Taylor Swift - Accor Stadium Sydney

 

Taylor Swift

Accor Stadium

26 February 2024

 

 

 

There’s nothing that irritates me more than when old white men (yes, I know…) dismiss Taylor Swift. The secret to Taylor Swift’s success is simple really. She’s got great songs. And she got a lot of them. For my money she’s the best songwriter to emerge this century and one of the best of all time. Don’t take my word for it though, no less a songwriter than Paul McCartney (a man who knows his way around a song) rates her highly and has even said that he’s been inspired by her work. Case closed.

 

Actually, there is one thing that irritates me more than people dismissing Taylor Swift. It’s people dismissing her fans. Like they’re too young or too female to know good music. Not only is that factually incorrect, but let me tell you that the kids know exactly what is good music They are the first generation that has access to the entire history of music at their fingertips. If they like a band from, say, the 70s they’ll listen to them. But they don’t. They listen to Taylor Swift and the reason is simple. I’ve already said it, but she writes great songs that connect with them.

 

The show itself is incredible. Did I mention her songs? She’s got a lot of them and by now we all know she’s playing them as mini sets that represent all of the eras of her career.  Each of these mini sets is more impressive than the previous one. She starts with Lover, and the reaction is instant. It might not even be her best set of songs, but there’s something about being in the presence of a master that you can’t help but get swept along with. It’s a bit like Beatlemania. We all know how hard it was getting tickets to this show and how lucky we are to be there. In that first set of hers, it hits home! We’re in the room. And she’s right in front of us. All those hours in the Ticketek queue were worth it!

 

Her early country years are covered with Fearless and Speak Now, both showing her musical prowess. I’m not sure it needs to be said, but she’s a great musician and she’s got a great band on stage. Yes, that comment is for the old white guys reading.

 

In her indie years (Folklore and Evermore) she turned her not inconsiderable song writing talents to story songs, rather than personal confessionals. Both of these sets were a definite highlight and also illustrate that the tour works because each of the Eras has a different vibe to the others.  She’s got lots of distinct periods and she covers them all.

 

The best mini set might have been when she plays Reputation. I don’t think it’s my favourite album of hers, but the production and song choices were a real highlight. They took things up a level. That is, until she did the Red set. That took it up another level again. Amazing!  1989’s pop gems turned the stadium into a huge party and then she tied the whole show together with her Midnights set. Each set outdoing the previous one. It was incredible.

 

Let’s be honest, in my time I’ve seen more than my fair share of artists. The Eras Tour was easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Taylor Swift was as good, or better, than most of the artists I’ve seen. Yes, even the ones revered by those old white men that dismiss her.