The Red Tour Malaysia Experience

#RedTourMalaysia
 THE SHOW WAS EFFING LIFE CHANGING

Firstly, the pictures in this post are both mine and others' obtained from websites, Twitter and Instagram accounts. I will give full credits at the end of this post. And I some of my own pictures will have relatively low quality so I apologize for that first ><

I remember the day that Taylor announced the dates for the Asian leg of the Red Tour. When I saw 11th June, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia I gasped and muttered 'holy shit'. Finally after such a long time Taylor Swift is coming to Malaysia. Something that her Malaysian fans (including me) had been waiting for for years. The process of getting hold of a ticket sure wasn't easy. It was filled with frustration, anxiety and impatience. So when there was a ticket available on the ticketing website I jumped on it. It was expensive, yes (it's Taylor freaking Swift so of course) but what I got in return was a show that will be hard to forget. 

I went alone (I know right) because there wasn't a chance for my besties to follow me (yet, we still have the next tour). I was supposed to meet with some people I met on Twitter whom I knew were going but that didn't happen so yeah I was alone T.T 

The concert was scheduled to begin at 8:30PM but I got to the venue at around 2:30-3:00PM. By the time I reached the stadium there was already a big crowd gathered there. Along the way to the stadium from the train station there were lots of people selling T-shirts, lanyards, light sticks and such. And they weren't even the official tour merchandise. But they looked really nice and seriously I wouldn't spend RM100 for a T-shirt. That's crazy. I think the official tour merchandise was horribly overpriced. Once reaching the venue, AIA Berhad, the official sponsor for the tour had already made themselves at home with booths and such, attracting crowds with activities and tour merchandise giveaways. I would've joined the activities but it's really awkward and sad doing something fun alone :( In the end I just ended up waiting and walking around while waiting for the doors to open.

The doors opened at around 6:10PM and as soon as it did, I could hear people screaming. And that was just because the doors were opened! Inside the stadium later on was another story altogether.

The crew working behind the stage. There's the video station below.

And the guitar racks holding Taylor's and her musicians' guitars. 

My seat was in Category 1 which meant that I had a great view of the stage and the stadium. I was seated at stage right and perhaps just less than 30 meters from the main stage so needless to say the view was awesome. I could see people working behind the curtains and equipment backstage and the guitar rack and the guitar tech station and the video station and I was like YESS!! Finally I get to catch a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes as they happen.

Finally! After years! Gosh I don't think I've ever been so in love with a huge red curtain before.

Quite an impressive number of people and it's only after 6PM!

Before the opening act they would play behind the scenes videos for Taylor's music videos as well as well known covers of Taylor's songs. I loved the cover of I Knew You Were Trouble from Pentatonix!

Glow baton for RM50. But it looks nice so yeah :D

The opening act for the Malaysian Red Tour date was a local Malaysian band called iamneeta. Led by a teenage girl and her band, their short 4-number set really got the crowd going. Before the opening act started, we were asked to stand as the national anthem played (only in Malaysia, ladies and gentlemen) I loved the opening act even more because their first song was All I Want by Kodaline. Gosh how I adore that song! They proceeded with All Of Me by John Legend and two Malay songs, one of which was their single Terima Kasih.

The crowd when the opening act came onstage. 

iamneeta opening with All I Want by Kodaline

And on to All Of Me by John Legend.

After the awesome opening act, a quick cleanup of equipment was done and the clock struck 8:30PM. The concert was slightly delayed due to unknown reasons but I tell you when American Woman came on and the screens were showing the word 'RED' in big bold red font, I just knew what was coming next. 

State of Grace
The moment the stadium goes dark and the red light flashes against the curtain veiling the stage, you know that it is happening. It doesn't hit you full force yet but it will in a matter of moments. As the drums and guitars begin, you're just counting down the bars of music left before the silhouette of Taylor appears on the curtain. And when it does, the whole stadium becomes an ear splitting emotional wreck of Swifties screaming their lungs out. And then the curtains split and disappear upwards and there I can see that person I've been waiting so long to see standing there with that perfect smile, breathing in the same air as me and thousands of others. State of Grace was nothing short of a spectacular opening number with the drums and guitar intro, it was such a fitting song to start the night. I think I waved my light baton so hard it almost broke in half. Her vocals and high notes were a huge improvement over her previous years and I was so impressed hearing them live. She ended the song with a 'terima kasih' and gave her hat to a lucky fan in the front row.

I just love this photo so much I wanna frame it and put it on my wall.

She was this close it was unbelievable. Insane. At that moment I thought to myself 'this is happening right here right now. Capture it, remember it.'

