This past (Intense) Summer, I had an unforgettable experience at Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour. Her second night at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh was a momentous occasion for me, as it was my first time attending a Taylor Swift concert since discovering her music in 2008. The entire experience was truly surreal and one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Dive into the World of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

Section 1: The Euphoria of Live Music

There's an indescribable magic in live music, especially at pop concerts where the atmosphere is filled with warmth and acceptance. You unlock a secret layer of euphoria and camaraderie as you scream along to lyrics about past relationships, express yourself through makeup, and wait with bated breath to hear that surprise song. I vividly remember singing every last lyric to my favorite song "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" with all my heart and attempting to master the dance moves from the Reputation era. Pulling on my cowboy boots and seeing two of my favorite acts, Paramore and Taylor Swift, back-to-back felt like my own personalized music festival. Being one of hundreds of thousands of fans at the Eras Tour to help Taylor break record after record made it difficult not to feel swept up in the belief that she is a divine, untouchable being.

Section 2: The Flawed Human Behind the Brand

It's crucial to remember that Taylor Swift is a multifaceted, flawed human being. Beyond that, she is also a brand and a business. There are aspects of her business model that leave me with a sense of unease. Consider the yet-to-be-revealed final figures of this tour. According to Forbes, it is predicted to have grossed more than .93 billion for 121 of the 149 total Eras Tour stops, which is over four times the amount earned during her 2018 tour. Although there were 96 more dates on the Eras Tour, when you take into account the 56 shows in 2023, the Eras Tour grossed 0 million, a 125% increase from the Reputation Tour's box office total of 5.7 million. Ticket price increases from tour to tour are common among most artists, partly due to inflation and a 34% spike since the pandemic.

Section 3: The Capitalism of the Eras Tour

The Eras Tour was unlike any other, encompassing her entire discography with a setlist that lasted for more than 3.5 hours. This made it relatively easy to justify the £171.96 I spent on my ticket to Murrayfield, which was under the average ticket price of £206 reported by Barclays for UK fans. However, the Taylor Swift business model always seems to want more. Take the Midnights clock, for example. Four different versions of the album were released, along with components to build an actual clock, with only the covers differing. Every release since has come in various vinyl color pressings and "collectable" album covers. The Tortured Poets Department offered different exclusive tracks depending on the iteration, encouraging fans to buy more. VIP packages costing more than £400 also contribute to the over-consumption. In the UK, the stage was general admission, with VIP ticket holders getting early admission while regular GA ticket holders could still fight their way to the front. Although there were issues with Ticketmaster, Taylor Swift can be commended for not using dynamic pricing.

Section 4: Taylor Swift and Literature

The last few years have seen Taylor Swift not only grow in popularity and net worth but also in critical engagement. Numerous college courses around the world analyze her discography. In her song "The Tortured Poets Department," Taylor Swift wrote "You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith." But is that truly the case? Dr. Clio Doyle at Queen Mary University of London runs a 150-hour module called "Taylor Swift and Literature" and poses the question: Is Taylor Swift's work literature? When I spoke to Dr. Doyle, there was no straightforward answer. However, she pointed out that Swift's work is formally interesting, especially in the way she chooses her words and repeats them with small differences over time. The sheer breadth of her body of work is comparable to that of William Shakespeare, allowing for in-depth analysis and the observation of style changes over time. Dr. Doyle also presented the idea that fans and naysayers alike spend a lot of time closely analyzing Taylor's work, similar to a literature classroom, sharing their interpretations. This shows that Taylor is a mechanism for inviting discussion and critique.

Section 5: Taylor Swift as a Symbol

The reality is that there are few similarities between Taylor Swift and me. I'm not a prolific singer-songwriter, nor was I an eleven-year-old who flew to Nashville to deliver demo tapes. Yet, I feel validated by her existence and experiences. When she signed off a politically charged Instagram post with "Childless Cat Lady," it became clear that Taylor Swift is a symbol for empowered, independent women. In her thirties, she is unmarried, has no kids, and loves cats. This is validating for someone like me who is single and surrounded by married friends and family with children. Taylor Swift shows that a woman can be successful without settling down into a traditional path. There are likely other less celebrated, equally talented women doing the same thing, and it's not wrong to find a part of ourselves in her.

Section 6: The Complexity of Being a Fan

In the world of fandom, there is often a pressure to love without reservation. As a fan of Taylor Swift, I appreciate her music and lyrics, but there are things I don't necessarily agree with, such as the constant streams of merchandise and certain legal actions. She is hugely influential, as seen by her ability to get over 400,000 people to sign up and vote in the latest presidential election. Part of me wishes she would use her platform to speak out more about global issues. However, we can't expect celebrities to always meet our expectations. We want them to have beliefs that align with ours, but sometimes they don't. It's important to enjoy someone while also engaging with their flaws. I love being a fangirl, but I also understand the complexity of being deeply engaged with an artist.