Awakened Barbies, All Aspiring to be Taylor Swift: Welcome to the Eras Tour!

A roar of anticipation filled the venue as Taylor Swift took the stage. After a five-year hiatus, Taylor Swift was back, clad in a short skirt with fringes swaying, her ensemble adorned with glimmers that accentuated her stardom. Later, in a bohemian maxi dress, accompanied by refreshing melodies, it was as if the wind itself was drawn towards her charisma, causing her dress and hair to sway in its direction.

Years of experience had endowed her voice with even greater depth and resonance. Her physique had evolved, sculpted muscles allowing her to dance powerfully in sync with the rhythm. This extensive tour began on March 18, with its first performance in Glendale, Arizona. So profound was the impact of this tour that the city renamed itself "Swift City" for the days she performed there.

On August 9, “The Eras Tour,” which had spanned five months on U.S. soil, concluded. Its influence was undeniable, propelling a staggering $50 billion in economic effects, surpassing the GDP of over 35 countries, becoming a matter of attention even for the Federal Reserve. On September 4, the concert's eponymous documentary presold a record-breaking $300 million, surpassing even "Avengers: Endgame." At the recent MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift took home nine major awards, including the prestigious Video of the Year. These achievements and influence resonate with the tour's name – it is Taylor Swift's era tour.

At the age of 6, she received a guitar as a birthday gift; at 12, she started writing songs, and at 15, she made her debut. She journeyed from a small town in Pennsylvania to the global stage's center. However, doubts and controversies have never left her side. Whether it was the country music genre, often stereotyped as being exclusively for housewives, the rigid expectations imposed by society on "good girls," or the online harassment and derogatory comments from all corners, she has been embroiled in the dark side of fame and struggled. These discordant voices never left her side during her 22-year-long career.

There was a time, at the start of Taylor Swift's career, when she was seen as a Barbie-like figure. Yet, the title "Barbie" during those times was a reflection of society's excessive focus on women's bodies and appearances. But we cannot ignore that at that time, "Barbie" also symbolized women who, like Taylor Swift, had talent, intelligence, and ambition. However, these women were often attacked with statements like, "A man must have made her famous" or "She's famous because of her ex-boyfriends." These biases, the hidden manipulators of prejudice, and the spectators influenced by it, all became part of the army that ridiculed Taylor Swift.

After enduring years of controversy and doubt, Taylor Swift returned in 2019 with the declaration, "The old Taylor Swift is dead." In her album "Reputation," she showed unapologetic and fierce creativity, demonstrating her ability to shed her image, rise above the naysayers, and turn the pain of betrayal into nourishment. She no longer wanted to be the "Barbie," "good girl," or "America's sweetheart" that the world perceived her to be. Instead, she embraced the name "snake," questioning the world: "Look What You Made Me Do."

After falling from grace and tarnishing her reputation, she broke free and underwent a transformation, a rebirth. She emerged as the irreplaceable Taylor Swift. The recently released film "Barbie" revealed to the world that Barbie could wear sneakers instead of pink high heels, have a sense of self, fear death, and grow connective tissue. But it's okay because post-awakening Barbies decide how to live in the real world, pursuing both selfhood and freedom.

Barbie is no longer the same Barbie, and Taylor Swift is no longer the same Taylor Swift. Today, she has ventured through a thorny dark forest to find herself in a vibrant wilderness, just like the spectacular stage of "The Eras Tour," where thousands gathered for her. The era of Taylor Swift has arrived.

"Reading My Diary"

During "The Eras Tour," many videos on TikTok captured sweet moments: live performances of "Love Story" became a preferred choice for marriage proposals among many fans.

This song, written by Taylor Swift at the age of 17, was initially a way to express her frustration with her parents' restrictions on her love life. But the infatuation of a teenage heart is not easily suppressed. So, she borrowed the story of Romeo and Juliet, a tale that Shakespeare penned with a tragic ending she did not like. She rewrote the story to feature a proposal from Romeo, avoiding the original's tragic double suicide.

"Love Story" is considered Taylor Swift's breakthrough song, propelling her to become the best-selling female artist of that year when it was released in 2008. Her album "Fearless," which included "Love Story," became the Grammy's Album of the Year and the most awarded country album in history.

Taylor Swift never forgot that "Love Story" was a token for many of her fans. She once revealed that she had sung it countless times and even grew a little tired of it. Yet, she always kept the song in her setlist for every concert. She knew that her fans would use this song to embark on new phases of their love stories when they attended her live performances.

Taylor Swift is a star and an idol. But she insists on writing her songs like reading her diary. Her lyrics and melodies act as bridges, leading us step by step into women's coming-of-age stories.

