If you have a true Swiftie in the house, this story is not for you, as you probably hit up this celebration of the still relatively short yet boffo life and career of pop superstar Taylor Swift as soon as it opened. However, if, like many millions, the kids (and perhaps you) like to rock out, shake it off and croon to some Swift and wondered if you should swing by this mini museum dedicated to Taylor, read on for the scoop!
photo: TAS Rights Management
The Taylor Swift Experience for all the Senses
Most of us have experienced T. Swift in the most important way — by listening to her insanely catchy tunes. Now visitors to this exhibit can be surrounded by all things Taylor — oversized images, video clips, costumes and memorabilia. Located at the Seaport and running through February 2017, this Taylor Swift Experience is a must for superfans of Swift, and actually pretty great for casual fans both young and old, too.
photo: TAS Rights Management
East Coast Debut
Initially mounted in Los Angeles in late 2014 by the Grammy Museum (some of Swift’s biggest fans, for presumably a number of reasons), the Taylor Swift Experience is making its east coast debut. Not only was the show extended on the west coast, it was the Grammy Museum’s most popular exhibit to date.
photo: TAS Rights Management
Taylor, Taylor, Taylor!
Spread over two floors, the Taylor Swift Experience is roughly divided into two sections: one, of personal memorabilia and outfits/costumes, the other, with interactive stations that invite visitors to try their best “Taylor-ing” and video clips of the woman herself singing, dancing and offering up thoughts on her life, career, creative process and inspirations.
photo: TAS Rights Management
The Stuff of Taylor
While it’s true that seeing, say, Paul McCartney’s books from childhood might have more impact than Taylor’s from 1996, Swift was extremely generous in offering up loads of artifacts from her life pre-top 40. Visitors can check out baby clothes, photos and more from her very early years and less-than-slick (but very charming) pre-chart domination items like her first press kit, which was made by her mother. Also reflected in the curated pieces is Swift’s intense bond with her fans; the exhibit includes select gifts from fans the songwriter has received over the years.
It doesn’t take long for the memorabilia to get more slick, high budget and “Oh yeah, I remember that.” Cases are filled with memorable outfits from music videos and award show performances; her 2009 Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance for “White Horse”; bedazzled and otherwise decorated guitars and banjos and more. Plus: the always neat hand-written lyrics for songs songs most everybody knows now.
photo: TAS Rights Management
Sing It, Sister!
Scale a couple flights of stairs plastered with images of Swift on various magazine covers to find the A/V interactive portion of the show. It’s here that visitors can rock out on an interactive checkerboard dance floor in front of a giant boombox inset with a screen showing assorted Swift performances.
Nearby, guests can try their hand at mixing Swift’s hit “Mean,” using mini mixing boards to adjust various tracks to their liking. Perhaps the most fun is the mini recording booth labeled, “In the Studio with Taylor Swift”, which invites guests to sing along to the first verse of “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, and then listen to it back without Taylor’s assist. (There is literally a “Make it Stop” button for those too horrified to hear their voice alone.)
photo: TAS Rights Management
Taylor in Thought & Action
Finally, you can hear from Taylor herself in an extended video interview, speaking about the music she listens to when she’s working on an album (and when she’s not), writing a song about mean people and then winning two Grammys for it in one night (burn) and, to her credit, poking fun at the idea of something called “The Taylor Swift Experience.”
The big Swift binge, however, is in a mini theater at the rear of the second floor, where clips of Swift performing (and winning) throughout her career are screened. (It’s heavy on Grammy material for obvious reasons.) Fun bonus: many of the items showcased on the first floor can be spotted here.
Swift — and Small
The Taylor Swift Experience is a lot of fun, but not huge — which is probably good for kids. We recommend if you’re making the trip to the Seaport, book a deluxe screening at iPic for a double header of fun.
The Taylor Swift Experience
Through Feb. 19, 2017
Tickets: $9
19 Fulton St.
The Seaport
Online: southstreetseaport.com
Are you Taylor Swift Experienced? Let us know in the comments!
—Mimi O’Connor
