End of an era as 'proud' Taylor Swift finishes tour

Taylor Swift has officially wrapped up her Eras Tour, a monumental event that has captivated fans worldwide. Over 10 million tickets were sold for this incredible tour, which concluded with a spectacular show in Vancouver, Canada, on Sunday. During her performance, Taylor expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her fans, describing the Eras Tour as 'the most exciting, powerful, electrifying, intense, most challenging' experience of her life. She reflected on her journey, noting that she has been touring since she was just 15 years old, but the past 21 months have been unlike anything she had ever experienced before. One of the most surprising outcomes of her tour was the impact of a simple lyric about friendship bracelets, which inspired fans to create and exchange these handmade accessories. 'That is the lasting legacy of this tour,' she remarked, beaming with pride for her fans. As the audience serenaded her with an early rendition of 'Happy Birthday,' Taylor felt the love and support from her fans, who were eager to celebrate her upcoming 35th birthday. The Eras Tour was not just a series of concerts; it was a celebration of Taylor's music and the connections it fostered among her fans. The tour featured an impressive 149 shows across five continents, lasting nearly two years. The demand for tickets was so overwhelming that Ticketmaster's systems experienced a breakdown, leading to a Senate hearing in the United States. Ultimately, the tour generated over $2 billion in ticket sales, making it the first tour in history to surpass the $1 billion mark. Taylor's production company reported that the total revenue reached an astounding $2,077,618,725. In addition to ticket sales, merchandise from the tour contributed an extra $400 million to the overall earnings. The Eras Tour was divided into ten distinct sets, each highlighting different albums from Taylor's extensive career. The final show attracted more than 60,000 fans to Vancouver's BC Place stadium, and a fan-hosted live stream of the concert garnered an additional 389,000 viewers on YouTube. Throughout the performance, Taylor was filled with nostalgia, referring to the show as 'one last grand adventure' with her fans. As she performed 'Cardigan,' a song from her pandemic-era album Folklore, the reality of the tour's conclusion began to sink in. 'It's just crazy to think I'm going to sing the last song I ever sing in the Folklore cabin,' she exclaimed, overwhelmed by the moment. Taylor took the time to acknowledge her band, dancers, and crew, who had made sacrifices to keep the show going, even when they faced personal challenges. For the acoustic segment of the concert, Taylor selected songs that truly encapsulated her feelings about the final show. She performed a mash-up of 'A Place In This World' and 'New Romantics,' incorporating the poignant lyric, 'Heartbreak is the national anthem / We sing it proudly. ' Moving to the piano, she played 'Long Live,' changing the lyrics from 'It was the end of a decade' to 'It was the end of an era,' which elicited a huge cheer from the audience. The acoustic set also included elements of 'New Year's Day,' a song about cherishing memories, and 'The Manuscript,' which served as a metaphor for the tour's conclusion. Fans noted that the acoustic sets began in 2023 with 'Tim McGraw,' the first song in her discography, and ended with 'The Manuscript,' the most recent addition. Only six songs from her 11 studio albums were not performed during the tour, which included 'That's When,' 'Bye Bye Baby,' 'Girl At Home,' 'Ronan,' 'Forever Winter,' and 'Soon You'll Get Better. ' Taylor dedicated her final song to her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, who was unable to attend the concert due to a home game with the Kansas City Chiefs. Many fans had speculated that she might use the last concert to announce her next career move, with the most anticipated reveal being 'Reputation (Taylor's Version),' the latest in her plan to re-record her first six albums. However, the concert concluded without any major surprises or special guests. Instead, the Eras Tour ended on a high note, celebrating 18 years of music that has united people across the globe. As she prepared to perform the final song, 'Karma,' Taylor expressed her gratitude to her fans one last time, saying, 'I want to thank every single one of you for being a part of the most thrilling chapter of my entire life to date - my beloved Eras Tour. ' She dedicated the song to Travis, altering the lyrics to say, 'Karma is the guy on The Chiefs coming straight home to me,' a nod to their relationship. As the final notes of the song faded, Taylor shared an emotional hug with her dancers and backing singers. Rather than her usual exit, where she is lowered beneath the stage, this time it was a different farewell. It was truly the end of an era, and it may be a long time before we witness another tour of this magnitude.