"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was the first Taylor Swift song I ever heard, and for many fans, it's considered another one of her "gateway songs." In this track, which is jokingly referred to as one of Taylor Swift's longest song titles, she inserts a studio dialogue where she talks about the inspiration behind the song. She describes feeling exhausted in the relationship and uses this song to declare the end of the romance and the brokenness of the relationship with her ex. However, in the song, Taylor Swift's tone is carefree, with upbeat rhythms and melodies. She tells people that the end of a relationship isn't necessarily a bad thing; it can also be a release and a way to rediscover oneself.

But that's not all; in Taylor Swift's songwriting, you can find a range of emotions and experiences. In "Enchanted," she captures the magic of love at first sight, where the stars seem to twinkle. In "Sparks Fly," it's a passionate love that makes you want to kiss in the pouring rain. In "Back to December," it's the guilt of running into an old flame, much like a rose withering in the cold December.

When Taylor Swift was just in her early twenties, she was already dominating the country and pop music scenes in the U.S. She faced a lot of adversity and criticism along the way. At 13, she brought a demo of her songs to Nashville, the heart of American country music that nurtured stars like Elvis Presley. There, the music executives told her that only 35-year-old housewives listened to country music, and there was no place for a 13-year-old kid on their roster.

Luckily, the young girl who was rejected and cried on the way home had already conquered the charts with her country music. She showed the world that country music could be everyone's music.

The "Good Girl" Mentality

She poured her genuine feelings and bold, straightforward lyrics into her songs, creating a coming-of-age love story. This girl from Pennsylvania became a cultural icon, standing out in the world of popular culture. But she didn't want to be confined to one image. She grew, and her music evolved, transitioning from country to broader pop audiences.

She traded her trademark straight-across bangs for a more sophisticated and chic look, embracing sleek golden short hair. The purity of princess dresses and the innocence of t-shirts and jeans were replaced by high heels and figure-hugging short dresses. She declared her transformation with "Welcome to New York."

However, controversies followed her. In "Blank Space," she playfully poked fun at herself and the media's portrayal of her as a serial dater: "Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane." In "Shake It Off," she turned the spotlight on the tabloid stories, indicating her self-awareness, resilience, and ability to shake off rumors and criticism.

Her 2014 pop album "1989" is widely considered one of the greatest pop albums of the 21st century, earning her the Grammy Album of the Year and making her the first woman to win the award twice.

However, fame has its drawbacks. As she pointed out during her 2022 commencement address at New York University, the world turned her love life into a sport, and she lost every game. Her life and growth became a source of critique and attack.

When Taylor Swift transitioned to pop music, the spotlight on her grew even brighter. She had to avoid discussing her political beliefs in public. She went to great lengths to maintain a "good girl" image, even going as far as starving herself to fit into a size zero dress, fainting from hunger during concerts. She strived to avoid actions that might invite criticism.

"Ready for It?"

She adopted a new look, characterized by sharp eyeliner and dark lipstick, shedding the prim bob haircut for a style that revealed her forehead. She even turned the snake symbol that had been used against her into a ring she proudly wore on her middle finger. She lifted her chin high as if to challenge anyone who dared to question her. After a year of silence, she re-emerged with the album "Reputation." It was a bold departure, with experimentation in electronic, rap, and R&B styles. Her music and visuals took on a dark aesthetic, signaling a transformation and a reclaiming of her narrative. She declared herself no longer the sweet America's sweetheart but a vengeful goddess.

In the music video for "Look What You Made Me Do," she took the opportunity to address the years of backlash and criticism. Taylor Swift turned the negative experiences into props and backdrops. She wore a shimmering silver dress that mirrored the one she wore when Kanye West interrupted her at the MTV Video Music Awards. Snakes, a reference to the online hate campaign against her, slithered throughout the video.

The black-clad, darker version of herself systematically trampled over her previous personas and said, "The old Taylor Swift is dead." At the beginning of the video, a zombified Taylor Swift rises from her own grave and symbolically buries the "America's sweetheart" image.

This transformation wasn't just symbolic; it was rooted in reality. In her documentary "Miss Americana," Taylor Swift talked about how a period of isolation and criticism nearly ended her career but ultimately made her a master of songwriting. This time, she didn't live to maintain the image of a "good girl." She acknowledged that she'd had enough and had to dismantle the whole belief system.

