I haven't watched this season of American Idol, but it doesn't stop me from thinking about it a little bit. With all the Sanjaya stuff going on right now in this current season of the show, everyone is talking about American Idol and it occurs to me that there is a total disconnect between the stated point of the show and the voting. I feel like if Americans are the jury in the American Idol court they need a strong foreman to remind them of what their purpose is for watching.
American Idol is meant to pick out a star. It is meant to pick out someone who can sing, put on flashy performances, and look good doing it. That's right folks. All three. That way, the winner will have a career when the show is over. That means that America needs to pick someone who they would be willing to see in concert. They need to pick someone whose CD they would go purchase at the store. Anything short of doing that is pure and simple cruelty.
Last season Americans pushed Taylor Hicks all the way to the championship. Now he can't even sell a million copies of his album. What a cruel, cruel joke you all played on him. He thought you were all telling him to make an album that you all would presumably buy. Tens of millions of people voted and told him, "You are the winner! Now go make that album!" as if they were pre-ordering the album to give him a shot at making a stellar music career.
Cue the chirping crickets.
Now, it seems that all you people ever really wanted to do was laugh at the young guy with the gray hair and the "Soul Patrol" as he danced cheesily into votes that never meant what he thought they meant. So, all those of you who have at least half a heart, go do the right thing and pick up that man's awful debut album. You told him millions of times last year that you would and his current sales of around 650,000 mean that a lot of you are mean.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dynamo of Eternia
I really don't watch American Idol, just because I find the overall concept of it annoying.
None the less, it's hard to completely avoid hearing information about it after the fact.
And the pattern that seems to occur is that the runners up who get towards the end of the competition but lose at the last second on American Idol most often go on to have better, more successful careers than the person who does win. I'm not sure why that is, but it has pretty much been the norm for the most part.
So, my advice to anyone who goes on that show... try to get to the very end and then lose. Your career will almost instantly be guaranteed to be better than the person who does win.
2 - RunaroundSue
Do you not know that Taylor Hicks is on a 57 city sold out every night solo tour of the US. Go see Taylor Hicks in person please; enjoy an amazing performer who does a mix of tunes from his new CD, original songs and cover from Supertramps "Long Way Home" to Ray Charles "Compared to What."
No other American Idol has every had a more sucessful post Idol solo tour.
Don't write off Mr. Hicks so fast and don't buy the Taylor is not doing well, Taylor is doing just fine and coming to a city near you
3 - Dale Schultz
I just saw Taylor Hicks in Chicago last night. He was wonderful. The House of Blues was packed with men and women and it was a fantastic concert. He sang songs from his CD, most people loved, knew and sang along to. He sang songs he wrote-exceptionally good, and some we'd never heard before. Taylor is in for the long run, his fans will not let him fizzle out, believe me. If you don't care for his type of music, that's your business, but, as your directions for this say, Personal attacks are NOT allowed.
There is room for all kinds of music.
Dale Schultz (The Golden Rule Lady)
4 - Kaonashi
I think that there are a few factors that account for this.
First of all, most people who watch American Idol are like me - casual viewers who have fun watching the show and really get into it. We vote, blog, and argue over who they think is going to win. But after the winner is crowned and summer begins, we forget about the show and whoever was on it, until the new season starts.
Second, because it can take up to a year to release an album, people simply forget about the winner. Although Justin Guarini didn't win, his album was released very late, which definitely hurt his sales since people at that point were thinking "Justin who?" I think Taylor's album may have suffered a little because of the same thing.
Third, the albums put out by the AI winners (and runner ups) simply suck. They're often sterilized, cheesy, commercialized crap that the singer would never normally dream of singing if he or she had their way. When I heard Bo Bice's album, I was surprised and disappointed. It didn't sound like anything he would create. I was all set to buy it, but didn't.
Fourth, while the winners do have their loyal, die-hard fans who stick with them after the show, it's tough to gain new fans who do not watch AI.
For example, a lot of people hate American Idol and don't take it seriously. Its contestants, to some, are no better than any other reality show contestant. And I know many stories of rabid fans who buy 10, 20 copies of their favorite's CD in the attempt to "help" him or her, but in the end, for the winner (or any AI alum) to survive in the cutthroat world of the music industry, he/she needs to gain fans outside of the show.
