Taylor Just Gave Us A Masterclass In Songwriting | Grammy Icon Session Interview Reaction
Our FINAL FREE Patreon Exclusive is here! ❤️
Before we move to our new tiered Patreon system next week, we’re going out with one last deep dive and this one is ALL about Taylor Swift.
For this episode of Hazed Reactions, we sit down with Taylor Swift’s full GRAMMY Museum Icon Session, a career-spanning conversation reflecting on two decades of songwriting and the evolution of one of the most influential artists of her generation.
And because this is our final free Patreon exclusive, we decided to give you a little taste of what’s coming with our new tiered system. This episode is presented mostly uncut, with plenty of additional conversations and moments that normally wouldn’t make it into a standard Hazed Reactions episode.
Before we even get into Taylor’s interview, we have some completely unhinged Hazed conversation - from internet couples and the Dalton/Sako saga to Robert’s recent “Taylor Day” at the gym and Rick’s inability to get a certain Taylor song out of his head.
Once we get into the Icon Session, the conversation gets MUCH deeper.
We talk about:
🎤 Taylor reaching the 20th anniversary of her debut album and what it means to look back at everything she has accomplished
🎶 The way Taylor breaks music down piece-by-piece and approaches songwriting like a true craftsperson
🏀 Why Taylor’s passion for music reminds us of athletes like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James; people who obsess over mastering their craft
🔥 The importance of loving what you do rather than chasing fame, money or recognition
📈 Taylor going against industry recommendations early in her career instead of allowing demographics and conventional wisdom to dictate who she should be
💭 Why relatability in music doesn't have to mean “I’m experiencing this right now" and how songs can remain relatable years after you lived through the experience yourself
✍️ The incredible amount of thought Taylor puts into songwriting, lyrics, storytelling and every little detail
😂 Her humor, wit and personality (especially the infamous “yes, and” philosophy that had all of us talking)
🎭 Why Robert compares Taylor’s career strategy to an actor who refuses to be typecast and constantly challenges herself to not make lateral moves
🐍 Taylor’s hilarious habit of accidentally teasing Swifties with unreleased music… only to discover that Swifties will NOT let it go until she releases it
🎓 Taylor’s education, her honorary doctorate from NYU, and how her ability to communicate so eloquently reflects a much broader education through reading, writing, travel, art and life experience
📝 Why Taylor consistently identifies herself as a LYRICIST and why that distinction really resonated with Robert
❤️ What makes Taylor’s relationship with other songwriters and the next generation of artists so special
And finally, we talk about what happened AFTER the Icon Session including stories from people who were actually in the room and witnessed Taylor sticking around, talking to individual attendees and having genuine conversations about life, family, children and more.
Because for all of Taylor Swift’s fame, this conversation gave us another glimpse at something much simpler:
She genuinely LOVES this.
She loves writing. She loves music. She loves learning. She loves talking to other people who love the craft. And she genuinely seems to want the next generation of artists to get better, too.
This might be one of our most interesting Taylor conversations yet.
And next week… the Patreon era changes. 👀
Thank you to everyone who has supported Hazed Reactions while these Patreon exclusives were still free.
We cannot wait to show you what’s coming next. ❤️
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Comments (22)
Tim McGraw the song was released June 19th 2006! Debut album didn't come out until October 24th 2006
Honestly I thought it was 2025… like today, now when we recorded it so I was like “oh that must mean the debut single came out in 2005 because that’s 20 years…” 🤦🏽♀️😂 I love that I have somewhere to share these embarrassing moments now and I know we can all just laugh hahaha
I am so glad you caught her saying she re-recorded all her music haha! Did you also notice she said some things hide in plain sight? She also mentioned trying to put out what the fans are so passionate about and we have been sooooooo passionate about not only Debut, but also a Rep TV, even though she said she hadn't re-recorded it in the letter about her getting her masters. I have heard people say that she wouldn't lie though, but think about it. At the time of her buying her masters and writing that letter, maybe she was telling the truth, but maybe because we are soooo passionate about all the TV's, maybe she continued to re-record Rep after she got her masters, so now, during the time of the Grammy Icon interview, maybe she now has it all re-recorded....
All too well at the Grammys is one of my fav performances
Now we need this sad piano ballad.
Those are two great little clips of Kobe and Taylor that I think y'all will enjoy!!! ❤️✌️
https://youtu.be/xGphgmc96ms?si=ScNkZJ_H5zAVit45
https://youtu.be/ijtsOWGm20Y?si=lhim0QMk6bdAaUIQ
When Robert was comparing her to the NBA greats I was reminded of when on New Heights she talked about needing to perform without letting it on that she was sick or sore reminded me of Jordan talking about even on games against lower teams where he could sit out or not play as hard he still would - because that might be the only game that person could go to and they deserve as much as anyone else
You compared Taylor to Kobe, there are clips of Kobe presenting her with a banner at the home of the Laker arena during the 1989 tour.
Ahhh I absolutely loved this. I’m getting in the clown car with you! 🤯 Rick saying wait rewind and make sure you heard it right. Top tier. 😂👏🏼
This one grabbed me, it’s been on a steady repeat since listening to it the first time.
Loved watching Robert nodding and listening like he was having an intimate conversation with Taylor!!! That’s how I feel with her songs/lyrics.Im like Taylor, how did you know I was going through that??
You should show Robert something with Taylor and Kobe.
Hey sweet girl!! You combined two stories…. Kenny Chesney hired teenage Tay to come on tour with him but he was sponsored by Bud, PBR, idk, beer. So beer found out and was like ummm, nah bro, she’s an actual child, she can’t be on this tour. He felt bad, paid her anyhow and jokes on talk shows about that one time he had to “fire Taylor Swift” 😂 😂 love him. Eric Church was Eric Churching on a tour (maybe same one, idk) and got replaced by Taylor, who then blew up like six months to a year later. He jokes getting kicked off tour made room for her to have her big break and that said she owed him her first gold, he just never expected it so soon 😂🫶🏼 👑 love the reactions! 💙 can’t wait for Era’s!!
Talking about demographics, Taylor brought thousands of teen girls to country music. She didn't need 35 year old women.
Really enjoying Robert's reaction....Taylor day at the gym!!
Locked in like days of our lives 😂😂😂
Robert had a marvelous tiiime
Psst...(it was Kenny Chesney)🫶🏽
Yess! I was thinking that while editing haha
This is going to be good to watch with you guys