December 02, 2023

LFP #61: Am I A Swiftie? A Journey Through The Amazing Labyrinth of Taylor Swift’s Concert Community and Fan Experience

1 hour 20 minutes

It’s finally happened. Our first Taylor Swift episode! Join as we explore Swift’s extraordinary Eras tour live shows, the fan concert experience and the Swiftie community with guests Dani and Olivia, co-hosts of the Taylearning podcast.

Olivia and Dani share their journey into becoming Swifties, their experiences with Taylor Swift's music, and the relationship between Swift and her fans. We explore the impact of Swift's music on different generations and her ability to connect women, particularly mothers and daughters. We speculated about potential surprise live collaborations, discussed the crazy ticket prices, and unpacked the emotional impact of Taylor Swift's music on her fans. They shared personal experiences at Taylor Swift's concerts and we explored transformative experiences for Olivia and Dani and other fellow fans.

Other topics explored:

Would they get married at a Taylor Swift concert?

What they learned from the memories from their first Swift shows

The unique aspects of Taylor Swift's live music experience and the ever-evolving Swiftie fan community.

The parasocial relationship between Swift and her fans and why that makes fans feel valued and cared for.

Why and how Taylor uses her live performances as a form of therapy, and why hearing the song "All Too Well" live helped them process their emotions.

What leads a fan to becoming a 'Swiftie' and if it’s triggered by attending a live show or buying merchandise.

Could a collaboration with Harry Styles or a live duet with Selena Gomez happen? What would a live collaboration with Bob Dylan look like?

Why Taylor's performances can't be replicated and their strong emotional response to hearing 'Would've, Could've, Should've', live.

The unique nature of Taylor Swift fandom's communal activities such as trading friendship bracelets at concerts and how it’s similar to other fan groups like Dead Heads (Grateful Dead) and Little Monsters (Lady Gaga).

Notes and artists discussed in the episode