Latest news with #TheTorturedPoetsDepartment
The South African
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Taylor Swift shares insights on 'The Life of a Showgirl'
Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl , set for release on 3 October 2025. She revealed the details during an episode of the New Heights podcast hosted by her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason. Expect 12 tracks, a sharp contrast to her previous album The Tortured Poets Department , which included 31 songs, according to The Guardian. The Life of a Showgirl features a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. The cover was remniscient of George Michael's 1987 hit Father Figure. Recorded during Swift's global Eras tour, which was the world's first billion-dollar tour and grossed over USD 2 billion (R 36 billion) in 21 months. The album reflects what was happening in her inner life behind the scenes. Taylor Swift described the new work as 'infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic.' She said the energy of that era comes through the songs. 'This is the record I've been wanting to make for a very long time,' she told the Kelce brothers. She emphasised quality and focus, saying the album's 12 songs fit together like a 'perfect puzzle,' with no bonus tracks planned. Taylor Swift declared: 'I wanted melodies that are so infectious you're almost angry at it' and 'lyrics that are vivid but crisp and completely intentional.' The Life of a Showgirl reunites Swift with famed Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback. They are known for their work on her hit albums Red , 1989 , and Reputation . Swift credited them as 'geniuses' behind some of her favourite songs like Shake It Off. The album cover reflects a glamorous, showgirl-inspired theme, highlighting the dual life of a performer. Taylor Swift said it symbolises 'my day ends with me in a bathtub,' capturing what was happening 'behind the curtain.' The album's tracklist includes titles such as The Fate of Ophelia , Elizabeth Taylor , Eldest Daughter , Ruin the Friendship , and the title track The Life of a Showgirl. With the album dropping in October, anticipation is building for what promises to be a vibrant addition to Swift's illustrious career. As she said, 'Every song on this album is there for hundreds of reasons. It's just right.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Promises Showgirl Will Stay at 12 Songs — & Fans Think She's Addressing Something Bigger
Taylor Swift is putting her foot down on her next era — at least for now. During her New Heights podcast appearance alongside Travis Kelce earlier this week, Swift made a point to clarify that The Life of a Showgirl, her forthcoming 12th studio album, will feature exactly 12 songs. No deluxe edition teased, no bonus tracks hinted at, no endless carousel of vinyl colorways. Just 12. For a star who's been both celebrated and criticized for her multi-edition rollouts, the comment landed with extra weight. On Reddit, fans immediately connected it to backlash Swift has faced in recent years, particularly during The Tortured Poets Department. That album not only arrived as a surprise double release but also came with a flood of vinyl variants — a strategy that drew fire for both its cost to fans and its environmental footprint. More from SheKnows 13 Showgirl-Orange Pieces That'll Get You Ready for Taylor Swift's Latest Album & Era - Starting at Just $10 'I actually believe this on the basis that a lot of this album and its concept seem to be a response to the criticism of TTPD,' one fan wrote. 'Overly verbose, overly long, overly overwrought lyrics on TTPD to a tight 12 track pop album sounds about right.' Another added more bluntly: 'TTPD had way too many songs and all the variants was ridiculous.' The shift isn't just coming from Swift, either. In April 2025 — about a year after the TTPD variant avalanche — Billboard finally stepped in, capping the number of editions that can count toward the charts at four. It was a clear move to stop the cycle of endless covers, bonus tracks, and bundle tricks that made fans feel squeezed and critics cry 'manipulation.' As one fan put it, 'I hope this means the variants that are out now are the only ones, and she took the criticism of 'variant overload' to heart. The planet thanks her.' This isn't the first time Swift's release strategy has been tangled in larger debates. In May 2024, she dropped new editions of TTPD the day before Billie Eilish's latest album, prompting speculation that Swift was responding to Eilish's public critique of wasteful vinyl practices. Whether intentional or not, it solidified Swift's reputation as an artist unafraid to multiply her product lines — much to the dismay of eco-conscious fans. Now, the deliberate simplicity of Showgirl feels pointed. 'Do you guys think she will release a variant every few weeks for the next five months?' one commenter asked. 