Charli XCX Posts Cryptic Video Amid Rumored Taylor Swift Feud

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Perhaps Charli XCX can work it out on the remix.

With rumors swirling that Taylor Swift‘s new album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, includes a song seemingly about her, the singer behind the hit “Girl, so confusing” recently shared a glimpse into how she makes her own music.

On October 5th, Charli posted a brief video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a recording studio. The video showed an engineer working at the mixing board, and featured the sound of strings building up before two quick notes were played.

Charli, whose full name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, didn’t say much about the musical event, only adding a heart emoji to her post.

After Taylor Swift’s new album came out on October 3rd, fans quickly noticed that the song “Actually Romantic” seemed to be a reply to Charli’s song “Sympathy Is a Knife” from her 2024 album, brat.

Taylor Swift’s song includes the lines, ‘I heard you call me ‘Boring Barbie’ when you’ve had a little courage from drinking,’ and ‘You high-fived my ex, then told me you were happy he stopped talking to me, and even wrote a song about how disgusted you are to see me.’

Charli has said her song “Sympathy Is a Knife” is about her personal insecurities. However, some fans wondered if the lyrics hinted at Taylor Swift’s short relationship with Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975. (Charli later married George Daniel, who is also in The 1975, in July.)

Singing along to the beat, Charli expressed her dislike of seeing her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend at his concert. She secretly hoped they would split up soon.

While talking about her new album, 35-year-old Taylor explained where she got the idea for the song “The Life of a Showgirl” during an interview with Amazon Music.

As a big fan, I’ve been following this artist closely, and I love how she described her song ‘Actually Romantic’! She explained it’s about the shock of discovering someone secretly held a grudge against you – a one-sided rivalry you were completely unaware of. Then, suddenly, they start overdoing it, making it clear you were constantly on their mind, and you had no clue! It’s such a relatable feeling, and she captures it perfectly.

Taylor added, “It’s quite sweet to realize someone has included you so significantly in their life, especially when you hadn’t considered it before. When you think about it, it’s actually really romantic.”

For more Easter eggs from The Life of a Showgirl, keep reading…

The first song on Taylor Swift’s album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, alludes to Ophelia, a character from William Shakespeare’s play *Hamlet*, and her unfortunate story.

As a huge fan, I always understood that song to mean Taylor was incredibly sad, to the point where she felt like she was going under. But then, her real love came along and saved her from that darkness – it’s such a powerful image!

“I heard you calling / On the megaphone,” Taylor sings. “You wanna see me all alone.”

The song seems to reference Travis Kelce playfully teasing Taylor Swift on his podcast, *New Heights*, about her not being able to meet up with him during her Eras Tour – which is actually how they first connected.

“I swore loyalty to me, myself and I,” the lyrics continue. “Right before you lit my sky up.”

Before she started dating Travis, Taylor had recently ended things with Matty Healy and had publicly described herself as self-reliant in July 2023.

But after Travis went to her concert in Kansas City that same month, sparks began to fly.

Taylor’s fiancé is now part of her tradition of hiding clues for fans. Back in July, he hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” on Instagram, sharing pictures with Taylor and joking that they’d been having fun and keeping things authentic (“Kept it [100]”).

How does this relate to Taylor Swift’s song? The lyrics say, “You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it one hundred,” which explains the connection.

In the second song on the album, Taylor pays tribute to the iconic Elizabeth Taylor, referencing places the actress loved, like the Plaza Athénée in Paris and Musso & Frank’s in Los Angeles.

Taylor’s lyrics also compare her to Elizabeth Taylor. Similar to how Taylor Swift is often in the news for her relationships and style, Elizabeth Taylor was frequently a headline-maker for the same reasons.

But, as Taylor notes in her song, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me.”

In the cheerful song “Opalite,” which Travis Kelce has said is his favorite from Taylor Swift’s *Showgirl* era, Taylor sings about their relationship.

Taylor has experienced a lot of heartbreak in the past, but her relationship with Travis feels peaceful and serene, like a calm, shimmering sky.

