You have to live it to believe it!
We’ve heard so many awesome things about Taylor Swift’s new Eras Tour, but to witness it really blew our minds! We were so lucky to be part of the few magazines authorized to cover Taylor’s first stop in Texas at the ATT Stadium in Arlington, and we cannot be thankful enough with her team for this!
It is a show that contains all the right elements of perfection: an exceptional singer full of charisma singing great songs on a stage with an impressive production and a crowd that transmits a magical vibe.
Together with opening acts GAYLE and band MUNA, the first show of three at the Dallas Cowboys home was definitely one to be remembered.
For almost 5 hours, thousands of fans enjoyed the performance of these 3 great artists and we were there to tell you what we experienced.
GAYLE
The night started at 6:25 PM with the performance of Texan native Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, better known as GAYLE. She was the one in charge to start warming the engines at the stadium and yes, she did! Her show started with “Everybody Hates Me“, “Sleeping With My Friends“, and “ALEX“.
Excited to be invited to Taylor Swift’s show, GAYLE was clearly having a great time on stage. Her setlist continued with “Don’t Call Me Pretty“, “You Oughta Know“, (Alanis Morissette cover), “Luv Starved” and “Snow Angels“
But of course, the song everyone was waiting for was left for the end, “ABCDEFU“. The whole stadium sang along leaving the audience super excited.
MUNA
It was 6:55 PM when the lights came down again, announcing it was time for the second act of the night, MUNA.
Directly from Los Angeles, CA., and formed by Katie, Josette, and Naomi, the band conquered the big stage and stadium it was in front of them.
Their show started with the contagious song “What I Want” whit Katie and Josette walking from side to side on stage while Naomi played keyboards in the back. Followed by “Number One Fan” which we could say fit perfectly in the night with Swift talking about the band on stage…
“They’re a band I love so much, they’re honestly all over every playlist of mine and I’m so happy they joined us tonight because they’re fantastic, and they absolutely killed it. This is their first night on our tour., so would you please make so much noise for MUNA!” Taylor said.
The show continued with other great songs such as “Stayaway“, “Taken“, “Home By Now” and “Anything About Me“
The audience really enjoyed their performance and it was nice to hear thousands of fans singing along with the band. They finished their set with “I Know A Place” and “Silk Chiffon“, song they share with Phoebe Bridgers.
TAYLOR SWIFT
The adventure to see Taylor Swift started on Thursday night when a lot of fans began camping outside the venue, standing in line to be the first ones to get Taylor’s merch. We met people from all over who came to this special event: Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mexico City, Monterrey, and even Argentina.
But on Friday night things got real. It was at 7:52 pm when the lights came down and dancers walked onto stage holding some big waving cloths covering the stage, at one point they got together in the center, and from the middle of them, Taylor Swift appeared singing “Miss Americana & The Heart Break Prince” followed by “Cruel Summer” and “The Man“.
The first section of the show continued with more songs from the album LOVER, such as “You Need to Calm Down”, “Lover” and “The Archer”.
One Era at a time!
It was the time to switch Eras and we entered the FEARLESS part of the show with songs “Fearless”, “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story”. You can imagine how the crowd reacted to these songs. It was loud and impressive listening to the thousands of fans singing along.
From there we jumped to the EVERMORE era, with extracted songs “‘tis the Damn Season“, and “Willow“, where the stage turned into a dark and mysterious forest and dancers moved around holding pumpkins and Swift wore an orange country-style dress from designer Etro. Other songs that were part of this section were “Marjorie“, “Champagne Problems“, and “Tolerate it“.
After a little break and wearing new outfits, Swift and dancers welcomed the REPUTATION Era.
While the music was playing, they all walked to the middle of the stage to start singing “… Ready For It“. They all stand in line from side to side on stage and just like an audio-equalizer, columns with Swift and dancers on top started moving up and down. The show really captivates the crowd without giving anyone a chance to get bored. Slowing the tempo for a little bit, it was the time for “Delicate” and “Don’t Blame Me“. Swift went to the back and finish this Era with “Look What You Made Me Do“.
