My credentials are genuine. I attended the Fearless, 1989 and Reputation concerts back in the olden days where you just logged on and got tickets. Before the unprecedented Ticketek waiting room torture and hysteria of the Eras tour.
My three daughters and I were SO LUCKY to get tickets. Like everyone, we spent hours with multiple devices open and a mounting sense of panic. It was my husband who miraculously slipped his way through the system and scored the prize. And was then promptly told that with a four ticket maximum he was not to be a Swiftie Dad on the night. Sorry bro but do you know all the words to All Too Well (10 min version)?
We went along to the rainy first night in Sydney. It exceeded every expectation and will remain one of the best nights of my life with my girls. I DIYed a Champagne Problems t-shirt and I have never DIYed anything before. We all cried frequently. And watched the videos back in the morning and cried again.
My social algorithms now update me daily with the surprise songs. The addition of The Tortured Poets Department era to the tour has caused me significant pain. Could we fly to Europe? No. Because Cozzie Livs. But have you seen the marching band in The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived? (sidenote: who knew Matty Healy was going to trump Joe Alwyn as the villain ex?!)
My eldest is an OG Swiftie who I’ve taken to all of the concerts. Therefore there was little doubt as to the theme of her recent 21st.
The low-key princess had a sequinned pink unitard custom-made for the occasion (at her expense!) and this low-key Mother of the Birthday Girl ordered a replica of the sequinned blazer TS wore to perform The Man. Grace’s long-suffering boyfriend wore a jacket emblazoned with “Karma”. (Because Karma is my boyfriend, for the uninitiated.)
The cake was based on the Blank Space film clip. The cocktail list included Bad Blood Orange, Me!jitos and Be-gin Again, and the somewhat neglected water station was sign-posted You Need to Calm Down.
Naturally I had to insert as many song references as possible into my speech. The following is an excerpt only, some anecdotes had to be removed lest some of Grace’s poor historical conduct be seen as a reflection on my parenting skills.
Welcome to the State of Grace. It’s time for me to Speak Now! Are you Ready for it?
Let’s hope everyone behaves tonight so I don’t have to kick anyone out like I did at her 18th. It’s Me Hi, I’m the Problem it’s Me. I know about my Reputation after that night, I just hope there’s no Bad Blood. Otherwise you’ll have to Shake it Off.
Grace is an excellent home renovator. Like that time she crashed her Getaway Car through the wall of our garage.
I remember it All too Well. I said You Need to Calm Down and This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things. She said Don’t Blame Me.
Grace you have a strong sense of Style. And tonight you look Gorgeous.
We hope tonight exceeds your Wildest Dreams because it’s Sposed to be Fun Turning 21 and before you know it you’ll be Feeling 22. I had The Best Day with you Today. We love you Forever and Always.
So why do we love Taylor so much? My girls have all grown up listening to her, so there’s a shared history and memories tied up in her songs and her lyrics. And those lyrics! No one can write an emotional bridge to belt out in the car quite like her. It’s also the way she details her life experiences through song, which makes you feel like you’ve shared her heartaches and just really want Travis to make her happy even though some of his jock conduct is questionable.
And if you don’t get it? That’s cool Sarah and Hannah.
