Taylor Swift: Two Reviews One Show Part 2

Swift Returns to Nashville May 5, 2023

Photos by Nicholas Shotwell

Review by Nicholas Shotwell

On Friday, May 5th, Taylor Swift made her much-anticipated return to stage in Nashville, Tennessee, an iconic stop on her Eras tour that broke Nissan Stadium’s attendance record with 70,000 fans. The concert featured music selections from all 10 of Taylor Swift’s albums. As the clock ticked down to showtime there was excitement in the air, and fans wearing outfits from every Swift album (or era), waiting patiently in growing lines for merchandise. The costumes and clothes of her fans were an obvious celebration of the Eras with Taylor including sequins and jewels of every kind.

Swift drew in a diverse group of people; moms and dads with their daughters, girls of all ages and sizes, boyfriends, and young men alike. No matter what age, height, shape, color, or disability people had, they seemed have a different kind of confidence and indeed they were all truly beautiful. Something real happened that actually made her fans more confident and beautiful. It wasn’t just people mimicking Taylor Swift in sparkly dresses and costumes. But, rather it seemed as if Swift—years in advance—transmitted her energy through the radio waves, CDs, ear buds, and MP3 players and channeled confidence into the hearts and minds of her fans that swelled up like a 70,000 foot tidal wave crescendo of a masterpiece of sound and light, and overflowed into the air over Nashville.

The Eras concert experience touches Swift’s multiple styles and attitudes, with cleverly disguised costume changes as she seamlessly blended in and moved through the stage theatrics as a fairy-tale princess, goddess, vulnerable daughter and granddaughter, and girl-next-door. At one point Swift dove into the stage and “swam’ across it in a “body of water” during an unforgettable visual experience. The concert indeed had something for everyone as she brought Phoebe Bridgers on stage for a duet of “Nothing New.” Swift announced the release of “Speak Now - Taylor’s Version” at Friday night’s show. The release date is July 7th, 2023!

Taylor Swift astonishingly performed 45 songs from her ten albums, with each album having a completely unique theme of digital effects and supporting musicians and dancers. Although as financially and emotionally painful it was for some, Taylor Swift brought all her love and appreciation for hours and she made damn-sure everyone knew she appreciated them. She frequently would pause and feel the energy, prompting a swell of screams and smiles and she spoke to the audience throughout the show about her family, her time growing up in Nashville. The highly anticipated concert ended beautifully with fireworks, thanks, and a "Good-bye, until next time."