The queen of Easter eggs is back, and so are the Swifties with their sleuthing skills!
After the release of the much anticipated “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” the multi-award winning artist had another surprise to her fans as she dropped the music video treatment for “I Can See You,” one of the album’s vault tracks, on July 8 (Philippine time).
The action-packed music video features familiar faces: actresses Joey King and Presley Cash who both appeared in Swift’s “Mean” music video, and Twilight star Taylor Lautner, who was Swift’s ex-boyfriend and believed to be the inspiration behind “Back To December.”
Remember back in April when Swift was spotted blowing up a building in Liverpool and running with King? Well, it was for that.
🚨 | @TaylorSwift13 shot her music video for "I Can See You" on April 10, 2023 in Liverpool! pic.twitter.com/xyTgEWQtNK
— Taylor Swift Facts (@blessedswifty) July 8, 2023
Just like Swift’s previous music videos, “I Can See You” is also full of her signature Easter eggs, dropping sneaky clues and subtle references here and there. And of course, Swifties quickly went into detective mode and looked for hidden details that might refer to what the singer-songwriter is up to next.
Without further ado, check out all the Easter eggs Swifties picked up in the “I Can See You” music video.
‘1989’ may be the next re-recorded album to be released
One of the theories Swifties came up with is that “1989” may be the next Taylor’s Version to be released.
taylor really keeps us on our toes because like WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE GETAWAY CAR WAS DRIVING TOWARDS 1989 TV
— 🪩 eME!rald 💜💜💜 ISO eras Denver 7/14 (@hushmirrorball) July 8, 2023
According to many detective Swifties, there are some scenes in the music video that gave off the vibe that “1989” is next.
1989 TAYLOR’S VERSION IS NEXT. Easter eggs in the ‘I Can See You’ music video confirms it ✨💜😱 🥹
1) Beginning of music video looks like the 1989 cover & Style music video shots
2) End of music video has 1989 TV on the bridge
“Written and Directed by Taylor Swift”… pic.twitter.com/wGyfOQvF3i
— Zainub Amir (@zainubamir) July 8, 2023
STREETS SAYING 1989 TV COMING NEXT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MY WHOLE LIFE pic.twitter.com/KzD70fmTde
— anna ⎊ IS SEEING TAYLOR X3 (@dyleoliviazella) July 8, 2023
The first example was the close-up scenes of Swift’s red lips. This looked similar to a shot in Swift’s music video for “Style.” The red lips also reminded her fans of the original cover of “1989.”
I feel like this is an easter egg from the music video for 1989 Taylor’s Version coming up next… it’s giving Style or 1989 cover… 🤔Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/QJAWcKzE6P
— Zainub Amir (@zainubamir) July 8, 2023
TAYLOR IS HINTING AT 1989 TV I’M ACTUALLY GOING INSANE #ICanSeeYouMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/BugfWuc6WA
— vampire miguel I taylivia stan 🩸 (@cowboyinwoods13) July 8, 2023
Another clue Swifties pointed out was the action stunts. In the first minutes of the video, King can be seen crawling through lasers. The scene was a reference to Swift’s skit at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Festival.
only real swifties understand the cultural significance of this #ICanSeeYouMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/22OC9EpsBw
— Ron (@midnightstrack2) July 8, 2023
Lautner’s stunt and the briefcase he was holding also reminded Swifties of a similar scene in the “Bad Blood” music video, where Swift was hitting an enemy with the same briefcase.
1989 tv easter eggs pic.twitter.com/hls9QrEgID
— Rose 🎸 (@SN0W0NTHEBEACH) July 8, 2023
She really loves teasing 1989TV #ICanSeeYou #SpeakNowTaylorsVersion pic.twitter.com/Yugx79dAIj
— Rhi is holding onto the memories (@thisghosttown17) July 8, 2023
And of course, the most obvious hint was at the end of the video. As soon as Swift, King, Cash, and Lautner escaped from the exploding building/vault, the quartet went to their getaway car and headed to a bridge with a sign that read, ”1989 TV.”
THEY ARE LITERALLY DRIVING TO GET 1989 TV NEXT pic.twitter.com/IkiUXG2q2o
— maddux⸆⸉ can see you (@reptrackeleven) July 8, 2023
they’re literally on their way to save 1989 THAT IS CINEMA pic.twitter.com/IyU87DuPlt
— sofia | BARBIE JULY 21 (@hrryslavderhaze) July 8, 2023
THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY TO SAVE 1989 TV WTF pic.twitter.com/MsBN23EMNe
— Potayto 💜 (@burningredthr) July 8, 2023
‘Reputation (Taylor’s Version)’ might also be next
However, some Swifties took note that “1989” might not be the next Taylor’s Version album to be released; “Reputation” is.
