Taylor Swift shines like fireworks over Levi’s Stadium (literally!)
Photography TAS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Words JENNY NGOC
“How’d we end up on the floor anyway” were the lyrics I continued to sing to myself as we entered the stadium and made our way to our seats. Our floor seats… Holy shit – this was it. Never did I – a native Southern Californian – ever think, in a million years, that a Friday night in the Bay Area would be one of my favorite nights ever.
As a lifelong Swiftie who has followed Taylor’s journey since the Taylor Swift-era and never got the chance to properly see any of her previous tours (unfortunate life circumstances, low finances, and tragic timing) – this one was well worth the wait. Within a single night, Swift brought the magic of the past 17 years into the charm of the present.
By the time bedroom pop singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams took the stage, the stadium was already halfway filled. As someone who has seen Gracie perform at The Roxy in LA on her very first tour, I absolutely lost it. To watch the 23-year old rising star go from performing at a 500-person venue to commanding a stadium stage was too much for my heart to handle. I felt like a proud mother, despite only being 2 years older. It was so endearing seeing the crowd sing along and actually know the lyrics to her songs! The emotions really hit me when Gracie sat down at her keyboard to close off her set with “I miss you, I’m sorry.” I’m sure there were dry eyes in the audience, but they were not mine…
When HAIM took the stage, my tears were long gone and my adrenaline was pumping yet again. They’re one of those bands that I never get tired of seeing. Their energizing set was banger after banger, starting off strong with “Now I’m In It,” into “Forever” – their tour debut of the track – “Want You Back,” “The Wire,” and “Gasoline,” before ending with “The Steps.” I truly think HAIM gets better every single time I see them.
Despite the sun still high in the sky, the crowd made sure both Gracie Abrams and HAIM felt their energy, love, and respect as we prepared for Swiftie Clara’s honorary mayor to take the stage.
Now, opening up a highly anticipated 3.5 hour show with “It’s been a long time coming – It’s you and me, that’s my whole world” is an insane choice. but Taylor Swift executed it perfectly. Because “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” was never made a single during the Lover-era, nobody – and I mean, nobody – could have ever prepared for that track as the introduction. Every single person lost their minds. And as a former-LoverFest ticket holder, I was living. And possibly crying.
What was even better were the feral screams that erupted when the songstress seamlessly transitioned into “Cruel Summer,” where Taylor made damn sure we crossed the first bridge of the night with her. Only Taylor Swift could give the Golden Gate Bridge a run for its money in its own territory.
With the first shift in Eras, Taylor took the crowd back to 2008 with the beginning strums of the title track to her diamond certified album Fearless. She playfully skipped back out on stage in a sparkly silver “best dress” and proceeded to dance in the “storm” with her hit singles “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story.”
The capacity crowd erupted in cheers when police sirens blared over the speakers, signaling the shift to the evermore-Era. The cheers got even louder when the HAIM sisters emerged from the stage donning their stepsister outfits from the “Bejeweled” video. Perhaps one of the standout moments during this set was the record-breaking seismic roar after Swift played the last note of “champagne problems.” I mean, can you blame them? It’s cathartic to scream “What a shame she’s fucked in the head” in a crowd of 58,000. You feel seen – and slightly worried, because, is everyone okay??
The most magical moment of the night happened during my personal favorite, the Speak Now-Era set. Unsanctioned fireworks fired off in the background in the midst of the fan-favorite “Enchanted,” – a song all the hopeless romantics in the audience possibly lost their voices during – which only added to the theatrics of that performance.
Only someone as powerful as Taylor Swift could (unintentionally) time fireworks to go off during her fan-service set, as the sparks returned during the “Long Live” performance – a song Swift has dedicated to her fans and bandmates – the latter joined her on stage, lining up similar to their original formation during the Speak Now World Tour. I honestly can’t comment much during this song because I don’t know if I fully watched this performance.
Which is a bit of a shame as “Long Live” is my #1 song from Taylor’s discography… I blame it on my blurry vision from my uncontrollable tears.
Another personal cathartic moment was the iconic 10-minute performance of “All Too Well” during the Red-Era set. According to my 2022 Spotify Wrapped, I listened to this song 313 times last year… Allegedly. Thank goodness Spotify doesn’t take YouTube music video views into account.
As Swift took us through the rest of the Eras – Reputation, folklore, 1989 – I couldn’t help but think about what tricks she’d have up her sleeve for the acoustic surprise songs portion of the show. Thanks to my friends, I knew Aaron Dessner was in attendance, which meant we were definitely getting a deep cut.
When the time came and Taylor emerged in her McDonald’s yellow robe-dress – and called Aaron on stage – I just knew I won. It was a gut feeling. I was going to get the coveted restaurant song as one of my surprise tracks. “right where you left me” made the top 5 in my 2021 Spotify Wrapped, so it only checks out that the videos I recorded during this performance will never see the light of day.
Also, Swift was unhinged for playing “Castles Crumbling” as the second surprise song. Personally, it’s one of my favorite From The Vault tracks from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) so again, I WON. However, lyrically, and thematically… gut-wrenching. I know I’m not okay – but Taylor, are you?
Of course, she ended the emotional rollercoaster with her infamous stage-dive, swimming straight into the last portion of the night: the Midnights-Era.
As we rushed out of the stadium, I could still hear the chorus of “You’re On Your Own, Kid” blasting over the speakers – Friendship bracelets were made; we took the moment and tasted it. It felt like the perfect end credits of a movie as I looked around in a “blood-soaked gown* and I saw something they can’t take away.”
That something was my inner-child and inner-teen healing. Hell, even my current self healed. That 3.5 hour set did more for me than months of therapy ever did. Brent, if you ever see this: So sorry, it’s nothing personal, Taylor just has a chokehold on me.
The most overlooked part of a Taylor Swift concert is the unspoken language she’s cultivated with her fans. From the two clap to match the drums during the bridge of “You Belong With Me”; the fans chanting Kendrick Lamar’s verse in “Bad Blood” and Jack Antonoff’s cheeky “Taylor, you’ll be fine” line during “Anti-Hero;” the crowd mirroring Taylor’s hand heart during “Fearless” as a nod to her original 2008 Era; the double fist pumps after the “Long Live” bridge; to the iconic “1, 2, 3 – let’s go bitch!” chant during “Delicate”; it’s clear that despite being the biggest artist in the world, Taylor Swift still finds a way to create some sort of personal connection. She makes a stadium show feel like an intimate showcase…
Swift has truly outdone herself this tour – and she will continue for (hopefully) many more Eras to come. Taylor Swift, I had the time of my life with you. Long Live.
*Note: This was definitely more like a sweat-soaked gown but for the purpose of the lyrical reference, I had to run with it.
Massive thank you to Tree Paine and Dana Lobb from Premium PR for giving Phosphor the opportunity of a lifetime to review this show.
2 Comments
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Courtney
Omg jealous!! I could tell it was such an exciting night for you! Just reading it I felt like I was there too!
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