She shared on Capital radio that she’d noted down ‘opalite’ after discovering it’s a synthetic opal. Since Travis’ birthstone is opal, she’d always been drawn to it and really liked the stone.

She explained the gemstone’s meaning, saying, “I saw it as a metaphor – just like the opal is created by people, happiness can be too.”

But some fans believe Taylor subtly referenced Travis Kelce’s former girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, in her song. They think the lyrics suggest Kelce felt like he was just an accessory in photos on her social media.

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about connection lately, and this really hits home. It’s heartbreaking to realize someone you care about just *didn’t get it* – why you were feeling so isolated. It’s like they were truly present in the moment, while the other person was completely lost in their phone. It’s a painful disconnect, isn’t it? It really highlights how important it is to *be* present with the people we love, and to truly *see* them.

The lyrics describe a fleeting relationship, questioning the authenticity of love and effort put into it. It suggests someone walked away, and highlights the cyclical nature of desire – feeling a deep need, then suddenly not needing anymore.

Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the songwriters for the song “Showgirl.” However, the late George Michael is also credited on “Father Figure” because that song samples his 1987 hit of the same title.

Taylor Swift’s team showed their support by posting on Instagram on October 2nd, thanking her for including George in a memorable moment.

Many fans believe the first part of the song is told from the point of view of Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records, who sold Taylor Swift’s original recordings to Scooter Braun. They think the song then shifts to Taylor’s perspective as she takes back ownership of her music.

Taylor herself admitted that the song was “written in character.”

She mentioned on BBC Radio 1 that writing the piece was enjoyable. She explained it explores the concept of a father figure in a new way, using it to discuss power, how power is organized, and how those dynamics can be reversed.

She’s particularly pleased with a risqué line referencing a deal with the devil, boasting about having a larger anatomy.

Okay, so we’re at track five on *Showgirl*, and honestly, this is where things get *real*. Like, everyone knows Taylor puts her most devastating, gut-wrenching songs right here on the album – it’s a pattern! I’m already bracing myself, because this is where she just…rips your heart out. I’ve been waiting for this moment since I first heard the album was coming!

In her song “Eldest Daughter,” Taylor Swift reflects on the ups and downs of life, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to her family – her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, and her brother, Austin Swift.

The song emphasizes loyalty and strength, stating, ‘I’m not someone who causes trouble, and this isn’t about being ruthless. I will always be there for you, and I’ll never abandon you.’ It acknowledges the presence of disloyal people, but reaffirms a commitment to keeping a promise.

The sixth track on the album *Showgirl* recounts a missed romantic opportunity and the lingering sadness that follows. The song evokes a feeling of wistful remembrance, with lyrics like, “Have fun, it’s prom / Wilted corsage dangles from my wrist… / And it was not an invitation / But as the 50 Cent song played / Should’ve kissed you anyway.” It’s a story of regret, wishing someone had taken a chance on a connection.

Taylor Swift references her close friend, Abigail Anderson – who inspired the song “Fifteen” – in poignant lyrics about losing touch and facing difficult news: “When I left school, I lost track of you / Abigail called me with the bad news / Goodbye, and we’ll never know why.”

Many fans believe the heartbreaking song is about Taylor Swift’s friend, Jeff Lang, who passed away in 2010. He’s also thought to be the inspiration behind her earlier song, “Forever Winter.”

In the 2021 released song, she sings about being unaware of someone’s struggles, admitting she’d be devastated if that person wasn’t in her life. She reflects on being too young to understand things improve, promising to be a constant source of happiness, but fearing a perpetual sadness if they leave.

Despite its title, “Actually Romantic” isn’t really a love song. Instead, it’s Taylor Swift’s lyrical response to someone who apparently talks about her a lot.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: she happily greeted her ex, and then her current partner admitted to being relieved when the ex stopped contacting her. The partner even wrote a song about disliking Taylor’s presence, which she finds strangely endearing, though she acknowledges it might upset some people.

Taylor Swift doesn’t often share the real-life inspirations behind her songs, but many fans think this one was about Charli XCX. Charli opened for Taylor on the Reputation Tour and is also friends with Taylor’s former boyfriend, Matty, and his partner, Gabbriette Bechtel.

