Singer Kelly Clarkson did her own rendition of the Taylor Swift single “Shake It Off,” off of Swift’s new album 1989 while appearing in concert in Buffalo, New York on Saturday at the Sheas Performing Art Center, according to a YouTube video of the performance.
“This is a church song. This is a soulful song,” Clarkson said to a cheering audience in the video, unknowing as to what song she was referring to. “It’s one of my favorite songs right now.”
Clarkson teased the audience, wagging her finger and saying that they think they knew it, but that it was not Sam Smith, a British Soul singer. Clarkson then said she was going to bring a little Jesus into the concert.
Soulfully diving into her rendition, the crowd started to cheer and applaud as they recognized the lyrics to the 2014 dance anthem Swift released Aug. 18. Slowing down the beat, the crowd sang along with the 32-year-old American Idol winner. With a few quick drum beats, the song kicked off in its regular tempo at the song’s chorus, Clarkson taking her microphone off its stand to move about the stage.
After finishing the song to a round of applause, Clarkson exclaimed how she loved the song again while bringing her microphone stand to the front of the stage.
“Seriously everyone gives Taylor [Swift] such a hard time,” Clarkson said nodding her head expressively. “But she can write a hook, I’m just sayin’.”
Clarkson then said that she liked the church version of the song at the beginning.
“I might be going to hell, but it ain’t going to be for that,” Clarkson said with a laugh.
Swift herself took to Twitter to comment on the performance, People reports.
“Watching Kelly Clarkson slay 'Shake It Off' is an excellent way to celebrate 26 hours til[sic] 1989,” Swift wrote in the Twitter post.
Clarkson’s appearance at the Sheas Performing Art Center was due to a rescheduling of a concert last November, where customers who attended the grand opening of the Microsoft retail store in Walden Galleria received tickets for the concert, according to the events Facebook page. Due to illness, Clarkson’s appearance was rescheduled for Oct. 25, 2014. The page also shows that those who wished to attend the concert were able to get free tickets from the Walden Galleria store for a limited time.