Taylor Swift took her time bringing The Eras Tour to Canada, but after her first night in Toronto, it鈥檚 clear that for the Swifties all is forgiven.
Dressed in sequins, cowboy hats and outlandish outfits that made obscure references to the pop star鈥檚 lyrics, Swift鈥檚 fans piled into the Rogers Centre on Thursday to see their wildest dreams come true.
And Swift reciprocated their affection with a tireless performance that offered a generous serving of affection from the start.
鈥淥h Toronto, we are so back!鈥� she exclaimed in the first of many pauses she took throughout the night to bask in the overwhelming screams of the nearly 49,000 fans inside the venue.
Even Swift appeared stunned by Toronto鈥檚 enthusiasm, which has been building to a fever pitch in recent weeks with officials changing transit routes, deploying security and eagerly promoting the concerts and parallel events as a highlight for tourists.
鈥淵ou guys have turned this into something that feels more than just a concert,鈥� Swift said.
鈥淭he way the city of Toronto has embraced us and welcomed us, we notice all of that, and it鈥檚 heartening. It feels so good and it feels so different than any other experience I鈥檝e had before.鈥�
The singer opened with 鈥淢iss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince鈥� and 鈥淐ruel Summer鈥� off her 2019 album 鈥淟over.鈥� It was the first of the evening鈥檚 10 mini sets which represented the eras of her 11 studio albums.
Over roughly three hours, Swift performed almost non-stop in front of a massive digital screen that projected her image into the rafters.
A stunning array of pyrotechnics and lights punctuated her performance while audience members were given LED wristbands that lit up in a sea of colours to represent each era.
Swift mixed up big hits 鈥淏ad Blood,鈥� 鈥淐ardigan鈥� and 鈥淏lank Space鈥� with deeper cuts, including surprise songs 鈥淢y Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys鈥� and 鈥淔alse God.鈥�
Her first night in Toronto marks the beginning of the end for the ambitious Eras Tour which kicked off in March 2023 and touched down in five continents with nearly 150 performances.
She鈥檒l play two weekends, a total of six dates, at the Rogers Centre ending on Nov. 23. The Eras Tour then heads to Vancouver for a final three shows at BC Place from Dec. 6 to 8.
On the first night, Swift ensured the proceedings carried an unmistakable Canadian flair.
Early in the evening, Swift鈥檚 dancer Kameron Saunders hopped on the microphone for his moment in 鈥淲e Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.鈥�
Saunders has recently become a favourite of Swifties for replacing Swift鈥檚 鈥渓ike ever鈥� line in the song with an improvised dismissal that caters to each country鈥檚 native tongue. In Toronto, he went with a fake Canadian accent.
鈥淪orry aboot it,鈥� he proclaimed with a smirk.
Later, while leaping into the 鈥淔olklore鈥� era, Swift suggested that her sweater-weather album might best be suited for the north.
鈥淒oesn鈥檛 it seem like the entire 鈥楩olklore鈥� era belongs in Canada?鈥� she asked to a roar from the audience.
鈥淭he kind of place I imagined in my mind, where 鈥楩olklore鈥� took place, is very natural 鈥� wilderness, beautiful, forests that have been since the beginning of time. And this kind of feels like we鈥檙e returning the 鈥楩olklore鈥� era to where it belongs anyway.鈥�
Canadian fans have waited more than a year for Swift to come to town.
Jennifer Fetters said her young daughter Abigail has been crossing off the days on a calendar waiting for the moment she would finally see Swift in the flesh.
鈥淪he told me in the line that I needed to pinch her because she felt she was in a dream,鈥� the mom said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so thankful we鈥檙e here,鈥� she added. 鈥淭his is even more exciting than Disney World.鈥�
Tickets for the Toronto dates of The Eras Tour went on sale in August 2023 and sparked a frenzy as hopeful buyers vied for pre-sale codes and jostled for spots in virtual line-ups on the Ticketmaster website.
Many left empty-handed as demand far outweighed supply as all six dates at the Rogers Centre quickly sold out.
That didn鈥檛 stop superfans from coming to downtown Toronto for Swiftmania Central. Even those without tickets gathered to sing songs, make friendship bracelets and compliment each other鈥檚 carefully crafted outfits.
Near the end of the show, Swift took one final moment to digest her Canadian-made reception, as the crowd began chanting 鈥淭aylor! Taylor! Taylor!鈥�
鈥淭his is why everyone loves Canadians鈥� she said holding her arms out to the crowd.
Later she added: 鈥淵ou鈥檝e welcomed us flawlessly to Toronto.鈥�
