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  • Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is almost here. Here’s what to know

    Lights, camera, action. Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” arrives Friday. Are you ready for it?Swift announced her latest era back in August, when she began teasing the release.Here’s everything you need to know ahead of its drop date: how to stream, which variants exist, and of course, how the album came together. Enjoy the show!How to listen to Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl””The Life of a Showgirl” will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.Fans can pre-save the album ahead of its release on Oct. 3. Pre-saving ensures the new music automatically appears in a fan’s library the moment it is available. It is also a way for an artist to promote streams ahead of the drop date.On Monday, Spotify announced that Swift’s album surpassed five million pre-saves on its platform to become the most pre-saved album in its history. The previous title holder? Her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”In addition to the many streaming options, there will also be a digital-download variant of “The Life of a Showgirl” available via iTunes, featuring a new cover image and a nearly three-minute “exclusive video from Taylor herself detailing inspirations behind the album” labeled “A Look Behind the Curtain.”What physical variants are there?Target is once again a major partner with Swift. Their stores will carry three CD variants, titled “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful” editions. There is also an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King” edition, in “summertime spritz pink shimmer vinyl.” Many Target locations will remain open past midnight on the day of release for superfans to pick up in real time.There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” which features two vinyl variants described as “under bright lights pearlescent vinyl” and “red lipstick & lace transparent vinyl.”There is also “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” in two colorways: “lovely bouquet golden vinyl” and “lakeside beach blue sparkle vinyl.”Then there’s “The Shiny Bug Collection” in “violet shimmer marbled vinyl” and “wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl.”And of course, there is the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume Portofino orange vinyl.”Artwork varies throughout.What do we know about the album so far?Swift partially announced her 12-track new album “The Life of a Showgirl” on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Travis Kelce — Swift’s fiancé and Kansas City Chiefs tight end — and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Sweden while she was on the “Eras Tour” — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album’s title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The entire album was completed with producers Max Martin and Shellback, whom Swift previously collaborated with on 2012’s “Red,” 2014’s “1989” and 2017’s “Reputation.” Her frequent producing partner, Jack Antonoff, was not mentioned.She described the release as full of “bangers.” “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said, agreeing with Travis Kelce when he described the release as “a lot more upbeat” than 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department.”Across the album, there is only one feature listed: the title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” will include Sabrina Carpenter.

    Lights, camera, action. Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” arrives Friday. Are you ready for it?

    Swift announced her latest era back in August, when she began teasing the release.

    Here’s everything you need to know ahead of its drop date: how to stream, which variants exist, and of course, how the album came together. Enjoy the show!

    How to listen to Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl”

    “The Life of a Showgirl” will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

    Fans can pre-save the album ahead of its release on Oct. 3. Pre-saving ensures the new music automatically appears in a fan’s library the moment it is available. It is also a way for an artist to promote streams ahead of the drop date.

    On Monday, Spotify announced that Swift’s album surpassed five million pre-saves on its platform to become the most pre-saved album in its history. The previous title holder? Her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department.”

    In addition to the many streaming options, there will also be a digital-download variant of “The Life of a Showgirl” available via iTunes, featuring a new cover image and a nearly three-minute “exclusive video from Taylor herself detailing inspirations behind the album” labeled “A Look Behind the Curtain.”

    What physical variants are there?

    Target is once again a major partner with Swift. Their stores will carry three CD variants, titled “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful” editions. There is also an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King” edition, in “summertime spritz pink shimmer vinyl.” Many Target locations will remain open past midnight on the day of release for superfans to pick up in real time.

    There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” which features two vinyl variants described as “under bright lights pearlescent vinyl” and “red lipstick & lace transparent vinyl.”

    There is also “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” in two colorways: “lovely bouquet golden vinyl” and “lakeside beach blue sparkle vinyl.”

    Then there’s “The Shiny Bug Collection” in “violet shimmer marbled vinyl” and “wintergreen and onyx marbled vinyl.”

    And of course, there is the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume Portofino orange vinyl.”