5 - Steven
You've just said it all man. This is exactly how it is. Taylor was a novelty, and dime-store toy who was endearing in a "crazy uncle dances at the wedding" kind of way. He was the hapless underdog who was the anti-idol, the one needing the win the most to scrape together a music career, unlike the other finalists (*cough* Daughtry *cough*). I'm glad he's having a successful tour with his Soul Patrol audience because that is certainly all that will be left of his career, eventually dwindling down to Vegas or even Atlantic City. Can't help but feel bad for the dude. It would have been better had he not won, what with all the expectations. Daughtry should have taken the title, but then he was damned lucky he didn't, so kudos to Hicks for saving the man. But then again, this is Idol, and Hicks lowered the standard that gives even Sanjaya some hope.
6 - brandon
Great point! America played a very cruel joke on Taylor Hicks. They voted him the American Idol winner but his CD sales is more like American Idol LOSER with the worst CD sales of any of the winners. And to top that off, the 4th place finisher, Chris Daughtry is kicking his ass in CD sales > 3:1.
America needs to stop with this cruelty and NOT vote Sanjaya as the next American Idol or he will be the laughing stalk as Taylor is now.
7 - Dragondays
"No other American Idol has ever had a more sucessful post Idol solo tour."
Nonsense! Clay Aiken did 95 concerts in 2004, the vast majority of them in much much larger venues. Oh wait, you mean just among the "winners" ;)
8 - Spring
Kaonashi, thank you for your comment about Justin Guarini. IMO, he got the rawest deal of all the finalists. Unlike later years, he was held to the contest's rules and forced to wait several months until after the winner released her CD. Compound that with having to release it the same day as Ruben's and Clay's singles. No single to radio ("Sorry" was released two weeks after Justin's CD dropped), no video; it was a textbook recipe for disaster.
Allowing both Chris and Kellie to release Cd's before the winner has cheapened the AI crown and by this point, it's been rendered pretty meaningless.
9 - Lore
Interesting article, last season really did change the importance of being the "winner" with so many contestants signed and cds released.
My fav Elliott Yamin away from AI and 19E is doing great, with his cd, smart man to release his cd on a independant label. Winning AI does not always prove beneficial for good music
10 - Jim
I was pleasantly suprised when my friend dragged me to the Taylor Hicks concert in Tampa a few weeks ago. I found myself enjoying him a lot and even went out last week and bought the CD. I think we tend to forget there is room in this world for all types of music for all types of people. I for one look forward to a CD released by Mr. Hicks without any input from AI
11 - anne
Daughtry's cd is doing great., personally I don't think that Daughtry has garnered that manys new fans. These # are inflated and there is alot of palm greasing to the radio stations. When the AI machine is finished with Daughtry and has moved on we'll see how well Nickleback impersonations sell.
12 - brandon
If Taylor had released his CD before Chris and Kellie would it had sold more? Hell No!
Anybody believe that than they are crazy. It ain't selling cuz people ain't buying it, period. It doesn't matter when it was released.
Taylor is fantastic in concert however. Thus I predict he will be the headlining act at a Las Vegas Hotel soon. I will definitely go and see him in Vegas!!!
13 - brandon
So it is the same thousand fans buying 2 million Chris Daughtry CDs. Someone is very deluded.
I would think with how poorly Taylor's CD is doing that the PTB according to Anne would use that money she says is being used to "palm the creases at radio stations" for Chris would be used to buy more of the Taylor CDs to try to prop up the American Idol because he definitely needs some propping up.
That platinum certification was definitely premature. At this rate, Taylor will be lucky to reach 800K.
14 - sal m
actually the fault of this process lies in the fact that the judged picked a shitty final 24 and as a result put the whole system in a tail spin.
there is no way that either sanjaya or the italian bird from nj were better than a lot of others from the process. the same goes for "frightening phil" and the boring, beauty pagent-looking white girl with the nice legs...i watch the show and can't remember her name!
so the judges reap what they sow...the best is when they criticize someone for being boring or for not having a good enough voice, when they are the three people responsible for putting them in the contest!
15 - Kat
Why does every comment here that posits that Taylor Hicks sucks have to be followed with "Chris should have won" and "Chris is outselling him?" Isn't the musical world big enough for both of them?
