Are we getting a Style ft. Harry Styles? Following the announcement of 1989 (Taylor's version) that's certainly what fans are manifesting and we must admit, the rumors are very compelling.
For those who don't know, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift go way back, having famously dated between 2012 and 2013. In fact, the 'Daylight' singer is heavily rumored to have inspired Taylor's OG 1989 record—including songs like 'Out of The Woods' and of course, 'Style.' So, with the pair now being at the top of their game and seemingly on good terms (remember that Taylor and Harry movement at the Grammys 2023?!), naturally the re-recording of her Styles-centric album is fuelling collab rumors.
So, here's why we reckon all our wildest dreams are about to be realized—plus a recap of the whole Taylor Swift and Harry Styles saga, from a self-proclaimed Swiftie.
Are we getting a 'Style' ft. Harry Styles?
It's pretty common knowledge that Taylor loves to tease her fans, with hidden codes and easter eggs that often involve cryptic dates, hidden messages in lyrics and album artwork and even clues dotted throughout her Eras tour. To say she's a mastermind is something of an understatement, but with every new release, Swifties become bonafide detectives—honestly, the FBI should consider hiring from within the fanbase—and 1989 is a similar story.
But before we dive into all the 'Style' theories though, we should probably start with a recap of the lure behind the album and track itself...
Who is 'Style' by Taylor Swift about?
The third track on 1989 is rumored to be about the former One Direction Bandmember, with fans linking him to lines like: "You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye / You got that long hair, slicked back, white t-shirt," which definitely sounds familiar...
It was also recorded the year following their split with many also claiming that the song references a few of 1D's tracks like 'You & I'. Plus, the song's title is literally his last name, minus the 's'.
Taylor has never confirmed that the song is indeed about him, but it's a very established fan theory at this point. Tracks like 'Out Of The Woods', 'I Wish You Would,' 'All You Had To Do Was Stay' and 'I Knew You Were Trouble' (from her album, Red), are also thought the be about their relationship.
'Out of The Woods' in particular features a ton of possible nods to Harry, including his iconic paper plane necklace, with lines like: "Two paper airplanes flying."
As for what Harry (who is rumored to be dating Taylor Russell) thinks of these song rumors, he said in an interview with Howard Stern in 2020: "I think about what it means to me to write a song about somebody else and for somebody else to do that, it’s like flattering, even if the song isn’t that flattering, you still spent time on it and ultimately, using Taylor as an example, she’s a great songwriter. So at least they’re good songs."
So, nearly a decade on, to get a feature from Mr. Styles himself, on 'Style'—or any of the 1989 hits really, we're not picky—would be a pop culture moment for the history books and not to mention a healing experience for Switfites the world over.
'Style.' Ft Harry Styles—the evidence
If you've been on TikTok recently, you'll have no doubt heard the fan A.I.-made 'Style' featuring Harry making the rounds, with fans convinced that the real article is coming.
Now, as a fan myself, I think we can be hopeful—because it would just be the biggest missed opportunity ever, to not.
The pair are both at the height of their careers and clearly on good terms (they follow each other on Instagram!). 'Style' is famously rumored to be about him AND it would mark a decade on from their breakup back in 2013—it's seriously a no-brainer and a guaranteed Number 1.
Plus, Taylor is no stranger to collabs, having performed songs with the likes of Haim, Bon Iver and Marcus Mumford. And of course, there's the case of Taylor Lautner (who dated Taylor in 2009 and inspired the song 'Back to December') who just starred in her 'I Can See You' music video and even came up on stage for the videos' premiere during the Eras tour! So, it's definitely not out of the realm of possibility.
@dvnnisimone ♬ original sound - mayk sounds
@asapmadz ♬ style - j
As for the clues fans think they've spotted, Taylor's announcement of 1989's vault has fueled the flames further, as she wrote: "To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane." While 'Style' itself would probably remain a pretty faithful rerecord of the original, a Vault track would be the perfect place to sneak in some Harry Style vocals...or do a 'Style' duet.
@molly_beasley_ ♬ original sound - Haunted • Qualified Shit Show
In one TikTok video, a Swiftie has also claimed 1989's release date is a clue because October 27 is 'National Navy Day History' and Harry made his acting debut in Dunkirk—where naval vessels and civilian boats aided in the evacuation of British forces from France. Now, this a reach but we appreciate the effort all the same...
Despite all our manifesting though, we'll just have to wait until the fateful day arrives, to see if the course of our lives just changed forever. But as the saying goes: "Being delulu is the solulu," so keep dreaming folks.
