Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour (Jen's Version)

It will forever be the loss of my life not getting to see The Eras Tour live in concert. Having been a fan of Taylor Swift’s music since the early days of her lead single Tim McGraw through every musical era to date, it’s no doubt The Eras Tour was made for someone like me — a lifelong fan whose life is rooted in the chapters of Swift’s masterful lyricism; a fan who celebrates growth, embraces change, and appreciates the evolution of what’s at the very core: the music. The Eras Tour was the tour of my dreams. A journey through the artistic milestones of the world’s biggest pop star who I’ve been so lucky to grow up alongside for nearly two decades? Simply amazing. I was 14 years old when I fell in love with Swift’s music for the very first time. Here I sit today, almost 20 years later, still enamored with the charisma, talent, and work ethic of the great Taylor Swift.

Though I missed seeing The Eras Tour at one of its many stops, I thank the gods above for all the grainy TikTok live streams that allowed me to watch bits and pieces of 100+ shows across the world throughout the tour (shoutout Tess!). From watching the full show on my little iPhone screen opening weekend to tuning in to catch the surprise song sets (basically every night) to anticipating a possible Tortured Poets setlist addition for the EU leg (and screaming when it actually happened), I struggle to put into words how much I love and loved seeing the total Eras Tour experience come to life.

While the show itself was perfect, I can’t help but think about how I’d craft up The Eras Tour setlist if it were mine to create. Let’s face it: we all have our own Taylor Swift opinions and favorite eras, and for sure we all have songs we wish would’ve, could’ve, or should’ve made the setlist, but with limited time and many, many songs to pick from, I can’t even imagine how hard it must’ve been for Swift to cherry pick what songs to perform. As the tour went on, I found myself coming back to the idea — OG show aside, how would I bring The Eras Tour to life if I could make a few setlist modifications? With all the hours I’ve spent thinking about my ideal Eras Tour, you might say this post has been a long time coming… see what I did there?

So, without further ado, I present you Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (Jen’s Version) — appropriately titled If I Scripted The Eras Tour on Spotify.

How I’d organize the eras:

  • Lover

  • Fearless

  • Speak Now

  • Red

  • Folkmore — a combination of Folklore & Evermore

  • Reputation

  • The Tortured Poets Department

  • 1989

  • Surprise song set — guitar & piano

  • Midnights

Era 1 — Lover:

I truly believe there’s no better song — Cruel Summer — and era — Lover — to have opened The Eras Tour show. The way I see it, the Lover era opens true to the original show — with the same introduction and lyrics from Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince (“It’s been a lonnnnnnng time coming”). As the dancers assemble to cover the entry point, the music fades, they pull their drapes up, and Taylor Swift appears. However, instead of singing an extended part from Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, the music of Cruel Summer kicks in. We get the cute little “Oh hi!” and then we’re off.

Jen’s Lover era setlist:

  • Cruel Summer — gets the crowd hyped

  • I Think He Knows — a fun, flirty, underrated bop from the Lover album that threads some upbeat continuity following Cruel Summer

  • Lover — a classic love ballad

  • The Man — for the girlies

Starting the Lover era with two upbeat songs, then slowing it down for Lover allows a pause for an important talking moment. I think it’s the perfect spot to introduce the tour and explain how the night’s going to unfold. As Swift walks to the microphone, she’s handed her guitar, recites her words, then sings Lover. Afterwards, the guitar goes away and she puts on her sparkly blazer. I love the idea of closing the Lover era with some big energy, and for me, that comes in the form of The Man. It’s such an important song — and one that keeps the crowd buzzed and energized for and through the first era transition.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince, You Need To Calm Down, The Archer

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — Cornelia Street, Death By A Thousand Cuts (I feel like both songs don’t fit the theme and aesthetic of the Lover era concert-wise and that’s sadddd)

Era 2 — Fearless:

All these years later, what makes the Fearless era so much fun is how rooted in nostalgia it is. That’s why it’s the perfect follow-up to the Lover era. It sets the tone and takes us back to those early country-pop hits that catapulted Taylor Swift into the spotlight. I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about the look and feel of the Fearless era.

