Taylor Swift is a powerhouse – and I have no idea how she does it.
Last week, she played her 100th show of the epic Eras Tour at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium. A three-hour spectacle filled with costume changes, intricate choreographies and some truly breathtaking vocal performances, the concert charts each of Taylor’s 11 albums with surprise songs and an incredible firework finale.
I was lucky enough to score tickets for Taylor’s last Liverpool show on June 15, before she heads off to Cardiff, London and Dublin for her latest UK and Ireland dates. We arrived at Anfield an hour before doors opened at 4pm, wary of queues and bag searches.
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Thankfully everything was well organised, right down to the snaking merchandise queue, where I scooped a jumper bearing Taylor’s impressive cohort of tour dates. We had standing tickets, so as soon as we’d grabbed our complimentary light-up wristbands and some drinks, we sat down cross-legged on the metal panels spread out over the pitch – aware we’d be standing for more than four hours in total.
(Image: Jess Phillips)
It was around 6:15pm that support act Paramore took to the stage with energetic renditions of Hard Times and Ain’t It Fun, before launching into their classic pop-punk hit Misery Business. Front-woman Hayley Williams was a tiny but captivating figure as she bounced up and down the length of the stage, confessing how much of an honour it was to rally the crowds for Taylor.
It was a strange one seeing the trio in their 50-minute support slot after watching them way back in 2010 at the-then Echo Arena for a headline slot. Thankfully their enthusiasm didn’t wane – and they proved a great warm-up to Taylor’s blend of pop, country and folk.
At 7:30pm it was finally time for Taylor to take to the stage. With a clock ticking down to ‘midnight’ on the huge screens set up around the stadium, the excitement was palpable – and I could barely breathe as she strutted out to the tones of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.
(Image: Jess Phillips)
Taylor whisks us through the Eras, with my favourite – Fearless – including her hits You Belong With Me and Love Story. But the most emotional moment of the Eras Tour for me was her acoustic, stripped back version of All Too Well, which spans 10 minutes and had the crowds screaming: “F*** the patriarchy!” right along with the Pennsylvania-born songstress.
All around me, crowds of mostly women belted every single lyric, including those of the more low-key tracks like My Tears Ricochet and The Manuscript. I felt a kind of desperate kinship with the women I was dancing with stronger than I’ve ever felt at any concert in my life.
Our crowd was treated to the ‘murder ballad mashup’ for the surprise acoustic set, made up of Taylor’s Where The Crawdads Sing soundtrack hit Carolina and her Evermore track No Body, No Crime.
By the Folkmore section of the tour, I was bursting for the toilet and my feet were cramping from standing and dancing for so long. I’d like to say they were sympathy pains for Taylor, strutting across the stage in her high heels with sweat – and snot – dripping down her face. But perhaps I’m just out of shape.
It’s been reported Taylor has to relieve herself using a bucket under the stage when she dashes off for a quick costume change, and while there was ample opportunity between the eras for her to do so, I’m definitely not jealous of the prospect. I was thankfully able to take myself off to the loos – but by the end of the night, I felt ready to collapse.
(Image: Jess Phillips)
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Taylor finished things off with a high-energy performance of tracks from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department and Midnights, while I had to creep to the back of the standing area for a little sit down on the floor to massage my aching feet. Pro tip for anyone heading to the Eras Tour – don’t wear uncomfortable boots!
Though the merch and ticket prices are sky-high and in huge demand, Taylor deserves every penny of the millions she’s earned from the Eras Tour. She really is The Man.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
