From 'Welcome to New York' to the Eras Tour: How One Song with My Dad Defined My Taylor Swift Journey - Alessia Lafarciola

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.