Swift’s impromptu song set on May 19 left fans reeling from an emotional rollercoaster.

Taylor Swift’s unexpected song set in Stockholm on Sunday (May 19) transitioned from jubilant to poignant. During the acoustic segment of her third Eras show at Friends Arena, Swift beamed as she dedicated a medley to Sweden’s Max Martin. However, the mood shifted to melancholy during the live debut of “How Did It End?” from The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.

Taylor Swift’s spontaneous performance in Stockholm on Sunday (May 19) transitioned from joyful to somber. During the acoustic segment of her third Eras show at Friends Arena, Swift delightedly dedicated a medley to Sweden’s Max Martin. However, the mood turned melancholic as she performed the live debut of “How Did It End?” from The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology.

Swift kicked off with a pop medley on guitar dedicated to the “genius pop songwriters and producers” she’s collaborated with. “Max is actually here tonight,” she revealed, introducing what she dubbed the “Max Martin Medley.”

She began with “Message in a Bottle,” the first song she ever wrote with Martin, co-written with Martin and Shellback for her 2012 album Red. Although it wasn’t released until 2021’s Red (Taylor’s Version), “Message in a Bottle” became a vault track on Swift’s re-recorded collection.

The upbeat medley continued with “How You Get the Girl” and “New Romantics,” both from the 1989 era, completing the set that Swift appeared thrilled to perform during the third of her trio of shows in Stockholm over the weekend.

However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Swift moved to her piano and addressed the crowd, saying, “I’ve never performed this one live before,” before launching into “How Did It End?” from Tortured Poets. Featured on the Anthology edition of her latest album, “How Did It End?” is a poignant ballad that reflects on the breakdown of a relationship.

As Swift performed in Stockholm, Billboard reported that The Tortured Poets Department had secured its fourth consecutive week atop the Billboard 200.

Following her three-day run in Stockholm, Swift will take her Eras Tour to Lisbon, Portugal, for a series of concerts next weekend.