Taylor Swift 2023 Recap and Swiftly Spoken Awards

Hosts Cameron and Lisa of the "Swiftly Spoken" podcast reflect on Taylor Swift's eventful 2023 and the results of their third annual Swiftly Spoken Awards, as voted by listeners. The year saw an abundance of releases and moments, notably the commencement of the Eras Tour, the release of "Midnights" with additional songs and remixes, and the digital release of the Eras Tour film. Fans were also treated to "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and "1989 (Taylor's Version)", with the latter featuring standout Vault tracks. Swift's accolades included becoming Spotify's most-streamed artist and being named Time 100's Person of the Year. The podcast episode culminates with the community's favorite episodes of the year, with the discussion on Taylor's albums as seasons taking the top spot, and anticipates what's to come in 2024, including the continuation of the Eras Tour and potential new music.

• Cameron and Lisa host the Swiftly Spoken podcast, dedicated to Taylor Swift's music and career.
• The episode covers a recap of Taylor Swift's year 2023 and the Swiftly Spoken Awards.

"hello and welcome to swiftly spoken a fan-made Taylor Swift podcast in which we break down her lyrics Deep dive into full album retrospectives and theorize about what may be coming next as always we're your host Cameron and Lisa and in this episode we're going to be recapping Taylor's 2023 as well as going through the winners of our third annual swiftly spoken awards that all of you have been voting for over the last couple of days"

This quote explains the purpose of the Swiftly Spoken podcast and introduces the episode's focus on recapping Taylor Swift's year and discussing the Swiftly Spoken Awards.

• 2023 has been a content-rich year for Taylor Swift.
• In contrast to 2022, which had a quieter start, 2023 has been filled with continuous activity.

"2023 has been an extremely busy year for Taylor and we've been spoiled with content um in comparison to last year 2022 which was a little quiet especially on the first end of the year we were kind of you know pulling every end to get some sort of content and then in this year it's been like nonstop."

The quote highlights the difference in activity between 2022 and 2023, with 2023 being particularly busy for Taylor Swift and her fans.

• The Eras Tour began in March and is a significant event of the year.
• It ran until the previous month and will continue into the following year.
• The tour has been a platform for musical releases, remixes, and the introduction of "Midnights."

"some of those major moments include the eras tour beginning back in March...ran all the way uh through until basically last month and it'll be kicking back off next year..."

Cameron and Lisa discuss the Eras Tour as a major event in Taylor Swift's year, noting its start in March and its continuation into the next year.

• Taylor Swift released "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" in July.
• The announcement of "1989 (Taylor's Version)" was made.
• The Eras Tour film was released, allowing fans to experience the tour in cinemas and at home.

"we have another major release speak now Taylor's version back in July...we had uh the announcement of 1989 Taylor's version but before that came we got the eras tour film..."

The quote summarizes the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" and the announcement of "1989 (Taylor's Version)," as well as the availability of the Eras Tour film.

• The Eras Tour has served as a catalyst for various aspects of Taylor Swift's career, including music videos, remixes, and re-records.
• There is anticipation for the tour's evolution and changes in the following year.

"the Eros tour has been such a platform for Taylor and her career this year of like you know introducing us to music videos and remixes and different versions and then re-records..."

This quote emphasizes the Eras Tour's role in promoting different facets of Taylor Swift's music and career throughout the year.

• Taylor Swift achieved the title of most-streamed artist on Spotify.
• She was featured in Time 100 magazine as Person of the Year, with a detailed and candid write-up.

"Taylor has also achieved some incredible accolades and Records broken incredible incredible records honestly most streamed artist on Spotify and of course most recently we also got the person of the year and the time 100 magazine..."

The quote lists some of Taylor Swift's significant achievements in 2023, including her streaming success and recognition in Time 100 magazine.

• Taylor Swift has been more visible in public and personal settings.
• She has shared moments with friends and loved ones, offering fans insights into her life.

"this year has also been I don't want to say interesting. but it's been a lot going on both because we've had many appearances from Taylor not only professionally but also personally..."

Lisa notes that Taylor Swift has been more active in public and personal spheres, providing fans with a closer look at her life.