I personally think it's a sad day indeed when selling 650K copies of a CD is considered a "failure," but that's beside the point. There will be bitter Chris/Elliott/Katharine fans who laugh and delight in the fact that Taylor isn't selling as well as other artists and rub their hands together in glee at the possibility of his "failure." To wish failure on another human being simply because you don't personally like their musical style is a concept that escapes me. There's an Idol or two I just cannot stand, but that's my thing and I wish them all the best. So, to all those who have done so--wishing failure on Taylor Hicks because you don't like his singing says more about you than it does about Taylor Hicks.
Yes, I do think that Taylor's novelty/dancing monkey status helped propel him to the win, but it's simply not correct or fair to say that he "can't sing." In fact, several times during American Idol, the judges, even Simon Cowell, directly commented Taylor's vocals, calling them "excellent" (Trouble), calling Taylor a "very good singer," (Something), telling him he'd "just sung his way into the semifinals" (In the Ghetto), and even calling his performance of "You Are So Beautiful" better than those previously three mentioned songs. Simon Cowell has a part to play, so he now slams Taylor left and right, but yes, there was a time that even Simon trumpted Taylor's voice. But it's easy to revise history when you're not a fan, I guess.
On a final note, so what if Taylor's CD isn't selling? He's raking in close to $60K a night doing concerts. Are CD sales the absolute be all/end all measuring stick of success? I don't think so. Try telling that to the Katharine McPhee fans. She has sold less thatn 270K copies of her album so far, but her face is on almost every magazine imaginable, she's a fixture on TRL, and seems to be on her way to becoming a Hollywood "it girl." I've got my own issues with this (heh), but I dare anyone to say that Katharine isn't a success because she's not Daughty. Taylor is a success. His tour, his fans...they all prove that. Just because he didn't sell a bajillion albums, or because radio won't play his songs (they say he doesn't fit in, and I believe them), doesn't diminish the fact that he is making a LOT of people very, very happy with his music and performances. And no amount of "Taylor Hicks Sucks!" comments can make me change my mind :-)
16 - George Tufts
I think I see your problem, Please let me highlight them for you :
1) You do not measure "success" by one narrow category - -album sales. Here's why :
A) Album sales in TOTAL are down by over 10% from over a year ago and are predicted to go down even further with the advent of sites like iTunes and now Zune. People don't buy a lot of albums anymore. They pick and choose songs to download.
B) Your GENRE of music is important. Taylor's BLUES/FUNK/THROWBACK genre does not appeal to the CD buying crowd who prefer pop/hip hop/R&B/ALT ROCK type of music. That does not mean that Taylor is a joke, it simply means he's different.
2) If you bothered to go to Taylor Hick's 55 city concert ( now halfway ), you would see that they are JAMPACKED and UNIVERSALLY ACCLAIMED, even by the mainstream press. That's one other way to measure success. You strangely chose to gloss over it.
3) The Idol show is about VERSATILITY, not necessarily selling records in a niche. Theme nights don't reflect your ability to sell records. Taylor has shown that he was VERSATILE and CAN PERFORM. That's why they voted for him.
4) You mourn about Taylor's record sales (which is solid by the way --- 660,000 units isn't something to be ashamed of It's higher than 95% of artists).Yet, strangely, I do not see you talking about other winners and runner-ups who FAILED to even sell 600,000. Fantasia, Ruben, Clay Aiken FAILED to reach what Taylor sold in their latest albums ( Fantasia's album was CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ). The strange thing is inspite of this, you chose to label Taylor's win a joke and then IGNORE the "failure" ( note the quotes ) of the other winners to sell platinum. WHY IS THAT ?
17 - Jewels
The true premise of this show is becoming increasingly evident. Innocently billed during the early seasons as a contest to search for America's best singing talent, time is revealing the show as more reality TV with singing contestants. Even definitions of the meaning of the name, American Idol have morphed.
Majority of viewers and fans of the show, agree it takes more than a great voice, now we have 'the whole package' concept. This concept includes the contestants' ability to entertain, enthrall and excite the studio audience and especially the TV viewers.
Taylor Hicks won last year because he inspired viewers, he entertained, he stood out from the rest, and importantly represented in flesh and blood form what draws viewers to become fans of this show - the search for and achievement of a dream. The fact the man had a nice voice and performing talent did not hurt him. His fans fell in love with him largely because he was "Joe Everyman". He wasn't 'cookie-cutter' Pop Star with the perfect look, they could identify with him.
