Taylor Swift surprised fans during her Eras Tour stop in Arlington, Texas, by replacing her Folklore tune Invisible String with The 1, a wistful breakup song from the same album. This change occurred just a week before the news of her split from longtime boyfriend Joe Alwyn broke. Swift has continued to play The 1 on her tour since the switch.
A private 6-year relationship
Swift and Alwyn had been dating for six years before their recent split was confirmed by a source close to the couple. The two kept many details of their relationship private, with Swift explaining in a 2019 interview that she didn’t like to discuss her romance with Alwyn in public.
Fans on social media couldn’t help but wonder if the setlist change was related to the breakup, with some speculating that the shift from Invisible String, a song about hope and love, to The 1, a song about lost love and remembering the past, was a clue.
Swift and Alwyn had begun collaborating on music during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Alwyn writing under the pseudonym William Bowery. He is credited as a co-writer on several songs from Swift’s sister albums Folklore and Evermore.
In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in December 2020, Swift spoke about how she and Alwyn bond over their love of sad songs. “Joe and I really love sad songs. We’ve always bonded over music,” she said. “We write the saddest songs. We just really love sad songs. What can I say?”
The Eras Tours continues
Despite the breakup, Swift has continued to perform for her fans on her Eras Tour, which kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona, in April 2022. The tour spans 15 cities across North America, including stops in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
Swift’s fans can expect to hear a mix of her old and new hits on the tour, including songs from her latest album Red (Taylor’s Version), which was released in November 2021. The album features re-recordings of Swift’s 2012 album Red, along with 30 previously unreleased tracks and fan favorites.
Swift has been a prominent figure in the music industry since the release of her self-titled debut album in 2006. She has won numerous awards throughout her career, including 11 Grammy Awards, and has sold over 50 million albums and 150 million singles worldwide.
In addition to her music, Swift has also been involved in several philanthropic efforts, including donating to disaster relief efforts and education initiatives. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has been recognized for her advocacy work in promoting equal rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community.