Taylor Swift will have fun making Grammys historical past with a run of live shows in Tokyo beginning Wednesday, kicking off a month of sell-out exhibits in Asia that can embrace a fast run dwelling to see her boyfriend contest the U.S. Super Bowl.
Hundreds of excited followers queued within the chilly from morning to purchase merchandise at Tokyo Dome earlier than the 4 exhibits, a part of the megastar’s Eras Tour — the primary billion-dollar-tour ever.
“It’s us, hi! We are Swifties from Taiwan!” learn an enormous cloth banner that includes 10 photos of Swift’s face, held up by a bunch of followers exterior the 55,000-capacity area.
Results of a hotly contested ticket lottery for Swift’s Japan dates have been introduced in July final 12 months, with some followers touring to Tokyo — even when the tour was coming to them.
“We came just for the concert as we couldn’t get tickets in Australia,” laughed 18-year-old Ebony Donohue. “I’m so excited to finally see her. All her music is so different. She’s so relatable, and strong and amazing.”
Others sporting Taylor Swift T-shirts and miniskirts snapped photos, whereas these in a protracted line for branded items stated that they had been ready years for this second.
“I’ve been listening to her songs since I was in middle school, about 10 years. This is the first time I’ll see her in concert, and I’ve been so excited since the moment we were able to get tickets,” 25-year-old Saya Matsuo informed AFP. “She is someone who can grab people’s hearts, make people sing and dance. I love her personality.”
Hikari Oka and Honoka Shimabara, each 18-year-old college students, had been ready since earlier than 9 a.m. for the merchandise stall that opened at noon. “When I listen to her songs I feel energized, and it also gives me confidence,” Oka stated.
Swift-mania has reached fever pitch worldwide after the 34-year-old on Sunday scooped her fourth Album of the Year prize on the Grammys on Sunday.
That is probably the most held by any artist and breaks the joint document of three beforehand held by Swift and the likes of Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.
Super Bowl sprint
Straight after her final Tokyo live performance wraps up on Saturday, Swift will make a pit cease at this weekend’s Super Bowl, the place she is anticipated to cheer on her present beau Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs from the VIP suites.
The pop icon will then play dates in Australia and Singapore earlier than heading to Europe on the tour that’s predicted to make a staggering estimated $2 billion.
An inflow of followers to the live shows has been proven to create a so-called “Swift effect” on native economies.
Travel know-how firm Amadeus reported an “extraordinary increase in interest” in search visitors for journey to cities within the Asia-Pacific area visited on the Eras Tour.
With a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of social media followers and a staunchly loyal fan base, politicos — and conspiracy theorists — have even opined on Swift’s potential influence on the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
Some right-wing critics have floated the baseless principle that the pop icon’s burgeoning romance with Kelce is proof of a “deep-state” plot to rig the Super Bowl and assist get U.S. President Joe Biden reelected.
But NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has dismissed such conspiracy theories as “nonsense.”
© 2024 AFP