Holy Ground
Holy shit this song is awesome. Really gets the crowd pumping. It's akin to the song Fearless from the Fearless album and The Story of Us from Speak Now. It just makes you get off your feet and dance so hard while singing out every word like you totally mean it. And the drum solo was every bit spectacular. Lights flashed, blinding me momentarily. I could feel my whole being moving with every beat of the drum. Taylor was never one of those whom we expect to be a drummer but she banged on that drum like she meant real business and it was just so entertaining to watch you can't help but feel like getting on that stage with her and beat drums with her all night. Next came the speech before the next number. She greeted the crowd with a 'selamat malam', introduced herself and told her about how excited she was to be in KL and that she's been hearing a lot about Malaysia from fans on Twitter, Instagram and such.

Red
'Bright burning red' was how she described the emotional spectrum of love. And I was blown away with her performance of this album title song. I was singing every single word to this song as loudly as I could. I loved the amazing dancers with their red flags all over the place, the guitar solo with Paul Sidoti (Taylor's guitarist), the lighting and Taylor's vocals. It was just all so impressive and amazing. I honestly can't think of anything else to say.

She was looking right into people's souls

Greeting the crowd before launching into Red

'Loving him was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street'

'Losing him was blue like I've never known'

'But loving him was red'

Awesome dancers!

The Lucky One
Before the actual song starts, a video is played on the big screen (which was like ultra freaking HD crystal clear) about Taylor narrating the perils of fame in a dressing room, in black and white. After the video, the actual song starts. I liked how the production element of this song fit so well with everything including the intro video. The backup dancers are dressed as press members, photographers, the media and paparazzi in 80's themed outfits carrying fake old giant cameras with those giant round flashes chasing Taylor around the stage. To be honest this is my least favorite song on the Red album but it has started to grow on me. With careful attention to the lyrics, it gives out a positive and meaningful message. The production elements for this song's live performance were also a plus in helping me like the song a lot more. Oh and Taylor's dress for this song is my favorite. So cantik!

Video clip before the song

Love that dress so much. So elegant and beautiful

Mean
'Saya cinta Malaysia'. Now that really did get the crowd roaring. Taylor descended from the top stage, wearing the top half of her dress from The Lucky One with black leggings (Malaysia is an Islamic country so she had to cover up some skin like in Indonesia). With her was a 6-string banjo which she played while sitting on a box on the T stage. Here she told us about how she used to write songs and how she wasn't invited to parties and bullies and mean people. I can totally relate to what she said and I found myself thinking about my own life experiences with bullies and name-calling. When she launched into the song, I was singing every word of it and I meant every word of it. This was the song that I find comfort and inspiration in whenever I felt like the whole world was kinda mean. After the heavy pop and slight rock sound of the previous three numbers, it really was nice to have a little banjo, mandolin and that ol' country Taylor that we know and love so well.

22
Blessed are those who get to touch Taylor and have her face inches away from your camera. There was a lot of clapping and people showing the number 2 with their fingers (me included) for this song. I mean why not? Who wouldn't wanna be happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time? It suddenly seemed so cool and hip. I was happy (I'm freaking singing along with Taylor Swift), I felt free (I can dance and sing as loud as I wanted because nobody would judge me because thousands of others are doing the same) and confused? Perhaps not so. This song just makes me so happy and I don't know why (oh, there's confusion). Mid song, Taylor goes down the main stage and through the crowd to a small B-stage at the back of the stadium (where all the far seats are). Suddenly I wished I could teleport from my original seat to the back of the stadium just to see her closer.

It feels like a perfect night to hang out with Taylor

This girl's got some cool dance moves

Taylor on the B-stage with a 'I <3 KL' shirt. Well KL loves you too, Taylor.

You Belong With Me
This song was supposed to be after Red (just like in the American, Europe, Australia and UK legs) but due to the stage design, prop availability and perhaps time constraints this song was rearranged in the setlist as an acoustic song on the B-stage which was fine but I preferred the jazzy feel of the Non-Asian Tour version. Here it was just Taylor and her red Taylor 614ce maple guitar serenading us with our all time favorite. The crowd was singing along so loudly it was crazy. I literally needed earplugs because it was so loud.

Enchanted (Secret Song)

If I were to describe The Red Tour in Malaysia with just one word, it would be 'enchanting'. Why?

A. It's Taylor's first time in Malaysia and we definitely feel enchanted to meet her

B. Of course she's enchanted to meet us too!

C. A Swiftie had Enchanted as her wedding song and so Taylor mentioned this before she sang it and it just falls together so perfectly that this is THE song. 

