The countdown to Reputation is on (T-Minus 24 hours until November 10, people) with Taylor Swift only stoking the fire more by posting the album’s entire track list to her Instagram account on Tuesday.
In addition to the four singles she’s already released — ‘ Look what you made me do,’ ‘ Ready for it,’ ‘ Gorgeous,’ and ‘ Call it what you want‘ — the record will feature 11 other songs, including “I Did Something Bad” (a possible Kim/Kanye-related track?), “King of my Heart” (another Alwyn-inspired love song?), and ‘End game,’ which features Ed Sheeran and Future.
As with all things Reputation-related, this latest announcement has left Swift fans in a panic/Tumblr dark hole. Mainly, the track that really has people losing it and concocting fan theories is #15, titled ‘New Year’s Day.’ Two intense theories have emerged on social media, one involving T.Swift’s ex Harry Styles, and the other involving her current beau, British actor Joe Alwyn.
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 7, 2017 at 6:52pm PST
First up, the Styles theory: According to sources, ‘New Year’s Day’ may be a reference to Swift and Style’s breakup during the 2012 holiday season. The couple, who began dating in October of that year, planned to ring in the New Year together in the British Virgin Islands, but Swift ended up flying back to U.S. three days early. A source told The Daily Mail at the time, “they were on holiday and had an almighty row,” which resulted in their breakup and the photo seen ’round the world of T. Swift looking really, really sad on a boat.
While the title of the song does seem telling, would Taylor really be singing about a breakup that happened five years ago? Especially after several songs on 1989 seemed to address her romance with Styles? Haylor fans can only hope.
i can’t believe taylor is still writing about harry edward styles i love track number 10 she does so much for haylor even after all these years i can’t believe it
— anmol (@signoftay) November 8, 2017
“NEW YEAR’S DAY” 📢HAYLOR📢 https://t.co/YaV24EuOAd
— ωιnona (@winonamalik) November 8, 2017
new year’s days gotta be about haylor
— eva (@ootofthewoods) November 8, 2017
ppl saying haylor is dead but track 15 is called new year’s day and we all know what happened in 2013??? OPEN YOUR EYES
— vee | riputation 💀 (@swift__squad) November 8, 2017
Next, and (arguably more out-there) the Alwyn theory: Fans believe that ‘New Year’s Day’ will be the pair’s official engagement announcement. It’s not totally clear as to why this speculation has emerged, but it would definitely be a very Swift-ian way to share the news with the world.
What if we find out on track 15 that @taylorswift13 IS ENGAGED?! (And that’s why everyone cried??)
— Swift•ish (@SwiftishPodcast) November 6, 2017
Seriously it makes sense! “Every lover known in comparison is a failure.” And if she is engaged — why write any songs about exes? 😻😻😻😻
— Swift•ish (@SwiftishPodcast) November 6, 2017
I’ve been saying it forever. MARK. MY. WORDS. The necklace means way more than jewelry!
— Swift•ish (@SwiftishPodcast) November 6, 2017
If track 15 is where Taylor sings about getting engaged, I will freaking cry puddles of happy tears!!!! @taylorswift13 #REPUTATION
— Ely Belly 🐍❤️ (@swiftie_1990) November 7, 2017
Regarding track 15 #reputation @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/AZBS7QXzeq
— 40YrOldSwiftie Karen (@40yrOldSwiftie) November 4, 2017
Of course there are still other theories floating around out there — like that ‘Don’t blame me’ is about Taylor’s ongoing feud with Katy Perry, or that the writing on the left side of her face means that the album is “her side of the story vs. the media’s” — but we’ll just have to wait until Friday to see what’s true and what’s in our wildest dreams.
Taylor Swift
Reputation
— ً (@kxtysboy) November 7, 2017
@taylorswift13 @taylornation13 I love that the track list is printed on the left side of her face as opposed to the right on the cover: her side of the story vs. The media’s #Reputation #Reputationtracklist pic.twitter.com/yizRYkdIQZ
— DomJeans (@doMMM88) November 8, 2017
