I had the pleasure of reviewing Taylor Swift‘s show in Miami, FL this weekend and it was absolutely phenomenal. Swift has taken the eras tour throughout the globe, starting the last leg of her U.S and Canada shows at Hard Rock Stadium. After countless sold out stadium shows, Swift takes the stage on October 18th ready to surprise the audience!
Walking to my seat, I could hear “Applause” by Lady Gaga blasting through the speakers, and the whole crowd immediately sprang to life, signaling that Taylor was about to take the stage. I’ve never heard a crowd as loud as Swift’s before. The show began with her dancers taking the stage, holding pink tapestries, which slowly revealed Taylor beneath them as she started singing “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” she sang, acknowledging the fans who had been eagerly waiting since the presale back in August 2023. Shortly after, Taylor greeted the crowd and encouraged them to sing along, especially during the intense bridge of “Cruel Summer.” Everyone around me screamed the words in unison, and I gave it my all, especially in the rain—a signature touch for Taylor, who has grown to love performing in the rain.
As the show went on, each attendee was given a light-up bracelet, courtesy of Capital One, that synced perfectly with the beat of the songs. During “You Need to Calm Down,” the entire stadium glowed in vibrant rainbow colors, creating a magical, unforgettable moment. After wrapping up the Lover era, she transitioned seamlessly into Fearless.
For the Fearless era, she delivered iconic hits like “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me.” She surprised everyone by sporting a stunning blue-and-white bodysuit, which sent the crowd into a frenzy of excitement.
Photo Credit: TAS Rights Management
As the show continued into the 22 era, Taylor appeared wearing a shirt that read, “A lot going on at the moment.” The crowd went wild, singing along to some of Taylor’s classic singles. The Red era kicked off with a heartfelt interaction between Taylor and a young fan who was lucky enough to be given the iconic 22 hat. She then teased the crowd, asking if they had “ten minutes to spare” before launching into the emotional All Too Well (10-Minute Version) (From the Vault). Confetti cannons showered the audience with autumn leaves and snow as Taylor transitioned into the Speak Now era, where her dancers performed a beautiful routine. Taylor reappeared in a stunning light pink dress, mesmerizing the crowd with her performance of “Enchanted,” the sole song of the era.
As a longtime Swiftie, I was beyond excited for the next era: Reputation. At every show, Taylor had worn the same black and red snake bodysuit for this era, but fan rumors about Reputation (Taylor’s Version) had everyone buzzing with anticipation. When Taylor debuted a new gold snake outfit in the rain, the crowd went wild! Seeing a fresh Reputation look for the first time on tour was electrifying, and the audience’s energy reached an all-time high during this iconic era.
One of my all-time favorite albums of Taylor’s is folklore, an album she wrote during the pandemic that weaves together various stories, including the famous “folklore love triangle” between Betty, James, and Augustine. After Reputation, Taylor transitions into the folklore era, bringing a beautifully decorated cabin to the main stage, setting the perfect mood for the album’s storytelling. Folklore is one of Swift’s more narrative-driven eras, and she seamlessly blends it with evermore, the sister album released shortly after. During “Champagne Problems,” the crowd erupts into a well-deserved standing ovation that lasts about three minutes, marking a beautiful end to this emotional and introspective era.
Photo Credit: TAS Rights Management
After coming out again, she debuts the University of Miami colors with a green skirt and orange top in Miami, FL. She starts off her 1989 era with “Style,” where all her dancers get on bikes and travel through the stage. The visuals during 1989 were by far my favorite! The way the stage lights up, especially during “Blank Space,” is astonishing, and for “Bad Blood” there was even fire going off to the beat.
Shortly after, she transitions to her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, marking her first time performing it in the U.S. Coming out in a white puffy dress, she sings “But Daddy I Love Him” on the catwalk, and the audience is as loud as you’d imagine. She then moves on to “So High School,” where everyone freaked out over her doing an archer pose before the song—a move that her current boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is known for. Her dancers, dressed as a marching band, create a vibrant and lively production that made this era one of my absolute favorites. Just when you think she’s about to end the set after “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” a ‘70s vibe fills the stage. Her dancers lift her up in a musical-like sequence, and she dramatically takes off her white dress to reveal a bodysuit. She plays along with the dancers as if there’s no audience, pretending she doesn’t feel like singing. She ends this era with “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” and then moves on to surprise songs—one of the most anticipated parts of every show!
As an attendee, I can absolutely say Miami Night 1 won with the surprise songs (and the new surprise song dress). Ever since the EU/UK leg, she has started doing mashups to fit more songs in for the audience. On the guitar, she sang “Tim McGraw x Timeless,” and then moved to the piano to perform “Daylight x This Is Me Trying.” One of my favorite songs by Taylor is “This Is Me Trying,” so seeing her sing this in front of me was a moment I’ll never forget.
She dove under the stage and emerged in her Midnights era attire, and the crowd erupted once again, cheering for the new outfit. At that moment, a wave of nostalgia hit me as I realized this was the final era, and the show was coming to an end. Even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by Taylor, who managed to keep the energy up for a full 3.5 hours. As she performed her final song, “Karma,” the stage lit up with fireworks, and all the dancers joined her for a grand finale. Taylor took a bow and waved to the crowd as she and her dancers left the stage. That moment truly felt magical!
The eras tour has been a dream of mine for the longest time ever, and still cant wrap my head around the fact that I got to attend the show. I have looked up to Taylor for so long now, and seeing every detail of the show and how her voice is in person is life changing! I do not think I have ever been to a concert where the crowd just felt so at home and like its own safe community. The atmosphere, everyone trading bracelets, singing along with each other, there is nothing like a Taylor show (especially in the rain)!