There’s the show, and then there’s the Taylor Swift-era tour.
On Friday, the three-and-a-half-hour music and video spectacle arrived at MetLife Stadium to deafening shrieks, cheers and screams from the 70,000 people inside. It featured music, dance, video, fireworks, confetti, and a retrospective of Swift’s career so far.
Latest chapter? Collaboration with hip-hop’s new breakout star, Ice Spice. They just released a remixed version of Swift’s single “Karma” rapped by Spice. Not only did a new video premiere on MetLife, but Spice also appeared to perform the song live to close out the show.
“I didn’t just fall in love with her, I decided she was the future,” Swift said as she introduced the video, which touches on the classic motif.
Ice Spice was Venus in a shell.
Still, the night was all about Swift and consisted of a multimedia tableau representing stages of her career. Appearing in her sparkly bodysuit and sequined boots, she never looked back and flew from her country-pop roots to the synth rhythms of her latest album, Midnights.
The staging was fantastic, with the biggest visual screen this reporter has seen on MetLife. Not only is it big, but it’s also visually impressive with high-definition images. The woodland setting of the song “Folklore” and the giant taylor of “Antihero” were particularly memorable.
The extended stage appeared to occupy 50 yards of the field and featured multiple screened risers. The floor was lit, and at one point Swift flew through a hidden door, disappearing until she was pictured “swimming” under the stage.
Swift was always on the move, supported by a live band and a dozen dance troupe, except when she took center stage alone. She exudes charm and charm, and the audience, who were seeing their hero stage for the first time since 2018, couldn’t get enough of it.
At the end of Swift’s piano solo, “Champagne Problems,” the audience roared spontaneously for several minutes, and Swift’s eyes seemed to water.
“What are you guys doing?” Swift said. “This is very nice.”
Swift is a storyteller, dancer, and singer whose phrasing and rhythm really bring to mind the melody. This was especially noticeable in the performance of “August”, in which Swift danced in a flowing dress, and the sound and sight soared beautifully.
Swift is also an advocate for artists’ rights. She re-recorded her first six albums to confirm ownership of the master recordings and talked about giving herself the rights to use her material.
“This is a passion project,” Swift said. “This is something I’m personally passionate about, but I can’t expect or require people to get involved in this. It wasn’t what I expected of you guys. , the craziest thing happened when we started putting out a new version of the album called the Taylor Version, and you guys decided it was your favorite version.”
Not many pop stars can talk about power trends in the record industry while screaming 70,000 people.
It was Jersey night. Swift, who said she spent summers on the Jersey Shore as a kid, spoke about her love for her MetLife audience. Jersey musicians also joined the stage. Jack Antonoff is her frequent collaborator and frontman for Bleachers. He helped provide the acoustic version of “Getaway Car”.
“At the moment, Jack feels like my cousin,” Swift said.
Performed by the late Tenafly legend Leslie Gore, “You Don’t Own Me” was played just before Swift took the stage at 8pm.
Gale Bridgers and Phoebe Bridgers opened the show, which lasted a total of five hours. Bridgers later joined Swift on “Nothing New”.
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Taylormania visited the area in the days leading up to the concert.
“I declare New Jersey’s official sandwich to be Taylor Swift’s ham, egg and cheese,” Governor Phil Murphy said Thursday, adding Swift’s lyrical expertise to the announcement. “Welcome to New Jersey, Taylor. We’ve been waiting for you, but this summer would have been cruel without you.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he will be going to MetLife, the team’s home stadium, for the Swifts.
“I’m a fan,” Rodgers said on “Mad Dog Sports Radio.” “I’m a big fan.”
His favorite album is “Folklore” and “August” is his favorite song on that album.
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Swift’s Eras tour, which kicked off in Arizona on March 17, will be Swift’s first since her 2018 Reputation World Tour, which also played three shows at MetLife. In between, Swift released Lover in 2019, Folklore and Evermore in 2020, Midnights in 2022, and re-recorded albums Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (2020). Taylor’s Version)” was released. 2021 years.
Swift released a new “Midnight” deluxe album (“Till Dawn Edition”) late Friday night.
Taylor Swift Era MetLife Tour:Here’s everything you need to know about the show
In November, Ticketmaster announced it was canceling general sales of Swift due to huge demand for tickets. Ticket prices ranged from $49 to $449 before fees, and were even higher for VIP packages.
The original presale was supposed to have 1.5 million verified fans, but 14 million people and bots participated, Live Nation chairman Greg Maffei told CNBC.
Following the tour’s issue, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee held hearings in January to determine whether Ticketmaster owner Live Nation Entertainment should be dissolved. I decided to ask.
Ticket prices started at $1,100 on the secondary market before Friday’s performance. Swift’s Eras tour also included MetLife shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Taylor Swift MetLife Stadium setlist
- Miss Americana and the Broken Prince
- cruel summer
- the man
- need to calm down
- mistress
- archer
- Fearless
- You are mine
- love story
- damn season is here
- willow
- Marjorie
- problem with champagne
- accept it
- Are you ready?
- delicate
- don’t blame me
- look what you made me do
- enchantment
- twenty two
- we are never ever getting back together
- i knew you were trouble
- Nothing New (with Phoebe Bridgers)
- All to Well (10 minute version)
- 1
- betty
- August
- adultery
- the ricochet of my tears
- cardigan
- style
- blank
- shake it off
- wildest dreams
- bad blood
- (Debut of new “Karma” video by Ice Spice)
- Getaway Car (Jack Antonoff guitar)
- Maroon
- lavender haze
- anti hero
- midnight rain
- vigilante (blank)
- bejeweled
- mastermind
- Karma (with ice spice)
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A native of the Jersey Shore, Chris Jordan handles entertainment and features for USA Today Network New Jersey. Please contact @chrisfhjordan. cjordan@app.com
