Published: April 4, 2010
Though T-Swift’s star seems to be fading from overexposure, she did nothing but shine Wednesday night in Oklahoma City as she told the crowd her stories about boys, break-ups, first dates and fairytales — the very songs that sparked “Swift Fever” so long ago.
Actually, it was only 2008 when “Fearless” dropped, as the snowball continued to roll into countless awards and sold records for the 20-year-old would-be college student from Pennsylvania.
Swift was all smiles, as spectators ranging from preteen girls to college-aged guys screamed and applauded until their lungs and hands had had enough.
“I am beyond excited, beyond thrilled, to be in the great state of Oklahoma again,” Swift told the audience after opening with “You Belong With Me.” “Because you guys are just fun!"
There really is something about Taylor Swift — her hair-swinging, constant jumping, infectious guitar-playing — that is truly humble, and she threw herself into her performances without fear of going too far — simply because what she does now is as far as she wants to go.
It was as if every applause after every song — like the emotional wrecking ball of “Forever and Always” and the heart-wrenching, piano–based plea of “You’re Not Sorry” — completely floored Swift, though it was clear the effort was there.
She genuinely felt every song and put those emotions out there for us to bear with her, while still keeping up the entertainment factor with theatrics like the waterfall climax of encore “Should’ve Said No."
After performing her debut song “Tim McGraw” in a silver, sequined sundress and matching guitar, the audience cheered for Swift for 10 minutes, which seemed like an impossibly endless applause. Swift just stood there with the spotlight on her, tearing up as her fans screamed.
The “Taylor Swift formula” was as present as always — there was the signature sundress-and-boots, the fairytale metaphors, the acoustic guitars, etc., etc.
All are recurring motifs that Swift and her camp have cultivated into her image as a girly, hopelessly romantic, innocent young woman with a knack for telling the truth, and telling it well.
Just one thing was different, and for the better: her vocals were more spot-on live than I’ve ever seen from her TV award show performances. Considering her Grammys “performance” with Stevie Nicks as one of the most awkward, off-pitch duets I can remember, Wednesday’s performances were such an improvement. Paula Abdul would be so proud of her not being “pitchy” this time.
And while the occasional hip gyrating/hair-flipping combo did make for an awkward Shania-esque impression of where Swift’s path might be heading, it’s only normal for this normal girl — who went to a high school, had some boyfriends and happened to write songs about them — to be growing up.
Telling from the crowd’s reactions, the awards and the chart hits, Swift’s four-plus years of fame aren’t over just yet. The plenty of “I Love You, Taylor!” signs might be a hint of this.
Comments
sooner12 1 year, 10 months ago
Did that kid go out on a date with her?
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