Everyone has their favorite artists, bands, and genres. But there’s one artist who has indeed taken the music industry by storm. After 11 studio and 4 re-released albums, the Eras Tour was born. With 152 shows in 54 cities worldwide according to Grammy.com, this global phenomenon has fostered international unity among fans from all over the world. March 17, 2023, is when the tour began in Glendale, Arizona, and it will end on Dec. 8, 2024, in Vancouver.

During the tour, Swift transitioned between different musical phases throughout her career. She had intricate stage designs and specific costumes for each album she performed. The tour included songs from albums such as Fearless, Speak Now Red, 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and newly released The Tortured Poets Department. Swift’s performance segments were designed to capture the spirit of each album and showcase her versatility as an artist, demonstrating her ability to reinvent herself while staying true to her core values.  

Taylor Swift has been described as one of the most influential and powerful songwriters this generation has ever seen by Time Magazine. Her lyrics genuinely speak to her fans. Madison Miller, a senior, has been a Swiftie since she was just a little girl. She talked about how Taylor’s music has influenced her life and helped her find community within the fandom. 

“Almost immediately, I can tell that I’m going to get along with someone even if this is the only thing that we have in common with one another,” said Miller. 

Regarding her education, The Eras Tour has influenced Miller’s view of her major. 

“As a journalism student, I think that this tour has really impacted my schooling because of how much news and information has been published surrounding it,” said Miller.

She then described how people’s mixed emotions towards Swift have helped her tap into her journalistic abilities and enjoy seeing coverage from the tour.  

“It seems like there’s a division, almost as big as the one surrounding the election or political topics around Taylor Swift, people either love her or despise her,” said Miller. “It’s given me a lot to think about when it comes to how women of Swift’s popularity and success levels are treated by press, and by the public for doing some of the same things that a man would.”

At the moment, The Eras Tour has broken five records according to Grammy.com, including the highest number of tickets sold in a single day by any other artist, a Golden Globe nomination for the filmed version of the tour, being the most-played artist of all time at Wembley Stadium, becoming the highest-earning female musician in history, and even setting off a 2.3 Richter scale earthquake in Seattle, WA during one of her shows.

Taylor Swift may have broken records, but that doesn’t mean she has won the hearts of everyone. 

“I’m not the biggest fan of Taylor Swift’s style of music,” said Owen Miller, a senior at Rowan University.  

However, Miller does appreciate her personality.

“She’s energetic and constantly has a positive influence on people,” said Miller.

When asked if given free Eras Tour tickets, Miller explained that he would “absolutely go to the Eras Tour.” He then went on to talk about how he loves live music and was impressed at the length of time (three hours) Swift performs for each show. 

Although some Rowan students may not be the biggest fans of Taylor Swift, a few have shown their love and dedication to the artist. Madison Miller said that although she wasn’t physically in attendance at the tour, she found a way to stay connected. Many streamers would go live and broadcast the shows, allowing fans from across the globe to witness the magic of each show. Madi says she would stay up to watch almost every show. The main attraction of these lives was a section of the setlist called “the acoustic section.” 

Throughout each stop, Swift makes every show different during the “Acoustic Section,” a particular part of the show where she strips down the production and performs intimate acoustic renditions of her popular songs. This section, better known as “Surprise Songs,” adds a personal touch to each performance and keeps the show fresh and exciting for both Swift and her fans.   

One student attended the infamous tour and had the time of her life. Brynne Weinczyk, a sophomore, went to the show in Philadelphia and said the fans completely changed her look on the fandom. 

“People were just genuinely happy to be there… they didn’t seem to care how close they were to the stage… the only thing that mattered was that they were there,” said Weinczyk.

Weinczyk also explained that she enjoys Taylor’s music but doesn’t consider herself “a die-hard Swiftie.” She then described how Swift’s enthusiasm and excitement were contagious. 

“You can’t help but have a good time, no matter your stance on Taylor Swift,” said Weinczyk. 

With fame comes challenges and unexpected events. A bomb threat was made to Swift’s scheduled Vienna shows, resulting in the cancellation of all scheduled shows for Vienna. This incident led to a significant disruption in the tour schedule and left many Swift supporters, better known as Swifties, feeling heartbroken as they grappled with the idea of what could have been. 

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has proven to be a remarkable journey not only through different musical phases but also across continents, uniting fans and setting numerous records. Taking the time to connect with her audience on a personal level has shown Swift’s versatility as an artist. Despite facing challenges such as the bomb threat in Vienna, Swift’s resilience and dedication to her fans have shone through. As a result of the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift has been able to showcase the impact of Taylor Swift’s music and her ability to create an unforgettable experience for her supporters around the world. 

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