Taylor Swift - 'The Eras Tour' @ Accor Stadium, Sydney

From a 7-year-old Travis Kelce fan to blinged-out 50-year-old mums, everyone is here to soak in Taylor Swift’s enchanting world. The night kicks off with uncertainties as the rain sweeps through, leading to the unfortunate withdrawal of pop queen Sabrina Carpenter’s opening set. But at least the rain clears, and as Taylor so graciously points out, an Aussie crowd would never let the weather dampen our spirits!

“It’s been a long time…” the opening chords of Miss Americana And The Heartbreak Prince permeate the stadium as the virtual clock strikes midnight. The multitude of warm strings transports us to a realm where the bejewelled pop star rises, beginning with the mellow yet glorious piece. In Taylor’s words, “We counted days, we counted miles” to see her here at Sydney Accor Stadium tonight. “It’s you and me; that’s my whole world,” she says. Without wasting a moment, she pulls us into her wonderland.

She flashes the smile of a star taking on a grand stage for the first time – a mix of excitement and disbelief as she charms the crowd with Cruel Summer. Wristbands turn pink, adorning the stadium with sparkles. Taylor Swift really redefined the landscape of concerts, as she continues to command the stage with The Man and reimagines the stage as an office. After a rendition of You Need To Calm Down, she sheds her blazer and picks up a baby pink acoustic guitar.

"One era at a time," she declares, inviting the audience to reminisce during Lover. Stepping back to become the storyteller, Taylor casts a spotlight on the elegant dancers illustrating the romantic scene. Perhaps that adorable smile is aimed at her boyfriend in the crowd tonight.

Being observed since the age of 15, each album by Taylor Swift unveils a distinct portrayal of her image, reflecting varied states of mind and navigation of a spectrum of emotions. As the Eras Tour so clearly exhibits, her entire life is pure art. And now, she stands at a juncture where she can peer through the looking glass and see her past laid out in front of her. She finally stands as the narrator, no longer merely the protagonist anticipating the next scripted move.

Exiting the stage, leaving fiery lights cascading from above, Taylor and the band transport us to the country sounds of her roots with Fearless. The nostalgic journey continues with hits like You Belong With Me and Love Story, which create a surreal blend of dark skies, bright lights, and the star’s radiant smile, reminding us of the youthful girl who captured our hearts.

The Evermore era unfolds with Taylor in a flowy sundress, performing Tis The Damn Season and Willow. Marjorie becomes a poignant tribute, illuminating the stadium with phone lights. Moments of seeing her in person among the big screen glimpses hit differently – it’s an astounding realisation that she’s tangible and more than a picture on a screen. After her performance of Champagne Problems, she mouths, Oh. My. God, banging her head against the moss-covered piano. She sits there stunned through the two-minute cheering and chanting, praising the crowd, “You know you pronounce my name cuter than anyone else in the world.”

Tolerate It is another gem that plays out like a movie, table set and everything. Tears well in our eyes just before the scathing serpent colours herald the Reputation era.

…Ready For It? kicks off the era, Taylor redressed in a black and red tracksuit, and everyone’s sparkly dresses reflect pop-coloured lights like walking disco balls. Delicate and Don't Blame Me segue into a remix of Look What You Made Me Do, symbolised by different versions of Taylor trapped in glass cages. The lyrics resonate deeper, conveying the journey to the state of mind that gave birth to this underrated album.

The Speak Now era emerges through plumes of lavender, with Taylor taking us on a walk down memory lane with timeless classics like Enchanted and Long Live. It instantly whisks me away to a moment when my friend and I used to blast Speak Now songs during our morning walks to school, rubbing the sleep out of our eyes.

The dreamy atmosphere breaks as we enter the Red era, where Taylor immerses herself in emotions from her past, unleashing hits like I Knew You Were Trouble and the intimate All Too Well. The sweet Sydney breeze carries us through a dreamy fairytale in Folklore, with songs like Betty, August, and Cardigan enveloping us in a warm embrace. 

While the Eras Tour is undoubtedly an immersive, out-of-this-world experience, distractions arise as people move in and out of their seats to go to the bathroom or refresh. And it doesn’t help when someone holds up a lit-up 1989 flag above their heads, blocking the view for all the rows behind them.

But despite the obstruction, the pop star herself continued to impress through the 1989 era, dressed in sparkly pink streamers. You’d think your ears would drop off after hearing Shake It Off so many times, but even the too-familiar was quite refreshing when done live. 

And what more could you ask for after being enticed by her addictive whirlwind of Wildest Dreams under the open sky? She then hits us with a passionate rendition of Bad Blood. If the song didn’t hit the right spots when it first came out, the live version offers a more emotional insight, sounding like an uplifting anthem despite the lyrics. The flames fire us up as the cold air tickles our skin.

The much-awaited acoustic session arrives, keeping fans guessing for the surprise songs of the night. Sydney is first treated to the sweet rendition of How You Get The Girl on the guitar, with Taylor’s vocals remaining stunning even after three hours of singing, not to mention countless other tours. But the real treasure unfolds when pop princess Sabrina Carpenter graces the stage for a one-of-a-kind duet. A White Horse and Coney Island mashup sung by Sabrina and Taylor sees their harmonies seeping into our souls like a secret lullaby. 

This signals the beginning of the final era, the Midnights era, featuring all the gems starting with Lavender Haze. While appearing more casual than the emotion-packed studio version, Anti-Hero hits the audience differently with the line “It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero,” thanking us for sticking up for her, attending the show tonight when others wanted to tear her apart.

From the perfectly timed few drizzles in Midnight Rain to the clash of synths and pads, we’re pulled into a dream. A quick change into a black, more star-fit outfit symbolises her decision to chase fame instead of remaining an ordinary girl, leaving us in awe.

The fear of the end looms as she delivers an empowering performance of Vigilante Shit and Bejewelled. As someone yearning to bask in the afterglow a bit longer, Taylor could’ve held us captive for a few more minutes with the masterpiece Mastermind.

The final song, Karma, while fitting for a curtain call, doesn’t have the desired effect. In fact, it pulls me out, making me question if it was all a dream. I wanted to leave Sydney’s Accor Stadium carrying the haze with me, but Taylor ensures the secret stays between her and the fans at the stadium tonight, and that’s perfectly fine.