Taylor Swift's Eras Tour dazzles Europe with fresh twists

On Thursday, 9 May, The Eras Tour made its grand entrance into the heart of France as Taylor Swift took the stage in Paris. To say she surprised her fans would be an understatement—the audience was treated to what felt like an entirely new concert. Notable changes included revamped costumes, a fresh order of eras, and a setlist with unexpected songs. It's anticipated that the upcoming concerts in the UK will showcase a similar spectacle.

Europeans finally got their long-awaited turn as The Eras Tour officially arrived on the continent. Paris hosted the tour's inaugural European performance, sparking weeks of speculation on social media. Fans of Taylor Swift eagerly questioned whether the American singer's shows would undergo any changes, especially in light of her latest album release on Friday, 19 April.

The international Taylor Swift concert tour began in the spring of 2023, captivating fans in the United States, Asia, and Australia over several months. During this period, European fans became intimately familiar with the spectacle of their idol's performances, curious about potential changes for the Old Continent's shows. The degree of alteration, however, surpassed all expectations, leaving fans with no room for disappointment.

Signs of change were apparent even before the concert began. A special intro video, traditionally played before Taylor Swift's performances to highlight the eras she will explore, included a new addition: "The Tortured Poets Department." This confirmed that the latest album would play a significant role in the performances, featuring songs such as:

• "But Daddy I Love Him",
• "So High School",
• "Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me?",
• "Down Bad",
• "Fortnight",
• "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived",
• "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart".

As Swift performed songs from her latest album, audiences were also introduced to new costumes, choreographies, and stage designs, all unified by a distinctive black-and-white aesthetic. This duality of dark and cheerful tones reflects the emotional range of Swift's performance, taking the audience on an emotional journey alongside her.

Incorporating a new era into the concert lineup meant that Taylor Swift had to trim a few songs from her previous shows. Considering that the entire performance spans over three hours, including every song from the setlist plus the latest album's tracks would be impractical. Thus, songs not featured on The Eras Tour include:

• "The Archer",
• "Long Live",
• "The 1",
• "Tolerate It",
• "The Last Great American Dynasty",
• "'Tis The Damn Season".

Additionally, adjustments were made to the sequence of eras Taylor Swift explores during her show. Initially presented in the order of "Lover", "Fearless", "Speak Now", "Evermore", "Reputation", "Red", "Folklore", "1989", and "Midnights", the lineup now starts with the unchanged first two eras. Swift then proceeds to "Red", followed by "Speak Now" and "Reputation". In a thrilling twist, "Folklore" and "Evermore" merge into a unified experience, weaving together songs from both albums.

Following the merged "Folklore" and "Evermore" eras, Swift transitions into "1989", treating fans to well-loved hits before introducing the latest era, "The Tortured Poets Department". The concert concludes with the unchanged "Midnights" era. Europe has thus been offered an entirely new Taylor Swift concert experience, setting expectations for what fans in the UK can look forward to.