💃 Dancing Through the Lightning Strikes – Our Night at The Life of a Showgirl Release Party
Some nights are just special. ✨
The ones you know, even as they’re happening, will become core memories. And for us, one of those nights was heading to the cinema as a family to celebrate the release of The Life of a Showgirl — Taylor Swift’s latest masterpiece (yes, I said masterpiece 😍).
It was me and my two girls — R (11) and F (8) — and we were buzzing with excitement all day. We had tickets for the 8pm showing on the Friday, and the anticipation was real. We’d spent the entire day with the album on repeat while we prepped — singing at the top of our lungs, dancing around the kitchen, and of course, making special jumpers for the occasion.
Armed with my Cricut machine, a stack of iron-on vinyl, and a whole lot of creative energy, I set to work. R requested something dramatic and bold (naturally), while F went for something more sparkly and showgirl-inspired. Mine? Let’s just say it involved the word “Opalite” — because that song has taken up permanent residence in my head. (“And my mama said, it’s alright you were dancing through the lightning strikes…” 🎶) There’s something magical about wearing something you’ve made yourself — it turned the night into more than just a trip to the cinema. It became an experience before we even left the house.
🍿 Lights, Music, Magic: At the Cinema We arrived at the cinema and were immediately struck by how fancy it felt. Plush reclining seats, soft lighting, and that unmistakable buzz of Swifties everywhere. The whole thing had that electric, exciting energy you only get at special events. We settled in with our snacks (because obviously), and then it began. The Life of a Showgirl filled the room — and wow. Just wow. The music, the visuals, the vibe — everything was perfect. There was one tiny regret, though: we didn’t get up and dance. 💃 We wanted to. R was itching to, F kept wiggling in her seat, and I was absolutely ready to belt out “Opalite” at full volume. But… no one else was dancing. And we hesitated. Next time, we’re 100% going for it — even if we’re the only three in the room on our feet. 🎶
Our Favourite Tracks (And All Those Lyric Chats!)
We’ve listened to this album countless times since that night, and honestly, it gets better with every play. Here’s where we each landed on our faves:
🎭 R’s favourite: The Fate of Ophelia – dramatic, powerful, and everything she loves about Taylor’s storytelling.
💃 F’s favourite: The Life of a Showgirl – upbeat, sparkly, and full of pure joy.
🌙 My favourite: Opalite – I can’t stop singing it. “Sleepless in the onyx night, but now the sky is opalite…” It’s haunting, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable.
One of the things I love most is how much this album has sparked conversation. R is fascinated by songwriting and storytelling, so we’ve spent a lot of time breaking down the lyrics and trying to figure out the stories behind them. It’s led to some very (ahem) interesting conversations — especially about “Wood.” (Thanks for that one, Taylor. 😂)
But that’s part of what makes music like this so magical — it opens up conversations, makes you think, and connects you in ways you don’t always expect.
✨ A No-Skip Masterpiece I’ve seen some criticism floating around about this album — but honestly? I don’t get it. For us, The Life of a Showgirl is one of Taylor’s best. It’s bold. It’s clever. It’s full of heart. And most importantly, it’s fun. An absolute bop, no-skip album from start to finish.
💖 A Night We’ll Never Forget That night wasn’t just about music. It was about sharing something magical together. It was about creativity — from designing our jumpers to singing along in the car. It was about making memories that my girls will (I hope) look back on one day with the same warmth I feel writing this.