America, Countries, Music

Ah to live through the Taylor Swift Eras

Future civilisations will read of the Simian, Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic eras while we, of course, are fortunate enough to ah live through the Taylor Swift Eras.

Our descendants will doubtless find Tay-Tay playlists, tickets, t-shirts and friendship bracelets from the early 21st century and wonder just who was this goddess of our age.

Unless, of course, the whole world is not by then worshipping at the altar of Taylor Swift.

Swiftie wisdom: To all you Swifties out there

But that is for then, for now let us just count our blessings that we get to see The Great One in concert and listen to her pronouncements.

It is, of course, entry to heaven to get to witness her hold worship at any of her performances.

Miss Taylor Swift

Shock and Aaaw: Taylor in the crowd

And so, for those who haven’t been able to then the next best thing is to see artefacts and memorabilia of Taylor Swift.

In the much-anticipated exhibition of her Eras at the peerless Grammy Museum, in Cleveland, Mississippi.

The exhibit is sponsored by Visit Mississippi and celebrates the 14-time Grammy winner’s unparalleled 18-year career.

From her 2006 titular album to this year’s The Tortured Poets Department.

Oh, to be alive across these Eras

On display until February, the exhibit will feature representations from each of Swift’s 11 eras, including:

 

  • The BCBG Max Azria dress worn on tour in 2007
  • Taylor’s custom Taylor GS-6 “Sparkle Guitar” played throughout her Fearless Tour from 2009–2010
  • A red sparkle top Gibson Les Paul played by Taylor during her Speak Now World Tour
  • Custom Marina Toybina ensemble and LaDuca boots worn during “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” at the GRAMMY Awards in 2013
  • Custom Jessica Jones bodysuit and jacket and Christian Louboutin boots worn during her 2018 reputation Stadium Tour
  • Gibson J-180 played during Taylor’s 2019 City of Lover concert in Paris, celebrating the release of seventh studio album, Lover
  • Oscar de la Renta dress and Christian Louboutin shoes worn at the GRAMMY Awards in 2021
  • Stella McCartney coat worn by Taylor on the cover of her 2020 album evermore
  • Free People coat worn in the music video for “Lavender Haze”
  • Maticevski gown and gloves worn in the music video for “Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)”

Golden Grammies

Say it loud: At the Grammy Museum

Now a day surrounded by Taylorabilia is a day to savour, but in truth any day spent in the Grammy Museum in Cleveland is one well spent.

And it is no exaggeration to say that it is never long enough.

From looking at how the wireless transformed the lives of cropholders and the poor whites of the Deep South such as the Pressleys.

To how the Blues and Country became rock’n’roll to rootsy bluegrass to cutting your own version of John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Boom.

To be emailed home to you as a souvenir of your visit the Grammy Museum as part of your Deep South odyssey is magical.

And now on top of all that, and be still my giddy heart, is a celebration of what it it is to ah live through the Taylor Swift Eras.

 

 

Deals, Europe, Music, UK

Our Swift guide to Taylor tourism

And because there is literally (as Zen G would say) nobody bigger in the world right now, and for the weekend that’s in it with the circus coming to my adopted home city of Edinburgh, we give you our Swift guide to Taylor tourism.

Taylor has graced us by choosing our little city to kick off her Eras Tour in Britain.

And because it is as we are constantly reminded Taylor’s world and she lets us live in it we obviously set aside only the best hotel in Edinburgh for her.

That being the Caledonian Hotel at the top of Princes Street, with unrivalled views of Edinburgh Castle, and easy motorcade access to her concerts at Murrayfield in the West End.

Now, of course, it might be a Cruel Summer (yes, I looked it up) for those who are wanting to see The Great Lady in concert.

With the cheapest tickets, probably to see just a speck of her (but then, hey, worth it!) are £86.90.

While Edinburgh hotels are charging anything up to triple the price of their normal stay in Auld Reekie while Taylor is in town.

Caledonian means everything to me

Fly the Flags: At the Caledonian, but where’s Taylor?

There is, of course, no room at the inn at the Caledonian for this weekend, but if you come back next weekend…

You can book a two-bedroom suite with a view for £2,836.

A single-night stay in Edinburgh across the weekend is said to cost on average £597.

With researchers Buzz Bingo telling us that the dearest place to stay are £923 per night.

And I’ve got the man too: With American footballer Kelcee

We’re reliably informed too of the rewards on offer for Airbnb owners.

With the average Taylor tariff £769.47, a 223% spike.

With the weekend before the Eras Tour, Airbnb rates are on average £237.88 a night, and £191.47 the weekend after.

None of which would make wholesome Taylor even blink or make a dent in her £1.3bn wealth.

Tour de force

How sweet: She does love us

Now the 34-year-old whose schtick is female empowerment, retribution lyrics for teens despite her 34 years.

And all through the prism of her very own form of modern country, pop and indie folk, or bland, as we’d prefer to tag it has been in Europe a whole month.

Making her way through France, Sweden, Portugal and Spain with her entourage.

And fear not, she will be making her way to a town near you soon.

With Liverpool’s Anfield stadium her next port of call after Edinburgh.

Followed by Cardiff, London and then Dublin.

Before making her merry way around Europe.

And then bringing it all to a thunderous climax with two more dates in London, at Wembley Stadium.

A Swift buck

You won’t pay that? Taylor is disappointed

Not that the countries who welcome her with open arms are complaining.

With the UK economy set to benefit by some £997 million from tourism and overnight stayers.

Because as we all know it’s not just the getting there and the staying but also the hospitality with bars and restaurants hiking the prices.

And of course you need new clobber for the night.

To all my exes: Taylor’s messge

With fans expected to shell out around £56 although even that seems low.

Travel is likely to add up to another £111, while meals before the concert could be around £59, again a conservative estimate.

While you also need to show everybody for ever that you’re a Swiftie and you were there.

And that means merch, with Swift official merchandise expected to cost around £79 per fan.

All a long way from the less than £50 tickets you get with my old Wicklow neighbour Hozier.

She Penns a hit record

Buy my record: I’m down to my last billion

It’s easy to forget, of course, that the Girl from West Reading, Pennsylvania (and she has her own museum, online of course, at only 34) is first and foremost a musician.

And she certainly can belt out a good song which I can testify too after listening to the same tune, though called something else at every turn.

Big dreams: As a kid

On every radio station, and in every shop and mall in the city and town around Edinburgh.

Remember it is her world and she’s only allowing us to live in it…. so Shake It Off, any negative vibes.

So get used to it, she’s here to stay so get on board with our Swift guide to Taylor tourism.