Now the highest-grossing tour ever with an estimated $2.2 billion in North American ticket sales alone, there’s no doubt the Eras Tour has left a permanent mark on history. The highly anticipated sixth concert tour of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s career was announced on November 1, 2022, described by her as “a journey through all of my musical eras of my career”. Fans long familiar with her “easter eggs”, or clues, immediately began speculating about the set list and any surprises Taylor might have up her sleeve. Many were eagerly anticipating the live performances yet to be seen that were either canceled or delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Swift was forced to cancel what would have been her sixth tour, Lover Fest, promoting her seventh studio album Lover. Since then she released three studio albums, Folklore (2020), Evermore (2020), and Midnights (2022), in addition to two re-recordings Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021. With the friendship bracelets and stunning outfits, fans took the internet and social media by storm in Swiftie fashion with elaborate theories, intense discourse, and dubious detective work.
Beginning in Glendale, Arizona, Swift’s performance at every sell-out stadium has been nothing short of incredible. Each three-plus-hour show is packed with a 44-song set list accompanied by intense, complicated choreography, staggering visuals, dazzling outfits, and smooth transitions. Her versatility as a performer is really the core of this tour. Taylor Swift’s stage presence captures, commands, and undoubtedly keeps the attention of her audience. This is probably helped by the undying devotion of most swifties and years of experience. From the emotionally devastating performance of “Champagne Problems” to her catchy hit song “Style”, Swift brings a swinging range of emotions brought from her diverse discography. Every show opens with the Lover era, likely a nod to Lover Fest, and consists of ten acts with each act celebrating a different album and its era from her lengthy music career. These are typically defined by a certain aesthetic, mindset, and music genre, inviting fans to relive her country roots and innocent first loves through Fearless, cry tears of mascara from the mature heartbreaks of Folklore and Evermore, and dance and scream to their heart’s content during the classy, catchy 1989. All of this can only be elevated by the impressive production. Lighting, fire, fireworks, confetti, smoke machines, and massive digital displays are all utilized deliberately to create euphoric moments such as the high note in “Don’t Blame Me” and the iconic bridge of “Cruel Summer”. A vast amount of set pieces heighten the dynamic stage and there’s no denying that every era is gorgeously complete.
The best part, though, is Taylor Swift’s clear love of performing and her fans. Despite being meticulously planned down to a tee, Swift manages to make every show unique with her two surprise songs. After act nine (1989), she arrives onstage with an acoustic set of one song on the guitar and one song on the piano, both usually decided the night before with fans completely in the dark. Some of these surprise songs have been the best performances of her entire tour. Taylor also makes frequent engagements with the crowd, whether it be her monologues, love of fan chants, or even online. During her Red hit song “22”, a lucky fan from the crowd gets the chance to stand near the stage as she hands them her black fedora hat, usually blowing them a kiss or holding their hand. Also, a part of her choreography of the song “Bejeweled” was created by her fan Mikael Arellano, who posted his dance on TikTok which absolutely blew up. Deep down the Eras Tour is a love story of Swift’s music and career addressed to her fans and herself. It’s safe to say all the magic made won’t be forgotten soon.
