Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour kicked off last week in Glendale, Arizona, marking the singer-songwriter’s triumphant and long awaited return to the stage. 

The three-hour show included some of Swift’s greatest and most iconic hits, as well as new performances off of her most recent albums. With a tour concept centered around highlighting the various and distinct eras throughout her career, Swift carefully curated a set list that can be enjoyed by all of her fans, both new and old. 

Opening with songs from her album “Lover,” the singer was able to pay homage to an era cut short by the 2020 pandemic, with the original tour being canceled. A highlight for the crowd was certainly when Swift played “Cruel Summer,” a fan favorite from the 2019 album that had not previously been performed live. 

Following “Lover,” Swift guided her fans through her “Fearless” era, with hits such as “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story.” The next era transported fans into the heart of woodland forests, with many songs from “evermore” being performed live for the first time. A crowd favorite, “champagne problems” captivated the room as Swift played the piano and sang the infamous bridge with raw emotion. 

As soon as the images of snakeskin appeared on the screen, fans were thrilled by the “Reputation” era performance that Swift gave. Without too many spoilers, the stage design and choreography were a highlight of this portion of the concert, with gems such as “Delicate” and “Don’t Blame Me” finding their way onto the setlist. However, to many Swiftie’s disappointment, “Getaway Car” did not make an appearance. 

“Speak Now” and “Red” were up next for Swift, performing “Enchanted” and various songs off her fourth album, including “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” The “folklore” era followed, with the singer devoting many spots on the set list to popular songs from the album. Audiences were thrilled to sing along with hits such as “august” and “cardigan,” but the most powerful moment from the set came during a moving performance of “my tears ricochet.” 

Swift’s most widely known and highly rated album came next: “1989.” Some of her most popular songs were featured with “Style,” “Blank Space” and “Shake it Off” getting the crowd onto their feet. However, a surprise acoustic set was featured at the end of this era as Swift announced she would be performing two different songs from her discography at every show during this time slot, with the tracks remaining a secret until they were performed. At the opening show, the singer played “mirrorball” and “Tim McGraw” during this session. 

The final era Swift performed was her most recent album “Midnights.” Opening with “Lavender Haze,” tracks such as “Midnight Rain” and “Bejeweled” kept the crowd dancing until the last moments of the concert, ending with an energetic and triumphant performance of “Karma.” 

Although Swift doesn’t have time to include all of her best hits, the singer makes an effort to include something for everyone, reminding audiences of just how she came to be one of the greatest pop stars in music history. 

Photo of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” performance dates poster. (Contributed/lex18.com)