Taylor Swift has turned the album drop into an art. After jam-packing her social media accounts with Easter eggs in the lead up to her “Midnights” release and leaving us all shocked with seven bonus tracks, the “Bejeweled” singer is at it again with another surprise. On Jan. 12, Swift made an unexpected appearance at the 1975 concert in London, where she performed “Anti-Hero” live for the first time. Smiling at the audience, the Grammy winner strapped on her guitar and dove straight into her chart-topping hit.
During the performance, Swift strummed her guitar in front of a black-and-white stage setup. As the audience roared with excitement, she belted out the lyrics. “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me,” she sang. “At tea time, everybody agrees / I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror / It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.” Swift’s onstage cameo also made some fans hopeful that she’ll have a few celebrity friends join her on her upcoming Eras Tour.
Following “Anti-Hero,” Swift, a longtime fan of the 1975, also covered the band’s song “The City.” “Yeah, you wanna find love then you know where the city is,” she sang as the crowd chanted the lyrics in unison. “Yeah, counting cards was the best job he ever had / Cleaning up / He got good with his fours and his twos.” At the end of her performance, Swift wished the crowd a good night. “Good evening,” she said. “I hope you enjoy the rest of [the 1975’s tour].”
While some people on social media expressed their desires to rewind time and be part of the audience to witness Swift’s performance live themselves, fans at home and in person were delighted by the unexpected mini concert. Will her next surprise be a new album? We can dream.
Ahead, see Swift’s live rendition of “Anti-Hero” and her cover of “The City.”