You’re a Swiftie at heart, even if the tour tickets played hard to get! Taylor Swift’s music is like a time capsule, marking moments in your life from the awkward phases of middle school to the whirlwind of adulthood. It’s a bit of a bummer to miss out on the live experience, especially when resell ticket prices leap into the mortgage territory. Because there was no way Christina from Utah was about to get $1,194 for her ticket in the nosebleeds. I mean, it’s Taylor Swift, not Jesus Christ. Relax.
Joining the “I-watched-the-tour-online” club is its own adventure. Sure, you saw it on all your friends’ stories months ago but watching at home, you’re right there, reliving the magic Taylor crafted, minus the shaky camera angles and the blurry screens. It’s a different kind of concert journey, but no less nostalgic. After all, it’s Taylor Swift—her melodies carry us through the milestones, whether I’m front row or couch-side.
I’m still figuring out how I feel about watching concerts on TV versus going in person. Granted in-person concerts have an unmatched energy. But you know what also comes with that, an Uber cluster, lots of walking, overpriced stadium food and drinks, a very late night and feeling obligated to spend what’s equivalent to a tank of gas on an overpriced t-shirt. While I love this experience wholeheartedly, there’s something so simple about turning on my TV, paying my 19 dollars and 89 cents (I see what you did there Taylor) and watching at my own pace. I gotta say, I didn’t hate it.
At an in-person show you have to pretend you know songs you don’t know so your friends don’t think you’re lame or maybe you just sit down on songs you don’t know/don’t care for. At home, I kindly hit the fast-forward button. That way we’re not wasting anyone’s time.
Taylor Swift is a songwriter. The way she can transport you to a moment in time with her words and melodies combined has always been her superpower. I remember seeing her in concert back in 2009. She was a decent performer back then but I think she’s elevated her game in recent years. Her choreographer, Mandy Moore, really set her up for success with simple, repetitive movements, but they looked great! Because here’s the thing, Taylor Swift is not a dancer. Honestly, Taylor Swift isn’t even a singer, but I think she’s a girl with a vision and she got the right people behind her to make it come to life.
I know she said that she trained by singing the songs on the treadmill and also practiced the dancing repetitively to the point where she could do it without thinking. It shows because she was able to be flirty and play with the audience without losing her steps so I think she did a great job in that aspect of performing.
The thing about going to a concert in person is you get to have that camaraderie with everyone, loving the same performer. You all have different memories associated with these songs, but you have a shared connection, and these songs mean so much to you. Especially in the case of Taylor Swift, her songs, her music is the soundtrack to a lot of our lives. Shake it Off was a song played at my wedding. Fifteen was this song I listened to and shed tears over. All Too Well and the whole Red album really got me through my first breakup and those are just my stories, imagine the thousands of people at the shows and all of their stories. You have all the energy in one room and it’s really beautiful. All that to say, I think the movie did a good job of capturing this aspect of concert-going on-screen.
A side note: I have had a hard time trying to figure out which era is my favorite and I think after watching I was able to get a better idea of which era is my fave. Like, I already knew it wasn’t Midnights or Evermore because that new stuff is just not my thing. She lost me after Folklore. To be honest, the only part of the newer songs I know are the clips that go viral on TikTok “best believe I’m so bejeweled when I walk in the room I can still make the whole place shimmer“. I have to agree that’s cute. I’m just not listening to that whole song and idk why. Anyway, I have to think I am a Fearless or Red girlie. Honestly, the earlier the better.
Would I have loved a front-row seat at one of the decade’s most iconic tours? Absolutely. Am I butthurt that “fans” tried to make a profit by reselling tickets at the price of a ticket to Rome? Most definitely. But at the end of the day, I’ve licked my wounds and I get to say I enjoyed the Eras Tour at home with Ezra on my hip and that’s not a bad night in my book.
P.S. I’ve Been Personally Victimized by Taylor Swift
Photo by Jovan Vasiljević on Unsplash