TORONTO—“Just think while you’ve been gettin’ down and out about the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats in the world you could’ve been gettin’ down to this sick beat.” These song lyrics were chanted in downtown Toronto the past two weekends, as people from all over Canada (and the world!) attended Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts. Among the throngs of “Swifties” were Manitoulin teens, eager to see their favourite artist play live.
Taylor Swift has been a household name for years, being one of the most popular artists in history. She is known for hits like ‘Shake It Off,’ ‘You Belong With Me,’ and ‘Blank Space.’ With this popularity, getting tickets was both a game of luck and strategy. Tickets for Toronto shows dropped over a year ago, and since then Manitoulin teens who managed to get their hands on them have been patiently waiting for the star’s trip to Canada.
With the months spent waiting, they had lots of time to get ready for the concert. A tradition sparked by earlier shows in the Eras Tour is creating friendship bracelets for other fans in the audience. Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) student, Merissa McQuarrie, took part in this tradition, making bracelets before the concert and then swapping the jewellery with those around her. To prepare, others dressed up in themed outfits. Another MSS student, Jordan Goddard, wore a homemade blue tinsel jacket to match the singer’s outfit in one of the songs. Similar to Jordan, Madison McCarville, “went all-out” and wore an outfit based on one of Taylor Swift’s albums.
“The energy and atmosphere of the concert was just phenomenal. Everyone was dressed up and had huge smiles on their faces. All of the people that I talked to and traded bracelets with were so friendly,” said Madison. Taylor Swift’s stage presence had people cheering and belting out her well-known songs. Merissa also commented on how incredible the energy of the crowd was, saying it was one of the most special parts of her time there.
Taylor Swift had her hit songs played on the radio throughout every teenager’s childhood, but Jordan became a more avid listener in 2020, when her album ‘Folklore,’ was released. When Jordan found out that he got through the waiting list for tickets, it was momentous, “I was shaking so bad. I didn’t really register that I was going to be able to go. I was ecstatic. Any chance that I got I was like ‘yeah I got tickets!’ It was a pretty big flex when this came out.”
Merissa felt similarly, as she lost the initial battle for tickets and bought a resold ticket later. “I was freaking out when I found out I got a ticket,” she said. At the concert, a special moment for Merissa was when songs from Taylor’s album, ‘Reputation’ were performed.
All of these teens grew up with Taylor Swift playing in the car, driving down winding Manitoulin Island roads. Similar experiences could be seen with other young people in settings all over the globe. “I think a huge part of this for everyone is the nostalgia. The whole point is that she is bringing back her favourite memories from other tours,” said Jordan when commenting on what made the concert special. For many, her music brings back fond memories, “I have been a fan of Taylor Swift for many years. I would always listen to her songs with my mom and sister when I was younger,” mentioned Madison.
The Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Toronto was more than just a series of shows for Manitoulin concert-goers; it was a celebration of memories, music, and the powerful sense of community among Swifties. As Madison noted, “Taylor Swift brings people together.”
