Taylor Swift surprised fans Friday with a new single, in collaboration with Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie.
The 10-time Grammy-winner has been teasing the release for weeks. She gave fans hints about the upcoming song, as well as the album, though a butterfly mural painted in the Gulch neighboorhood in Nashville, Tennessee. Swift’s new single “Me!” dropped at Midnight on Friday and is streaming on the major giants like Spotify.
Fans were caught between rabid excitement at the newest Swift single, and confusion over the collab with Urie. For hours leading up to the announcement, people posted their theories online.
I love that all the butterfly theories were true!!!! After reputation she emerged like a butterfly!!!! In less than 12 hours we will know her lead single. Maybe even what her album is called!!! I CANNOT WAIIIIIIT @taylornation13 #TSMural pic.twitter.com/YhNsGkas9n
— ♡ (@purehoneyharry) April 25, 2019
What if the next clue is "you" and the album is called "me and you" and it's all songs about Taylor's family, friends, Joe and us??? #TaylorSwiftApril26 #TSmural pic.twitter.com/2NO1GSz2Rb
— Asher (Taylor's version) (@auld_taylor13) April 25, 2019
What if the❗️in ME! was a clue that it’s a collab with Brendon Urie, as in Panic❗️at the Disco?!!?! #TaylorSwiftApril26 #TSmural
— Erika (Eras Tour Philly & Buenos Aires) (@Manxita) April 25, 2019
UM
— April 🤍 (@SheRoseSlowly13) April 25, 2019
Not to be loud but there are THREE cats in the mural and one of them looks like a KITTEN….and she did just talk to @TIME about how much she loves cats as one of her three things…
Could Taylor be getting a new kitty?! 🙀😻 #TSmural #TaylorSwiftApril26 @taylornation13 pic.twitter.com/eGR1d26Ddx
Once Swift broke the news about her single, she showed up in Nashville to meet with fans.
Taylor meeting with the fans who showed up for #TSMural in Nashville! #TaylorSwiftApril26 pic.twitter.com/ePeGLSWh1T
— Taylor Swift Updates (@SwiftNYC) April 25, 2019
Fans were delighted at the chance to come face-to-face with Swift. Many of them took to social media immediately after to express their joy. “How can one person be so perfect,” one Twitter user gleefully wrote.
Swift friends: I made it to my car. Phone is dead & I’m crying hysterically and sooo delirious and nauseous and now I’m driving around in a daze and may never get out of The Gulch but none of that matters bc I FREAKING MET TAYLOR ALISON SWIFT AFTER 14 YEARS!!!!!
— Sandradeebee (@sandradeebee) April 25, 2019
HOW CAN ONE PERSON BE SO PERFECT #TSmural @taylornation13 pic.twitter.com/Z5nJ6cBRxZ
— Jasmine (@ohsoitgoes13) April 25, 2019
ME wanna sleep already but this girl owns my ass so nevermind.#TSmural #TaylorSwiftApril26 @taylornation13 pic.twitter.com/XYnp5QHjo3
— tmbahahaha (@tmbwontclose) April 25, 2019
When people tell me to calm down about Taylor Swift #MeOutNow pic.twitter.com/SgjRXzlC7C
— 🪩 Chantelle 🪩 (@AussieSwiftlet) April 26, 2019
Despite confusion over the collab, there was plenty of Urie love to be found online, as well.
https://twitter.com/godisbrendon/status/1121697677123522560
https://twitter.com/godblessbrendon/status/1121637435375382531
https://twitter.com/benasitis/status/1121683062033489920
brendon urie has collabed with taylor swift what parallel universe are we living in
— mia (@miaxmon) April 26, 2019
Some people teased at Swift’s transformation from the darker tones of 2017’s Reputation to the bright and bubbly energy surrounding her new single.
Taylor swift so far…. pic.twitter.com/YRPv8hoyAx
— Vy (@inVYctus06) April 26, 2019
If only the world was a little bit better and brighter 🌈
— Lee Doona_ing (@suzybogum) April 26, 2019
Taylor Swift: Did someone say ME! #MeOutNow #TaylorSwiftTONIGHT #TaylorSwiftApril26 #TAYLORSWIFT pic.twitter.com/NN2uuXYdo1
Though I loved the darkness of repuTation, we all know that pastel Taylor Swift is >>>!!! Me! is here! HIDE YOUR FAVES!!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha! pic.twitter.com/Zyn8lqRTyh
— Mac Dionisio (@Benggadora08) April 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/MileyOfficialy/status/1121629683005546497
Swift spoke with ABC News Friday about the single’s release. “‘Me!’ is a song about embracing your individuality and really celebrating it and owning it,” she said. “With a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody really stuck in people’s heads and I just want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves.”
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