A tribute to all that it means to be a Swiftie

For seven performances in South Africa, TAYLOR: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift, brought the Swiftie energy and experience to those who missed seeing the singer herself on her record-breaking world tour, which didn’t come to these shores.

Swifties, like me, loved travelling through Swift’s different musical eras, the way we would have if we had attended one of her concerts overseas. I lost myself to the experience and, though there’s an Era’s Tour film on Disney + that I can watch any time I want, nothing beats seeing and hearing the songs performed live right in front of me.

Josette Klausen, a performer from New Zealand and a bona fide Swiftie in her own right, brought Taylor Swift as close as possible to our lives. With her blonde hair styled like Swift’s long locks with bangs, sparkling dresses, and piercing blue eyes, it wouldn’t be surprising if a few fans mistook Klausen for Swift herself.

Being at the tribute concert was a night of community and girlhood that being a Swiftie entails. It didn’t matter if you came on your own, for your child, or with a group of friends for a girls’ night out, you were part of the Swiftie community that came together to dance and sing the night away to the music of our favourite artist.

Johannesburg Swifties donned their cowboy boots, sparkly jackets or dresses, themed outfits, or Swift merchandise for the occasion.

When the clock counted down to midnight, and Klausen emerged to the sounds of the song Cruel Summer, just like Swift does, the crowd became electric. Everyone jumped to their feet to dance.

Klausen embodied Swift, using the same mannerisms, which was combined with the impeccable detail that was poured into the production. Everything from the costumes to the choreography was a replica of what Swift uses on the Eras Tour. A personal favourite was the Reputation-era performance, which featured a near-exact copy of her iconic bodysuit with sparkling red snakes.

When Klausen and her talented dancers did a piece of choreography that I had ingrained in my brain from watching the Eras Tour film, as well as the grainy livestreams of the shows, my little Swiftie heart soared as I joined in in the aisle.

There was something very special about being in a room full of Swifties just like me. This was not something that could be replicated sitting at home watching the film or livestreams.

Watching the young girls who were the same age I was when I first discovered Swift’s music, singing with all their might and dancing with their friends, it demonstrated to me that Swift’s music and performances are about more than the music itself; it’s about the community that Swifties have made with one another. There wasn’t one ounce of jealousy in the crowd when one young Swiftie was plucked from the audience and brought on stage to get the 22 hat, a tradition started on the Eras Tour, when a young Swiftie is chosen to get the hat that Swift wears while she sings the song 22.

Similarly, while in the Red era, I felt as if I was losing myself to the music while singing along to the iconic breakup song All Too Well. The only thing that would have made the experience better would have been if they had done the 10-minute version!

Following that, the room erupted when Klausen reappeared to perform the 1989 era. The whole theatre – even the moms and dads who had been dragged there – were on their feet dancing to the upbeat Shake It Off and Blank Space.

The show ended with two special performances from the Speak Now era. Evoking Swift in her purple dress, Klausen brought the elegance of the song. Though we had spent about an hour and a half and just under 30 songs together, I couldn’t think of a better song to end the evening with than Long Live. The whole theatre was lit with cell phone lights and we were unified in singing the song that signifies everything that the Eras Tour experience is. Everyone present will have told their friends how the crowd went wild.

I left the Joburg Theatre that night filled with the Swiftie love. I know that though this wasn’t the real thing, I will remember it as I sing, “Long live all the magic we made and bring on all the pretenders.”

• Lee Tankle is a junior reporter at the SA Jewish Report.