What are Taylor Swift's "eras"? The backstory behind her 2023 tour (2024)

Last week, Taylor Swift asked her fans to meet her at midnight, and now, she's asking them to meet her at one of the many locations on her newly-announced 2023 Eras Tour.

Instead of a surprise announcement at 3 a.m., which she is prone to do, Swift announced the new tour on Good Morning America on Tuesday, her first stadium tour in the U.S. since 2018's Reputation Tour.

The announcement comes a little more than a week after the release of her 10th studio album, Midnights, which topped number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the biggest week for any album release in seven years. Swift also dominated the Billboard Hot 100's chart, claiming all of the top 10 spots with songs from the new album, a feat no other artist in history has done.

So it's only natural that the "Lavender Haze" singer celebrates with a new tour and one that will likely celebrate her multitude of "eras" that have defined her as an artist. The tour, on Swift's Twitter, was deemed "a journey through the musical eras of my career (past & present!)" with international dates soon to be announced.

She also announced an assembly of amazing artists who will be joining her for certain legs of the tour, including Paramore, beabadoobee, Phoebe Bridgers, girl in red, MUNA, HAIM, GAYLE, Gracie Abrams, and OWENN. The tour is set to take off on March 18, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona, and end in Los Angeles on August 5, 2023.

What Is A Taylor Swift Era?

Perhaps now, you may be asking, what exactly is a Taylor Swift "era"?

Rather than simply releasing an album for the masses, Swift is famous for creating a world and atmosphere surrounding a particular album. Swift is more than aware that her songs have different vibes and aesthetics as well, as she has even curated playlists of her collection of songs that fall under three categories: Quill, Fountain Pen, or Glitter Gel Pen.

Swifties know that the singer puts meaning behind every aesthetic little detail: from the fonts she uses to the outfits she wears, it all becomes a part of the story behind the album, which defines an era of Swift's musical career.

Taylor Swift Era

Her first, perhaps less prominent era, was that of her debut, where her first album, self-titled, was the start of her career in 2006. Leaning into the country tone, Swift was just a small-town girl with big dreams, but out of it came the classics: "Teardrops On My Guitar," "Should've Said No" and "Our Song."

Fearless Era

Taylor's Fearless era in 2008 paved the way for her to enter into the pop realm, if only slightly. You can still hear a country twang in "You Belong With Me," but Swift's hits like "White Horse", "Love Story" and "Fifteen" became synonymous with her bouncy blonde curls and sparkly dresses.

The Fearless album also became the first that Swift re-released in 2021 as "Taylor's Version," which opened up a whole world of nostalgia for many who have been with Swift since the beginning.

Speak Now Era

Take a melancholy sigh.

The Speak Now era in 2010 was defined by the color purple, rich and romantic. For the first time, Swift began using fantasy to tell a story within her album. The fairytale energy of Speak Now was illuminated by the song "Enchanted," and the sad poet within her rose to the occasion for "Dear John" and "Back To December."

Red Era

Swift's Red era was the epitome of 2012, some could argue. With black bowler hats and striped red tees and shorts and her now iconic hairstyle with bangs, Red was wholly unique to that of the soft, elegant haze that was Speak Now.

Naturally, she used the color red to her advantage, and the album was ensconced by heartbreak, new loves, and turning "22." She hinted at the Red era several times in 2020 by posting the phrase "not a lot going on at the moment," which was written on a shirt she wore in the music video for the song "22."

Red (Taylor's Version) also became the second re-released album, coming out last fall, and the "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" broke many hearts all over again.

1989 Era

Swift's 1989 era (the year she was born) was a stylistic renaissance for the young pop artist. In the era, which took place in 2014, Swift transformed completely and totally from her country roots and took on the role of a pop icon.

The album was nostalgic and romantic, with a little bit of revenge sprinkled in here and there. With hits like "Style," "Bad Blood," "Out of the Woods," and "Blank Space," Swift embraced the idea of coming into her power and flaunting her love in sequins and sunglasses.

Reputation Era

What came next for Swift was a complete 180.

In 2017, she transformed from "America's Sweetheart" to "Nobody's Sweetheart." A stark contrast to everything that came before, Swift's Reputation era was marked by an all-black wardrobe, knee-high boots, snake imagery, and dark makeup.

Her fierce style was highlighted by lyrics from the album's single, "Look What You Made Me Do," in which she sings that the "old Taylor" can't pick up the phone right now. "Why?" she sings, "Oh, 'cause she's dead."

One might now call Swift's Reputation era her "villain" era, as she also became far more adept in singling out those who have wronged her in her lyrics; at this time, it was Kanye West who had reportedly claimed he had spoken to her about a song of his and gotten her consent to mention her, which Swift denied.

Lover Era

Swift's Lover era in 2019 was, you guessed it: for the lovers.

With dreamy pop tones and bright colors, the album was once again a large pivot from the previous, but no doubt one of Swift's many personas. She was lit in a world of color and vibrance and energy, wearing hot pinks and rainbow fringe jackets on stage when she performed songs like "Paper Rings," "The Man," and "ME!" which featured Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.

Folklore and Evermore Era

Folklore and Evermore tend to go hand in hand, as they were released five months apart, and both had been surprises. The albums were the epitome of writing sad poetry by the fire at a lakeside cabin like a recluse, both very woodsy and "cottagecore"-esque.

As they were both written and recorded during the pandemic, Folklore and Evermore are the sister albums that came from Swift's little mushroom cottage in the woods, paired with her iconic braids and plaid coats, making them the albums that embody a misty autumn morning.

Swift won Album of the Year at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021 for Folklore.

Midnights Era

Finally, Swift has shown fans what it is like to be sad and nostalgic, but to at least seek therapy. Midnights is shaping up to be another vibe shift for Swift, with pop synths and 70's retro-inspired aesthetics. The songs, which include "Midnight Rain," "Anti-Hero," and "Mastermind" prove that Swift has been thinking a lot about her past, looking inward at herself and writing about the lessons she has learned.

So if there's anything that can be expected from Swift's Era Tour, it is that it will likely be one great nostalgic celebration of the many different Swifts that we are oh so thankful for.

Newsweek reached out to a representative for Swift for comment.