'I hope she doesn't. That felt very very greedy to me.' Another said they were simply relieved: 'I STILL haven't gotten a hold of everything from TTPD or Midnights. The oversaturation just makes me feel like I'm missing out.' Of course, Swifties are also reading the numbers. Twelve isn't random in Swift's world: it's her 12th album, arriving on October 3, and fans have long pointed out her love of numerology and coded significance. 'This era is filled with her listening to criticism,' a Redditor argued. 'I would put money on her not adding ANY songs to the album. She would not have said that unless she was certain.' Whether The Life of a Showgirl truly stops at 12 tracks remains to be seen. But for now, Swift's bluntness suggests a new kind of restraint — and fans can't help but wonder if the message is as much about the music as it is about the criticism that's followed her. And, if you're looking for signs, it doesn't hurt that her pared-back new era officially arrives on October 3 — a date forever immortalized in Mean Girls. For Swifties, it might just be another wink that she knows exactly what she's doing. Before you go, click to see all of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's cutest PDA moments. Best of SheKnows 20 Times Madonna Reinvented Fashion at the VMAs The Best Photos of Madonna & Lookalike Daughter Lourdes Through The Years 22 Famous Women Who Have Played Roxie in Chicago on Broadway Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift shocks boyfriend's brother on podcast with big announcement
Taylor Swift surprised fans — and her boyfriend's brother — with a major announcement. Swift revealed her 12th studio album, titled 'The Life of a Showgirl,' on Travis and Jason Kelce's 'New Heights' podcast intentionally on Aug. 12 at 12:12 a.m. 'I wanted to show you something,' Swift said in a clip from the episode before pulling out a mint green briefcase with the letters 'T.S.' Swift then revealed the album cover, which was blurred out. Jason screamed with excitement as Travis shouted, 'TS 12.' 'The Life of a Showgirl' is available for pre-order on Swift's website. The album will serve as the follow-up to the singer's 11th studio album, 'The Tortured Poets Department,' which dropped in 2024. More music content Country legend, 92, wows fans with 'once-in-a-lifetime' performance Legendary rock duo's longwinded legal battle resolved Rock icon says band's tour 'is the last time you will see us' Country music star cancels shows 'to rest and focus on my health' Country star once signed fan's fake leg at concert: 'That was kind of fun' Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Euronews
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Why we're a little worried about Taylor Swift's new era
How long can Swifties like me survive without their regular dose of Taylor Swift? This is a question that will possibly never find an answer, as it appears there hasn't been a single week without Swift-related news in the last decade or so. The superstar took everybody by surprise three days ago when she announced the upcoming release of her 12th studio album, 'The Life of a Showgirl.' The next day, she appeared on 'New Heights', the podcast hosted by her partner Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, to reveal the details of the album. Une publication partagée par New Heights (@newheightshow) Upon first hearing the news on Tuesday, I admit my initial reaction was one of skepticism and perplexity. I had barely had any time to recover from Swift's last album, the gargantuan 'The Tortured Poets Department', and from the equally massive Eras Tour, and it was already time to dive into a new era? What if I wasn't ready for it? There hasn't been a single year without a Taylor Swift album since the 2019 release of 'Lover.' Between original outputs and re-recordings, it seemed like my favourite popstar was engulfed in an ever-expanding spiral of musical delivery. It was sometimes for the better. The 2021 release of 'All Too Well (10 Minute Version)' - as part of the 'Red' album's re-recording - thrilled fans beyond measure. I genuinely surprised myself when I sang the whole thing without missing a single beat during the Eras Tour's first night in Paris. On the other hand, there was 'The Tortured Poets Department', with its 140 minutes running-length and 35 songs, half of which have long disappeared from my brain. The album was akin to 'a data dump of everything I thought or felt in two or three years', the singer said on 'New Heights'. Taylor Swift ended her record-breaking Eras Tour in December 2024 after 149 shows over nearly two years. If there was any moment for her to take a break, this seemed like the ideal time. I naively thought she would perhaps focus on her feature film directorial debut, which was first announced in 2022. I also hoped a pause would steer her away from some unpleasant habits. Taylor Swift has reached a point in her craftsmanship and stardom that has made some of her recent art feel a bit too