Taylor Swift The Eras Tour 2023: which surprise ‘special songs’ has artist played so far?

Swift has confirmed she will be playing different ‘special songs’ for every show on ‘The Eras Tour’.
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Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ is in full swing - and she has already wowed fans and critics alike with her spectacular return to the live music scene.

The first stop on the musician’s highly-anticipated US leg of the tour was in Glendale, Arizona. Performing for two consecutive nights, Swift showcased an incredible 44-song setlist, as well as a massive production where no expense was spared - with dancers, special effects, and multiple set and costume changes.

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She recently announced international tour dates - with concerts planned in the UK, various spots across the rest of Europe, Australia, and Asia. We’re not sure yet how different or similar these concerts will be to the ones in the US, but we can get some hints from what we’ve seen so far.

What has differentiated each show is Swift’s inclusion of a ‘special song’. The 33-year-old confirmed on her opening night that every audience will be treated to a unique song which is not on the main setlist - and that these chosen songs will only be played once throughout the tour, making them special to that particular set of fans.

She told the audience: “The plan, the goal, would be to play different songs every single night and never repeat one. So that when you heard one on this tour, you would know it’s the only time that I was going to play it in the acoustic set, unless - caveat - unless I mess it up so badly, that I have to do it over again in some other city. Send your best wishes towards me that I don’t do that.”

While playing at Tampa, Florida, however, on the fourth stop of her tour, Swift added a new rule - that if she played any songs from her latest album Midnights, these could be played again.

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But which songs has Swift performed so far on ‘The Eras Tour’? These are the ‘surprise songs’ she has opted for each night - a list which we’ll continue to update as Swift makes her way through the United States (and then as she begins her international tour!)

Swift has confirmed she will be playing a different ‘special song’ for every show on ‘The Eras Tour’. Credit: Getty ImagesSwift has confirmed she will be playing a different ‘special song’ for every show on ‘The Eras Tour’. Credit: Getty Images
Swift has confirmed she will be playing a different ‘special song’ for every show on ‘The Eras Tour’. Credit: Getty Images

Which surprise songs has Swift played on ‘The Eras Tour’?

Night One: Tim McGraw and mirrorball.

Fans initially thought that ‘Tim McGraw’, from Swift’s debut album, was part of the main setlist - but the singer didn’t play her first ever single on the second night of the tour, so it looks like it was a special inclusion for opening night.

Night Two: State of Grace and this is me trying.

Continuing the trend of playing two special songs, Swift opted for the opening track of hit album Red on Night Two - as well as a second song off folklore, which is a definitive favourite amongst fans.

Night Three: Our Song and Snow On The Beach.

Encompassing the essence of The Eras Tour, Swift first performed a song from her debut album - before following it up with a track (which singer Lana Del Ray features on) from her most recent, record-breaking album Midnights.

Night Four: cowboy like me and White Horse.

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Swift was joined onstage by Marcus Mumford, lead singer of Mumford & Sons, to sing ‘cowboy like me’ off her indie folk album evermore. She then surprised fans with ‘White Horse’ from Fearless - one of her first hit breakup songs.

Night Five: Sad Beautiful Tragic and Ours.

Swift harked back to two of her earlier tracks for opening night in Arlington, Texas, playing a breakup song from Red, and a love song from her third studio album Speak Now.

Night Six: Death By A Thousand Cuts and Clean.

Swifties on social media have widely agreed that Night 6 was one of the luckiest audiences - with those present treated to two all-time fan favourite tunes.

Night Seven: Jump Then Fall and The Lucky One.

Shifting up the tone from the previous evening, Swift again jumped back to two songs from her earlier albums - both of which now have their own ‘Taylor’s Version’.

Night Eight: Speak Now and Treacherous.

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Swift sparked rumours that ‘Taylor’s Version’ of Speak Now is on its way by playing the title track of her third album, before diving into a classic tune from Red - which fans sang their hearts out to.

Night Nine: The Great War and You’re On Your Own Kid.

If Night Six initially had the claim of being one of the luckiest audiences, Night Nine might have just usurped the title. Alongside collaborator Aaron Dessner, Swift performed two fan-favourites from her latest album Midnights. But if you weren’t there, don’t panic - Swift said she can play Midnights tracks whenever she pleases on the tour.

Night Ten: mad woman and Mean.

This evening saw another appearance from a folklore track, plus a harp back to a song Swift wrote specifically for her critics when she was just nineteen. The lyrics, ‘someday, I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me’ must have felt pretty good to sing to a sold-out stadium.

US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Night Eleven: Wonderland and You’re Not Sorry.

