Taylor Swift is the queen of hidden messages and secret clues in her music videos! From subtle hints about her next album to nods to her past work, these cleverly placed details make rewatching her videos a treasure hunt. Dive in and discover the hidden gems that even the biggest Swifties might have missed…
Three familiar faces…
The “I Can See You” music video is a nostalgic and symbolic celebration of Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Directed by Taylor herself, the video features a clever storyline where three familiar faces – Joey King, Taylor Lautner, and Presley Cash – team up to free the Speak Now-era version of Taylor Swift from a heavily guarded vault in a museum. Presley Cash and Joey King were both in Taylor’s video for “Mean” whereas Taylor Lautner was her partner during the end of Fearless/beginning of Speak Now era. The video features many easter eggs and references to her past and taking control of her music.
Something’s fishy!
The Koi fish in the “Lavender Haze” music video hinted towards Speak Now Taylor’s Version are a callback to the custom koi fish guitar Taylor used during her Speak Now tour. This guitar became iconic during that era, symbolising her growth as an artist. The inclusion of koi fish in the “Lavender Haze” video sparked excitement among fans, who interpreted it as a hint that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was on the horizon.
Friends 4eva
The iconic music video for Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” holds a special place in the hearts of Swifties and is filled with personal touches that make it even more memorable. It was filmed at the Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where Taylor attended school and Taylor’s real-life best friend, Abigail Anderson, also made an appearance. Abigail is well-known among Swifties, as she and Taylor have been close since their high school days. Abigail plays one of the high school girls in the video, and while her role is minor, her inclusion is a nod to their friendship.
Et Tu, Brute?
One of the most OMG Easter eggs is the inscription “Et Tu, Brute?” on the throne where Taylor sits during a scene in the video. This phrase, which translates to “And you, Brutus?” is famously associated with William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. In the play, Julius Caesar says these words as he is betrayed and stabbed by his friend Brutus. By including this phrase on her throne, Taylor shows that she has felt similarly betrayed by people she once trusted, be they friends, the media, or others in the industry. This reference aligns with the overarching themes of Reputation, an album that explores the fallout from public scrutiny, personal betrayals, and the determination to rise above it all.
You’ve got to be kitten me…
In the music video “ME!”, there’s a scene where Brendon Urie presents Taylor with an adorable kitten, which is not just a prop, but a real cat, who would soon become a beloved member of Taylor’s family. Fans were over the moon when they realised that this kitten, Benjamin Button, was the latest addition to Taylor’s famous feline family, joining her other cats, Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson. Meaow!
I see you gull!
In Taylor Swift’s “ME!” music video, there are countless Easter eggs that reference different eras of her music, one of which can be found on the wedding cake featured in the video. At the bottom of this elaborate cake, you can spot seagulls—these aren’t just random decorations but a deliberate nod to her 1989 era. The seagulls specifically reference the design on the shirt Taylor wears on the cover of her 1989 album, where she sports a sweatshirt featuring a flock of seagulls.
You Da Man!
In the music video for “The Man,” Taylor Swift addresses the double standards and gender inequality she has faced in her career. In the final scene, Taylor, disguised as “The Man,” walks down an alley, and if you look closely at the graffiti on the wall, you’ll see the titles of her first six albums: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation. These titles are a powerful statement, as they represent the albums Taylor did not fully “own” at the time due to her original recordings being controlled by her former label, Big Machine Records, after it was sold to Scooter Braun.
