Sincerest apologies to Taylor Swift fans who thought new music was set to arrive on Friday (May 13). While Swifties haven’t (yet) gotten any re-recorded songs or vault tracks this week, there is one thing they now have to look forward to: new merch.
Taylor Nation, the account for Swift’s management, posted an unspecified countdown via Instagram Story on Friday, which led many fans to believe that another album release — her re-recorded version of 1989 or Speak Now — was on its way. Speculations that the album (or albums) was set to arrive come in light of her dropping the “Taylor’s Version” of the 1989 track, “This Love,” which formally arrived with the release of the trailer for Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty last week.
Instead, the countdown was for brand-new, summer-themed merchandise in Taylor’s official store, appropriately titled the Swiftie Summer Collection. The new collection of merchandise features an array of beach towels, pool floats, sunglasses, muscle tees, drink tumblers, portable fans, fanny packs, an activity set and more. Accessory prices start at $15, while wearable clothing starts at $40. “Clear blue water high tide came and brought you this new merch just in time for #SwiftieSummer! Available now while supplies last at store.taylorswift.com,” Taylor Nation tweeted.
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In light of the merchandise drop and no update about the next re-release, Swifties took to Twitter to express their grievances and the embarrassment they felt at being hopeful for the album’s release. “Giving us merch instead of #1989TaylorsVersion, talk about a cruel summer,” one fan wrote, referencing Swift’s track from 2019’s Lover, in response to Taylor Nation announcing the new fan merch.
Shop the Swiftie Summer Collection here and see how fans reacted to the merchandise news below.
Swifties everywhere after that countdown was more merch instead of #1989TaylorsVersion !!!! https://t.co/KMssvJ4vqJ
— Ryan—🥥🌴HIVE (@theryanprhodes) May 13, 2022
ok now we for sure know we were clowned once again#1989TaylorsVersion #speaknowtaylorsversion pic.twitter.com/c1gaCfet3W
— cardigan from 1989🏳️🌈 (@cardigan1989) May 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/ultronymous/status/1525190125566631956
Will we ever learn #1989TaylorsVersion pic.twitter.com/4Mu9T7BHCP
— Ab’s (@AbiMay66) May 13, 2022
taylor number 1 public enemy #1989TaylorsVersion pic.twitter.com/P06rrhfkX2
— ☀️ (@inweyesflux) May 13, 2022
😱😱 TAYLOR RELEASED A NEW SONG 😱😱
#TaylorSwift #1989TaylorsVersion #SpeakNowTaylorsVersion #OnlyTheClowns pic.twitter.com/hiy9KiNpVW— Joel (Taylor's Version) (@JoelSwiftWWE) May 13, 2022
LOVING the new Summer Swifties collection #1989TaylorsVersion pic.twitter.com/QgZFUkheC4
— bayley 🍄🪐🦋 (@spaceybayley) May 13, 2022
giving us merch instead of #1989TaylorsVersion, talk about a cruel summer 😭 https://t.co/yIMRgeoi62
— Sam Steiber (@sam_steiber) May 13, 2022