Karma chameleon
Taylor Swift’s mega concerts in Australia kicked off in awesome style in Melbourne, and our writer (and super Tay Tay fan) Ella Beutner was there (x three), witnessing the magical mystery of this ever-evolving performer.
My obsession with Taylor Swift – and yes, let's be honest and label it as such – began shortly after the release of Taylor's self-titled album in 2006. Back then, my mum gifted me my very first Taylor Swift CD, and together, we'd passionately sing along to tracks like "Teardrops on My Guitar" during our daily school drop-offs.
Fast-forward to Sunday February 18 and you would find me joyously belting out those very lyrics, amidst a sea of 96,000 other Swifties on the third night of the Eras Tour in Melbourne, at the biggest stadium in Australia.
It was undeniably a full circle moment.
On February 8, 2010, I attended Taylor Swift’s first-ever headlining tour in support of her second album, “Fearless,” at a sold-out stadium in Newcastle. My mum had managed to score tickets to take me and my best friend to our very first concert. The crowd was mostly young girls and their mums, all buzzing with excitement to witness Swift, who had recently made history as the youngest solo artist to win a Grammy for Album of the Year.
In the years since I saw that first show, I have grown up alongside Taylor Swift, and her music has become crucial to my confidence, passion and drive for success. She is a prime modern example for young female empowerment.
Since the Fearless tour, I have been following each of her albums, song releases and tours. Spotify congratulates me each year on being in her 0.5% of listeners, and last year alone, we spent 17,274 minutes together.
If you were one of 288,000 people who were able to secure a ticket for one of Swift’s three Eras Tour concerts in Melbourne this weekend, you likely already understand the effect that concert 14 years ago had on me. At 10 years old, I was completely blown away by the show Swift put on. A Taylor Swift concert is not just a concert, you see. It’s a full-scale production, filled with amazing visuals, set pieces, costume changes, cohesive choreography and anecdotes about Swift’s life.
On Sunday afternoon, a seemingly endless parade of Swifties flooded the grounds of the MCG. Nearly the entire stadium was dressed in one of Swift’s album eras. For instance, I dressed in an orange dress adorned with roses as a representation of the “Our Song” music video from Swift’s debut album, while my friend Katie wore a beautiful puff pink dress in a representation of the “Lover” era.
Ella and Katie dressed for the occasion.
Dressed in sparkly cowboy boots, bedazzled bodysuits, sequined T-shirts, and adorned with handmade friendship bracelets, fans transformed many Melbourne streets into impromptu fashion runways, and the MCG concourse became a vibrant gathering place for both old and newfound friends.
The energy outside the stadium before the show was nothing short of electric. This was not just a concert- it was a cultural event.
The success of the Eras Tour has seen Taylor Swift evolve from being a pop star to a generational talent. Drawing nearly 100,000 fans to each of her Melbourne concerts, Swift couldn't help but acknowledge the immense turnout.
On Friday, she candidly shared with the crowd, "If I seem a little bit like I’m losing my mind over the fact that there are 96,000 people here tonight … it’s because it’s true. This is the biggest show that we’ve ever done. I’m fully starstruck."
This stands in stark contrast to the times when the 'cool kids' dismissed Swift with phrases like "Who's Taylor Swift anyway? Ew," as famously heard in the background of her song "22 ".
In 2024, you would be hard pressed to find someone unaware of Swift’s extraordinary pop-cultural significance. In recent weeks, she announced her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, secured her 13th and 14th Grammy wins, and attended the Super Bowl to cheer on her football star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who emerged victorious. When it comes to the singer, songwriter, producer and director, describing Swift as a cultural icon hardly does justice to the absolute chokehold Swift has over her fan base.
Swfities travelled from all over Australia, and the world, to attend her shows in Melbourne. We spoke to one megafan, Naya Bentley, who flew from Brisbane for the concert after securing last-minute tickets.
Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “The Eras Tour felt like an otherworldly experience. The sense of connection within the crowd mirrored the camaraderie of attending a summer camp (with 96,000 people),” she added, “It was truly a unique and unforgettable atmosphere.”
Swift's artistic vision is both audacious and brilliant, epitomised by the Eras Tour, a retrospective that delves into her extensive career that commenced at the age of 14 and has now flourished into grandeur at 34. The show was organised into nine chapters, each representing one of her 10-LP recording career (all but her debut), plus a surprise set.
