It’s happening again. We’re clowning again.
Taylor Swift takes the stage on Tuesday night in London for her final Eras Tour show in Europe. As has been the case several times over the last few weeks, Swifties are starting to predict that the 14-time Grammy winner is going to announce the re-recording of her sixth studio album, Reputation.
Reputation is one of two albums left — the other being her debut album — that still needs the (Taylor’s Version) treatment that indicates Swift has reclaimed her work.
Here are some of the strongest hints that this time, it’s for sure happening. And if it doesn’t, well, maybe Reputation TV is the friends we made through all of the clowning.
It has been 123 days …
What is a good clowning theory without some numbers that somehow magically work out? If you count the days between the release of The Tortured Poets Department and Night 8 of the Eras Tour shows in London, it would work out to 123 days.
In case you’re unfamiliar, there’s a popular chant for the Eras Tour during “Delicate” (part of the Reputation set) where the crowd yells “1-2-3, let’s go [expletive].”
The hissing sound of snakes 🐍 the clicking of heels… woke me up from a dead sleep…☠️🪦#ReputationTaylorsVersion #RepTV pic.twitter.com/8PW5BOUSiC
— Whit 🐍|| Long Live (Taylor's Version) (@whit_wonderland) August 19, 2024
Countdowns?
During the Reputation set over the past few weeks, Swift has gestured to the crowd in a 3-2-1 countdown.
12) taylor has also been counting down, with swifties in the crowd, during ‘delicate’ and ‘so it goes’ (1,2,3 lets go b, who’s counting 1,2,3 = 321) pic.twitter.com/60naQ9efBm
— bry ⸆⸉ is short n sweet! (@13greatswar) August 19, 2024
Lighting tests and rehearsals on August 18
Swift didn’t have a show on Sunday night, taking a one-evening break during the five-show stretch. Makes sense, the idea of five straight nights of nearly four-hour singing and dancing is a lot. But while Swift outwardly took the evening of August 18 off — which just so happens to be the 7th anniversary of when she blacked out her social media accounts prior to announcing Reputation — she seemingly wasn’t quietly hanging out at her hotel.
wait wembley was doing lights tonight?? pic.twitter.com/1H6hy90kQD
— ⸆⸉ 🖤 (@laavvenderhaaze) August 19, 2024
Not only were they doing light tests, Swift was allegedly — according to a Wembley stadium worker — rehearsing from 8pm to 2am on Sunday evening. Could she have been prepping for a new portion of the show?
UMMMMMMMM NOT THE SECURITY GUARD TELLING US TAYLOR WAS IN THE STADIUM SUNDAY NIGHT FROM 8-2AM PRACTICING BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE im going to explode
— madison loves taylor! 🫶🏼⸆⸉ LONDON N8 (@iheartswift_) August 20, 2024
Wembley, what are you playing at?
Seriously, what do you know and when did you know it? The two emoji again and “Are you ready for it?” The clowning.
The “snake” gesture
WHAT ARE THESE HAND MOTIONS, TAYLOR? COULD THEY BE LIKE A SNAKE?
taylor did the snake gesture twice!!! and one of them was during CAUSE YOU GOT TIRED OF MY SCHEMING!!!! pic.twitter.com/s3u5yzEs9B
— Taylor Throwbacks (@ThrowbackTaylor) August 18, 2024
The new Midnights bodysuit
One show before announcing 1989 (Taylor’s Version), she debuted a new bodysuit for Midnights. Now maybe two shows before the Reputation (Taylor’s Version) she has debuted a new Midnights bodysuit??
The new midnights bodysuit pic.twitter.com/mfnkOYDDlo
— aya🤍🪶 | fan acc. (@imalltoowell) August 16, 2024
Speaking of costumes …
Here are some interesting notes:
- The silver “noodle” dress for Fearless made a reappearance on Monday after six shows
- The “This is not Taylor’s Version” tee for “22” was also back after six shows
- Swift wore the blue top and orange combo for the 1989 set that she last wore eight and 20 shows ago, or 8/20
- The silver “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” jacket returned after, you guessed it, six shows
- The pink Midnights dress was back after — drumroll — six shows
- The only new version of the acoustic set dresses we haven’t seen yet is the green one (like a snake?)
There are a lot of reasons to clown yet again, but if it doesn’t happen today, it’s time to hang up the oversized shoes. It’ll be a clowning retirement. You win, Taylor.
Swift will take the stage in London for the last time on the Eras Tour around 2:30 pm ET.
