Speak Now (Taylor's Version): The Final Track Rankings!

In this episode of "13: A Taylor Swift Podcast," hosts Nick Adams, Anna Casier, Amy Nichols, and Lacy G delve into their personal rankings of songs from Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" album, reflecting on the emotional connections and memories tied to each track. They discuss the impact of hearing songs live, the significance of Taylor's lyrical storytelling, and the difficulty of narrowing down favorites. The episode also touches on themes of growth, forgiveness, and the importance of holding people accountable for their actions, as seen through Swift's music. Additionally, the hosts announce a giveaway for their YouTube subscribers, emphasizing their excitement for the podcast's growth and their connection with listeners.

• The podcast is hosted by four Taylor Swift enthusiasts: Nick Adams, Anna, Amy Nichols, and Lacy G.
• They cover various Taylor Swift-related topics including song breakdowns, Easter eggs, theories, and discussions on different eras.
• The podcast is available on various platforms, including YouTube.

"Welcome to 13: A Taylor Swift podcast my name's Nick Adams. I'm Anna, Amy, and I'm Lacy G and thanks so much for joining us on whatever podcasting platform you're listening to us on or YouTube YouTube."

The quote introduces the podcast and its hosts, as well as acknowledging the different platforms where listeners can tune in.

• The hosts have been active on social media and are curious if listeners have looked them up before.
• They encourage listeners to check out their YouTube channel and share their thoughts on their appearance.
• There is a discussion about the common radio listener experience of imagining hosts differently than they appear.

"If you haven't checked out our YouTube yet, the link to our channel is in the description of this podcast."

This quote encourages listeners to visit the podcast's YouTube channel for a visual element to their content.

• The hosts discuss the common saying "you look nothing like I pictured" and whether it is a compliment or an insult.
• They share personal experiences with comments on their appearance and how sometimes compliments can feel backhanded.
• The conversation touches on the importance of delivery in communication and how it can affect the reception of a comment.

"Is that an insult or not just because we don't look like what you would have imagined like is that a good thing or a bad thing."

This quote reflects the hosts' contemplation on whether differing from a listener's mental image is positive or negative.

• The podcast plans to do a giveaway for their first 1,300 YouTube subscribers.
• Anna is recognized as the "queen of giveaways," suggesting a history of engaging listeners with contests and prizes.
• The specifics of the giveaway are not disclosed but are teased to encourage subscriptions.

"We're going to do a fun little giveaway for our first 1,300 subscribers which we're not at at this current moment so as soon as we hit 1300 subscribers one person will be selected at random to get a giveaway gift."

The quote announces a subscriber milestone giveaway, incentivizing listeners to subscribe to their YouTube channel.

• The hosts discuss their process for ranking Taylor Swift albums, which includes initial impressions, song breakdowns, and revisiting rankings.
• They note that rankings can change over time as they spend more time with an album.
• The conversation shifts to their current rankings for the "Speak Now" album.

"Now normally we have like a very I don't want to say rigid. but whenever we're breaking down albums we do a pre-ranking of just after our first initial thoughts what are what how do we feel about this album and we rank our top five then we break down every single song then we do our rankings again and just see how they change."

This quote explains the structured approach the hosts take in ranking albums, emphasizing the dynamic nature of their opinions.

• Each host reveals their current top five songs from the "Speak Now" album.
• They discuss their reasons for each ranking, including personal connections to the songs and their meanings.
• The hosts have not looked at their initial rankings to avoid biasing their current choices.

"So for me number five Castle's crumbling love it all right Nick for me number five better than revenge."

This quote is part of the hosts sharing their individual top five rankings for the "Speak Now" album, providing insight into their personal tastes and preferences.

• Nick Adams expresses his fondness for the song "Timeless," which he associates with his marriage to Ryan.
• He appreciates the lyrics and the sentimental value the song holds due to a custom gift from a friend.
• Anna notes that their rankings of favorite songs have changed over time, indicating the fluidity of personal connections to music.

"I love the storytelling. and it's just a pretty pretty song I used I used this song um like in a little quick little video clip of me and Ryan right after we got married." "our friend Michael Life by Michael he does the club 9s nights he made me and Ryan friendship racet say Timeless on it."

The first quote shows Nick's personal connection to the song "Timeless" through its association with his wedding memories. The second quote reveals how the song became further special due to a personalized gift from a friend, reinforcing the song's sentimental value.

• Nick places "Timeless" at number five in his rankings.
• Lacy faced a tough decision between two favorite tracks but ultimately chose "Castle's Crumbling" for her number five spot.
• Amy admits to not being able to choose just one song and includes multiple tracks at her number five rank.
• Anna had a strong reaction to "I Can See You," which she ranks at number five, influenced by the music video's message about fan support.

"I have Timeless at number five." "it was a tough call for me um I had my two favorite fault tracks there and... Castle's crumbling is the one that won." "I did not have a difficult time choosing because I didn't choose I've got multiples." "I can see you at number five."

