Larry Busacca/Getty, Taylor Swift/YouTube
Get ready for even more Taylor Swift Easter eggs!
Ahead of the release of Midnights on Oct. 21, the singer revealed that she would be releasing multiple music videos for the new album.
“Here’s the teaser trailer for the videos I’ve made for Midnights,” Swift captioned the clip on Instagram, which shows her doing such things as blowing a smoke ring and dancing on stage in a Vegas-style sequined bikini.
While the trailer teases some exciting cameos — including Haim, Jack Antonoff and Laura Dern — Swift’s first release, her video for “Anti-Hero,” had plenty for fans to enjoy right off the bat.
From references to her old eras to hints about what’s to come with this new one, here’s a breakdown of the Easter eggs from Swift’s Midnights music videos.
RELATED: Taylor Swift Muses on Love, Revenge and Image on Moody Indie-Pop Masterpiece Midnights
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” music video Easter eggs
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Lavender glitter
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In the video, there are several instances of Swift encountering purple glitter, including the yolk in Swift’s eggs and blood on her chest when she gets shot by an arrow. Not only could the purple glitter be a theme for the Midnights album as a whole, but it could be an Easter egg for an upcoming “Lavender Haze” music video, which was teased in her Midnights music video trailer.
Ghosts of her Red era
Taylor Swift/YouTube
As Swift sees ghosts in her home, two of them are sporting accessories from her Red era, a possible nod to her closing the door on Red (Taylor’s Version) with the release of her new album. One ghost is shown wearing the iconic red heart sunglasses from her “22” music video, while the other wears a similar cat ears headband she donned later in the music video.
The old Taylor coming to the phone
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Ahead of the release of Midnights, Swift teased all the songs from the album on TikTok with a series called “Midnights Mayhem with Me,” in which she revealed the track titles by speaking into a red rotary phone similar to the one from her “Look What You Made Me Do” music video. Many fans theorized that the phone symbolized the “old Taylor” coming to the phone as the songs were about past experiences throughout her life. A similar rotary phone appears in the “Anti-Hero” music video as she tries to phone for help and realizes the wire has been cut.
Speak Now guitar
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In one of the scenes in which Swift interacts with different versions of herself, the main Taylor is shown playing a guitar, while the more rambunctious Taylor is shown smashing the same guitar on the ground. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that the guitar is actually a limited edition Koi Living Jewels Acoustic Guitar by Taylor Guitars, which Swift famously played each night during her Speak Now tour. Perhaps this is a clue for her future re-recording of the album?
Alice in Wonderland
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In the video, there appear to be several nods to Alice in Wonderland as a giant Swift joins a “tea party” and scares the party guests. Fans think this could be a clue for her upcoming re-recording of 1989 as the singer has a track titled “Wonderland” on the album.
RELATED: All of Taylor Swift’s Love Songs Inspired by Boyfriend Joe Alwyn
“The Archer”
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In the tea party scene, there is also a shot of Swift getting struck in the heart by an arrow, which fans have interpreted as a reference to her track five song “The Archer” from Lover, in which she grapples with her anxiety and fears, similar to her “Anti-Hero” lyrics.
A photo of Marjorie
Taylor Swift/YouTube
As Swift weighs herself in the bathroom, there is a framed photo of her grandmother Marjorie on the wall. Swift previously penned a track about her grandmother, who was also a singer, on her Evermore album.
Taylor Swift’s cats
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In the funeral scene, there is a photo of “older Taylor” surrounded by many cats, including her actual cats Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button photoshopped in.
Fearless tour dress
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Also in the funeral scene, Swift’s onscreen daughter-in-law Kimber (played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is shown wearing a black dress the singer previously wore during her Fearless tour. Some fans have theorized that the fashion Easter egg could be a dig at Kim Kardashian and how she controversially sported the late Marilyn Monroe’s dress at the 2022 Met Gala.