Jen’s Fearless era setlist:

Heart hands during the Fearless instrumental is a must. I almost can’t believe it wasn’t part of the very first show, but I’m glad it was incorporated to subsequent shows after Swift saw the crowd do its part night one. To this day, anytime I see heart hands, I immediately think Taylor Swift. I also love the message right before singing You Belong With Me — “Let’s go back to high school for a moment” — because those of us who’ve been around awhile understand that You Belong With Me was “so high school” before So High School was “so high school”! Back in the day, I used to sing that song into my hairbrush all the time. And the ultimate closing song to the Fearless era? Love Story. I envision Taylor Swift singing “We were both young when I first saw you” as she turns to walk away to her exit. Again, a nod to the nostalgia of it all.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — none!

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — none!

Era 3 — Speak Now

When you sit down and start thinking (really thinking) about The Eras Tour setlist, I get why Speak Now had to be cut short. There are many (many, many) songs deserving of a spot, but with all the most popular eras yet to come, extending Speak Now means cutting something better later on. That being said, the OG Speak Now era felt way too short; just one song (Enchanted) wasn’t enough. That’s why, in my Speak Now era, I would make a couple key changes: 1) the setlist and 2) the outfit. The poofy princess dresses never really screamed “Speak Now” to me. Instead, I’d opt for something a little more fringy with a guitar to compliment. Think something like the cover art on the Speak Now World Tour Live album, but a bit more purple-y to match the era.

Jen’s Speak Now era setlist:

  • Sparks Fly — quintessential Speak Now; provides a spark of energy that makes the era feel magical without feeling too fairytale

  • Long Live — fan favorite

When I see and hear the Speak Now era coming to life in my mind, it all starts with the music of Sparks Fly — a classic sound that’s very Speak Now-coded. Into the closing song, again a smaller setlist for this era, while Swift chose Enchanted as the Speak Now “song for the fans”, I think it was a big miss for this to not be Long Live. Long Live is THE song that the fans wanted to hear; it’s one of those early songs that defined the Swiftie fandom. And over time, it’s become the Swiftie lifeblood. Tattooed in ink and engraved in our very souls. It goes without saying Long Live needed to be on the setlist, and that’s why it’s a non-negotiable on mine.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — Enchanted

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — Back To December, The Story Of Us, Enchanted (Speak Now has so many gems — there was simply no way to add one or all of these songs to the setlist)

Era 4 — Red

One thing about the Red era — it’s messy, but not in a bad way. Think about the album: there’s such a genre mix. You’ve got a little country and you’ve got those undeniable pop-infused crossovers. I think for me, the Red era was the most underrepresented on The Eras Tour. I wanted to hear the blend — the songs that made Red feel… Red. Like kicking things off with State Of Grace. Those drums scream Red.

Jen’s Red era setlist:

My opinion: State of Grace is one of the best Taylor Swift album openers; there’s something about those drums that foreshadow the kind of sounds you’d expect to hear throughout the Red listening journey. And I’m sorry, but I can’t neglect advocating for one of my all-time favorite songs of Swift’s entire discography: Red. I think performing both songs — State of Grace and Red — better helps represent both sides of the Red album. Then we switch to the poppier side of Red… and it feels more “complete” this way. I firmly support the 22 hat moment (because those were adorable), but I don’t think I’d pick young kids every time. I also love having the backup dancer (Kam) singing “LIKE EVER!” in the We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together performance. It’s a keeper for me. To close out the Red era, even though I prefer the non-10 Minute Version of All Too Well (I know I’m minority here), I think it’s important for the 10 Minute Version to get it’s moment in the spotlight. I love this song as a break for another talking point now that we’re a few eras in. Just a girl and her guitar and the song the fans made so successful. And one you can tell Swift is very proud to have created. As for the outfits, I really liked the selection for this era. Given I added a couple extra songs in the beginning, I see Swift coming out in the red bodysuit/black short combo (like she wore for I Knew You Were Trouble), then adding the fun t-shirt and hat right before 22. As the lights fade from We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Swift slides out of the t-shirt and into her All Too Well sparkly cloak. After the song, she disappears under the stage as glittery confetti falls.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — I Knew You Were Trouble

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — none!

Era 5 — Folkmore — a combination of Folklore & Evermore

Because Folklore and Evermore are sister albums that have similar (but distinct) sounds and were both inspired by and cultivated in the same pandemic window, it’s fair to say they’re cut from the same kind of cloth. For this reason, I think the eras are better off combined in The Eras Tour show. In scripting the scene for these two albums to come to life, I see the songs of Folklore being played first, then the songs of Evermore coming in to close the chapter. Rather than mixing the songs and the sounds, each album gets to shine in its own right. It’s a long era by respect that two albums are being played in one go, but it’s hard to justify cutting tracks here given the significance and impact both albums had during one of the most isolating moments of recent times.