comfortable... On 'Midnights' and 'The Tortured Poets Department', both largely produced with longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, her sound sometimes lacked brilliance. And while she remains a lyrical prodigy, her tendency to rely on underdog and revenge narratives to constantly rewrite her own mythology felt self-indulgent. Above all, after the Eras Tour, I wanted to be able to miss her and her music. But this is obviously not who she is. Taylor Swift is a hard worker if there ever there was one. She writes and produces her own songs, directs her music videos, and designs every aspect of her visual identity. She is a pop mastermind who drops Easter Eggs years in advance for her fans to dissect. Most importantly, she is a free artist - even more so since she recently acquired her long sought-after master recordings. Basically, if she wanted to put out an album every six months, she would, and we would have to get on with it. The most recent details revealed about 'The Life of a Showgirl' have reassured me somewhat. The new album will contain only 12 songs without any bonus tracks, for once. Swift described it as 'focused' and 'just right', which I truly hope it will be. 'I tend to love to write lots and lots of music, so it's a temptation to release lots of music,' she said on 'New Heights'. 'I wanted to do an album that was so focused on quality and on the theme and everything fitting together like a perfect puzzle.' Une publication partagée par Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) Swift made the record during the Eras Tour and it is meant to capture the effervescence of her life at that moment. I am genuinely curious to discover how she tackled the tribulations of her stardom - a theme she masterly approached on the song 'Clara Bow', from 'The Tortured Poets Department'. Swift also said that 'The Life of a Showgirl' would incorporate 'folklore'-style storytelling. With its vivid character-led verses, her surprise 2020 album – and its sister LP 'evermore' - remains a lyrical gem. If this spirit is infused in her next release, that can only be a good omen. Like most Swifties, I will follow Taylor Swift wherever she goes musically. I am ready to hop over the stage and take a look behind the curtain. I just hope she takes us somewhere fun and unexpected, a place I couldn't have imagined. Not even in my wildest dreams. Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' is out on 3 October 2025.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Taylor Swift's Album Of The Year Winner Returns Amidst New Music Excitement
Taylor Swift has made it abundantly clear that the latter half of 2025 will belong to her. The singer-songwriter recently announced a new album, The Life of a Showgirl, and in short order shared both its brightly-hued cover and its October 3 release date. Before any music from her latest era has been released, speculation about a new chapter has helped many of Swift's most popular projects rise in the United Kingdom, and one of her more recent sets returns to the most important list. Midnights Returns to the U.K. Albums Chart Midnights finds its way back to the Official Albums chart, the U.K.'s list that details the 100 most consumed full-lengths and EPs in the country. This frame, Swift's bestseller reenters at No. 92. Folklore, The Tortured Poets Department, Reputation and Lover With Midnights back on the all-encompassing Official Albums chart, Swift now claims five wins this week. Her other four titles — Folklore, The Tortured Poets Department, Reputation, and Lover — all climb from where they sat last time. This frame, they appear at Nos. 34, 49, 72, and 75, respectively. Midnights Spent Five Weeks at No. 1 Midnights has not been absent from the Official Albums chart for long. The project last appeared in late June of this year, ending a years-long winning streak that began in May 2023. Swift launched Midnights at No. 1 in November 2022. The project spent five frames leading the tally and a total of 57 turns somewhere between Nos. 1 and 10. Half a Dozen Streaming Successes As Midnights returns to the Official Albums chart, it also improves on the Official Albums Streaming ranking, pushing from No. 92 to No. 84. Swift fills half a dozen spots on that roster, as all five of her titles that live on the main albums tally are also streaming winners. 1989 also joins in on the run, as it rises from No. 99 to No. 97 on the streaming-only list, but fails to reenter the main albums list. Midnights Produced Eight Hit Songs Eight songs from Midnights reached the Official Singles chart during promotion of the title, but only 'Anti-Hero' but No. 1, where it spent six frames. 'Snow on the Beach,' her collaboration with Lana Del Rey, and 'Lavender Haze' also spent time inside the top 10, peaking at Nos. 4 and 3, respectively. Including deluxe editions of the full-length, the project produced additional top 40 wins like 'Karma,' 'Hits Different,' and 'You're Losing Me.'
