I REALISE that, to an outsider, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour might look slightly insane. Thousands of (mainly) women, old enough to know better, are flocking to these shows decked out in a worrying amount of glitter and freshly purchased cowboy boots. We’re digging out dusty bags of beads from the attic to make friendship bracelets.
Groups of friends are planning themed costumes as if we’re in Year 7 coordinating for a school disco. And speculating what Tay’s “surprise songs” might be is like the top-mark question in an end-of-year exam. I’m going to the first night in Edinburgh today and the WhatsApp pals’ chat to organise our outfits has been in existence for almost a year.
Buying the tickets was like a major military operation (a battalion of thousands of cowboy hat-wearing twentysomethings against the old guard of Ticketmaster ). With tickets soaring to as much as £6,000, Swifties from around the world have spent a small fortune just to see the 34-year-old hitmaker live at Murrayfield Stadium. And it’s not just the fans going mad.
The singer disclosed at a gig in 2015 that she has Scottish ancestry, so the stadium sponsorship signage has been changed from Scottish Gas to Scottish Lass to highlight her link. Taylor Swift has even arrived at Edinburgh Zoo — or at least two of the superstar’s namesakes have. A pair of critically endangered cotton-top tamarins were born on Tuesday to first-time mum Elf and dad Zecca.
And keepers at the wildlife conservati.
