Believe the Hype, America. Taylor Swift Brings It and Then Some!

The Taylor Swift hype is real.

Swift delivered a show on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara worthy of the “Queen of Pop” and an estimated 64,000 “Swifties.”

It was sequins galore, with the mostly female crowd — my conservative guess was 70% — decked out to see their “Anti-Hero.”

A Taylor Swift fan is decked out with a football-style sequined jersey. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Swift took the stage around 8 p.m. and showed endurance and enthusiasm that is rare in entertainment. She played nearly non-stop for more than three hours. She made costume changes but took no intermission. A video interlude kept the continuity of the show.

The stage was huge, stretching out about 80 yards on the football stadium floor. With everyone standing, it was hard to get a full glimpse of Swift in person without watching the video screen.

Technically, Levi’s Stadium shows are supposed to end by the 11 p.m. curfew. Swift blew through that both nights. Good thing she was named honorary mayor. I’m not sure, though, that gives her the power to waive the fines.

Setlist.fm reported she sang 45 songs, spanning all her albums — hence the Eras Tour. Swift could have ended with “Blank Space” and “Shake it Off.” She went for 10 more songs lasting about another half-hour.

Swift finishes her U.S. tour with six shows in seven days at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, starting Thursday. The international portion of the tour starts later in August in Mexico City.

The Federal Reserve estimated that the Eras Tour has generated $5 billion for the economy. Ticket prices for the Thursday show in Inglewood start at $743 on SeatGeek.

Taylor Swift performs at Levi’s Stadium Saturday night (TAS Rights Management)

Atalia’s Take

Swift outlasted me, but not my 12-year-old daughter.

“There was much energy and hype,”  she said.

Atalia liked Swift’s charisma and keeping the audience engaged, by talking to the masses every now and then.

“I sang along because it is happiness in the community. It was so amazing. When you go there, you really feel like a Swiftie,” Atalia said, adding that she’s “relatable.”

Atalia Taub cheered and sang along to Taylor Swift at Levi’s Stadium on July 29, 2023. (GV Wire/David Taub)

“She hits every spot,” my daughter said. “She has songs about love. She has songs about revenge. And songs about hustle. Something for every feeling. Not to mention they are absolute bops as well,” Atalia said.

A “bop” Atalia explains, is a song you can really get into, and listen to over and over.

Part of the Swift concert experience is exchanging friendship bracelets. It was a great way for Atalia to meet and greet fellow Swifties and get some cool swag.

Exchanging friendship bracelets is part of the “Swiftie” experience. (GV Wire/David Taub)

We weren’t the only ones from Fresno at the show. One car on Highway 152 was adorned in Taylor Swift song names and sayings. They even displayed a Venmo account for merchandise.

Several familiar Fresnans were at the show, but I will let them reveal their attendance, lest they want to keep their “Swiftie” status on the down low.

Taylor Swift in action, Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. (TAS Rights Management)