MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Taylor Swift fans are channeling their disappointment at the cancellation of the star's three concerts in Vienna this week into song.
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UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #1: (Singing) August slipped away into a moment in time.
KELLY: As NPR's Chloe Veltman reports, thousands of people have been gathering in the European city to belt out Swift's hits.
CHLOE VELTMAN, BYLINE: Even Taylor Swift's most romantic songs, like "Love Story," are packed with words of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
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TAYLOR SWIFT: (Singing) This love is difficult, but it's real.
VELTMAN: Fans have taken lyrics like these to heart since Austrian authorities learned of what they said were plans to attack Swift's Vienna concerts this week, leading to their abrupt cancellation.
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UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #2: (Singing) Don't be afraid. We'll make it out of this mess.
VELTMAN: This video from TikToker Barbara Balint shows a massive throng of Swifties packed into a square in central Vienna on Thursday. Meanwhile, a Viennese church opened its doors to those who wanted to come inside to sing.
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UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #3: (Singing) James Dean daydream look in your eye...
VELTMAN: X.com user Kristi Hovington also posted a photo of the sign outside the church. It said, (speaking German) - dear Swifties, we feel for you. Here, you can sing along.
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UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #3: (Singing) Crashing down...
VELTMAN: All of this positive energy contrasts with ticket buyers' feelings of woe after hearing about the cancellations.
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HANNAH BROUGHTON: We made it happen over a year of planning.
BRITTANY DREVER: Yeah.
BROUGHTON: We can't make it happen again.
DREVER: No.
BROUGHTON: That's just the hard truth.
VELTMAN: Brittany Drever and Hannah Broughton told reporter Lucy Grindon, in an earlier story for NPR, they traveled all the way from Nebraska to see their idol.
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BROUGHTON: It was a big dream.
VELTMAN: The sense of solidarity in Vienna extends beyond the sing-alongs. Businesses and institutions around the city are offering mourning fans a slew of freebies this weekend in an effort to make their Swiftless time in Vienna pass more swiftly. TikToker Ginnie - aka the Thrifty Swiftie - shared an exhaustive list. Among the offerings, eateries...
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GINNIE: You can get a free burger at Le Burger World Thursday, Friday or Saturday if you had a ticket to the show.
VELTMAN: ...Museums...
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GINNIE: You can visit the Albertina for free this Sunday.
VELTMAN: ...And free entry to a cat cafe.
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GINNIE: To enjoy affection from some lovely, friendly cats.
VELTMAN: As a cat lover herself, Taylor Swift would surely approve.
Chloe Veltman, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF TAYLOR SWIFT SONG, "KARMA")
SWIFT: (Singing) Karma is a cat, purring in my lap 'cause it loves me. Flexing like a goddamn acrobat, me and karma vibe like that. Spider-boy, king of thieves, weave your little webs of opacity. My pennies made your crown. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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