ME! (feat. Brendon Urie) Easter Eggs — Taylor Swift
The ME! (feat. Brendon Urie) music video by Taylor Swift (lover era) contains 5 hidden easter eggs. Key discoveries include Watch the very first shot—a pastel snake slithers across a cobblestone street toward Taylor and Brendon, only to explode into a kaleidoscope of butterflies., Watch Taylor and Brendon Urie argue in French at the start of the video, Look at the painting on the wall behind Taylor in the apartment scene — it's a portrait of someone famous, and 2 more. Each is timestamped and decoded with a trivia quiz, explanation, and sourced references on Clownalia.
A colorful, maximalist celebration of individuality featuring Brendon Urie, complete with a marching band, pastel cityscapes, and Taylor's newest cat. Clownalia has documented 5 hidden easter eggs in this music video, each presented with an interactive spotlight, trivia quiz, and full explanation with sources.
All Easter Eggs in ME! (feat. Brendon Urie) by Taylor Swift
Easter Egg #1: Watch the very first shot—a pastel snake slithers across a cobblestone street toward Taylor and Brendon, only to explode into a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
What to look for: Watch the very first shot—a pastel snake slithers across a cobblestone street toward Taylor and Brendon, only to explode into a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
Timestamp: 0:16
Quiz question: The snake transforming into butterflies at the start of the video is a symbolic "metamorphosis" representing what?
Answer: The end of the reputation era and the beginning of the colorful Lover era
Explanation: The snake was the primary motif of the reputation era, a symbol Taylor reclaimed after being "canceled" online. By having the snake burst into pastel butterflies, Taylor is signaling a metamorphosis. It’s a literal visual "shedding of skin," announcing that the dark, vengeful themes of her previous work have been replaced by the bright, romantic, and whimsical world of Lover.
Fun fact: In her Elle "30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30" essay, Taylor mentioned that "disarming" her bullies by using the snake symbol during the Reputation Stadium Tour was a major point of growth. Seeing it turn into butterflies in "ME!" is the final step of that healing process.
- Elle
Easter Egg #2: Watch Taylor and Brendon Urie argue in French at the start of the video
What to look for: Watch Taylor and Brendon Urie argue in French at the start of the video
Timestamp: 0:40
Quiz question: Beyond setting a romantic tone, what specific "second single" Easter egg is hidden in their French dialogue?
Answer: Brendon tells her "Calme-toi s'il te plaît," foreshadowing the next single "You Need To Calm Down."
Explanation: While the French setting establishes the romantic "language of love" theme for the Lover era, it serves a more technical purpose as well. Taylor confirmed on Twitter that the title of her second single was hidden in the video. During the argument, Brendon Urie tells Taylor she needs to "calm down" in French ("Calme-toi s'il te plaît"), to which she famously replies, "JE SUIS CALME!" This was a direct nod to the upcoming track "You Need To Calm Down".
- Elle
- Vogue
Easter Egg #3: Look at the painting on the wall behind Taylor in the apartment scene — it's a portrait of someone famous
What to look for: Look at the painting on the wall behind Taylor in the apartment scene — it's a portrait of someone famous
Timestamp: 0:58
Quiz question: The portrait on the wall behind Taylor is of which iconic figure?
Answer: The Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) — who Taylor later collaborated with on 'Soon You'll Get Better'
Explanation: This was one of the first major Easter eggs confirmed for the Lover era. The portrait of The Dixie Chicks (surrounded by literal "chicks") signaled Taylor's collaboration with the band on the song "Soon You'll Get Better." The track is a vulnerable country ballad detailing her mother Andrea's battle with cancer, marking a return to Taylor's country roots.
Fun fact: Taylor confirmed the "Dixie Chicks" clue during her YouTube live stream before the video premiere, telling fans there were clues they "wouldn't find for months." This was the biggest one
- Vogue
Easter Egg #4: Look at the aerial shot — a giant mural is being painted on the street
What to look for: Look at the aerial shot — a giant mural is being painted on the street
Timestamp: 1:56
Quiz question: What does the giant street mural spell out in the finale?
Answer: 'Lover' — revealing the album title for the first time
Explanation: The overhead shot reveals 'Lover' being painted as a massive street mural — this was the very first reveal of the upcoming album's title. Fans went wild analyzing the frame to confirm the album name.
Easter Egg #5: Watch for the fluffy kitten that Brendon Urie hands to Taylor as a "peace offering"
What to look for: Watch for the fluffy kitten that Brendon Urie hands to Taylor as a "peace offering"
Timestamp: 2:13
Quiz question: What is the real-life story behind the kitten that appears in the "ME!" music video?
Answer: Taylor adopted him and named him Benjamin Button — her third cat
Explanation: The kitten was originally part of a program that places rescue animals in commercials and videos to encourage adoption. When the handler told Taylor the kitten was "available," she immediately decided to take him home. He joined her other two cats, Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, making her a mother of three!
Fun fact: Taylor named him Benjamin Button because, as a kitten, he had a "wise," slightly older-looking face—a nod to the F. Scott Fitzgerald character who ages in reverse. He has since become a celebrity in his own right, even appearing on Taylor's 2023 TIME Person of the Year cover.
- iheart
How does ME! (feat. Brendon Urie) connect to other Taylor Swift eras?
Fans have found connections between ME! (feat. Brendon Urie) and other Taylor Swift eras through visual callbacks, lyrical references, and symbolic imagery. Explore all the hidden details on Clownalia.