    Artwork varies throughout.

    What do we know about the album so far?

    Swift partially announced her 12-track new album “The Life of a Showgirl” on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Travis Kelce — Swift’s fiancé and Kansas City Chiefs tight end — and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.

    In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Sweden while she was on the “Eras Tour” — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album’s title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The entire album was completed with producers Max Martin and Shellback, whom Swift previously collaborated with on 2012’s “Red,” 2014’s “1989” and 2017’s “Reputation.” Her frequent producing partner, Jack Antonoff, was not mentioned.

    She described the release as full of “bangers.” “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said, agreeing with Travis Kelce when he described the release as “a lot more upbeat” than 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department.”

    Across the album, there is only one feature listed: the title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” will include Sabrina Carpenter.

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  • Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce in attendance for Game 1 of ALCS

    Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce in attendance for Game 1 of ALCS

    Thanks, welcome.

    Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce in attendance for Game 1 of Yankees-Guardians series

    Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead StadiumThe New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series. The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.It was the second major sporting event for Swift and Kelce in New York City over the past five-plus weeks. The couple also sat in a box to watch the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 8 in Queens.Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.

    Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.

    Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

    Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead Stadium

    The New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series.

    The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.

    Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.

    Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.

    Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.

    It was the second major sporting event for Swift and Kelce in New York City over the past five-plus weeks. The couple also sat in a box to watch the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 8 in Queens.

    Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.

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  • An Honest Review of Taylor Swift’s New Album, “The Tortured Poet’s Department”

    An Honest Review of Taylor Swift’s New Album, “The Tortured Poet’s Department”

    By now, I’ve expected almost everyone to have streamed Taylor Swift’s new album: The Tortured Poet’s Department. Thanks to Swifties, and those curious to see if the album was about ex Joe Alwyn or ex Matty Healy (hint: both). TTPD broke Spotify’s streaming record in less than 12 hours. And then, two hours after the album released, she dropped a second installment…The girl never sleeps.

    With 14 total albums, The Tortured Poet’s Department is a bit of a stylistic shift from her previous release, Midnights. We’re introduced to a heartbroken Swift, one who embodies vengeance and yearning through synth beats and biting lyrics. Her two features include Post Malone, on “Fortnight”, and Florence and The Machine, on “Florida!!!” You can listen to the album here:

    Produced alongside her go-to squad, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dressner, Swift continues to challenge herself as an artist despite having conquered every accolade. While some songs lay flat (and maybe this has something to do with Antonoff’s production methods), others shine as instantaneous classics amongst Swift’s already impressive, groundbreaking discography.

    The main takeaways from Taylor’s insight on her past few years is that Matty Healy had a much bigger impact on Swift’s story than we thought. We learn that Joe Alwyn cheated on Taylor in Orlando, Florida, and that’s why the state is mentioned so often throughout. And, furthermore, we learn that she still hates Kim Kardashian.

    While this may not be the best album in her extensive collection, there are a handful of gems that stand out. With 31 songs total, The Tortured Poet’s Department can seem a bit redundant at times…and other times, Swift’s voice is often drowned out by stylistic beat choices and synths that don’t make much sense.

    The fire for Swift burns bright throughout the world, but it’s important to note that she’s constantly churning out music. To be in creator-mode 24/7 means that not every song is going to be their best work…It’s statistically impossible, but Taylor will fare well nonetheless.

    This isn’t your average album review, so I won’t delve into every song and lyric that may mean something…but here’s your essential rundown:

    Popdust Hits: “Florida!!!”, “But Daddy I Love Him”, “Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me”, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys”

    Popdust Misses: “Down Bad”, “The Tortured Poets Department”, “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)”, “loml”

    Songs About Joe Alwyn: “Florida!!!”, “So Long, London”, “loml”, “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”, “How Did It End?”

