Elizabeth Goldman
Editor-in-Chief
Arts, Issue 7
Taylor Swift opened her sixth tour, “The Eras Tour,” in Glendale, Arizona at State Farm Stadium on March 17 and 18. Swift’s three-hour-and-thirteen-minute concert stunned and engaged fans as Swift underwent numerous riveting costume and set changes while showcasing her flawless vocals and well-developed stage presence.
The set list was well-balanced and featured songs from nine of her 10 albums, each organized by Era, or album. The overall performance quality and entertainment value was unmatched, and between the incredible staging, dancing and vocals as well as Swift’s addictive charisma, the audience was left more than satisfied, but still wanting more.
Swift’s tenth studio album, “Midnights” was released on Oct. 21, 2022. However, having not toured since her sixth album, Reputation, in 2017, she decided on “The Eras Tour” in which she would have more freedom to play a vast assortment of songs spanning her entire discography. In the past two years as well, she has begun releasing re-recorded albums of her first six albums, each of them containing “vault tracks,” tracks that were written at the time of the album but not originally included.
Swift broke records with this tour, selling out each venue in mere hours, even prior to the general sale. In total, she sold over 2.4 million tickets in 20 locations for 52 shows. She has nine openers over the course of the tour, two for each show. Opening weekend in Arizona featured Gayle with a 15-minute set and Paramore with a 40-minute set.
Swift played 44 different songs, organized by Era. Within the “Red” era, she included the vault track “All Too Well (ten minute version),” which she played on her guitar. Prior to the “Midnights” Era, she played two surprise acoustic songs, one on guitar and one on piano, which will change each night of the tour. On March 17, these songs were “Mirrorball” and “Tim Mcgraw” and on March 18, they were “This is me Trying” and “State of Grace.”
Though the eras didn’t progress in order, they were ordered perfectly, creating a well-balanced show. The contrast created with her indie/folk albums placed strategically between her pop albums gave the audience a break from high-energy dancing and singing, and allowed for calmer genuine and heartfelt moments.
As usual, Swift’s vocals were stunning and flawless, never once wavering throughout the three hours. Possessing incredible stamina and stage presence, Swift is a once-in-a-lifetime artist and truly magical to watch perform. Her love for performing is palpable, and her talent in every facet is off the charts.
The numerous costume changes between every era, and occasionally within eras, provided an extra layer of excitement. Every costume was gorgeous and perfectly fit the atmosphere of the era.
The main set was a screen behind the primary stage that projected high-quality images and effects that changed per era. The versatility of this set piece made for quick and fluid transitions that instantaneously transformed the entire atmosphere. As Swift was quick-changing to her next era’s outfit, the audience was completely captivated by the changing sets, transition music and sound effects.
Though Swift was the stunning star of the show, her backup dancers and singers were phenomenal as well. The beautiful background vocals and harmonies kept the show together and perfectly complemented Swift on stage. The dancing and staging was captivating and incredible, making the show feel like an involved production rather than a basic concert.
Despite everything, Swift’s sparkling personality is what makes the show at the end of the day. Her personal anecdotes and commentary between songs clearly demonstrates her gratitude for her fans and love for her career. Additionally, she flawlessly connects with the audience, even in a stadium of 70,000 people, by ensuring that each audience member has a glowing bracelet, allowing her to see everyone individually.
Swift’s “The Eras Tour” is off to a fantastic start, proving to be a phenomenal show. With a well-balanced set list, engaging dancers, gorgeous vocals, aesthetic sets and costumes, and an overall positive atmosphere, Swift’s concerts possess every aspect of perfection.
Swift kicked off “The Eras Tour” on March 17 and 18 in Glendale, Arizona and will continue touring across the country until her final show in Los Angeles on Aug 8.
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