If you've seen a Taylor Swift concert prior to this summer, you know she doesn't mess around. With her infectious stage presence, impressive musicianship, and mesmerizing stage setup, the pop star leaves you wanting more the second her show ends.
But last August, the now 28-year-old singer declared that "the old Taylor is dead" in her eerie single "Look What You Made Me Do," the beginning of a new era for Swift. Introducing a production-heavy, moodier vibe with her sixth album, Reputation, it seemed Swift's next tour may be a different experience than her past productions. And it is, but in a way that doesn't overshadow what she's done before. Instead, the Reputation Tour shows the Taylor Swift she has meant to be all along.
As someone who had the opportunity to catch every Swift headlining tour in her country days (Fearless, Speak Now and Red), I knew very well what the old Taylor was like on stage. She had an innocence that made her feel like your friend, but there was always this boldness that, while endearing, felt a bit juxtaposed to her good-girl, curly haired image. It always worked, though, and each production was incredible -- but it all made sense once I saw the Reputation Tour.