February 15, 2016 8:09 PM EST
T he Grammys are more about today’s biggest artists demonstrating their showmanship than creating a spectacle .
Taylor Swift’s opening performance of the 59th annual ceremony upheld this reputation: Swift, dressed in a dark glittery body suit, performed an understated but still sparkling rendition of the song “Out of the Woods ” from her blockbuster album 1989. ( No feud-ending performances with Kanye West here.)
Swift was joined onstage by the song’s co-writer, Bleachers mastermind Jack Antonoff . She had already picked up a few Grammys by the time she took the stage, including Best Pop Vocal Album (for 1989 ) and Best Music Video (for “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar).
Grammys 2016: See Celebrities Hit the Red Carpet Taylor Swift attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Lady Gaga attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Valerie Macon—Getty Images Adele attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Skrillex, left, and Diplo, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Selena Gomez attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Sam Smith attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images From left: Johnny Depp, Joe Perry and Alice Cooper of The Hollywood Vampires attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Ellie Goulding attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images George Clinton, left, attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Kacey Musgraves attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Valerie Macon—Getty Images Josephine de la Baume, left, and Mark Ronson, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Janelle Monáe attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Dave Grohl, left, and Jordyn Blum, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Justin Bieber attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Ariana Grande attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Chrissy Teigen, left, and John Legend, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Valerie Macon—Getty Images Florence Welch attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Jack Antonoff attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jeff Vespa—Getty Images The Weeknd, left, and Bella Hadid, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Carrie Underwood attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Demi Lovato attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Simone Smith, left, and host LL Cool J, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Buddy Guy attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Bonnie Raitt attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Nazanin Mandi, left, and Miguel, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images DJ Khaled attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Travis Barker and his children attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Valerie Macon—Getty Images Common attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Don Cheadle, left, and Bridgid Coulter, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Nile Rodgers attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Pharrell Williams, left, and Helen Lasichanh, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Wiz Khalifa attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Sam Hunt attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images From left: Nick Simmons, Sophie Simmons, Gene Simmons, and Shannon Tweed attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Gary Clark Jr., left, and Nicole Trunfio, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Jane Seymour attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Meghan Trainor attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Justine Simmons, left, and Joseph "Rev Run," right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Alessandra Ambrosio attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Victoria Shaffer, left, and Paul Shaffer, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Jason Merritt—Getty Images Julia Carey, left, and James Corden, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Gary Sinise attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. John Shearer—Getty Images Z LaLa attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images Anna Kendrick attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles. Steve Granitz—Getty Images More Must-Reads from TIME Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024 Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision