The Indoor Stadium is abuzz with excitement. Forget the fact that T-Swizzle was just in town last year for the final stop of her Red tour. She’s back, on her quest for world domination, and we’re certainly not complaining. The lights go down. The opening notes of 'Welcome to New York' swell all around us. And there she is, in all her glittering glory.
The Taylor Swift of 2015 is light years apart from the one who visited us in 2014. Gone are the elaborate, extravagant costumes – like floor-length gowns and that ringmaster outfit. Instead, crop tops, A-line skirts and skintight bodysuits – all covered in sparkle, of course – are part of her sartorial arsenal. No more country star, the incumbent princess of pop oozes contemporary chic, and that extends beyond her fashion sense. Hits from her previous albums make an appearance, only this time, they’re reinterpreted in a way that slides in seamlessly with her new 'grown-up' image. Think edgy electronic beats, groovy guitar hooks and almost unrecognisable piano arrangements on tracks like 'I Knew You Were Trouble', 'Love Story' and 'We are Never Ever Getting Back Together'. A smashing upgrade, if you ask us.
Of course, some things never change. Taylor is still a seasoned pro at working the crowd. She thanks us for spending the evening with her (as if we had anywhere else to be). She delivers an inspirational speech about staying true to yourself and tuning out any abuse from the world ('You are not the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you or care about you'). She says all the right things, always with a playful, knowing grin, like she's about to spill her secrets to you (and only you). She’s fully aware of every wink, hair whip and pose she executes – a little too manufactured, maybe? But there’s no doubt the camera loves her. In fact, we’re pretty convinced she’s some sort of other-worldly being. Who doesn't have any bad angles?!
Photo: AEG Live
Here’s something else to prove Taylor can do no wrong: the incredible stage set-up. The runway ascends and rotates all around the arena, so every single fan is practically face-to-face with their golden girl. It's literally a 360-degree experience, so there's no such thing as a bad seat. Up-close-and-personal really doesn't get any better than that.
Face time with Taylor isn't complete without her squad. We didn't get a surprise guest star on her stopover here, so videos of her besties gushing about her will have to suffice. All her famous friends show up, including the likes of Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne, Lena Dunham, Karlie Kloss and the Haim sisters. They share their individual meet-cutes with her, enthuse about her baking goddess and cat lover qualities, and speak on the importance of girl power. #squadgoals ftw.
By the time the fireworks go off and the confetti flutters down, we make a mental note to add this to our list of best pop gigs of the year. Solid vocal chops? Check. Last year’s already-impressive stage presence pushed up a notch? Check. Entertaining theatrics and flawless performances? Double check. There was never a dull moment. Of all the tracks on the 1989 set list, the perfectly executed 'Bad Blood' and 'Out of the Woods' were our top picks, but finale song 'Shake it Off' was the obvious fan favourite. So thanks, Taylor, for fulfilling our wildest dreams. Here’s hoping you never go out of style.