Swifties know the games that Taylor Swift plays when she is about to release something new all too well. She plants clues everywhere for her fans to decipher what she has in store. After the release of her tenth studio album, “Midnights”, the fans quickly noticed the many easter eggs she planted, and all signs led to “Speak Now”.
Let’s recap the most significant clues Swift has made thus far that hint “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” is coming.
“Bejeweled” music video
“Bejeweled” is the second music video Swift released after “Midnights” premiered. And it is shimmering with “Speak Now” references.
First and foremost, the release date is more important than what meets the eye. The video, released on Oct. 25, 2022, is exactly to the date 12 years after the original “Speak Now” album.
The music video opened with an instrumental version of “Enchanted” (0:08 – 1:58) and closed with another instrumental of the song “Long Live” (5:11 – 5:53), which are fan favorite’s from the “Speak Now” album.
In the opening scene of the short film, Laura Dern, who plays Swift’s stepmother, says the line “Speak Not” (1:13 – 1:15), a play on words hinting at “Speak Now”.
Probably the most evident clue in the “Bejeweled” video is the elevator scene (2:28 – 2:53). The numbers on the elevator buttons match the color scheme attached to each album Swift has released. The camera then shows Swift pressing the button for the third floor, which is also purple (2:41). Swift’s next album will be her 13th and the elevator stops at the 13th floor, which is purple (4:29). “Speak Now” is her third studio album in which she wears a purple dress on the cover. It is also worth noting that the bonus track “Ours“ opens with the line: “Elevator buttons and morning air” (0:19 – 0:23).
Later in the video, Swift is shown sitting on a clock with the hand pointing to three o’clock (4:31). And she wears two hairpins with the letters “S” and “N” on them (5:08).
The video ends with Swift standing on the balcony of a castle in a yellow ballgown (5:24). Fans were quick to point out the resemblance of one of the sets and costumes Swift had during the Speak Now Tour.
“Anti-Hero” music video
In one of the opening shots of the “Anti-Hero” music video, Swift cuts into an egg that oozes purple glitter (0: 18). Once again, she is referencing the purple dress she wears on the “Speak Now” album cover.
Many sheeted ghosts in this video symbolize Swift facing her past fears (0:23 – 0:44). The ghosts honor her hit song “Haunted” from her third studio album.
She references another song from the “Speak Now” tracklist by including a chalkboard in this music video (1:06). The song “Mean” has a famous line that mentions chalkboards: “You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard/ calling me out when I’m wounded” (0:16 – 0:21).
There is one clue in this video that made fans everywhere jump up and down with excitement: the guitar. During the Speak Now Tour in 2011, Swift played a blue guitar with koi fish painted on it. That same guitar appears in this video (0:58).
“Lavender Haze” music video
The entire music video has a purple hue that creates the bridge from “Midnights” to “Speak Now.”
There is a scene in the video where Swift lays down in a lavender field (1:51). That is strangely similar to the field shown in the “Twilight” movies. Swift wrote the song “Back to December” about her ex-boyfriend Taylor Lautner who starred in “The Twilight Saga”.
The koi fish also appear in the “Lavender Haze” video, with her opening the curtains to the fish swimming around her house (2:54 – 3:02).
Birthday post on Instagram
Swift posted a photo on Instagram to celebrate her 33rd birthday. It features Swift and producer Jack Antonoff sitting in a music studio, and, of course, it contains easter eggs. The biggest hint is that she holds up three fingers on each hand. Most people think this references her sixth album, “Reputation,” but there’s a more secretive play here. “Speak Now” is her third studio album, and the next re-record she does will be her third. Three fingers being held up could be a nod to “Speak Now”, her third studio album. The three fingers could symbolize her re-releases and possibly “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”
“Midnights” tracklist order
This last clue is one of the most insane easter eggs she has ever planted.
The “Midnights” album has “Lavender Haze” as its title track, and the “Speak Now” album is purple. She’s back again with the shades of purple trend.
When Swift released the deluxe version of “Speak Now”, she traded the purple dress for a red one. The second track on the “Midnights” album is “Maroon.”
As mentioned before, “Speak Now” is her third album, and “Anti-Hero” is the third song on the “Midnights” tracklist. Swift’s first music video for “Midnights” was “Anti-Hero.” Starting with the third song could point towards another emphasis on the number three.
Swift has yet to announce her next album on her list for re-releases. But as of now, all signs are pointed to “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”.
The Eras Tour begins on March 17, 2023, so there are bound to be more easter eggs soon.
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