9-7-2023 (MANILA) In an exhilarating event, thousands of enthusiastic Taylor Swift fans in Manila erupted in screams as a Philippine drag queen impersonating the American music superstar took the stage at a shopping centre on Friday. For many Filipino Swifties, as Taylor Swift’s fans are affectionately called, this was a chance to experience the next best thing after the Philippines was excluded from the Asian leg of Swift’s upcoming The Eras Tour in 2024.
While fans across the region scrambled to secure tickets for Swift’s six shows in Singapore, which is one of only two stops in Asia, Filipino Swifties gathered at a mall to witness a captivating performance by Taylor Sheesh. Adorned in a long blonde wig and a dazzling gold sequinned and tasselled dress, Sheesh exuded Swift’s aura as she danced and lip-synced songs from the artist’s 2010 album, Speak Now.
Mostly young fans joyfully sang along to the lyrics they first heard during their childhood, jumping up and down while capturing the memorable experience on their smartphones. Ms Daphne Ayuste, 21, expressed her love for Swift’s writing and songs while posing with her boyfriend in front of a cardboard cut-out of the pop star.
Fans eagerly lined up hours before the concert in the tropical heat to celebrate the release of Swift’s re-recorded Speak Now album. Many donned cat-ear headbands featuring Swift’s face and the color purple, matching the dress on the album cover.
The impersonator, Sheesh, also known as Mac Coronel in real life, began impersonating Taylor Swift in 2017. The 28-year-old gained immense popularity after a video of Coronel’s rendition of The Eras Tour went viral in May. Describing the Philippines as “Taylor nation,” Coronel shared his belief that there is always a Taylor Swift song for every situation.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, hundreds of Taylor Swift fans eagerly lined up at post offices across the city-state, braving the long wait before tickets went on sale. Many fans, mostly young people, secured prime spots after queuing overnight, equipped with food, mats, and foldable chairs.
With 338,000 seats available in Singapore, numerous Swifties across the region expressed their disappointment on social media, pleading for more Asian countries to be included in the tour. Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, even took to social media, declaring himself a Swiftie and urging Taylor Swift to organize a concert in Bangkok.
Filipino Swifties flooded Facebook with crying emojis and requests for the pop star to perform in the Philippines, emphasizing that the tour would be incomplete without them. Some fans are already making plans to travel to one of Swift’s concerts overseas, including Coronel, who secured a ticket to one of the Singapore shows with the help of a relative.
While Coronel aspires to bring the drag queen show to more malls across the country, he humbly acknowledges that he could never surpass the popularity of Taylor Swift. “I don’t want to be compared with Taylor Swift,” he expressed. “Forever and always, I’ll be a Swiftie.”
Taylor sheesh, the crowd, and Leni’s poster being shown to the crowd. God let me hear Long Live LIVE pic.twitter.com/CeZCQtsQG5
— JΛIП ???? (@drainedjain) July 8, 2023
