Taylor Swift adds 4 'Encore' songs. Here's why they deserve an ovation - USA Today
Almost exactly a year after the release of her 12th studio album, Taylor Swift tacked a quartet of new songs onto a newly announced deluxe version of the album, "The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore."
"Patient Zero," "Cleveland!," "Pink Clouding" and "Babylon" are digitally available now. Unlike most of her material, not all of the new offerings were born from Swift’s personal experiences, particularly "Patient Zero," which offers an omniscient take on a soured relationship.
The songs follow the summer release of "I Knew It, I Knew You," Swift’s sweet, nostalgic ode to friendship for the "Toy Story 5" soundtrack. They’re also her first new releases since that little July wedding to Travis Kelce you might have heard about.
Here's a breakdown of the new songs.
The first single among the freshly minted quad is an atmospheric I-got-you-babe testimony.
Stepping back to observe someone else’s pain, Swift assures that while she "heard somebody say there’s trouble in paradise," she also promises that "my lips are sealed tight."
Her staccato vocal delivery glides over a smooth groove that is augmented by strings in the background, but it's the bridge – it’s always the bridge – that shines.
Her rapid-fire unfurling of how this louse "charmed your family and friends" and is "bathing in your reflective light" is delivered with a knowing nod and an available shoulder as Swift affirms her allegiance.
This blatant declaration of love to Kelce is the catchiest among the new songs and showcases what Swift does best: Reverses the mirror with obvious self-awareness, and then tells you how much she doesn’t care what you think.
Sprightly piano leads into a jangly gallop as Swift recounts some tiresome criticisms ("With all that money, why does she dress like trash?" and the slyest line that will be appreciated by the millions who watched The Eras Tour, "Stumbling clumsily, would you even call that dancing?").
But then Swift bursts into a chorus worthy of a 1980s TV theme (this is not a bad thing), complete with "whoa oh ohs" in the background as she proves her point: "He already took me to Cleveland and showed me the Heights/so hate all you like, this is the love of my life."
If you can’t be happy for Swift, regardless of your level of fandom, then it might be time to turn that mirror on yourself.
The title – and admit it, you had to check the definition - comes from the psychological phenomenon of intense euphoria or overconfidence following addiction recovery.
The airy midtempo song chugs along with pure pop synths that fit the vibe of the "Showgirl" album.
"It was so good, letting you want me," she sings over her own layered background vocals. But Swift quickly realizes it’s all a fairytale, a fleeting feeling that gives way to the reality of ripped orchids from a vine.
The song detours into a marching bridge, the skittering hi-hat under her zippy, deliberate vocals infusing this candy-colored daydream with an undercurrent of anxiety.
Swift’s penchant for vivid imagery gleams as she paints the scene of elbows on the table, "hanging Christmas lights with your son" and waking up on the train "with your headphones gone" and realizing "that small town’s even smaller now in your rearview."
But even with its mellifluous chorus over a steady, nudging beat, Swift drops in the realism: We always think it’s better elsewhere.
"You never knew it was Babylon ‘til it was gone," she reminds.
It’s a well-trod sentiment that Swift makes captivating with her storytelling. And that mid-song key change thrusts the song into a melodic height.
Though it was the best-selling album of 2025, "The Life of a Showgirl" wasn’t eligible for the Grammy Awards doled out in February because the album (and hit singles "The Fate of Ophelia," "Opalite" and "Elizabeth Taylor") were released after the Aug. 25, 2025, eligibility period.
No doubt Swift appreciates her devout flock, as she acknowledged in announcing that these four new tracks "were born out of pure gratitude for your exuberance for and celebration of the album we made."
But while this fresh pack of music won’t be eligible for the 2027 Grammys, the timing of the arrival of "The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore" is a canny approach to redirecting the spotlight to the original album before Grammy voting begins Oct. 12 (natch, limited-edition CDs and vinyl of "Patient Zero” – now sold out – ship Oct. 13).
Swift dropped plenty of her famous Easter eggs in a pretaped sketch during the Sept. 13 Emmy Awards, where she played a "Law & Order: SVU" detective alongside pal (and "L&O" mainstay) Mariska Hargitay.
"I think what we’re going to be looking for is hiding in plain sight," Swift said before turning to look into the camera and uttering the seemingly meaningless words: "Saccharide. Aries. From the vineyard. North or South."
Ardent Swifties have since tried to decode the message. One popular theory points to the stars of her "Patient Zero" video: "Saccharide" is a unit of sugar (Colin Farrell stars in Apple TV’s "Sugar"), and North or South could mean Dakota (as in Johnson).
We’ll just wait for the "Saturday Night Live" announcement.
Swift will continue her weekend of visibility at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27 in Los Angeles.
In addition to debuting the video for "Patient Zero," she’ll break her tie with Beyoncé as the most awarded artist in VMAs history (30 each) when she receives the inaugural Artist Director Honors, which recognizes "groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling."
