Jane’s story:
We got to Ford Field at 4 p.m. on June 9, 2024. Me, my mom and my grandma, Gigi, were all decked out in pink. People dressed in pink, purple, blue, black and every color you’ve ever thought lined up the street. We stood in line for what felt like forever, anxiously waiting to go to our seats. We had no idea where we were going, where we were sitting, or what was about to happen. Once we got into the stadium, we asked every security guard we could find where to go. We kept getting lower and lower into the stadium until we reached the gates to get to the floor. The security guard stood at the gate and asked to see our tickets, and he later showed us to our seats, on the floor. We sat and waited, as Ford Field filled up with swifties. We were eager to watch Taylor Swift perform her 32nd show, which took place in Detroit. It had been a long time coming, and we finally made it to Taylor Swift. The clock ticked down from 13, and the magic began.
“The Tortured Poets Department” album was still a secret between Taylor and her team, “The Archer” was still on the set list, and no one knew she would add “Long Live” a couple of shows later, the lyrics “I sit and watch you reading with your head low” from “tolerate it” still remained on the tour.
Ellora’s story:
It was Nov. 16, 2024, and the streets of Toronto, Canada were packed. Glitz, glam and glitter shimmered from our hotel window as we looked down from the 35th floor. Today was going to be a fairytale. It was the day of the Eras Tour. I threw my leather jacket over my purple Speak Now dress, my outfit meticulously planned down to every sequin. The November air had a slight chill as we approached the block before Roger’s Centre, sparkles of every shade walked past us with rhinestoned cowboy boots clicking down the sidewalk. The arena slowly filled as all the eras took their seats and pulled out their phones ready to record as soon as the clock ticked down. It had been a long time coming, and we finally made it to Taylor Swift.
“The Tortured Poets Department” otherwise known as “TTPD” was released on April 19, 2024, and since then had been added to The Eras Tour setlist. Due to the addition of seven songs, six former songs had been cut from the tour. Notable songs include, “tolerate it,” “The Archer” and “Long Live”. The removal of these had shaped the tour and made both the later shows and the early concerts individual and unique for everyone in attendance.
This 3-hour 15-minute concert brought together a community of “Swifties” or Swift’s fans that created their own traditions such as trading the signature friendship bracelets, chants during the songs and the dress code of fun, free and forever young.
In memory of these enchanting moments, we have made a collection of our favorite Eras Tour traditions.
- “1 2 3 let’s go B” – “Delicate” from “Reputation”
- Friendship Bracelets
- “You forgive you forget but you never let it go” – “Bad Blood” from “1989”
- Surprise Songs
- “Let me see your hands!” – “You Need To Calm Down” from “Lover”
- “Does anyone here know the lyrics to this bridge? Prove it!” – “Cruel Summer” from “Lover”
- “Just wondering, does anyone have 10 minutes to spare?” – Swift’s iconic question before performing “All Too Well, 10 Minute Version” from “Red”
- Standing Ovation after Swift’s performance of “Champagne Problems” from “evermore”
- “You’re making me feel so powerful. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you’re making me feel like I’m the man!” – Swift’s signature statement before performing “The Man” from “Lover”
The highest-grossing tour to date at 2.2 billion dollars in ticket sales, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour came to an end Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 after concluding 149 shows. Not only did Swift perform 46 songs with an additional acoustic set consisting of 2 “surprise songs”, but the star also played shows across five continents and 50 cities, taking off in Glendale, AZ and ending in Vancouver, CA.