After Charli released her album *brat* in June 2024—Charli is married to George Daniel, who plays in the band The 1975—some people thought her song “Sympathy is a Knife” was a diss track aimed at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor appeared to dismiss those rumors by publicly complimenting Charli’s work.

Taylor Swift shared her admiration for Charli XCX, recalling being impressed by her musical talent since first hearing ‘Stay Away’ in 2011. In an interview with *New York* magazine, Swift praised Charli’s consistently creative and unexpected songwriting, noting her ability to take songs in surprising directions and applauding her dedication over the past decade.

Okay, so I think I’ve cracked another clue about Taylor and Charli! I was looking at Taylor’s Spotify cover, and she’s *holding an apple*! Doesn’t that sound familiar? It’s totally a nod to Charli’s song, the one that blew up in 2024! I’m telling you, this is definitely about them, Taylor is leaving us breadcrumbs everywhere!

TopMob News has reached out to reps for comment on the speculation and has not heard back.

On the very top of Taylor’s wish list? A forever with Travis. That includes starting a family.

“I just want you,” she sings. “Have a couple kids / Got the whole block looking like you.”

The artist even admitted it’s one of her favorite tracks on the album. 

She explained to Magic radio that recording that particular song signaled the end of the album. She described it as a deeply emotional and honest reflection of her current life, and felt it marked a natural conclusion to the project.

Taylor says hoping for a romantic connection never worked for her in the past. But now that she’s with Travis, she feels so secure that she doesn’t even feel the need to rely on luck.

In the song, she sings that she doesn’t need to catch the wedding bouquet to realize a difficult time is coming.

She was correct – Taylor and Travis got engaged in August 2025, after dating for two years.

The song features suggestive lyrics and also references *New Heights*, the show Taylor says brought her and Travis together.

In the tenth song, Taylor supports someone who’s facing public backlash, drawing on her own past experiences with being criticized.

She warned, “Let’s leave now, because people will panic when they see us.” She then added, almost to herself, “It’s actually good my friends bailed – I prefer them mysterious and a little bit rebellious.”

People have guessed the song might be about Taylor Swift’s friendships with Brittany Mahomes or Blake Lively, which have sometimes been criticized.

The singer explained that her perspective comes from understanding what it’s like to face public struggles, possibly referencing the highly publicized conflict between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2016.

After personally facing intense public scrutiny and being involved in several highly publicized, controversial situations throughout my career—times when it felt like everyone had an opinion—it’s changed how I navigate life now, making me approach things a bit differently.

Taylor added that seeing others face challenges often makes you realize they’ll likely grow from the experience. If they can overcome those difficulties, they’ll become stronger and wiser as a result.

Ultimately, ‘Cancelled!’ is about my refusal to simply abandon someone because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions of people based on their behavior and how they treat me personally.

As lovely as the name suggests, honey is a central theme in Taylor Swift’s eleventh song. She explains that Travis Kelce has changed the meaning of words like ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart’ for her – instead of bringing up painful memories, they now make her think of him.

Taylor sings about feeling hopeful and loved, saying that being called ‘honey’ brightens everything up. She paints a picture of warm summer days and suggests she’s the person her lover desires.

In fact, Travis did call Taylor “sweetie” during her debut appearance on New Heights in August.

For her final act, Taylor teamed up with friend Sabrina Carpenter.

The song “Elizabeth Taylor” offers a look at the life of a showgirl, revealing that even though it appears glamorous, there are always sacrifices. An experienced performer shares this reality with a rising star.

The song’s words create a vivid image: a woman declares she’d give anything for a truly fulfilling life, one that’s all her own. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls, who are often discarded and forgotten.

Finally, after experiencing what it’s like to be a showgirl, the performers come together for a closing bow, cheerfully saying, “That’s all folks! We appreciate you, and goodnight!”

The song is about encountering someone you admire, but instead of being inspiring, they actually advise you *not* to pursue the same path, simply because they want to be truthful about the difficulties of the entertainment industry. Despite the warning, the song’s narrator still chooses to follow their dreams.

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2025-10-06 00:49