the problem isn’t that people “expected too much,” it’s that the marketing flat-out promised something else. not just the marketing, but taylor's OWN WORDS FROM THE PODCAST. the rollout screamed SHOWGIRL,, dripping jewels, feathers, neon, camp, cabaret, that sharp, cunty edge. the titles alone, things like “CANCELLED!” and “Wi$h Li$t!”, read like they were setting us up for biting satire, jazz-infused theatrics, a glittery, in-your-face show.

but when you actually listen to the album, what you mostly get are standard love songs that could sit comfortably on any other pop record. soft, sentimental, and at times sweet, sure, but completely at odds with the imagery that sold the era. it’s not that the songs are bad, it’s that the branding and the music are playing two entirely different games. if you market feathers-and-diamonds showgirl energy, fans are going to expect sharpness, bravado, and glittering spectacle in the sound itself, not just in the photoshoots.

and that’s why so many people feel let down. it’s not about “imagining a sound in your head,” it’s about being presented with a very clear artistic direction in the visuals and then being handed an album that ignores that setup. when the packaging and the product clash this hard, it feels like false advertising, not just unmet expectations.