a pop genius and a literary mind in disguise.
Now the Sky Is Opalite
Compared to Swift’s previous album, The Tortured Poets Department, her new album feels like stepping out of a storm into sunlight. TTPD was raw and melancholic—filled with pain, poetry, and heartbreak. She has explained she felt miserable in the times she wrote that album. In contrast, Showgirl sparkles with joy, confidence, and just the right dose of sass.
In “Opalite,” Taylor reflects on finding happiness after hardship, having to get through dark periods of time in order to see the light again. “Opalite is man-made opal,” she explains. “You also had to make your own happiness in your life, you had to get yourself through some difficult times to get to the positive place you are in now” From sleeping in the onyx night to the sky being Opalite, the song beautifully captures her personal rebirth.
And indeed, she seems happier than ever, newly engaged to football star Travis Kelce. The world can’t stop cheering for them; the internet practically melted when the engagement news dropped. Swift, it seems, is in her glow era.
The End of an Era
To celebrate the release, a short documentary played in select theaters during the first few days of The Life of a Showgirl's debut. But, in true Taylor fashion, that wasn’t all. On December 12th (of course it’s the 12th again), Swift is also releasing a docuseries chronicling the making of The Eras Tour.
One era ends, another begins and Swift, as always, is already one step ahead.