Swifties are already well aware of the fact, Taylor Swift isn’t merely a singer, but also a storyteller and her expression is reflected in her music video storylines just as much it’s evident in her lyrics. As the multi-talented artist celebrates her birthday today, i.e. on December 13, we hope to extol her name and distinct identity in the music space.
Although it’s nearly impossible to curate a list of our favourite picks from Swift’s grand discography. Even though the same is replete with so many glimmering gems we can’t do without, we’ve chosen 9 music videos that have their separate fanbases and establish the singer-songwriter’s untouchable glory.
Her videos are otherworldly, and she’s been credited for the same with prestigious accolades, making her the only solo artist with two best direction awards at the MTV VMAs for All Too Well: The Short Film and The Man.
Groundbreaking and Vibrant Taylor Swift Music Videos We Love
You Need to Calm Down
Off the Lover album, the video was co-directed by Swift alongside Drew Kirsch and puts on a bombastic portrayal of pride. Explosive cameos from Haley Kiyoko, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, Ryan Reynolds, Ellen DeGenres, RuPaul, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (and many more cameos) also joining in the squad.
In the latter half we see Taylor dressed as a french-fries mascot who finds consolation upon locating Perry with a huge burger costume, the same one she sported at Met Gala on at a disastrous party. Both come together to form a ‘Happy Meal’, finally settling their feud. The chaotic counterpart of the Swift universe is bubbling with ample number of references and parallels that were eventually spotted by the fans. Moreover, it’s also followed by a message to sign the petition for Senate support of the Equality Act.
The Man
Dressing up as a man to the point that you need a double take (or more) to realise that its actually Taylor, she portrays a male dominant workplace led by a mansplaining, tantrum-throwing individual leading as the worst example around, ‘Mr. Americana’ Tyler Swift, voiced by The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.
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…Ready For It?
Directed by Joseph Kahn, the video for the electronic-inspired industrial pop song plays out quite direct inspiration from Ghost In The Shell with dual Swift personas, one a humanoid cyborg and the other a dark-hooded robot, who eventually face off giants each other, representing the tussle between the real and fabricated version of Swift. Multiple Easter eggs related to her life are planted in the MV as well, and always have the fans pondering over theories.
Look What You Made Me Do
No one knows of the efforts needed to rebuild your entire reputation better than Swift. Look What You Made Me Do from her album Reputation doesn’t need an ensemble cast of cameos to win our hearts, it just needs Taylor Swift, more and more of her. Her various personas since the beginning of the Swift cinematic universe reunite only to make to fight it out and make it to the top.
People can try their all and butt heads with the queen but no one can ever “exclude her from (her own) narrative”!
Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar
As if one killer queen wasn’t enough to rule over our hearts, Swift went on to unite several other as well. The star-studded squad features Swift alongside Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Hailee Steinfeld, Gigi Hadid, Ellie Goulding, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Mariska Hargitay & Ellen Pompeo, Martha Hunt, Jessica Alba, Serayah, Karlie Kloss, Lena Dunham, Hayley Williams and Lily Aldridge with Kendrick Lamar of course.
The action-packed video sets our screens on fire not only with its high quotient of star presence therein, but quite literally as we approach the end.
You Belong With Me
Before all the skirmishes and everything, there was Fearless Taylor pulling up to the prom following the typical teen movie makeover arc against her double role to get Hannah Montana’s guy. Pitting oneself against a stark opposite version of the self, the blonde Taylor with glasses on the bleachers had to fight off her evil brunette twin cheer captain. Even though the dual role is so evident, back in the day, we still had to look twice to realise that both the girls were in fact Taylor herself.
Anti-Hero
Once again, both written and directed by Swift, Anti-Hero has her playing a double role, with the more outgoing version of herself turning up on her doorstep to teach her the ways of the world. But wait, there’s more. Another grand-sized Taylor from Alice and the Wonderland-verse is yet to meet them. And a not so emotional supposed funeral scene with her discordant kids at each others’ throats and pinning the blame for her death on each other. Family drama wins the scene!
Bejeweled
In her own modern Cinderella Story with Laura Dern as her evil step mother, the ‘House Wench Taylor’ ghosts the prince… but keeps the castle. The dazzling video again has jam-packed Easter eggs referring to Speak Now and other songs like Exile. Her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, which finds an avid representation in Look What You Made Me Do is subtly hinted at here again. Her songs couldn’t be complete without producer friend Jack Antonoff’s support, and he features in the video as royalty in addition to other cameos.
All Too Well: The Short Film
The Snow on the Beach singer is no stranger to the big screen and acting. Having featured as short appearances in The Giver, Valentine’s Day and Amsterdam, and even Cats, she knows well how to hold her ground as an actor, but with All Too Well: The Short Film, she steps into the directorial shoes again.
Initiating a long-running discussion on the same, the video became a major ground of speculations for the artist’s past life. Keeping all that aside, it welcomed stellar actors like Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink as a couple working through the dysfunctional ups and downs of their relationship, aptly worded in the lyrics as well. The nearly 15 minutes long MV also features Swift as the older version of the character embodied by Sink.
As if the singer directing and writing the story for her video wasn’t enough of a feat, the acting combination of the blazing trio leading it makes it an all-time hit.
Swift’s most recent endeavour took shape in the form of her latest and tenth studio album Midnights. Tune into the album on Spotify. She’ll soon be making her directorial debut for Searchlight Pictures as well.
Happy Birthday Taylor Swift!
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