Taylor Swift
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Taylor Swift is used to breaking records. For starters, her Eras tour is the highest grossing concert tour in history and she’s only about two thirds of the way through it. She landed in Edinburgh for the first of her UK dates with another record to tuck under her spangly belt – highest ever attendance at a single pop concert in Scotland thanks to a stadium capacity nudged up to 73,000 to meet demand. And then two more, before she moves on to Liverpool, Cardiff and London for more record-busting.
Edinburgh has lost its mind for Swift. It’s probably the same everywhere she goes. Dublin, are you ready? Born ready, most likely. Eras is certainly impressive, mainly for its 45-song, three hour-plus running time and the demands that makes of a performer. But Swift is no ordinary pop star, she really does seem to have about thirty hours in the day to achieve all her touring and recording goals.
Eras may have broken records but it doesn’t break the mould. Big screens? Check. Groovy band? Check. Sassy dancers? Check. Costume changes? Check. Plus lots and lots of shimmering sequins. Each of the ten “chapters” takes in a different album and broad concept. The contrasts are considerable – from the lilac princess preening of Speak Now to the vampish electro pulse of Reputation to the enchanted forest of Folklore and Evermore. And new for Europe – The Tortured Poets Department section with full ensemble in white and a nod to the glamour of old school Hollywood musicals.
Swift has baked in some natural-sounding chatty moments. It is her skill to make the script sound fresh and meaningful to each new hungry audience. But she clearly has eyeballs on the crowd, pointing out when fans need assistance, and noticing that a couple got engaging in front of the stage.
Her experience shows. She is the slickest of performers, making her interactions with her dancers look effortless, always hitting her mark before the hydraulic platforms elevate her further. And the greatest trick of all – making a 45-song set not feel long enough for her fans.