Just imagine — you’ve splurged hundreds of dollars on a ticket, spent hours lining up to get in, and prepared yourself for any weather conditions all to see your favorite artist perform.
Yet, after three hours and more than 40 songs later, you get home and realize you can’t recall a thing.
It might sound unbelievable, but numerous Taylor Swift fans are reporting symptoms of “post-concert amnesia”.
From totally blanking to feeling out-of-body to slipping into a dream-like state, Swift’s devoted fans – known as Swifties – have taken to social media recently to admit that they’re failing to recollect pivotal moments from the singer’s history-making Eras tour.
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There have been a slew TikTok videos showing Swifties revealing that they’re unable to remember certain songs/moments from the singer’s shows – with countless others in the comments section saying they’ve experienced the same thing.
In one post, TikTok user @champaigeproblems writes: “Post concert depression? No, I have post-concert amnesia because why do I not remember the Eras tour at all? I was there and know it was the time of my life, but why do I not remember it?”
In response, one person commented: “Glad its not just me […] did i just spend 700 dollars on this, waited for like 8 months and didn’t remember anything?”
A second Swiftie, @clare.marie56, revealed that she is happy she recorded so much of the event, adding: “I literally don’t remember anything. Eras tour amnesia.”
“When the best night of my life didn’t feel real and I can’t even remember going,” added a third TikToker, sharing footage from one of Swift’s shows.
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Fortunately, psychologists have provided an explanation for this bizarre phenomenon.
Now, amnesia is a serious condition involving the loss of memories, experiences, and information. However, Dr. Michelle Phillips – a senior lecturer in music psychology at the Royal Northern College of Music – reassures Swifties that post-concert amnesia isn’t as alarming as it sounds.
“It’s unlikely that fans have no memory at all of attending a concert,” Dr. Phillips told BBC News. “In fact, it’s likely to be one of those memories they cherish for a lifetime.”
The saying “time flies when you’re having fun” perhaps best encapsulates the concept of post-concert amnesia, as Dr. Phillips elaborates that when fans are immersed in so much excitement, fans can be left feeling like “time has suddenly passed”.
We’ve come a long way from when artists and musicians would simply perform on a bare stage with just a microphone and a band.
Modern concerts – especially Taylor’s Eras tour – are extravagant spectacles, featuring strobe lights, elaborate props, and numerous costume changes.
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These sights and sounds overwhelm the senses and constantly leave fans in a state of surprise and euphoria. As a result, fans are left feeling unable to fully process everything they’ve seen, heard, and felt.
Dr Punit Shah – a Phycologist and lecturer based at University of Bath – also spoke to the MailOnline about the phenomenon, adding: “If you have what should be a memorable event, sometimes people’s emotional response can either solidify that memory or weaken the memory it.
“So some people attending these concerts will find them very memorable and will form what’s called a flashbulb memory, where you remember a lot about what’s happened in that situation.
“But for some people the emotion of the situation can mean that the memory trace isn’t laid down as strongly.”
Now, many of us will have seen videos of Swift fans at one of her concerts – with some people even comparing it to a “cult-like” experience.
But this, according to neuroscientist Dr. Dean Burnett, is another factor that can play into fans experiencing memory loss.
“It’s the same thing that happens in an angry mob,” Dr. Burnett tells MailOnline. “Because we are social creatures, when everyone around you feels the same, just as stimulated, just emotional, you sort of blur together, you lose your sense of self a lot.
“You become detached from yourself and as a result your memories will be blurrier,” Dr Burnett added.