Swifties, are you still breathing? We have finally Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) to obsess over, with 26 songs, including re-recordings of her classic tracks like “Dear John” and “Better than Revenge,” plus new Vault songs like “Timeless” and “When Emma Falls In Love.” The original Speak Now album has become a fan-favorite, thanks in part to being completely self-written by Swift, and the ensuing Speak Now tour also cemented itself in the mind of fans. In fact, one artifact in particular from the tour has stood the test of time and become iconic in its own way: Swift’s koi fish guitar, which was recently removed from the Country Music Hall of Fame. So what is this guitar’s significance, and why was it removed? Well, Swifties are already pretty sure they know where they’ll see it next.
Why was Taylor Swift’s koi fish guitar removed from the Country Music Hall of Fame?
The guitar’s removal was first spotted on July 5 on Twitter, with user McdanielSt82241 tweeting a picture of (presumably) Country Music Hall of Fame taking the guitar off of the pedestal where it usually sits. “HIGHLY suspicious,” they wrote — which I can agree with, given that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) dropped just two days later on July 7 (and July 9 is just two days after that… but more on that later). Neither Swift nor the museum has given a statement yet on why the guitar was removed.
The news then made its way over to r/Taylor Swift on Reddit, showing a picture of the guitar’s old home with a sign that reads, “Artifact temporarily removed.” Fans in the comments immediately predicted that Swift would use the guitar on the Eras Tour, at least just for this upcoming weekend, if not for the remainder of the shows. Swift’s Eras Tour started back in March, before Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was even announced, and will be continuing into 2024 with dates in Europe, South America, Asia, and more.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Swift would bring back the guitar, considering the Eras Tour harkens back to the nostalgia of, well, her many eras as an artist. What’s more, Swift has notably left some Speak Now songs off of her setlist until Taylor’s Version was announced (including “Dear John,” which she finally did a heartwrenching rendition of on June 24 at her Minneapolis stop). One other song that’s been missing from her list of surprise songs and the regular setlist? “Last Kiss,” a Speak Now track that fans have been eagerly anticipating — and might finally get to hear in concert.
What is the meaning of Swift’s koi fish guitar?
As I already told you, Swift’s koi fish guitar made an appearance on her Speak Now world tour back in 2011 to 2012. Swift has used koi fish imagery to tease the arrival of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) in past music videos, such as “Lavender Haze” and “Anti-Hero,” where she’s actually shown smashing the iconic guitar. Swift used the guitar to play “Last Kiss” in particular, a song inspired by her ex Joe Jonas, and fans are already eagerly awaiting a 2023 live version of the song.
But remember when I said the timing of the koi fish guitar’s removal from the Country Music Hall of Fame was suspicious? It’s not only that Swift released Speak Now (TV) on July 7 — but this upcoming Sunday is July 9, another day with significance for the Speak Now era. We have the “Last Kiss” lyrics to thank for that: The song mentions July 9 in the lyric, “That July 9, the beat of your heart / It jumps through your shirt / I can still feel your arms” in the second verse. Though it originally was probably an important date within her and Jonas’ relationship, Swifties have since turned the day into an unofficial “Last Kiss” Day.
Swift even tipped her hat at the date in her announcement for the rerecording, writing, “It fills me with such pride and joy to announce that my version of Speak Now will be out July 7 (just in time for July 9th, iykyk).” Yes, Taylor, we know! Swift doesn’t actually have a July 9 show planned on the Eras Tour, but she will be in Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday, July 8 — and if these hints aren’t a sign that “Last Kiss” and the koi fish guitar will make an appearance then, I don’t know what is. Your move, Taylor.