By the way Enchanted is not part of the setlist. Song number 8 on the Asian Tour setlist changes every time, every show, every different night. Honestly I was hoping for Sweeter Than Fiction but when I saw what chords she was playing I knew it wasn't gonna happen. But Enchanted was still good. And I loved the part when the crowd sang along with 'please don't be in love with someone else' like damn chills. 

Sparks Fly
That amazing sounding 12 string guitar! Holy crap when she started picking it I was floored by how good it sounded. I should get myself a 12-string one day. When she started the first line of the verse, the crowd just lost it. I didn't know this song was so popular with Swifties after it being the opening number of the Speak Now World Tour. Mid-song, she makes her way back to the main stage through the crowd. And I repeat; Blessed are those who get to touch Taylor and have her face inches away from your camera. One of my favorite songs. "And you stood there in front of me just close enough to touch". Extend my hand and just daydream lah about touching her T.T

I Knew You Were Trouble

Caitlin's violin solo was incredible! She was so fierce and so fired up like gosh I've never seen someone play the violin with that attitude. The drums and dubstep incorporated into this song just does something to you when you hear it live. It's like it makes your body vibrate involuntarily or something like that. Whatever it is, it feels awesome! The production of this song was so good! The dancers, props, violin intro and everything was perfect. Oh and especially the dress change. I'm really impressed Taylor and her dancers are able to pull it off without fault every show. It takes just 2-3 seconds and when the white dress disappears, revealing a black tight outfit, the crowd just loses it. Taylor's vocals and her higher notes sound solid even after the mildly heavy dance routine and running around the stage.

Caitlin's violin solo

All Too Well

The sight of Taylor walking towards the piano just triggers some old memories. When she sits and plays the intro and talks about the songwriting process, I just absorb everything like a sponge. This is a maestro at work here giving advice before singing one of the greatest songs she's ever written. This song is too well known by Swifties all around the world that it needs no introduction or explanation as to why it is so deep and personal. But just in case there are people wondering why, it is because this song just guts you like a fish, making you remember everything all too well. Everything bittersweet, every smell, color, words and things that feelings just can't describe and words that can't describe the feelings, you just remember them suddenly. This is the song that I have been looking forward to the most. Sure I did plan to maybe shed a tear or two during this song but it would be awkward crying when seated on either side of you are two total strangers and no one to hug. 

Love Story
The ballet dancers were amazing! Like they were prancing around the stage and flipping each other upside down and sideways it was crazy to watch. I'm really glad that Taylor chose to retain this song in her setlist. This was the first song I've ever heard from Taylor and I would feel like crap if I didn't get to hear it live once in my life >_<  I liked her dress. It makes her look like a teenage girl in a fairytale. So young, innocent and carefree, looking for her Romeo. She ended the song with a firm and loud 'Goodnight, KL!' Hahah we weren't fooled. Of course there was gonna be an encore!

Like an angel bathed in white radiant light

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
The way she appears on stage for this song was very clever. Her backup dancers dressed as conjoined Siamese twins, clowns, rabbits and men walking on stilts certainly play a role here. The conjoined twins walk around the stage carrying a big black cloth, large enough to hide a person behind it and lo and behold when they drop the cloth, Taylor is behind it, seemingly appearing from out of nowhere. From my point of view, I can see Taylor sneaking up from behind the stairs to make her magical appearance seconds later. Ha! Not so much of a surprise for those sitting at the side of the stage right? Heheh. As this was the ending number and also because it was crazily addictive, everyone was on their feet chanting the words 'we are never ever ever getting back together'. A really fun song to end the show with. And it was sure fun chanting the words back to her along with thousands of people.

I find the men on stilts highly amusing for some reason

That's the end, folks!

Thank you indeed, Ms Taylor for a wonderful night where many dreams came true

And the fans were so awesome and hardcore! There were people with painted faces, lyrics on their arms, people dressed in the WANEGBT ringleader costume, some even dressed in her performance outfits from The Lucky One and State of Grace and there was even a guy in a cow costume. I never thought I'd get the chance to see all this madness but I did! XD
Sure it was a short 90 minute set but it was a memorable 90 minute set. I still wonder why the Asian leg of the tour was shorter with songs like Stay Stay Stay and Treacherous missing from the setlist.

All in all the Red Tour is one show that I will find hard, if not impossible to forget. I swear when she stares at my direction she was staring straight into my soul like omfg! Although there wasn't a Club Red, and although I didn't get Meet & Greet passes, the experience of seeing her live is enough to make up for all that. I shall now have a permanent reminder to go with a friend whenever Taylor drops by again.


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