Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Believe the Hype, America. Taylor Swift Brings It and Then Some!
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 12 months ago on
August 1, 2023

Share

The Taylor Swift hype is real.

Swift delivered a show on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara worthy of the “Queen of Pop” and an estimated 64,000 “Swifties.”

It was sequins galore, with the mostly female crowd — my conservative guess was 70% — decked out to see their “Anti-Hero.”

A Taylor Swift fan is decked out with a football-style sequined jersey. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Swift took the stage around 8 p.m. and showed endurance and enthusiasm that is rare in entertainment. She played nearly non-stop for more than three hours. She made costume changes but took no intermission. A video interlude kept the continuity of the show.

The stage was huge, stretching out about 80 yards on the football stadium floor. With everyone standing, it was hard to get a full glimpse of Swift in person without watching the video screen.

Technically, Levi’s Stadium shows are supposed to end by the 11 p.m. curfew. Swift blew through that both nights. Good thing she was named honorary mayor. I’m not sure, though, that gives her the power to waive the fines.

Setlist.fm reported she sang 45 songs, spanning all her albums — hence the Eras Tour. Swift could have ended with “Blank Space” and “Shake it Off.” She went for 10 more songs lasting about another half-hour.

Swift finishes her U.S. tour with six shows in seven days at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, starting Thursday. The international portion of the tour starts later in August in Mexico City.

The Federal Reserve estimated that the Eras Tour has generated $5 billion for the economy. Ticket prices for the Thursday show in Inglewood start at $743 on SeatGeek.

Taylor Swift performs at Levi’s Stadium Saturday night (TAS Rights Management)

Atalia’s Take

Swift outlasted me, but not my 12-year-old daughter.

“There was much energy and hype,”  she said.

Atalia liked Swift’s charisma and keeping the audience engaged, by talking to the masses every now and then.

“I sang along because it is happiness in the community. It was so amazing. When you go there, you really feel like a Swiftie,” Atalia said, adding that she’s “relatable.”

Atalia Taub cheered and sang along to Taylor Swift at Levi’s Stadium on July 29, 2023. (GV Wire/David Taub)

“She hits every spot,” my daughter said. “She has songs about love. She has songs about revenge. And songs about hustle. Something for every feeling. Not to mention they are absolute bops as well,” Atalia said.

A “bop” Atalia explains, is a song you can really get into, and listen to over and over.

Part of the Swift concert experience is exchanging friendship bracelets. It was a great way for Atalia to meet and greet fellow Swifties and get some cool swag.

Exchanging friendship bracelets is part of the “Swiftie” experience. (GV Wire/David Taub)

We weren’t the only ones from Fresno at the show. One car on Highway 152 was adorned in Taylor Swift song names and sayings. They even displayed a Venmo account for merchandise.

Several familiar Fresnans were at the show, but I will let them reveal their attendance, lest they want to keep their “Swiftie” status on the down low.

Taylor Swift in action, Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. (TAS Rights Management)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

DON'T MISS

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

DON'T MISS

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

DON'T MISS

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

DON'T MISS

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

DON'T MISS

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

DON'T MISS

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

DON'T MISS

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

UP NEXT

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

UP NEXT

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

UP NEXT

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

UP NEXT

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

UP NEXT

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

UP NEXT

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

UP NEXT

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

UP NEXT

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

2 hours ago

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

2 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

12 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

13 hours ago

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

14 hours ago

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

14 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

15 hours ago

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

15 hours ago

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

15 hours ago

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

15 hours ago

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

In October last year, a heartwarming tale of resilience and recovery began in the unlikeliest of places: a crate abandoned in an alley. This...

39 mins ago

39 mins ago

Jack Black, a Small Dog With a Big Heart, Is Looking for His Forever Home

44 mins ago

Kamala Harris: A Baptist With a Jewish Husband and a Faith That Traces Back to MLK and Gandhi

59 mins ago

What Italian Grandmothers Can Teach You About Healthy Eating

2 hours ago

CA Has Seen Many New Towns, but This Big Project Is Stalled

2 hours ago

Kern County Farmland Values Continue Downward Slide

12 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

13 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

14 hours ago

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

Search

Send this to a friend