Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Lasting Change

By Teri Lawver, Chair of the Board at Episcopal Relief & Development

What do the Taylor Swift and Beyonce Tours Tell Us About Creating Lasting, Positive, Change in Our World?

During 2023, it seemed like stories of conflict and existential threat dominated the media landscape. Both inside and outside the United States, versions of a devastating narrative have been repeating seemingly on a loop: groups of people dehumanize each other, widening divides, fostering fear and stoking anger that too often erupts into horrific violence. Most recently, of course, I’ve been praying for all those who’ve lost loved ones and continue to suffer in the war between Israel and Hamas.

In stark juxtaposition, alongside these devastating news stories was coverage of big, over-the-top music events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour or Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour. Despite inflation, global live music ticket sales set a new record in 2023, and the concert tours I mentioned reportedly drove enough economic activity to impact the United States GDP! 

In fact, my own family and I were among those who went to see Beyoncé perform when she visited New Jersey. I attended the show at Met Life Stadium with my children and a few of their friends. We’ve enjoyed several concerts since the pandemic. But this concert was on a different scale.

Beyoncé–known to her fans as Queen Bey–and her team of talented musicians and dancers put on a dazzling performance, a multi-media extravaganza that included spectacular lights and other stunning visual effects, as well as moments of simple a capella. It was fun, no question about it, but as my children and I danced together with 50,000 other fans, belting out the lyrics to “Love on Top” in unison, it occurred to me that the experience was more than just fun. Being connected through the joy of song and music to such a diverse group of people inspired and filled my heart in ways that are difficult to describe. 

“If you wonder why there’s such unflagging demand for live concerts, I think one major factor is the feeling of deep connectedness–to other people and to something larger than ourselves–that such events so powerfully evoke for those who attend.”

If you wonder why there’s such unflagging demand for live concerts, I think one major factor is the feeling of deep connectedness–to other people and to something larger than ourselves–that such events so powerfully evoke for those who attend. Of course, meaningful moments of connection need not happen on such a large scale, and I’m not suggesting that live performances, even by iconic superstars like Beyoncé, can bring peace to the Holy Land or bridge the chasms between ideologies. But the concert was a timely, moving reminder of how important it is, especially in a world too often characterized by division, to create opportunities for connection. The concert experience reminded me how the human need and human desire for connection to something positive, something hopeful, something bigger than oneself, and something that inspires the heart should never, never be underestimated.

At Episcopal Relief & Development, we understand that addressing the world’s most pressing challenges–things like climate change, natural disasters and inequality–is something that requires connection. As you might already know, it’s right in our tagline: Working Together for Lasting Change. 

To create real, lasting change, Episcopal Relief & Development partners with locally-led faith-based organizations that have deep connections with the communities we hope to impact. Through our network of partners, we are able to connect the communities we serve with the training, resources and support they need to build upon their assets and become more resilient to challenges that might emerge in the future. And of course, we forge vital connections with our friends and supporters, like you, with whom we share a belief in the dignity of all people and a commitment to making the world a better, less divisive place. For me and my family, our work with Episcopal Relief & Development is a vital pathway for connection to God’s plan for the world. I am immensely grateful to all those who work at, partner with, and support Episcopal Relief & Development in forging these powerful connections both in our local parish communities and around the world.

This Holiday season, I invite you to think about who and what you are connected to, why those connections matter and how they enrich your life throughout the year.

Teri Lawver serves as Episcopal Relief & Development’s Board Chair. She is also an executive leader in the healthcare industry.