• The Swiftly Spoken Awards are voted on by listeners in various categories.
• Cameron and Lisa discuss the winners and their own picks, highlighting the most memorable moments from the Eras Tour.

"so now we're going to run through some of these incredible moments in detail so we've asked you to vote in 13 different categories over the last couple of days for what we cool the swiftly spoken Awards..."

Cameron introduces the Swiftly Spoken Awards, where they will discuss the winners and notable moments as voted by listeners.

• The Eras Tour had its share of chaotic moments, mishaps, and memorable events.
• Listeners voted on their favorite chaotic moments, including technical difficulties and spontaneous occurrences.

"one of the first ones and I think this is probably one of the funnest is what everyone's favorite chaotic eras tour moment was and there's been a lot this year."

The quote introduces the discussion of chaotic moments during the Eras Tour, which were memorable for fans and part of the Swiftly Spoken Awards.

• Cameron and Lisa discuss their favorite moments from a series of events, with a particular highlight on the impact of the Chiefs' moment.
• They acknowledge that the recentness of the event contributes to its prominence in their memories.
• The Eros tour is mentioned as a source of enjoyable moments and anticipation for the future.

"I think we have to give it to C as the go and the Chiefs just because it did Inspire like a whole episode from us and everything."

This quote explains that the Chiefs' moment was significant enough to inspire an entire episode, highlighting its impact and importance in their discussions.

• The award for favorite MV had three contenders: "Lavender Haze", "Karma", and "I Can See You", with the latter winning.
• Lisa highlights the storytelling and fan engagement in "I Can See You", particularly the symbolism and the narrative of reclaiming the past.
• Cameron and Lisa discuss the visual aspects of the other videos, with "Lavender Haze" being noted for its beauty but lack of story, and "Karma" for its cool sequences.

"I think the symbolism of like it's that final bit where she like looks back for Split Second at like what she's had to destroy. and but what she takes with her."

This quote describes the symbolic moment in the "I Can See You" music video, which resonates with fans as it represents the idea of moving forward while acknowledging the past.

• Cameron and Lisa review the year's collaborations, which included a mix of genres and artists.
• They discuss the popularity of "More Lana" with listeners and the significance of Lana Del Rey's collaboration with Taylor Swift.
• The conversation covers their personal preferences, with Cameron favoring "Alcott" and Lisa agreeing, despite the listener's choice being "More Lana".

"I think that's the reason why it won however I'm feeling that this isn't going to be our choice as well right which one would be yours which one because I'm I'm pretty happy with with they were what an incredible batch like you said we have such a mix from meot to touch Castle's crumbl in Bad Blood it's that run is just such a mix in itself it is."

This quote reflects on the diversity of the year's collaborations and the hosts' personal favorites, emphasizing the range of artists and styles represented.

• Taylor Swift's appearances at the Grammys, the iHeartRadio Music Awards (iHearts), and the VMAs are discussed.
• The VMAs are highlighted as the most memorable due to the amount of content and Swift's success at the event.
• The iHearts and Grammys are also mentioned, with the iHearts being noted for a touching speech but a less favored fashion choice.

"And I think the ey Hearts were also a bit like they kind of came and went very quick didn't they because she didn't really walk the carpet she just was suddenly there. and then she like did got her Awards and then left it was very much like she was in the middle of everything at that point um both personal LifeWise as well as ears tour wise."

This quote discusses the fleeting nature of Swift's appearance at the iHearts and the context of her busy schedule at the time, which may have influenced the perception of her appearance.

• The hosts debate the significance of leaked songs and their impact on official releases.
• Four major leaks are discussed: "Drama Queen", "Need", "Cannonball" featuring Justin Bieber, and "This Is What You Came For" (Taylor Swift Demo).
• "Need" is identified as the listeners' favorite, but both hosts express a preference for "This Is What You Came For".

"But in terms of the winner of this category it was like just the winner like I think everyone voted for this song was need need was our listeners winner which is no it's such a good song need I need it like not to be funny."

