There aren’t many artists who can make their fans cause an earthquake, break Ticketmaster, receive an eight minute standing ovation or become mayor for a day in Santa Clara. But Taylor Swift has done it all.
I never had a whole Spotify playlist dedicated to Swift’s music or found every Easter egg she hid in her songs, but I have also never turned off the radio when “Blank Space” came on. Up until this year, I only listened to Swift when her songs were on the radio, and I only knew the most popular songs from each of her albums.
I didn’t go to the Eras Tour over the summer because I didn’t know if I would enjoy it. But, after so many of my friends told me how amazing the concerts were after experiencing one, I became curious. When “The Eras Tour” concert film came out in October, I saw it with my parents to see what all of the praise was about. I wondered if the Eras Tour was really that good, or if it was something only her most devoted fans could enjoy.
After seeing the film, I finally understand what all of the positive reviews were about. To me, the concert felt like a trip down memory lane.
Swift performs songs from all 10 of her albums across all of the different eras of her career. In the opening era of the tour, Swift says, “We are about to go on a little adventure together. And that adventure is going to span 17 years of music.” While Swift was reminiscing about the different eras of her career, I felt as though I was reliving the different eras of my childhood.
The second era that Swift performed was “Fearless.” Hearing her sing “You Belong With Me” took me back to being 5 years old and watching the music video on my dad’s phone for the first time. Like in the music video, I sang this song to myself in the mirror as I was getting ready for school and had dance parties with my friends. It was one of the first songs I was ever obsessed with.
Seeing Swift sing a song that was such a pivotal part of my childhood in a golden fringed dress and sparkly boots made me feel like a kid again and remember what it was like to look at life through rose-colored glasses. For the three and a half minutes of the song, all of my responsibilities and stressors melted away and I felt carefree again.
Swift entered the stage singing her hit song, “22” from her album “Red” in the middle of the film. Before seeing the film, I don’t think that I listened to this song since the year it came out. That year was my fun era, and this song reminded me of my third grade self who just had a fun time doing whatever she set her mind to. The song is literally about dancing like you are 22 years old, but there I was, a nine-year-old child dancing like I had seen a whole lifetime and rehearing it helped me remember the importance of having fun.
“1989” was the second to last era in the film. My favorite song that she performed from this album was “Style.” It was frequently on the radio in 2014 and a song that all of my classmates would play at their birthday parties. The iconic guitar strumming at the beginning of the song is something that is embedded in my memory. This was my blissful and calm era. All I had to worry about was what friend I was hanging out with after school and I was independent without having any responsibilities.
It was cathartic to get a break from reality and be able to do something that made me feel like a kid again, especially now that I find very few opportunities where I can get away from all of my responsibilities. While I enjoyed the entire movie, I felt the most euphoric when I heard her songs from the late 2000s and early 2010s that I may have forgotten, but belted out years ago during family karaoke nights.
There’s something special about re-living your childhood memories through a song and appreciating the lyrics when you’re older. I feel connected to Swift because as she’s grown from a teenager to an adult, I’ve evolved from a kid to a young adult. This transformative process feels like something we have gone through together.
I’m not saying that “The Eras Tour” film is for everyone. If you are someone who thinks that she is overrated or thinks her music is annoying, then I would not suggest sitting through the whole two and a half hours. However, I do think that the Eras Tour has something to offer everyone who enjoys any aspect of her artistry, and the film can be enjoyable for both her old fans and new ones.
Despite not knowing every lyric to all of her songs, Swift has had a significant impact on my life. I have fond memories of screaming the lyrics to the songs in her album “Fearless” with my best friend in her Mini Cooper, making a music video to “Blank Space” with my sister and cousin when we were 11 and listening to “august” with my sisters on the beach at the end of the summer. For me, the power of Swift’s music lies in its nostalgia — a feeling that has even more value as I get older. I am no longer a kid, but Swift’s music is something I know that I can fall back on when I want to remember the happy-go-lucky and carefree kid that I used to be.
There are certain things in life that unlock memories. It may be a smell that you grew up with, the toys you played with growing up or a landmark that is forever ingrained in your brain. But for me, I find my childhood memories laced in Taylor Swift songs.
Contact Jameela Bowo at bowo@oxy.edu
