Associated Press
Pop sensation Taylor Swift discussed her ambitions behind her move to incorporate her latest album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ into her already record-breaking world Eras Tour mid-run.
Taylor Swift offered details of how she added a new segment of her Eras Tour featuring tracks from her latest album “The Tortured Poets Department” halfway through its 149-date journey. The revelation came through her newly released “Eras Tour Book,” where Swift details the meticulous and clandestine process behind the surprise.
Taylor’s drive to innovate is evident. Released in April, “The Tortured Poets Department” is Swift’s eleventh studio album. Known for her dramatic performances and heartfelt lyrics, Swift shared in the book that she wanted this new section to stand out with its “minimalist, white, stark and bold” aesthetic, a stark contrast to the colorful themes of her other eras.
In a thrilling European kickoff at Paris La Défense Arena on May 9, Swift introduced seven tracks from the album, including “So High School,” “Fortnight,” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” Given only two months to integrate these additions, Swift’s team dove back into rehearsals, underscoring their dedication and tireless work ethic.
“We started planning this surprise for you about eight or nine months ago and then when we got ‘two months off’ of the Eras Tour, we really didn’t take any time off at all,” the pop-star disclosed during her second night in Paris.
Beyond the mesmerizing tracks, fans were treated to new costumes and intricate choreography. Swift’s entrance in a white taffeta Vivienne Westwood dress with a corseted bodice and dramatic hip draping left the crowd spellbound. Lyrics from her song “I love you, it’s ruining my life” elegantly adorned her skirt.
Swift explained her artistic intentions, “I hoped to create the illusion of an alien abduction, a battle scene, a religious institution, a mental institution, a haunted house, and a showgirl’s dressing room routine.” She admitted the addition was “ambitious as hell” but deemed it “the most dramatic, cathartic, female-rage driven part of the night.”
Although her boyfriend, Travis Kelce – NFL star and dedicated supporter – joined her onstage once, he doesn’t appear in the “Eras Tour Book.” Nevertheless, the element of surprise and innovation remains the hallmark of Swift’s tour. “I’ve seen the show enough. Might as well put me to work here,” Kelce later joked on his “New Heights” podcast.
With a schedule set to wrap up in Vancouver on December 8, the Eras Tour continues to be an unparalleled spectacle, showcasing Swift’s unrivaled commitment to her craft and her fans. One fan aptly summarized the sentiment, “Literally no one works harder than Taylor Swift.”