Jen’s Folkmore era setlist:

  • cardigan — the embodiment of Folklore; brings the imagery to life

  • august — a song that feels timeless

  • illicit affairs — for the bridge, makes for a build-up moment

  • my tears ricochet — an important and relevant song about losing something that means so much

  • betty — every live performance needs its harmonica moment!

  • exile — perfect way to close Folklore before the transition to Evermore

  • evermore — the title track just hits

  • willow — witchy vibes!

  • marjorie — such a wonderful tribute that’s relatable for so many

  • tolerate it — the emotion this song portrays >>>

  • champagne problems — you already know the fans were ready to scream “f*cked in the head!”

Don’t worry — the Folklore cabin stays in my Folkmore era. It feels necessary, representing that kind of escape we all sought during those crazy, uncertain pandemic times. It’s a cozy safe place. And opening with cardigan feels like a warm hug. My vision during the cardigan performance, together with the Folklore cabin, is that it makes you feel like you’re being transported out of the stadium setting and dropped into one that’s much more intimate. From the Folklore era, I wouldn’t change a whole lot, aside from cutting the 1 and starting with cardigan (hard decision). I loved the way Swift incorporated illicit affairs into the setlist — it really worked. And the dramatics behind my tears ricochet — the perfect moment does exist. The interesting change I would make within this era involves the transition from Folklore to Evermore songs. I would use truncated versions of the songs exile and evermore to thread the needle. I see the lights dimming after betty, then a piano coming up onto the center stage. From here, Swift walks over to the piano and starts to play exile. As she plays exile, the stage and the screen begins to shift around her. As the Folklore cabin disappears and the trees of Evermore pop up on the screen, Swift begins to transition her piano melody into the chords of evermore. By the time she’s done singing evermore, she stands to get her witchy willow cloak and the piano disappears. From there, we’re officially in the Evermore world and the willow performance goes on as it does in the OG show. We continue the similar pattern for marjorie and tolerate it before the piano comes back out for the conclusion of the Folkmore era — champagne problems. Here again, there’s a moment for talking and applause before everyone gets to sing what they’ve been waiting to sing: “WHAT A SHAME SHE’S F*CKED IN THE HEAD, THEY SAID!”.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — the 1, the last great american dynasty, ‘tis the damn season

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — the 1, the last great american dynasty, mirrorball, long story short

Era 6 — Reputation

If for some reason you found yourself here reading my Eras Tour setlist and you’re not a Swiftie, here’s one thing to note about the Reputation era in the Taylor Swift fandom: the crowd will always go wild, no matter the setlist. Reputation is a whole vibe. The album cover. The photoshoot. The snakes. The way the album shows two sides of Swift when the media showed one. I love this album, and that’s why it goes hard here in Era 6 of my Eras Tour. PS — we’re keeping the red snake bodysuit. Fire!!

Jen’s Reputation era setlist:

  • Look What You Made Me Do — I’ve always had an affinity for this song, the way it just fits what Reputation means as an album

  • Don’t Blame Me — a moment, always!

  • Getaway Car — fans go crazy over the lore of it

  • Delicate — relatable feeling, dancing around delicate moments you don’t want to mess up

  • I Did Something Bad — great song that gives theatrical when it comes to a live performance

Taylor Swift walking out to the opening beats of …Ready For It? is iconic behavior, and we love to see it, but …Ready For It? as a whole song is one of my least favorites from Reputation because there are so! many! better! bangers! It’s a great album opener, but for me, Look What You Made Me Do is the THE choice when it comes to kicking off a live performance in the Reputation era. That being said, I wouldn’t cut the beats of …Ready For It? completely; instead, I would feature them as the snake images appear during the Folkmore to Reputation era switch. I’d have Swift walk down the runway to the center stage, bring her microphone to her mouth, and sing “Are you ready for it?”, then have the music to Look What You Made Me Do take over as all the cages of Swift’s past selves come rolling in. In starting with Look What You Made Me Do, we don’t get that epic transition from Don’t Blame Me — “Don’t blame me for what you made me do” — but I think it’s backwards compatible. I’d leave it in at the end of Look What You Made Me Do and have the transition go the other way, into Don’t Blame Me. I really hated that Getaway Car and I Did Something Bad were missing from the Reputation era setlist — I feel both those songs scream Taylor Swift’s reputation, so I had to include them (especially I Did Something Bad — a big nod to the Reputation Tour) on mine. Hence why it was easy for me to let …Ready For It? go.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — …Ready For It?

