It's true. I've been sucked into the Soul Patrol. But only for the best of reasons.
It's time to come clean. Though ostensibly a reasonably serious, intelligent, educated nonconformist with an eclectic musical taste that only flirts with that of the mainstream, I nonetheless am one of the millions swirling in the pop-culture vortex that is American Idol. No pride or shame are involved here; I'm just telling you the truth, because truth is at the heart of the matter.…
Article comments
26 - NR Davis
Bingo.
27 - idlerock
The only thing I like about the whole AI promotion is Kat. Without her I'd have dropped the show long long time ago.
Best American Idol Spoof of ALL TIME:
28 - NR Davis
Then I would imagine you are very proud of her, as you should be. Whatever happens, Ms. McPhee should go far.
29 - Josh
Viva Taylor Hicks!
30 - buttercookie
help! i'm being asphixiated under a smug cloud generated by taylor hicks fans, the "soul patrol," "serious, intelligent, educated nonconformists" who know "honest music" when they smell it. yes, they're right and they're righteous about their musical tastes. they reject the plastic and phony. they drive hybrids and belive in george clooney -- wait, am i trapped an episode of south park?
31 - NR Davis
Sorry to hear about your respiratory difficulties. Logic suggests finding a place where you can breathe more easily. Peace, sir or madam.
32 - buttercookie
but where shall i run, where shall i hide, as the smug cloud threatens to block out the sun in all of north america, thus countering any possible positive effects it might have in plugging the hole in the ozone. maybe, just maybe, if all of you are willing to concede that your musical tastes are not the end all and be all, the most sophisticated, the most savvy, the ONE TRUE FAITH, maybe you can save our planet!
33 - NR Davis
Oh, please, Mr./Ms. Buttercookie (I suspect it's a particular Mr. going incognito, which makes me wonder about courage and all, but then again, had this particular Mr. used his real name, I hever would have had the singular privilege of enduring his slam). No one intimated that Kat and Elliott and Chris fans don't have taste and smarts and savvy - only that some don't get what many people feel feel for Taylor and why. I could argue all day about the obvious taste and knowledge of scads of smart people who rooted for Elliott Yamin and the discerning folks who appreciated Kat's and Paris' Broadway- and jazz-influenced performances throughout the contest.
And the mention of me being "ostensibly a reasonably serious, intelligent, educated nonconformist with an eclectic musical taste that only flirts with that of the mainstream" is all about taking a shot at myself.
The piece serves to explain and , perhaps, persuade. My assumption is that if you have a favorite, it's because you feel about their music the way I feel about Taylor's - or at least that there is some sort of similar emotional component to the thing. I certainly hope your fave's music gives you a great feeling.
This article is not designed to insult anyone: I say Kat doesn't appeal to me, and she doesn't. But I also say she's talented. Elliott is way talented; he just didn't light fires for me. He's a star and I recognize that, whether he's my number one or not. So if I express my deep feelings for Taylor Hicks' music, that somehow means I am smug and that I am slagging those who don't share what I am feeling? No, it doesn't, because what you accuse me of simply is untrue.
Seriously, if you aren't persuaded to like Taylor, that's fine. I'm just making my case to you, a person I assume is at least as musically in the know as this fan. I wish you and your favorite all good luck in any event. Now, go somewhere and breathe. Purplish blue is not your color.
Now: To Taylor voters, this just came from the AI TH board
Text if you can, but landline it too. (I'll be landlining to beat the band.)
34 - amom
Taylor gets high? Sean, that has brought him one notch down in my book; I still hope he wins though. I love everything else about him.
35 - NR Davis
Let he or she who is without sin...
To quote Jewels Richardson, groove on, Soulman.
36 - Jewels
Get your groove on with this site Soul-Patrol Soul tunes, Sam Cooke. Good stuff.
A change is gonna come and his name is Taylor Hicks.
Peace.
37 - NR Davis
Oh, that's awesome. Sam Cooke sends me, and Taylor does too, Taylor does too, Taylor does too... Thanks for sharing the link. The tuneage (via Realaudio streaming, folks) is scintillating.
