AMERICAN pop-country sensation Taylor Swift once sang ''Take a picture in your mind.''
And what an imagination the 22-year old certainly has.
Aerial artists, dancers, fireworks, and a wind machine were all rolled out in Swift's blistering first song Sparks Fly.
And the surprises kept on coming, with a packed Rod Laver Arena eating out of Swift's hands even before she said: ''Hi Melbourne, I'm Taylor.''
The show was the first of Swift's Speak Now World Tour's Melbourne leg - a deliberate move according to the star.
''We like to save the craziest, most insane, dancer crowds until last,'' she said.
''We've only been on stage for a couple of songs and I already love you.''
It was a visual feast for fans of the Grammy winning singer, who perhaps is best known for her songs about broken hearts, love and unobtainable boys.
The stage was transformed from a red velvet curtained balcony to a country prairie to a snow swept bridge in the blink of an eye as Taylor rolled through hits The Story of Us, Mean and December Song.
But although her lyrics are perfectly tailored for angst-ridden girls, Swift herself proved a star who has come of age - perfectly on pitch, using every inch of stage and working the crowd into a frenzy.
Predictably thousands, predominately teenage girls had flocked to witness the Swiftness, clutching banners, glow sticks and some even dressed as brides in tribute to Swift's song Speak Now.
And Taylor was clearly eager to please.
At times, she sprang from secret trap doors underneath the stage, whipping her hair around, chatting between songs and playing piano, guitar and ukelele.
While the repertoire was mainly tracks from her most recent album Speak Now, Swift's set list also included hits from her breakthrough album Fearless including You Belong with Me, Fifteen and the triumphant finale Love Story.
Even the most hardened un-Swifty chaperones would have to admit it was a fantastic night out.
Tickets have sold out for Swift's final two Melbourne shows on March 13 and 14.
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