Taylor Swift consistently pauses her European concerts for this reason

MADRID – The crowd huddled on the floor of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and stood shoulder-to-shoulder waiting for Taylor Swift to take the stage. The sticky hot air hung in anticipation of the Eras Tour as beads of sweat dripped. The ventilation flaps at the upper shelf of the arena stood open, but without a breeze seemed like a pointless invitation for the 90 degree weather to stay for the Spanish concert.

Stadium workers offered free cups of water to the 67,000 fans, but most people with a close enough spot to grab a non-grainy photo or video of Swift near her stage didn’t take them up on the offer. Fans hydrated right before entering the stadium and used the bathroom for the final time. Once in place for the start of the concert, there was no turning back when the orange-and-purple parachute flaps revealed Miss Americana.

By the 20th song of the night, Swift was calling for help for fans. “Ayuda por favor,” (help please) she said as she twirled during “August” in the “Folklore”/“Evermore” combined set. Moments before during “Betty” she also asked for workers to get water.

In almost every European city, fans in person and on livestreams have noticed Swift asks staff for help for concert goers. Swift has paused or interrupted her show at least 14 out of 31 concerts. Sometimes she will speak out once. Other times she points to fans multiple times in one show. Twice she has said she won’t continue playing music until the fans get help. And if she calls it out but notices that help is on the way, Swift thanks the staff.

The different songs where she asks for assistance vary, but the most common song is the 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” Here are a couple examples:

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In Stockholm on night three, Swift asked fans if they were holding up lights to get her attention or if someone needed help before the acoustic section.

In Scotland on night one, the singer noticed a fan needed help and strummed her guitar until workers arrived to the distressed fan. This was the most noticeable abruption with Swift singing, “I’m just gonna keep playing until someone notices them.” Right before the acoustic set, she made an announcement before her big belting note in “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.”

In London on night one, she asked for assistance during “All Too Well,” “Betty,” and “Champagne Problems.”

In Dublin on night one, she pointed out a fan needed help and then thanked staff while switching outfits and singing “Lavender Haze.”

In Amsterdam on night two, she interrupted “All Too Well” three times, each time her voice raised with urgency.

On night two in Switzerland, she said, “We need help back there please… we need help there… there” before finishing the last chorus of “My Tears Ricochet.”