Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” has been the talk of the town, capturing the world’s attention for quite some time. After Swift wrapped up her first leg of the tour in the United States, she brought her show to Singapore, the only Southeast Asian country she would perform in. Many are angry at the Singaporean government for signing an exclusive deal restricting Swift from performing elsewhere in the region.
The Eras Tour is Swift’s sixth concert tour, which she will perform 152 times on five continents, beginning in Glendale, Arizona, on March 17, 2023, and ending in Vancouver, Canada, on December 8, 2024. In contrast with all her other tours, “The Eras Tour” includes songs from all of Swift’s musical “eras,” such as Lover, Reputation, and 1989. Fans enjoy dressing up as their favorite Taylor Swift era and create chants and rituals for the special event.
This year, Swift performed all six of her Southeast Asian shows in Singapore, stirring conflict among fans and government officials. Firstly, Swift’s performances are incredibly beneficial to the country’s economy. CNN says: “The Eras Tour is a multi-continent extravaganza that surged to become the highest-grossing tour of all time—and Swift is making Singapore a lot of money.” Swift is playing six sold-out performances; however, the majority of concertgoers are not Singaporeans but foreigners from countries around the area, like Thailand, the Philippines, and China.
Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda says this deal is not right. “[It] isn’t what good neighbors do.” This complaint is understandable, as big events like these immensely benefit the country’s economy because tourists will spend more to accommodate their trip. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did not directly respond to this but made a statement saying, “If that’s what’s needed to be done to get an outcome which is mutually beneficial and which, from Singapore’s point of view, serves not just to grow the economy but also to bring in visitors and goodwill from all over the region, I don’t see why not.” Lee believes that as long as the outcome of his decision benefits Singapore’s economy and relations throughout the region, he does not think this deal should be a problem.
In conclusion, Swift’s “Eras Tour” has definitely made its mark throughout all the countries in which she has performed. Though conflicts may arise surrounding Lee’s agreement with the artist, benefits to Singapore’s economy show the positive outcomes of his decision. With fans flying in from overseas, the tour’s presence also strengthens ties between Singapore and surrounding countries. In the end, though fans outside Singapore may be disappointed with the Singapore-exclusive performances, “The Eras Tour” is still accessible to overseas fans able to secure tickets and enjoy Swift’s music and eye-catching performances.