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Vancouver welcomed musical superstar Taylor Swift with open arms (and friendship bracelets) on Friday night (December 6) with a sold-out show featuring over 60,000 devoted fans. It marked night one of the final three performances of her juggernaut Eras Tour, which has spanned the globe and closes out its record-breaking run on Sunday.

After nearly a year of thinking she might skip Canada entirely (and surviving the clusterfuck that was navigating Ticketmaster), last night’s show felt like a long time coming for this OG Swiftie. I grew up in Alberta, and Swift’s debut album was my introduction to country music at age 16. It seemed unfathomable that someone my age could capture every messy, overdramatic feeling that I had and turn it into lyrical gold. To say I was hoping for any nod to her debut era is an understatement.

But before we get to that, let’s talk about the room itself. For the first time on The Eras Tour, seats behind the stage were sold (yes, demand was that high). While initially a head-scratcher (after all, people sitting there wouldn’t be able to see anything), Swift had a massive screen set up—so even those fans didn’t miss the magic. TikTok is already flooded with grateful Swifties who snagged $15 “no-show” seats and ended up with a surprisingly decent view. And I’ll be honest: no matter the vantage point, there’s something about simply being in the same room as the one and only Swift that felt extraordinary.

The evening kicked off promptly at 6:45pm with Gracie Abrams, who proved she’s much more than just J.J. Abrams’ daughter. With a commanding stage presence and live vocals that rivalled her studio recordings, Abrams was the perfect appetizer for the Swiftie feast to come. Warming up for Swift is no small task, but Abrams nailed it with ease by playing nine songs, including Grammy-nominated “Us”—which was co-written with Swift.

The excitement was palpable even before the first Swift note, with fans eagerly trading bracelets and stories. Case in point: the mother-daughter duo seated next to me shared their enthusiasm (and accessories) moments before Swift took the stage. By 7:50pm (Swift respects a schedule, and for that, we thank her), the lights dimmed and BC Place erupted.

She kicked things off with “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince”, setting the tone for a night that would traverse nearly every corner of her expansive discography. Fans who were dressed to the nines in sequins, rhinestones, and recreated Swift outfits screamed their hearts out. Outside, the trail of broken friendship bracelets and rogue beads leading to BC Place told the story of a fanbase that didn’t just come to play—they came to make memories.

Then came the moment every OG Swiftie dreaded: the realization that we wouldn’t hear any songs from her debut album. Not a single one. Swiftie apologists would insist that the acoustic surprise-song section made up for it, but after waiting 17 years to hear “Teardrops on My Guitar” or “Tim McGraw” live, some of us (me) were salty. Sure, she gave us plenty of magic from every other era, but it’s hard not to feel a touch of disappointment that one period in history got left out entirely—especially the one that started it all.

That said, the rest of the show was packed with highlights. In the Folklore portion, Swift mentioned that the cabin where she wrote the album would seemingly be right at home in Vancouver among our “magical forests.” A thunderous 2.5-minute standing ovation for “Champagne Problems” was so loud it could probably be heard across the street at the Canucks game. A surprise acoustic mashup of “Haunted” and “Wonderland” included a cheeky, “I had to play this song in Canada, eh?”—a nod to the song’s “eh, eh” refrain. On piano, she performed a heart-wrenching mashup of “Never Grow Up” and “The Best Day”, prompting every millennial mom to ugly-cry.

Even the tiny details felt like inside jokes with 60,000 of your closest friends. During “22”, she wore a shirt reading, “This is not Taylor’s Version,” keeping her fight for her masters front of mind while also delivering a knowing wink to her fans. And the celebrity sightings (hello, Sarah Paulson and Jenn Tran) added a little extra star power to an already dazzling evening.

The show wasn’t without high-budget effects, either. “Bad Blood” turned the stadium into a fiery inferno of pyro, while the final song “Karma” dazzled with an explosion of sparklers that felt like the perfect exclamation point to an unforgettable night. There was no encore to wrap up the show, and I, for one, was thrilled. Truly, death to the encore. By forgoing the tradition, she kept the energy high and gave fans a fantastic crescendo to the night’s epic journey.

Of course, Vancouver had to put its own stamp on the night. As fans spilled outside, they were greeted by a classic West Coast downpour—the kind of rain that soaks you in seconds with giant, mocking drops (and that quickly had us all shaking fists at BC Place’s no-umbrella policy). For out-of-towners, it was a full-on baptism into Vancouver life. For locals, it was just another Friday night. Either way, no one seemed to care; they were too busy buzzing from the show.

So, what’s the final verdict? Swift gave Vancouver a night to remember, rain-soaked shoes and all. Yes, I’ll be grumbling for years about the lack of debut tracks, but when a show delivers this much magic, even a little saltiness can’t overshadow the sparkle. From pyro and piano ballads to cheeky Canadian jokes, Swift proved again why she’s the music industry’s ultimate powerhouse.