Thursday 30 June 2016

The 1989 World Tour // Dublin, 30 June 2015


It's been exactly a year since I saw Taylor Swift in concert, and seeing as her tour has been long since wrapped up and new rumours and gossip have emerged in the months which followed, perhaps I needn't be writing this at all. But here's the thing; I can honestly say that being at that concert meant the world to me. Each day for a week straight afterwards, I awoke with a huge smile on my face because of how great it had been.


To cut a long story short, I ended up getting two tickets for the second night and went with my sister, leaving my unhappy German exchange student behind. I was beaming, my sister and I wore matching outfits. I had a green "13" painted on my hand and red lipstick on my lips. I was not a longterm Taylor fan. In fact, it had only been in October of the previous year that I started listening closely to her music and watched countless interviews and waded through tumblr looking at her fanbase there. I no longer cared about nor believed the media's portrayal of her. She stood for something positive. She was the first person who had ever truly managed to communicate to me that it is genuinely much more fun to be yourself and not care about what people think. I lapped up the message, and literally jumped for joy when the man at the 3Arena handed me my wristband.

I was a fan of Vance Joy too, to a lesser extent, but could play a couple of his tunes on guitar and was overjoyed to hear that he'd be the supporting act. So, after we had bought out 1989 t-shirts and strategically placed ourselves near the railings (we had standing tickets. More on that later), I enjoyed every moment of Vance's performance. It really was a treat!


As soon as he had finished his set, I caught a glimpse of Scott Swift, Taylor's dad, standing near the railings. I really wanted to go and say hello to him, but I didn't want the security guards to give out to me for going too close to the fence, nor for my sister to be confused when I was suddenly missing. However, after a couple of unheard calls of "Scott! Scott!", I felt that it was my duty to go over. He was genuinely so nice to talk to. My sister soon realised where I had gone and joined me. Scott asked us if we were from around here, and if we had seen the first show. Then I blurted out "I love your daughter" to which he replied "She's just like you" which was absolutely amazing to hear. I think he probably meant it as in she's a normal person, but it was nearly too much for my fangirling heart. He spoke to us a little bit longer, told us that it was a "great show" and to enjoy ourselves before handing us some 1989 picks. I got three and my sister two, so I gave one away to my exchange student in an act of "sorry you couldn't make it".


A short while later, Taylor herself came out on stage. The concert was literally amazing. She played the majority of songs from the album she was promoting, including the "extras" and mashups. She played an updated version of "Love Story" and had a killer set of abs costumes and backup dancers. Her voice sounded different, just because it was actual real life and not a recording and it was really good in person, even if later clips of mine (which I'm never sharing because you can hear my obnoxious singing all too well) suggest otherwise. She whipped out "Holy Ground" as a tribute to the fact that she didn't bring her RED Tour here and gave an ever beautiful Clean Speech. Confetti swirled up into the air as she said her au revoirs and at that moment, after a few sightings, I finally grabbed the attention of Andrea Swift who came over and gave myself and my sister a hug.


It was nothing short of incredible. I loved every moment and of course felt very very lucky to have met both of her parents. She played all the songs that I wanted to hear from 1989. It really consolidated my appreciation for her to see her in person. And for her parents to be so nice to me was a treat.

I know that since there have been all kinds of rumours and tabloid stories as well as genuine mistakes she's made. However, that one night isolated was everything, and no matter how many clickbait articles float around, I'm still filled with happiness to think back on that night. I've only ever been to three concerts; Paul McCartney twice and Taylor Swift, but I think it'll be very hard to match this one!

What's the best concert you've ever been to? x

All the concert/unclear shots were taken with the iPhone 4, the wall ones with the Nikon D3200 as usual

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26 comments

  1. Sadly I haven't been to any concert yet so far :')
    I'm happy to read you were having at blast at Swifts concert!
    So great to meet her parents too!! Xx <a href="http://icepandora.blogspot.com'>Ice Pandora</a>

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    1. One day I'm sure you'll get a chance! Thank you so much, it really was a night to remember :) x

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  2. I'm so glad you had a great time there! I think music artists are so amazing because they create music that so many different people listen to, and each person will hear something different and connect to it personally in their own way. It's so powerful! I've been to a few concerts, but none as big as this! It's cool how you got to meet both her parents, and it's sweet that they were both on tour with her :) Your wall of polaroids + the ticket is awesome :) I don't listen to Taylor Swift much, but I do love Vance Joy! Previous concerts I've gone to were George Ezra and Oh Wonder, and in October I'm seeing Tom Odell! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's

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    1. Thank you! I completely agree, music artists can make such an important connection with their audience. That's so so cool that you're seeing Tom Odell! I hope you have the time of your life!!

