Top 10 Taylor Swift Live Performances That Gave Us Chills

“Taylor Swift: City of Lover Concert” (2020)
If you needed a performance to prove why Taylor Swift is an elite-tier artist, this is it. Just her, her guitar, and that breathtaking instrument she calls her voice. When you can emote so powerfully through sound, nothing more is needed. Here, Swift pours her heart into a breakup song so raw and painful it aches. The track was inspired by the Netflix rom-com “Someone Great,” a film that profoundly moved her—even seeping into her dreams. She later discovered that the film's creator, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, had worked on the script while listening to “1989,” particularly “Clean.” What makes this performance unforgettable is its simplicity, stripping everything away to create an experience that feels universally relatable.

“Stand Up to Cancer” (2012)
Given the inspiration behind this number, it’s hard not to feel moved, no matter where or how you hear it. What makes it even more powerful is that Swift performed it at the “Stand Up to Cancer” televised charity event. Her voice carries so much emotion, and you can see it in her eyes, too, as she recounts the grieving mother’s blog posts that inspired the song. Honestly, we don’t know how she managed to get through it without breaking down—we could barely see her through our own tears! It’s a heartfelt tribute to a life cut tragically short, and Taylor pours every ounce of herself into honoring his and his family’s story.

“46th Annual American Music Awards” (2018)
From the moment she steps on stage, Swift doesn’t just captivate—she commands, pulling us into her orbit and making sure we’re hanging on to each note and every lyric. This song is Swift’s armor, forged from the fire of relentless bad press, and now that she has the world’s attention, she’s ready to unleash everything she’s been holding back. She called writing “Reputation” “cathartic,” and this performance makes that crystal clear. From the red-hot staging to the sharp choreography to her fierce vocal delivery, Swift channels her rage and frustration into a relentless takedown of those who tried to break her. This was her battle cry, and we were ready to fall in line.

“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (2023)
How many modern artists wear their hearts on their sleeves quite like Taylor? “Marjorie” is a heartfelt tribute to her late grandmother, who encouraged Taylor’s dream of becoming a musician. As she sings, you can feel the love and bond they shared, with her grandmother’s memory living on through every note. The audience lights up the stadium, yet the performance feels deeply personal and intimate as if Taylor’s memories are unfolding before us in her words. It’s a performance that is so moving that it makes us wish our own grandparents were beside us, watching, so we could hug them tightly. Really, it’s a love letter in a song, and it's beautifully timeless.

“Taylor Swift: Speak Now World Tour Live” (2011)
Taylor brings such a mix of unfiltered passion, theatrical spectacle, and overwhelming sonic power to this performance that we can almost imagine it on a Broadway stage. From hitting that bell with all that she’s got to the dancers descending from it, this is a performance where if you blink, you’ll miss something incredible. You can also feel every twisted, painful moment of the relationship she’s singing about. She pours so much of herself into every lyric, combining vulnerability and defiance in a way that cuts deep. It’s intense, it’s raw, and it’s so damn powerful that you can’t help but get goosebumps. Few artists can make songs about heartbreak and darkness feel this real.

“Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour” (2018)
We can’t talk about the “Reputation” tour without noting how Swift transforms “Clean” from heartache into a breathtaking moment of emotional clarity. Then there’s “Long Live,” a performance that hits us right in the heart every time. She sings about her biggest highs, inviting us to share in her victories and be part of every moment as if we’ve been there with her all along. In many ways, true Swifties actually have. She then smoothly transitions into “New Year’s Day,” where her sincerity and unfiltered honesty radiate through every second. In a sea of flashing lights and high-energy moments, this performance hits you with a quiet, unshakeable emotional force that lingers long after.

“56th Annual Grammy Awards” (2014)
It’s just Taylor, a piano, a gorgeous dress, and her lucky number, 13. Yet, again, she lays bare an unflinching, stirring honesty that’s almost overwhelming to hear. Apparently, this was a tough one to write, as she had to “filter through” her emotions to carefully choose what to include without making it too long - we’d just have to wait a bit for the 10-minute version in all its glory. In this performance, it feels like she’s not aware of the countless people watching; instead, she’s just reliving these personal memories. Starting soft and wistful, she builds intensity with head-banging moments that punctuate her emotional whirlwind. Every moment feels like peeling back an old scar, exposing something intensely personal but somehow familiar to anyone who’s ever loved and lost.

“Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour Live” (2015)
If any artist knows how to keep us on our toes, it’s Taylor. For example, when she reimagined this old classic with a rockier edge. This high-energy performance strips away the original track’s gloss and replaces it with a gritty intensity that perfectly captures the messiness of a frustrating breakup. The aggressive instrumentation and bold vocals amplify the defiant energy to a whole new level. It’s like she’s added a few more “Nevers” as she turns her breakup anthem into an even more confident statement of defiance. Taylor’s delivery is unstoppable, every word brimming with conviction. The intense rock sound and her fierce performance create an electrifying moment that hits harder—and louder—than the original ever could.

“Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions” (2020)
With the world in uncharted waters, Taylor dropped a surprise album and the self-directed concert documentary, which felt like a moment of “Peace” and was a balm to the soul. Most of “Folklore” could already give us chills, but this collaboration took it to another level. Justin Vernon's velvety, somber baritone and Taylor's dynamic, heartfelt voice mix together in a way that feels almost magical. From the eerie, building tension to those stunning, heartbreaking harmonies, it's like watching a doomed relationship play out in real time. It's just so honest, real, painful, and so, so personal. It's almost theatrical and utterly soul-stirring, leaving us feeling gutted but seen in a way only Taylor can do.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Practically Ethereal Performance with a Powerfully Dramatic Crescendo

Like a Vocal Hug During a Difficult Time Where Actual Hugs Were in Short Supply

Made All the More Emotional When Fallon Shared His and His Late Mother’s Connection to Some Specific Lyrics

Raw & Intimate, Her Stunning Voice & Captivating Stage Presence Leave Us Breathless

With Its Haunting Vocals & Enchanting Stagecraft, It’s Enough to Send Chills down Your Spine

“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (2023)
Hands up, who got chills just arriving at the “Eras” tour? In true “Reputation” fashion, this song sees Swift confronting the media’s relentless scrutiny—but this time, she’s the one steering the narrative. With fierce vocals and unyielding energy, she commands us to stand up and pay attention. While comparing love to addiction is nothing new, she flips the trope here, turning the external narrative about her into something she owns. The performance is almost cinematic, with lights casting bars that simply can’t contain her energy. Taylor throws everything she’s got—and more—into this moment, going harder than we ever expected. She had a message, and trust us, we heard it loud and clear.


What Taylor Swift performance do you know, “All Too Well” will leave you with chills? Let us know in the comments