So… Taylor Swift is Releasing a New Album

Me in my Red (Taylor’s Version) cardigan, with a mini Red cardigan my coworker made for me!

As an avid Swiftie, it was no surprise when my phone began buzzing on August 13. Nothing makes a girl feel more special than a friend who understands her obsession with a blonde pop artist.

“OH.MY. GOD.”

“Missy, SHE’S MOVING!”

Taylor Swift announced her new studio album “The Life of a Showgirl” on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce’s, podcast. Even though I am quite a fan, I have to admit that I heard about the announcement by watching clips on TikTok and Instagram because sports podcasts are not exactly up my alley, and I still have nightmares about the long, drawn-out quest she sent us on during the Super Bowl.

Nevertheless, I was excited to see that she is putting out a new record. I have been a fan of Taylor since the debut era, so I’ve definitely watched pretty closely as her image has shifted and changed throughout the years. Even though the moody aesthetic of Midnights and the dark subject matter of the Tortured Poets Department both shocked me, I really think that this transition is the most interesting to me.

I think, like many other fans who have seen Taylor fall headfirst into love, we expected a Lover 2.0 on the horizon when we heard about this release. So I couldn’t help but curl a smirk seeing her vibrant blue and orange cover, where she lay submerged in water.

She’s dove headfirst into the showgirl aesthetic, with the pearls to the feather to the vibrant, bright red blush. The commitment to character almost made me curious if she was going to go full Folklore character mode this time around. Something I would be pleasantly surprised by as the #1 fan of the song The Last Great American Dynasty and the dynamic trio of Betty, Cardigan, and August on Folklore.

Taylor is an excellent storyteller, whether it’s her stories she’s telling or not, but I believe that she has a unique talent for taking us through an adventure that seems far, far away. Seeing names like Elizabeth Taylor and Ophelia on the record has me hopeful that we will hear beautiful winding stories that take us out of the mind of Taylor Swift and into the life of someone new, through her eyes.

As I wait for the new release, I can’t help but see myself fall back into the pattern of listening back to her old music (since she owns it now, too!), and wondering where this album will fit in my ranking. Although I fell victim to the midnight release of the album and vinyl (it’s for my collection, I swear), I am holding out to see what she has up her sleeve this fall for further releases and special editions, because we know there will be many.

Being a Taylor Swift fan often reminds me why I am so attached to my fangirl experience. The collective excitement, the connection that comes with waiting for every snippet, every hint, and every music video. There’s always something to talk about, to cry about, to relate to that makes everyone around feel just a little bi.t closer. Not too long ago, I sat on the floor of a dimly lit, small local venue with a friend, eyes fixed on the ceiling as I listened to The Tortured Poets Department for the first time. All the exchanged smiles and shocked looks remain close to my heart as I mark “interested” on several local celebrations taking place in my area this time around, and I cannot wait to see what moments this era holds for me.

Check out my pre-listen tracklist ranking below! Do we have any predictions in common?