Taylor Hicks showed what he was made of internally by even going on this show, much less the intelligence with how he handled himself while on the program. That is what won him the title. Selling over 600,000 units of his CD with the issues of dealing with the producers working his music presented on the album is a success.
One thing many miss in concept, Clive Davis and the production staff are missing the mark more than hitting it when it comes to presenting and marketing music by the winners of this show.
*cough* Bo Bice *cough*.
Daughtry's saving grace, he cut what he does best without any interference. His genre, that Nickelback, Hinder rock is absolutely popular with his fan type.
Elliot has made a great move with the Indie label, showing sales success from the release.
One other thing, the music industry is down overall, sales of CDs no matter who is delivering the product are down. I could cite sources, but I'm too lazy right now to go get the links. To say this contestant or that one should not go for it, to try to get as far up the Idol ladder to win this show is ridiculous. That sort of follows in line perhaps why so many folks are in the ranks of the unemployed, they don't think they can make CEO so why bother.
You see, whether you go platinum 4 times over or simply sell 700,000 copies, winning this show is the epitome. It is the CEO position. It is achieving that dream you set out to conquer. So diss Taylor Hicks all you want, he did it, he convinced a nation of folks to become fans and to vote, vote, vote and he won the title. In the long run and in the span of a lifetime he knows he achieved what he set out to do.
Regardless of who anyone thinks will be ridiculed by perhaps winning this show and maybe not making world wide history and shaking the heavens in sales or whatever that seems to merit success that you all debate, the real American Idol title should go to the person who epitomizes "Idol". The person who should win will be the one who inspires, who grabs you by the heart, who entertains, enlightens and above all, moves the viewing public.
Definition of Idol, in Merriam-Webster varies from a representation or symbol of an object of worship to an object of extreme devotion to fallacy, a false conception.
18 - funked
I started watching AI during season four due to Bo..I cast my one vote each week like a normal person would. Then came his CD, which did not truly represent Bo's talent or style.
Then came the blitzkreig of AI5 and the ultimate contestant...Taylor Hicks. I logged $200 of text votes for him. He sparked a whole community of music lovers to unite behind him. Then came his CD, which like Bo's, did not fully represent the artist. Of course it's not sold well. He had to do the stuff they pushed on him, but was savvy and at least got three of his original songs on the CD.
Conversely, Daughtry, by not winning it all, was allowed the freedom to record a product that truly represented the artist that he is. I think the Nickelback comparisons are getting pretty lame now....yeah there's an influence but I think there's a lot more layers to Daughtry than anyone realizes. The great thing is, not only will I be a forever fan of Taylor Hicks, I now am a big Daughtry fan and think his vocals on "What I Want" ranks as one of the best rock vocals this year. I don't think an American Music award for best new rock artist, or dare I say a Grammy award, is totally out of the question for this year or in subsequent years. I do think Daughtry will have a sustained career and is more than a trendy rocker.
Then there's Elliott Yamin...who once again had the freedom to put out a quality product. Long live the Soul Train!
I've learned the ways of AI...I won't be duped into expensive text voting again, because AI5 proved that winning it all means nothing if the artist is not allowed to be who he/she really is on the first CD. It seems to be that TPTB would allow the winners more leeway instead of pushing the tunes penned by contracted songwriters. As we've seen with Daughtry, it pays off BIG for them AND the music-buying public.
19 - Jim Rutz
BTW, the statement you made that "Tens of Millions" voted for Taylor Hicks is probably exagerated.
People POWER VOTE and ifthey're enthusiastic for you, they vote over 50 or 100 times. Dial Idol has software that automates the process and many people downloaded it.
I hazard to guess that Taylor's 660,000 units were purchased by those who power voted.
Also, let's not overlook the fact that fans of other idols who got voted off also voted for Taylor.
20 - Stephanie
Please, can we stop with the constant "my Idol is better than your Idol" contests? The AI5 competition has been over for 10 months already! Give it a rest!
