Taylor Swift posting with her movie’s merchandise, which was sent to theaters around the country available for purchase. Photo from Taylor Swift Nation via Instagram.
Last November, Taylor Swift announced her much-anticipated tour, The Eras Tour. Over 3 million people signed up for a presale code, and over 14 million showed up to try and score tickets. What some “Swifties” refer to as “The Great War” was just the start of The Eras Tour’s success.
The tour kicked off on Apr. 18 this year in Glendale, AZ. Swifties came from all over the world with friendship bracelets in hand, ready for it. No one expected Swift to perform a three-and-a-half-hour show full of dancing, confetti, and a few teardrops. The tour quickly became a success.
Swifties who didn’t have tickets would tailgate outside the stadium and participate in the friendship bracelet trading. In Swift’s song “You’re on Your Own Kid,” she mentions making friendship bracelets. Fans took this lyric and created a fan project of trading bracelets with each other at the show. Some stadiums even created their own bracelets for fans. One Swiftie commented that they made 100 friendship bracelets and felt very underprepared.
With the concert being in such high demand and thousands of fans unable to experience it, a concert film was obviously needed. After spotting Swift filming multiple of her L.A. tour dates, fans speculated that there would be one. On August 31, Swift came through announcing “The Eras Tour Movie.”
The film was released on Oct. 13 because 13 is Swift’s lucky number. The film was so highly anticipated that two movies set to premiere that day changed their release date. I went to the movie, friendship bracelets in hand, don’t blame me. The theatre buzzed with excitement. Swifties traded bracelets and anxiously awaited for their “concert” to begin. The theatre was in a state of grace as the countdown clock illuminated the screen.
The concert moves through each of Taylor Swift’s eras. Starting in Lover with lots of glitter, moving to Fearless with her staple guitar. Evermore, we are transported to a secret forest only to be met with the snakes of Reputation. Speak Now barely sneaked in on the tour with only one song, later two, being performed. I may not be 22, but I’m feeling 22 in the Red era, but you’re instantly whisked away into the Folklore cabin. The emotional whiplash between the Folklore era to the 1989 era is immense. Only to be met with the anxiety of what surprise songs we are getting! And last but not least, being surrounded by the lavender haze of Midnights.
Both the tour and the movie are a spectacular sight to see. However, the $19.89 price tag for the movie is more budget-friendly. Even if you don’t enjoy Taylor Swift, you are somehow enchanted to be there, feeling the excitement and anticipation around you. At Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, you’re never on your own, kid.
