Taylor Swift has returned to Wembley Stadium in style, bringing her Eras hits once again to a crowd of more than 90,000 – with a little help from “best friend” Ed Sheeran.
It was her first live performance since the cancellation of three shows in Vienna earlier this month, due to an alleged planned terror attack, and also her first time in the UK since the deaths of three young girls following a stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport, Merseyside.
Swift did not acknowledge either of the incidents on stage in London, but released a statement telling of her shock following the girls’ deaths.
It’s understood the singer has privately reached out to the families.
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Taylor Swift returns to UK
Swift was joined on stage by Sheeran for what has become her famous acoustic section, during which she plays different songs every show.
After starting Everything Has Changed, which they wrote together, Swift stopped the performance to say she felt she wasn’t doing it justice.
Huge cheers erupted from the crowd as Sheeran appeared on stage for a duet, before also singing part of his hit ballad, Thinking Out Loud.
She described the star as “like a brother” after years of friendship. “That was so fun, I had such a good time,” she said as he left the stage, “did you have a good time?”
From the sound of the crowd, they definitely had a good time.
This was the first of five shows at Wembley for Swift, the last of which next Tuesday will close the European leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Swift performing during the Reputation section of the setlist at Wembley. Pic: George Thompson/PA Wire
Amid reassurances about security from the venue and police, her return to the capital once again saw tens of thousands of Swifties dressed in costumes marking the star’s eras, swapping friendship bracelets and stories outside, and lighting up the stadium with twinkling LED wristbands inside, singing along to every single word.
On stage, Swift enraptures fans – the roars from the crowd are often deafening in a way I have never experienced at any gig before. Some had queued since the early hours to secure their spots as close to their idol as possible.
“I will be your host for the evening, my name is Taylor,” she told them at one point, just in case anyone wasn’t sure.
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Pic: George Thompson/PA Wire
Fans were treated to more than 40 songs over a set lasting a mammoth three-and-a-half hours, including Cruel Summer, Blank Space, Style, Anti-Hero, Lavender Haze, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, All Too Well, Look What You Made Me Do, Karma, Shake It Off and lots more.
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Eighteen years of her different Eras are covered, and after months of performing the show, she told the crowd how “wild” it is to be nearing the end of this part of the tour.
With four more shows to go, there are undoubtedly more surprises planned, and more memories to be made. This, as Swift told fans, is what her eras are all about.
