The term “We Survived the Great War” may not be referring to the type of warfare you immediately think of. “Bloodshed, Crimson Clover” doesn’t refer to actual bloodshed but rather the vigorous feat of acquiring Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets.
One of the most influential musicians of our time, 12-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift, has once again taken the world by storm, and this one may be her most anticipated tours yet. Spanning two hours and 45 minutes, with several costumes and set changes, it’s no wonder Swifties from all over are dying to get their hands on Eras Tour tickets, no matter the lengths or cost. “I have no flight information, hotel or activities; I simply have tickets to see Taylor Swift, and that’s all I need,” Rachel Bennett ’27 says of her tickets to see Swift this summer in Ireland.
So, what makes this tour so special?
First, this tour isn’t specific to one album but Swift’s entire discography. With ten full albums, Swift has a plethora of songs to perform, choosing a couple from each “era.” To make every show memorable, Swift adds two unique surprise songs (still losing my mind over the loss of ‘Gold Rush’) that will only play for that one night. For instance, Nashville, Tenn. Night 1 got ‘Sparks Fly’ and ‘Teardrops On My Guitar’ while East Rutherford, N.J. Night 3 heard ‘Welcome To New York’ and ‘Clean.’ The surprise songs, performed as acoustic solos by Swift on guitar or piano, add to the unique experience of seeing Swift live.
On top of this, Swift has been re-recording her albums so that she can own her masters after Scooter Braun bought out Big Machine Records, Swift’s original producer. These re-records have the same title as the original album, followed by “Taylor’s Version.” Swift loves to leave “Easter Eggs” for fans to guess when her newest re-record is coming up, and being at one of the shows offers a chance to hear an announcement live and potentially hear her singing music owned solely by her for the first time. ‘All Too Well (10-minute version) (Taylor’s Version)’ anyone?
Now, I’m sure all this sounds appealing. Don’t we all want to go? Maybe she’ll do the Spring concert here at Bucknell! Alas, don’t get your hopes up. According to Business Insider, the face value of an average ticket was $253.56. Okay, it could be worse. Well, that is face value if you get a pre-sale code, get in the queue quickly, and get a ticket as decently priced as the average. If you aren’t one of the Lucky Ones, you can try getting resale tickets. However, expect that to come with a cost. Business Insider quoted that resale tickets can sell anywhere between $5,000-$30,000. Hey, who needs to have savings, anyway? But seriously, Swift tickets can break the bank, and that’s without the merch, including the famous blue crewneck that many still want to get their hands on.
Are Taylor Swift tickets worth the crippling debt they will put you in? As a Swiftie myself, getting Swift tickets was a life highlight. However, I was one of the few who got a pre-sale code and decently-priced tickets. But $5,000 and upwards? I can’t say I would personally purchase those tickets.
The Eras tour will have you dancing in “high heels on cobblestones” if you get tickets or crying “tears of mascara in the bathroom” if she plays your favorite song as a surprise while you’re not there. Long Live the Eras Tour, and may you (and your wallet) survive The Great War.
