NEW YORK -- [artist id="2389485"]Taylor Swift[/artist] celebrated the arrival of [article id="1650681"]Speak Now[/article] with a fan-filled album-release party at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan on Monday (October 25). The party not only included an amped-up performance by Swift, but also fans from around the world, who dined on sushi, mac and cheese and lobster.

Swift hung out with partygoers during her meet-and-greet and seemed genuinely excited by the chance to catch up with fans on the day of her release. She hugged and took pictures with every one of them. Wearing a yellow satin dress with maroon patent heels, she not only met with her fans, but also took questions from them during the nearly hour-long live stream on MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com.

Fans asked about everything: What inspired the album? "For me, Speak Now was inspired by the last two years of my life ... that's why I write songs," she said before joking about whether there was anything she wouldn't write about. "Well, I thought so before this album," she laughed. "There's a little more speculation now than when I was 12."

Swift sang three tracks from the new album, displaying sass and confidence during the performance of the album's title track as fans sang along to every word. She then curtsied as her fans cheered her.

"This album took two years to write, two years to make ... and these are songs about stories and lessons and things that I've learned -- the right way, the wrong and, in the case of this song, it's about learning a lesson a little too late," she said before kicking into one of the most buzzed-about tracks on the album, "Back to December," which is reportedly an apology to Taylor Lautner.

Saying she went through "obsessive editing" while making the album, she shared, "I ended up writing this song -- actually every song -- alone, and that happened by circumstance. ... I've never written an entire album on my own before, so songwriting is my favorite thing. It's all what makes life make more sense to me."

Playing a bedazzled acoustic guitar, Swift then went into "Mine," the first single from Speak Now. Swift took in fans' cheers as she wrapped up the song.

Before the night was over, Swift announced the final winner, Savannah, who would be joining her as she flew to L.A. from NYC on Wednesday evening. "I've had such an amazing experience," Swift said to close out the night.

Did you watch the live stream of Taylor's mini-concert? Share your reviews in the comments!