From the moment Taylor Swift announced her Eras tour, Swift started thinking about which songs she would play and which song she would choose to open. After all, this is her first tour in five years. This is a big deal. While there were countless predictions, one of them gained huge attention because it was endorsed by Swift. TikTok user @_julianabba posted a video imagining Swift opening the show with a mashup of "Lavender Haze" and "I Think He Knows." Swift commented on the video: "Not no", seemingly suggesting the user was on to something.
So when Swift opened her first show in Glendale, Arizona, and next weekend in Las Vegas with "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince," many concertgoers (and those Those who followed at home) were surprised. While it's by no means a bad choice - "Lover" has been praised by critics for its imagery and political undertones - it's not quite as popular as a single from Swift's latest album Midnight or this The 12-time Grammy Award winner's mainstream single is so obvious. hit.
Some fans expressed surprise at the unexpected choice. One fan called it "genius," while another felt it was proof that Eras Tour is for die-hard fans who know and appreciate the deeper cuts.
In fact, there are many reasons why "Miss America and the Heartbroken Prince" might win that crucial first place. Apparently, the pre-chorus line "It's a long time come" that Swift sang before taking the stage was a fitting nod to the gap between tours caused by the lockdown. Remember: Especially on Valentine's Day, the pandemic is on hold. So it makes sense that she would be eager to show her lover some love.
Swift also has a personal connection to the song. She titled her Netflix documentary Miss America and used the song and special to mark a new era of expression—well , the Eras Tour. What better place to celebrate a song that represents a pivotal transition for a musician?
"There are a lot of little hidden messages in the song that point to her thoughts and feelings about politics and America," co-writer Joel Little told Variety about the song in 2020 . "I love that it uses a lot of classic Taylor Swift imagery in terms of songwriting themes of high school and cheerleading, which is a subtle nod to what she's done in the past but ties in with a heavy political message."
Recently, the official Taylor Nation Twitter account included "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince" in the tracklist as part of the "Seven Songs to Know Me" trend.
The list also includes other classics like "Fearless" and "All Too Well," further confirming the high regard Swift holds for it.