    Songs About Matty Healy: “The Tortured Poets Department”, “Guilty As Sin?”, “Down Bad”, “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived”, “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)”

    Songs About Travis Kelce: “So High School”, “The Alchemy”

    Songs About Kim Kardashian: “thanK you aIMee”

    Popdust’s Rating: ⚡⚡⚡ 1/2

    Jai Phillips

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  • 2024 Grammy Awards Recap

    2024 Grammy Awards Recap

    The 66th annual Grammy Awards were last night at the Crypto.com Arena in the not-so-sunny Los Angeles, California. As storms raged outside the arena, I tuned in for close to five hours of red carpet coverage and the sparkling ceremony to watch music’s biggest night and make my own judgments.

    At some points agonizing, the Grammys truly take their time. Packing performance after performance, people going well over their speech time, and leaving the main awards for the very end can feel never-ending. However, this year’s Grammy Awards had everything: Taylor Swift announcing a brand new album, Tortured Poet’s Department, Miley Cyrus getting her first two Grammy’s and delivering iconic speeches and performances, nods to Barbie, a visit from Celine Dion and a few controversial decisions.

    I mean, even Jay-Z took a shot at the Recording Academy for not giving Beyonce any Album of the Year awards despite having the most nominations. Taylor Swift brought Lana Del Rey on stage while accepting Album of the Year for Midnights to recognize how many artists’ sounds Del Rey’s influenced despite never having won a nomination. The Academy gets it wrong, and often.

    Who Won At The 2024 Grammys?

    Here are some winners from a few of the main categories, including the top four awards…And may I add that some of my predictions were spot on?

    Record of the Year: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

    Album of the Year: Midnights by Taylor Swift

    Song of the Year: “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish and FINNEAS

    Best New Artist: Victoria Monet

    Producer of the Year: Jack Antonoff

    Best Pop Solo Performance: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

    Best Pop Duo Performance: “Ghost in the Machine” by SZA and Phoebe Bridgers

    Best Pop Vocal Album: Midnights by Taylor Swift

    Best Pop Dance Recording: “Padam Padam” by Kylie Minogue

    Best Rock Performance: “Not Strong Enough” by boygenius

    Best Country Album: Bell Bottom Country by Lainey Wilson

    Best R&B Song: “Snooze” by SZA

    Who Should’ve Won At The 2024 Grammys?

    The Grammy Awards are decided by the Academy- a group of voters within the music industry who I sometimes think forget to listen to the music of the nominees. It’s why Jay-Z spoke up while receiving the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, it is quite shocking that Beyonce has never won Album of the Year.

    While everyone at the Grammy’s deserves their awards, multiple artists got onstage to say this is not what they make music for. Artists like Miley Cyrus said she felt this happy yesterday because she’s doing it for herself. Taylor Swift thanks her fans, and says she’s happiest when making songs and doing what she loves…but sometimes, the awards gods are fickle.

    Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” went home empty-handed, which was another surprise. While GUTS may not be my favorite work of Rodrigo’s, “Vampire” was a chart-topping, viral song that I truly thought would win something. SZA’s SOS album was on top of the Billboard Hot 100 every week but failed to receive a mention in the top categories like Album of the Year.

    Lana Del Rey, who’s been nominated upwards of 10 times and wrote one of the best albums in the culmination of her already iconic discography with Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard? Received zero awards throughout the night. In a controversial move, Taylor Swift brought her up on stage so the world can recognize all Lana’s done.

    In the Best New Artist category, Ice Spice and Noah Kahan were betting favorites to win…but ultimately, it went to Victoria Monét.

    The Best Performances From The Grammys

    Miley Cyrus

    @mileycyrus♬ original sound – Miley Cyrus

    It’s been years since Cyrus has graced any sort of stage, and she didn’t disappoint. Every bit as honest, exciting, and a true rockstar as she’s ever been, Miley Cyrus is one-of-a-kind. From chiding the audience for not singing along to celebrating her first Grammy win during her performance of “Flowers”, you could tell that Miley just wanted to have fun.

    She even shared she was doing this performance so she could watch clips of it later…and also admitted to foregoing underwear. It was fun, carefree, and exactly how these award shows should be.

