Not the review I heard on Waterloo station’s concourse
I know nothing about Taylor Swift. I don’t know her songs, or how she sings them . I have no interest in them either – if you are looking for a review of her London shows this week, turn the page.
What I can report on is what I saw on Waterloo station at around 11 pm last Thursday night as I alighted from my trip to Weymouth.
Great day with @railwaytouring up and down to Weymouth pic.twitter.com/oLKTjppghO
— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) August 17, 2024
The station concourse was dotted with young women in sequined dresses and trouser suits, typically silver and pink. Many wore tee shirts with banal slogans such as “but Daddy I love him”. Everywhere I looked I saw tired but happy faces.
You don’t need to know the show, to feel the vibe, I cannot think ill of Taylor Swift as I wallow in the misery of the latest album by Nick Cave. I need think only of a generation of young women (and I’m sure their beaux) who can now say they saw their heroine play the Eras Tour.
None of our business
Taylor Swift does not write music for me, though I understand the Windsor Ukulele band, of which I am a ligger, is looking to play a Taylor Swift inspired number at future gigs.
Last night I watched in awe as Stella Eastwood led a 2 hour mash up of 60,s 70’s and 80’s classics to an audience my age.
A great night in the cowshed pic.twitter.com/pZBBOPikTu
— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) August 17, 2024
As we walked back from the Swan in Clewer, we could hear Jules Holland and his band playing at the racecourse behind the pub.
Who needs Jools Holland cried a woman at the end of the UKee set. Clearly not the 300 people crowded into the Swan’s yard watching the set from the cowshed.
We have our fun, it’s safe and it doffs its hat to Adele, the Stereophonics and maybe to the Swifties.
But what do I know. What do I want to know?
I was outside the cowshed listening to this!
Stella – Valerie pic.twitter.com/Dv3PbhyOer
— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) August 17, 2024