Taylor Swift dazzles Orlando
By Erica England | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photos by Erica England
When I stepped into the Amway Arena Friday night in Orlando I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical. Who is this Taylor Swift girl, I thought, and why is Kanye West not a fan?
It was not long before I realized there is a reason why Swift is as successful as she is. The 20-year-old country crooner’s performance outshined country stars like Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney with her nearly two-hour, high-energy show.
It began with Swift standing triumphantly on a large platform donning a marching band uniform, belting out her Grammy award- winning single, “You Belong with Me.” Ballet dancers clad in cheerleading uniforms twirled and leaped across the stage transformed to resemble a high school cafeteria.
Swift covered the majority of her songs from both of her albums, “Taylor Swift” and “Fearless.”
She took the audience back in time with her “fairytale-esque” performance of “Love Story.” Swift and her dancers waltzed around in Victorian-inspired costumes.
For most of the show Swift lost the kooky costumes and shimmied and shook around the stage in a silver flapper dress and black combat boots. Her trademark blonde curls flayed around as she danced like a person does when they’re by themselves in their room listening to their favorite song.
At times it was evident that Swift has experienced the pitfalls of young relationships. She featured comical shorts on jumbo trons about her habit of writing songs featuring actual boyfriends’ names. One of the shorts included a cameo from Stephen Barker Liles of the band Love and Theft, who was the inspiration for Swift’s hit, “Hey Stephen,” and Tim McGraw, mocking the fact that they’ve been struck with relentless obscurity for being named in a Swift song.
Although some parts seemed to dwell on man-hating for a bit too long, (there was a dramatic couch-tossing seen during the song “Forever and Always,” while the words, “they shouldn’t do bad things” raced across three black screens in red), it still couldn’t distract from the fact that Swift is actually one of the few young performers today that can actually sing well.
Swift displays more passion for her fans than any other artist I’ve ever seen perform live.
She sang her first hit single on country radio, “Tim McGraw,” on a small revolving stage toward the back of the arena to reach the fans who otherwise would have only been entertained by her image on the jumbo trons. Swift also walked through the ground floor seats stopping for numerous hugs and kisses from crying fans.
According to one of Swift’s hit singles from the album, “Taylor Swift” you should’ve said no, but I can’t help but say yes to her music. She may be young, but Swift has enough talent and supporters to last her a lifetime.
Wow Steve, seriously get a life! If you didn’t like the article than don’t read it. Don’t you have better things to do than rip another persons writing apart? This is a class for her I guess. Soooo your the only one that looks like an idiot. Erica you go girl! Great reporting and a good story. Get it!
I took my 7 year-old to her concert. She was having the best time ever. To tell you the truth i was having fun too. Taylor is a great preformer, not every voice in the world has to be strong. Her voice is actually very enjoyable.
Great review. I also went to one of her concert they are realy fun. But one thing that always anoys me is the screaming fans they can’t let you enjoy the music.
Loved your review. I went to that concert too. It was my second Taylor Swift concert, and I have to say, if I could go to one of her concerts every week, I wouldn’t think it twice. She is a unique performer and artist no matter what anyone says. And if you haven’t seen her show, you’ve no right to critisize. If you have and disliked it, then you’re probably about the only one. The show gets great reviews over and over. Ask anyone who has gone to a concert of hers, and you’ll see: they loved it. She made country music popular again, which is undeniable. I disliked country, until I fell in love with her, and I now listen and buy music from other country artists. So country singers should give her a big thank you for that. And for all the viewers at award shows…Long Live Taylor Swift. <3
Excuse me…
I hate REPORTER using the word “Outshined” by Taylor Swift…
AARGGHHHHHH…….
Yeah, she got talent…but why a “vocalist” like that to compare with Kenny Chesneya and others…
I don’t wanna say this , but I have to,
TAYLOR SWIFT POLLUTES THE COUNTRY MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
great article.. yup.. i can’t help but say yes to her music too..
@david : well-said.. and i gotta agree with what you said 110%
A performer inspiring mass frenzy from a predominantly young female audience is not anything unique. From Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley to the Beatles and the Stones to the Backstreet Boys to Justin Bieber, the history of pop/rock music has seen such occurrences at least once or twice every decade or so. But when has the source of such non-stop screaming ever been a young woman? One who began as a Country artist yet? Never!
And when has a young girl’s diary, written in real time from 12-to-20, ever resonated so universally with her peer group? AGAIN, NEVER!
And what a role model! Not just because she takes pride in the way she conducts herself, but because of the strength, assertiveness and empowerment she has shown over every aspect of her her career. This is a performer. This is an artist. Not just another singer. Not just a manufactured creation of hype. Taylor is a true,self-made artist with a vision.
Well reported.
@stevelll: I doubt that Taylor Swift’s staff would pay a student newspaper in St. Augustine to write a good review.
Great article, I love Taylor Swift!
PS: Just trying to be helpful, a little typo: “Orland” instead of “Orlando.”
HMMMMMM! To GARGOYLE STAFF—How much is the Taylor Swift staff paying you to publish this article? You are full of ehem. You stated this artist outshined Kenney Chesney and Carrie Underwood. Are you deafffffff? with a capital D??? There is a reason why Taylor’s show is high energy of course and that is not because she is young but because the staff is trying to divert the performance from her flat out vocals to all of these dances/ costumes and high energy show. You are too biased with your publication. I know you are very partial to Taylor and it shows.