best thing I have read about TS (not a long list). Relate deeply and am somewhat relieved to read about your food service ruminations as I had always mentally flagged this as a male attribute, silently critiquing small business practices/kitchen engineering
That 1989 has become something maligned by younger Swift fans is mind boggling to me. It's my favorite forever--it was Steve's first era and I very strongly associate it with being in a place where I could impulsively adopt a dog who would define the next decade of my life.
loooooved this piece (I was at the same concert all the way from New Zealand and it was like nothing I’d ever seen before!!!!) I was blown away by how gorge a lot of the swifties were (arms full of friendship bracelets that they were swapping in the seats in front of me 🥺🥺🥺) but then I LOVE watching proud & public displays of fandom like that. Last comment is justice for RED, my fave album.
as a 25 year old who has seen phoebe bridgers i feel like i must say that it is Absolutely filled with scream singing teens who get so mad when you didn't wait outside for 8 hrs to get in
Eras Tour Chicken Tender Data Points: I went to Tampa night 3 and the PDQ Chicken supply had no issues and the staff loved my Reputation sunglass (bedazzled and said "Don't Blame Me" - I also love Taylor in her stupid mode). Friends went to Chicago and night 2 completely ran out of tenders.
We talked about this but the fact that her set list was three hours long and we (and every fan of hers I know) can STILL name a dozen great songs that were left out really speaks to her unbelievably impressive career, and she shows no signs of stopping! Whether you think her writing is stupid or smart (I actually think the split is really favorable towards smart there) she has achieved something pretty incredible.
Glad you are so pro hot dog Fran!!! I am weird in that i have seen Phish 72 times and have got concessions like once. I never eat at concerts. Probably some psychological thing from my drug days. But i did get a 5 pound hot dog at MSG this year.
I had no idea you were also a big 1989 fan!! That is my top Tay album forever and ever. I also liked Lover. Listening thru Reputation today and trying to assess why I never got into it- I think because it came out while I was in Boston and having no fun in my life. But also maybe not buying your characterization (which has stuck with me) of it as an album for adults.... for me perhaps would have been an album for when I was 23...
1989 is no skips! even Welcome to NY... which everyone gripes about... has its qualities!
I think maybe a better clarification for Reputation would be that it's an album in which Taylor acknowledges herself as adult, which I don't think she often does. she's semi-aware and willing to commit to music having a sex life and wanting to cheat and being more vengeful -- a lot of the later music lacks some of these in a more literal sense.
The wildfire smoke in NJ yesterday was very bad but reading Fran Magazine on the Eras tour was very good. The bit about how you think her life is tragic but that’s what she wants you to think...oof! My friends and I talk about this a lot but she’s profited off of her own depression and vulnerability which makes it possible to accept...quite a bit! Her music is either gut wrenching because it mirrors what you’re going through at the time, or it sounds like it was written by AI (this is not shade!).
I also loved the food reporting here. In 2015 I became obsessed with reading about baseball stadium food and this brought me back.
Also, I’m dying to know what you think of Phoebe Bridgers! (I suspect you’re neutral.) She’s like a goth version of a Muppet baby. You saw one of THEE last performances of her Punisher album, which I couldn’t emotionally connect with June of 2020 but which walloped me over the head last summer. Did you scream during “I Know the End”? (Were you confused by the screaming during “I Know the End”?) Back in the day I was feeling old (at 27!!) so I stuck my nose up at her. I also thought she was rude. But then I heard “Scott Street” when I was really, really tired, and now unfortunately I’m a Pharb for life.
I don't think much of her one way or the other -- the songs are too slow and it is not really the thing I go for (as I said above, I mostly have very bad taste). I loosely prefer boygenius, but mostly I think the only one of those artists that does much for me is Baker. Bridgers sounded great though and her band was good too. I didn't know any of her songs well enough to really indulge in a singalong but that didn't stop many around me!
Thank you for this intel! I’m seeing boygenius next week. Chances of chicken tenders at Forest Hill stadium are low. Also I saw a clip of Julien Baker playing electric guitar last summer and it changed my life.
I think there was also this thing of a lot of people getting chicken tenders immediately upon arrival and then walking around with them while everyone else was waiting for merch... "chicken tender" is a better aroma than "hot dog"? I think that is somewhat undeniable..
I have to take offense at this comment: "The other girls were much young, late middle or early high school, who were prone to scream-singing not only with Swift but also with Bridgers, which is surprising to me I guess only because it’s hard to imagine someone who is not a 25 year old listening to Phoebe Bridgers."
Ok, maybe I'm an outlier, but I'm a 62 yr old white male and i love listening to Pheobe! No, this is not a late-life Lolita moment. I find her songs connect at an existentially dead moment in our culture. She sings of death with the wisdom of late Boomer - the difference being she sings of the death of everything, not simply of a relationship or pet.
I did not like her in concert; she owns the stage like s 20-something thati found sophomoric, but her lyrics are wise beyond her years.
“popular celebrity joe alwyn” making me laugh
I'm right....................................
best thing I have read about TS (not a long list). Relate deeply and am somewhat relieved to read about your food service ruminations as I had always mentally flagged this as a male attribute, silently critiquing small business practices/kitchen engineering
we should host a kitchen nightmares spinoff....
That 1989 has become something maligned by younger Swift fans is mind boggling to me. It's my favorite forever--it was Steve's first era and I very strongly associate it with being in a place where I could impulsively adopt a dog who would define the next decade of my life.
the anti Jack Antonoff mentality has gone too far! that album had such a revelatory sound to it and still feels modern and compelling today.
