Surprise songs fulfill dreams of this Swiftie at Taylor Swift’s Saturday show in Seattle
Yes, I was definitely ready for it. But, now what?
Like others I’m reliving a magical weekend of seeing Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour in Seattle.
With traveling to the venue, parking, merchandise lines, and bracelet trading, the pre-concert festivities had fans arriving hours before Swift took the stage.
“Oh my God, I love your outfit,” was the sentence of the day. I heard it hundreds of times as fellow Swifties complimented each other.
People walked past me in outfits in every color, from every era. I saw sparkles, fringe, sequins, tulle and a lot of glitter.
I wore a pink fringe blazer two-piece set with white cowboy boots.
Some fans stayed in merchandise lines outside Lumen Field until they closed at 7 p.m. Others went inside the moment gates opened around 4:30 p.m.
Opening acts began at 6:30 p.m. It was apparent Gracie Abrams and HAIM had their own fan bases, too. Passionate fans were screaming their lyrics around me.
By 7:50 p.m. the stadium was packed. No one was going to miss Swift take the stage.
A large countdown with just under three minutes left appeared on the screen.
It turned black at 7:55 p.m and we started to hear Swift sing the lyrics, “It’s been a long time coming,” but not in her usual melody for the song “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” from the “Lover”-era.
Dancers appeared, each holding large pink and purple parachutes. They started to congregate in the center of the stage, and then out popped Taylor Swift from underneath wearing a sparkly one-piece and glitter boots.
Our wildest dreams became a reality as she began taking us through a journey with each performance.
Fans cheered, screamed, clapped, even cried.
Each performance in the 44-song set list was unique, bringing it’s own theme of flashbacks.
She played for almost 4 hours.
Of course the most anticipated question was which surprise songs would she play?
Seattle Swifties heard a set list addition of “No Body, No Crime,” with HAIM from her “Evermore” album.
Fans I talked to in line predicted that would be the one.
Those who have been following her shows in other cities knew she plays two surprise songs every night of the tour.
They’re never repeated, always acoustic and after the “1989” album era.
Swift appeared in a long maroon-purple dress, guitar in hand.
One the right side of the stage, a piano with painted flowers appeared.
My seat was on the floor, a few rows back, right side of the stage. So, the piano was right in front of me.
She walked up to a mic stand on the left side of the stage.
“I figured tonight, I would do one that I’ve never played acoustic,” Swift said. “And see if you know it.”
Seconds later she started singing “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” from the “Reputation” album.
Just when I thought the flashbacks were over, she walked over to the piano for the second surprise song.
Never did I think she would play one of my favorite songs right in front of me.
All she had to do was sing the first three words of the song before the rest of the crowd and I cheered as loudly as we could, then sang along to “Everything Has Changed” from the “Red” album.
Sunday night Swift performed “Message in a Bottle” from the “Red” album and “Tied Together With A Smile” from the “Taylor Swift” album.
I associate some of the songs with different points in my life, from silly memories with friends to ones that might have helped me through difficult points.
When I was 11, my mom and I saw Taylor Swift in concert for her “Speak Now” tour Sept. 7, 2011, in Tacoma. It felt nostalgic to hear those songs again 12 years later.
As a now 23-year-old who listened to Swift through her whole childhood, it’s hard to choose my favorite moments of the show.
During “Love Story” from the “Fearless” album, I turned around and saw Nick Chan proposing to Jeanette Wang.
She said yes, and everyone around us celebrated the special moment with them.
During “Bad Blood” from the “1989” album, fire machines went off shooting flames in the air. I could feel the heat on my chest.
I sure feel like a Lucky One.
