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Taylor Swift may have shattered records with the release of her highly anticipated new album, but not everyone is impressed with her latest batch of lyrics. Variety recently spotlighted what it called “the most quotable lines” from tracks like Eldest Daughter, Actually Romantic, and Opalite. Instead of sparking awe, however, many fans on social media are dragging the lyrics as “cringe,” “embarrassing,” and claims that the singer’s best writing is behind her.
Among the excerpts highlighted by Variety were Swift comparing eldest daughters to “the first lamb to the slaughter” in Eldest Daughter, and a biting verse in Actually Romantic that references “Boring Barbie” and ex drama. Another much-discussed lyric from Opalite has Swift confessing, “I had a bad habit of missing lovers past. My brother used to call it, ‘eating out of the trash.’”
Though Variety positioned the lines as evidence of Swift’s bold and unflinching writing, online critics weren’t nearly as kind. One Instagram commenter bluntly wrote, “Omg, this is so cringe.” Another echoed, “This is embarrassing,” as a third wrote, “I actually cackled listening to these lyrics.”
Critics Slam Taylor Swift’s Lyrics While Swifties Call ‘Showgirl’ Brilliant
The backlash didn’t stop there. One fan dismissed the collection entirely, saying, “Her best lyrics are nowhere near this album.” Others suggested Swift’s motivation was more about visibility than artistry, with one writing, “She couldn’t handle being out of the spotlight for one summer.”
Despite the criticism, Swifties continue to defend the star, pointing to her willingness to experiment with imagery and storytelling. One fan proclaimed, “It’s some of her best work omg. She’s such an iconic lyricist literally she’s brilliant.” Another commented, “Wood is the most unserious song. I love it!”
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Dominates the Spotlight
Despite the mixed reviews over her lyricism, Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has already cemented itself as one of the year’s most talked-about releases. Dropping at midnight ET, the album marks her 12th studio effort and was first revealed in August during her fiancé Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast. With 12 tracks, including a title collab with Sabrina Carpenter, the project blends personal storytelling with pop spectacle.
Swift peppers the album with references to cultural icons, name-dropping Elizabeth Taylor and weaving George Michael’s Father Figure into her own song of the same name. Fans have also speculated that Opalite nods directly to Kelce, a lyrical wink at her high-profile romance.
In a heartfelt Instagram post celebrating release night, Swift described the record as a “self portrait,” writing, “I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right.” To build anticipation, she partnered with Apple Music to hide lyrics as secret messages across its platform, while Spotify unveiled snippets at a New York pop-up and plastered billboards worldwide.