I am a Taylor fan from Canada, and it breaks my heart to read all these constant criticisms about him. He is an experienced performer, he is wowing crowds every night on his tour to glowing reviews, and just because he sold less than expected (despite very little radio play or a video I might add) does NOT deem him a failure. He's 30 years old, for goodness sake, he wouldn't let himself get lured into the machine by TPTB, and this first album was merely a compromise. Once he's free of his obligations, he can make the kind of music that he wants to make.
All the comparisons and criticisms in the world can't take away the fact that Taylor won the competition fair and square. Have you ever heard of the saying "slow and steady wins the race"? This is the route Taylor is taking. Where will Chris and Katharine be in 5 or 10 years down the road when Taylor becomes a true star? Think about it.
21 - MaryS
Taylor Hicks won because he entertained, moved and inspired enough people to keep him the voting front-runner almost the entire season. Some of those were devotees who power-voted and others were more casual fans of the show and Taylor Hicks who voted for him casually. That's just the nature of the show.
I think the fact that other Idol winners have sold better on their debuts is more a reflection of genre more than anything else. Taylor's music doesn't really "fit" well with what's happening on commercial radio. It doesn't matter to me if Taylor is played on Top 40 radio because I don't listen to Top 40 radio, but I know it is important for record sales.
Taylor Hicks has built a fanbase that will continue to buy his records and go to his concerts. He may never sell multi-millions because his music isn't mainstream. But so what? It hasn't hurt Jimmy Buffett after all these years.
I reflect on the fact that many of the artists I like - the kind that don't get played on Top 40 radio - aren't selling multi-millions but are nevertheless taken seriously as artists and musicians. This applies to Taylor Hicks too.
As an example, Keb' Mo', one of my favorites and a Grammy winning blues artist, sat in with Taylor Hicks on stage two nights ago in Chicago. Then Taylor Hicks was invited to share the stage with Keb' and others after his own concert at Buddy Guy's club.
While you may not take Taylor Hicks seriously as a musician, other musicians do. Incidentally, despite being critically aclaimed, Keb' Mo's most recent album has sold less than 70,000 units. If unit sales is the only measure of success, I guess Keb' Mo' must be a failure. Personally, I think he's a brilliant musician, but I don't judge talent simply in quantitative terms. I feel the same way about Taylor Hicks.
22 - sebby
God, it's all getting so old! This bashing of Taylor and pimping of Daughtry has made people weary. Let them go on with their lives and careers post Idol. They are so completely different. Their music just cannot be compared - the old apples and oranges. Let it go - please! Taylor has said he thinks Daughtry is a great song-writer. He wishes him well.
Taylor is on the ride of a lifetime. He's selling out venues across the country, receiving media praise across the board, playing with a kick-ass band, and living his dream. He didn't achieve this by being a joke on American Idol. He's a passionate, talented musician, who will be around long after his critics have moved on to berate someone else. (By the way, does anyone have an accurate count of the number of Taylor's pre-Idol cd's that have been sold at his shows? They've apparently been in great demand and are flying off the merchandise tables at each venue.) Not to worry about Mr. Hicks. He'll have the last laugh.
23 - sebby
God, it's all getting so old! This bashing of Taylor and pimping of Daughtry has made people weary. Let them go on with their lives and careers post Idol. They are so completely different. Their music just cannot be compared - the old apples and oranges. Let it go - please! Taylor has said he thinks Daughtry is a great song-writer. He wishes him well.
Taylor is on the ride of a lifetime. He's selling out venues across the country, receiving media praise across the board, playing with a kick-ass band, and living his dream. He didn't achieve this by being a joke on American Idol. He's a passionate, talented musician, who will be around long after his critics have moved on to berate someone else. (By the way, does anyone have an accurate count of the number of Taylor's pre-Idol cd's that have been sold at his shows? They've apparently been in great demand and are flying off the merchandise tables at each venue.) Not to worry about Mr. Hicks. He'll have the last laugh.
24 - play
I won't comment on the comparisons between the past Idol contestants. It's been overdone. I will say that I am among the many who have seen Taylor Hicks live on his current solo tour. I will also say that it's genius to perform in these smaller venues. I have seen concerts in the huge venues and needed binoculars to see the artist on stage.No thanks
The Clive Davis' in the music world need to hear the screams of people who are sick to death of the crappy music being shoved down our throats. Taylor Hicks won AI 5 because people want a change...Yes, Taylor Hicks will be just fine doing it HIS way.
25 - Bill
Taylor who?