I will be waiting patiently on the boat without Harry Styles until 1989 (TV).
loooooved this piece (I was at the same concert all the way from New Zealand and it was like nothing I’d ever seen before!!!!) I was blown away by how gorge a lot of the swifties were (arms full of friendship bracelets that they were swapping in the seats in front of me 🥺🥺🥺) but then I LOVE watching proud & public displays of fandom like that. Last comment is justice for RED, my fave album.
omg amazing trek i’m glad we got to be there together! i keep hoping red will hit for me one day... hasn’t happened yet but life is so long
The red could post hearty and significant gestures as well 🙂
i cannot accept this nj transit propaganda.......
as a 25 year old who has seen phoebe bridgers i feel like i must say that it is Absolutely filled with scream singing teens who get so mad when you didn't wait outside for 8 hrs to get in
jealous/glad you had fun!
i love nj transit... forgive me..
your Eras era
Eras Tour Chicken Tender Data Points: I went to Tampa night 3 and the PDQ Chicken supply had no issues and the staff loved my Reputation sunglass (bedazzled and said "Don't Blame Me" - I also love Taylor in her stupid mode). Friends went to Chicago and night 2 completely ran out of tenders.
someone needs to determine the relationship between Swifties and tenders... though maybe it writes itself. those glasses sound sick
Bread and Jam for Frances 💜
We talked about this but the fact that her set list was three hours long and we (and every fan of hers I know) can STILL name a dozen great songs that were left out really speaks to her unbelievably impressive career, and she shows no signs of stopping! Whether you think her writing is stupid or smart (I actually think the split is really favorable towards smart there) she has achieved something pretty incredible.
my biggest impression of the night was, "ya gotta respect it!"
Glad you are so pro hot dog Fran!!! I am weird in that i have seen Phish 72 times and have got concessions like once. I never eat at concerts. Probably some psychological thing from my drug days. But i did get a 5 pound hot dog at MSG this year.
I always eat at concerts! I'm hungry!
Come to Phish this summer!! The chicken sando at MSG is very good
I am touched by your writing.
I had no idea you were also a big 1989 fan!! That is my top Tay album forever and ever. I also liked Lover. Listening thru Reputation today and trying to assess why I never got into it- I think because it came out while I was in Boston and having no fun in my life. But also maybe not buying your characterization (which has stuck with me) of it as an album for adults.... for me perhaps would have been an album for when I was 23...
1989 is no skips! even Welcome to NY... which everyone gripes about... has its qualities!
I think maybe a better clarification for Reputation would be that it's an album in which Taylor acknowledges herself as adult, which I don't think she often does. she's semi-aware and willing to commit to music having a sex life and wanting to cheat and being more vengeful -- a lot of the later music lacks some of these in a more literal sense.
Aha that makes perfect sense
The wildfire smoke in NJ yesterday was very bad but reading Fran Magazine on the Eras tour was very good. The bit about how you think her life is tragic but that’s what she wants you to think...oof! My friends and I talk about this a lot but she’s profited off of her own depression and vulnerability which makes it possible to accept...quite a bit! Her music is either gut wrenching because it mirrors what you’re going through at the time, or it sounds like it was written by AI (this is not shade!).
I also loved the food reporting here. In 2015 I became obsessed with reading about baseball stadium food and this brought me back.
Also, I’m dying to know what you think of Phoebe Bridgers! (I suspect you’re neutral.) She’s like a goth version of a Muppet baby. You saw one of THEE last performances of her Punisher album, which I couldn’t emotionally connect with June of 2020 but which walloped me over the head last summer. Did you scream during “I Know the End”? (Were you confused by the screaming during “I Know the End”?) Back in the day I was feeling old (at 27!!) so I stuck my nose up at her. I also thought she was rude. But then I heard “Scott Street” when I was really, really tired, and now unfortunately I’m a Pharb for life.
I don't think much of her one way or the other -- the songs are too slow and it is not really the thing I go for (as I said above, I mostly have very bad taste). I loosely prefer boygenius, but mostly I think the only one of those artists that does much for me is Baker. Bridgers sounded great though and her band was good too. I didn't know any of her songs well enough to really indulge in a singalong but that didn't stop many around me!
Thank you for this intel! I’m seeing boygenius next week. Chances of chicken tenders at Forest Hill stadium are low. Also I saw a clip of Julien Baker playing electric guitar last summer and it changed my life.
"A goth version of a Muppet baby" may be the best description ever...
Thank you, I was proud of that line! I was inspired by Taylor referring to her as a “boss genius angel baby face”.
I was just 30 sec ago explaining to jackson that pork is boy coded and chicken is girl coded.....might have something to do w the no hot dog situation
I think there was also this thing of a lot of people getting chicken tenders immediately upon arrival and then walking around with them while everyone else was waiting for merch... "chicken tender" is a better aroma than "hot dog"? I think that is somewhat undeniable..
I saw Paramore at MSG (I’m in my concerts era) and I can confirm, the air was filled with the smell of chicken tenders and it was glorious.
Great point.....now I want a tender
We should ask Taylor Swift's fans as suggested
I have to take offense at this comment: "The other girls were much young, late middle or early high school, who were prone to scream-singing not only with Swift but also with Bridgers, which is surprising to me I guess only because it’s hard to imagine someone who is not a 25 year old listening to Phoebe Bridgers."
Ok, maybe I'm an outlier, but I'm a 62 yr old white male and i love listening to Pheobe! No, this is not a late-life Lolita moment. I find her songs connect at an existentially dead moment in our culture. She sings of death with the wisdom of late Boomer - the difference being she sings of the death of everything, not simply of a relationship or pet.
I did not like her in concert; she owns the stage like s 20-something thati found sophomoric, but her lyrics are wise beyond her years.