Top 10 Best Taylor Swift Lover Era Performances
#10: “You Need to Calm Down”/ “Lover” “36th MTV Video Music Awards” (2019)
Folks at the 2019 VMAs were lucky enough to see Taylor Swift perform live. To make an already exciting occasion unforgettable, the star performed not one but two songs off her seventh studio album. She kicks things off with “You Need to Calm Down,” bringing infectious energy and so much fun to the ceremony. This is followed by a romantic rendition of “Lover” that never fails to make us swoon. Something about the way ballad and pop banger each get a moment to shine on the VMA stage makes each individual number sparkle a little more. After all, T.Swift always knows how to put on a show.
#9: “London Boy” BBC Radio 1 (2019)
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Swifties know that Taylor gave us many memorable performances when she stopped by BBC’s Live Lounge in 2019. There are plenty of songs to choose from from that concert, including a gorgeous take on “The Archer.” Still, we got to give this spot to the Brits. This version of “London Boy” is a little more pared down than the original release. But the stripped back production calls more attention to Swift and her background singers’ vocals, and the result is magnificent. The whole thing is crisp and on point, making for a harmonious performance we won’t soon forget.
#8: “False God” “Saturday Night Live” (1975-)
Taylor Swift loves a good surprise. After all, the Eras Tour has made waves thanks to those surprise songs, has it not? But the star has been surprising us long before the tour of a lifetime. In 2019, she was the musical guest on an episode of “Saturday Night Live” to promote the “Lover” album. She sang the titular number that night, in a gorgeous performance we might add. But her other song choice knocked us out. She brought “False God,” one of her vibier, sexier tracks, to life. It isn’t a single, and she doesn’t perform it live too often, but this made us wish she would.
#7: “ME!” feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco “26th Billboard Music Awards” (2019)
Okay, we know what you’re thinking. “ME!” isn’t necessarily one of Swift’s most beloved songs. But we have to give props where they’re due, and you can’t deny that her performance of it at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards is out of this world. The whole thing starts off with a bang with a literal marching band taking hold of the percussion section. The rainbow pastel set design and costuming, for their part, look amazing. Most importantly, the singer sounds incredible, and genuinely looks like she’s having a blast. It’s a lively, fun showing from start to finish, and we challenge anyone watching not to smile.
#6: “The Man”/ “Lover” / “Death by a Thousand Cuts” “NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert” (2008-)
What’s the only thing better than an NPR “Tiny Desk Concert”? A Taylor Swift NPR “Tiny Desk Concert”, of course! She made our wishes come true with just that for the first time in 2019, and most of the tunes she chose were from “Lover.” The concert is just Swift and her instruments, making the affair feel beautifully intimate. Her run of “The Man,” “Lover,” and “Death by a Thousand Cuts” show off her vocals and playing chops, and we’re still in awe. The other song she sang flawlessly, you ask? That was “All Too Well.” Not from the “Lover” era, but you know, we get it.
#5: “Cornelia Street” “City of Lover” (2019)
It’s always a treat when we get to hear just how strong Taylor Swift’s vocals are. The 2019 “City of Lover” concert in Paris put them on full display, with her rendition of “Cornelia Street” always stopping us dead in our tracks. We have to catch our breath listening to her and her guitar, because the raw emotion shining through is truly a sight to behold. In the past, Swift has said that “Cornelia Street” is deeply important to her. You can really hear that in this performance, as she paints a vivid picture of a love one hopes to never lose.
#4: “Lover” BBC Radio 1 (2019)
The first two singles off of the “Lover” album were big pop numbers. “ME!” and “You Need to Calm Down” are both really high energy songs, and we love them. But the third single, “Lover,” took things in a different, enthralling direction. It’s a gorgeously written ballad, and watching Swift perform it in BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, you can tell how much it means to her. It's a true blue love song, and everything about this version, from the patter of the guitars to the sound of her voice, suits it beautifully. It’s light, soft, and utterly majestic.
#3: “Soon You'll Get Better” “One World: Together at Home” (2020)
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This one proves that you don’t need over-the-top production values to deliver a great performance. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Global Citizen organization held a virtual benefit concert. Many famous artists participated, including Taylor Swift. Swift didn’t perform one of her big hits, but rather opted to sing a quieter number called “Soon You’ll Get Better.” It’s specifically about her mother’s experience with cancer, but its heart could easily be applied to people hurting in the early days of the pandemic. Swift only needs her voice, vulnerability, and piano to drive us to tears.
#2: Medley “47th Annual American Music Awards” (2019)
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When you’re being named Artist of the Decade, you’ve got to come out with a bang. That’s exactly what Taylor Swift did at the 2019 AMAs. The star basically foreshadowed the Eras Tour, initially wearing an iconic white top with her album names plastered all over. She performed several songs from various eras as part of a huge medley, but we want to focus on two “Lover” songs specifically. She starts the musical montage off in determined fashion with “The Man.” The drums hit hard and the dance moves hit harder, pumping us up. The performance ultimately ends with a gorgeous rendition of “Lover,” performed on the piano and accompanied by incredibly talented dancers Misty Copeland and Craig Hall. Talk about range! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Daylight,” “City of Lover” (2019) We’d Step Into the Daylight with This Performance Any Day “The Archer,” “Taylor Swift: Lover's Lounge Live” (2019) The First Live Performance of This Song More Than Delivered “The Man,” “City of Lover” (2019) We Love An Acoustic Version of a Pop Hit “You Need to Calm Down,” “Jingle Bell Ball” (2019) Don’t You Dare Step on Her Crown “You Need to Calm Down,” “Prime Day Concert” (2019) Keep Calm with This Banger of a Performance
#1: “Death by a Thousand Cuts” “City of Lover” (2019)
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Not all of Taylor Swift’s songs are born out of personal experience. In fact, the 2019 film “Someone Great” inspired her to write “Death by a Thousand Cuts.” Of course, we love the studio version of the tune, with its twinkling, whimsical production. But there’s something about her “City of Lover” performance that really gets us every time. Maybe it’s hearing Swift with her guitar backing her up and bolstering her every word. Maybe it’s the strength of her vocals. Maybe it’s how excited the crowd gets before she even opens her mouth to sing the first notes. It’s probably a mix of all that and more, but one thing’s for sure: this version of “Death by a Thousand Cuts” is magical. If you think you know any other “Lover” era live bangers, let us know in the comments below!