Taylor Swift: City of Lover Concert

Upon completion, the City of Lover concert received positive feedback from the European media. Most critics were particularly fond of the acoustic session, which showcased Taylor’s songwriting crafts and intimate connections with the audience. Hannah Mylrea from the British magazine NME gave the concert a five-star rating. Also awarding the concert a five-star rating, Sarah Carson from the British newspaper i lauded Taylor as a “confident and commanding performer” with a more laid-back and self-asserted attitude. Carson was impressed by her performance at the 2,000-seat Olympia: “It’s one of the inevitable tragedies of fame that when a singer-songwriter transcends to ‘superstar’, world tours and stadiums and spectacles shove special little gigs like this to distant memory – to see Swift so close, in a historic room, all gilt and deep red velvet, was a privilege.”

The ABC TV special received positive reviews in the American press, although some critics felt that the 42-minute run was rather too short. Chris Willman of Variety lauded Taylor’s storytelling abilities through both her songs and her conversations regarding behind-the-scene conception of her music. Willman was also impressed by her simplistic appearance in a black dress and black boots, and the minimal lighting, which fostered an intimate setting. Alexis Lanza from North by Northwestern was similarly positive, but questioned whether Taylor only including the Lover songs was the result of the ongoing masters controversy with her former record label.