Everything You Need to Know About Taylor Swift's '1989 (Taylor's Version)': From Her Self-Proclaimed 'Cryptic' Clues to the Released Songs
If Taylor Swift is the perpetrator, her fans are the detectives. The pop star — who is notorious for dropping cryptic messages in her liner notes, music videos and social media posts — seems to have left several clues that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be the next album she’ll release.
In May 2022, the singer-songwriter gave her followers the most ammunition for their theories yet when “Taylor’s Version” of the 1989 track “This Love” was featured in the trailer for the teen drama The Summer I Turned Pretty.
“Thank you [director] @jennyhan for debuting my version of ‘This Love’ in the trailer for @thesummeriturnedpretty!! I’ve always been so proud of this song and I’m very 🥺🥺🥺 about this turn of events,” the Grammy winner shared via Instagram. “‘This Love (Taylor’s Version)’ comes out tonight at m i d n i g h t!”
The updated single isn’t the first song Swift has released from 1989 (Taylor’s Version). In September 2021, she shared a glimpse of her new version of “Wildest Dreams,” which was the first hint that the 2014 album could be the next rerelease on her list.
As The Summer I Turned Pretty trailer premiered in May 2022, an entire “1989 Shop” appeared in the “Shake It Off” singer’s official merch store, with the album title emblazoned on everything from sweatshirts and tumblers to blankets and sunglasses. One of the many items available on Swift’s website is the “1989 seagull necklace,” which appears to represent the shirt she is wearing on the album cover. It could also be a nod to the matching silver airplane necklaces that she and ex Harry Styles both owned, which she sings about on “Out of the Woods” — one of the 1989 tracks heavily rumored to be about the “Watermelon Sugar” singer.
If the Evermore artist is anything, it’s cryptic — and even she’s admitted to it. Fans believe that there are plenty of other clues Swift has dropped along the way, including little phrases and visuals hidden in interviews and music videos. (Even a box of apple juice holds potential meaning to Swifties!)
“Can’t stop won’t stop being cryptic and weird,” the Pennsylvania native commented on a fan’s November 2021 TikTok, which pointed out that her “All Too Well” short film featured a car made in 1989. “That’s just the beginning.”
Keep scrolling for all of Swift’s hints, clues and Easter eggs about the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version):
‘I Can See You’ Music Video
Days after Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was released in July 2023, her music video for “I Can See You” had fans buzzing about 1989 clues. The video starts with a close up of Swift’s red lips, which could be a reference to “Style.” Then, Joey King swings a steal breifcase during a fight scene that mimics a similar setup in the “Bad Blood” music video (which also starred King). In the final scene, the getaway car drives under a sign that reads “1′-9” 8.9tv,” believed to mean 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
‘This Love (Taylor’s Version)’ Drops
Swift announced the second song from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” a snippet of which appeared in the trailer for the Prime Video teen romance show The Summer I Turned Pretty.
‘1989’ Merch
The “Happiness” singer released an entire collection of 1989 merch on her official website in May 2022, including apparel such as a T-shirt, a hoodie and a crewneck. Other 1989 accessories include a keychain, a necklace, a tote bag and a baseball cap. Swift is even selling a 1989 pillow and blanket.
Ed Sheeran’s ‘The Joker and the Queen’ Music Video
While fans clocked the fact that the two stars in Sheeran’s 2022 video were the same actors from the original “Everything Has Changed” video — Swift and Sheeran’s song from 1989 — they also had a theory that the food in the footage represents “Welcome to New York,” the opening track on the 2014 album. The cafeteria scene features New York cheesecake and apple juice (representing the Big Apple?), which fans thought to be New York staples.
‘All Too Well’ Short Film
When the “Cardigan” songstress dropped the 15-minute “All Too Well” short film in November 2021, fans couldn’t help but notice that the Mercedes-Benz featured in the video was made in 1989.
Swift herself acknowledged the Easter egg, replying to a fan, “Can’t stop won’t stop being cryptic and weird.”
‘Wonderland’ Hint?
Did Swift drop a subtle clue in a November 2021 interview with Jimmy Fallon? Fans certainly thought so, as the singer talked about going down a “rabbit hole,” a lyric in the 1989 deluxe edition.
The Release of ’Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)’
The four-time Album of the Year Grammy Award winner dropped the first single from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) all the way back in September 2021, which fans believed was a sign of things to come.