I'm also featuring Taylor tunes throughout the weekend via my Last.fm page... so far this morning, we've gone thru Neil Young, Bob Marley, Living Colour, U2, Peter Tosh and k.d. lang... After my Cooke break, it's back to the Clash. Then off to the library with my son and then, we'll get into Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks Band, some REM and Eva Cassidy, and assorted protest music. Tonight, I'll play the Grateful Dead's Dead Set (or maybe Dozin' at the Knick, dunno yet) in its entirety. All has been and will continue to be intervowen with a heavy rotation - once every two hours each - of TH's "Soul Thing," "Heart and Soul," and "Hell of a Day." (At the library, I'll be using the broadband connection to grab some more Tay tunes to air.)
It's a Taylor Hicks weekend at Grateful Dread. (You can't know how hilarious that sounds to me...)
Go Soul Patrol!
38 - chancelucky
Natalie,
that was one of the better AI reviews/columns I've seen. If Taylor does win and it accomplishes what you hope in terms of "changing" imposed popular taste, that would be great.
I'm a bit more cynical about it, but I have no problem with Taylor winning and getting the exposure even as a fan of the inner-geek Broadway girl.
39 - NR Davis
Being an inner-geek Broadway girl myself - though one who appreciates soul and authenticity over pure technique - I quite understand, Mr. Chancelucky. If that was complimentary, thanks.
NR Davis
40 - Sandy
reply to # 16,I don't believe that story at all.In fact Taylor was in New Orleans for a wedding the night before Katrina hit,he could not get a flight out to B'ham so he hired a taxi
to drive him to Monroe,La. for $400.00,There he caught a flight to Las Vegas and his audition.He was not in Vegas partying.It was Taylor's brother Sean that encouraged him to try out for AI.He was supposed to audition in Memphis but did not get called.So he rushed to Las Vegas and thank God he made it.The rest is history.And to post #34 please do not believe people trying to discredit Taylor.Thank you Natalie for a wonderfully well written article.
41 - amom
Thanks for the info Sandy. I'm a Taylor fan all the way. Just bugs me when anyone thinks it's cool to get high. Get high on life, though mine's a little low right now.
42 - NR Davis
Just found a link to Taylor's booking agency page. It includes his repertoire of originals and covers along with audio! I'm listening to Tay's rendition of "Georgie on My Mind" right now, and all I can say is WHOO!
43 - NR Davis
direct link to "Georgia"
44 - NR Davis
It's all over but the voting now...
Taylor rocked the house and even made something wonderful out of the horrible original single with which AI saddled him (something no previous Idol contestant has been able to do with those embarrassingly cheesy wastes of time - for the love of god, Fremantle Media and 19E: Hire decent songwriters!). When Simon declared at show's end that the likely and deserving winner is Hicks... well, let's just say I was really pleased, esp. considering Simon voted NO after Taylor's audition. Takes a big person to admit when he or she is wrong.
Of course, counting chickens... VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE TAYLOR!
45 - Jenny
Wow, you guys ~ I'm glad I found this site. GREAT article, by the way. I've been a die-hard idol fan since the end of the first season, and this year I'm doing my master's degree (in commercial music, of all things), so I've taped every episode of AI (ironically, I've been in a "Pop Music Analysis" seminar every Tuesday night!), but I haven't had the time to pick a favorite this year... Until now. Taylor's original stuff is unbelieveably good. I'm totally hooked. I didn't "get him" until I caught that link to his album and started listening... now I've bought the album and I'm a total Taylor freak.
...and, yah, I voted tonight.
46 - NR Davis
His originals, particularly "Soul Thing" and "Heart and Soul" are quite good. I'm so glad you checked out the stuff. And I suspect you'll hear good news tonight.
47 - -E
Congrats, this article was picked for one of this week's Ed Picks. Keep up the good work.
48 - NR Davis
Thank you. (And yes, he made me proud.)
49 - Silas Kain
Thank you, America. Taylor Hicks is a breath of fresh air -- a classic example that the American Dream is most certainly alive. Taylor, ya'll made me very proud!
50 - sophronia
I was raised listening to heart wrenching, moving, and soulful tunes sung by legends such as Mr. Ray Charles and Mr. Joe Cocker. The music of today has lost a lot of that personal feeling which pierces the heart and takes you on a journey. However, as long as Taylor Hicks is around, soul is here to stay. From the first time I watched him perform I connected with him as a person, but was won over by his voice and his mere stage presence. In my eyes, he is the American Idol.
51 - NR Davis
Actually, he is in FACT the American Idol. Whoo!