Fashionista on stage!
Besides Swift’s amazing performance, she also surprised the crowd with a total of 17 different outfits from famous designers such as Donatella Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Oscar De La Renta, Nicole + Felicia Couture, Etro, Alberta Ferreti and the red bottom shoes she wears throughout the evening are custom Louboutins.
ENCHANTED
A really special moment everyone was waiting for, from the SPEAK NOW Era (Swift’s 3rd album) was the song “Enchanted“.
The whole stadium sang in unison, a magical moment with Taylor Swift looking beautiful like a real princess with a crystal ballgown from Nicole + Felicia, a Taiwanese fashion house known for its extravagant ballgowns and cocktail dresses. This dress took a total of 365 hours to be created!
No other songs from this album were performed, and there was no need with such an amazing performance.
A night full of hits!
The evening continued with one great song after another and the audience could keep going and going. “If this was a 9-hour show I would be singing and standing here the whole time!” a fan from the crowd told us.
The next sections of the Eras Tour brought RED with more great songs such as “22“, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together“, “I Knew You Were Trouble” and the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” with Swift on the guitar singing at the very end of the catwalk.
For FOLKLORE era, Swift selected 7 songs that included “The 1“, “Betty“, “The Last Great American Dynasty“, “August“, “Ilicit Affairs“, “My Tears Ricochet” and “Cardigan“.
1989
The 1989 album was one of the most anticipated Eras of the show. And of course, international hits such as “Style“, “Blank Space” were well received by the audience, but, when it was the turn for “Shake it Off“, things got a little out of control! The whole stadium sounded super loud! With the screams and the singing, it was spectacular!
Surprise Acoustic Songs
As rumored, there were going to be a couple of surprise tour-debut songs and these were “Sad Beautiful Tragic” with Swift on the guitar followed by “Ours” with Swift on the piano.
The end of the Eras
By this time, more than 2 hours had passed with continuous hit after hit and neither Swift, the dancers nor the audience seemed to be tired!
But, everything needs to come to an end and we entered the last Era of the night, MIDNIGHTS.
From this album, Taylor Swift chose 7 great songs, being “Lavender” the first of this act. Followed by “Anti-Hero” where Swift walked and wave to the crowd on both sides of the stadium, almost like starting to say goodbye to her fans.
“Midnight-Rain“, “Vigilant Shit” and “Bejeweled” continued and by then everyone was standing and dancing all over the stadium, people knew it was almost the end of the show.
To finish the show, it was the turn for “Mastermind” and for the very last, “Karma” and Swift gathered every dancer on stage, thanked the audience for a great evening, the musicians, the dancers, and by 11:07 an incredible show was over.
SET LIST
Taylor Swift Houston, TX Setlist
|
| Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince |
| Cruel Summer |
| The Man |
| You Need to Calm Down |
| Lover |
The Archer |
| FEARLESS |
| Fearless |
| You Belong With Me |
Love Story |
| EVERMORE |
| ’tis the damn season |
| Willow |
| Marjorie |
| Champagne problems |
Tolerate it |
| REPUTATION |
| …Ready for It? |
| Delicate |
| Don’t Blame Me |
Look What You Made Me Do |
| SPEAK NOW |
Enchanted |
| RED |
| Red – Intro |
| 22 |
| We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together |
| I Knew You Were Trouble |
All Too Well (10 Minute Version) |
| FOLKLORE |
| Seven |
| The 1 |
| Betty |
| The last great american dynasty |
| August |
| Illicit affairs |
| My tears ricochet |
Cardigan |
| 1989 |
| Style |
| Blank Space |
| Shake It Off |
| Wildest Dreams |
Bad Blood |
| Surprise Acoustic Songs |
| Sad Beautiful Tragic |
Ours |
| MIDNIGHTS |
| Lavender Haze |
| Anti‐Hero |
| Midnight Rain |
| Vigilante Shit |
| Bejeweled |
| Mastermind |
| Karma |
Hope you enjoyed the photos and our review as much as we enjoyed the show!
THS Team
