It’s been a long time coming🕰️💖
As you’re all no doubt aware by now, I am a huge Taylor Swift fan. And, as the final leg of the Eras Tour begins today, I figured I would talk about my favourite topic.
With a massive 152 dates total across two years, it’s hard to believe there’s a mere 18 left. Beginning today in Miami, Taylor will pass through New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Toronto before rounding out the tour with three dates in Vancouver in December.
But what makes the tour so special?
I’m so glad you asked.
The Eras Tour (the clue is in the name) is just that, an Eras tour. The concert is around 3.5 hours long and is basically a best bits show of all of Taylor’s albums. Apart from her debut album which, for some reason, did not get its own set. The show has everything from deep cuts to fan favourites to hit singles, so even if you’re a casual fan you’ll definitely know a good portion of the songs.
The show has 44-46 songs, some of which are part of the acoustic set, or Surprise Songs, if you’re a fan. The surprise song set falls towards the end of the show and is the only acoustic portion of the show; no dancers, no production, just Taylor Swift with a guitar and a piano. The Surprise Songs are primarily songs not featured on the setlist. They’re mostly tracks from the albums but there’s an occasional real surprise, like when she did Crazier, which features in the Hannah Montana movie. I saw her sing that in front of me with my own two eyes and I still can’t believe it happened. Taylor has also sung songs that she wrote but didn’t record, like This is What You Came For (which she mashed up with gold rush).
But beyond all that, what really makes the Eras Tour so special, is the way it’s brought a whole community of fans together.
No doubt everyone is extremely familiar with the concept of trading friendship bracelets by now which, of course, is not exactly a new phenomena. But, it definitely reached new heights thanks to the Eras Tour. In keeping with a time honoured tradition in the Swiftie fandom, we took a single line in a song and simply ran with it. You’re On Your Own, Kid (YOYOK for short) is track five on Midnights (2022) and the line simply says “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it”. That’s it. And we turned it into a concert tradition. Personally, I made over 100 bracelets and swapped them over the course of four concerts. And not just at the concerts, in the street, on the train, wherever there was someone else with a bracelet to trade.
What’s probably less known about, is Mastermind. Not the quiz show on the BBC, obviously, although it’s a rather clever play on words. Named for Taylor’s song, and also presumably the BBC show, Mastermind is an interactive game Swifties can play on the SwiftAlert app.
For each set within the Eras Tour there are between 3-8 different costumes Taylor could were with varying colours/patterns and we simply guess what she’s going to wear. We can also guess what Surprise Songs she’s going to sing, if there’ll be special guests, or even a Taylor’s Version album announcement. It’s fun to play, even if I never end up with many points. There’s always a good prize if you do win (normally merch, signed albums etc). It might not seem like a big thing, but the app is worldwide and (thanks to TikTok and Instagram and some very dedicated concert-goers) we can all follow along in real time with livestreams. In fact, almost half a million people played during Taylor’s final London concert. Isn’t that crazy? Just shy of half a million people united through playing what’s essentially a silly guessing game.
I think I’ll stop it there because I’m sure no one wants to read another 1000 or so words about Taylor Swift.
💚💛💜❤️🩵🖤🩷🩶🤎💙🤍
There’s an emoji heart for every era, isn’t that cool? All we’re waiting for is 🧡
And that’s that on that🫡
xoxo curiosity curator👀
Nice seeing that outpouring of your passion! I mean...I don't even like Taylor Swift but I probably would have read the next 1000 words or so! 👏🏽