The quote reflects the enthusiasm of the listeners for the leaked song "Need", emphasizing its popularity and the desire for an official release.

• NE may become an official release or remain in the "reputation Vault."
• The transition from leaked songs to official releases is a topic of interest.
• A variety of songs were released as standalone tracks, separate from any albums.
• Songs like "Cruel Summer" and "Eyes Open" were added to EPs or deemed part of an album but not officially released as such.
• These standalone tracks are referred to as "odds and ends" and are likened to a small EP on their own.

"NE has a chance to be a little droplet like she did last time around perhaps when tour is restarting again in February or it also has the chance to be reclassified into the reputation Vault."

This quote discusses the potential future of the song NE, highlighting the uncertainty of its official release status and how it might be treated like previous unofficial tracks.

"Just songs on their own some it's weird cuz they were they were. yeah that's the thing like it's hard to describe them."

Lisa explains the nature of the standalone tracks, indicating their unique status outside of traditional album releases.

• The Taylor versions of "If This Was a Movie," "Eyes Open," and "Safe and Sound" are highly praised for their quality.
• The release of "All of the Girls You Loved Before" was celebrated due to its improved quality over leaked versions.
• The journey from leaked tracks to official releases is a notable experience for long-time listeners.
• The live performance of songs adds an official quality to them, making them feel more integrated into Taylor Swift's discography.

"I think those three Taylor versions if this was a movie eyes open and safe and sound were perf I had no Faults even now I still have no Faults for them they were just unreal."

Cameron expresses admiration for the Taylor versions of specific songs, noting their flawless execution.

"The big standout is you're losing me like that song I'll never forget when we first listened to it."

Lisa highlights "You're Losing Me" as a particularly impactful song, sharing a personal anecdote about its emotional resonance.

• "Is It Over Now" and "I Can See You" were standout Vault tracks from the albums "1989" and "Speak Now," respectively.
• The Vault tracks from "1989" were highly anticipated and did not disappoint with their quality and lyricism.
• "1989" Vault tracks were sometimes compared to the sound of the album "Midnights," indicating a stylistic evolution.
• The "Speak Now" Vault tracks were perceived as more faithful to the original album's sound.

"1989 Vault was insane. She was right 1989 Vault was fire."

Cameron and Lisa agree that the "1989" Vault tracks lived up to the hype and delivered an exceptional listening experience.

"The overall winner quite overwhelmingly again was I can see you."

Lisa notes the popularity of "I Can See You" from the "Speak Now" Vault, signifying its significance among listeners.

• "1989 Taylor's Version" is celebrated as the album of the year by listeners.
• The album surpassed the original's sales and streaming records.
• The photo shoot, prologue, and Vault tracks from "1989 Taylor's Version" are all highlighted for their excellence.

"It was just an incredible release it blew the sales of her original which was already a record in and of itself out of the water streaming record and then to smash midnight."

Lisa discusses the success of "1989 Taylor's Version," emphasizing its achievements in sales and streaming.

• "Speak Now" is awarded for being most faithful to the original album, despite having some notable differences.
• There were initial differences in the sound of "1989 Taylor's Version" that listeners picked up on, which may have influenced the vote.

"I think that sonically like you don't listen to those songs and go all that's slightly different whereas I think there was lots of initial teething problems with things like style romantic."

Lisa compares the faithfulness of "Speak Now" and "1989" Taylor's versions to their originals, noting the sonic differences that were more apparent in "1989."

• The "AOS Tour Film" and "1989 Taylor's Version" are among the favorite releases of the year.
• The "AOS Tour Film" provided an immersive concert experience in cinemas.
• "1989 Taylor's Version" was a highlight due to the excitement and quality of its release period.

"My favorite would be the AOS tour film like getting to experience that in cinema that those couple of weekends where I went like four times you know what I mean was just those three hours or however long it was was just the funnest R it was."

Cameron shares his favorite release of the year, the "AOS Tour Film," and the joy of experiencing it multiple times in cinemas.

• The podcast has seen success with high view counts and community engagement.
• The hosts have learned to produce content efficiently, especially during the "1989 TV" release.
• They express gratitude to listeners for their support and interaction.

