A WEEK ago, 20-year-old country pop songstress Taylor Swift cemented her spot in the upper echelon of music superstardom, winning four Grammy awards, including the coveted album of the year gong for her second record, Fearless.
But it was also the moment the sweeter-than-sweet ingenue's tiara slipped, at least in the eyes of the influential blogosphere. Swift's shaky duet with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks was widely panned as off-key, "pitch-challenged", and tone deaf. The backlash against Swift's remarkable rise was rapid and bloody.

If any of the critics' barbs left a sting, it is likely the prepubescent squeals and screeches of thousands of hysterical fans in Brisbane on Thursday proved a soothing balm.

As Swift told the crowd on the first night of her Australian tour: "When I hear you scream, that's the sweetest sound."

If Swift was cowed by recent criticism, it was not apparent during her two-hour, high-energy performance.

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Her voice was not flawless (hindered by an often over-loud backing band and occasional microphone failures), but it was strong and true.

Swift appeared to revel in swinging between a country twang and a rocker's bellow, and was unafraid to perch on a stool halfway through the show and sing stripped-back ballads with her acoustic guitar.

Most appealing about Swift is the strength of emotion that runs through her self-penned songs. When she sings about the exquisite pain of unrequited love (Teardrops on my Guitar), the mortification of being the odd one out in high school (The Best Day) and the overwhelming power of youthful adoration (Our Song), it's believable. Swift is the anti-Britney; innocent, wholesome and intelligent; even cynics cannot help but be wooed by her wide-eyed charm.

Less than a year ago, on her first Australian tour, Swift was playing to a relatively small crowd at Brisbane's intimate The Tivoli. She now seems utterly at home in an arena setting and comfortable with countless costume changes, and she effortlessly bounds across the enormous stage, which morphs from classroom into castle as the night evolves.

Bravely, Swift takes to the crowd mid-show, walking through the throng (flanked by security), hugging small girls, signing autographs and slipping gifts of glittery bracelets on to her wrists.

She genuinely seems to enjoy her fans up-close, even as they paw at her flaxen curls and grasp at her wrists.

After almost every song, when the booming applause and screams threaten to continue endlessly, Swift stands still and soaks it in, turning her face from side to side, as if she can't quite fathom her own success.

Taylor Swift plays the Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, tonight (sold out); Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Wednesday (sold out); Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Friday (sold out).
this is frm a aussie website