With the Eras tour finally making its way to Canadian soil many swifties are over the moon, myself included. There are 6 shows taking place at Toronto’s own Rogers Center, I will be attending closing night and delivering you all things Swiftie in the meantime right here in the Talking Taylor diaries. You can find the newest postings every weekday for the duration of Swift’s Canadian stay right here on 106.9 The X.
Taylor Swift The Eras Tour: taylornation on Instagram
The Eras Tour and the Swiftie fan base have attracted lots of attention over the past few years, especially with Taylor Swift’s ever-growing popularity. Whether the attention is good or bad there is one thing that sets aside Swifties from every other fan base in the world, being a Swiftie is more than a fanbase, it’s a friendship. One of the ways these fans build such strong connections is through the many Taylor traditions, and these are all the ones you should know before attending the Eras Tour.
Friendship Bracelets
Fan with friendship bracelets: photo from taylorerastour
“Make the friendship bracelets” As Taylor Swift says in her fan favourite song ‘You’re On Your Own Kid’ was a quote taken literally by her fans. When the Eras tour kicked off fans made dozens of friendship bracelets with colourful beads, fun designs and lettering to wear, trade and share while attending the shows.
The bracelets often quote Taylor’s songs or sayings. Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, even first shot his shot with the singer by attempting to give her a friendship bracelet with his number on it at one of the earlier shows.
I have been working on building my collection of friendship bracelets ahead of the tour and it is a precise and time-consuming hobby, however, it’s been very fulfilling to spend some quality time with my mom and sister crafting these bracelets.
I just purchased some standard bead kits from Amazon as well as some string, and so far I’ve made a total of 13, Taylor’s lucky number! However I hope to have more by the night of my show, I will keep you updated on how many more I can make!
Chants and gestures
Taylor performs a setlist of 46 songs each night on the Eras tour, and while Swifites will be singing along loud and proud to every word, there are a few songs where we even have our own parts. Here is every song on the setlist you need to know the chant for.
Bad Blood
Taylor will sing the line “band-aids don’t fix bullet holes, you say sorry just for show, if you live like that you live with ghosts” at the bridge of the song, then there will be a brief pause where fans chant: “you forgive you forget but you never let it (pause) go!”
Delicate
Between the intro and the first verse of the song, Taylor will say, “We can’t make any promises, now can we babe? But you can make me a drink.” to which fans quickly respond, “One, two, three let’s go B****!”
Fearless
This one has been around forever, everyone knows Taylor’s signature heart hands pose. During Fearless Taylor will sing the verse “It’s the first kiss, it’s flawless, it’s really something, it’s fearless” during which fans join her in raising their hands in a heart shape.
Taylor Swift at The Eras Tour: photo from taylorswift on Instagram
You Belong With Me
During the popular fearless song You Belong With Me, the crowd claps swiftly two times in between the verses “I’m the one that makes you laugh, when you know you’re ’bout to cry.” *clap, clap* “I know your favourite songs and you tell me ‘bout your dreams..”
All To Well
Taylor’s 10-minute special ‘All Too Well’ has two very special traditions, the first being right before the “and that made me want to die” lyrics, fans yell, “How did that make you feel?”
in the third verse, right after Swift sings “And you were tossing me the car keys”, get ready to come in with “F*** the patriarchy!”
Anti-Hero
when Taylor sings the lyric “Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of congressman?” You chant back “Taylor, you’ll be fine.”
Bejewelled
In ‘Bejewelled’ fans ask Swift “Where are you going Taylor?” right before she sings, “I’m going out tonight.”
Marjorie
A song written in tribute to her grandmother who has passed on is an emotional one for Swift, during this song fans usually take out their phone flashlights to light up the stadium like a starry night sky.
You Need To Calm Down
The line “cause shade never made anybody less gay” in ‘You Need To Calm Down’ is often shouted extra loud by the crowd.
Don’t Blame Me
Taylor starts singing the line “Lord, save me, my drug is my baby,” and fans yell “Take us to Church.” right before.
Style
This one involves you knowing when Style’ is coming up in the set, right before Swift starts singing the song, fans ask “Hey Taylor, what time is it?”To which she responds “Midnight.”
Blank Space
This chant is unique to each city. Taylor says “But I’ve got a blank space, baby / And I’ll write your name” to which you respond with the name of your city. In our case, we would chant “Toronto!”
With all these traditions and chants in mind, you’ll have no problem fitting into the Swiftie friend group and enjoying a spectacular show, I’ll have to keep practising all the chants myself and make sure my vocal cords are in top-notch come show night, here we go Toronto!
