The Eras Tour *****

There's this thing about perfection. It can look like something obvious, almost effortless, because it's too easy to overlook that perfection didn't happen overnight. It's easy to ignore that a perfect moment, product, album, or concert is the accumulation of everything that came before. Every small step and every failure along the way all led up to this moment in time. Perfection is about not giving up along the way, not becoming lazy, or settling at 70% of getting there. Perfection is pushing through, even when you don't have any more to prove to the world. Perfection is outdoing yourself in a way you've never done before, in a way that's not deemed possible.

Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour should be on Wikipedia when you search for the definition of perfection.

We traveled to Lisbon last week to see Taylor's first night of two, which was out of this world. Even though I've watched the concert many times on television, seeing it in real life is mindblowing. There's just no way a television picture can convey the feeling of being inside a giant stadium with 65,000 people singing every word of every song. Seeing an artist performing for 3.5 hours without any breaks, running and dancing on a massive stage, and giving her all to every person in the stadium is breathtaking.

And even though the show is very tightly directed, and there are absolutely no surprises to be found anywhere at all (except in the acoustic set), the execution is just so damn incredible. There are goosebumps moments everywhere, from the first bridge of the evening (I'm drunk in the back of the car), over the fantastic ten-minute version of All Too Well (by far the best song written in this century) to the 4.5-minute-long standing ovation Taylor received after Champagne Problems— all in the feels, all in the feels.

Few artists could fill a 45-song setlist without any dull songs, and The Eras tour is a prime demonstration of Taylor Swift's unique ability to write and compose amazing songs that so many people can relate to. Looking at her career, she's pushed through every pushback and kept on writing, performing, and getting stronger and stronger. She's found her voice so many times by now, reinventing herself without ever sacrificing herself. It led up to this moment, this tour de force that, when this tour ends, she will have performed for over 10 million people 🤯

The only thing that worries me now is where she can go next. She's reached the moon. Can she shoot any higher? But I have no doubt a genius like Taylor Swift will figure that out.

Most asked question lately: so are you a Swiftie? Well, yes. Even though I don't like the term Swiftie, because I don't call myself a Radioheadie, Flaming Lipsie or IDLESIE either. I've been pulled in by Ryan Adams, who covered 1989, and who made me relisten the original record and really made me listen to what Taylor had to say (a lot). Ever since I've been pulled in deeper and deeper, and she's become one of my favorite artists. But hey, I shouldn't defend myself for being a fan because who's Taylor Swift anyway? ew