Does “Taylor Sheesh” partially satisfy the thirst for Taylor Swift?
Tribute artist ‘Taylor Sheesh’ fills the void – even matching the outfits – after the singer misses out on countries during her tour of South East Asia.
Taylor Swift – and Taylor Sheesh
A Filipino drag queen impersonating Taylor Swift has captured South East Asia’s attention with his own “Errors tour” after the pop star faced accusations of neglecting the region.
Clad in a sequin-studded leotard, floating ball gown, or gold fringe dress, the 29-year-old performer, known as Taylor Sheesh, has become a sensation in the Philippines and beyond with his meticulous reenactment of Swift’s Eras Tour.
“My life goal is to spread happiness, just like Taylor Swift,” Sheesh, whose real name is Mac Coronel, shared with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Dressed in a long blonde wig and blue contact lenses, Coronel has perfected his own glamorous rendition of the singer-songwriter’s immensely popular tour, catering to fans who couldn’t secure tickets to see the real deal amid fierce competition.
Despite Swift’s immense popularity in South East Asia, disappointment swept through the region when it was revealed that she would only perform in Singapore and Japan during the Asian leg of her Eras tour.
The decision led many fans in capitals from Bangkok to Manila to book expensive flights in hopes of catching the singer live. It sparked renewed controversy after Thailand’s prime minister suggested that Swift was offered an exclusivity deal by Singapore.
Last week, Srettha Thavisin claimed that concert promotion company AEG informed him that the Singaporean government offered subsidies ranging from US $2 million to US $3 million (equivalent to £1.6 million to £2.4 million) to host the event. This occurred as the first of Swift’s five sold-out shows is set to take place in Singapore on Saturday.
“[AEG] didn’t disclose the exact figure, but they mentioned that the Singapore government offers subsidies of between $2 million and $3 million,” Mr. Srettha stated at a business forum. “However, the Singaporean government is shrewd. They stipulated not to hold any other shows in [South East] Asia.”
While AEG has not publicly addressed the allegations, the Singaporean government has stated that the Tourism Board supported the event through a grant.
Taylor Sheesh’s act includes copying Swift’s outfits down to the last sequin
Swift has amassed a significant following in South East Asia, particularly in the Philippines. The artist claimed the title of the most listened-to artist in the country on Spotify’s 2023 Wrapped list, while Google revealed that Filipinos searched for Swift more frequently than any other nation worldwide last year.
Coronel has been imitating the singer for quite some time, making his debut in 2017 at the Nectar Nightclub, a renowned venue in Manila known for featuring drag queens. However, his lip-sync performances gained nationwide prominence with his “Errors tours” across malls in the Philippines. A clip on social media further propelled his fame.
“I can’t believe that I’m recognized worldwide,” Coronel expressed after the concert. “It’s truly overwhelming. We never expected that Australian Swifties or other Swifties would attend.”
After spending months meticulously studying hours of social media clips of Swift to “memorize and practice her nuances, her smiling, and choreography,” Mr. Coronel finally had the opportunity to see Swift live in Tokyo earlier this month – an experience he deemed “totally worth it.”
He acknowledged the limitations in Manila and other South East Asian cities to host such a massive concert. However, for now, Mr. Coronel is committed to providing Filipinos who cannot afford to travel overseas and attend Swift’s concerts a glimpse of her show.
“Her last song was ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together,'” he remarked, recalling Swift’s encore during her 2014 Red tour in Manila. “She really meant it.”
