Taylor Swift seemingly has a very soft spot for her Australian fans as she showered the Aussie audience with all the best things — surprise song mashups, a duet with Sabrina, album variant announcements, and a lot of records.
As the pop sensation concludes the Australian leg of her tour after some dazzling performances in Sydney and Melbourne, here are all the reasons why Australia might just be the country that got to experience the best of Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’.
Taylor Swift Performed Surprise Song Mashups For Her Australian Fans
Taylor Swift has a ritual of singing two special songs at the end of every concert as an addition to her setlist. Known as the ‘surprise songs’ set, Swift chooses any two songs from her extensive discography as a surprise while fans guess which one it could be.
Earlier, the rule was that she couldn’t repeat any surprise songs. But she gracefully molded the rules for the Australian audience during her Melbourne concert by repeating a few of her fan-favorite songs.
Moreover, as another treat to the Australian audience, Swift also introduced song mashups to her surprise songs. The Australian audience thus got four songs each night instead of two. It was more than what they may have expected from the phenomenal tour.
this are all the surprise songs we lost with the eras tour in Australia… i’m so done with taylor swift. pic.twitter.com/Q5RDjoFZby
— lia ◟̽◞̽ | 14/07/24 ౨ৎ (@gilmoongirl) February 26, 2024
the australian leg of the eras tour is totally insane! it just seems like they get the best surprise songs, vibe, and the set hits different from the other previous shows. there must be something about australia that makes this totally wonderful.
— zhiya • 🪽 (@whalieniu) February 23, 2024
Australian Fans Were Witnesses To Two New Song Announcements
While touring in Australia, Swift announced two new variants of her eleventh album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ along with two new songs that will only be present in the limited edition variants.
Firstly, she announced a new song called ‘The Bolter’ while in Melbourne. Introducing the song, she said, “Tortured Poets is an album, I think more than any of my albums that I’ve ever made, I needed to make it. It was really a lifeline for me. Just the things I was going through, the things I was writing about. It kind of reminded me of why songwriting was something that actually gets me through my life.”
The third variation of the album was announced during her Sydney concert. This variant included a new song called ‘The Albatross’.
Announcing this variant, Swift said, “It’s good to have options, Everyone likes options, you know. I wanted to show you something if you will direct your attention to the main screen.” She then pointed at the main screen that displayed the new cover for the new variant.
“This is an alternate cover for The Tortured Poet’s Department,” she continued, “and so this edition is called “The Albatross” because there is an exclusive bonus song on this vinyl called “The Albatross,” and I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
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Australian Fans Got To Experience A Taylor X Sabrina Collaboration
If you’re a Sabrina Carpenter stan and a Taylor Swift stan, then the Sydney concert was a treat for you. Due to weather conditions, Sabrina’s set had to be removed and Taylor brought her out for the surprise songs.
Both the pop stars sang a beautiful rendition of ‘White Horse’ while Swift gave a flattering introduction of Sabrina. “My incredibly talented, wonderful, gorgeous, hilarious, genius opening act Sabrina Carpenter. She heroically sacrificed her show which i think is a crime against Sydney and I think it needs to be fixed so I’m going to bring her out now is that okay Sydney? Will you please scream as loud as you possibly know how for as long as you know how for the brilliant, Sabrina Carpenter!”
🪩 | Taylor Swift’s speech introducing Sabrina Carpenter to the stage tonight
— Sabrina Daily Updates (@SCdailyupdates) February 23, 2024
“My incredibly talented, wonderful, gorgeous, hilarious, genius opening act Sabrina Carpenter. She heroically sacrificed her show which i think is a crime against Sydney and I think it needs to be… pic.twitter.com/bLjusOeQK2
After that, Swift sang Coney Island for the audience.
‘Eras Tour’ Recorded The Highest Ever Footfall In Australia
Taylor Swift’s Australian shows also happened to be the largest crowds the pop sensation has played for. She announced it herself, that almost 100,000 people turned up for the Friday show in Melbourne, making it the largest audience she has played to.
She said, “If I seem a little bit like I’m losing my mind over the fact that there are 96,000 people here tonight … it’s because it’s true. This is the biggest show that we’ve ever done. I’m fully starstruck by the fact so many people wanted to hang out with us on a Friday night in Melbourne!”
Melbourne, what do I even say to you after over 288,000 of you came and danced with us in the last 3 nights ??! That was unforgettable. You were on an another LEVEL. Thank you for the memories. I’ll revisit the ones from this weekend often 🥲🫶
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) February 18, 2024
📷: @GrahamDenholm / @GettyImages pic.twitter.com/5KMXWZ7CVl
For her final show in Australia, the crowd in Sydney was huge too. Swift gave an electric last performance for her Aussie fans, and said, “Looking at this crowd, the biggest crowd we’ve had at our four shows here! You’re out here making me feel like I’m the first artist to play four shows at Accor Stadium!”
She then added, “We have had the most wonderful time, I’ve got to tell you that. You are here in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and you chose to hang out with us. You might be wondering if we ever get tired. A three-and-a-half-hour show — I don’t know if anyone told you that, buckle up. The answer is no. Here’s what happens in our last show in a city. We have been saving our energy for you.”
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“You Make Us Feel Like We’re At Home Here”: Australia Gave Taylor Swift Her Favorite Audience
So does Taylor have a favorite when it comes to international crowds? Yes she does. And it’s Australia. The Aussie audience literally has every other international crowd fuming because of all the nice things (and nice songs) the crowd got. And yeah, Taylor admits it herself too.
We’re living in a world where Taylor Swift has a favorite child, and it’s definitely Australia.
— Folkmore 🩶🧡 (@Daerves13) February 24, 2024
During her last concert in Australia, the singer said, “Me, my band, the dancers, you make us feel like we’re at home here, you really do. It’s very rare.” She then revealed what she liked the most about the Australian crowd.
“The more time we spend around you, the more favorite things that we find about you, but obviously you know we love your accents. But I have a very specific word that is my favorite word that you say in an Australian accent and that word is the word ‘No,'” she said.
I never knew I needed to hear Taylor say “should’ve said naur” until today pic.twitter.com/vB4ggy2Q8H
— aims ⸆⸉ 🦋 IS SEEING TAYLOR SWIFT (@shimmeringtay13) February 24, 2024
“It is the most glorious sound. The more you chew on that no [said in an Australian accent], the more you just … I really think you say it better than I say it, so this song incorporates the word no several times. The choice is yours. You can sing it American like me if you want, or you can just be yourselves and you can say, ‘You should’ve said no [said in an Australian accent].’ “ Swift then proceeded to play ‘Should’ve Said No.’
Taylor Swift’s next stop for the ‘Eras Tour’ is Singapore.
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