Instagram/@iamhalsey
Fans of Halsey from all around the world had the mixed emotions of joy and sorrow following the long-awaited announcement of “Back to Badlands” world tour. The feeling of falling “just short” was initially documented in a post that has since been deleted. The post featured an empty desert with the “Back to Badlands” world tour name, instantly evoking memories of Halsey’s debut album era.
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The post was short yet gave a clue: “One countdown has ended and a new one begins. Visit Badlands before it visits you…” and a link to the tour website. It seems Halsey intended to give her album weight and in a sense, quiet menace on what it can do. Whatever the case, the post was a classic Halsey way of marking an achievement.
In the ‘comments’ section, the story began to unfold. The central image of the post showed Halsey, and American fans immediately expressed joy and eagerness to get their tickets. This joy sparked a chain reaction as waves of coordinated shouts began, asking for more concert dates—which quickly became the focus of the discussion.
Brazilian supporters showed the loudest engagement, coming in with soccer ball emojis and and shouting “COME TO BRAZIL.” Brazilians mercilessly made fun of the “huge” music industry in their country, calling out the constant excuses for their exclusion. Since I am also Brazilian, I can attest to the struggle we face in getting recognition from our beloved artists. The phrase “ROWLANDS not to be that person but… COME TO BRAZIL” has become a sort of anthem in Brazil, highlighting the frustration of the neglected crowd. One user also mentioned that Brazil’s absence is like the audience’s “moms forgot” them, stating “and o brasil maezinha :(.”
Mexican fans then followed, voicing their worries. “Como que solo una fecha en México amor 😞” (which means “How come there’s only one date in Mexico, love, with a sad emoji”) was a comment made by an irritated fan. The feeling that Halsey’s tours in Mexico were undersupported, especially following the notable success of her previous tours in the country, is palpable.
The Asians were the next group to narrate their distaste regarding the tour’s route. They posted in hundreds about the Asians and the stops, one comment stating “I need a date in 🇭🇰—or any Asian stop for that matter 😭🙏,” another one shouting “Are you coming to Asia @iamhalsey.” The non-existence of Asian stops is a huge void in the meaning of the tour world.
Europeans joined the other dissatisfied groups. A user from Belgium wrote, “Girl add a date in Belgium pls 💔,” begging for a show. Meanwhile, a Chilean fan coped by stating, “desde el 2018 que no vuelves a chile 🇨🇱😭,” meaning “you haven’t come back to Chile since 2018.” The lack of attendance is greatly felt, with some feeling particularly excluded from the setups.
Although the United States houses the majority of the tour dates, some frustrations have been voiced that appear to be from unique regions. In Texas, one remarked, “Sad the Texas city is Dallas again, she was just there 😭 Bummed to be missing her show again.” Highlighting that even domestic touring is facing routing issues. Another mentioned, “So so sad there is no NC dates my 15 year old heart is so broken 😞 😭 saw you earlier in May in Raleigh and in 2017!” Marking, in her words, their “sad” absence.
Predictably, the cost of attending live events came under the spotlight. The comment, “My bank account is shaking asking if we really need to see H a third time this year 🫣” humorously encapsulates the financial challenges a slew of tours in one year can pose to fans.
In the midst of the letdowns, a few moments of cheerful anticipation continued. Some users were organizing with friends, asking, “@lindsey_renkiewicz @lyssalou56 guys wanna go?!” which highlights the social aspect of awaiting a concert together. Declaring, “Oh I am going 🤩,” one commenter signaled that they are among the fortunate situated in the tour cities.
The way the announcement was made has probably frustrated many people because of the deeper problems with attending concerts in the current day. Even if it looks like Halsey’s team is focusing on the bigger countries, the disproportionately large replies suggest that the smaller and overseas countries have the even greater demand that’s unnoted. The disparity in the comments’ tones is quite wide spanning from sincere heartbreak to excited preparation, depending on how far the fans are willing to go for a chance to experience music in person.
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At this point, it remains uncertain as to whether the dates will be added to resolve the distance issues as the comments have started. To possibly extend the covering of the tours, the comments show a large amount of demand. For now, there will be thousands of international fans waiting on edge for any updates on the tours while the domestic fans prepare for the ticket buying frenzy Halsey tour announcements always come with.
