Unraveling Taylor Swift's Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs: A Journey Through her Music Videos, from 'Speak Now' to '1989'
Taylor Swift's captivating 'I Can See You' music video, released alongside her re-recorded 'Speak Now' album, unveils a treasure trove of Easter eggs From a mysterious countdown clock to nostalgic nods at her iconic tracks like 'Mean' and 'Bad Blood,' Swift takes us on a mesmerizing journey, leaving us eagerly anticipating her next chapter in '1989'
Taylor Swift is revisiting the past with her music video for "I Can See You," where she takes control of her successful music career. The Grammy-winning artist shared on Instagram on Friday, July 7, that she had written the video treatment over a year ago and wanted to symbolically demonstrate how she has reclaimed her music with the support of her fans. She also praised the involvement of Joey King and Presley Cash, who previously appeared in her "Mean" video when they were younger. In addition, she commended Taylor Lautner's incredible performance in the video, noting that he did not use a stunt double. She also gave a shout-out to Taylor Dome, Lautner's wife, for being wonderful to work with on set.
"I Can See You" is a track from Taylor Swift's album "Speak Now," which she re-released on Friday. The music video features appearances by King, Lautner, and Cash, who assist Swift in her escape from a bank vault. Throughout the video, there are numerous Easter eggs that reference Swift's successful career. Additionally, Swift provides a subtle hint towards her upcoming re-recorded LP.
Countdown Clock
When the video starts, the screen flashes a timestamp reading "July 9th 1:58 a.m." These digits directly allude to Swift's lyrics in her song "Last Kiss" from the album Speak Now. In this track, she sings about running off the plane on July 9th and how she "lit through the darkness at 1:58" in different verses.
Frozen Behind Glass
One day after the video's premiere, Swift surprised her audience during her Eras Tour show in KC by adding "Last Kiss" to the setlist. She reminisced, "During the Speak Now tour, I used to perform this song every night, strumming this very guitar. Do you notice the significance of the date? It's July 8th, but very late in the night... and tomorrow is July 9th," as captured in social media footage of the Saturday, July 8, concert.
Courtesy of Taylor Swift/VEVO
Adjacent to the vault, lies a museum showcasing Swift's iconic ensembles from her original "Speak Now" era. This enthralling collection includes the captivating purple tour dress as well as the resplendent golden Grammys ensemble. Spectacularly encased in glass cages, these outfits pay homage to Swift's poignant lyrics in "It's Time to Go." Furthermore, in her melodic masterpiece "Evermore," she passionately declares, "He's ensnared my past, encased behind glass, but I am steadfastly free."
Joey King Surely Isn’t ‘Mean’
In the midst of King's fame from her role in King's 2010 film "Ramona and Beezus," where she acted alongside Swift's close friend Selena Gomez, she made an appearance in the original music video for Swift's hit song "Mean." In the video, King's character was seen wearing a white, voluminous dress reminiscent of the flower girl dress she wore in the movie. Reflectively, King stared at the same dress behind the glass. Additionally, the star of "The Kissing Booth" used Swift's iconic banjo from the original music video to fight off the security guards hot on her trail in another scene.
Long Live, Taylor Swift
Courtesy of Taylor Swift/VEVO
Swift spent most of the video confined within the vault, donning her illustrious gown from the Speak Now tour, adorned with a “13” inscribed on her hand and the poignant lyrics of “Long Live” inked on her arm. (Prior to each show in 2010, she would meticulously trace her cherished numeral and melodic lines onto her body.)
Going Back to December
Courtesy of Taylor Swift/VEVO
To help break the pop star out of the vault in “I Can See You,” Taylor Lautner, the Twilight star who had a relationship with Swift for several months in 2009, made an appearance. In one scene, Lautner showcases his impressive swordsmanship while taking on goons, making a clever reference to his Saturday Night Live monologue where he expressed his desire to confront Kanye West after the VMAs controversy. This scene takes place in front of a white piano, which Swift herself used during her 2010 tour when performing "Back to December," a song she wrote about her breakup with Lautner. Adding to the sentimental value, a mannequin dressed in a blue gown stands beside the piano, symbolizing their past connection.
Numbers on the Wall
The eagle-eyed fans of Taylor Swift counted a total of 1,468 tally marks carefully etched on the inside of the vault. These tally marks symbolize the exact number of days that elapsed from the time her previous masters were sold until the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)".
Baby, She’s Got Bad Blood
The dramatic altercation between King and Lautner at the museum invoked strong parallels to Swift's sensational music video for her hit single "Bad Blood" from the album 1989. Additionally, they both fiercely clung to a slender silver briefcase, mirroring the one prominently featured in Swift's aforementioned music video.
Driving in a Getaway Car
After Swift was rescued by King and Lautner, they hurriedly made their way outside to join Cash in her waiting van. Without wasting any time, the vehicle quickly accelerated, giving fans the impression that it was their very own getaway car. Interestingly enough, Swift happens to have a song named "Getaway Car" on her album Reputation. This has led speculation that she might be hinting at an upcoming release of that particular record.
Ready for 1989?
Courtesy of Taylor Swift/VEVO
The squad's escape vehicle raced past a bridge, adorned with a sign displaying the numbers "1-9 8.9tv," which immediately caught the attention of fans who recognized its clever allusion to the year 1989, specifically Taylor Swift's Version.
Another subtle reference to Swift's iconic era is seen when King navigates through a labyrinth of purple lasers inside the bank. This scene pays homage to Swift's past as she previously ventured through a similar green maze in a prerecorded skit for her iHeartRadio awards show performance not long after the original record was released in 2014.
