If you're a Taylor Swift fan, speak now. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for Taylor Swift’s most iconic performances of songs from the “Speak Now” album.
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00:00 I don't think you should wait. I think you should speak now."
00:03 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for Taylor Swift's most iconic
00:09 performances of songs from the Speak Now album, including mashups and medleys with numbers from
00:14 different eras. "I hear the preacher say speak loud for Evan Hall, your peace."
00:23 Covers of other artists' tunes she treated us to during that time, between 2010 to 2012, also qualify.
00:30 Sadly, though, we have to exclude eras to her performances due to lack of official footage.
00:35 Number 10. Sparks Fly - CMA Music Festival
00:40 This is one of the most recognizable songs from Swift's third studio album,
00:52 and her performances of it have been truly memorable over the years.
00:56 When she sang it during her Speak Now world tour, she took our breath away amid intense
01:01 lights and pyrotechnics while donning a gold dress. "Sparks, sparks fly, and every year I fly by."
01:11 She also absolutely crushed her rendition at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
01:16 But we just have to talk about how she brought the number to life at the 2011 CMA Music Festival.
01:21 "Cultivated by you, baby, like a four-wall show, you chopped everything down."
01:30 It was undeniably iconic, with her passion shining through each word. The folks in the
01:36 Nashville crowd were joyously cheering and singing along, and we can hardly blame them.
01:40 Number 9. Mine - Live On Letterman
01:48 "You were in college, working part-time, waiting tables, left a small town, never looked back."
01:56 Mine is a fantastic tune to jam to, whether Taylor Swift is singing it for you or you're in
02:01 your car belting it out solo. Though if given a choice, we'll always opt for a chance to hear
02:05 Swift live. "You remember we were sitting there by the water, you put your arm around me for the
02:12 first time." There are countless examples of her nailing the song everywhere from the Speak Now
02:17 World Tour to the CMA Music Festival. Still, it's her rendition of it for Live On Letterman that
02:30 left us with chills. It was perfectly simple, allowing the full weight and meaning of the
02:35 lyrics to shine through. "She is the best thing that's ever been in my life."
02:44 You can tell Swift belongs on stage, as evidenced by this showing,
02:48 and the way she brought the house down while singing Speak Now during the concert series.
02:52 Number 8. Dear John - Speak Now World Tour
03:11 Dear John clocks in at a little under seven minutes, making it its album's lengthiest number.
03:16 But make no mistake, Swift had no trouble keeping audiences hooked while she sang it
03:21 during the Speak Now World Tour. "You'll add my name to your long list of traitors who don't
03:29 understand." We felt like we were stargazing watching the atmospheric lights and her
03:36 flowing dress. "Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone."
03:46 Of course, the star we were truly gazing upon was Swift herself, and we couldn't look away.
03:52 "Shining like fireworks over your shining design."
04:02 Between that, the raw lyrics she immersed herself in, the spine-tingling guitar work of her band,
04:07 and those finale fireworks, it's hard not to be enthralled by this performance.
04:12 Number 7. The Story of Us - Speak Now World Tour
04:31 One of the more upbeat songs from this era, The Story of Us is about the discomfort you
04:35 might feel when encountering an ex. But there's been nothing uncomfortable about
04:39 Swift's performances of it. Her rendition on The Ellen DeGeneres Show has us absolutely beaming.
04:44 But how could we not spotlight the Speak Now Tour performance? It brought us to our knees.
04:57 Her infectious energy was matched only by the crowds, while everything from the staircase to
05:02 the dancers' choreography flawlessly set the tone. It was also reminiscent of the Superfun
05:14 Music Video's energy. And we couldn't, and still can't, get enough.
05:20 Number 6. Mean - 46th Academy of Country Music Awards
05:30 One of the most popular Speak Now songs around, fittingly has been performed in a plethora of
05:35 unforgettable ways and places. Watching Swift play Mean live in New York, we were in awe.
05:44 And we could never forget her 2012 Grammys rendition, the same ceremony at which she won
05:55 two awards for that very tune. Still, our favorite performance of Mean took place at
06:00 the ACM Awards in 2011. The vintage, country vibe of the staging and costuming, paired with
06:11 a personality in Swift's voice, made for a show we won't soon forget. There's simply no mean thing
06:24 we could ever say about this one. It's glowing with star power. Number 5. Long Live and New
06:39 Year's Day - Reputation Stadium Tour Long Live is powerful, and warrants performances that are as
06:52 moving as the triumphant tune. Of course, Taylor Swift has never failed us in this regard.
