Taylor Swift performs on stage during the « Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour » at Wembley Stadium on June 22, 2024 in London, England.
Kevin Mazur | Getty Images Entertainment | Good pictures
When Swift fetches her Blockbuster Eras Tour Heading to London's Wembley Stadium this weekend, some Swifties wonder if they're seeing the start of an extended goodbye.
London was not ready to see her. The area around Wembley was transformed for the performances, with fans posing in front of a giant mural of the singer and the traveling staircase named « Swifty Steps » and other tributes.
Swift reported 88,446 people attended Friday's show in what she called « the most exciting city in the world. » Among the celebrity attendees: Prince William, who celebrates his 42nd birthday at the event Posing for a photo with Swift With her two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Swift gave fans a wink and a nod to her London career during one of her two solo acoustic surprises: a piano medley that opened with the London-set « The Black Dog » and segued into « Come Back, Be Here. » Maroon. »
In addition to this weekend's shows, Swift will return to Wembley for five more in August European leg of the tour.
London Swift is the only city to stop twice on the tour. Some worry that the arrangement may represent a swan song of sorts, while others think it represents a new era in Swift's bond with the Big Smoke. Whether « So Long, London » becomes a final chapter or a bookend to her beloved city, the song « London Boy » comes as an emotional milestone.
« Her relationship now feels like London wouldn't be where she is. It's not like there's an American football player here, » said Maggie Fekete, 22, a Canadian graduate student who credits London references in Swift's music with orientation. When she moved to town three years ago. « I think London is lacking in his music, which is sad. »
Fans pose for pictures with the Spanish Steps, renamed « Swifty Steps », painted by street artist Frank Styles ahead of American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's concert at Wembley Stadium, west London.
Benjamin Kremel | Afp | Good pictures
Londoner Stella Elgood, 25, said on Friday that Swift will be performing « So Long, London » during her eight nights in the city, but that she thinks Swift is « always welcome. »
« Especially since she dated Harry Styles, she's in the zeitgeist, » Elgood said.
For those who haven't been paying attention, Swift has had a series of romances with famous British nationals (including Styles in 2012) that ended last year when she began dating the Kansas City Chiefs. Travis Kelce. « So Long, London » refers to the surrounding speculation and a mournful accompaniment A London pub« The Black Dog » stems from the 2023 split between Swift and English actor Joe Alvin, who were together for more than six years.
Alvin is thought to have inspired the song « London Boy » from his 2019 album « Lover ». A special-edition « Lover » CD included a January 2017 appearance in Diary, in which Swift spoke of being « basically London-based » but trying to be understated. British tabloids later reported that Swift had spent much of the Covid-19 pandemic staying with Alvin in north London.
The Sun newspaper reported in December that the multi-Grammy winner was buying a large property in the area and turning it into his base in Europe. After Swift published « The Tortured Poets Department » last month, a writer for the British edition of ELLE magazine observed that Londoners had the opening for « an all-American A-lister to take his place in our collective consciousness. »
« We had Swift before we lost her on her record-breaking, box office-busting Eras tour, and now, it looks like she's filled the void. Zendaya,” writer Naomi May playfully posed before listing the various places the American actor had been seen with her longtime boyfriend, British actor Tom Holland.
Either way, the capital is hosting its own show to make sure Swift and her fans are treated to a treat. Guides offer walking, bus and taxi tours, including a kebab shop where he says his company serves Friday sandwiches to the singer and his crew.
American pop singer Taylor Swift meets a fan during the « Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour » at Wembley Stadium on June 22, 2024 in London, England.
Kevin Mazur | Getty Images Entertainment | Good pictures
Through the end of August, Swifties can partake in full meals at Swift-themed brunches and dance parties, or ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel, accompanied by a string quartet playing her music. Souvenir stalls in Camden Market, one of the locations mentioned in « London Boy », are in production with Swift-specific hats, T-shirts, bags and stickers.
Amy Unsworth, 34, from a small town near Manchester, England, who was born a month before Swift, said on Friday that the singer had ties to England and vice versa beyond the capital.
« I feel a connection to her as a Northerner, » said Unsworth, who wrote many of the songs on her « Evermore » album while she was with Alvin in England's Lake District.
« The way she feels now, coming back, it's hard considering her history. »
Unsworth wasn't worried, Swift said from the stage that her British fans had « been so supportive since I started making music » that she would return to the UK. Swift performed in London for the first time at the age of 17 when she appeared at King's College London.
« I think she'll be back, » Unsworth said, after Eras. « She has too many devoted fans to ever come back. She's built too much momentum here to forget about us. »
Zachary Hourihane, who co-hosts Swift's podcast called « Evolution of a Snake » and publishes YouTube and TikTok videos under the name Swiftologist, said Thursday that it is not immediately clear whether the singer will retain her honorary citizenship or part ways with London. As her fans know all too well, only time will judge Taylor.
« Taylor is very retaliatory. Things are never over with her. She likes to revisit things that are over, » he said. « Let's be realistic about it. Even though her relationship is 'so long, goodbye', she has good reason to be in London and good money to be made there. »
