After more than 18 months, everyone can agree that Taylor Swift's Eras tour is more than your average concert. It is one event. Swift herself even used the word to describe what her record-breaking journey has become during the second of three sold-out nights at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday (October 19).
Thousands of fans flocked to most of the city wearing their Eras Best (think Sunday Best, but with sequins, cowboy boots and beaded bracelets) not only to see the show of a lifetime, but to sing and dance their hearts out, exchange friendship bracelets and create memories that will last forever.
At Hard Rock Stadium (and every venue booked for this trek), Swift takes on the role of host, taking us through each of her eras/albums like chapters in a book — just not chronologically. This story begins with her 2019 album Loverwhich was supposed to have a tour of its own in 2020 called Lover Fest but was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then makes his way back Fearless, Red, Speak now, Reputation, Folklore and Forever, 1989 and Department of Tormented Poetsbefore wrapping up nearly 3.5 hours later with her final album Grammy of the year, Midnight.
Like most music artist tours, each stop follows the same general setlist. But thanks to her surprise song set in which she plays two acoustic songs or mashups from her 220-plus song catalog on guitar and piano (plus the occasional wardrobe update and even rarer new music announcement), no two concerts are the same.
Bulletin board was on the floor at the pop superstar's spectacular second night in Miami and wraps up all the moments that made this show unique below.
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Surprise songs that herald the “debut”?
Swift performed two new mashups on night two in Miami — and the first has some fans convinced it could mean a pair of new records could be on the way.
The audience's light-up bracelets lit up green as she began the acoustic section with “Should've Said No” from Swift's self-titled debut album. After the first rendition of the chorus, she waited a bit before going into her first shift of the night: entering a deeper vocal register singing the opening of “I Did Something Bad” Reputation. As these are the only albums left without Taylor Publications (excluding those released after 2019, when Swift got her own masters), Swifties continue to think the pop superstar teases that both parts of her fan-named “Debut-tation” are around the corner.
For her piano song, she sang an exciting mashup of “loml”. TTPD and “White Horse” by Fearless — two lyrically devastating songs written at two completely different points in Swift's life.
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A Standing Ovation to remember
You know you've got an epic crowd on the Eras tour if your ears are already ringing after the second song (“Cruel Summer”) — and that's exactly how it went on the second night of Miami.
This crowd energy remained unmatched for the entirety of the show. Although fans sat through the season transitions/outfit changes, most were immediately on their feet when Swift returned to the spotlight.
As also seen in Taylor Swift: The Eras tour film, Swift is notorious for pausing for applause after her performance of “Champagne Problems.” On Saturday night in Miami, he got the crowd going for 3.5 minutes.
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“55” during “22”
Swift lit up the number '55' with her hands during her performance at '22' on night two in Miami and fans are already theorizing.
Fifty-five days from the Saturday air date is December 13th, aka the pop superstar's birthday, and it's a Friday (when new music is usually released). So… could Swift be planning a surprise music release or announcement when she turns 35 this year? Only time will tell.
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Flo in Florida
Florence Welch joined Swift on stage for the second night in a row to perform their own TTPD collab, “Florida!!!”
Swift began the first verse alone after opening it Tormented Poets era with 'But Daddy I Love Him' and 'So High School'. Welch appeared to a thunderous ovation as the crowd seemed to assume she would be performing again after performing the song with Swift the day before.
“My friend Florence came from England to see you!” Swift said into the microphone.
The duo effortlessly strutted down the runway while singing, giving each other face caresses and plenty of headbutts.
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Three new wardrobe additions
Swift added more looks to her Eras tour wardrobe after debuting four new outfits at Miami night 1.
The first new dress was worn as Swift sang “Enchanted” — a light blue, full-length beaded ball gown with a square neckline. Not to be confused with the blue dress she wore for the Speak now era before it was announced 1989.
She also wore a new shiny purple variation of her surprise song dress.
Finally, Midnights era shirt appears to be new. It's silver with a hint of blue, and of course, very, very sparkly.
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Most Fun tour Award?
Before launching into “All Too Well (10-Minute Version),” Swift shared that she's “having more fun on this tour than I have on any other tour in my life” and thanked fans for making the Eras tour what it is.
“I could never have thought of the idea of doing the Eras tour, which celebrates all of my albums, if you hadn't celebrated and loved and honored all of those albums,” he explained. “And also, you've turned this tour into an event. You've done all these traditions, you exchange friendship bracelets, you know every word to every song. That's what makes it so fun for me.”
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A subtle nod to Travis Kelce during “Midnight Rain”
Travis Kelce didn't appear to be in attendance for Nights 1 and 2 of Swift's return to Miami due to the Kansas City Chiefs hosting a game on Sunday (October 20). However, on night 2, Swift seemingly paid tribute to her NFL player boyfriend during her performance of “Midnight Rain.”
When Swift sings “And he never thinks of me/ Off the TV, Swift strikes archer pose, taking a bow and arrow position — something Kelce sometimes does when he scores a touchdown. The couple has never publicly confirmed that this pose has anything to do with their relationship, but along with this verse it makes a little more sense after Kelce debuted on Ryan Murphy's new show. Grotesquerie.
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Honorable mention: Gracie Abrams Commands the Stadium Stage
It's not often that an opener can command the attention of the entire field. But Saturday night in Miami, Gracie Abrams did just that during her 9-song set at Hard Rock Stadium.
This isn't the first rodeo Abrams has taken part in on Swift's mammoth journey — but it's the first since the release of her album, Our secretand its deluxe edition. Performing to sold-out shows across the country, Abrams is only getting better at commanding the stage, as evidenced by the thousands in the stadium who turned on their phone flashlights for “Let It Happen.” Abrams was visibly impressed and overcome with emotion at the magical moment, mouthing “holy s–t” while holding back tears of joy.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-miami-night-two-best-moments-the-eras-tour/