    Joni Mitchell

    You may wonder how someone with as illustrious a career as Joni Mitchell has never performed at the Grammy’s. Singing a song she wrote at 21 years old, over half a century later, “Both Sides Now” was both moving and refreshing. She’s won nine Grammy’s herself, nominated 18 times, and has inspired the sounds of our favorite artists.

    She took folk music and made it her own, and after having to re-learn how to talk (and sing) from a brain aneurysm, no one is more well-respected in the industry than Mitchell.

    Luke Combs + Tracy Chapman

    Luke Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” dominated the charts this year. One of the most highly covered songs in the world, and Luke Combs put his country spin on it to create a beautiful, acoustic version. It feels almost entirely his own, but his performance with OG Tracy Chapman shows that music is, indeed, art.

    The song itself is a timeless classic, with Luke Combs being one of the most talented country vocalists in the game right now and Tracy Chapman reminding us the deep roots of the song.

    Other Notable Grammy Moments



    Jai Phillips

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  • Taylor Swift drops ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),’ to the delight of Swifties – National | Globalnews.ca

    Taylor Swift drops ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),’ to the delight of Swifties – National | Globalnews.ca

    Taylor Swift fans had reason to rejoice Friday as the international superstar dropped her highly anticipated album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) — complete with six unreleased songs.

    Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is the third of six albums Swift will be re-recording after a dispute with music mogul Scooter Braun and her ex-record label. The feud arose in 2019 after it was revealed Swift, 33, did not own the master recordings to her older albums.


    Click to play video: '“This is my worst case scenario”: Taylor Swift posts scathing note about Scooter Braun buying her former label'


    “This is my worst case scenario”: Taylor Swift posts scathing note about Scooter Braun buying her former label


    The Taylor’s Version albums already hold special status for dedicated Swifties all over the globe, and Speak Now is of extra importance because the 2010 album was the first where Swift is the only writer credited.

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    Physical copies of the new album came with a lengthy letter from Swift discussing where she was in her life when she wrote Speak Now, between 18 and 20 years old.

    While creating the album, Swift wrote that she was “tormented by doubt that swirled loudly around my ascent and my merits as an artist.”

    That insecure artist feels far away from the superstar expected to gross a whopping US$1.4 billion during the 102-show run of her current Eras Tour.

    In a social media post celebrating the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Swift said the album belongs to her and her dedicated fans.

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    “I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post Friday. “I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story. I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now. Therefore, you have 6 From The Vault tracks!”

    These six new tracks — Electric Touch (featuring Fall Out Boy), When Emma Falls in Love, I Can See You, Castles Crumbling (featuring Hayley Williams), Foolish One and Timeless — are slotted amid the album’s original 16 songs.

    Swift continued, writing she was filled with appreciation “for life, for you, for the fact that I get to reclaim my work.”

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    The singer’s loyal fanbase has already stormed social media to praise Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

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    Fans have especially had fun with the Taylor’s Version of the song Dear John, a track widely rumoured to be about a breakup between Swift and singer John Mayer. At the time of their alleged short-term relationship, Swift would have been 19 while Mayer was 32.

    In June, before performing Dear John live in concert, Swift appeared to tell fans not to bully Mayer ahead of the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) release.

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    “I’m 33 years old. I don’t care about anything that happened to me when I was 19,” Swift said. “I’m not putting this album out so that you can go and should feel the need to defend me on the internet against someone you think I might have written a song about 14 billion years ago.”

    Naturally, many of Swift’s fans have bullied Mayer anyway.

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    Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is already number one on iTunes in more than 125 countries. In just eight hours, the album reportedly broke the record for reaching number one in the most countries in iTunes history.

    Hopefully the undeniable popularity of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) may even inspire the singer to schedule a Canadian Eras Tour date for her eager fans. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is apparently a Swiftie — he tweeted at the singer on Wednesday asking Swift to come to Canada.

    “It’s me, hi. I know places in Canada would love to have you. So, don’t make it another cruel summer. We hope to see you soon,” Trudeau wrote.

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    &copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

    Sarah Do Couto

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