Taylor Swift: Orlando concerts full of music, tweens and screams
Need milk? Well, go and get some at the grocery store and you will inevitably learn about Taylor Swift's ex-kinda-boyfriend. She and "he" appear on every quadrant of every magazine at every checkout aisle ever. Like, EVER.
But somehow, her reputation as a boyfriend rotisserie has worked for her, at least according to every 13-something across Central Florida. As you probably heard, the pop/country superstar's two-night Amway Center appearances sold out in a flash.
A guest and I experienced her Friday night show. We took it all in from the 'Club' level. That means - if you're Taylor - she's looking straight ahead and UP. It's an awesome perspective, allowing us to people-watch quite effectively.
There must've been 2.6 zillion glow-sticks. Even fans in the nosebleeds were waving those things frantically, praying that Taylor would glance their way and somehow make eye contact. Would she give them that "moment?" Probably not, but it gave them a better shot, at least. It was quite overwhelming to experience thousands of high-pitched squealing tweens and (no kidding) beefy, jock-like single men wearing bright red ball caps and hollering "Woo woo woooo!" without a care in the world. (I'll won't tell, man.)
I think we've all been forced to become curious about Taylor's failed relationships. I mean, come on - like Adele - those disastrous bf's have inspired history-making hits. Right before Taylor sang this one particular song, she told the audience, "Yeah, I write a lot of break-up songs," but I can also write about "happy-love situations." Oh, and with a dramatic pause, she added: "Sometimes people stay." So on she went with "Stay Stay Stay." The crowd went bonkers.
(SIDE NOTE: At this point, I am on the verge of becoming clinically deaf. Every mouth in the place was open, releasing an "eeeeeeek." If you know a good ear, nose & throat doc in town, I look forward to hearing from you).
After "Stay Stay Stay," Taylor began her "22" number. ! She was wearing a rather understated striped shirt and red pants, something appropriate for walking around the mall. As she made her way off the main stage and onto an intimate central stage, her dancers carried her through an aisle that rubbed against her I-paid-a-lot-for-these-tickets fans.
For some reason, I immediately thought about 9th grade chemistry class. Remember learning about positrons and electrons? Her electrically charged uber-fans reached for her with an almost measurable force. Every slap of her hand induced an I'm-gonna-DIE reaction. It was pretty awesome.
Next up, Taylor yapped away -- rather emotionally -- into her sparkly red microphone about a song she wrote for a 9th grade talent show. It's called "Our Song." She performed it simplistically - just a girl and her guitar.
Oh, but wait.
"If you scream loudly enough," she enticed he crowd, "Ed will sing a duet."
Really, Taylor? Youre have to even ASK for that? Her opener - Ed Sheeran -- reappeared, joining her on cue to sing "Everything Has Changed." He admitted that Friday was his first visit to Walt Disney World. The British singer totally dressed the part of a tourist, by the way -- capri pants and all.
During their duet - and after Taylor emphasized the word "British" - the crowd was thinking two things: her ex-British-flame Harry Stiles from One Direction and, well, Ed -- in the 'are they or aren't they?' kind of way.
Regardless, they pulled off a duet strong enough to almost silence the crowd. People wanted to listen to their acoustic performance.
The set-list had seven more songs, including "Sparks Fly" (and yes, sparks literally flew thanks to pyro), and "Trouble," when Taylor sported a short black-lacy number, her most "grown-up" outfit of the night. Still, my guest summed it up best. He felt like he was watching a Disney Channel concert. Even Taylor's dance moves had an immaturity about them, far more so than a 16-year-old Britney Spears in her 1998 "Baby One More Time" music vi! deo.
Let's see if Taylor's mid-twenties allow her to graduate to a PG-13 rating.