The close-up scenes of Swift’s red lips also resembled the scenes in “Look What You Made Me Do.”
look what you i can see you
made me do (2018) (2023)
#ICanSeeYouMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/6C2sc0l7xt— karen💜 sntv era (@picturetokurn) July 8, 2023
Some pointed out that King trying to break the vault Swift was trapped in was also similar to a shot of Swift trying to break the wing of a plane in the 2016 music video.
first easter egg: Joey King trying to break the vault where Speak Now was in there. Just like from the MV of Look What You Made Me Do MV pic.twitter.com/SNXwvSE5lc
— charee valle|TAYLOR'S VERSION (@evermoreivy14) July 8, 2023
The vault Swift was in also reminded them of the one in “Look What You Made Me Do” as well.
3rd easter egg: Taylor came out from the vault. same in look what you made me do mv. pic.twitter.com/xNIG2CWX1c
— charee valle|TAYLOR'S VERSION (@evermoreivy14) July 8, 2023
Another clue that fueled “Reputation” is next was the getaway car Swift, King, Lautner, and Cash used to drive away from the exploding building.
the fact that she’s currently on the 6 in the clock and exactly in the middle of speak now and reputation compared to the man wall and guess what’s her 6th album? I fear rep tv is next that’s why the getaway car drives to 1989tv, rep is coming before 1989 #ICanSeeYouMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/tkBis0epL3
— sara𓆚 vienna n1 (@mirrorswifft) July 8, 2023
let’s talk about how taylor gets into a “getaway car” on the way to the 1989 tv bridge, reputation tv is next pic.twitter.com/ULYgfcHLYt
— jack 💜 (@bejeweledress) July 8, 2023
Subtle references to the “Speak Now” album
The music video isn’t only full of Easter eggs. It’s also filled with nostalgia as there are a lot of references to Swift’s past eras, particularly “Speak Now.”
A good case in point was the clock displayed during the countdown before the music video premiere. The countdown started at 1:58. This is a reference to Swift’s song, “Last Kiss,” where the singer sang: “I still remember the look on your face, lit through the darkness at 1:58.”
taylor is so sick for premiering the i can see you video at 1:58 😭 pic.twitter.com/czt661sfrw
— Ron (@midnightstrack2) July 8, 2023
YALL THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK FOR THE I CAN SEE YOU MV IS AT 1:58 pic.twitter.com/SeMJ45wBRW
— lizzie 💜 (@sunflowers__7) July 8, 2023
Another nod to “Last Kiss” was the date flashed at the bottom of the opening scene of the video, which read, “July 9.”
THAT JULY 9TH THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART #ICanSeeYouMusicVideo pic.twitter.com/5KbwHXlPv7
— yas IS SEEING TAYLOR (@misamericana) July 8, 2023
In the song, Swift continued to sing: “I do recall now the smell of the rain, fresh on the pavement, I ran off the plane that July ninth…”
Swifties also took note of the glass displays in the video. Some have observed that the dresses inside the glasses were the outfits Swift wore in her past eras, while some were from the old music videos of the “Speak Now” era.
taylor swift once again with the glass closets i really cant comprehend how yall dont get it yet pic.twitter.com/DfzA1pWQ3I
— yara. (@gaedisaster) July 8, 2023
THE #TSTheErasTour WITH ALL THE TAYLOR’S IN THE GLASS LOCKED UP WAS THE BIGGEST EASTER EGG OF THEM ALL FOR #SpeakNowTaylorsVersion AND THE #ICanSeeYouMV @TaylorSwift13 @taylornation13 #TaylorSwift pic.twitter.com/hoCtrvsvKF
— ✨Heather✨ (@HeyyHeather) July 8, 2023
The best example of this was the dress King wore in the “Mean” music video. The fact that King and Cash were in the video also alluded to “Mean” as both actresses appeared in the 2011 music video.
THE WAY SHE WAS LOOKING AT THE DRESS SHE WORE IN THE MEAN MV OMG 😭😭 #ICanSeeYouMusicVideo @taylornation13 @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/N2BVbXToYJ
— sof’s castles are crumbling (@youreinIcve) July 8, 2023
this was so 🥺 pic.twitter.com/X5NC4n1jn2
— sam 🪩 (@swieder13) July 8, 2023
Lastly, Swift also made a nod to her track, “Long Live” as the line “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you” was written on her arm.
🚨 | Taylor Swift had a “Long Live” arm lyrics on "I Can See You" music video
— “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you” pic.twitter.com/aS5umsy96m
— Taylor Swift Facts (@blessedswifty) July 8, 2023
We can’t tell what move Swift will do next because anything is possible. Maybe “1989” is next, or maybe “Reputation.” Perhaps, “Taylor Swift” is coming. With Taylor, a lot is going on at the moment.
But for now, let’s enjoy “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and celebrate because Taylor just reclaimed ownership of another craft of hers!
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