Taylor Swift performed a passionate and intense rendition of her hit song "All Too Well" at the 56th annual Grammy Awards last night, proving herself to still be a standout singer. Her performance closes out a monumental year for the singer, which saw her release a quadruple platinum album and headline a sell-out tour. Though Swift lost both Album of the Year and Best Country Album, she remained a strong presence at the Grammy Awards.
Swift has received plenty of backlash for her past awards show moments, most notably after the 2010 Grammy Awards when her duet with Stevie Nicks was called "horribly off-key" by Entertainment Weekly, yet critics are hailing her most recent performance for a different reason: her wild head-banging moves. Swift whipped her head back and forth like a professional metalhead, but did her performance make the top 10 list?
We present to you Taylor's top ten stage moments, from her beginning days as a curly-haired songstress to her most recent performances off of her acclaimed Red album.
Photo Courtesy of Image.net
[ new page = Mean]
10. Vevo's Live From New York City: "Mean"
Taylor Swift launched Enchanted Wonderstruck, her second perfume, in 2012. To celebrate the launch, Swift performed for an intimate crowd of fans.
[ new page = Love Story ]
9. Private French concert: "Love Story"
Taylor opens by giving a little history session to the fans gathered close around her in this private concert. "I wrote this about a guy that I liked that my parents didn't think was right for me. And it turns out they're always right. Like if they get a bad vibe about some guy, they're always right no matter what. I remember thinking 'It's like we're Romeo and Juliet, and everyone is trying to keep us apart!'"
[ new page = Run ]
8. George Strait's Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert: "Run" Cover
In 2009, "King of Country" George Strait was honored at the George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert. Taylor covered Strait's hit song "Run", giving a short speech before singing about her first tour opening for Strait when she was just 16 years old. The performance is touching, as it shows Swift paying homage to an old friend.
[new page = Mine ]
7. Ellen Degeneres Show November 2010: "Mine"
Ellen Degeneres has had Taylor as a guest on her show numerous times, but perhaps her best performance on the show is this one from 2010. A curly-haired Swift stands alone on the stage, strumming her guitar. Singing the emotional song "Mine", the performance ushered in the release of Speak Now .
[new page = Ain't Nothing 'Bout You ]
6. Brooks & Dunn Last Rodeo: "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" Cover
Performing at another ACM tribute concert, Taylor Swift shakes things up with a energetic performance of Brooks & Dunn's single "Ain't Nothing 'Bout You".
[ new page = Red & Highway Don't Care]
5. CMA's 2013 : "Red" and "Highway Don't Care"
Taylor Swift brought the fire with her red-hot performance during the 2013 Country Music Awards. Wearing a white tank top and high waisted shorts, Taylor belted out her top hit "Red" while strumming on a glittery red guitar. She was later joined by Tim McGraw for their duet song "Highway Don't Care"
[ new page = All Too Well ]
4. Grammy Awards 2014: "All Too Well"
Swift is no stranger to the Grammy stage, performing every year since 2009. This year showed Swift sing to her single "All Too Well". Spotlighted as she sat at the piano, Taylor dazzled in a flowing gown by Alberta Ferretti. The simple stage design gave way to her emotional performance.
[ new page = Ours ]
3. CMA's 2011: "Ours"
Then just 21 years old, Taylor Swift sung from the heart in a stripped down version of her song "Ours" from her third studio album, Speak now . Singing from a living room set, Swift's performance was greeted by cheers and applause.
[ new page = We Are Never Getting Back Together ]
2. Grammy Awards 2013: "We Are Never Getting Back Together"
Decked out in circus-inspired costumes, Swift and her dancers put on a show with her top-selling breakup hit "We Are Never Getting Back Together". This performance made headlines due to Swift's British accent during one part of the song - a shoutout to her ex-boyfriend Harry Styles of One Direction.
[ new page = I Knew You Were Trouble ]
1. "I Knew You Were Trouble" at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Her top performance to date is undoubtedly her sexy and supermodel-studded set at the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Taylor sang her single "I Knew You Were Trouble" as the Angels made their way down the runway. Dressed in a form-fitting silver minidress, Taylor looked like a model herself.