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8 Magical Easter Eggs in Taylor Swift's "Willow" Music Video You Might Have Missed

11/12/2020 - 03:59 PM

Taylor Swift [1] is transporting us to another magical world with her latest music video, "Willow." [2] Following the surprise announcement of her new album, Evermore [3], the singer dropped the video for her new lead single at midnight. Interestingly enough, the video actually picks up right where "Cardigan" [4] left off as Swift sits in a cottage before being whisked away by means of a magical piano. Per usual, there are a handful of Easter eggs [5] throughout, but they are certainly more subtle this time around. Thankfully, Swift gave us some clues about what to expect during a live chat with fans on YouTube ahead of the premiere. Keep scrolling for all the Easter eggs we've decoded so far.

Continuation of "Cardigan"

The video picks up right where "Cardigan" left off as Swift sits in front of a piano with a cosy cardigan on. Since Evermore is the sister album of Folklore, the connection between the two music videos couldn't be more perfect. The scene also seems to be a nod to the "Exile" lyric, "I think I've seen this film before."

"Invisible String" Reference

While chatting with fans on YouTube ahead of the premiere, Swift revealed that certain songs from Folklore inspired the worlds we see in the "Willow" video, and she used one lyric in particular to tell the story [7]. After watching the video, it's obvious to tell that she's referencing "Invisible String," which has a line about how "one single thread of gold" led her to her soulmate.

"Seven" Reference

Swift also noted that there are a few scenes that are direct nods to specific Folklore songs [8]. The scene with the two kids playing with the string seems to be a reference to her track "Seven," where she sings, "I hit my peak at seven." The scene also has some major Peter Pan and Wendy vibes, which could be another nod to "Cardigan."

How Taylor Swift Feels About Fame

During her YouTube chat, Swift revealed that one scene in particular represents how she feels about fame [9]. The scene appears to be when Swift is playing inside a box at a circus but isn't able to get out when she sees her lover. Seeing that her outfit is giving us major "Love Story" vibes, it's possible she's referencing how she was put "inside a box" early in her career and put on display for all to see, but once she finally fell in love, she wanted to get out of the box and the spotlight to live a more private life.

"Mirrorball" Reference

The circus also seems to be a reference to the lyrics in "Mirrorball" where she sings, "And they called off the circus / Burned the disco down." During her Disney+ concert special, Swift revealed that she wrote those lyrics in particular after her Lover Fest tour dates were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Sneaky Snake

Blink and you'll miss this Reputation Easter egg, but one of the posters in the background of the circus scene is for "The Python" attraction, which shows a woman wrapped up in a snake.

"Mad Woman" Reference

As Swift walks in the woods with a group of women, we quickly learn they're actually witches performing a ritual. The scene seems to be a direct nod to her "Mad Woman" lyric that says, "Women like hunting witches, too / Doing your dirtiest work for you."

"Daylight" Reference

After reuniting with her lover at the end of the video, we see the two walk outside of the dimly lit cabin and into the sunny woods. The scene definitely feels reminiscent of the final track from her Lover album, which talks about finding a love that is golden like daylight. In one lyric in particular, she says, "You gotta step into the daylight and let it go."

Watch Taylor Swift's "Willow" Music Video


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/taylor-swift-willow-music-video-easter-eggs-48051734