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — Gorgeous, King Of My Heart, Call It What You Want (there’s something about the softer side of Reputation…)

Era 7 — The Tortured Poets Department

I feel so bad for the people who missed out on seeing the Tortured Poets set live on The Eras Tour. It fit the tour aesthetic so perfectly. At this point, I know I’ve shuffled the order of my eras from the OG show, but as it goes, if I scripted The Eras Tour, I’m putting Tortured Poets after Reputation because it fits better and I like saving 1989 for right before the surprise song set, more towards the end of the show.

Jen’s Tortured Poets era setlist:

I think Taylor Swift killed (!!) The Tortured Poets Department setlist, but my one critique is this: I don’t love But Daddy I Love Him kicking things off. That’s why I kept the entire setlist as-is, but added The Black Dog to get things going. When I think Tortured Poets, I think of the lyric “Old habits die screaming” — don’t know if that’s just me, or if others feel the same. As the stage shifts from the previous era and the props for Tortured Poets come into focus, I can’t help but hear the music from The Black Dog playing in the background. Just before Swift comes on stage, you hear the “Old habits die scree-ee-ee—ee—eeaming” with the beat drops as the screen flashes black and white images that correspond to the era. Then, Swift rises up and starts singing the opening lines of The Black Dog, basically meandering around the stage as she’s singing about this great loss. From there, everything about the era unfolds the same way it did in The Eras Tour show. My only two tweaks: 1) Down Bad features the bridge (“How dare you say that it’s —”) and 2) in I Can Do It With a Broken Heart, when Swift sings “All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting ‘More!’”, she holds the microphone to the crowd to let the crowd sing “More!”. I love, love, love the OG performance of I Can Do It With a Broken Heart and I wouldn’t change a single thing otherwise. It’s the perfect closer song to the Tortured Poets era as it’s a nod to that first leg of the tour when she really was doing it… with a broken heart.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — none!

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — So Long, London, Guitly as Sin?, loml (especially loml)

Era 8 — 1989

And now for the build-up moment — THE Taylor Swift pop album that shook the world following her complete departure from country music: 1989! You’ll never convince me that 1989 isn’t a city album. We can push the beachy narrative (looking at you, Taylor’s Version), but 1989 to its core is city. It’s New York. It’s heartbreak. It’s starting over. I love everything about it. The bright lights. The sparkly outfits. It’s a perfect pop era, and one that fits really well as we near the end of The Eras Tour show.

Jen’s 1989 era setlist:

  • Style — the way it perfectly kicks off the 1989 sound

  • Blank Space — there’s no 1989 without Blank Space; it’s one of Swift’s most iconic songs

  • Shake It Off — the big hit single, it has to be there

  • Wildest Dreams — allows for a slower moment to catch a breath before singing the closing song

  • Out Of The Woods — love the journey this song takes you on

As the cityscape rises to kick off the 1989 era, there’s nothing more 1989 than the opening beats of Style. That’s why I love it as the setlist opener. I do love both costume choices (US matching sets vs EU mismatching sets), but I tend to gravitate more toward the ensemble from the US leg of the tour. Those sparkly matching sets were just giving 1989 World Tour and I loved it. Being such a high energy, pop-centric album, it’s hard to craft a setlist that gives you the full 1989 experience without playing the entire album front to back. That’s why this era was the hardest trim — so many good songs, so little time. In the 1989 era, I tend to agree with Swift’s choices, but sorry, I’m cutting Bad Blood and replacing it with Out Of The Woods, which I think fits sonically better AND gives the crowd another favorite. Bad Blood isn’t bad, it’s just not exactly good (again, my opinion). To close such a buzzy era, if I’m not getting Kendrick Lamar to sing the remix live in concert every night, I don’t want Bad Blood. I want another pop masterpiece that tells a story, and for me, that’s Out Of The Woods. I see Swift closing the song with the lyrics “Are we in the clear yet?, are we in the clear yet?, are we in the clear yet?, in the clear yet, good!”, and on the last “good!”, all the lights cut off and the stage goes completely dark, an abrupt but fitting closure.

