TAYLOR SWIFT BUILT A LEGACY YOU CAN’T UNDO

Written By Lea

Photography by Louisa Off/Reuters 

While I am writing these words, „Peter“ is playing in the background. For some reason, the line cause love's never lost when perspective is earned sounds more profound than ever. Last week, it was all over the news how men planned a terrorist attack on Taylor Swift’s concert(s) in Vienna. Less than an hour later, it was announced three shows were cancelled. It is clear why her team decided to do so. This is the second time Swift ever cancelled concerts – the first time it happened was during the RED tour in Thailand because of political situation. She did 5 world tours and cancelled only once until now.

Tens of thousands of fans were either on their way to Vienna or already in the city. Organizations wrote that money will be refunded within 10 days. Conversation about lost money makes no sense when thousands of lives are saved. This article would be completely different if shows were cancelled because of technical issues but when terrorism is the reason, everything comes second. Those people just wanted to sing songs that they have been listening to for years. They just wanted to wear their best clothes and forget about everyday struggles and problems. All the fans who arrived in the capital of Austria could’ve packed their bags and suitcases and left but they didn’t. Last four days, I spent hours on end on X and Instagram watching heartbreaking and most magical videos.

Vienna handled it so wonderfully. Albertina, one of the most famous museums in the city, offered free entrance to everyone who had a ticket for the concert. They played her music for days in the hallways and rooms of the museum. Albertina's team made friendship bracelets and decorated tree with them so fans could take them. Today, the tree is named Friendship Tree and its location is Corneliusgasse 6. The street is also renamed to Corneliusgasse after her song „Cornelia Street“ from the album „Lover.“ Fans were singing songs all over the city centre and Corneliusgasse was full all the time. The street’s resident threw out notes from his window with Cornelia Street graphic and words: “Come back…be here” which is a song title from RED. Other residents made sure that they were not dehydrated so they were handing water from the windows. A middle-aged couple opened their windows, put four speakers and played her songs.

@snailmailtrails Could trade bracelets at the concert, so this is the next best option? #erastour #vienna #austria #taylorswift ♬ original sound - 🍀

One church wrote “Swifties we sympathise. Come feel your feelings” and they were playing here songs inside. On Saturday night,  a national broadcaster in Austria showed Swift's concert movie on the public channel ORF 1. One hotel made little cakes for fans to eat while watching the concert film in the colours of her albums with album covers on top as decoration. Pubs and bars around Vienna also tune in ORF 1 for everyone who wants to watch. The groom and bride danced and sang with a group of fans on “Love Story.”

@mateahuhu Thank you Swifties for that Love Story…🥹🫶🏻 #taylorswift #vienna #swiftie #LoveStory #erastour #loveyou #wien #taylorswiftvienna @Crazy Monkey ♬ Originalton - mateahuhu
@erastourtipss live from the albertina museum in Vienna 🫶 swifties had free entrance for those with tickets @Taylor Nation @Taylor Swift thank you to the @The ALBERTINA Museum staff who played Taylor Swift songs today including exile, white horse and all too well ❤️ #taylorswift #taylor #swift #tstheerastour #tstheerastourvienna #viennatstheerastour #vienna #erastour #fearless #speaknow #red #1989 #reputation #folklore #evermore #midnights #thetorturedpoetsdepartment #ttpd #swifties #safetyforswifties #swiftie #viennaswifties #albertina ♬ original sound - eras outfits

I went to the Eras tour before Vienna concerts and felt what it means to trade a friendship bracelet with strangers. I experienced talking with random people on the train to the arena about their favourite albums or era. I saw a police men’s hands covered in colourful bracelets while being so serious. I was walking around the city hearing her music on every single step and never felt alone. While I was at the gate waiting for my aeroplane, a man came to me and asked me if I was a swiftie because he saw friendship bracelets on my wrist. After that, I opened my suitcase in the middle of the airport to give him one that I made. My hotel was blasting her music 24/7 and every morning I had my breakfast while listening to songs. I met Thomas and Addy in front of the arena and started talking with them because I loved their outfits. I was in Swiftland for a few days and I’ve never felt better.  More precisely, I felt in real life what means to be part of Taylor Swift's multi universe of madness that existed just in my head for ten years. Then, I was immersed in it with tens of thousands and felt what it means to be part of this glorious community. 

Because of this, that Wednesday night I was devastated and heartbroken for people who wouldn’t be able to do the same. But, these people made their own The Eras Tour. Hopefully, this is the last time that The Eras Tour had to be reimagined due to circumstances but they did it with a broken heart. Concerts around Vienna will be remembered because she built a legacy that no one can’t undo.

Lea
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