She’s beaming. Taylor Swift appears out of nowhere on stage and sings the first words of the night into a glittering microphone. Then she spreads her arms and smiles at the crowd. Nearly 60,000 fans from all over the world in an inconspicuous place Gelsenkirchen traveled, can no longer be held at all. There is cheering, shouting and even crying.
During the first songs, songs from her album “Lover”, she sings and dances Fast in a pink bodysuit across the seemingly endless stage. Then the 34-year-old pauses and says the words that so many here have been waiting for: “Gelsenkirchen, welcome to the “Eras Tour”!”
Swift lets the next cheering penetrate. Complete ecstasy is normal for her – wherever she appears, her ‘Swifties’ welcome her wildly. The singer has been traveling the world for over a year with her ‘Eras Tour’. It is a musical journey through her creative phases – she dedicates her own set design to each ‘era’. Calling the show ambitious is an understatement: there are 45 songs on the set list and a concert lasts three and a half hours.
Gelsenkirchen, of all places
The fact that this enormous production in every respect was staged not in Berlin but three times in Gelsenkirchen even caused international ridicule. American presenter Jimmy Kimmel joked that no one had ever heard of “Gelsenkirchen, Germany”. “Maybe it doesn’t even exist.”
Fans from the US, Canada, South Africa and many European countries can now see the opposite for themselves. Cultural scientist Jörn Glasenapp previously described the Swift concerts as the “grand prize” for Gelsenkirchen’s image. The city reported that the hype around the “Eras Tour” was even greater than the interest in the matches at the European Football Championship in Gelsenkirchen.
Approachable pop star
When it comes to pop perfection, the musician sets new standards with the “Eras Tour”. The fact that she never comes across as arrogant or too distant in her gigantic production probably has one thing to thank for: Swift is friendly, and somewhere behind the professional, she is also just a human being. Her true strength as a pop artist lies in always making this touch of recognizability tangible.
When she enjoys the standing ovation for a few minutes after the ballad “Champagne Problems,” pulls faces with her dancers, or smiles her famous smile, she seems sympathetic. Then you can believe her joy when she was able to play this show – here in Gelsenkirchen. Just as people in Milan, Zurich and Amsterdam believed her a few days earlier.
When you ask Swifties lining up at the arena what excites them about the pop star, the most common response is, “She’s real.” “She’s like a sister.” “I look up to her.” These answers are no coincidence. Swift and her team have spent years honing her as the superstar next door, via fan events and social media posts.
Two albums “Taylor’s Version” are still missing
The strength of the “Swifties” as a fan community is evident in the example of “Taylor’s Version”: After a dispute with her old label, Swift began re-recording her first six albums to win back the rights to them. The fans have repeatedly ensured that the new old music broke streaming records.
She now has two new releases in the pipeline: ‘Reputation’ (2017) and her debut album ‘Taylor Swift’ (2006). It is possible that she will release one or both albums during the current tour. It is also conceivable that she will not finish the project “Taylor’s Version” until after the tour.
What comes after the “Eras Tour”?
What seems completely open, however, is the question of how Swift wants to continue her career. The “Eras Tour” catapulted the already famous singer to a level for which there are hardly any comparisons. American musician Billy Joel spoke of a “Swiftmania” based on “Beatlemania”. To what extent can this euphoria become even greater?
A new album would probably be the easiest step. In the recent past, Swift has also expanded her artistic palette, acting as a director in several music videos. Industry publication “Variety” reported on a feature film deal with studio Searchlight Pictures.
Many fans are hoping for at least some private happiness: an engagement and a family with their boyfriend Travis Kelce. The two have been a couple for over a year. According to pixelated photos and videos on social networks, Kelce is probably looking into one of the boxes in Gelsenkirchen. This is far from his first visit to a concert of his loved ones. At one of Swift’s performances in London, the NFL star was even part of the choreography on stage.
It is clear that the “Eras Tour” will end this year. Swift announced this back in June during the 100th show in Liverpool.
The happiness engine
Swift is a pop machine that can certainly be criticized. There’s their private flights – bad for the environment. Your exclusive contracts with giant corporations like Ticketmaster and Live Nation – bad for the music industry. But what can’t be disputed is the sense of community that their machine reliably produces time and time again.
The happiness engine “Eras” works in Nashville as well as in London, in Singapore and in Buenos Aires. And Gelsenkirchen also bathes in colorful sparkling light for a few hours. Two more shows in the Ruhr area are waiting before Swift plays four more German shows in Hamburg and Munich.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240717-930-176982/1
She’s beaming. Taylor Swift appears out of nowhere on stage and sings the first words of the night into a glittering microphone. Then she spreads her arms and smiles at the crowd. Nearly 60,000 fans from all over the world in an inconspicuous place Gelsenkirchen traveled, can no longer be held at all. There is cheering, shouting and even crying.
During the first songs, songs from her album “Lover”, she sings and dances Fast in a pink bodysuit across the seemingly endless stage. Then the 34-year-old pauses and says the words that so many here have been waiting for: “Gelsenkirchen, welcome to the “Eras Tour”!”