Kaylee Cadeau arrived at her local movie theatre dressed in a bright orange spaghetti strap dress, with a gold chain around her waist, a cream feather in her hair, a pair of dazzling diamond earrings and strappy black sandals. Her showgirl glam was complete with a bold red lip, black eyeliner, sparkly orange nails and a pinup hair style.
“When ‘Reputation’ came out that’s when I was certified Swiftie mode because I knew exactly what she was singing on in the album,” said Cadeau.
Taylor Swift fans, like Cadeau, assembled at AMC Mayfair Mall 18 in Wauwatosa for showings of “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” which was exclusively in theaters from Oct. 3 to 5. The 89-minute movie was a celebration of the release of Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Throughout the short film, all 12 tracks on the album were played, giving fans the chance to hear them for the first time or for a second, third or fourth time, as several people stayed up to listen to the album as soon as it was released. Fans had the opportunity to sing and dance along from their seats, react to songs and choose a favorite, if something really resonated with them.
“I really loved ‘Cancelled,’” said Cadeau. “When I did my track predictions, I thought I wouldn’t love it, but when I heard the chorus drop, my jaw dropped. Tied for that, though, is ‘The Fate of Ophelia.’ I think it’s like ‘Love Story’ grown up, especially now that she’s found Travis, and the way she just like loves on him in the song is so cute, especially, because I’m also engaged, so her being engaged, I know exactly how she’s feeling.”
Some “Swifties” – nickname for Swift’s fans – kept their attire simple, wearing merchandise from Swift’s Eras Tour or one of the various cardigans that have been released in correspondence to Swift’s albums, while others fully committed to the role of being a “showgirl”, and came dressed in brilliant orange or teal costume to match the color scheme of the new album. Coming dressed to impress for Swift-related events is nothing new for Swifties, as they have been doing it through all the singer’s eras.
“I love dressing up for Taylor Swift premieres and some people are going to side-eye me for that, but at the same time, there’s a band of Swifties out there that all feel the same way,” said Cadeau. “It’s just such an empowering fandom.”
Fans of all ages attended the movie, ranging from people who recently got into the discography of Swift and those who have been there since her debut album came out in 2006. Whether a fan has been with Swift through all her eras or is new to the enthusiastic fandom, each person is connected to her music in their own unique way.
“She and I are the same age. So, when she was 16, she came out with her debut album, and I just kind of loved her from there,” Olivia Stevens said.
Fans were able to get an inside look at what goes on behind the curtain of Swift’s music through “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl,” which contained the premiere of the music video “The Fate of Ophelia,” behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the music video, lyric videos for each track and Swift’s personal reflections on the songs. For several fans, this was just the inside perspective to Swift’s mind that they were looking for.
“I’m a singer/songwriter, so obviously I’m obsessed with everything that she does,” said Jeannette King. “She’s a marketing genius, and then when she performs, it’s incredible. She puts on unbelievable shows that are full of experiences.”
Swift’s most recent tour, The Eras Tour, was a three-hour and 15-minute performance that took fans on a journey through the singer’s first 11 albums, complete with dance sequences and unique sets to match the aesthetic of each era. The Eras Tour won several awards, including the iHeartRadio Music Award for Tour of the Century, and was a dream come true for fans in attendance.
“Oh my god, it was the best night of my entire life,” said Amanda Kumbera. “I went with my mom. She’s my concert buddy. I skipped class to get tickets, sat on my computer for like eight hours, but it was the best night of my entire life. I could not have asked for anything better from that show.”
The Eras Tour documentary played at AMC Theatres when it came out in 2023, so this was not the first time the movie theater experienced a Swiftie takeover. The theater prepared accordingly and even had special beverages for the weekend. “The Grand Entrance”, “Aura Fizz” and “Glitter Bomb” were themed after “The Life of a Showgirl” cover, coming in shimmery shades of teal, orange and gold, complete with a sparkling rim of sugar. Those over the age of 21 could indulge in the cocktail version, but mocktails were available for younger fans.
Since the beginning of her musical career, Swift has been looked up to by fans, as they are constantly finding her music to be relatable. She has songs on a variety of topics, ranging from the feeling of being in love to having your heart shattered in a break-up. She has written songs that celebrate friendship and criticize how women are treated in society.
“I just look up to her so much,” said Kumbera. “I just graduated with a degree in music. She’s just so powerful. Being a woman in music, I’ve related to her a lot, and she gave me a voice when I didn’t necessarily feel like I had one, and she’s just gotten me through some pretty dark times in the last few years.”
No matter what life experiences Swifties are going through, they constantly find comfort or celebrate through her music, “There’s different chapters that she can relate to, and her writing is pretty amazing where she’s gone through it and someone else needs to hear it,” King explained.
“I just think every era she sings, really shows a perspective, and even like if it’s an era I don’t vibe with, there comes a point when I vibe with it,” said Cadeau. “‘Red,’ it took me a while to finally find the vibe until I was dumped by my ex-boyfriend, then ‘Red’ was that album for me.”
The music, tours and movies of Swift have consistently fostered environments for fans to sing, dance, scream, cry or express themselves in whatever ways they are feeling.
“She’s just fun and uplifting, and I just don’t get the hate on her,” said Cadeau.