Taylor Swift and Def Leppard performed together for 2-3 hours for a taping of the epic series Crossroads. I've always liked this show, but never been to a taping of it.
For those of you that are unfamiliar, Crossroads is a show that puts a country artist up onstage with an artist from a completely different genre. Most of the time, they try to pair up artists that have something in common, or something going on in the media together (John Mayer and Brad Paisley - both guitar heroes; Kelly Clarkson and Reba - Reba was recording stuff for her duets album; etc etc!). Taylor Swift has always listed a Def Leppard album on her list of favorite albums of all time, and CMT took note.
I went into the show thinking...this is going to be awkward. And it was. But I also went into it thinking...this is going to suck. And it didn't.
I was pleasantly surprised.
I first saw Taylor Swift right as "Tim McGraw" was running up the country charts. To put it lightly...she was TERRIBLE. I mean, I don't particularly love country music in the least...but I dabble, and I work with it on a daily basis, so I like to think I have an ear for it at least a little bit. And this little high school girl was like a talent show gone wrong.
My only impressions of Def Leppard were from CDs and VH1 Classic....and Joey Fatone's rendition of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" in On the Line...
Tonight though, Taylor Swift sounded good, looked amazing, and still just holds the guitar...instead of playing it. Def Leppard sounded like old British men, and actually sounded GREAT.
I was beyond impressed. Taylor and Def Leppard sounded REALLY good together.
I'm not gonna lie - it looked REALLY awkward. and it was VERY odd hearing the lead singer form Def Leppard singing the words to "Shoulda Said No", and "Picture To Burn"...but somehow it worked.
It was VERY cool seeing the gaps in generations fold together for a fun night of music, both onstage and in the audience.
Taylor Swift may be only like 17 or 18 or whatever, and she may suck at playing any instruments...but she is a class act, and I'm glad I got to see her again. She works hard, and she appreciates what she's got. I wish every artist could be like that.
The Def Leppard guys were having a blast onstage too. It just looked like a bunch of old friends hanging out onstage, laughing, and playing the music they loved. Country, classic rock....whatever. If two artists are passionate enough about their art, and they get together onstage, it'll work. and it did!
Look for it on CMT soon. Extra points if you can spot me in the audience :)
3 comments:
Ummm...I would just like to say how utterly jealous I am that you were even in the same room as Def Leppard, let alone got to see them perform lol. I LOVE them...clearly lol. But I think it would have been really weird to have to watch Taylor up there with them. I'm interested about this show. Seems like a pretty neat idea.
Although I can't help but think of the Linkin Park and Jay-Z mash up when thinking about the show hahahaha. :)
I am pretty jealous about you getting to see Def Leppard, man. That show really sounds entertaining.. It kind of takes the artists out of their comfort zone. I don't know, I like seeing other people work under pressure.. Haha.
I really wish more people appreciated where they are, too. That's something that bothers me about some "celebrities." They always seem to take things for granted, and from the way you described Taylor, it gives me a crap load of respect for her even though I'm not particularly a fan.
Wow, that's the oddest mashup I've ever heard up but I bet it was awesome to see.
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