Yet again Swifties face another contender for the winner of the luckiest audience prize. The combination of the melancholy, emotive ‘You’re Not Sorry’ with the ethereal, passionate ‘Wonderland’ is just... *chef’s kiss*.

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Night Twelve: A Place In This World and Today Was A Fairytale.

This audience got to enjoy some classic Taylor - with a song from her first and second album.

Night Thirteen: Begin Again and Cold As You.

Swift must have been feeling nostalgic this weekend, as she again opted for two classics from the early stages of her career. She also told fans that she thinks ‘Cold As You’ is the best track on her debut album - something we’d be inclined to agree with.

Night Fourteen: The Other Side Of The Door and coney island.

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Fans were treated to yet another track from Swift’s Fearless album, plus a song from evermore which features The National - ahead of the band’s release of their latest album.

Night Fifteen: High Infidelity and Gorgeous.

Many had predicted Swift would play ‘High Infidelity’ on her concert on 29 April given that it features the lyrics ‘do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?’, but it was a special moment nonetheless. Then, she treated the crowd to the first surprise song from her 2017 album Reputation.

Night Sixteen: I Bet You Think About Me and How You Get The Girl.

One of Swift’s surprise song picks this time around was a vault track from Taylor’s Version of Red - which fans screamed the lyrics to - plus another great sing-along from 1989.

Night Seventeen: Sparks Fly and Teardrops On My Guitar.

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In addition to hearing two classics, fans attending the first concert in Nashville, Tennessee also got to be in the room when Swift announced the upcoming (re-)release of her third album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).

Night Eighteen: Out Of The Woods and Fifteen.

The singer-songwriter opted for a fan favourite in ‘Out Of The Woods’ from award-winning album 1989, plus a golden oldie from her second album Fearless.

Night Nineteen: Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve and Mine.

Fans were worried the ‘surprise song’ section would be missed out on this night as an intense storm in Nashville meant Swift had to start late. But she still played her entire 3-hour setlist, meaning the concert went on until 1am, and even performed what has widely been agreed as one of the best songs from her latest album Midnights (‘Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve’). Plus, Swift also treated the crowd to a hit from Speak Now - which felt particularly exciting given her recent announcement that the Taylor’s Version of the album will be released on 7 July.

From Night Seventeen onwards, Swift has also started playing ‘Nothing New’ alongside featuree Phoebe Bridgers during the Red section of the set. It is believed she will carry on doing this for as long as Bridgers is an opening act.

Night Twenty: gold rush and Come Back... Be Here.

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Swift gave a live performance of ‘gold rush’ from her album evermore for the first time ever (as it was released during the coronavirus pandemic), before harping back to a tune from her 2012 album Red, which encouraged a very loud sing-along.

US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Night Twenty One: Forever & Always and This Love.

Performing ‘Forever & Always’ from Fearless sparked an outcry from fans online who were distraught that they weren’t there to witness it. Meanwhile, ‘This Love’, which Swift recently released her Taylor’s Version of, created a truly beautiful moment on stage - with many fans tearing up and holding hands as they listened to the heartfelt song.

Night Twenty Two: Hey Stephen and The Best Day.

Swift started the ‘surprise song’ section upbeat with a fun, youthful track from Fearless, ‘Hey Stephen’. She then got emotional as she performed another song from the album - ‘The Best Day’ - on Mother’s Day in the US, as the song is dedicated to the artist’s own mother, Andrea Swift.

Night Twenty Three: Should’ve Said No and Better Man.

Swifties were debating on social media over whether these song choices were a comment from the singer-songwriter on her reported recent break-up with actor Joe Alwyn. Although Swift hasn’t actually publicly confirmed the break-up, she’s known to leave ‘easter eggs’ for her fans - and these emotion-filled tracks seem like a pretty great one. (I’m very jealous of those who got to be there to scream these lyrics in a sold-out stadium).

Night Twenty Four: Question...? and Invisible

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Question...? from Midnights got its debut performance on Night 22, with Swift introducing the song with the heart-warming statement: “I’ve just never been this happy in my life in all aspects of my life ever before. And I just want thank you for being a part of that.” She then played ‘Invisible’ from her debut album, which Swift said she wrote when she was just 13.

Night Twenty Five: I Think He Knows and Red.

I’d say this is another contender for the luckiest audience. The mix of the fun, light-hearted, upbeat pop track ‘I Think He Knows’ with the passionate, emotionally-charged, rock-esque ‘Red’ just showcases Swift’s versatility - and meant fans in the stadium got to feel all the emotions.

Night Twenty Six: Getaway Car and Maroon.

