The Taylor Seminars

We've reached the Track 5 on  The Life of a Showgirl,  "Eldest Daughter." Track 5s are known as Taylor's most vulnerable album tracks, and so Exquisite and Hannah spend time carefully uncovering the overwriting and cringe allegations. Hint: They're both true—but Taylor does it on purpose. There's a method to her madness, and it leads to one of the best bridges she's e...

Track 4 on  The Life of a Showgirl,  "Father Figure," is one of Taylor's strongest songs on the album, and so Exquisite and Hannah take extra time to delve into every single detail on this album. This song is the perfect example of the type of songwriting Taylor said she wanted to create:  folklore- type storytelling with an infectious pop melody. Here, we clearly see Taylor fully em...

"Opalite" from  The Life of a Showgirl  is infectiously comforting, full of advice that lifts you up up up up! Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss track 3 and how its advice shows Taylor's growth from reliving bad habits to realizing that she makes her own sunshine—and so can you!  Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming aprofessor? Donate here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gofund.me/ceaf3b27d...

Elizabeth Taylor from “The Life of a Showgirl” is full of references to the famous actress, but it’s also full of confidence from Taylor Swift herself. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss this standout track 2.  Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a professor? Donate here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gofund.me/ceaf3b27d⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Enjoy the episode? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤...

We're SO back with Track 1 of The Life of a Showgirl : "The Fate of Ophelia." With references to Shakespeare and Taylor Swift's own "The Albatross," this glorious song is a triumphant return to Taylor's bright pop creativity while also retaining the lyrical and storytelling strengths she has cultivated throughout her career. Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze...

We dive deeper into The Life of a Showgirl as Taylor pulls back the curtains via her album poem and Showgirl film . In fact, we think getting the right context for this album is crucial to truly appreciating it. So listen in as Exquisite and Hannah read and analyze the poem and discuss "The Fate of Ophelia" music video. ( You can read the entire poem here .) Join us next time as they discuss Track...

The Life of a Showgirl is out! And Exquisite and Hannah are here with their initial reactions of the album. (Spoiler: They love it). Listen as they talk about the album overall and give their first impressions of each track in this short episode. But don't worry, they'll be back again to give more reactions after they both see the film. Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming...

It's now less than one week until "The Life of a Showgirl" drops, and Exquisite and Hannah are balls of anxiety. They drop in for a quick update to let you know our upcoming schedule. We can't wait to listen to this album with you!!!!!!!!!!!! Want to support Exquisite on her journey to becoming a professor? Donate here: ⁠https://gofund.me/ceaf3b27d⁠ Enjoy the episode? ⁠⁠⁠Support...

To continue to celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage (and separation) in Taylor's discography, from folklore to The Tortured Poets Department . (Check out our previous episode for Part 1!) Taylor Swift gives a more complex and nuanced view of long-term relationships through the safety of auto-fiction in folklore and e...

To celebrate the engagement of Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce, Exquisite and Hannah go through the theme of marriage in Taylor's discography, from Taylor Swift to Lover . (They would've kept going but the episode went too long.) Taylor Swift talks about this institution in myriad ways, whether daydreaming about it, taking inspiration from others' marriages, and creating fictionalized...

We're out of the haze and back under dazzling lights in this new episode of The Taylor Seminars, and we're ready to discuss more of this new universe Taylor is revealing, variant by variant. So yes, we talk about the covers, but we also talk about the feeling of accomplishment that comes with each performance, even if it's accompanied by exhaustion. We also apologize to evermore . So j...

Even though they predicted it, Exquisite and Hannah were shocked by the drop of TS12, aka The Life of a Showgirl . They interrupt this "evermore" season with their first reactions to the new album. Listen in to hear their overall thoughts and a track-by-track sort-of-rapid-fire impressions. Enjoy the episode? ⁠⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️⁠   Follow us on Twitter: - ⁠⁠@⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

One of the greatest holiday songs to come out this century, "Tis the Damn Season" from evermore is a Taylor Swift song that's a modern take on the classic story of returning to one's hometown--and all the complex feelings and love that we rediscover. This gorgeous song features hints from her past albums, like Fearless Taylor's Version and also looks forward to songs like &qu...

What must it be like to write the hauntingly beautiful, "Gold Rush," track 3 of Taylor Swift's album evermore ? Join Hannah and Exquisite as they mine the depths of this gorgeous song, including its fascinating song structure and the beauty of the rhymes. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter   Fol...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss Eras-tour favorite "Champagne Problems" from Taylor Swift's album evermore . This track 2 features incredible storytelling from beginning to end, with a protagonist who wishes the best for her former partner while subtly disclosing that maybe he never really loved her--or knew her. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze Track 1 of Evermore , "Willow." This witchy track by Taylor Swift is filled with metaphors that remind us of so many of her past and future songs. (There's one connection that made Exquisite feel crazy!!!) Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #EvermoreSeminars on X/Twitter...

Step out of the labyrinth and into the witchy woods of Evermore in our latest season of "The Taylor Seminars." Exquisite and Hannah visit this beautiful album and discuss the themes and context around this beautiful album. Plus they share their favorite (and least favorite) tracks on the album. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conv...

Taylor Swift was featured in the beautiful song "The Alcott" from The National's album First Two Pages of Frankenstein , and Exquisite and Hannah wanted to cover it. Why? Well because it's also connected to "Exile", "Coney Island," and "You're Losing Me." Join them on this episode that links us to the next series we'll be covering in the Tayl...

We come to the close of Midnights by Taylor Swift with the bonus track "Hits Different." Exquisite and Hannah parse the lyrics of this descriptive song, especially the word-vomit-y bridge in this latest episode. Listen to these argumentative, antithetical dream girls! Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSem...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss the closing track of Midnights by Taylor Swift, "Dear Reader." In this song that directly addresses her audience, Taylor drunkenly pours out her heart to us--strangers--AND pours the whiskey. Listen in as they connect this song to "This is Me Trying," "Mirrorball" and more. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they discuss Track 19 of Midnights by Taylor Swift: "Would've, Could've, Should've." They go through the lyrics to excavate the pain of the relationship and emphasize how young 19 really is (YES SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO BE MESSED WITH!!!!) Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #Midn...

Exquisite and Hannah take a slight detour because the best glitch ever interrupted their plans: Taylor Swift buys back her masters. Hear them discuss the outcome and then get into the song "Glitch" by Taylor Swift from her album Midnights . Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/Twitter Follow us...

Join us as we discuss Track 17 of Taylor Swift's Midnights: "High Infidelity." This song is an explanation to a past lover, letting them know why she left the relationship. And in hindsight, we also see it was a warning or a threat to a present relationship. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars...

Join Exquisite and Hannah as they analyze "Paris", track 16 from Midnights . This beautiful love song tells a story that's set both indoors and outdoors. Join us for this fun episode. Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko-fi! ❤️ And don’t forget to join the conversation with #MidnightsSeminars on X/Twitter   Follow us on Twitter: - ⁠@⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠taylors...

Join us as Exquisite and Hannah discuss the heartbreaking "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" by Taylor Swift from Midnights . Taylor writes purposefully vaguely about a tragedy in a life and yet so specifically that she's able to put words to people's sadness--even when she says "no words appear before me in the aftermath." Enjoy the episode? ⁠Support The Taylor Seminars on Ko...