Additionally, one of Swift’s onscreen sons (played by John Early) can be seen wearing a similar shirt to one Swift wore in “The Man” music video.
Snake boots
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In one of the final shots of the video, Swift joins herself on the roof as the two drink wine together. While one Swift sports a ’70s-inspired look, another wears a pair of snakeskin-print boots, which could be a reference to Swift’s Reputation era.
Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” music video Easter eggs
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“Enchanted” instrumental version
Taylor Swift/Youtube
Swift starts the “Bejeweled” music video by putting her own twist on Cinderella. However, it’s the music playing in the background that got fans’ attention. She sets the scene for the fairytale story with an instrumental version of “Enchanted” from her third album Speak Now.
Dialogue that references Taylor Swift’s past eras
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Throughout the opening scene with the Haim sisters and Laura Dern, there are several pointed references to Swift’s past eras. At one point, Dern tells Swift to “Speak not” as a nod to her album Speak Now. At another point, one of the Haim sisters calls Swift a “snake” which is a reference to the singer’s Reputation era.
Taylor Swift’s Folklore/Evermore outfit
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Several fans noted that the outfit and hairstyle Swift sports at the beginning of the video bear a striking resemblance to the looks she donned in the music videos for “Cardigan” and “Willow.”
“Exile expires”
Taylor Swift/YouTube
After Swift’s evil stepmother and stepsisters leave the room, the singer is magically gifted with a clock that reads: “Exile expires,” a nod to her Folklore song of the same name. Many fans have interpreted this as Swift’s departure from her folk music era with Folklore and Evermore and her return to pop music.
The floors on the elevator
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Swift drops even more Speak Now Easter eggs as she gets on a magical elevator. There are 13 floors shown on the elevator, with different colors representing Swift’s 10 albums and two recordings. After pressing the purple “3” button, representing Swift’s third album Speak Now, Swift later gets off at floor 13, which is a dark purple, insinuating that Swift’s next re-recording could be Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
Midnights (3am Edition)
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In her performance scene, Swift is shown sitting on a clock that is set at 3. While some have theorized that this could be a Speak Now Easter egg, it’s likely a reference to Swift’s deluxe version of her new album, Midnights (3am Edition).
Speak Now jewelry
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Throughout the video, Swift uses jewelry as Easter eggs. At one point, she is shown with hair clips that read “T” and “S” for her initials, but later in the video, she wears hair clips that read “S” and “N,” which could represent Speak Now.
“Look What You Made Me Do” throne
Taylor Swift/YouTube
In the video, Pat McGrath makes a cameo as the queen. Eagle-eyed fans have noted that the throne appears to be the same one Swift sat on in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.
In the same shot of McGrath on the throne, there are pictures of Swift’s “Lavender Haze” co-writers Zoë Kravitz and Sam Dew in the background, which could be a potential clue that the song could be getting a music video next.
Vault key
Taylor Swift/Youtube
As Swift poses with “Prince Jack” in the video, she is shown holding a large key, which looks very similar to the “vault key” necklaces Swift sold during Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version). Another sign that a re-recording is coming soon?
Speak Now World Tour balcony
Taylor Swift/YouTube
At the end of the video, Swift stands on the balcony of her new castle, which looks identical to the balcony from her Speak Now World Tour. Not only could this be another Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) Easter egg, but it could be Swift’s way of confirming that she’s going on a world tour soon.
“Long Live” instrumental version
Taylor Swift/YouTube
Adding even more fuel to the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) theories, the music video ends with an instrumental version of “Long Live” from Speak Now. The castle even has dragons on top of it, which could represent the lyrics “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.”
Long Pond Studio
Taylor Swift/YouTube
As the camera pans out from the castle, a handful of fans believe they have spotted Long Pond Studio in the far left corner, the studio where Swift recorded her Disney+ documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions. Taylor Nation seemingly confirmed this theory when they retweeted a fan’s tweet about it. Could this mean fans are finally getting the long-awaited Evermore Long Pond Studio sessions?
