The Big Picture
Taylor Swift has a strong connection to the number 13 and incorporates it into her career and music in various ways.
The number 13 is prominently featured in her albums, songs, music videos, and concert films, displaying her unwavering devotion to this particular number. Swift's affinity for 13 extends beyond a fleeting fad, evidenced by its consistent presence in her artistic endeavors and the subtle hints and clues she strategically includes for her fans to uncover.
Taylor Swift doesn't follow the negative superstitions associated with the number 13. In fact, she considers it a lucky number. Today, October 13th, her concert movie Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is available in theaters worldwide, and other films have made room for her preferred date. It may seem strange for a number to be connected to a person, but Taylor Swift has embraced it as a significant part of her career. Known for leaving hints and clues, Swift and her fans have incorporated the number into puzzles and subtle references. Whether it's subtly hidden or prominently displayed, 13 is always present in Swift's work. It appears in her Twitter account, album tracklists, and even the duration of her songs. It seems that the number 13 has a special affinity for Taylor Swift, just like her fans.
Taylor Swift and 13 Share a Long Love Story
Image via Taylor Swift
Swift's connection to the number 13 is well-established. Born on December 13, she has consistently embraced and shared this number with her fans. From the early days of her career, 13 has played a significant role. Her albums, such as Fearless, 1989, and Midnights, all contain 13 songs, even before considering deluxe editions or bonus tracks. Smaller details, like the inclusion of 13 polaroids in the original 1989 packaging, further emphasize her affinity for the number.
However, Swift's incorporation of the number 13 has become increasingly elaborate over time. She has openly referred to it as her lucky number, and this is evident in her song choices and lyrics. For example, on her album Red, she dedicated the 13th track, "The Lucky One," as a tribute to the number. In addition to this, she included a 13-second intro to the song and repeated the word "lucky" 13 times throughout. This pattern can be seen in other songs as well, including "Our Song," "Call It What You Want," and "the last great american dynasty," which all feature 13-second intros. Furthermore, "Daylight" concludes with 13 seconds of silence. Many of her songs also feature lyrics or refrains that are repeated exactly 13 times, such as "22," "Stay Beautiful," "I Know Places," "Gorgeous," "End Game," "Willow," and "Cardigan." While it may not be possible to attribute all of these occurrences to intentionality, the frequency and consistency of Swift's use of the number 13 demonstrate her deep admiration for it, which goes beyond a passing trend.
Swift often chooses the 13th as a preferred date for her work. Her latest concert film will not mark the first occasion where she releases something on the 13th. A clip of her song "Out of the Woods" debuted on Good Morning America on October 13, 2014, and the Midnights bonus tracks for her collaboration with Target were unveiled on October 13, 2022. However, Swift's output is too extensive to limit releases solely to the 13th day of the month. Besides, that would be too obvious. Nevertheless, other releases can still be connected to the number 13 because, fortunately for Swift, math, like spelling, is enjoyable. Lover was launched on August 23, and if you add 8, 3, and 2, you get 13. The release date of Midnights (October 21) applies the same trick. She elevated this strategy with Fearless (Taylor's Version), announcing it on February 11 and releasing it on April 9, both of which add up to 13. Taking it a step further, Swift revealed 1989 (Taylor's Version) on August 9, 2023, which appears to reference the album's title. However, it is also precisely 8 years, 9 months, and 13 days after the original 1989 was released on October 27, 2014. To meticulously plan all of these connections, she truly showcases her mastermind abilities.
With Swift, Always Keep Your Eyes Open for 13
Image via Republic Records
The number 13 is a constant presence in Taylor Swift's folklore. It can be found everywhere, making it easy to spot in her music videos and tours. While the drums at her concerts often bear the number painted on the front, it is cleverly hidden by the mesmerizing spectacle she creates. In her early tours, Swift used to draw a 13 on her hand for each show. Although she has discontinued this practice, many fans continue to embrace it, adding to the long list of Swiftie traditions that may perplex some. Interestingly, this tradition did find its way into her recent music video for "I Can See You," further solidifying the significance of the number 13 in Swift's repertoire.
There is a continuous flow of Easter Eggs in her music videos, with 13 being a significant recurring theme. These hidden elements range from obvious instances like the number being displayed on the wall in "...Ready For It?" to more subtle examples such as the number of times she falls in "Out Of The Woods." Swift often incorporates the number 13 into her jewelry, such as a necklace adorned with 13 pearls in "Karma," as well as a pendant hanging from her neck in "You Need to Calm Down." In fact, "You Need to Calm Down" goes all out with 13 gems on her sunglasses and a 13 instead of a 1 on her watch, in addition to the necklace. Another inclusion of the number 13 can be noticed in "Me!", where 13 clouds are featured. Some of these 13 references in Swift's music videos are logical, like her character working on the 13th floor in the "Ours" music video. However, others may have little explanation, such as the cake in "I Bet You Think About Me" that bears 13s and 26s on its top tier (since 26 is essentially two 13s). While it remains a mystery why numbers would be present on a wedding cake, Swift embraces these eccentricities without any intention of toning down her love for the number 13.
Taylor Swift and 13 Are Together Forever & Always
Taylor Swift is known for purposefully incorporating 13s into her career to connect with her fans, although she admits that not all instances are intentional. The number 13 has always had a significant presence in her life. During the documentary series Journey to Fearless, Swift revealed that she signed her first development deal at the age of 13, marking the beginning of her journey. In an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno early in her career, Swift discussed her fascination with the number and shared various examples of it appearing in her life without her control. For instance, her debut album went gold in just 13 weeks, a feat she attributes to the support of her fans. Additionally, her first number one hit, "Our Song," features a 13-second intro, which she claims was unintentional. She also mentioned that many of her award victories occurred while she was seated in the 13th row or row M, the 13th letter of the alphabet. Reflecting on these occurrences, Swift expressed, "When I won the Horizon Award at the CMA awards, the producer approached me during sound-check and said, 'Alright, we'll start in 13 seconds!' The presence of numbers is astounding!"
The singer's remarkable connection with the number is evident in various instances. For instance, she won a total of 13 awards in 2018 and her music video "Delicate" garnered 13 million views on its debut day. Furthermore, five of her songs, namely "Teardrops on My Guitar," "White Horse," "Ours," "Gorgeous," and "Mastermind," all reached the 13th position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Initially a coincidence, Swift and her fan base have now embraced the number 13 as their default choice for everything. It has become a significant aspect of the Swiftie world, albeit without any profound explanation other than that the singer has a personal liking for it. Perhaps it originated as a superstition for the young celebrity, believing that her lucky numbers would positively impact her career. However, at present, it has become a playful game that Swift enjoys engaging in with her fans. So, it is no surprise to see Taylor Swift incorporating the number 13 in seemingly random ways simply because it adds an element of fun. Don't miss out on Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, currently showing in theaters.
