Taylor Swift dominated a sold-out Wells Fargo Arena performance in Des Moines Thursday night.

Vance Joy took the stage promptly at 7:30 p.m. and played a set of songs from his 2014 album “Dream Your Life Away.”

“From Afar,” “Mess Is Mine” and a cover of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” were all highlights. However, the crowd was clearly waiting for the Australian singer’s breakthrough song, “Riptide,” which closed out the set in a climactic tone.

“I just want to thank Taylor Swift for having me and my band on this amazing tour,” Joy said.

The acoustic-pop set was short, fun and did not overstay its welcome, making it a solid opening act for one of the world’s biggest names in music.

The lights went out again at 8:30 p.m. as the crowd erupted into a collective, euphoric scream.

Swift began the show with “Welcome to New York,” the opening track from her latest album, “1989.”

“Welcome to the ‘1989’ World Tour. We begin our story in New York,” Swift said.

Everything about the opener was flashy and larger than life, with assistance from light-up bracelets that were issued to everyone before the show that lit up in time with the music.

Swift did not waste any time, powering straight through “New Romantics,” “Blank Space” and a remixed version of “I Knew You Were Trouble” all in quick succession.

“Well good evening Des Moines, Iowa. I’m Taylor,” Swift said during the bridge of “New Romantics.” “And this is just my opinion but I don’t think you’ve ever looked as beautiful as you do, all 14,000 of you, on this sold out night.” 

A string of “1989” non-singles followed with “I Wish You Would,” “How You Get the Girl” and “I Know Places.”

Swift then took the volume down a notch, playing a solo acoustic version of “You Belong With Me” before “1989’s” closing ballad “Clean” and a remixed version of her breakthrough single, “Love Story.”

“Style,” “Bad Blood” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” brought the energy back in full force with huge, sing-along choruses.

Swift’s newest single “Wildest Dreams,” the cinematic “Out of the Woods” and mega-hit “Shake It Off” closed the set with spectacular energy.

It’s no wonder why Swift’s latest outing is titled the “1989 World Tour.”

11 out of 13 songs (and a bonus track) from “1989” were performed, older songs either took a backseat or were remixed and Swift’s new image showcased the performer in the prime of her career after a bold change of style.

Swift’s performance in Des Moines proved to a sold-out Wells Fargo Arena why she continues to dominate the music world and why that is not such a bad thing.