Pop superstar Taylor Swift delivered a poignant debut performance of her emotional ballad “The Black Dog” during the surprise songs segment of her concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday, June 21.
“This is the first time I’m playing this live,” Swift announced to the crowd, as captured in a fan video on X (formerly Twitter).
Dressed in a long orange gown and seated at a piano, Swift gave a heartfelt rendition of “The Black Dog,” a track from her double album, “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.” The song reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May.
In a unique twist, the TTPD track was seamlessly blended with “Come Back…Be Here” from her 2012 “Red” album and “Maroon” from her 2022 “Midnights” album. Friday’s surprise songs set also included a mashup of “Hits Different” and “Death By a Thousand Cuts.”
Speculation surrounds “The Black Dog,” with some suggesting it’s about The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, whom Swift was rumored to have briefly dated in 2023. The song references pop-punk band The Starting Line, which Healy’s group has covered live in recent years.
On the opening night of her London stint, Swift also took backstage selfies with Prince William, who was celebrating his 42nd birthday. “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start,” she wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo that included the prince’s children and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.
Swift’s Eras Tour includes three shows at Wembley Stadium from June 21-23. Paramore is the special guest for all three shows, with METTE opening the first concert, Griff the second, and Benson Boone the third.
