Hello,
Remember as you are reading this review that we were dealing with sauna like conditions at the Energy Savings Arena, a screeching girl and her lame mother who couldn't keep off her phone. I previously reviewed Taylor's opening two acts on my September 30th, 2011 blog. Just scroll down to read that blog.
A few minutes before Taylor Swift took the stage, the song "Airplanes" played. This song by B.O.B. featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore. Later Taylor Swift sang a very Paramoreish song at the concert. Let's hope that her song writing and themes continue to mature as she does. My review of her is less than 100% favorable, but that's certainly nothing against Taylor, her band or her songwriting ability. A bit after I found out I would be able to go see Taylor Swift, I added all 37 of her songs that I have on to my iPod. Over the next little while I took off 6 of those songs as either they were so lame or she wasn't singing them at most of her concerts. That meant I only had 31 of her songs on my iPod. The next time I updated my iPod after the concert I kept 24 of those 31 songs on my iPod. Thus I'm not doubting her songwriting ability, because I only have the best of the best on my iPod. While listening to her music it made me realize how much of a fan of her I am.
Here's her setlist:
1) "Sparks Fly"
2) "Mine"
3) "Story of Us"
4) "Our Song"
5) "Mean" (my daughters favorite Taylor Swift song)
6) "Back To December/Apologize"
7) "Better Than Revenge"
8) "Speak Now"
9) "Fearless"
10) "Last Kiss"
11) "Animal" (Neon Trees cover)
12) "You Belong To Me"
13) "Dear John"
14) "Enchanted"
15) "Haunted"
16) "Long Live"
17) "Ours"
18) "Fifteen"
19) "Love Story"
Here's how the show went on.
1) Taylor rose out of the stage and started singing "Sparks Fly". Taylor's 2 hour and 15 minute concert started out very quickly with this song, it's truly a great song. I love the "meet me in the pouring rain" chorus. "Sparks Fly" is a very happy and upbeat song, a perfect song to start a concert with. After she finished "Sparks Fly" Taylor stood and exulted in the cheers and applause of an appreciative crowd. She seemed genuinely moved by this. Although after seeing that a few other times in the concert and from other concerts I began to wonder how sincere it is. Not only that but that's a show killer. (Everytime I go to a country concert I think they need to go to a rock concert to learn how to perform concert.)
2) "Mine" Taylor talks to the crowd for a few minutes. Again it's nice to have the performer stop and say a few words, but if anything Taylor talked too much. She enjoyed the love of 14,000 people.
3) "Story of Us" She kept up the energy with another one of her great songs. After singing two happy songs, she came back with this rockin' but unhappy song.
4) "Our Song" Again another happy love song. This song emphasizes Taylor's songwriting skill, I love how the last few lines tie the whole song together. Bot once again when the song is over, there's too much time until the next song starts playing. Again too much time between songs kills momentum. Also again too much soaking in the crowd's adulation. She also had one of her 8 costume changes. All those things can cripple a concert. As she was chatting she was talking about all the nice people she met in Salt Lake City and also how few nice people there were in the world. That led to her discussing the other kind of people in the world, eventually prompting the audience to scream "mean".
A couple of thoughts, this concert would have really started off even better if Taylor had sang the first 3 songs without an interruption. She then could have taken a break, exulted in the cheers and talked to the crowd a bit. Then she could have sang the next two songs without an interruption. The ESA would have been rocking.
5) "Mean" (my daughters favorite Taylor Swift song)
After she sang the above song, a bridge came down on the stage. Taylor sits at the piano and starts singing the song "Back To December" with a snippet of OneRepublic's "Apologize" added on. Surprisingly those songs together actually works. She was accompanied by 12 violins on this song.
6) "Back To December/Apologize" The song that is said to be about Taylor Lautner, eww!
7) "Better Than Revenge" Next up was the very Paramoreish song. It sounds similar to the music of Paramore and the themes are very much similar to Paramore. This is one of her newer songs, as well as one of her better songs. I'm hoping she continues to evolve in this direction.
