Wish List (Taylor Swift song)

Last updated

"Wish List"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Life of a Showgirl
ReleasedOctober 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)
Length3:27
Label Republic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Taylor Swift
  • Max Martin
  • Shellback

"Wish List" (stylized as Wi$h Li$t) is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, from her twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl . Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, the lyrics showcases Swift's deepest desires for love with her partner Travis Kelce, yearning for a simpler life away from her fame. [1]

Contents

Background and release

Swift announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl on August 13, 2025, during an episode of the weekly podcast New Heights , hosted by NFL player and Swift's fiancé Travis Kelce. [2] [3] "Wi$h Li$t" was revealed as the eighth track of the album upon the announcement. [4] [5] [6]

In an interview on the Heart Breakfast show, Swift revealed that "Wi$h Li$t" was her favorite song in the album, describing it as "dreamy" and "romantic". [7] She additionally stated that the track was the final song to be written and recorded for The Life of a Showgirl, even calling it a "finale piece". [7] [8] [9] [1]

Composition

Lyrically, the song juxtaposes her desire for love and a peaceful life with her fame and wealth. The song opens to Swift pointing out a wish list of what famous people want such as a "yacht life", "bright lights" and a "Palme d'Or" [9] [10] [8] before shifting to lyrics such as "I just want you / Have a couple kids / got the whole block looking like you", which are interpreted as subtle nods to her relationship with her fiancé, NFL player Travis Kelce after their engagement on August 2025. [9] [1]

Reception

"Wi$h Li$t" mostly received a positive reception. Ariana Brockington of Today described the song as a sequel to "So High School" – a track from her previous album and era The Tortured Poets Department , as both songs refer to Travis Kelce. [11] Likewise, Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times and Anna Gaca of Pitchfork dubbed the track "dreamy" and "convincing".[ citation needed ]

In contrary, Michelle Stein of Parade pointed out Swifties are speculating that "Wi$h Li$t" might be a diss track to American media personality, Kim Kardashian, referring to the lyrics: "They want that yacht life, under chopper blades / They want those bright lights and Balenci' shades / And a fat-ass with a baby face / They want it all" and "And then that video taken off the internet / They want it all". For instance, Stein also cite a track from Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology , "ThanK you, aIMee" as a similar speculation. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bailey, Alyssa (October 4, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'Wi$h Li$t' Lyrics Detail the Future She Wants With Travis Kelce—Kids and All". Elle . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Cain, Sian (August 12, 2025). "Taylor Swift announces new album The Life of a Showgirl". The Guardian . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  3. ↑ Magramo, Kathleen (August 12, 2025). "Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'". CNN . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ Jeyaretnam, Miranda (August 14, 2025). "Everything We Know So Far About Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl". Time . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ Madani, Doha (August 14, 2025). "'The Life of a Showgirl' era: What we know so far about Taylor Swift's new album". NBC . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ Serna, Vanessa (September 19, 2025). "Everything you need to know about Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' album release". Variety . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Bonner, Mehera (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Explains Why "Wi$h Li$t" Is Her Favorite Song on 'TLOAS' and Details Its Real Meaning". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Bonner, Mehera (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift Rejects Fame for Travis Kelce and Kids in Revealing "Wi$h Li$t" Lyrics". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Wilson, Hope (October 7, 2025). "Taylor Swift explains meaning behind Wish List on The Life of a Showgirl". Heart . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ Raj, Aastha (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift's Wish List song: From motherhood to Oscar, here's what she is planning for her future". The Times of India . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ Brockington, Ariana (October 8, 2025). "What's On Taylor Swift's 'Wi$h Li$t'? Lyrics, Explained". Today . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ Stein, Michelle (October 5, 2025). "Taylor Swift's 'Wish List' Sparks Fan Speculation That It Includes a Kardashian Diss". Parade . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
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