Taylor Swift Takes Paris by Storm as European Tour Launches

News Desk 

Paris: Paris was ablaze with Taylor Swift-fever on Thursday as the record-breaking Eras Tour finally made its way to Europe. The La Defense Arena played host to the tour’s European debut, treating fans to the premiere performance of tracks from Swift’s latest album.

The European leg kicked off with a four-night stint in Paris, drawing an impressive crowd of 45,387 on the opening night alone, as reported by her press team. Addressing the ecstatic audience, the 34-year-old pop sensation expressed her gratitude, stating, “I wish I could have toured Europe more. This is a dream crowd.”

The anticipation peaked as typewriter sheets flashed across screens, signaling the beginning of songs from “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift’s newest album. Dressed in attire adorned with lyrics, she launched into a series of darker tracks, commencing with “But Daddy I Love Him” and featuring a particularly impassioned rendition of “Fortnight,” alongside an elaborate performance of “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” and a stunning rendition of “I Can Do it with a Broken Heart,” complete with a golden-era #Hollywood dance routine.

Acknowledging the significance of the moment, Swift remarked, “You were the first crowd to see songs from ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ or, as I like to call it, ‘Female Rage: the Musical’,” much to the delight of the audience.

For many in attendance, witnessing this showcase of Swift’s latest work was nothing short of a dream come true.

“I’ve been eagerly anticipating this for so long, it feels surreal that it’s finally happening,” expressed 11-year-old Emma, who, alongside her mother, traveled from New York to attend the event.

According to the venue, one-fifth of the audience comprised visitors from the United States, drawn by Europe’s regulations that prevent exorbitant mark-ups on resale tickets, offering potential savings amounting to thousands of dollars compared to events in their homeland.

Georg’Ann Daly opted to commemorate her 23rd birthday with the Paris concert, embarking on a journey from Nashville to Chicago, then London, and finally, catching the Eurostar to Paris. “I’ve always had an intense admiration for Taylor Swift,” she shared with AFP.

A small group of devoted fans camped out from Tuesday onwards in Paris to secure prime spots for the show. “It wasn’t my initial plan, but upon arrival, seeing the first tents, I felt a bit anxious,” admitted Chris, aged 30.

Noah, aged 20, is attending all four Paris concerts, utilizing 22 email addresses to navigate the lottery system and secure tickets.                  

Following France, Swift is set to embark on tour dates in Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Austria. The Eras Tour, which commenced in March 2023, has already traversed North and South America as well as Asia.

By the conclusion of the year, the tour had surpassed the unprecedented milestone of selling over $1 billion in tickets, with projections indicating a potential doubling of this figure by its finale in Vancouver this December.

Swift’s enduring popularity remains evident, with her latest album selling 1.4 million copies on its debut day and breaking numerous streaming records, including reaching a billion streams on Spotify within five days.

Swift’s penchant for candidly dissecting her love stories continues to captivate audiences globally, with fans eagerly scrutinizing “The Tortured Poets Department” for hints regarding her past relationships, including ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, a brief yet intense romance with Matty Healy (lead singer of The 1975), and her current partner, American football star Travis Kelce.

As she awaited the concert, Chris reflected, “Taylor addresses themes of toxic relationships, unattainable love, politics, mental health, and much more. I believe there’s a song in her repertoire that resonates with everyone’s experiences.”