Few artists successfully make the crossover from country darling to fully-fledged pop icon without alienating their fan base, but Taylor Swift seems to have bucked the trend and kept her loyal fanbase of Swifties enamoured by her every move.
As she returns to Manchester for the first time since her ‘Speak Now’ tour in 2011, here’s a look at seven of her best moments:
1. Singing ‘Tim McGraw’ to the man himself
Back when she was just 16 years old, Taylor took to the stage at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in 2007 to perform her first breakthrough song ‘Tim McGraw’. Sat in the front row was the country music icon the hit was dedicated to, and this was the first time she’d met him. Must have been nerve-racking!
2. Writing Kayne West a song
In 2009, Taylor won an MTV Video Music Award for her single ‘You Belong With Me’. But the ceremony is more remembered for Kanye West's stage invasion, where he told the audience he thought Beyoncé should have won (and spawned an internet meme in the process). In response, she wrote a song forgiving West, ‘Innocent’, and performed it at the following year’s ceremony.
3. Singing ‘Blank Space’ in a car with DJ Greg James
We’re all guilty of singing in the car at some point and Taylor proves she’s no exception in this cute video filmed in London with BBC Radio 1’s Greg James.
4. Her duet with Ed Sheeran
Taylor’s friendship with the British singer-songwriter is fairly well-known and on her ‘Red’ album she included this sweet duet, accompanied by a suitably adorable video.
5. A fiery tale of revenge
Taylor was sassy and feisty, even in her teens. This ditty includes the warning: ‘And if you come around saying sorry to me/My daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be’. Don’t mess with the Swifts!
6. Channelling her inner Georgian lady for ‘Love Story’
The song that really propelled her into the limelight tells a tale of forbidden love, with lyrics based on ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and Regency-era inspired video. Swoon!
7. The Tarantino-esque mini-action film ‘Bad Blood’
In the space of a few years, she’s gone from cutesy country singer to devastating diva. Her most recent video features an array of her celebrity friends and showcases a special remix edition of the single.
Taylor Swift, June 24, Manchester Arena.
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