“Question…” What if we told you Taylor Swift’s a “mastermind”?

A musical magician who has seamlessly transformed from a blossoming country artist to a lyrical genius. Beautifully skilled in her craft, some even refer to her as the face of the music industry–and rightfully so. From the naive, country-infused tracks in “Debut,” to the soulful journeys listeners embark on in her newest masterpiece, “Midnights,” Taylor Swift never fails to keep fans on their toes. So far in her career, Swift has left a monumental legacy, and a trail of strategically planted Easter eggs for her eager fans to pick up and dissect.   Let’s unpack some of the carefully-planted hints Swift has dropped that allude to and included within her most recent creation, “Midnights.”

Recently, Swift was granted the honor of receiving an honorary doctorate degree from NYU. Fortunate fans had the opportunity to witness her speech. It was curated with beautiful words of wisdom – secretly filled with Easter eggs. While congratulating the graduating class on their commencement, Swift told them, “Scary news is, you’re on your own now. Cool news is, you’re on your own now.” These inspirational words secretly reference her emotionally incredible track, “You’re on your own Kid” on “Midnights.”  

Along with her clever words, Swift also implemented subtle visual hints into her “Bejeweled” music video from Oct. 25. Although the video depicts this “Midnights” track, two of her beloved songs from the 2010 album, “Speak Now,” “Long Live” and “Enchanted”, are heard playing in the background. This ignited excitement among fans, for the feature is a potential indication of a possible rerecording of the album: “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”. 

Although a wide range of Swift’s musical creations embody youthful and optimistic themes, fans fell in love with the vengeful “Reputation” from 2017. Inspiration for the album’s theme was sparked by Swifts’ ongoing feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. The “Midnights” album was released on Oct. 21 as the clock struck twelve, ringing in her newest creation alongside Kim’s 42nd birthday. 

Swift always has a hidden Easter egg up her sleeve, and proves that, as she coyly brags in “Mastermind”: “None of this is accidental.”