I don’t get it. But whatever she’s doing, she’s doing it right. She’s a brilliant marketer, good musician and a super entertainer. But the hype, global focus and massive number of fans – I still don’t get it. And I’m surprised because I’m usually big on all things pop culture. I think I’m too old.
Taylor Swift is in the neighbourhood – she brought her Eras tour to Toronto for 6 sold out nights, November 14 – 23 (over the 2 weekends) and the city is going crazy. Today is DAY 1. There’s even been a street renamed for her for November (ceremonial ) – Taylor Swift Way. Fans wait at 6 AM for merchandise office to open at 10 AM – this started two days ago before the actual concert. The line snaked around for blocks. For locals, we are avoiding being anywhere downtown during those times – unless of course we are fans. And I am not – but Taylor doesn’t need me.
I know of people who have bought tickets to Europe to see her and the cost of the flight, hotel and concert, cost less than a ticket here at home. Apparently the city could see an uptick in the local economy to the tune of $280 million plus.
Glad no one in this household is a fan. It would be too expensive!
Are you a Taylor fan?
At a time 
I was into Taylor when she was country and I like her folk albums. I don’t really get the whole thing, but I love a smart, powerful businesswoman.
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I’m not a Taylor fan. I, like you, don’t get it. I agree – she knows what she’s doing. My kids went to a party on a friend’s boat downtown Chicago during her concert here a few summers ago. ’23 I think. They aren’t fans and the boat party was a theme Swift fan party. Tank, Ed, and Mini attended and they wore spoof t-shirts that they made featuring quotes like “I’m a let you finish even though so and so had a better video” or something. I just found a few of the t-shirts when I cleaned the boy bedroom before Tank brought 9 kids from his college here to stay enroute to a mission trip over fall break. The shirts were hilarious.
My soon-to-be-adopted teenage girls (12 and 13) are Taylor Swift fans, but there’s no chance they are going to see her in concert.
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I am not a fan, not because I don’t like her, I just never really listened to her music. Also, I think the fans are called Swifties? The most I spent on a concert ticket was maybe $200 and that was for one of those all day events where you have multiple stages, and I thought it was way out of my price range and not worth the money! I can’t imagine spending thousands. But of course, I also can’t image paying the amount that people pay to go to Disneyland either! To each their own, I suppose.
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I’m a fan in the sense I bought at least 4 of her CDs but I love her music. And yes, I do think she’s a great musician and agree she knows how to market herself, but that comes from a place of learning and hurt. So good on her. But like you, I’m a little in awe at the sheer hype. Where ever she goes so to go the huge number of fans. It’s certainly a phenomena the likes of which we’ve never seen before.
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Honestly I don’t get it either. I listen to her songs when they are playing. I have downloaded a couple I like but I personnel think they all sound very similar.
The craziness when she was touring through Germany and everyone was battling for tickets…. I dont know. She isn’t Michael Jacksons…. Or is she?
Definitely saving money on that hype.
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I tried to comment yesterday but wordpress was giving me sass (not just your blog). Anyway, I like Taylor’s music but don’t love it. Well, I love some of it, but wouldn’t be interested in seeing her in concert no matter the price. I’m not a big fan of big stadium tours anymore (too crowded, too loud, too much going on.) I’d love to see her in a small venue doing acoustic stuff, I think she’s very talented. Just thinking about her song, Bigger than the Whole Sky, gets me crying, it makes me think of my sweet dog Mulder.
My daughter has seen her live twice, my sister and niece saw her summer of 2023, and all got their tickets at face value when they first went on sale, so while expensive, it wasn’t Europe expensive. (OK, if I somehow got a free trip to Paris out of it, I’d go see a big stadium show!) They LOVED her in concert. (To be clear, my daughter paid her own way both times, I cannot afford even cover price.)
I love that she’s a talented songwriter and musician, and that she’s a smart businesswoman. But if someone asked if I were a fan, I’d say, Eh. A little bit.
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I don’t get the Taylor effect either (and I am glad to see I am not alone). I mean, she’s fine and all but her music is not extraordinary (I think she was a better country singer) and I don’t get the whole hype, but hey, good for whoever likes her.
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