Recently, Taylor Swift’s Era Tour took over the city of Edinburgh and even though I was not able to be there, you couldn’t help but feel the buzz that surrounded such an event. Before every one of the three sold-out shows at Murrayfield Stadium, fans from across the globe poured into town as excitement peaked. In hearing about the massive crowds and vibrant atmosphere I felt both envy and excitement in equal measure from far away.
The concert’s reports were nothing short of remarkable. Fans wore glittery clothes that represented Swift’s eras and an electric atmosphere filled the stadium. Those who attended said that Taylor sang for approximately three hours and thirty minutes each night while enthralling her audience with strong vocals and a lively stage presence. It was more than a mere performance; this concert was immersive that has taken a toll on everyone present.
The most interesting thing about the concerts was that the energy and excitement in the crowd caused earthquake readings that could be felt over a distance of nearly four miles. The British Geological Survey found that at the moment when the song “…Ready For It?” was played, seismic activity reached its highest point as fans all jumped up and down together to the beat. This was an amazing realization because it showed how much happiness from followers can be measured in such a concrete way, this occurs because of live music.
Equally inspiring is Edinburgh’s economic growth as a result of Taylor Swift’s tours. As per city council projections, around $98 million came into Edinburgh through the events. Hotels, eateries, and other local businesses flourished due to large numbers of ‘Swifties’ who flew into town just for this historical tour. Edinburgh made itself extremely attractive to fans by establishing an official Taylor Swift Fan Hub and creating a “Tailored Taste Trail” with special Swift-themed drinks, cakes, and others. It had become evident that every opportunity had been taken up by this city to celebrate Taylor’s fans.
The record-breaking attendance at each concert was another highlight. It set the highest concert attendance in Scottish history with about seventy-three thousand people attending on Friday night. All subsequent nights had larger crowds and reached a peak, ever for Scotland, on Sunday as well. This made Taylor feel even more grateful and surprised for the tremendous support her fans have shown to her life and contributed to a feeling of camaraderie amongst many other things.
This made me think again about concerts I had read about and how they touched people’s lives. Even if I was not physically present, I still felt attached to the happiness that came out of it. To be able to unite the masses through music like Taylor Swift does is indeed incredible, but equally important is her ability to generate such a huge economic and social impact. Taylor Swift continues to be a force of nature in the music world, inspiring all while drawing them together unlike any other artist can do it.