From 'Welcome to New York' to the Eras Tour: How One Song with My Dad Defined My Taylor Swift Journey - Alessia Lafarciola
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This photo is from October 2nd, 2015. As you can see, my dad and I are dressed up, all set to cheer on Toronto FC together. What I didn’t know, though, was that the night held an even bigger surprise: we’d be heading to Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour right after the game. My dad didn’t know a single song from the album, but that didn’t stop him from sharing this excitement with me. Looking back, it’s one of my favourite memories, we both shared our joy for sports and music together. Though I was only 12 at the time and my memories from the concert are strictly sneaking onto the floor, and seeing my biggest idol, alongside my dad, one particular moment has stuck with me ever since. Taylor Swift opened up the concert with "Welcome to New York". We were both mesmerized by the visuals, the performance, the lyrics, the sound. To this day we reflect on how outstanding that moment was, and "Welcome to New York" is still our favourite song we share together. Now almost a decade later, I reflect on what made that moment so special. It was a combination of being with my dad and sharing this moment with him, but also the lasting impact and resonance that this moment would have on my life. Rewatching this performance for the first time in years, I instantly felt nostalgia and remember exactly how I felt seeing this live. I am reminded of how much my dad has influenced my music choices and how the act of listening is central to
our relationship.
In a month from now I am going to the eras tour, unfortunately, not with my dad this time, but because of him. .People often ask me why I’m going, and my answer is simple: to relive that moment we shared. Seeing Taylor Swift live with him has shaped my life in such a lasting way, and this new concert is my way of revisiting that unforgettable bond we created years ago. Reflecting on this brings me to a larger realization of how music, and the act of listening together, can stir up powerful feelings of nostalgia. There’s something about the aural experience, hearing a song that once brought us together that triggers memories of that night so vividly. It’s as if every note and lyric of "Welcome to New York" takes me back to those shared moments, where music acted as our bridge. For me, aurality—the way sounds and songs bring us into contact with the past—has an unmatched ability to capture memories, weaving together time and experience in a way that words alone can’t. This upcoming concert is a celebration of the music that’s been part of my journey with my dad, and it’s a way to reconnect with those moments that mean so much to us.
I am also a big soccer and TFC fan and an even bigger Swiftie, so this post resonates with me on many levels! Based on your post, it seems like you and your dad had an unforgettable night that you are reminded of every time you hear her music. Is there another artist who you feel connects you to a person or place as well as Taylor Swift does? For me, she is unique because I can remember exactly where I was during each of her ‘eras,’ and they bring back specific memories in my life. For instance, during her Red era, I was always travelling for rep soccer, and my teammates and I would blast "22" in my mom's car before games, using a burned CD as pump-up music.
So the other day, my friend got tickets to Tyler the Creator's tour, Chromakopia. The concert is being held at, arguably, the most popular concert venue, Scotiabank Arena. Since I have been there enough that times that they should name a section after me, my friend reached out for some tips and tricks for attending a concert. I thought I would share them here for anyone also attending Tyler's concert or any other concert for that matter. TIP 1: PRE GAME HARD BUT NOT TOO HARD Drinks at concert venues are always ridiculously expensive. I'm talking about like $20 for a single can of beer ridiculous. My favourite spot to drink before a show at Scotiabank Arena is Jack Astors. They have fishbowls, cheap appetizers, and it's a 5 minute walk away. You can't go wrong. But be warned: if you are sloppy drunk, they WILL deny you entry into the show. So drink responsibly! TIP 2: NEVER SHOW UP BEFORE DOORS OPEN One misconception people have about concerts is that you NEED to ...
2. The film Pontypool provides an interesting explanation of Harold Innis’ theory of time-bias and space-bias. Time-bias refers to a quality of some media that prioritizes longevity and continuity over the capacity to disseminate information rapidly over large distances. In contrast, space-bias is the propensity of some communication technology to give quick, widespread information dissemination precedence over long-term preservation. Since the virus in Pontypool has infected physical words, space-bias is most present , especially due to the use of radio, telephone and amplification technologies. The employment of radio, telephone and amplification devices demonstrates the space-biased theory. These media forms increase the virus's reach and foster a culture in which communication isolates individuals due to infection rather than uniting them through common understanding. These technologies enable a more expansive and quicker spread, a characteristic of space-biased media. ...
Hello Alessia,
ReplyDeleteI am also a big soccer and TFC fan and an even bigger Swiftie, so this post resonates with me on many levels! Based on your post, it seems like you and your dad had an unforgettable night that you are reminded of every time you hear her music. Is there another artist who you feel connects you to a person or place as well as Taylor Swift does? For me, she is unique because I can remember exactly where I was during each of her ‘eras,’ and they bring back specific memories in my life. For instance, during her Red era, I was always travelling for rep soccer, and my teammates and I would blast "22" in my mom's car before games, using a burned CD as pump-up music.
I look forward to your thoughts,
Emma