07:04 During her 2010 NBC Thanksgiving special and the Speak Now World Tour about a year later,
07:09 she performed it with an intensity and emotion that left us spellbound. When she brought it to
07:14 the stage for her Reputation Stadium Tour, though, she stopped us dead in our tracks by
07:19 mashing it up with New Year's Day. Stripping the number to its roots, she let her voice and the
07:32 piano do the talking. It was mesmerizing, allowing the audience to breathe in each lyric and the
07:38 meaning behind them. We still get choked up watching it today. Number 4. Back to December -
07:55 44th Annual Country Music Association Awards Here's another instance where Taylor Swift
08:07 changed our lives with her performances during both her Thanksgiving special and her Speak Now
08:11 World Tour. But there's a different rendition of Back to December that really stands out from the
08:23 crowd. Indeed, what Swift delivered at the 2010 CMAs was breathtaking. She sat at a majestic piano
08:39 singing her heart out, with the orchestra accompanying her adding to the melancholy
08:43 inherent in the ballad. That, plus the seasonal backdrop that made us feel like we were literally
08:47 traveling back to December, made for a deeply meaningful performance that highlighted the song's
08:52 apologetic nature. Number 3. Enchanted - Speak Now World Tour
09:01 This is one aptly named power ballad because Swift's performances of it over the years have
09:16 been some of the most enchanting we've ever seen. During the Speak Now World Tour, it was brought
09:21 to life with the help of ballet dancers, sparkling backdrops, and gorgeous costuming.
09:26 Of course, her vocals and the song itself are strong enough to stand on their own.
09:29 But mixed with the spellbinding visuals and choreography, the result was somehow even more
09:40 irresistible. Swift also charmed us by mashing this tune up with a later hit,
09:44 "Wildest Dreams," during her 1989 World Tour. That and her special Thanksgiving performance
09:59 in 2010 were also magnetic. Still, nothing beats the gorgeous, theatrical version we got during
10:05 the 2011-2012 World Tour. Number 2. Speak Now - Speak Now World Tour
10:17 It makes sense that one of Swift's best performances is of the song the Speak Now
10:30 album was named after. Unique and wrapped in a play-like energy, this live version of the
10:35 tune was ideally matched to its talk of crashing a wedding and speaking up before it's too late,
10:40 largely recreating the scenario outlined in the lyrics.
10:43 Swift not only looked stunning as she danced and smiled in her purple dress,
10:55 she also sounded fantastic and really sold the story, as did the rest of the performers.
11:00 "Everybody looks for anyone in the room, but I'm only looking at you."
11:07 The colorful outfits and fun tie-ins further added to the atmosphere,
11:11 making it impossible to sit still. We might not ever actually crash a wedding,
11:15 but we can always watch this performance if we feel like pretending.
11:19 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:28 White Blank Page - BBC. Swift's cover of this Mumford & Sons tune could send chills down anyone's
11:33 spine. Ours - 45th Annual Country Music Association Awards. Performing on a couch,
11:51 Swift delivered a performance we can only describe as lovely.
11:54 Last Kiss - Speak Now World Tour. Who could forget the guitar moments and pure emotion here?
12:19 Better Than Revenge - Speak Now World Tour. You might say this performance was better than Revenge.
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12:47 Number 1. Haunted - Speak Now World Tour.
12:50 It's clear that Taylor Swift's best performances from the Speak Now era are the ones that happened
13:01 during her 2011 to 2012 world tour, and this is no exception. Haunted is one of her most underrated
13:07 works, and this powerful rendition is one additional reason it deserves to be talked about
13:12 endlessly. The deep romantic red dress she donned set the tone for the dark and moody performance
13:23 that unfolded. That, alongside the trees and lights, created something we can only describe as hypnotic.
13:29 The drama, the bell-banging, the wonderfully poetic dancing, and, of course, Swift's passionate
13:40 singing made this a picture-perfect performance. What was your favorite Taylor Swift performance
13:50 from the Speak Now era? Let us know in the comments. Do you agree with our picks? Check
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