By Elena Gillis
Staff Writer
@elenamg24

ARLINGTON- “Well good evening, Arlington, Texas,” Taylor Swift began, after shocking the crowd with an elaborate performance of “Welcome to New York”, “In my opinion, there is no greater, or more beautiful sight in the world than 60,000 screaming people in Arlington, Texas, on a Saturday night.” And as she gazed at the crowd, filled with elaborate costumes and clever posters, you believed every word she said.

From the first song, it was clear that Swift was in her natural habitat. Swift, strutting across the rotating catwalk with friends that varied from backup dancers to special guest Ellie Goulding, talked to the fans as if they were friends.

She introduced herself, relayed advice, and made jokes. The sold-out crowd echoed her enthusiasm, shouting the lyrics and screaming every time Swift referred to the city as, “glorious Arlington, Texas.”

Swift’s tour renditions of songs from her latest album, 1989, came with props such as moveable doors for “I Know Places”, and flying lamp posts for “Welcome to New York” with gorgeous graphics that developed the message and feelings of the song further. 

Synchronized light-up bracelets were taped to each seat prior to the concert, which gave a spectacular light show when the music began.

While the frame of the original songs were still present, Swift began experimenting with new techniques such as a loop feature on several of her songs to create a strategic new sound, such as looping the word “Texas” during “Blank Space”. The songs often consisted of more instrumental moments than the originals do, as well as highlighting Swift’s impressive vocals.

While Swift’s set list consisted mainly of songs from 1989, she threw in few crowd favorites such as a “Wildest Dreams” and “Enchanted” mashup, a remixed “Love Story”, an acoustic “Fifteen”, and Swift-ified rock version of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”.

Swift’s opening acts, Canadian singer/viner Shawn Mendes and Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy drew crowds of their own. Mendes went on stage alone, playing a few of his well known songs such as “Stitches” and “Never Be Alone”, and Joy went on with a few other musicians and played hits such as “Riptide” and “Georgia”.

Almost a year after its release, 1989 and Swift are still bringing new memories, out-performing even our wildest dreams.