Just like that, the Eras Tour has come and gone. It was the fastest three hours of my life and an out-of-body experience. I keep reflecting in gratitude, thinking about how I will likely never get such a special weekend with my mom, aunt, and little sister again. They are the most special people in my life, so having that moment with them is beyond magical. Standing beside my mom and dancing with the very woman who has taught me all I know and loved me unconditionally was a moment of love in its purest form, and the smile on her face is one I will never erase the image of. To be in that stadium surrounded by all the women that I idolize and look up to so much, a room of women I hope to grow up to be just like. I think that’s what makes Taylor Swift special for so many women; she is the epitome of what we all hope to be: Graceful but goofy, clever but kind, powerful but polite.
Fans light up stadium for Gracie Abrams – Photo Credit: Briar Wilson
I spent almost two years watching this tour through grainy live streams and sparkling social media posts, so the moment I stepped over the edge of the field overlooking the bustling crowd and the stage, I couldn’t believe I was there.
When we took our seats, a couple of young girls approached us and asked to trade friendship bracelets, we exchanged chatter about favourite songs, bracelet making and of course lots of smiles. My first thought was, what a beautiful atmosphere Taylor has created for young girls to feel no fear running around talking to strangers, like being in a room full of friends and family.
The stadium was full of excited fans of all ages, from young girls excited to hear Shake It Off to moms and grandmothers who much prefer a song like Marjorie (although my beautiful mother was just as excited for ‘Shake It Off’ as the little ones). People from all walks of life were seated in this stadium and found comfort in each other’s company through the power of music.
Before I knew it, she was right there, in front of me, it’s so strange looking at a famous person, it’s almost like you can’t believe they’re really real, you’re so used to observing them through a screen, headlines, and articles. Seeing her there, I began to cry, much like nearly everyone else in the audience.
Taylor Swift herself shed some tears after the three-minute-long standing ovation, she was at a loss of words as the crowd roared with cheers. The feeling of delivering such a moment that Taylor herself felt the love in the waves of applause that echoed through the stadium was unlike anything else. The gratitude she has is unlike that of any other artist.
Closing act of the Eras Tour – Photo Credit: Briar Wilson
The second she began to play, it was like I became a kid again, nothing else around me mattered, dancing with my mom and sister, belting out all the words to all the songs. The dancing, the lights, the graphics, it was a breathtaking view. Now, to a lot of people, this sounds incredibly silly, if you are not a Taylor Swift fan, you probably think I am incredibly cliche and overdramatic, but allow me to paint a picture for you.
A lot of people often ask me what the attraction to Taylor Swift is and if this experience is really worth the money.
To start, yes, it is worth the money. Why? You know that feeling you find when someone hears you, understands you, sees you. The feeling of someone rubbing your back gently, looking at you with the kindest eyes while you fight through your toughest moments, that is what this feels like. Through everything life throws at you, through every heartbreak, moment of not feeling enough, every first, every last, every loss, and every win, Taylor has a song for it.
Every feeling from heartbreak, gratitude, fear, loss, nostalgia, happiness, pride, confusion, anger, and love. There is a song for it. So even when you find yourself in the darkest of places, you know someone else has been there before you or is right there with you.
Now, picture a stadium of 50,000 glowing lights. Each light is a person, a life, someone who gets you, who feels the same. Taylor gives each fan a light-up bracelet at her concerts so that she can see everyone in the crowd, what she doesn’t realize is now we can see each other too. You are standing in a sea of glowing lights, each light representing someone who has experienced everything you have, each light is someone who has felt things that you felt so alone in feeling. My favourite quote is, “To be loved is to be seen.” and I think that’s truly what this experience embodies. You get washed with a feeling of hope if these people feel the same way, if Taylor felt that way once, and she is where she is today, maybe I can get there too.
Glowing bracelets lights up stadium – Photo Credit: Briar Wilson
The entire concept is so much bigger than a show or an overly worshipped artist; it’s a community, a safe space, words of reassurance, hope, storytelling, and pure love.
So I hope that by reading the Talking Taylor series, you have found an understanding of why so many people pour so much into being a “Swiftie.” Even if you can’t relate, I hope you find a little more understanding for the little girl who gets excited when she sees Taylor on the screen at the Chiefs game, a little understanding for the girl who reads every Taylor Swift article, for the person who knows the words to every Taylor song, for the boy who feels accepted attending a concert, I hope you find understanding in why this is a show that left me in tears, I hope you find understanding for the people who find so much happiness in her, even if that isn’t you.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, till next time. Yours truly, Briar Wilson.
