The End Of An Era: The Legacy Of Taylor Swift’s Record-Breaking Eras Tour
By Kayla Harper
“It was the end of an era, but the start of an age” (Swift changes the lyrics to her song “Long Live” on the final night of the Eras Tour)
Like her or not there is no denying that Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was something we’d never seen before and likely will never see again. Kicking off on March 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (named Swift City during show week) and wrapped up in Vancouver (or Swiftcouver) on December 8, 2024, Swift played a total of 149 shows in 51 cities across 21 countries. The singer only cancelled three of what was originally 152 shows due to an alleged terrorist attack in Vienna.
“How’d We End Up At The Eras Tour Anyway?”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Swift was preparing to embark on the Lover Fest Tour in support of her latest release (at the time) Lover. Lover Fest was later cancelled due to the lockdown, over which Swift would write and release two more albums, folklore and evermore, and later release Midnights in 2022, shortly before the Eras Tour was announced.
Swift came up with the idea of the Eras Tour when deciding how she would include her four latest albums which were very different (Lover and Midnights are both pop, whereas folklore and evermore are alternative, folk-pop) in one tour. She came up with the three-and-a-half hour concert, in which she would perform songs from her newest albums, in addition to all of her previous albums, which she is in the process of re-recording.
“We Survived The Great War”
Although these issues with Ticketmaster have been happening long before the Eras Tour, the first presale in November of 2022 called attention to Ticketmaster’s ticket selling processes as well as the ways in which they decide which accounts will be allowed to buy tickets for a particular event. Due to the demand and Ticketmaster’s failure to anticipate it, it was extremely difficult for real fans to secure tickets to the event without paying enormous amounts of money for resale tickets. The Eras Tour put a much needed spotlight on ticket scalpers, even starting lawsuits, petitions and federal conversations to regulate the resale market. Swift addressed Ticketmaster publicly, disappointed in how they handled the sale of tickets to her event.
“They Gave Us Our Trophies And We Held Them Up For Our Town”
Among many of the records the Eras Tour broke, it became the highest-grossing tour of all time, $2 billion in ticket sales alone, it has doubled the previous records held by artists such as Coldplay, Elton John, Ed Sheeran and U2. The Eras Tour concert film also became the highest-grossing concert film of all time.
Additionally, the Eras Tour also broke the attendance records at many venues, although the all-time attendance record is still held by Sheeran. However, Swift not only sold-out stadiums across various continents, thousands of ticketless fans gathered outside the venues to catch a glimpse of some of the magic going on inside, whilst trading bracelets and singing along with other fans. In addition, fans attended shows through virtual livestreams from the comfort of their homes.
“The Only Thing That’s Left Is The Manuscript”
Swift’s Eras tour evolved over its duration, with various setlist changes, costume variations, and the infamous acoustic surprise song set. The original Eras tour setlist was 44 songs long and spanned across Swift’s ten albums (at the time), each album getting its own set themed to its era. However, it evolved to include 45 songs when Swift added “Long Live” to the Speak Now set after the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). The setlist later evolved for the last time, when she cut various songs and combined folklore and evermore into one set to make room for the new Tortured Poets Department set.
The acoustic set became a fan favourite as Swift played two surprise songs, one on guitar and one on piano, every night sometimes even mashing-up multiple songs, or bringing out special guests. These songs were different for every show. However, Swift is no stranger to surprise song acoustic sets and has actually included them on every tour she’s done (my surprise song at the Reputation Stadium Tour in Toronto was an acoustic guitar rendition of “Out Of The Woods”).
“What’s It Like To Brag About Raking In Dollars?”
Each city that had the pleasure of hosting Swift’s Eras Tour experienced an economic boom following the shows. The high demand had people travelling to different cities, states and countries to attend the show, leading to large travel expenses causing an economic spike for the tourism in each city. Additionally, Swift ensured she gave back to each city on the tour, donating enough to each city’s food banks to supply them for years.
“You Look Like Taylor Swift”
Swift’s Eras Tour had many different opening acts over it’s duration consisting of many of Swift’s long-term friends: Haim, Paramore, Phoebe Bridgers, and Owenn. As well as other artists like Maisie Peters, Beabadoobe, Gayle, Suki Waterhouse, Muna, Girl In Red, Griff, Benson Boone, Raye, Holly Humberstone, Sofie Isella, and Mette. Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter have recently blown up in the pop music scene, much of this is due to their friendship with Swift and opening for her on the Eras Tour. This brought worldwide recognition to their musical talents, expanding their fanbases.
