That’s popular music’s most elusive trait, but one that could be found from start to (nearly) finish at Taylor Swift’s winning concert Sunday night at the HP Pavilion.
It was there as the singer opened her San Jose show – which, like every other date on her “Fearless Tour,” sold out in mere minutes – with a high school motif that featured dancers dressed up as cheerleaders and musicians in marching band uniforms. The 20-year-old country/pop vocalist wore a majorette’s outfit, complete with a tall feathered hat, as she belted out a spunky version of 2009’s most-played radio hit, “You Belong With Me.”
As the song drew to a dramatic close, the cheerleaders tore off Swift’s uniform to reveal the glamorous gown underneath. It was just like in one of those popular teen flicks, where the nerdy girl takes off her glasses and suddenly transforms into the prom queen – and the storyline worked perfectly for Swift.
This wasn’t the Black Eyed Peas grooving with robots, Alicia Keys singing from a cage or Jon Bon Jovi acting like he’s auditioning for an Andrew Lloyd Webber production – all of which local crowds have witnessed in recent months – but something that actually made sense for the situation.
Although Swift is only a few years removed from high school, however, her songs are vastly more mature than what one finds with Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and other stars from her age group. It’s her ability to translate her teenage experiences into solidly written, and amazingly catchy, songs that has made her a hit with fans of all ages.
Moms and daughters, as well as groups of teens and couples out for a date night, sang along with equal gusto as Swift detailed young romance in “Our Song,” an aching heart with “Forever and Always” and a great first date in “Fearless” (the title track to Swift’s second release, which was the best-selling album of last year).
The backdrop changed on a regular basis, conjuring up such settings as a school library for “Teardrops on My Guitar” and a fairytale kingdom during “Love Story,” and every bit of the eye candy strengthened the messages found in the music.
Swift proved remarkably versatile as a vocalist, finding equal success with tender ballads like “Tim McGraw” and old-school country rockers such as “Picture to Burn,” both of which hail from the star’s eponymous 2006 debut.
As good as she was on the microphone, however, she might have been even better when she wasn’t singing. She spent a surprising amount of time, perhaps the most I’ve ever seen at a major concert, interacting with the crowd, touching countless hands, delivering dozens of warm hugs and thanking her fans for their support.
Other big-name celebrities attempt similar endeavors, and the results usually stink of mere gimmickry. Swift, on the other hand, makes those efforts feel like they’re coming from the bottom of her heart. If she’s faking it, the star deserves an acting trophy to go along with all the music awards already on her mantel.
The two-hour show proved, beyond all reasonable doubt, that Swift deserves her spot among today’s most talented performers. What it didn’t answer, though, was whether she has what it takes to stay on top – and, indeed, it might be too early to tell.
Her odes to adolescent love and teenage-boy troubles sound mighty authentic coming from her lips in 2010. Yet, how will they sound when she sings them as a 30-year old? She’s already attempting to explore more mature rock sounds, venturing into the alt-rock world of Evanescence and punching up the folk-pop-piano vibe of Fiona Apple, and the results in San Jose weren’t particularly impressive.
In fact, the low point of the evening came during its final number, when the singer moved completely out of her comfort zone to deliver an over-the-top version of “Should’ve Said No” that seemed better suited for Britney Spears. It was in that moment, and fortunately that moment only, that Swift seemed far from genuine.