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — Bad Blood

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — I Know Places, Clean, New Romantics

Era 9 — Surprise song set — guitar & piano

To me, the surprise song set has always embodied the beginning, the middle, and the in-between of Taylor Swift’s career. I feel Debut’s energy the most here. Even when Swift isn’t playing songs from Debut, the simplicity of a girl playing her guitar and piano is really a nod to those early singles (talking Tim McGraw and Teardrops On My Guitar). I also love this moment for Swift to talk and connect with fans (one last time), especially after so many eras of music back-to-back-to-back. This moment in any Eras Tour show was always my favorite. It felt like the most genuine version of Swift, reminiscing such a long-standing career and always remembering to thank the fans (old and new) who give her the opportunity to do what she loves every single day.

Jen’s surprise song era setlist:

  • Tim McGraw (guitar) — a tribute to where it all began

  • Teardrops On My Guitar (guitar) — another staple Debut feature, giving longtime fans that second dose of nostalgia

  • You’re On Your Own, Kid (piano) — this song feels like every lesson Taylor Swift has learned throughout her career wrapped in an A+ bridge

There are so many songs that deserve a spot on the highly coveted surprise song set, and that’s the beauty of the setlist change with every show. While there are 50 songs I’d love to hear on any given night, as a longtime Swiftie who experienced Tim McGraw releasing in real time, I tend to gravitate toward wanting to hear some of what Debut has to offer. That’s why I chose both Tim McGraw and Teardrops On My Guitar on guitar — they’re wired into my Swiftie ring of honor. And You’re On Your Own, Kid on piano? Like I said, it just feels like a reflection of every lesson learned through decades of life experience. It’s easy to relate to. It’s one of those songs that provides so many nuggets of wisdom and helps me remind myself that getting older is a beautiful thing. That living life and growing older is such a privilege.

Era 10 — Midnights

I’ll take no criticism here: there’s no better way to close a 3+ hour show than the Midnights era. Not only are the shows finishing toward midnight (literally)… the entire Midnights era embodies that late-night dreaming we all find ourselves lost within from time to time. It feels like a closer album. A way to say thank you and goodnight.

Jen’s Midnights era setlist:

  • Lavender Haze — brings the whole era to life

  • Anti-Hero — tickles an itch, fun to sing along to

  • Midnight Rain — a song that feels very Midnights

  • Vigilante Shit — the chair! (plus I’ve bopped to this song from the very beginning)

  • Bejeweled — featuring the Bejeweled dance, yes please

  • Karma — such a great song to end the tour

There’s not a whole lot to say about the Midnights era that hasn’t been said already — it’s that good. I love the hazy, dreamy stage set. I love the sleepy, twinkly lights. Taylor Swift killed the Midnights era set and setlist. Starting with Lavender Haze? The purple fluffy clouds and matching coat? Love. The fade into Anti-Hero? Love. The OG midnight blue bodysuit? Love. The way Swift falls into the umbrellas during Midnight Rain and comes out in said bodysuit — yeah, that moment absolutely stays. Same with the Vigilante Shit chair dance — don’t touch the Vigilante Shit chair dance at any cost. The only thing I’d really change in the Midnights era is removing Mastermind (sorry!). With other songs I added to past eras, I had to make a tough cut somewhere, and this is the best place I saw fit. Everything else stays exactly the same. I love that Swift incorporated the Bejeweled dance as an ode to the fans at the end of the show. And yeah, going out with Karma… banger. It’s really the perfect tour closer. A happy ending. Maybe Karma is the guy on the Chiefs after all :)!

(Insert the colorful end of tour confetti here.)

Jen’s Version cuts from the classic setlist (a song or songs that were on The Eras Tour setlist that but were eliminated from Jen’s Version) — Mastermind

Biggest loss (a song or songs that didn’t make the Jen’s Version setlist but should’ve) — Maroon

With all the music one could possibly choose to cram into a 3.5 hour show, SO MANY good songs are bound to get left off the set. In my wildest dreams, Taylor Swift invites me to a multi-day concert where she plays through her entire discography front to back haha. How cool would that be though?

Talk to me about your ideal Eras Tour! What’s your favorite era? What song do you wish could’ve been on the setlist every night? What changes would you make? I’d love to hear from you, fellow Swifties!

Happy listening!

Enjoy!

JBW

MusicJennifer BrandlTaylor Swift, swiftie, the eras tour, eras tourComment