It shouldn't come as a surprise that a woman who conquers stadium stages can perform in a corner of NPR Music's Washington, D.C. office, specifically at Bob Boilen's desk, but Swift really felt at home in solo session mode. (‘It's just me here. No dancers, unfortunately,’ she joked).
Opening the performance with an acoustic rendition of the song ‘The Man’ from her 2019 album Lover, Swift critiqued gender double standards with a sense of humour, bringing up Leonardo DiCaprio's name and all. Turning to the piano in the title track ‘Lover’ with a smile, she explained the scarring on the guitar strings in the song's transition. Taking up the guitar again for ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts,’ Swift faced the question she says has haunted her career: What will you do if you become happy? In this song, in which thoughts run in circles and the search never stops, Swift answered that question: She will continue to create excellent storytelling songs.
That sense of connection is at the heart of everything. Nearly 800 Tiny Desk concerts have taken place since the first one was published in April 2008, but the goal remains the same: In the midst of meetings and conference calls, Tiny Desk concerts provide a break from the workday and a chance to see artists reimagine their work in an unusual setting. It's always a special event, but some days it feels downright magical. Watching Taylor Swift perform and then mingling with colleagues and guests who have grown up with her was simply enchanting.
- Lyndsey McKenna - npr.org
