KEEP DANCIN’
TAYLOR Swift had fans in tears when she praised Manchester’s “incredible resilience” as she kicked off her UK tour in the city.
Taylor, 28, paused her show this weekend to remember the 22 who died in a terrorist attack after an Ariana Grande gig last May.
“Concerts are supposed to be about innocence, about joy and excitement,” she told her young audience. “What happened just over a year ago in this city was an attempt to steal that innocence.
“Ever since then, you have shown such strength. You’ve shown that you’re never going to let anyone forget about those victims.
“You have such incredible resilience – to keep dancing and to keep the innocence and to keep the joy.
“I just wanted to say: Manchester, it is such an honour to play for you tonight.”
Earlier, she said: “This is why we wanted to start our UK tour in Manchester. You are absolutely amazing. Not only are you singing the words, you are screaming them and jumping around and dancing. Don’t even get me started on the things you are wearing. Thank you so, so much Manchester.”
She then played an acoustic version of Dancing With Our Hands Tied, from her recent album Reputation.
One fan said the moving speech “had me crying”.
Another said: “It’s very emotional for me and it means a lot that she is here and putting Manchester out there in a positive way after so much sadness.”
The tribute came about half-way through the 90-minute concert, the UK start of the American star’s Reputation World Tour.
After the terror attack last year, she was quick to pay tribute to the victims, tweeting: “My thoughts, prayers and tears are for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy tonight. I’m sending all my love.”
She is a friend of Ariana’s and was in contact to console her after the attack.
Taylor looked emotional as she spoke on stage on Friday night at Manchester City’s Etihad stadium, not far from where Salman Abedi, 22, detonated his suicide bomb at Manchester Arena on May 22 last year.
Snakes
Taylor’s British boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, 27, is expected to be with her during her UK dates. They were recently spotted washing down fish and chips with beer at The Flask pub in Highgate, north London. She said: “I have spent a lot of time in the UK, I really love the UK.” Despite ticketing problems causing a 30-minute delay – leaving some unable to see support acts Charli XCX and Camila Cabello – there was an exciting atmosphere. Fans were given LED wristbands that flashed in time to the music, uniting them in the lower-than-expected attendance. Snakes were Taylor’s motif of the night and huge blown-up serpents slithered into the stadium and even on to her jewel-encrusted microphone. They’ve been her symbol since Kim Kardashian fans spammed her social media posts with a green snake emoji during a 2016 spat.