These quotes reflect the speakers' individual preferences and the difficulty of ranking favorite songs, as personal connections to music can make such choices challenging. Each speaker has their unique criteria for their rankings.

• Nick and Lacy discuss the emotional impact of songs like "Castle Crumbling" and "Back to December."
• Lacy appreciates the accountability theme in "Dear John" and the emotional resonance of the lyrics.
• Amy and Anna both express admiration for the emotional depth in songs like "Last Kiss" and "Dear John."

"Castle crumbling I love it. it's great her. and Haley Williams Sound incredible together." "Back to December... it's just a nice pretty song to me it's a classic." "Dear John because I love the double on Tandra in this song."

These quotes highlight the emotional connection listeners have with music, where certain songs resonate due to their themes, collaborations, or the feelings they evoke. The speakers share a common appreciation for the depth and storytelling in the music they discuss.

• Anna discusses how a music video can enhance the significance of a song, as with "I Can See You."
• The music video's theme of reclaiming work with fan support adds a layer of meaning to the song for Anna.

"she said that the music video is all about how her fans have helped her like reclaim her work and I think having the music video accompanying with the song it like automatically made it really special as well."

This quote illustrates how visual elements like music videos can deepen the listener's connection to a song by providing additional context or thematic elements, as in the case of "I Can See You."

• The episode includes a sponsored segment promoting the brand Bas, highlighting the practicality and aesthetics of their travel bags.
• Nick and Anna share personal experiences with the product, emphasizing its usefulness and style.

"this episode is sponsored by B... there is room for absolutely everything... my wife the cream color Weekender bag. and she loves it she takes it everywhere... like I feel airport Chic. whenever I have I have the beige one as well the cream colored one."

The quote is from a sponsored segment where the speakers endorse Bas travel bags, discussing their features and personal satisfaction with the product, which serves as a testimonial to the brand's appeal and functionality.

• Lacy and Amy discuss the thematic elements of "Dear John" and "Safe and Sound," analyzing lyrical content and the impact of the songs.
• The speakers appreciate the storytelling aspect of Taylor Swift's music and how it connects to broader themes in her discography.

"I just really really appreciate that because Nicholas like Taylor Swift famously said in the past about like you have to forgive and for you know people go on and on about like you have to forgive and forget to move past something no you don't." "I have CLE cusses castles crumbling for my number four um same reason that Nick mentioned before but also because it's safe and sound."

These quotes reflect the speakers' analysis of Taylor Swift's songs, discussing the messages conveyed through her lyrics and how they resonate with themes of forgiveness, accountability, and emotional expression.

• Nick Adams, Anna, Amy Nichols, and Lacy G discuss their personal experiences and rankings of Taylor Swift songs from the "Speak Now" album.
• They share memories of attending the "Eras" tour together and the emotional impact of hearing specific songs live.
• The conversation includes their individual rankings of their third favorite track from the album, with each expressing their reasons for the choices.

"But I. So I have it at number three for Speak Now Anna I agree because whenever we all went to the Eras tour together and we went early on you went to one of the initial shows in Glendale." "All right so moving on to number three I'm going to rank Dear John at number three."

The quotes reflect the personal connection the speakers have with the Taylor Swift album and the significance of their experiences at the Eras tour. They also indicate the beginning of their ranking discussion for their third favorite track on the album.

• The group admires Taylor Swift's ability to craft songs from personal experiences, highlighting her songwriting talent.
• Nick Adams specifically mentions the song "The Story of Us" and its inspiration from an awkward award ceremony encounter.
• The lyric "I've never heard silence quite this loud" from "The Story of Us" is praised for its emotional power.

"And I was like Story of Us where's that coming and also just Taylor Swift's brain to be able to write like that and to have an awkward award ceremony where you're not speaking to someone." "I've never heard silence quite this loud MH that's awesome."

These quotes illustrate the group's admiration for Taylor Swift's songwriting skills and the way she translates personal experiences into relatable lyrics, as well as the emotional resonance of specific lines in her songs.

• The speakers discuss the emotional weight of certain songs, such as "Never Grow Up," and how they can be particularly moving for parents.
• They share personal stories related to the songs, including using "Never Grow Up" in a birthday montage for a pet.
• The group suggests creating a montage of their podcast to commemorate its anniversary, drawing a parallel to the emotional significance of Taylor Swift's music.

"Never Grow Up is this one of those songs you know how some songs are so emotional that you can't listen to them all the time is this one of those for you like as a parent." "I'll send it to you please do it was really cute uh can I request that you post that on our YouTube channel as a short his birthday is coming up pretty soon."

These quotes capture the depth of emotional connection the speakers have with Taylor Swift's music and how it intertwines with their personal lives and milestones, as well as the idea of celebrating growth and memories through montages.

• The group expresses hope and excitement for the inclusion of the song "Long Live" in Taylor Swift's setlist for upcoming tours.
• They reflect on the significance of "Long Live" as a tribute to Swift's band and fans, and its emotional impact when performed live.
• There is a shared belief that "Long Live" will remain a staple in Swift's performances due to its popularity and meaning.

