The 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 ImagesLady Gaga attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Valerie Macon—Getty ImagesAdele 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 ImagesSelena Gomez attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesSam Smith attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesFrom 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 ImagesEllie Goulding attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesGeorge Clinton, left, attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesKacey Musgraves attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Valerie Macon—Getty ImagesJosephine 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 ImagesJanelle Monáe attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesDave Grohl, left, and Jordyn Blum, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesJustin Bieber attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesAriana 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 ImagesFlorence Welch attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Jason Merritt—Getty ImagesJack Antonoff attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Jeff Vespa—Getty ImagesThe 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 ImagesDemi Lovato attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesSimone 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 ImagesBuddy Guy attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesBonnie Raitt attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesNazanin 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 ImagesTravis Barker and his children attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Valerie Macon—Getty ImagesCommon 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 ImagesNile Rodgers attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesPharrell Williams, left, and Helen Lasichanh, right, attend the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesWiz 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 ImagesFrom 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 ImagesMeghan Trainor attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesJustine 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 ImagesAlessandra Ambrosio attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesVictoria 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 ImagesGary Sinise attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.John Shearer—Getty ImagesZ LaLa attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty ImagesAnna Kendrick attends the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.Steve Granitz—Getty Images