(You can listen to this post, above, or read the transcript, below.)
This summer, I was just a regular person averaging 7 hours of screen time a day. Then my 14-year-old niece came to town, we went to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert, and within 48 hours, I became a Swiftie. My niece and I are still in withdrawals.
Immediately following the concert, I listened to Lover, The Archer, Cruel Summer, You Need to Calm Down, and The Man, repeatedly, all day, every day, like a nut. (I dare you to listen to any of these songs just twice—I swear, you'll be hooked.)
The magic of being in an arena with 70,000 women and girls, sensitive straight dudes and gay men, all joyfully singing along to every song, cannot be properly expressed in words. (There was a 50-something guy in glasses and a graphic tee, who looked like a KCRW listener, in the row behind us. I often sneaked peeks at him, because he seemed so happy. With a raised arm, pointing emphatically, he belted out every lyric with such feeling it was infectious.)
Even standing in a massive line for merch during the concert was delightful--the other women and I were chattering about how much we admire Swift and they felt like instant friends. The young guys who were fulfilling orders at the merch table were patient and warm. When a woman apologized for being indecisive about which t-shirt to get, one of the young dudes said, "No problem, y'all are the best fans!" The entire night was a lovefest.
I wish everyone could've experienced that concert. I know—the tickets were expensive. But in the words of that MasterCard campaign from a while back, bonding with my niece, in that incredible setting, was priceless.
Here’s “Style,” with my niece doing dance moves from Harry Styles, whom the song is said to be inspired by:
So good to read this account of going to the gig with your niece. Precious times - and sounds so fun!