by It is the biggest show in the world: more than a billion dollars in revenue, millions of fans, and even more friendship bracelets. On a sunny Friday afternoon in Edinburgh, the all-time great Eras Tour landed in the UK.
Across the city, local businesses got into the Swiftmania spirit. Hotel stockings were decorated with balloons, streamers, and cardboard cutouts of the US singer. Around every corner, hit singles like the wistful synth-pop of “All You Had to Do Was Stay” and the defiant bop of “Shake It Off” blared from pub speakers.
More than a year since the opening concert in Arizona, Swift, 34, finally touched down in the UK, for the first three nights at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium where hundreds of fans had camped out the night before and chasing a spot in front. the stage. Along the route, vendors hawked pink cowboy hats, feather boas and heart-shaped sunglasses.
Outside the venue, however, the Swifties were wearing their best outfits which often referred to one of the pop star’s various “stars”. Shades of bright scarlet and deep crimson paid homage to Swift’s 2012 record, Redand others dressed in dark glittering indigo and lavender as a nod to 2022’s midnight. Soft pastel tones and sequins reflected her winning album loverand her twin records Folklore and Ever A series of white lace and earthy colors inspired the crowd.
Speaking to The Independent before the show, Hannah, 33, said she traveled from Texas to see Swift, citing cheaper tickets and her “amazing boyfriend.”
This was the first time she would see the singer live. “It’s unbelievable,” Hannah said. “Everyone is so kind, it feels like family. It’s the most welcoming atmosphere you could imagine.”
Tom, 28, from Edinburgh, fell in love with Swift’s music a few years ago after hearing the dreamy, eighties-influenced “Style”. He stood outside the stadium wearing a hot pink cowboy hat, smiling as fans filtered past. “This is my first show,” he said. “I came alone, I bought a last minute ticket today. I can’t believe I’m here.”
The frenzy surrounding Swift’s show has drawn comparisons to Beatlemania, with the attention this time focused not on the Fab Four but on the lone figure who took to the stage in a sequined bodysuit. Beaming, Swift launched into a stunning opening salvo featuring songs from her 2019 record lover.
“We’ve checked this about 20 times,” she said, addressing her adoring audience, “and this is the biggest stadium in Scottish history.” 73,000 fans screamed their approval. “Edinburgh, you made them welcome.”
The atmosphere was just electric. So far into the tour, most fans were very familiar with not only the content, but all of Swift’s moves: every wink, every wave, every flick of hair. They sang through the bridge of “Cruel Summer” without missing a beat and roared “f*** the patriarchy” on the 10-minute version of “All Too Well”.
As she made her way down from her treehouse, Swift congratulated a couple who joined her performance of “Cardigan.”
“I don’t usually see those,” she said. “Thank you for joining my show!”
She kept an eye out for fans who might be overwhelmed or dehydrated. “I’ll be doing this until [security] knowing where I’m looking,” she said, pointing her guitar to a spot in the crowd during the acoustic portion of her tour.
Moments later, her hand froze during a performance of “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”, and Swift literally had to “Shake It Off”.
“This is such a shame,” she told fans as she appeared to be struggling with a cramp. “I must have done this a million times and my hand has never created a claw before.”
Even before Swift kicked off her Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona, in March last year, the pop star’s massive stadium show – which spanned her entire catalog and spanned nearly two decades’ worth – had already made headlines. headlines around the world. He even started a diplomatic mission in southeast Asia.
Last month, it was predicted that this UK leg could close to an increase of £ 1bn for the economy, and politicians scrambled to confirm their loyalty. London mayor Sadiq Khan has declared himself a “proud Swiftie”. The Independentexpressing his excitement as he welcomes the pop titan to the capital in August.
Swift’s rise to prominence over the past five years has ensured that she continues to dominate headlines like no other artist. Since releasing a few surprise albums Folklore and Ever – generated after her cancellation lover trip due to the onset of the pandemic – she barely stopped for breath. She won at the 2021 Grammy Awards, making history the first woman to win Album of the Year three times.
After that, she released two re-recordings of her album, Red and A man without fear, billed as “Taylor’s Version” as part of her ongoing effort to regain her master’s rights – following a public spat with controversial music mogul Scooter Braun. Then came midnightproduced the 2022 album with regular collaborator Jack Antonoff, achieving another historic feat – the first artist in history to win four Grammys for Album of the Year.
Which brings us to his 11th studio album, Tortured Poets Department, which was announced when Swift collected another Grammy at the ceremony in Los Angeles, and was released on April 19. It is widely believed that her 1975 breakthrough with Matty Healy, as well as her split from her boyfriend of six years, British actor Joe Alwyn, polarized critics (The Independentand Helen Brown awarded it five stars). But the hype didn’t stop Swift from breaking numerous chart and streaming records.
“I think it takes a few weeks to grow on you,” said the Isla fan, defending the record from negative reviews during the concert. “I think it’s one of her best albums.”
After the show, when the last burst of fireworks went into smoke, Swifties stayed in the stadium, flushed, beaming and awestruck, or else made the dash for the first tram outside, shaking in their dresses.
“I grew up listening to her in elementary school, so this is a special moment,” said Sarah, 35, revealing that she is from Toronto, Canada. “Her music was a part of my whole childhood, my youth, and now my adulthood. She means everything to me.”
Sarah also praised the Scottish fans, saying they liked to party a little harder than the Canadian Swifties. “They have incredible energy, everyone is having so much fun,” she said.
Joseph, 24, who was dressed head to toe in pink sequins, came from Aberdeen alone. “I’ve been waiting years to see her live, and she was even better than I thought she would be,” he said.
Swift music from her Folklore and Ever the eras were more important, he said, because his grandmother died during the pandemic and those songs reminded him of her.
Katrina attended the concert with her 10-year-old daughter, Tamsin, who got to see Swift for the first time. “I loved hearing her do ‘Cardigan’ live, because that’s my favorite,” she said. “I think she is the best singer in the world.”
