Taylor Swift Sparkles at the Canadian Tire Centre

Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for TS

“After five long years of not coming to see you, it is so good to be back in Ottawa,” Taylor Swift told the screaming fans at the Canadian Tire Centre on July 6.

The pop powerhouse and singer-songwriter stopped by the Capital along her 1989 World Tour, instantly bringing the crowd to their feet, keeping them dancing and singing all night long.

“Welcome to New York,” brought a little bit of the Big Apple to Ottawa. The song was one big party, a celebration of light and colour, and Swift invited us along.

Chatting with the audience and performing some of her older songs, Swift emphasized three themes during the show: fun, friendship and finding her sound.

FUN

The first word that comes to mind when describing this concert. Sparkles. Lights. Props. Costume changes. A levitating runway. Smoke machines. This show had it all.

Swift added a personal touch, giving every audience member a glow-bracelet. When the show started, each and every one lit up like a galaxy of stars—this kind of sparkle and spectacle was an ongoing trend.

“I can see every single one of you,” Swift told the crowd, smiling.

The runway was another unforgettable part of the performance–Swift and her dancers rocked that runway. Later on, it rose up completely over the crowd, bringing Swift closer to every one of her fans, something that has been really important to the artist.

FRIENDSHIP

Swift said there are two requirements to be her friend. First, you have to like her, and second, you have to want to spend time with her.

“I am in a room with 13,500 of my friends,” she said.

Even though the show was jam-packed with upbeat moments, Swift took the time to talk to her fans, thanking them and encouraging them to be who they want to be.

“You are not someone else’s opinion of you,” she told the crowd.

Swift also brought her famous “squad” to the show. Okay, not in person, but video transitions during the concert showed Swift’s popular posse. From Lena Dunham to the Haim sisters, Swift’s friends spoke to the crowd about friendship, love and empowerment—all of which are important messages in Swift’s music.

FINDING HER SOUND

1989 marked a shift in Swift’s sound. Inspired by the pop music of her generation, the 25-year-old superstar wanted to try something new and different.

Remixing a few favourite tracks, Swift showed her sexy, sassy, sophisticated side.

“I Knew You Were Trouble” was super sultry. Swift slowed it way, way down at the beginning. Her rocker-chick version of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was nothing short of epic.

But Swift also showed a softer side near the end of the show with a mash up of “Enchanted” from her Speak Now album and “Wildest Dreams” from 1989. In an elegant (and of course, sparkly) gown, Swift made the two songs work beautifully together. With this, she showed how she can blend the old and the new.

Ending the show with the signature “Shake It Off,” Swift simply brought the house down. Confetti showered the crowd as she hovered over the audience on the runway, shaking it in a pink, sparkly, fringe two-piece with her dancers. Every single person in the room, including Swift, was smiling from ear to ear.

It was a night the audience will “never, ever, ever” forget.

Shout out to the talented band, dancers and opening act, Vance Joy, for adding to this fantastic concert with their performances!

If you didn’t get a chance to catch the show, you can download 1989 on iTunes or use Apple’s music streaming service. Swift made headlines when her open letter to Apple Music changed the company’s policy to pay their artists during the free-trial period. Read her letter here.