Swifties know to expect the unexpected from the cultural phenom, but New Times is going to take a stab at predicting her next move. Below are five plausible, if slightly unhinged, theories about what Swift might have in store for Miami during her shows this month.
Acoustic Performance of "Florida!!!"
Throughout her nearly two-decade career as a prolific songwriter, Taylor Swift has written a handful of divisive geographical songs that have tested the tolerance of even the most ardent Swifties. Our beloved state continues the tradition by serving as one of Swift's muses on her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, alongside boyfriend Travis Kelce and ex Joe Alwyn. On "Florida!!!," a bombastic duet with Florence Welch, Swift celebrates our state's escapist qualities: "Florida is one hell of a drug/Florida, can I use you up?"Swift typically performs these geographically themed songs in their home cities. She's performed "Paris" in Paris, "So Long, London" and "London Boy" in London, and "Welcome to New York" in New York during the Eras Tour's acoustic sets. She threw fans a curveball when she debuted "Florida!!!" in London instead of Miami, but it made sense when she brought out Welch to perform the song in her hometown. It was a full-fledged performance with elaborate stage production and choreography, but we're betting Swift will continue her geographic streak with a solo performance of "Florida!!!" during one of her acoustic sets in Miami.
Surprise Guests
Keeping a show with such an intricate production level from becoming rigid or rote is challenging, but Swift has managed to keep her show fresh with nightly acoustic sets, which allow her to dig into the vault and play deep cuts for her diehard fans. Some of the tour's biggest surprises have come from the guests she's brought out to perform those songs. Among the artists who've made appearances are openers Sabrina Carpenter, Hayley Williams, and Phoebe Bridgers; collaborators Marcus Mumford and Ice Spice; and frequent collaborators Ed Sheeran, Jack Antonoff, and Aaron Dessner. She brought Dessner out for the first time during last year's shows in Tampa. The last time she unveiled surprise guests in Miami was during her 1989 World Tour in 2015, when she welcomed Ricky Martin and Pitbull to the stage. Dwyane Wade also presented Swift with a "13" numbered jersey in honor of her lucky number.Our guesses this time around? Maybe she'll bring out opener Gracie Abrams to perform their duet "Us." during the acoustic set. Or, in a less likely scenario, perhaps she'll bring out Future to reminisce about their time spent shooting the music video for Reputation's "End Game" on a yacht in Miami. It's a particularly workable theory if our next prediction is correct.
Reputation (Taylor's Version) Announcement
Yep, we're clowning. Swifties are anxiously awaiting the re-recording of Swift's reputation album, which got a mixed reception upon release but has been largely reclaimed by fans and critics alike. Fans flood TikTok with theories about the album announcement every time she makes a public appearance, and Swift frequently fuels the fire by wearing and alluding to the snake iconography they've come to associate with the album. Fans thought she'd announce the album at last year's Grammys or this year's VMAs, but we'd argue her Miami shows are a safer bet.Swift has released two album re-recordings during this tour — Speak Now (Taylor's Version) in July 2023, followed by 1989 (Taylor's Version) three months later — and announced both albums at Eras Tour shows. It would make perfect sense for her to unveil the release date for Reputation (Taylor's Version) during the Miami shows as a toast to the final leg of her victory tour.
Wildcard Album Announcement
Swift famously loves to tease and even troll her fans, particularly through the many Easter eggs and clues she sneaks into her songs, videos, and even outfits. It would be classic Swiftian trolling for her to announce the re-recording of her debut album instead of Reputation (Taylor's Version), which she knows is the most anticipated re-release among Swifties. Some fans have also speculated she might have a live album in the works, a theory that seems more plausible after last October's release of "Cruel Summer (Live from TS Eras Tour)."A less likely but totally conceivable scenario by Swift's standards is the announcement of a new studio album. Yes, Swift only released Tortured Poets just six months ago, but it wouldn't be her first or even second time releasing two albums within a year. Her 2019 album Lover and 2020's Folklore were released 11 months apart, with Evermore following just five months later.
New Setlist
Swift's Miami shows mark her return to the stage for the first time in two months — her first concerts since a record-breaking five-show run at Wembley Stadium in London. The last time Swift took two months off from the Eras Tour, she surprised fans with a completely revamped setlist that cut songs from the Folklore and Evermore sets, merged the two pandemic albums into one era, and made room for a high-drama set comprising songs from Tortured Poets, which she released during her break from the tour. Could Miami get the same treatment? If the tirelessly prolific Swift announces a new album or re-recording here, we just might.Taylor Swift. With Gracie Abrams. 7 p.m. Friday, October 18; Saturday, October 19; and Sunday, October 20, 2024; at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens; 305-943-8000; hardrockstadium.com. Sold out.
