I have very recently been converted into a Swiftie and was lucky enough to secure last minute tickets to one of The Eras Tour shows in London in August. I’m here to answer the question on a lot of people’s minds; is it worth the hype?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. YES.
I imagine that’s where some of you rolled your eyes. Frankly, about a year ago I would have too, but as a recent convert, from a hater to a Lover, I cannot emphasize enough quite how magical it was. And yet, at the same time, it’s possibly the most hated event of the year.
Probably the most misunderstood part of why there is such a frenzy surrounding the Tour is that it is so much more than a concert. The Eras Tour has created a space where people feel safe, loved and accepted; spaces which are frankly thin and far between in 2024. In one of Taylor’s songs, she sings the line ‘make the friendship bracelets’ which has since become a tradition, and concertgoers make hundreds of bracelets with references to songs or anything Taylor-related to exchange at the event. The trading of these bracelets sparks conversations between random fans, young and old, but also with security guards, shop vendors, and anyone involved in the event. We saw countless police officers wearing bracelets half the way up their forearms, walking with huge grins on their faces. Similarly, Swifities go all out with their costumes, and I imagine there will be glitter in Wembley Stadium for a long time. You see people dressed like Taylor, wearing cowboy hats, feather boas, sequins, and frankly anything. We even saw one father (who possibly wasn’t there out of choice) walking alongside his daughter wearing a T-shirt with a quote from the song 22, ‘Who’s Taylor Swift anyway? EW.’ Point is, anyone and everyone gets involved, and buys into the magic of the Eras Tour, which is why she has managed to create an atmosphere which goes beyond just watching her sing.
by Gwyneth Angel