Fans of the album Reputation finally got what they were asking for as Swift performed the widely-accepted fan-favourite, ‘Getaway Car’ - and ‘Maroon’, another of Swift’s all-time bests from her latest album Midnights, was treated to its debut performance. (I’ll admit, it hurt me that I wasn’t there for these two stand-out songs).

Night Twenty Seven: Holy Ground and False God.

Fans often claim Red is Swift’s favourite album (and I don’t blame her if it is), and the singer did nothing to dispel the rumours by performing another track from it - this time, the rocky ‘Holy Ground’. She then slowed things down by performing the sensual, jazzy ‘False God’ on piano, which really made the lyrics stand out.

Night Twenty Eight: Welcome To New York.

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It was a 1989 evening for this set of fans, with Swift opting for the album opener ‘Welcome To New York’ and performing her re-do of the beloved anthem ‘Clean’. “I didn’t really mess this one up,” Swift explained, “but I thought I could do it better in a higher key.”

Night Twenty Nine: I Wish You Would and the lakes.

Swift continued her love affair with 1989 with a passionate performance of I Wish You Would, before surprising fans with the bonus track from her album folklore, ‘the lakes’ (which personally hurt me).

Night Thirty: You All Over Me and I Don’t Want To Live Forever

Swift treated fans to an onstage appearance from Maren Morris for ‘You All Over Me’, who is featured on the song, before performing an emotional rendition of ‘I Don’t Want To Live Forever’ - with fans noticing a heartbreaking tear or two from Swift as she sang the lyrics “wondering if I dodged a bullet or just lost the love of my life”.

US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift performs onstage on the first night of her "Eras Tour" at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on March 31, 2023. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP) (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Night Thirty One: Hits Different and The Moment I Knew

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Swift gave ‘Hits Different’ from Midnights its debut performance this night, just after the catchy tune was finally (yay!) released on streaming platforms. She then slowed things down for a heartfelt performance of ‘The Moment I Knew’, arguably one of the saddest tracks on her 2012 album Red.

Night Thirty Two: Haunted and Speak Now.

These are two of my absolute favourite songs and I cannot even begin to explain how much I wish I was at this concert. Fingers crossed Swift re-does these tracks in the UK (if I can get tickets!)

Night Thirty Three: All You Had To Do Was Stay and Breathe

Swift stripped back the usually up-tempo ‘All You Had To Do Was Stay’ from 1989 in a performance which really made the song’s lyrics stand out, before throwing it back to an early song from her second album Fearless.

Night Thirty Four: Mr Perfectly Fine and The Last Time

I can only imagine how fun screaming ‘Mr Perfectly Fine’ with a room full of Swifties was (sighs). And to top it off, this audience was then also wowed with a heart-wrenching ballad from Red. It’s fair to say they were lucky.

Night Thirty Five: seven and The Story Of Us.

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folklore got another moment to shine this night as Swift performed the ethereal ‘seven’, before she hyped fans up for the upcoming release of Taylor’s Version of Speak Now with a performance of ‘The Story Of Us’, which is, funnily enough, track seven on the album.

Night Thirty Six: Paper Rings and If This Was A Movie

Fans were unsure whether Swift would perform ‘Paper Rings’ this tour as it’s an adorable love letter to Joe Alwyn, who Swift sadly split up with earlier this year. But she still went for it - and it was as fun as ever - before she also performed the beloved ‘If This Was A Movie’ for the first time ever!

Night Thirty Seven: Dear John and Daylight.

Combining one of the saddest breakup songs ever with one of the most beautiful love songs ever? Exquisite. Taylor Swift is a genius. The emotions must have been wild.

The tour will resume on Friday 30 June in Cincinnati, Ohio.

What is the main setlist on ‘The Eras Tour’?

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These are the songs which Swift seems to be playing ever night.

  • Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince
  • Cruel Summer
  • The Man
  • You Need to Calm Down
  • Lover
  • The Archer
  • Fearless
  • You Belong With Me
  • Love Story
  • ‘tis the damn season
  • willow
  • marjorie
  • champagne problems
  • tolerate it
  • ...Ready for It?
  • Delicate
  • Don’t Blame Me
  • Look What You Made Me Do
  • Enchanted
  • 22
  • We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
  • I Knew You Were Trouble
  • All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
  • invisible string OR the 1
  • betty
  • the last great american dynasty
  • august
  • illicit affairs
  • my tears ricochet
  • cardigan
  • Style
  • Blank Space
  • Shake It Off
  • Wildest Dreams
  • Bad Blood
  • Anti‐Hero
  • Midnight Rain
  • Vigilante Shit
  • Bejeweled
  • Mastermind
  • Karma
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