The eras are presented in a non-chronological order, as the set list guides audiences through 44 songs spanning Swift's 10-LP recording career. This results in a varied experience, shifting between high-energy dance parties energy in Reputation, Midnights, and 1989, to the country-adjacent vibes of Fearless, and the contemplative tones found in albums like Folklore and Evermore. This strategic approach pays off, preventing a repetitive back-to-back sequence of dynamics and moods. While I enjoyed the entirety of the concert, my favourite eras were “Lover,” “Fearless,” and “Evermore.”
Sunday night’s concert commenced with a captivating performance of six tracks from 2019’s “Lover,” the first release of four new albums since her Reputation Tour, in 2018. Swift strutted across the stage in a Barbie Pink sequin bodysuit and matching boots while she belted out the famous bridge of “Cruel Summer.” As Taylor famously says, her cat eye was drawn sharp enough to kill a man.
As she surveyed the crowd and brought the Lover era to a close, she allowed herself to bask in the moment. She thanked the crowd of thousands of cheering fans for their deafening support, and went on to say, “These are songs that I may have written about my feelings, or my life, or some story that I invented in my imagination … Here’s my goal, after tonight, you’re gonna think about us and the memories that we made here.”
The emotional connection that Swifties share with her music transcends universality, and this feeling becomes even more palpable at the Eras Tour. It feels both powerful and surreal to be surrounded by a sea of people who share the same profound connection with Swift's music and lyrics.
When Swift said I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, Wondering if I’d get there quicker. If I was a man, she delved into the challenges faced by women in today's world, resonating with women everywhere.
I had the privilege of attending the Eras Tour last night with my dear friend Katie. For her, as an aspiring biologist, when STEM fields are still predominantly male-dominated, the song 'The Man' holds a special significance. Reflecting on the song's impact on her as a young woman, Katie comments, “This song holds personal significance for me as it validates many of the emotions women experience while navigating life in a patriarchal society."
Swift’s show is famously long, running for over three hours. Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the concert is Swift's endurance - she is on stage the entire time, except for costume changes, which sometimes take place on stage.
In her "Fearless" set, Swift delivered lively performances of "You Belong With Me" and "Love Story." Swift's iconic wardrobe choices, combined with the vibrant energy of the crowd, rendered her "Fearless" set truly unforgettable. It was as if fans of the Fearless era were singing along with their inner teenagers, a testament to the timelessness of Swift’s music for her fans.
A snake wrapping around the microphone for the "Reputation" era, a smoky chimney adorning the rustic cabin for "Folklore," a grand piano covered in moss for the woodland-themed "Evermore," and snowflakes descending from the roof of the MCG precisely during the lyrics "I still remember the first fall of snow" for "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" from "Red (Taylor's Version)." An intricate special effect tailored for just a single line, demonstrating that in the Eras Tour, it's all in the details.
Though she plays about 40 of the same tracks during each three-hour-plus set, Swift also unveils two “surprise songs” at each show, one played on guitar and one on piano, with the selection changing for each show.
At Sunday night’s show, she performed an acoustic rendition of "Come Back...Be Here" from the Red album, seamlessly blending it with "Daylight," a track from Lover. This innovative approach, where Swift mixes songs, is a recent addition started on Saturday night in Melbourne, aimed at giving the audience the opportunity to hear a diverse range of songs. The crowd clearly approved, erupting into cheers as the song mashup began.
Moving to the piano, Swift treated the audience to "Teardrops On My Guitar" from her debut album, a noteworthy inclusion as her debut album is not featured in the Eras Tour setlist. The audience responded with cheers, and the light-up wrist bracelets glowed green in celebration of her self-titled debut album.
Reviving the tempo once more, Swift concluded the night by delivering a barrage of hit songs from her most recent studio album, "Midnights," released in 2022. The selection of seven tracks featured manipulated rhythms that gradually built to a crescendo, providing a powerful and memorable conclusion to the show.
In an era where women are reclaiming lost girlhood and people are embracing their femininity, Taylor's discography emerges as a triumph. Whether I find solace in her lyrics or through singing my heart out with friends, Swift’s music has always been there to guide me when I’m feeling lost.
Swift is also responsible for some of my most special friendships. Whether it's with childhood best friends who I still passionately sing Taylor Swift tunes in the car with (even to this day) or the three girls I met at a Taylor Swift night at a club in Brisbane in 2022 and attended the Eras Tour with on Saturday, I am living proof that Taylor Swift has a unique ability to bring people together.
Women of all ages resonate with Swift, drawn in by the versatility and relatability of her lyrics, for feelings that sometimes can’t otherwise be explained. The universal desire to be seen and acknowledged is fulfilled by Swift's music.
It's her special karma, which also happens to be the name of the night's final song.
The Eras Tour moves on to Sydney’s Accor Stadium for four concert dates from Friday February 23.
