Finally getting to see your idol in real time is so undeniably cinematic, especially since I have waited 15 months with my tickets.
As I was packing everything up – my Eras Tour outfit, the makeup, the hair accessories, my friendship bracelets, which were made popular by Swift’s lyrics in “You’re on Your Own, Kid” – it was as if Taylor Swift’s music was electrifying the atmosphere around me.
Now, everyone who knows me understands my undying love for Taylor Swift because of both her heartwarming personality and sensational songs.
Experiencing the Eras Tour in New Orleans was its own unique collection of events. After we dropped our stuff in our hotel room, we ventured out to explore a bit of the city. Every single store we walked by was playing their own Swiftie playlist, and everyone we passed was either repping their Eras Tour merch or actual Eras Tour outfits.
The anticipation was too real. I would be seeing Taylor Swift in eight hours.
If you have been to the tour, then you know getting ready is in itself its own process. I went as “Reputation,” my favorite era, not to be mistaken for my favorite album, “Folklore.” My fit consisted of black pants that were covered in snakes, a black sequin top, sparkly snake earrings and a necklace that spelled out “Reputation.”
We made our way to Caesars Superdome with a crowd of fellow Swifties. Of course, we had to take pictures in front of the gigantic inflatable friendship bracelet strung across the dome.
The next mission consisted of finding the shortest merch line, so I asked a security guard for her advice. She led us to the perfect area, but we still ended up splitting up into two groups of two in order to ensure maximum efficiency.
My best friend and I successfully bought the famous blue crewneck, but I was disappointed they ran out of my size for the gray quarter-zip sweatshirt. Getting Swiftie merch is a tough gig, especially when you’re battling with 65,000 other people to get your hands on it.
Regardless, we were excited that we made it through the line with plenty of time to spare before Gracie Abrams took the stage.
Abrams came on promptly at 6:45 p.m., and she was absolutely incredible. I loved seeing the crowd so locked in to an opening act, and I believe wholeheartedly that Abrams is deserving of all the success she gained this year.
She played a 45 minute set, and I honestly wish she had more time.
Now, arguably the most exciting part before Taylor took the stage was the moment the midnight clock popped up on the stage screen. The countdown was 2:20, which was ticking down as Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” played through the dome.
The Eras Tour intro is so magical. There’s no other way to describe it. Seeing her dancers bring out the colorful parachutes, hearing the actual intro and watching the Lover house fade into the screen was something out of my dreams.
The New Orleans crowd roared like no other the moment Swift popped out and sang the words “It’s been a long time coming” from “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.”
She looked like an absolute queen in her blazing pink bodysuit, but it did not truly hit me that I was actually at the Eras Tour until she officially welcomed us during her “Lover” speech. This was when I cried my first tears of the night.
I remember my best friend of 14 years and I just putting our heads together, crying, while Taylor sang the lyrics “Can we always be this close?”
Her next era to perform was “Fearless,” and she wore her newest sparkly, blue ombre bodysuit. This era is so nostalgic for me because it contains the first songs I really knew and remembered hearing – “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me.”
The “Red” era followed, and I enjoyed the act beforehand where the crowd got to finish some of the lyrics from the album. She performed the most memorable songs, “22,” “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” Her speech before singing “All Too Well” elicited my second stream of tears of the night, and the performance was free therapy for all of us in the audience.
“Speak Now” was next, but the only song she performs during this era is “Enchanted.” Although I wish she added a couple more from the album, her performance was spectacular. She got to showcase her beautiful vocals, and we all thoroughly enjoyed shouting to the famous bridge.
As she sauntered off the stage, and the snake appeared to slither down the screen, we all knew “Reputation” was next. I filmed my reaction to Swift strutting across the stage in her new gold bodysuit, and my best friend captured the actual performance. The air was electric during this era – everything you expect for the masterpiece that is “Reputation.”
