Were you “Ready For It?” Spectators that were in The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on Tuesday, September 18th would probably say that no, they were not ready for the phenomenal show put on by Taylor Swift. She is finishing up her 2018 stadium tour for her most recent album, “Reputation.” With this album came new sounds, new looks, and, according to her song “Look What You Made Me Do,” a new Taylor.
The whole event started with an opening performance by Charli XCX, playing some of her hits “Boom Clap” and “Fancy” (originally sung with Iggy Azalea). Former member of the band Fifth Harmony Camila Cabello followed, singing her own songs “Havana” and “Never Be the Same” from her debut album Camila.
At the door, all fans of the sold-out event received a bracelet and were instructed to pull a tab once Swift came out on stage. From there, it was like magic! The bracelets lit up and flashed different colors to the music. At one point, the audience’s lights made several hearts in the crowd during the song “Love Story.” Swift commented on the bracelets saying that they decided to do this for the stadium tour because they knew the crowds would be large. She said, “With these bracelets, I can see everyone that is in the crowd.”
Bre Pollitt, student of GU, attended the concert on Tuesday. When asked what she thought of the show overall, she said, “It was all put together so well – the choreography was spot on, the massive stage and the graphics made it super cool, and she even had giant snakes that came out of the stage. I would give it a 10/10 for sure.”
The jaw-dropping stage – including features such as two catwalks, fifty-foot movable video screens, and even fireworks.
Joey Clinton, student of GU and a huge fan of Taylor Swift, commented on her superb performance. He said his favorite part was “a toss-up between the ‘Long Live’/’New Year’s Day’ mash-up and her song during her entrance ‘Ready For It.’” Joey also gave some insight about the great debate: Old Taylor or New Taylor? “Part of me wants to say her old music is better (because Speak Now is one of the greatest albums of all time), but a big part of that just comes from the fact that her career started out on such a high note that everything after that, even if it’s just as good, can sometimes feel like reading old ground. That being said, when seeing her in concert, it was evident that she has matured as an artist and has a much better grasp on what her fan-base will enjoy.”
Though everyone was getting to experience the “new Taylor,” she made sure to bring back the classics of her previous albums. For her surprise song (an older song that changes at every show), she performed an acoustic version of “Hey Stephen” from her album Fearless, released in 2008. There were also mash-ups including “We Are Never Getting Back Together” with “Dancing With Our Hands Tied,” as well as “Bad Blood” with “Should’ve Said No.”
Following this show, fans hope that they will see one again like this in the future. Will you be “Ready For It?”
Media by Russell Lamb.
