Taylor Swift’s Internet Scavenger Hunt for “1989” Vault Tracks
Swift’s Cryptic Challenge
Taylor Swift, known for her clever teasers and riddles, recently engaged her dedicated fan base, the Swifties, in an internet scavenger hunt. The mission? To unscramble numerous word clues on Google, with the promise of revealing the vault tracks from her upcoming re-record of the “1989” album. Swift delivered on her promise on September 20, through her Taylor Nation social media accounts, by unveiling titles to four of the five promised vault tracks:
- “Is It Over Now?”
- “Now That We Don’t Talk”
- “Say Don’t Go”
- “Suburban Legends”
However, the title of the fifth vault track remains a mystery for fans to decipher.
The Mystery of the Fifth Track
On the same day, Taylor Nation shared a new clip teasing a track that had been hinted at the day before. The clip displays a vault graphic with the letters “T-S-!-U-L” emerging from it. Fans immediately began speculating on what this word could be, with suggestions ranging from “slut” to “lust.”
The Significance of Vault Tracks
Vault tracks, which are songs that didn’t make it onto the original album, have become a staple in Swift’s re-recordings. They offer fans a glimpse into the creative process and the songs that almost made it onto the original release.
How Google Got Involved
Google played a crucial role in this scavenger hunt. On September 19, the tech giant collaborated with Swift, creating a campaign for fans eager to solve the “T-S-!-U-L” puzzle. Google explained that when users search for “Taylor Swift” in the search bar, a blue vault icon appears, and clicking on it allows them to solve one of the word puzzles. There are a total of 89 puzzles to solve. If fans collectively complete 33 million puzzles (Swift’s age), she would reveal the upcoming track titles.
Technical Hiccups and Fan Frustration
Despite the excitement, some fans faced technical issues. Two TODAY.com editors attempted the puzzle but didn’t see the blue vault. Many social media users also voiced their complaints under the hashtag #WheresTheVault on Twitter. Google acknowledged the problems, tweeting that the “vault is jammed” but reassured fans that they were working on a fix.
A Familiar Teaser Approach
This isn’t the first time Taylor Swift has teased her fans with puzzles before releasing vault tracks. In August 2021, she employed a similar strategy for her “Red (Taylor’s Version)” album. During a performance in Los Angeles on August 9, Swift announced that her next re-recorded album would be “1989,” originally released in October 2014. She shared her excitement, particularly about the five vault tracks, which she described as “insane” and indicated they wouldn’t stay hidden for long.
Swift’s Mission to Reclaim Her Music
Swift’s re-recording efforts stem from her dissatisfaction with the sale of her master recordings by Big Machine Records to Scooter Braun in 2019, followed by their sale to a private equity firm. Swift has been vocal about her intent to regain control of her music by re-recording her first six albums, and her fans eagerly await each re-release.
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