Following this song, Swift's excellent guitarist played a solo. My daughter said that this guy reminded her of "Johnny Depp or Katy Perry's husband." Swift's 7 person band was given plenty of time to shine during the concert, she has a very good backing band.
8) "Speak Now" Another kick butt song, again the last few lines of this song makes the whole song better. As you can see on the below video, it's a elaborate production essentially acting out the song. Of course the guy picks Taylor Swift over the bitter fiancé.
During this song Taylor left the stage moving to another stage more central at the ESA to play a few more songs. She hugs and talks to many members on the way there. She moved to the alternate stage that features a lighted, rotating tree. Swift's concert is designed so that she can be accessible to everyone equally. Although it would have been nice if the ac was kicked up a notch by this point.
9) "Fearless" Before she sang this song Taylor was talking with the very annoying thumping sound in the background. She talks for a couple of minutes. She also talks about the ukulele and the happy sound it brings. Not my favorite song, but kept the momentum going.
10) "Last Kiss" Up to this point she had some nice rocking, energetic moments. This song, which is one of her worst as it's a slow, languid ballad. It had killed the energy which had been built up.
11) "Animal" (Neon Trees cover) From seeing previous Taylor Swift set lists I noticed that Swift was singing songs from a local act. Salt Lake isn't known for the vast amount of great singers that have come from here. Thankfully about a year ago Provo had the breakout band Neon Trees. Taylor sang the acoustic version of their hit song, "Animal".
12) "You Belong To Me" She started singing this song, then walked back through the crowd. As she walked back to the main stage she gave out more hugs, hand slaps and smiles. Swift knew she had most of the crowd in the palm of her hand.
13) "Dear John" As she sang this song, fireworks shot off. A ballerina and more dancing and someone played a violin solo. The solo also included several notes from the next song.
14) "Enchanted" There are three giant bells on stage. As the bells rose off the stage, dancers came out of the bottom of the bells. They performed Circus Soleil type dancing, hanging from the bells.
She closed out her set with "Haunted" and "Long Live", the last song being about performing on her first headlining tour. Swift then left and a few minutes later she retook the stage for the inevitable encore.
Unfortunately of the three songs she sang for her encore, two of them are some of her lesser songs. The curtain opens up on stage with Taylor Swift sitting there on a couch. Eventually the other 7 members of her band join her on the couch, another nice touch by Taylor Swift.
She starts out the encore with the song "Ours", I'll let Taylor speak for herself.
Then she sang "Fifteen" a song that I absolutely detest. Her concert would have much better if she dropped this song and sang either "Picture To Burn" or "Should've Said No". From reading her past set lists I knew this song was coming and was dreading it.
Finally in the 14,000 person sauna, a balcony was lowered from the top of the ESA. As she sang "Love Story" two ladies opened the balcony for Miss Swift, she stepped in. She got in and sang "Love Story" while sailing over the audience. Landing on the stage the two ladies let her out of the balcony.
I wish the songs she closed the show with she had actually started the show with. If she would have ended the concert with the first four songs she would have ended the concert on a rocking note. "Love Story" is a nice set closer, but the two songs before it killed any momentum the show had.
Thinking about this concert I would have to give it a C+. If it was me I would have cut the concert to 2 hours, completely cut out "Ours" and "Fifteen". Also she should have talked less and stood letting the crowd cheer for her. Like the last concert I saw, Nickelback, there were too many stops and starts. Also the dancing and costume changes were too many and again only slowed the momentum. Ending the show with "Should've Said No", Picture To Burn" and "Love Story" would have made for a butt kicking closer.
I think Taylor Swift is awesome, for only being 21 she already has written many great songs. She seems to be a truly genuine person. She gave a lot of the spotlight to her band, deservedly so. She has a lot going for her and a very bright future. Taylor I look forward to your next CD and wish you the best.
themusicaddict
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