Swift takes Bay Area by storm

This Saturday, Taylor Swift’s Era Tour nears its end, with one of the last shows performed on July 29 at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. To honor the groundbreaking artist, Santa Clara has temporarily been named Swifty Clara, and Swift herself has been named temporary mayor. While selling out Levis Stadium is news itself, Taylor Swift’s nearly 20 years of work are also a story worth telling. 

From the start of her career, Swift has grown with her fans, and her songs reflect her personal growth. Beginning in country music and evolving into her genre entirely, Swift has revolutionized the music industry while setting an inspiring example for young women worldwide. Taking back her music rights, writing and singing about everything from heartbreak to combating misogyny, Swift is nothing short of a cultural icon. 

Since her change in record label, Taylor’s Versions of hit albums Red and Fearless have broken Spotify records for the most-streamed album in a day by a female artist when they were released. Swift’s upcoming release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, giving Swift the third-most No. 1 albums of any artist. Setting records in the music industry and cementing her name in music history, Swift has no plans to stop any time soon. 

Her career has lasted so long and thrives because Swift grows with her fans. Starting at sixteen years old, Swift documents her life and tells stories that everyone can relate to on some level. She knows this too, giving back to her fans whenever she has the chance, in COVID, donating to fans in need, and across shelters and organizations empowering and sheltering women. On her Eras tour, Swift has donated to local food banks at every stop, giving back to the communities hosting her. 

Only a few days away, the second to last stop on her Eras tour in Santa Clara expects to make waves across the Bay Area. Even for those who are not fans, it is hard to ignore Swift’s impact and the road she has paved for up-and-coming musicians and young women. For the lucky fans that secured a seat at the sold-out Levis Stadium, we hope it is everything you wanted and more.