Taylor Swift recently wowed fans during her highly anticipated Eras Tour concert in Toronto, as she made a cheeky reference to her past relationship with Joe Jonas.
The 13-time Grammy-winning artist gave the crowd a treat by performing a surprise mashup of two of her most iconic breakup songs: Mr. Perfectly Fine and Better Than Revenge.
These tracks, both of which are widely associated with her 2008 relationship with Jonas, have been long-time fan favorites for their candid and sometimes biting lyrics.
The acoustic section of Swift’s show at the Rogers Centre on November 21, 2024, started off with a bang. As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Taylor took the stage and offered a glimpse into her more reflective, intimate side.
Before launching into her performance, she addressed the cheering audience with a playful, “This is one of my favorite parts of the night; wish me luck.”
With that, she kicked off with Mr. Perfectly Fine, a vault track from Fearless (Taylor’s Version). The song’s upbeat melody and lyrics, which many believe are directed at Jonas, set the tone for what was about to come.
As she strummed her guitar, the audience was quick to sing along, making their presence felt.
Taylor, ever the showwoman, encouraged them to join in: “Oh, you guys know that one, huh? Sing if you know this one…” she said, before teasing the audience with, “It’s time for a little revenge.”
With those words, the crowd erupted in cheers, and Taylor transitioned into Better Than Revenge, a track from her original Speak Now album, which also features pointed lyrics that fans have long speculated are aimed at her ex.
In this unexpected and fiery combination, Taylor Swift gave fans a glimpse into her ability to blend humor, heartache, and even a little vengeance through her music.
Better Than Revenge, with its sharp lyrics like “She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think / She’s an actress,” is widely thought to be inspired by the actress who was rumored to be the reason for her breakup with Jonas back in 2008.
The song’s inclusion in this mashup, along with Mr. Perfectly Fine, added a new layer to the ongoing narrative of Swift’s relationships and her reputation for turning personal experiences into universally relatable music.
Fans were quick to react on social media, with many speculating that the timing and choice of songs was an intentional reference to Jonas, especially given the long-standing public interest in their brief romance.
One Twitter user, also known as X, remarked, “Did not have the f*** Joe Jonas surprise song mashup on my eras tour bingo card.”
Another added, “Mr. Perfectly Fine x Better than Revenge, somewhere in New Jersey Joe Jonas is waking up in a cold sweat and Sophie Turner smiles!!!” referencing Joe Jonas’s recent marriage to actress Sophie Turner.
For those unfamiliar, Taylor and Joe Jonas began dating in the summer of 2008 when Taylor was just 18 years old and Joe was 19.
Their high-profile relationship, however, ended abruptly in November 2008, with Jonas reportedly breaking up with Swift over a 27-second phone call.
This public breakup left a lasting impression on Swift’s music, inspiring several tracks about heartbreak, betrayal, and unrequited love.
Mr. Perfectly Fine, which was released as part of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), is widely considered to be another song about that breakup, with lyrics like “I’m perfectly fine, I’m not fine at all,” resonating with listeners who’ve been through similar experiences.
This mashup performance is part of the ongoing trend throughout Swift’s Eras Tour, where she’s surprised fans with surprise songs that reflect different periods in her career.
The choice to revisit Mr. Perfectly Fine and Better Than Revenge was a direct nod to her fans’ long-standing fascination with her past relationships and the lyrics she’s penned about them.
The two tracks, together, encapsulate the growth and empowerment Swift has experienced since those early days of heartbreak.
Swift’s fans quickly took to social media, eager to analyze the performance and offer their own theories.
Many pointed out that this was yet another instance where Taylor used her music to take back control of a narrative that was once thrust upon her by the public.
As one fan aptly put it, “Taylor Swift turning her heartbreak into an anthem of revenge is truly a masterclass in reclaiming your story.”
It’s also worth noting that since her breakup with Jonas, Swift’s love life has been the subject of endless media attention.
She’s since moved on, with a highly publicized relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce, whom she’s been romantically linked to since September 2023.
While Swift has certainly grown as an artist and a person, her past relationships—particularly the ones that inspired her early breakup anthems—remain a part of her musical legacy.
The Toronto performance comes just weeks after another highlight of Swift’s Eras Tour, where she performed an emotional rendition of All Too Well and Enchanted, showing fans just how far she has come from the young singer-songwriter who once captured her heartache in her music.
With her Toronto show, Taylor proved once again that she can turn her pain into an artistic triumph, keeping her fans invested and engaged in her journey.
Whether aimed at Jonas, or simply a part of her ever-evolving narrative, her mashup of Mr. Perfectly Fine and Better Than Revenge added a new chapter to the already legendary Eras Tour.
As the tour continues, it’s clear that Taylor Swift is not just reflecting on her past but using it to fuel her future—both in her music and in the way she interacts with her fans.
Whether it’s an ode to personal growth, a bit of playful revenge, or simply an acknowledgment of her journey, Taylor continues to capture the hearts of fans worldwide, proving that no matter how much time passes, her music still speaks volumes about the power of reclaiming one’s own narrative.
