Taylor Swift and I go way back. An avid fan and loyal supporter since the days of "Tim McGraw," I've been around for all the ups and downs, all the boys and all the eras of music that her time in the spotlight has introduced us to. When I saw her during the Red Tour in 2013, I thought that was as good as it would get, the energy she had on stage and the connection she made with the audience was incredible and I felt myself remembering why I had been such a fan for so long. Since the release of her latest album, "1989," Taylor has continued to be a mover and shaker in the music industry. From picking a fight with Apple (and winning), to unapologetically expressing her feminism, Taylor has grown as a modern woman and a role model. Even if you aren't a fan of her music, you should respect the way she strives to make genuine connections with her fans, influence them in a positive way and offer whatever advice she can to make things a bit easier for them. Monday night's stop on the 1989 World Tour at Nationals Stadium was a combination of everything that makes Taylor Swift great. Pairing her high-energy, bubbly personality with moments of candor and some candid and sarcastic humor during a slight stage malfunction, it was without a doubt one of the best concerts I have ever been to. While it's hard to pick a favorite song or favorite moment because the entire two-hour experience was so incredible, I somehow managed to come up with a ranking based on not just the song itself, but its performance as well.
19. "I Know Places"
One of my least favorite songs from the album, this performance did nothing to change that for me. While nothing Taylor Swift does is bad, this performance just wasn't one of her most memorable.
18. "I Knew You Were Trouble"
This song was the first of several throwbacks to previous albums of the night, and like the ones that followed, was performed with a new, 1989 vibe. During the entire performance, I felt like I was at an '80s rock concert; it was intense and loud. While it was well done, I must say I prefer the original.
17. "I Wish You Would"
A great song but a performance that didn't capture my imagination in ways others did. A great one to dance along to, but it left me wanting more.
16. "This Love"
A beautiful, mellow song about a loving relationship performed about halfway through the show. While the lyrics are pure poetry, the fact that it came immediately after several other slower songs had my energy lagging a bit at a time where all I wanted to do was dance.
15. "New Romantics"
Performed very early on in the show, this song has great lyrics and makes you want to get up and dance. Since this song is one of my favorites from the album, I was expecting a bit more from the performance. Regardless, it was a great way to keep the audience on its feet as the concert really got going.
14. "Out Of The Woods"
One of the few instances where the performance was better than the song itself; the dancing and the visuals that came with it were out of this world. A decent song with great atmosphere, it was a great start to the end of the concert.
13. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
Perhaps one of the most memorable songs from Red, it was back with a slightly new vibe. This performance had all the sass and spunk it did during the Red Tour, but with added energy and intensity. It was one of those performances you couldn't help but enjoy.
12. "Royals"
Throughout the 1989 Tour, Taylor has been known to bring special guests on stage with her to perform a song or two. These guests have ranged from Nick Jonas to the United States Women's Soccer Team, so naturally the crowd waited with baited breath to see who would come onstage Monday night. As with everything else, Taylor did not disappoint. After bringing one of her best friends, Lorde, on stage with her, the two of them sang Royals. The song itself was enough to make it memorable, but seeing two people who care about each other share a moment like that was pretty cool.
11. "How You Get The Girl"
A feel-good song with catchy lyrics and a fun beat which was reinforced by a killer performance. A great time made even better by Taylor's bubbly stage presence.
10. "Welcome to New York"
An obvious choice to open the show with, Taylor came out strong and prepared to give the audience an incredible night. Right away, I was out of my seat and prepared to keep moving for the next two hours. If there's one thing that Taylor is good at, it's getting people excited and creating contagious energy, something she certainly did with this opening.
9. "You Are In Love"
This song occurred about halfway through the show and was the first of several slower songs played in a row. Taylor walked down to the front of the stage and taught the audience some of the lyrics before turning the entire performance into a sing-along. This song is one of genuine happiness and contentment and that feeling was resonating throughout the stadium the entire time.
8. "Bad Blood"
This song has been a recent favorite of mine since the music video was released and I was expecting the stage performance to be very similar. While the general vibe of the song was the same, the choreography was slightly different but nonetheless incredible. The dancers were phenomenal throughout the entire show, but they really delivered during this performance.
7. "Clean"
An emotionally-charged song made slightly light-hearted as a result of some technical difficulties with the stage (which Taylor handled with humor and a bit of sarcasm) this performance really got to me. She opened the song by telling the audience to go easy on themselves from time to time. She said in a world that is constantly being defined and redefined by what is posted on social media, we can't help but compare ourselves to what we see other people posting, their "highlight reel" as Taylor called it. She said that just because we don't see other people's darkest moments doesn't mean they don't experience them. We see everything that happens in our own lives and we need to start cutting ourselves some slack and giving ourselves credit for tackling our challenges. Following such an empowering talk, the song itself was an emotional experience for me.
6. "Love Story"
A throwback to "Fearless" and the only song that Taylor has performed during all of her tours, but with a new twist. The original tempo was slowed down a bit and paired with a heavier beat similar to many of the songs found on 1989. I love this small element of consistency between Taylor's different "eras" because it proves, at least to me, that despite the evolution of her music and her style, at her core, she really still is that teenager with teardrops on her guitar.
5. "Style"
This song and performance were both quintessential Taylor Swift. Outfitted in a beaded white dress, she gave a slight nod to the styles of previous tours while giving a vocally and visually dynamic performance.
4. "All You Had To Do Was Stay"
While this song wouldn't rank in my top five favorites from the album, seeing it live really added another dimension to it for me. Before she began, Taylor spoke at length about relationships and how they're messy, complex and hard to navigate. She spoke candidly about how everyone deserved to be loved, treated right and taken care of and if you're getting any less than that you should find the courage to walk away. While these words of wisdom are important for people my age to hear, it may be even more important for younger members of the audience to hear because they are the most impressionable. This monologue and performance really prove to me that Taylor knows her audience and wants the best for them.
3. "Shake It Off"
An absolutely phenomenal way to close out the show. The song's high energy and exceptionally choreographed stage performance kept me dancing the entire time. With fireworks shooting off the back of the stage as the song finished, she really did end the show with a bang.
2. "Wildest Dreams"
This song was performed entirely with Taylor seated at a piano and had lines from "Enchanted" (from "Speak Now") woven into it. This song was prefixed with yet another of Taylor's monologues where she talked about how when she's sad or stressed, she remembers moments of pure bliss (like playing live on stage in front of 45,000 people) to remind herself how blessed she is. She told the crowd that she hoped our memory of that night remains as magical as hers will.
1. "Blank Space"
A complete no-brainer here. Easily my favorite song (and music video) from the album, the live performance went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. As intense, dramatic and emotionally charged as ever, Taylor really delivered here.
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