Moment you missed at Taylor Swift concert 

The sound of sound of 96,000 screaming Australians filled the MCG for Taylor Swift on Friday – but there was something they all missed.

For two minutes, Taylor Swift sat perched at a piano on stage in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground taking in the sound of 96,000 screaming Australians.

She waited for it to stop, but months of anticipation from diehard fans had culminated in an explosion of admiration for the most popular music artist on the planet.

It is difficult to explain the magnitude of that roar from the ground level.

“Deafening” doesn’t quite do it. “Ear-splitting” comes close. Swift called it “a whole other planet of volume”.

Taylor Swift performs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at the first Australian show of The Eras Tour. Picture: TAS Rights Management

What she cannot have known — and could not see — is that outside the gates of Melbourne’s biggest arena there were thousands more fans listening to every lyric.

They were lined up outside every exit to the ground in a display of fandom that can only be described as equal parts delightful and depressing.

People outside the G listening to Taylor swift at her first concert. Mark Stewart

Some were desperate to get in. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

For all the hype around the 34-year-old’s ErasTour opening night, it did not disappoint. The singer-songwriter, who is about to release yet another album in April, was as enamoured with the crowd as they were with her.

“Losing my mind at there being 96,000 people here. This is the biggest show that we’ve ever done. I’m fully starstruck by the fact so many people wanted to hang out with us on a Friday night in Melbourne,” she said.

At another point between songs, Swift paused to again reflect on the energy from those in attendance.

“I’m just taking a mental picture for myself,” she said.

“Just in case there’s a time when I’m sad, I’m just going to remember all of this that I got to look at one Friday night in Melbourne.”

Swifties were in awe. Picture: TAS Rights Management

Taylor swift gives her hat to a young fan during her performance of 22 at the MCG on Friday night. Source: Twitter

She saved something special for the Melbourne crowd, too – many of whom were returning to see her again after she last visited in 2018.

She revealed the inspiration behind the Eras Tour – a monumental undertaking that will see her perform more than 150 shows on five continents.

“We love old friends. If there’s anyone here to see me in concert for the first time, I’m so happy to see you,” she told the Melbourne crowd.

“This tour, when I came up with the idea for it, that was specifically, precisely the thought: I wanted everyone to feel like we’d made this show for you. Whether you’re new here or you’ve been hanging out with me for, like, 15 years,” she said.

Towards the end of her show, she announced an alternative version of her upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department that includes an extra song called The Bolter.

“On the subject of The Tortured Poets Department, Swift said: “I’m very excited for April 19th. I can’t wait for you to hear all the songs. Tortured Poets is an album I think, more than any album I’ve made, is one I needed. It was a lifeline for me. It reminded me why songwriting is something that gets me through life.”

Ticketless fans for US singer Taylor Swift, also known as a Swifties, stand outside at the MCG. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Outside the stadium, those who spoke to news.com.au said they had travelled from all around Australia to be a part of the biggest show of Swift’s career.

Mums and dads dressed up to give their children a glimpse of the US megastar in the flesh. None left disappointed.

One little girl had a moment she will never forget. Picked from the front row, she joined Swift at the edge of the stage before the 34-year-old slipped a friendship bracelet over her tiny wrist and popped a black hat on her head.

Swift and support act Sabrina Carpenter will play two more shows at the MCG before flying to Sydney for another four shows at Accor Stadium next weekend.