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“I Can Do It With A Broken Heart”
During the onset of the Eras Tour, Swift broke up with her boyfriend of six years Joe Alwyn, whom was her muse throughout the Reputation, Lover, folklore, evermore and Midnights eras. The pair even wrote songs together for Swift’s albums folklore, evermore and Midngihts, including “Exile”, “Betty”, “Evermore” , “Champagne Problems”, “Coney Island” and “Sweet Nothing”. However, the split was ultimately mutual and is not up for our entertainment or speculation as both parties are moved on and happy.
However, this split ultimately lead to Swift’s short-lived rebound with the 1975’s Matty Healy and her current relationship with the Kansas City Chief’s Travis Kelce.
As a result of these events, Swift wrote, recorded and released her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, while on the Eras Tour, including the song “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” which she wrote about having to deal with this tumultuous heartbreak in the public eye on her worldwide tour. She later would perform this song on that same tour and release an Eras Tour behind-the-scenes music video to the song.
“Make The Friendship Bracelets”
Swift probably didn’t realize when she wrote this line in Midnights’ “You’re On Your Own, Kid” that it would eventually lead to a world-wide sales increase in craft beads and a brand new Swiftie tradition which would carry over into other fandoms as well. Making friendship bracelets inspired by song and album names, as well as lyrics to trade with other fans at the shows brought out aspects of girlhood, friendship and community amongst Swifties during this tour which will not be forgotten moving forward.
“Love’s A Game, Wanna Play?”
What started as a play on Fantasy Football, named Fantasy Swiftball, soon became a friendly competitive game for fans to participate globally each night. Later titled, Mastermind, fans got to submit their guesses as to what outfit variations Swift would wear each night, as well as what the surprise songs for that night would be. Fans earned points for every correct answer, with the winner receiving a different prize every night. Prizes varied from signed Taylor items to rare collectors pieces. Mastermind had no affiliation with Swift or her team, but brought Swifities together and made them feel like they were a part of every show.
“Long Live All the Magic We Made”
The Eras Tour carried on old traditions in the Swiftie fandom and also created new ones. Some traditions such as chanting “1 2 3 let’s go bitch” before the first verse of “Delicate” are recent, having started during the Reputation Tour in 2018. Some of them, like the double clap in the bridge of “You Belong With Me” and heart-hands during “Fearless” date all the way back to the beginning, the Fearless Tour in 2009.
New traditions were also formed, such as the standing ovation after “Champagne Problems” and lights being held up during “Marjorie” to name a few.
Swift also paid tribute to all of her past eras with her own traditions. For Red she gave the fedora she wore during “22” to a young fan in the audience each night, just like she did during “State Of Grace” on the Red Tour in 2013. When she performed “Long Live” during the Speak Now set she did so with her entire band beside her and the same stage setup she used during the Speak Now Tour in 2011, while playing the infamous koi fish guitar from that era. She performed “Blank Space” with a golf club in hand, recreating the performance from the 1989 World Tour and played a sparkly silver guitar during “Fearless” replicating the one she played on the Fearless Tour in 2009.
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“Can I Go Where You Go?”
Knowing the demand for her tour was too high to accommodate every fan who wanted to attend the show, Swift tried to the best of her ability to make all fans feel included in each show. Even putting out the Eras Tour Film early so fans could dress-up, trade bracelets and gather together to sing the songs as if they’re actually at the concert in theatres (in the past she has always waited until the tour’s concluded to release the concert film). Swifties tried to include other Swifties by livestreaming each concert so anyone from anywhere in the world could watch it. Swift also addressed these livestreams often during the concert, thanking fans for tuning in.
“Hold On To The Memories, They Will Hold On To You”
Swift’s Eras Tour set new standards for all tours that come after it. The three-and-a-half hour show consists of a 45-song setlist, composed of eleven detailed sets, with intricate choreography, meticulously crafted set-designs, and outfits, all which pay homage to their original eras. Even though the tour, which felt like it would last forever, has come to an end, its legacy lives on through its various economic, industrial, cultural and record-breaking impacts. Who knows, maybe in a couple years Swift will embark on the Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) and keep the magic alive.
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