In Taylor Swift's life, the old order was collapsing while a new one was taking shape. She no longer starved herself to fit into a small dress. Instead, she embraced her own body and muscles, flaunting powerful legs with confidence. She found acceptance for her natural self. She had crossed thirty but returned to the stage with newfound strength and resilience. In 2019, she released the album "Lover," a departure from the dark themes of "Reputation." The album is characterized by a bright and lively sound, mirroring the sweetness of love. It uses a rainbow color scheme to represent her happiness during this time of her life, which was like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

The album's title track, "Lover," showcases her embracing her love life. She sang about her romantic relationship and painted a picture of happiness, unlike her past songs. The music video included scenes of her happy moments with her partner and even the era when she was just a country girl with her guitar, as well as her challenging moments under the spotlight.

"Delicate" captured her hesitations. Her makeup, which in the past had been more extravagant, was toned down. She sang, "Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet?" It was a song about mature and independent love, no longer relying on someone else for happiness.

The Eras Tour

Through various experiences, Taylor Swift's life has become increasingly colorful and rich, reflected in her creative output, marked by versatility in style and thriving self-expression.

In 2019, Taylor Swift released an album titled "Lover," a stark departure from the dark and edgy tone of "Reputation." During this phase, Taylor Swift's songwriting style leaned towards pop-rock, blending the liveliness of dance-pop and the freshness of synth-pop, creating an overall bright, cheerful, and spirited atmosphere. This was Taylor Swift's seventh studio album, characterized by a vibrant and rainbow-like color scheme, mirroring the sweetness of her emotions. The album featured numerous butterfly symbols, symbolizing her transformation during this period.

The eponymous lead single, "Lover," and its music video encapsulate the happiness she now shares with her partner. It also portrays the image of a young country girl embracing her guitar, reminiscent of her early days, and her experiences of being scrutinized in the past, much like a fish in a crowded fishbowl. The music video utilized seven distinct color themes to represent Taylor Swift's past experiences, reflecting her poise and confidence after navigating through various phases of her life.

This time, her songs weren't just written for herself but also her mother battling cancer, reassuring her that everything would soon be all right. She penned songs for the female community, expressing her discontent with gender bias and reinforcing the belief that women can be leaders and decision-makers. She extended her lyrics to empathize with marginalized and minority groups, telling them to take pride in their existence. And, for those who have wronged her, she used a tone of generosity and humor, conveying that everything in the past was merely an opening chapter.

Taylor Swift has been continuously looking forward, and as a woman in her thirties, she seems to have entered her creative prime. Just a year after "Lover," she surprised the world by unexpectedly releasing two folk albums, "Folklore" and "Evermore," within half a year, with "Folklore" earning her the distinction of becoming the first female artist to win the Grammy Album of the Year three times. In 2022, she released "Midnights," which, both in style and lyrical content, reminded fans of the time when they first met this music-loving girl.

From releasing her debut album at the age of 16 to her current status, Taylor Swift has delivered ten albums for her global fanbase. She once said that she loves creating both country and pop music, and it's her fans' unwavering support that has turned all her passions into reality.

In the debut performance of "The Eras Tour," Taylor Swift selected 44 tracks from her 17-year career and condensed them into a 3-hour live performance. She proclaimed during the concert, 'We will go through an adventure, an era.' It was an unparalleled and breathtaking stage setup. The performance commenced with clock-themed visuals, implying that this would be a musical journey through time. Taylor Swift, adorned in a sparkling blue jumpsuit, entered the stage, and the live atmosphere resembled a romantic twilight, with a play of lights and shadows.

Over the course of this 3-hour show, Taylor Swift changed into 18 different outfits, ranging from the pinkish-blue theme of the "Lover" album to iconic golden glittery dresses from the "Fearless" era, black leather jackets representing her "Reputation" phase, crop tops and short skirts reminiscent of "1989," and red coats echoing the "Red" era. The 'Eras Tour' was a reflection of Taylor Swift's growth and style evolution.

Apart from the visual and auditory delight, Taylor Swift's 'dives' and 'ascensions' became the most talked-about 'highlights' of the concert. Clad in a red gown, she plunged into the water and, through holographic technology, transformed into a beautiful mermaid with a red tail gracefully swimming on a stage bathed in watery blue hues. Just as the screen generated swirling waves and enveloping mist, Taylor Swift, appearing to transcend reality, promptly emerged on the stage, climbed a ladder to the sky, and disappeared into the clouds, creating a dreamlike and surreal spectacle.

Fans have commented that given Taylor Swift's stature as the reigning queen of the global pop music scene, they would gladly attend a 3-hour concert just to see her standing there. Nevertheless, Taylor Swift remains dedicated to leaving no stone unturned in creating a concert stage that leaves everyone in awe, from stage design and costuming to the minutest details.

As New York University put it when they awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Taylor Swift is a groundbreaking and influential artist, a champion of artists' rights, and a global advocate against discrimination. Taylor Swift is one of the most creative and influential musicians of our time.