"And I think we've really learned this year that not only can we record an episode edit an episode create the content and thumbnail in the space of about three hours and get it out on that same day that was intense wasn't it 99 TV was an interesting time."

Cameron reflects on the rapid content creation process during the "1989 TV" release, acknowledging the intense but rewarding work involved in podcast production.

• Cameron and Lisa express deep gratitude to their audience for the support throughout the year.
• The hosts appreciate the engagement from their listeners, including comments and participation in votes.
• They acknowledge the joy of connecting with fellow Taylor Swift fans and the shared enthusiasm for music.

"and I just I love it. I really really love it. and I think this year has really solidified that so just a massive massive massive thank you because it's just been a hell of a year." "thank you for all of you that listened whether you listen to one episode all of the episodes have stuck with us since the beginning thank thank you for all of the comments you leave we do read every single one we love to read your little essays that you leave us because you're just as enthusiastic as we are which is which is incredibly fun to see."

The quotes reflect Cameron and Lisa's heartfelt thanks to their audience for the support and interaction, emphasizing the importance of listener engagement to the podcast's success.

• "The Sophomore Slump" episode was a highlight where the hosts explored the concept of the second album curse in music.
• The Taylor Version episodes, especially "1989 Taylor's Version," were significant due to the detailed analysis and predictions made by the hosts.
• Episodes like "Live Lyric Changes" and "Midnight's Mashups" were mentioned by fans, with the hosts acknowledging both correct predictions and errors.
• The most celebrated episode was "Taylor Albums as Seasons," which resonated with listeners and sparked viral social media moments.

"another one that was mentioned a couple of times is our debut Taylor version We love doing our Taylor version episodes I think it's such a shame that we have no more epes to do we've done it all we've done it all that's it." "another couple of episodes um that you guys mentioned was the live lyric changes um which I think was a really fun episode."

These quotes highlight specific episodes that the audience enjoyed, illustrating the podcast's range of topics and the hosts' willingness to explore different facets of music and Taylor Swift's work.

• The hosts discuss their anticipation for the upcoming year, including the continuation of the "Eras Tour."
• They speculate on the potential release of "Reputation Taylor's Version" and share their predictions for its timing.
• The possibility of Taylor Swift's 11th studio album is also discussed, with the hosts expressing eagerness for new music.
• Beyond music, they anticipate Taylor Swift's involvement in film, suggesting that she may direct, produce, or write a film in the future.

"well we've got a big year ahead of us once again an incredibly Big Year back in 2023. well well 2022 rather when we spoke about 2023. we spoke about you know the year as tour but we didn't know if it was going to be just a one-year thing if it was just going to be in the USA they were like some talk about it being more widespread and now we know now we know that 2024 is going to be jam-packed." "but anyway if anything goes down if anything happens you know that we will be on other than that re-recordings I guess basically know that reputation is the next thing around the corner for coming I think."

These quotes indicate the hosts' forward-looking approach to the podcast, teasing future content and sharing their excitement for what's to come in Taylor Swift's career, including tours, re-recordings, and potential forays into film.

• Cameron and Lisa conclude the episode by thanking each other for their collaboration and reflecting on the year's achievements.
• They express eagerness for the upcoming year and hint at more content and discussions to come.
• The hosts encourage listeners to stay engaged and look forward to reconvening in the new year with fresh content and experiences.

"and yeah again another a solid year thank you very much we looking for no worries at all no worries at all it's. it's. I love it it's so fun. and I'm so glad we get the opportunity to do this it is it is. I. I am really really grateful to you for coming on here every other week with me and there's a lot that goes into all of this behind the scenes and just like creation of Instagram posts creation of all these different bits of content that you guys see." "but we hope you have a great holiday festive period enjoy the rest of the Year and have a Happy New Year and we're all reconvene in the new year and fingers crossed there's going to be it's going to be a good year and there's a lot in store but thank you again for listening and we'll speak to you in 2024."

These quotes summarize the sentiment of the episode's conclusion, with the hosts thanking each other and their audience, and setting the stage for the continuation of their podcast into the next year.