Top 10 Taylor Swift Music Videos with the Best Easter Eggs
#10: “You Need to Calm Down” (2019)
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The music video for this “Lover” single is a kaleidoscope of Easter eggs. Early on, the camera pauses on wall art featuring Cher’s iconic quote, “Mom, I am a rich man,” in response to her mother encouraging her to get married. It’s no doubt a cheeky nod to the power anthem, “The Man.” Other tracks are given sneaky callouts too. Hayley Kiyoko shooting an arrow at a number 5 target references “The Archer,” and Ellen DeGeneres receives a “Cruel Summer” tattoo. Plus, the red dice are a possible reference to the “devils roll the dice” lyric of the same track. And who could forget Benjamin Button’s cameo on a watch that aptly goes to 13 o’clock?
#9: “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” (2021)
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The music video to this “Red” vault track is overflowing with the color. But that’s hardly the only album reference. We see a return of the iconic red scarf from “All Too Well: The Short Film”, as well as the “Red” ring from the album cover. A pair of red sneakers might also be a clever allusion to a lyric from “Begin Again.” Plus, Swift is seen sitting at the kids table, perhaps a subtle comment regarding her age gap with ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal. The wedding cake itself holds a few hidden gems too, including the “Red” ring design, the number 13, and most interestingly, seagulls — the symbol of “1989”. We’ll keep telling ourselves that it was a hint to “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” all along.
#8: “Lavender Haze” (2023)
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Once that “Lavender Haze” clears, it’s hard not to notice just how many visual callbacks to the “Midnights” album are featured in this music video. Within the first few seconds, the camera pans over a vinyl record called “Mastermind” with the constellations for Sagittarius and Pisces, the star signs of Swift and her now-ex, Joe Alwyn. Incense is burning on a shelf, similar to the lyric in “Maroon”. And a weather forecast appropriately calls for “Midnight Rain”. There’s even a reference to koi fish, a clear “Speak Now” Easter egg which ended up being the follow-up re-recording. And is it just us or is Swift’s blue toenail polish a subtle reference to her debut album? Only time will tell!
#7: “ME!” (2019)
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Back before we had specifics about the “Lover” album, Swift dropped this cryptic music video to mark the official end of the “reputation” era. And what better way to start with a clean slate than showing a snake bursting into pastel-colored butterflies? In the French dialogue that follows, Brendon Urie says that Swift “needs to calm down”, a sneaky clue to the next single off the forthcoming album. There’s also a painting of the Chicks in the couple’s apartment which foreshadows their feature on the track “Soon You’ll Get Better.” And while we now know it to be the album title, we’ll never forget the speculation over the “Lover” sign in the background of the cityscape.
#6: “Anti-Hero” (2022)
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“Anti-Hero” came amid an era that celebrated… well, the eras. As such, it has a ton of Easter eggs to her previous albums. Ghosts scare Swift through the house, some wearing heart sunglasses or cat ears, which are a callback to the “22” music video. Meanwhile, some have theorized that the phone is a nod to the iconic “Sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now” lyric. Plus, Bad Taylor smashes the “Speak Now” koi fish guitar, and while she’s taunting Swift in the bathroom, a portrait of Marjorie can be spotted on the wall. And did you catch that Swift’s potentially murderous daughter-in-law, conveniently named Kimber, is wearing a “Fearless” tour dress? We see what you did there!
#5: "The Man" (2020)
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While Swift may not be recognizable in this music video, her love for Easter eggs sure is. If you can look past the songstress’s prosthetics, you’ll find there’s quite a few crucial clues. Most importantly, a graffiti wall featuring the titles of Swift’s stolen albums. Fans theorized this reveals the order of the re-recording releases — though the jury is still out on that one! We also get a chuckle when we see the “no scooters” sign on the wall. Swift also included a “Boss Scotch” poster which is reminiscent of the photoshoot Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun had amid the sale of Big Machine Records. Oh, and we can’t forget the cameo of her father, Scott Swift, as the umpire!
#4: “Karma” (2023)
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“Karma” really is the Easter eggs on the screen. In this music video, Swift appears as Nemesis, goddess of retribution, atop a pedestal with Roman numerals reading “1989”, as well as an underworld partier dressed in “Reputation” garb. Fans were especially dedicated to decoding the scene towards the end in which Swift carries a coffee cup that has a foam design of a clock. Particularly, they were focused on the positioning of her blue and black nails at 8 and 2. Many theorized that news regarding the re-releases of “1989” and “Reputation” would come in August and February. Interestingly, “1989 TV” was announced in August and though not “Rep TV,” “The Tortured Poets Department” was announced in, you guessed it, February.
#3: “I Can See You (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault]” (2023)
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Is there any video as exciting as “I Can See You”? This is an action-packed mission to rescue Swift, from her “Speak Now” days, from the vault. Former “Mean” stars, Presley Cash and Joey King, are along for the ride, as well as ex-boyfriend Taylor Lautner. He shows off his moves, the same ones he displayed on “SNL” in 2009 in response to Kanye West’s VMAs interruption. We also encounter a room filled with glass cases containing old costumes, a nod to the “it’s time to go” lyric, “He’s got my past frozen behind glass.” Plus, the video teases the re-recording order, beginning with the time stamp “July 9th, 1:58 AM”, a nod to “Last Kiss”, and ending with a sign reading “1989 TV”.
#2: “Look What You Made Me Do” (2017)
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We knew Taylor Swift was a “Mastermind”. But if there was ever any doubt, all you’d need to do is watch the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video. Instantly, Swift appears as a zombie rising from the dead, dressed similar as in “Out of the Woods” — her last official solo music video (“New Romantics” compilation excluded) before her hiatus. In the background, a headstone features her writing alias, Nils Sjöberg, which was notably the source of online beef with Calvin Harris. She also heavily references criticisms levied against her regarding things like her supermodel squad and “snake” accusations. She even added a $1 bill for her sexual harassment lawsuit where she counter-sued for that amount. And that barely scratches the surface!
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Out of the Woods” (2015)
We Think We’ve Seen That Blue Dress Before… & We Didn’t Like the Ending
“Wildest Dreams” (2015)
Swift Embodies Her Grandmother Marjorie in This Glamorous Golden Age Flick
“willow” (2020)
One Single Thread of Gold Tied “folklore” to “evermore”
“End Game” (2018)
Look Hard & You’ll See References to Swift’s Relationship with Joe Alwyn
“cardigan” (2020)
Swift Honors Her Grandfather, the Subject of “epiphany”, in a Portrait
#1: “Bejeweled” (2022)
Has there ever been a music video with so many Easter eggs? We doubt it. Swift frequently references the eras in this twisted fairytale. Laura Dern tells Swift to “speak not” and Danielle Haim says “bye, snake” as references to “Speak Now” and “reputation.” Shortly after, Swift looks at a pocketwatch reading “exile ends,” indicating something new. The elevator itself contains many nods to her re-recordings, stopping on levels 3 and 5, which are purple and blue for “Speak Now” and “1989.” It’s no coincidence those were the next two TVs released! Swift even holds a key (to the vault?) near the end! And we’re absolutely living for the “Speak Now” instrumentals. Did you tear up at “Long Live”? We sure did.
How many hidden Easter eggs were you able to spot within these music videos? Tally them up and let us know in the comments!
