Taylor Swift puts Gelsenkirchen on the Pop-Map
Gelsenkirchen becomes the Mecca for "Swifties": Tens of thousands of mostly female Taylor Swift fans prepare an ecstatic welcome for their idol in the Ruhrregion. The singer delivers pop perfection on her three-and-a-half-hour Mega-Show and remains down-to-earth.
She shines. Taylor Swift appears on stage as if out of thin air, singing the first words of the evening into a gleaming microphone. Then she spreads her arms and smiles at the crowd. Nearly 60,000 fans, from all over the world who have traveled to unassuming Gelsenkirchen, are now completely unable to contain themselves. It's cheered, shouted, and even wept.
During the first songs, which are from her "Lover" album, Swift sings and dances over the seemingly endless long stage. Then the 34-year-old pauses and says the words that so many have been waiting for: "Gelsenkirchen, welcome to the "Eras Tour"!"
Swift lets the ensuing applause take effect. She is in ecstasy - wherever she appears, she is frenetically welcomed by her "Swifties." For over a year, the singer has been traveling the world with her "Eras Tour." It is a musical journey through her creative phases - each "Era" (Epoch) is given its own stage design. The show is ambitious to call it, but: 45 songs are on the setlist, and a concert lasts for three hours.
Surprisingly, Gelsenkirchen
That this massive production is not being staged in Berlin, but rather three times in Gelsenkirchen, caused amusement internationally beforehand. US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel joked that he had never heard of "Gelsenkirchen, Germany." "Maybe it doesn't even exist."
Fans from the USA, Canada, South Africa, and many European countries can now convince themselves of its existence. As the "main gain" for Gelsenkirchen's image, cultural scientist Jörn Glasenapp had described the Swift concerts beforehand. The city reported that the hype around the "Eras Tour" was even greater than the interest in the football European Championship in Gelsenkirchen.
In terms of pop perfection, Swift sets new standards with the "Eras Tour." Her unassuming demeanor in her gigantic production is due to one reason: Swift is friendly, and behind the professional there is a human being. Her true strength as a pop artist lies in making that sense of neighborliness always tangible.
When she enjoys the standing ovations after the ballad "Champagne Problems" for minutes on end, makes faces with her dancers, or simply her famous smile, it's endearing. One believes that she enjoys playing this show - here, in Gelsenkirchen. Just as the people in Milan, Zurich, Amsterdam believed a few days ago.
Ask "Swifties" in the queue before the arena what they are most captivated by about this popstar, and the most common answers are: "She's real." "She's like a sister." "I look up to her." These answers are no coincidence. Swift and her team have worked on perfecting her as a neighborly superstar for years through fan events and social media posts.
Two albums "Taylor's Version" are still missing
The strength of the "Swifties" as a fan community is evident in the example of "Taylor's Version." After a dispute with her old label, Swift began to re-record her first six albums to regain the rights to them. Fans have already ensured that the new old music broke streaming records multiple times.
Two more re-releases are yet to come: "Reputation" from 2017 and her debut album "Taylor Swift" from 2006. It's possible that she may release one or both albums during the ongoing tour. The project "Taylor's Version" might be completed after the tour.
However, it's completely open as to how Swift intends to continue her career. The "Eras Tour" has catapulted the already famous singer to an unprecedented level, with "Swiftmania" being compared to "Beatlemania" by US musician Billy Joel. How much further can this euphoria be heightened?
A new album would be the simplest step. In her younger career, Swift has also expanded her artistic palette, appearing as a director in several music videos. Variety reported a film deal with the studio Searchlight Pictures.
Friend Travis Kelce spotted in the stadium
At least many fans hope for some personal happiness - a wedding and family with her boyfriend Travis Kelce. The two have been a couple for over a year. Kelce seems to be in Gelsenkirchen in one of the boxes, as evidenced by pixelated photos and videos on social media. It's not his first visit to one of Swift's concerts. Kelce was even part of the choreography on Swift's stage in London. It's clear that the "Eras Tour" will still end this year. Swift announced this at the 100th show in Liverpool in June.
Swift is a pop machine, and there's certainly enough to criticize about her. There are her private jets - bad for the climate. Her exclusive deals with giants like Ticketmaster and Live Nation - bad for the music industry. However, what cannot be doubted is the sense of community that Swift's machine reliably produces.
The "Eras" happiness machine functions in Nashville just as it does in London, in Singapore just as it does in Buenos Aires. And it even appears in Gelsenkirchen for a few hours in vibrant colorful light. Two more shows are still waiting in the Ruhr area before Swift plays four more shows in Hamburg and Munich in Germany.
The excitement in Gelsenkirchen continues as Taylor Swift performs some of her popular 'Pop music' tracks from the 'Lover' album. The city has become a hub for Swift's fans, known as 'Swifties', who have traveled from various parts of the world to witness the 'Eras Tour'.
During a pause in the concert, Swift introduces her fans to the 'Eras Tour', which is a musical journey through her different creative phases. The concert, filled with 45 songs, is a testament to Swift's commitment to providing 'entertainment', ensuring her fans have an unforgettable experience.
