Magic, madness, heaven, sin! Taylor Swift opened the 2014 American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 23, inside L.A.’s Nokia Theatre with a literally heated performance of her latest number single “Blank Space.”
The 1989 songstress, 24, took to the stage in a slinky sequined dress with her blonde bob styled in loose waves. The song began with Swift enjoying a civilized dinner inside an elaborate mansion with an impossibly handsome suitor, recreating a scene from her “Blank Space” music video.
Swift — who appeared to be mostly lip-syncing for the energetic, over-the-top performance — then went on to play the role of a crazed lover, completing her transformation with accusatory pointed fingers, doll-like motions, and wild facial expressions. At one point, she even held flames in the palm of her hand, in addition to lighting a single rose on fire as she sang lyrics like: “So it’s gonna be forever, or it’s gonna go down in flames.”
Her backup dancers, meanwhile, served as suitors — some new and some already tossed aside. Several of the guys sported zombie-like makeup and scratches on their faces to represent the aftermath of a brutal relationship as Swift manically took to the stage belting: “Got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane.”
Swift excitedly touted the first live premiere of “Blank Space” via Twitter earlier Sunday.
#BlankSpace performance tonight on the #AMAs!!!!!!! It’s gonna be crazy. No like, actually crazy.
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 23, 2014
Swift will grace the 2014 AMAs stage again to accept the first-ever Dick Clark Award for Excellence, recognizing her historical record-setting album sales. Swift’s fifth studio album 1989 debuted with an astounding 1.287 million copies sold in its first week, making it 2014’s highest-selling album.
Swift told Us Weekly recently that she was happy that people were finally focusing on her success as an artist rather than her tumultuous love life. “It broke my heart!” she told Us. “I was selling out stadiums and it was all people talked about.”
Tell Us: What did you think of Taylor’s performance at the 2014 AMAs?