"Do we think Taylor is returning on the AAS tour in February and Long Live made the set list after she came out with Speak Now then it became a part of the set list is it going to continue to be a part of the set list."

This quote indicates the group's anticipation and prediction for the song "Long Live" to be featured in future concerts, emphasizing its importance to both Taylor Swift and her fans.

• The speakers revisit their initial rankings of the "Speak Now" album tracks, comparing them to their current preferences.
• They discuss the difficulty in maintaining consistent rankings due to the emotional and dynamic nature of music.
• The conversation reveals that some rankings have remained the same while others have changed, showcasing the evolving relationship with the music.

"Let's go back in time and see how we initially ranked our third favorite track on speak now all right so moving on to number three I'm going to rank Dear John at number three."

This quote highlights the process of revisiting and reflecting on past opinions, demonstrating how personal connections to music can change over time.

• Nick Adams appreciates Taylor Swift's live performances, especially the song "Enchanted" from the Aros tour.
• He feels that this performance was the best, even more impressive than those with big dance numbers or special effects.
• The song brings back fond memories for Nick, reinforcing his identity as a Swifty.

"It was to me probably the best performance on the AR tour even more than the ones with the big dance numbers or spectacles or fire or anything like that Enchanted on the aist tour it was just it was just perfect it was Taylor standing in one spot for the most part in a really pretty dress and singing beautifully and then whenever I listen to this I think of the ARs tour. and I just think of the moment we were all there together."

This quote highlights Nick's emotional connection to the song "Enchanted" and the memories it evokes of the live performance and the shared experience with fellow fans.

• Lacy G discusses her shift in music taste from angry music to more positive and relatable songs.
• She talks about the song "Last Kiss," which is not relatable to her current feelings but still holds a significant emotional impact.
• Lacy emphasizes the power of music to change the vibe and her strong emotional reaction to "Last Kiss."

"I really like relatable songs I really like positivity I um fully believe in you are what you put into the universe. so I don't like um listening to angry music which is very weird coming from me cuz I used to only listen to angry music. but but I've since kind of shifted the way that I think um now with all that being said this song is not relatable to me it's not how I feel and it's not negative in the least bit. but it is sad."

Lacy explains her preference for positive and relatable music and how the song "Last Kiss" is an exception due to its emotional resonance despite not being directly relatable to her life.

• Amy Nichols expresses her deep emotional connection to the song "Never Grow Up."
• She is emotionally invested in the song and hints at the possibility of crying due to its emotional impact.
• Amy also jokes about her love for spaghetti, deflecting from the emotional moment.

"I have never grew up it is unbeatable in my opinion I'm emotionally invested in this song. um I think I'm pretty sure."

Amy shares her top song choice, "Never Grow Up," and her strong emotional attachment to it, indicating its unbeatable status in her opinion.

• Anna highlights the song "Haunted" as her number one pick.
• She feels a personal connection with the song, which has also connected her with podcast listeners.
• Anna's choice is surprising and she insists on the importance of the song in her life.

"Haunted. what oh my God for real you know I know that there's been like 13 million times that I've talked about this song and I can only express my love for this song so many times but there is just Taylor Swift put something in this song for me because I become a different person."

Anna's quote reflects her shock at her own choice and emphasizes her deep connection with the song "Haunted," which has become a personal anthem for her.

• The group reminisces about their initial rankings of songs from the album "Speak Now."
• They discuss how their preferences have changed over time and the difficulty in choosing top songs.
• The conversation includes humorous banter about cheating in rankings and the challenge of picking favorites.

"Let's see what our favorite number ones were why can't why can't I say these here's what we thought at first moving into our favorite song on speak now Taylor's version after just a couple days with it for me it's Enchanted Anna you said you had guesses what's your guess for me Amy and I were talking about what your number one song would be I thought you were going to have better than revenge up there but Amy knows you better than me ours."

This quote captures the group's reflection on their past song rankings and the playful discussion about how well they know each other's music tastes.

• The conversation takes a light-hearted turn with discussions about spaghetti stories and preferences.
• Amy jokes about wanting a pool filled with spaghetti and the group shares their thoughts on food textures and preferences.
• The humorous exchange provides a break from the more serious discussion about music and personal connections.

"So whenever you think of if you had a pool and you could fill it with anything ah wet noodle spaghetti is number one. really."

Amy humorously fantasizes about filling a pool with spaghetti, showcasing her playful side and the group's willingness to engage in light-hearted banter.

• The group discusses their upcoming schedule, including breaking down the album "1989" and the song "Welcome to New York."
• They encourage listeners to subscribe to their podcast and promote an upcoming subscriber contest on YouTube.
• The conversation ends with excitement for future episodes and the merchandise they've received.

"I don't even remember what our schedule is I don't know either I think we got to start 1989 get into 1989 we did the 1989 Vault. but now it's time to get into the 1989 album."

This quote outlines the group's plans to delve into the "1989" album in future podcast episodes, indicating a transition to a new phase of their discussions.