I had goosebumps when she performed “…Ready for it?” It was incredible and so fun to watch her sass completely take over, and it lasted pretty much the entire set. We got to participate in the crowd cheer during “Delicate,” and we experienced the “Don’t Blame Me” high notes in real time. Absolutely remarkable.
Additionally, getting to both see and hear the transition from “Don’t Blame Me” and “Look What You Made Do” completely exceeded my expectations. I have loved getting to see her perform via online live streams, but nothing could have prepared me for getting to experience this in person. Not surprisingly, this era was one of my favorite moments from the entire tour.
The perfect follow up to “Reputation” was the Folkmore set. Previously she performed “Folklore” and “Evermore” separately, but she has combined the two sister albums into one era.
This set felt like something straight out of a fairytale, which is exactly what Swift set out to do. The stage props were unreal, creative and complete with the entire “Folklore” cabin.
What set this era apart for me was the “Champagne Problems” ovation and her “My Tears Ricochet” performance. At every show, the crowd always showers Swift with applause after she performs “Champagne Problems” on the piano, and the New Orleans crowd really brought their best. My ears were shattered when the crowd finally died down.
Now, “My Tears Ricochet” is my favorite song of all time, so hearing that performed live healed something deep inside my soul. This performance also prompted my fourth set of tears of the night.
After crying through most of the “Folkmore” set, we did a complete turn for one of the more upbeat eras, “1989.” This era had a completely different vibe. The crowd was amplified, electrified and magnified. When I say the stadium was shaking, believe it.
Every single person in the crowd knew the lyrics to each song. My best friend and I were dancing our hearts out to “Style,” “Blank Space,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Shake it Off” and “Bad Blood.” This era was filled with complete joy and electricity, which made the experience so exciting.
The next era was Swift’s newest edition to the Eras Tour, the one and only “The Tortured Poets Department.” This set contained some of my favorites from the album, such as “But Daddy I Love Him” and “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.” I loved getting to see this haunting vibe in person, and it felt all the more creepy the week before Halloween.
Swift’s surprise song section followed her theatrical performance of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” It’s a little embarrassing to admit that I was scared of this section. My worst fear was not knowing any of the songs. This fear was soon over because Swift started playing Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” before causing total chaos by bringing Carpenter out on stage.
Together, they showcased their pretty vocals by mashing up “Espresso” with “Please Please Please” and “Is It Over Now?” It was an incredible mash up on the guitar.
After saying goodbye to Carpenter, Swift moved over to the piano. She completely wowed me by playing my third favorite song of hers, “Hits Different.” I was shaken to the core with both amazement and relief. She mashed this one up with “Welcome to New York,” which was something I called earlier in the week. New York, New Orleans – I just knew Swift would utilize a play on words like that.
During “Hits Different,” we got to sing along to one of her greatest, most well-written tongue twister bridges, which I have dreamt of getting to do live. For reference, it’s 35 seconds of pure lyrical anarchy, featuring lyrics like “I find the artifacts, cried over a hat cursed the space that I needed/ I trace the evidence, make it make some sense/ Why the wound is still bleedin’.”
In my opinion, New Orleans Night Two really won when it came to the surprise song section.
It hurts to think back to the last era performed, “Midnights.” This era had some of the prettiest visuals, and I relished in getting to hear “Lavender Haze,” “Anti-Hero,” “Midnight Rain,” “Vigilante Sh*t,” “Bejeweled,” “Mastermind” and “Karma.”
She completed a really cool outfit change from a t-shirt dress to a constellation bodysuit, and we laughed along to one of the backup dancer’s infamous dance solos during “Bejeweled.”
Swift, her backup dancers and her backup vocalists took their bows during “Karma” as confetti rained down from the sky. It was heartbreaking to realize this magical experience was over, but I will always cherish the memories made of getting to see my favorite singer.
The Eras Tour is such a once in a lifetime opportunity, filled with three and a half hours of pure magic and happiness. I am forever grateful that I got to experience it.
