Taylor Swift drops clear hint of 'Reputation (Taylor’s Version)'

Taylor Swift has been dropping hints about the upcoming release of Reputation (Taylor's Version) since 2023, leaving fans eagerly anticipating an announcement.

The singer's clever clues began during her Eras Tour, where she performed surprise songs from different albums, leading fans to theorise about a Reputation (TV) announcement. 

At her November 25 show, Swift played songs from Red (TV) and Fearless (TV), sparking speculation that she was counting down to the announcement.

However, the anticipated reveal didn't come during her final 2023 concert in Brazil. Instead, the singer continued to tease fans with subtle hints, including a stage malfunction in Milan that some believed was intentional.

In August 2024, the Lover crooner finally performed I Did Something Bad at her Wembley Stadium show, but it didn't coincide with a Reputation announcement. 

However, she made a snake-like motion while leaving the stage, reviving Reputation speculation.

The snake imagery, a symbol associated with Reputation since 2017, resurfaced when Swift debuted a new Reputation-inspired costume during her Miami concert on October 18, 2024. The black Roberto Cavalli bodysuit featured gold snakes, sending fans into a frenzy.

Previous hints and theories

In May 2023, Swift's Karma music video included Easter eggs hinting at Reputation (TV). One scene featured Swift holding a coffee cup with two fingers, one nail painted blue for 1989 and the other black for Reputation. 

The coffee cup's clock design sparked theories about a February 2024 release, which didn't materialize.

Ed Sheeran revealed in August 2023 that he hadn't rerecorded his verse for End Game, but a trailer for Prime Video's Wilderness featured the Taylor's Version of Look What You Made Me Do from Reputation, indicating progress on the album.

Tracklist and release date speculation

Reputation (Taylor's Version) will likely include 15 rerecorded songs from the original album, plus vault tracks. 

Fans speculate that I Don't Wanna Live Forever and This Is What You Came For might be included as vault tracks.

In a December 2023 interview, Swift described the vault tracks as "fire" and "a goth-punk moment of female rage."

Why Taylor Swift is re-recording her albums

Swift is rerecording her first six albums to regain control over her masters. 

After leaving Big Machine Records in 2018, she tried to buy back her masters but was given stipulations. 

Scooter Braun's purchase of Big Machine in 2019 and subsequent sale to Shamrock Holdings in 2020 led Swift to begin rerecording her music.