Taylor Swift, the enigmatic queen of pop, has once again delighted her fans with a unique and engaging challenge. In collaboration with Google, Swift has orchestrated an interactive journey for her followers, leading them through a maze of puzzles and clues to unlock the long-awaited vault tracks from her upcoming album, “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” set to release on October 27, 2023. These vault tracks, originally penned during the “1989” era but never before released, have created a buzz of excitement among Swifties worldwide.
The Vault Tracks Phenomenon:
Before diving into the intricacies of this captivating puzzle, let’s take a moment to appreciate the concept of vault tracks. Taylor Swift, in her mission to regain control of her music catalog, has been re-recording her albums. This includes the introduction of “vault tracks” in reimagined albums like “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” and “Red (Taylor’s Version).” These vault tracks often feature exciting collaborations with artists like Keith Urban, Maren Morris, Ed Sheeran, and Phoebe Bridgers. However, for “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” Swift has chosen to elevate the challenge.
The Puzzle Unveiled:
The heart of this puzzle lies in the heart of Google’s search engine. By simply searching “Taylor Swift” on Google, fans are greeted with a tantalizing blue vault icon next to her name. Clicking on it opens a world of word puzzles, each related to the “1989” album or era. These puzzles can range from filling in the blanks of “Style” lyrics to recalling the location of Swift’s iconic performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2014.
To succeed, fans must input the correct answer in the search bar. Triumph brings a message proclaiming “You got it! Keep searching for more puzzles,” while defeat is met with a gracious “Sorry, that’s not it. Try again.” In total, there are 89 puzzles, each varying in difficulty. The use of Google’s features such as autocomplete, voice search, and image search can serve as valuable allies in this puzzle-solving journey.
The Grand Goal:
What’s at stake, you ask? The grand prize is the collective satisfaction of Swift’s fandom. A total of 33 million puzzles must be solved as a united fanbase. Upon reaching this monumental number, Taylor Swift herself will unveil the titles and features of the five vault tracks and one bonus track that will grace “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” For those eagerly awaiting the album’s release, tracking the puzzle-solving progress can be done on Google’s website.
Swift’s Cryptic Clues:
Of course, Taylor Swift couldn’t resist adding her own twist to this mystery. On September 19, she took to Instagram to share a video of a floating vault releasing letters, spelling out “T-S-!-U-L,” accompanied by quotation marks. The caption, a reference to her song “Blank Space,” further fueled speculation. Fans have put forth theories such as “SLUT!,” “LUST!,” or “SUIT!” while also considering the possibility that the quotation marks may hint at the track title being a quote from another celebrity or a character from pop culture.
Swift’s Reaction and Google’s Praise:
While Swift has yet to confirm or deny any theories, she has been quietly enjoying the spectacle, liking posts on Tumblr that suggest she relishes watching her fans piece together the puzzle. Google, her partner in this grand endeavor, has praised her for crafting a campaign that brilliantly showcases the power of search in a fun and innovative way.
The Anticipation:
Swift has described “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” as her favorite re-recorded album, largely due to the astonishing vault tracks. These songs, once left behind, are now set to shine brightly. Fans are abuzz with anticipation, eagerly awaiting what these tracks might reveal, be it surprising collaborations or hidden revelations.
If you are a Swiftie with a penchant for puzzles and mysteries, this is your golden opportunity to join the fun and help unlock the vault. Taylor Swift, the puzzle master, has opened a door to an adventure filled with twists and turns. As the clock ticks down to the album’s release on October 27, 2023, one can only wonder what surprises she has in store. So, embrace the challenge, keep searching, and remember, the search might just be as rewarding as the treasure itself.
