Taylor Swift has been dropping hints left and right about when she will announce her highly-anticipated album, Reputation (Taylor's Version). The latest clue comes from an observant fan who noticed that Swift recently unarchived an Instagram post from November 2017 featuring the original cover art for Reputation. The caption on the post read, '3 days until #reputation.' Coincidentally, this discovery was made just three days before the 2024 Grammy Awards, which Swift is set to attend. As a result, Swifties are buzzing with excitement, believing that the awards ceremony will be the perfect platform for her big announcement.
The journey to re-record her albums began in 2019 when Swift announced her plans to reclaim her music after her former record label, Big Machine, sold her master recordings to Scooter Braun. Since then, she has released re-recordings of her albums Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989. Reputation and her self-titled debut album from 2006 are the final two albums on her list.
Swift has been dropping hints about Reputation (TV) for months now, and her fans have been diligently piecing together the clues. Some initially speculated that she would announce the album in December 2023 after noting a clock in her TIME 2023 Person of the Year portrait that pointed to the numbers 12 and 7. Additionally, her Instagram Story highlights titled 'Rep Memories' began on December 7, 2017. These details led fans to believe that the album announcement was imminent.
One of the ways Swift has been hinting at Reputation (TV) is through her fashion choices. For example, she appeared at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in a sultry black dress with gold accents, reminiscent of her original Reputation era. During a dinner outing with friend Blake Lively, she wore a green velvet dress and brown snake-patterned boots, channeling her inner serpent. Swift also donned a black peacoat with gold buttons over a red sweater while supporting her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, at the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. These stylistic references have only fueled the anticipation surrounding the album.
Fans also recall that Swift has a habit of making album announcements at awards shows. She announced her last studio album, Midnights, while accepting the Video of the Year award at the 2022 VMAs. Therefore, it is no surprise that Swifties are speculating about a Reputation (TV) announcement at the upcoming international leg of The Eras Tour, which kicks off in Tokyo, Japan, on February 7. This would be a fitting moment to unveil the next chapter in Swift's musical journey.
While performing during The Eras Tour, Swift has covered almost every song from the original Reputation album except for 'I Did Something Bad.' Considering that she announced Speak Now (TV) and 1989 (TV) during the secret songs portion of her show, many fans are convinced that 'I Did Something Bad' is being saved for a special Reputation (TV) announcement.
In an interview featured in her TIME 2023 Person of the Year profile, Swift described the upcoming album as 'a goth-punk moment of female rage at being gaslit by an entire social structure.' She also teased that the vault tracks on Reputation (TV) are 'fire.' Swift compared her re-recorded albums to 'collecting horcruxes,' referencing the Harry Potter series, and humorously added, 'I'm collecting Infinity Stones [from the Marvel Cinematic Universe]. Gandalf's voice is in my head every time I put out a new one.' These quotes only heighten the anticipation for Reputation (TV) among her dedicated fanbase.
As Swift continues to drop breadcrumbs and leave fans eagerly waiting for the official announcement of Reputation (Taylor's Version), it's clear that her re-recorded albums are not only an act of reclaiming her music but also a testament to her unwavering dedication to her artistry and connection with her fans. Swifties around the world are eagerly awaiting the moment when she will release Reputation (TV) and continue building her musical legacy.
