Many Quebec admirers are saddened not to see Taylor Swift in Canada on the occasion of the Eras tour, which takes her all over the world. Others, more devoted, did not want to sit idly by: they opened their wallets to meet their favorite singer.
Audrey Beauregard is one of these “Swifties”, a name given to fans of the American artist. With her sister, the Montrealer traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to celebrate her 21st birthday on May 26. An experience that was worth it “times 1000”, she tells us, enthusiastic.
“Ever since I was little, I always dreamed of going to see Taylor Swift perform, but I never had enough money,” she says. Of course, going to see her in Canada would have been better, but in the United States, it was really a dream trip, and I will remember it all my life. »
Audrey considers herself lucky, since she managed to get her tickets on Ticketmaster, and not on resale. She paid C$365 for the pair. Her big expenses, however, came on her actual trip: the two sisters paid over $3,000 for airfare, hotel, and related expenses. According to her, going to see Taylor Swift in Montreal, or even in Toronto, would have been less expensive.
“When announcing the dates, I expected at least to see two or three shows, like Toronto or Vancouver, so I really thought it sucked that she was not there. I really hope that she will add dates in Canada later in her tour, but I don’t have much hope. »
Jessie Thivierge is also a big fan of Taylor Swift. The Alma resident says she fell in love with the album Folklore, released in 2020. Since then, she has made it her mission to go see her favorite artist perform.
“I drove to Foxborough [in the suburbs of Boston] with two of my friends,” says Jessie, who says she was very impressed with the concert. “Just seeing a show in another country is an experience. It was the best experience of my life. I found it spectacular, it’s like going to see a play. It’s really unbelievable. »
In all, the trip cost them $1,300 each, including $600 CAD for the show. “But I could have spent $1,000 a ticket, and I would have gotten what I paid for,” Jessie says.
Jessie comes to the defense of Taylor Swift about her choice not to stop in Canada. According to her, it is a matter of time before the popular singer adds dates on Canadian soil to her tour. Karel Painchaud, originally from Maniwaki, in the Outaouais, is of the same opinion. The 34-year-old left with her husband to also go to Foxborough to see the singer. She remains sure that Canadian dates will be added later in her tour.
“I think it’s more a matter of logistics or a combination of circumstances that she doesn’t come, or that she’s going to announce it later,” Karel said. I don’t think she will intentionally shun the Canadian public, she would have no reason to. »
In addition to a Conservative MP who came to the defense of the “Swifties” by filing an “official complaint” in the House of Commons a few weeks ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted , encouraging the international star to spoil Canadian women across the country.
Elisabeth, 36, would certainly benefit from the presence of the artist in Quebec. The Lévis resident traveled to Chicago in June to see her favorite artist.
“It’s a big disappointment, because with the difficulty of getting tickets in Canada, we have to buy them on resale sites, which is more expensive,” she says. It was originally $200 CAD, and I paid $900 for it. In addition, I had obstructed vision. In total, the trip and ticket cost me almost $2,500. »
“It would be really important for me to see her in Canada, to experience an event like that [with other Canadians],” says Elisabeth.
For her part, Jeanne, 26, also traveled to Massachusetts with two of her friends. She has already seen Taylor Swift at the Bell Center in 2011, and admits to having fallen in love with “Bonjour, Montréal!” that the star launched, entering the scene at the time. “Taylor is an inspiration to me. Eras is a throwback to his entire career, so I couldn’t miss this opportunity! she exclaims.
Marianne Blouin left Quebec for Foxborough with five of her friends. For her, going to see Taylor Swift once in her life was a must. The six young women paid C$230 for the tickets, which they purchased on Ticketmaster. “I really grew up with Taylor,” said 24-year-old Marianne. I can’t imagine my life without listening to him. As soon as I heard she was announcing a tour, I jumped on the tickets, and I was lucky, because I got them the first day! »
Taylor Swift kicked off the Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona on March 17 and will wrap it up on August 17, 2024 in London, having visited Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Australia and Singapore, among others. For now, a break is scheduled from November 26, 2023 to February 7, 2024 for the singer; its fans across Canada can always stay tuned for new dates, either this fall or next year. For the moment, they are taking their troubles patiently, and are still taking advantage of the artist’s albums to accompany them.