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  3. Sounds like so much fun, I really like her music and think she is such a sweet person. Still have hopes to see her in concert.

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    1. Yeah it was great! (If I haven't communicated that enough!) I hope you get to see her too! Thanks for reading (:

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  4. Oh my goodness, just reading this post got me so excited. That is an unbelievable experience! I'm so happy for you :D Your photos are beautiful.

    Beatrice | Beanau Blog

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    1. Thank you! It was so incredible :) x

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  5. I'm a swiftie since '09 and this made me cry with envy. She didn't bring 1989 here in the Philippines. Okay I'm sad again. 😟 I love her too despite all the boyfriend issues and moving on fast issues. Thank you so much for sharing your concert experience. I enjoyed reading it even I'm dying of jealousy.

    Www.beadeegee.com

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  6. I'm a swiftie since '09 and this made me cry with envy. She didn't bring 1989 here in the Philippines. Okay I'm sad again. 😟 I love her too despite all the boyfriend issues and moving on fast issues. Thank you so much for sharing your concert experience. I enjoyed reading it even I'm dying of jealousy.

    Www.beadeegee.com

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    1. Awh, I'm sorry to hear she didn't come to the Philippines this time. I really hope she goes on tour there next time! I'm in agreement with you on the boyfriend stuff. Thanks for reading! :) x

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  7. You are soooo lucky that you got to go to TS's 1989 World Tour!!! I just saw a recorded one of it when she released it on apple music and oh my god, it was amazing! Going to her concert and hopefully meeting her is number 1 in my bucketlist because just like Bea de Guzman, I am a huge Taylor Swift fan regardless on what people say about her. :D Thanks for sharing your experience, Anna!

    therenalexis.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for reading! I know, I am so amazed still that I got to go! I have yet to see the recording, but I'm sure it will bring back loads of memories when I do. I hope you get to see her some day, and meet her too of course! x

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  8. I can't say I've ever been a T Swift fan, but Just looking at these photos and hearing you talking about yr experience makes it sound p exciting! I love that you talked to both of her parents! I think my fave concert experience was earlier this year, when I saw The Growlers at an outdoor, one day festival. I tend to like smaller, intimate concert venues, so it was fun for me �� Thanks for sharing; love the photos! / okaythanksmaria

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    1. Thank you! A more intimate concert setting sounds amazing. x

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  9. I've been listening to her songs since I was in grade school but I never became a fangirl. I just listen but I still admire her as a person especially on the part that we shouldn't let society define us. We should define ourselves and it's really good and positive thing to influence people at. And btw, you were very lucky not only to experience her concert but also to meet her parents! Omg. I would even faint at the thought of it. I wouldn't even believe myself seeing her parents in person. What more if it was Taylor Swift up close? Omg!!!

    Augustin Ra | Indie Spirit

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    1. I agree! Self definition should be the only reliable way of letting others know who we are. Haha yeah! It was not something I could ever have imagined happening but it's something I won't forget for sure! X

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  10. It's so great to hear that you had incredible time in the concert and it made you this happy. The best concert so far was probably Ed Sheeran or Imagine Dragons, can't decide :)

    -Leta | The Nerdy Me

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    1. Thank you! Those both sound like they would have been a blast (: x

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  11. I am so jealous you got to see 1989 tour live! I was so sure she'll be going to our country that I didn't book any flights in Singapore during her Asia leg. It sounds so fun! My favorite concerts has got to be hers (Speak Now and Red), Ed Sheeran and The 1975!

    xx, Richel Goes Places

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    1. It's a pity you didn't get to go! Very envious that you got to see some of her previous tours all the same! X

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  12. I'm so Taylor Swift when it comes to my things, especially her outfits from RED album. This made me envy, haha. I also hope to come to her concert here in her country! :)

    xx,
    Kai of Intensity-Miles (www.intensity-miles.net)

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    1. Yep! Her RED album is probably one of my favourites! I hope you get to see her one day x

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  13. I'm so jealous of your experience! I've been a fan since 2011 but I've never gotten the chance to go to a concert. For some reason the concerts I want to go to are always on weekdays when I have to get up early for internship...

    x Envy
    Lost in Translation

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    1. Ah, that's a pity! I'm sure you'll one day get a chance! X

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  14. Looks like such a great experience!!

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Thank you for your words x

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