Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl Earns $135 Million in First Week

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Taylor Swift is keeping it 100 million on the land, the sea and the skies, actually. 

Actually, The Life of a Showgirl sold even better than expected in its first week. Billboard estimates Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album earned around $135 million from sales of over four million copies – a record-breaking number.

Taylor Swift hasn’t commented on how much money her new album has earned, but she did celebrate its incredible sales. The album broke a record previously held by Adele’s 25 from 2015. Swift compared this success to the 40,000 copies she sold of her very first album, Taylor Swift.

Looking back, I was only 16 and couldn’t imagine so many people would be interested in my music enough to really listen and support it,” she shared in an Instagram post on October 13th. “Ever since then, I’ve made an effort to thank as many of the people as possible who helped me pursue this incredible dream. And now, after all these years, even more people showed their support this week – it’s amazing!”

She expressed immense gratitude to her fans, saying she had millions of thank yous to give and even more reasons to be proud of her album.

Honestly, anyone who hasn’t loved her album? Taylor just completely dismissed all the negativity, like all the haters are just… irrelevant. She totally doesn’t even care what the critics say, and it’s amazing to watch. She just brushes it all off!

She explained in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music October 7th that simply mentioning her name or album title during its first week of release is a huge help. She also shared that she respects everyone’s opinion on art, stating, ‘I’m not the art police – everyone is allowed to feel however they want.’ She believes the role of an entertainer is to reflect what people are feeling.

No matter what people think of her latest album, Taylor isn’t letting it change how they see her overall – she wants to be judged on her entire career, not just one project.

Okay, seriously, she gets it. She gets it! She said making an album is like, a total deep dive into who you are, and it’s not something she’s doing casually – it’s FOREVER. It’s all about how people will remember her music, and honestly? She knows this album is amazing. She adores it, and so do I, obviously! It’s just… perfect.

The 35-year-old even admitted that the mixed reviews are an important flower in her lovely bouquet. 

“On the theme of what ‘the showgirl’ is,” she explained, “all of this is part of it.”

For a deeper look into what makes up 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, who experiences a heartbreaking story.

The song suggests Taylor could have been overwhelmed by sadness if her partner hadn’t helped her through it.

“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 – a detail about how their relationship started.

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

Before she met Travis, Taylor had recently ended things with Matty Healy and had described herself as an “independent girlie” 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 participating in her tradition of hiding clues, or “Easter eggs,” for fans. Back in July, he hinted at lyrics from her song “The Fate of Ophelia” on Instagram, playfully captioning photos of them together with a reference to their summer activities and saying he was “keeping it real.”

How does this relate to Taylor’s song? The lyrics say, “You rescued me from a really dark place and saved my heart, just like the story of Ophelia / I’m being completely honest.”

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. Just like Taylor experiences today, Elizabeth was frequently in the news for everything—her relationships and even what she wore.

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 by Taylor Swift, she 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 lab-created opal. Since Travis’s birthstone is opal, she’d always been drawn to it and really liked the stone.

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

Okay, so there’s definitely some drama unfolding, and as a Swiftie, I’m here for it! People are convinced Taylor subtly called out Travis Kelce’s ex, Kayla Nicole, in her new song. Apparently, the lyrics suggest Travis used to feel like he was just an accessory in her Instagram photos, which is…a lot! It’s all speculation, of course, but it’s fueling the fire, and honestly, I’m obsessed with decoding it all.

She sings, as if addressing him, about a disconnect: ‘You didn’t get it, you couldn’t understand why you felt so lonely. You were truly invested, while she was distracted by her phone.’

You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about relationships lately, and this song really hits home. It’s about realizing someone wasn’t truly there – they were just playing a role, a facade. We pour everything we have into trying to make love work, giving it our absolute all. But sometimes, someone just walks away. And it’s almost… freeing. It’s like this simple realization: when you’re constantly giving and feeling empty, it’s exhausting. You’re depleted until you finally aren’t. It’s a powerful reminder to recognize when a connection isn’t genuine and to prioritize your own well-being.

Taylor, Max Martin, and Shellback are officially listed as the writers of “Showgirl.” However, George Michael is also credited on the song “Father Figure” because it incorporates a section from his 1987 hit of the same name, and this credit is being given posthumously.

Taylor Swift’s team showed their support, with George’s team posting on Instagram on October 2nd, “Thank you @taylorswift for including George in such a special 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 originally sold Taylor Swift’s master recordings to Scooter Braun. They think the song then shifts to Taylor’s perspective as she works to regain 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, allowing her to discuss power, how power is organized, and how those dynamics can be reversed.

Honestly, I was a little shocked, but also impressed, by one line in particular. She’s really owning this bit about making deals with the devil, and the way she delivers it – saying ‘my dk’s bigger’ – is just…bold. She’s clearly very confident and isn’t afraid to push boundaries, and I respect that.

