Taylor Swift gave Vancouver — and the world — what we needed
Swift said the legacy of the Eras tour will be the love and friendship fans have shown
Taylor Swift has entered her post-Eras era.
After five continents and about 150 concerts, the singer-songwriter performed her final show of the record-breaking Eras Tour Sunday night in Vancouver, admiring the passion and kindness fans have showed throughout the nearly two years of touring.
"That is I think the lasting legacy of this tour, the fact that you have created such space and joy and togetherness and love," Swift told her fans.
And Vancouver was ready for it.
In what appeared to be a co-ordinated effort, fans in the audience could be heard counting down and then singing Happy Birthday to the singer, who turns 35 on Dec. 13. The serenade followed a three-minute standing ovation after Swift's performance of Champagne Problems.
Despite speculation among fans, the final show did not include any special guests, surprise announcements, or additional songs.
But the crowd roared when Swift delivered the much-anticipated Long Live as part of one of her two surprise numbers, cheekily swapping the phrase "end of a decade" for "end of an era."
Fans predicted Swift would play the song at her final show because it describes the magic of performing on tour.
Opener Gracie Abrams voiced what many fans are feeling, calling Sunday's final show "history," and saying she cried earlier.
"I'm not ready for it to be over," Abrams said.
Perhaps Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, who sat in VIP tonight donning friendship bracelets, said it best: "I'm speechless," he told CBC News.
Swift said the tour has been the most challenging thing she's ever done in her life, estimating that about 10 million people have attended the concerts.
As per usual, the singer sang and shimmied her way through the theatrical production for three-and-a-half hours.
Instead of sinking into the stage at the end as she typically does, Swift embraced her fellow dancers, singers, and band — many of whom have been with her on multiple tours — in an extended group hug and walk-off.
And with that, the Eras tour slipped away like a bottle of wine.
Grossing an estimated $2 billion US in revenue with the Eras Tour, Swift has bucked the downward trend of a music industry disrupted by the downfall of physical album sales and the rise of pennies-per-song streaming services.
Tourism officials say her concerts brought an estimated $157 million in economic activity to Vancouver and about $282 million to Toronto.
But beyond the dollars, and more importantly for some fans, they say they got the opportunity Sunday night to witness history.
To some of her fans, Swift is more than a pop star: she is a historical figure, one who was able to bring a three-day glitter parade to a city often referred to as "No Fun City."
Vancouver was blanketed by a sea of sequins, sparkles and friendship bracelets. Hotels, shops and restaurants transformed their businesses to welcome the fans.
Even the Vancouver Police horses wore friendship bracelets.
Thousands came together in the downtown core, even if they didn't have tickets, to be a part of the positive atmosphere.
It was as if Swift was an antidote to the sea of negative news headlines that the world saw this past year.
Just last week, and not far from where Swift performed, Vancouver saw a violent stabbing that ended with police fatally shooting a suspect.
But for about three hours these past few days, it felt like there were no problems, a testament to Swift's ability to create a space of joy.
As fans walked out of B.C. Place, there was deep sadness that the tour was over.
"I'm speechless and depressed," said Hunter Parviainen, 25, who flew from New York to see the show.
But it's not all bad, says Kimberley Brownlee, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Ethics and Political and Social Philosophy at the University of British Columbia.
She says Eras friendships could outlast the tour.
"For those who are Swifties who did get to a concert or got to the city of one, maybe there'll be ripple effects," she said in an interview with CBC News.
"That was sort of the beginning. It was a spark for friendship."
As sparks fly for the last time this Eras Tour, the big question is, what will Swift's next era entail?
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With files from The Canadian Press and CBC Music