After months of preparation, Taylor Swift kicked off her βReputationβ stadium tour on Wednesday (8 May) night, performing to a sell-out crowd in Glendale, Arizona.
More than 59,000 fans were in attendance at the University of Phoenix Stadium for the concert and plenty more - including us! - were eagerly awaiting updates on everything from the setlist to the costumes and stage layout.
So, letβs talk about the most spectacular aspect of the show: the snakes.
Taylor had already revealed that one of her microphones would feature a gold snake design, but what we werenβt expecting were gigantic cobras around the venue and on stage:
As if that wasnβt enough, Taylor also flew around the stadium on a giant snake:
During her βReputationβ campaign, Taylor has referenced being called a snake on numerous occasions, flipping the insult on its head and reclaiming it.
Addressing the crowd at Wednesdayβs gig, she explained: βA couple of years ago, someone called me a snake on social media and it caught on. And then a lot of people were calling me a lot of things on social media andβ¦ And I went through some really low times for a while because of it.
βSometimes I didnβt know if I was going to get to do this amore. [With] The snakes, I wanted to send a message to you guys that if someone uses name calling to bully you on social media and even if people jump on board with it, it doesnβt have to defeat you. It can strengthen you instead.β
The Reputation tour is Taylorβs most ambitious production yet, and the stadium layout has three separate stages, including a 110 foot tall mainstage with a video wall that curves around the floor.
The 24-song setlist - which you can see below - showcases her current album, with a series of fan favourites from the β1989β² and βRedβ days thrown on. Even a few older tracks, including βLove Storyβ and βYou Belong With Meβ have made the cut.
The βEnd Gameβ singer will perform 53 dates worldwide, with her UK and Ireland dates starting in early June. Camila Cabello and Charli XCX will joining her, as support acts, for the entire tour.
Reputation Tour Setlist:
ββ¦Ready For It?β
βI Did Something Badβ
βGorgeousβ
βStyleβ
βLove Storyβ
You Belong With Meβ
βLook What You Made Me Doβ
βEnd Gameβ
βKing Of My Heartβ
βDelicateβ
βShake It Offβ
βDancing With Our Hands Tiedβ
βAll Too Wellβ
βBlack Spaceβ
βDressβ
βBad Bloodβ
βShouldβve Said Noβ
βDonβt Blame Meβ
βLove Liveβ
βNew Yearβs Dayβ
βGetaway Carβ
βCall It What You Wantβ
βWe Are Never Ever Getting Back Togetherβ
βThis Is Why We Canβt Have Nice Thingsβ