We’re now at the fifth track on Taylor Swift’s album, Showgirl. Traditionally, this is where she places her most emotionally raw and sad songs.

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

The song emphasizes loyalty and strength, stating, ‘I’m not someone who causes trouble, and this isn’t ruthless behavior, I’ll always be there for you.’ It continues, promising unwavering support: ‘I won’t ever abandon you, despite those who betray or manipulate. I’ll always keep my promise.’

The sixth track on the album Showgirl is about looking back on a missed romantic opportunity with regret. The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia, recalling a prom night moment: “Have fun, it’s prom / A wilted corsage hangs from my wrist / I glanced over his shoulder / And saw… you looking at me / It wasn’t an invitation, / But as the 50 Cent song played, / I should’ve kissed you anyway.”

Taylor Swift references her close friend Abigail Anderson – who inspired the song “Fifteen” – in poignant lyrics about loss. She sings about losing touch after school and receiving news from Abigail that something was wrong, expressing a sense of unanswered questions and finality: “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 late 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 song from her Red album, she sings about being devastated by a breakup, admitting, “I didn’t know you were hurting, and I would fall apart without you.” She also reflects on being naive about healing, saying she’d be a constant source of happiness if her partner stayed, but would face endless sadness if they left.

Despite its title, ‘Actually Romantic’ isn’t really a love song. Instead, it’s a song written as a reaction to someone who, the lyrics suggest, talks about Taylor Swift a lot.

Taylor sings about a confusing situation: she recently high-fived her ex, and then you expressed relief that he’d cut off contact with her. He even wrote a song about how much he dislikes her, which she finds strangely endearing, though she acknowledges some people might find it offensive.

Taylor Swift doesn’t often share the real-life inspirations behind her songs, but many fans think a recent 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 dig at Taylor Swift. But two months later, Taylor seemed to dismiss those rumors by publicly complimenting Charli’s work.

Taylor Swift shared that she’s been impressed with Charli XCX’s musical talent ever since hearing her song ‘Stay Away’ back in 2011. In an interview with New York magazine published on August 26th, Swift praised Charli’s songwriting as unique and imaginative, noting her ability to take songs in unexpected directions consistently for over ten years. Swift expressed her admiration for Charli’s dedication and success.

Fans are speculating about another possible connection to Charli XCX. Taylor Swift’s Spotify cover art features an apple, which is the title of Charli’s hit song from 2024.

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 process. She described it as a deeply emotional track that honestly reflected her current life situation, leading her to feel the project was complete.

I’ve always thought wishing on stars was a bit silly – it certainly never worked for Taylor when it came to finding love! But honestly, seeing her with Travis, it feels different. She seems so genuinely happy and secure that she doesn’t even need to worry about jinxing things with good luck charms anymore. It’s just… wonderful to see.

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, two years after they started dating.

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

In the tenth song, Taylor shares how she’s supporting someone who’s facing public backlash, drawing from her own 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 that my friends bailed – I prefer them hidden away, living a glamorous and slightly scandalous life.”

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

Oh my gosh, she finally talked about where this whole vibe comes from! It’s because she feels things so deeply, you guys. She said it all started when she went through her own tough time being in the public eye – and honestly, it totally reminded me of everything that happened with Kim and Kanye back in 2016! It’s like she gets it, you know? She really gets it.

After going through a lot of public scrutiny and being involved in highly publicized, controversial situations throughout my career – times when it felt like everyone was sharing their opinion – it’s changed how I navigate life now.

I’ve always admired how Taylor sees things. She was saying that when people face challenges, it’s almost like you root for them to grow from it. It’s like you believe going through tough times actually makes people wiser – if they can handle it, they really learn and become stronger because of the experience.

Ultimately, “Cancelled!” is about my refusal to automatically dismiss someone simply because others disapprove of them. I form my own opinions based on how people behave towards me and their individual actions.

As pleasant as the name suggests, honey truly is sweet. In the eleventh song on the album, Taylor shares that Travis has completely changed the meaning of certain words for her. Words like ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart’ used to bring up negative memories, but now, she associates them with him.

Taylor sings about feeling hopeful and loved, saying that being called ‘honey’ brightens everything up. She imagines 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.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories behind the sparkle. That’s what I love about the song – it really captures the world of a showgirl, and specifically how it connects to the ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ narrative. It’s easy to see the glamour, but this song hints at the sacrifices made along the way. It’s like a seasoned performer passing on a little wisdom to someone just starting out – a reminder that everything comes at a price.

The song’s words tell a story of a woman longing for a wonderful life, one that’s completely her own – she’d even give anything to experience it. But the lyrics point out that’s not the reality for showgirls; they’re often discarded and forgotten.

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

The song is about encountering someone you admire, and them surprisingly advising you not to pursue the same path. They’re just being real about how difficult the industry can be, but you decide to follow your dreams anyway, she explained to Magic radio.

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2025-10-28 19:19