Taylor Swift and the Foo Fighters – both globally successful music acts, but world’s apart at the same time.
However, thanks to my love of live music and as someone with varied taste, I found myself going to both the Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift all in the space of 24 hours.
On Friday night, I spent 3hrs and 30 minutes witnessing the 101st show of Swift’s Eras Tour and becoming indoctrinated in the Swiftie cult.
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Whereas the night before consisted of three hours of a headbanging Dave Grohl for the Foo Fighter’s Everything or Nothing at All Tour – or the ‘Errors Tour’ as he’s now jokingly penned it.
In the monumental dig at the American pop megastar, the 55-year-old rocker delivered a dig to Taylor as he says the Foo’s ‘actually play live’…
With being a fan of both Grohl and now a soft-core Swiftie, I now feel like a rose in the middle of two thorns.
And with having witnessed both musical icons in their own right in a short time frame, I feel like I have some authority on the matter.
Grohl might beat Swift with experience and the amount of tours his band have been on, but Miss Americana beats the Foo’s with ease elsewhere.
Ok, Taylor might have a net worth that’s triple of veteran rocker Dave ($1.3billion vs $320million), outweighs with the Instagram followers and pips him to the post with number ones – but is Taylor Swift better live than the Foo Fighter’s?
Well, in short – yes.
But, let’s rewind back to Thursday night when the Foo Fighter’s took the stage at London Stadium for a three hour set.
Regardless of age, Grohl being able to scream and whip his hair back and forth for the same amount of The Titanic’s runtime is impressive in itself.
At 55-years-old, most blokes have given themselves to the local Spoons or perhaps have committed themselves to an ugly straw hat to hide their balding.
Grohl still very much has the hair of a rock star and the screeching tone of one too – though he does lack the electric energy on the stage.
Despite lacking the energy himself, his hair and voice manages to get the crowd to make up for it.
The thick of the crowd swirls with mosh pits through the majority of the set – especially to massive hit ‘The Pretender’.
Others, as in a group of middle aged women, retired to chain smoking, throwing pints in the air and face planting the floor. Who knew so many mums were so incredibly metal?
Judging by Grohl’s comment at Swift, he’s a bit of jokester and cracked a fair few between songs.
But his emotional side comes through with slower numbers, especially for the tribute to late band member Taylor Hawkins.
Aurora was the drummer’s favourite song and so Dave and co dedicated the hit to him and his family who were present in the crowd.
It’s obvious that Grohl and the Foo’s love what they do – they love the music and appreciate their fans who reciprocated this in waves of cheers.
There’s no any gimmicks, no dancers nor fancy pants graphics. But, maybe they need to take a leaf out of Taylor’s book for stage usage.
Well, Swift made sure to make the most out of hers for the 3hours and 30 minute set on her first night of eight at Wembley Stadium on the Friday night.
Now, I’ve been vocal in admitting that I’m no hard-core Swiftie and I have never listened to a Swift album the whole way through.
It’s difficult to comprehend why so many people are obsessed with Swift as someone who has no real affinity to people I’ve never met before.
The screaming wasn’t coming from the stage this time, but from the just shy of 90,000 people at Wembley in a state of mass hysteria all for their pop saviour.
While I don’t understand how you can get so unbelievably hysterical for someone you’ve never met, watching Swift live did make me realise why she’s the biggest popstar on the planet right now – or potentially ever.
It’s easy to get swept up in it all as Taylor parades around the stage in sequin-full outfits and reeling off boppy pop hits that nourishes your inner teenager’s need to belt out heartbreak anthems.
And doesn’t Swift have a bucket load of them.
From her early days smash hit ‘Love Story’ to the likes of girl boss jingles like ’22’, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ and ‘Bad Blood’, it’s obvious how so many women have been able to resonate with her music for so long.
Taylor didn’t just sing, she put on massive theatrical production of pyrotechnics, with dancers, storytelling throughout the different eras – or albums.
Though, she needn’t that as she still commanded the crowd with just her and her acoustic guitar.
So, why did I prefer the Eras Tour over the *ahem* ‘Errors Tour’ – well Taylor is at the top of her game and for a long while now.
She’s in a league of her own and has committed to over 100 shows, it’s an impressive feat.
The Foo’s are true veterans in the game and are able to bring in old and new fans to their music that both wants you to start headbanging and to have a little cry.
Grohl’s professional screaming is much preferred that of teenage girls, their sisters, mums and even grans.
But, Taylor didn’t just put on a concert – it was theatre, it was bursting with energy and it was all live.
So, sorry Grohl, I’m with the Swifities with this one…
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk