Taylor Swift is one of the most popular musicians in the world.
So when it was announced that their anticipated Eras tour would not be stopping in the Middle East, to say I was disappointed would be a massive understatement.
Instead, area fans can settle for a screening of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, a three-hour cinematic experience of her concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Although it has only just arrived in the United Arab Emirates, it has already become the highest-grossing concert film of all time internationally thanks to its success in other countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia.
I would have loved to see Swift live – after all, this is her first time on tour since 2018 – but since there are no stops in the region, there would be significant travel costs and the usual difficulties of getting tickets.
After I found out the film was coming, I immediately bought my ticket to see it in Max at Vox Cinemas to make the most of the huge 20 meter wide screen and the special spatial sound that seemed appropriate for the experience to use.
The cinema wasn’t full for a Saturday evening, but I wasn’t expecting it to be. This made for a cozy atmosphere as we were all well spread out in the theatre. The film was attended by families, friends and even couples.
Much to my surprise, as the film began, I immediately felt like I was transported to another place. From the loud cheers of her adoring fans to the images of Swift and her backup dancers and singers, it almost felt like we were there with her.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour runs through the singer’s 10 albums in non-sequential order. Getty ImagesImmediately, people in their seats began singing and dancing along as Swift initially played tracks from her 2019 album Lover. While some artists tend to play shortened versions of their songs during their performance, Swift mostly played them in full, which I for one appreciated.
She next moved on to her successful 2008 crossover album Fearless, performing upbeat tracks like “You Belong with Me” and “Love Story” that helped her become the star she is today. Then she turned to Evermore, one of the two albums she released during the pandemic.
Listening to her transition from her early pop days to a more mature sound made me realize not only how far she’s come as a singer, but also how versatile she is – something that would prove to be an ongoing theme.
While Evermore’s songs are more mellow, Swift regained her energy with 2017’s Reputation. At the time of its release, it felt like the music world wasn’t quite ready for songs like… Ready for this? and Look What You Made Me Do with their harder EDM-inspired sounds. However, the album is now considered the beginning of their musical development.
Swift then took the audience to 2010 with “Speak Now,” but only performed “Enchanted,” which had everyone in the theater singing along, especially at the track’s bridge. Personally, I would have liked to hear “Mine,” one of my favorite songs from this album.
However, I didn’t feel disappointed when she launched into 2012’s Red with the upbeat tracks “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.” Swift even pulled out her guitar for the full 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”
As we continued our journey, we blasted on to 2020’s Folklore with its laid-back melodies before delving into perhaps Swift’s best album, 2014’s 1989. When she sang Shake It Off, everyone got up from their seats to dance along. She finished her last album, 2022’s Midnights, and performed seven tracks from it, including “Anti-Hero” and “Karma.”
Going through their various albums in non-consecutive order, it’s easy to get lost in nostalgia. After all, their 10 albums span more than 15 years and each “era” is inevitably associated with its own memories.
Although this wasn’t quite the same as a live concert, it was still an impressive experience. It almost felt like I had an up-close performance all to myself. I could also feel that the people around me were genuinely happy, just as I would imagine they would be at one of their concerts.
I ended up getting two friendship bracelets as gifts from other fans, in keeping with the trend of their shows. If you can’t see Taylor Swift live (which is becoming increasingly difficult), or even if you already have, I’d say the film is still worth a look.
Updated: November 5, 2023, 11:28 a.m