Taylor Swift Destroyed Me
Yes, I'm still talking about the Eras Tour
Indeed, like every other girlie in the worlie this summer I went to the Eras Tour. I can tell you, it lives up to the hype. And beyond.
I did not expect the experience to be this intense.
There’s something about being deep in three-and-a-half hours of watching this woman and her team produce a show that is so in-depth, so thought-through, and so all-encompassing that it boggles the mind.
Oh, and I wept. Here’s all the songs where I got the feels in no particular order:
Cruel Summer
Here’s the opener. The energy was amazing, you get wrapped up in it, etc.
Marjorie
One of my favorites off of evermore and maybe one of my favorites of all time? I’m not sure why it took me a year to come around to this one and really discover it but once I did, whew lawd, there was no looking back. It’s about her grandmother and carrying on the legacy she left. The reflection of loved ones after they have passed, and doing so in retrospect as an adult, is so well done:
I should've asked you questions
I should've asked you how to be
Asked you to write it down for me
Should've kept every grocery store receipt
'Cause every scrap of you would be taken from me
Watched as you signed your name Marjorie
All your closets of backlogged dreams
And how you left them all to me
I mean, holy shit. It’s such a distinct, human experience to grasp for whatever earthly things we can to try and remember someone, even though we logically know this isn’t how it works. After someone is gone, something as simple as a grocery store receipt could knock you over or feel like a treasure. Of course, it ends up disappearing. I wish I had written that; I can’t think of anyone who has ever illustrated it more beautifully.
Oh, and her grandmother was an opera singer and the back-up track and bedrock of the song is her singing. I mean, c’mon. MARJORIE. Go listen.
Don’t Blame Me
I love this song so fucking much. I always have. It’s so much fun and I’m glad they played it and there was something so rewarding about being in a huge crowd of people, post-Covid (are we? I honestly don’t know), watching the planes fly above, singing your goddamn lungs out of your throat to a bubbly-revenge song. I may or may not have continued screaming this, on my headphones, on the sidewalk on my walk to work on Monday. (Which, FWIW, Reputation is a fun work album, at least for me rn.)
I Knew You Were Trouble
I actually don’t really know why I cried here, I don’t even really like this song that much? I think everything was just really overwhelming and my back hurt? We still had like two hours to go. Anyway, there it is.
My Tears Ricochet
This is one of my favorite songs off of folklore and actually it was Brad who cried during this one but I’m putting it here anyway. I think it’s such a gorgeous song and I love the line, so the battleships, they sink beneath the waves, sung with a hint of defeat. Chef’s kiss.
OK, enough of that.
Regardless of where you fall on the Swiftie Spectrum, (I assume pretty deep if you’ve read this far – I promise I’ll go back to writing about other things eventually), you have to respect Taylor Swift the artist, the team and the world that they’ve created.
I’m inspired when I see someone doing the thing that is so in their element, it’s clear they have found their purpose, as if they’ve found their seat here on Earth and now they’re taking off on a rocketship. It can happen at work, walking down the street, going to a lecture. (lol I don’t go to lectures.) Though I do not know Taylor Swift (as much as it feels like we do), I felt that way during this production. This woman is a star; she was meant to create art for us to enjoy when we’re alone with our headphones feeling things, and to use that to create experiences for us on a grand scale with thousands of other people.
Oh - plus, the Fed has credited her with single-handedly boosting the American economy, which, as a friend and recent subscriber (hi, Genna!) pointed out – can you imagine being so good at your job that you single-handedly effected the inflation rate?
It was remarkable to be in that stadium and visually see the intense power this woman has over so many people. Myself included. At one point, Brad turned to me and said, “If she wanted to, Taylor Swift could start a cult tomorrow.” I think she already has.
