The Soul Patrolman "reported for duty" on AI5's April 11 show. 
The American Idol 5 contestant with the runaway rampant fan base that's putting all other contestant AI boards to shame, delivered what his fans had begged for all the previous week; he tore up the Idol stage.
The silver-maned Soulman's passionate performances have drawn rave reviews from his fans and criticisms from his detractors. He is an acquired taste and not for the faint of heart — most likely the folks who don't understand his dance moves or his appeal probably would have been in the crowd that derided Elvis Presley in his early days. (You know The King had his own 'spaztastic' moves that caught plenty of criticism...)
Taylor Hicks chose the frolicky, fun Queen song "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and turned it into a dynamic high energy performance. Simon Cowell previously had been interviewed as saying he was afraid that Hicks could possibly be voted the next American Idol. (Be afraid Simon, very afraid...) After the April 11th endeavor by Hicks, Simon looked positively pale. Cowell managed to sputter how he thought the performance was "ridiculous", and he asked Hicks, "Are you drunk?" I could see how it may be difficult for Simon to imagine being as forceful and passionate as Hicks clearly demonstrates he is - while being sober...
Currently, there are rumors in circulation that in fact, American Idol, 19E and Cowell may be in bed together to try and influence the public to seat rocker Chris Daughtry as the next contestant to be crowned Idol. Conspiracy theories are not new to this runaway popular program and have besieged it throughout its five year history with the exception of the first year. I must add, rumors are just that: "Rumours." (Great Fleetwood Mac album - oops my A.D.D. side surfacing!)
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Kay
Simon's behavior toward Taylor Hicks is obnoxious and makes me determined to vote, vote, vote for Taylor; so I loved the line "(Be afraid Simon, very afraid...)" Tayor is my pick for American Idol this year. I love his performances!!!
2 - joan
Thank you so much for expressing exactly how I feel. I LOVE this man.
3 - chancelucky
It was good to see Taylor back to himself last week. Almost none of Simon's comments last week were terribly constructive or supported by anything.
4 - Tammy
Simon should be afraid. I don't think Simon likes Taylor at all. simon wasn't expecting him to make it this far. Taylor sings from the heart and everyone watching can tell it. I hope he makes it all the way.
5 - Kate
I'm really sorry...Taylor acts like a fool.
Elvis did not look like a retard when he sang,
Taylor does...
Pickler is a total Blonde !!!!
Ace is adorable
Chris , I think will win.
6 - Barb
I have disliked Simon Cowell since AI2. Yes, I am a fan of Clay Aiken. He is doing the same thing to Taylor. I love Taylor and vote for two hours for him every week (when I can get through). I hope he wins. He is a breathe of fresh air. Thanks for giving him props.
7 - Gayle
Taylor was back! I grinned, I felt the music, I loved the voice, the moves are great - and because of who he is, he could miss the microphone stand and move on with us smiling and moving on with him. I've only felt this way twice before in my life...Elvis and the Beatles! Taylor has wide appeal and there are legions of fans of every age out there. Win or lose, he will be making Simon feel foolish in years to come!
8 - carol
Taylor makes you smile. Sure he is a little spastic, but this is what makes him so appealing. He is definitely an original for American Idol. I love his "whiskey tenor" voice and his love of performing. I haven't enjoyed American Idol for several years....but he is the only reason I do now.
9 - Jewels
"Kate" Regarding your low IQ and asinine remark, "Elvis did not look like a retard when he sang". It is so sad that folks as intellectually challenged as you obviously are, resort to such gross and sad tactics. Trolls live under bridges - remember the 3 Billy Goats Gruff tale?
10 - Jewels
Thanks Joan I am so in Love with this man too, I have never quite felt so intensely about a personality that I have covered in the past in entertainment like I do Hicks. And, man, he drinks freaking milk. Most rockers I covered in years past couldn't spell milk. This is the PUSH time and if Soul Patrollers (as they call themselves) are serious - you have to PUSH now.
11 - Jewels
Chancelucky - thanks man for the support. SLimon has apparently become so very Thurston Howell that he has completely forgotten his role on Idol.. Did you notice, also that Paula, in trying to clap almost missed her own hands. Poor Randy, he sat there and looked over at their 'grab ass' scharades like WTF am I doing here?...Is the Idol shw reaching it's end dude or what?
12 - Jewels
To Tammy, thanks for reinforcing "Simon should be afraid. I don't think Simon likes Taylor at all. simon wasn't expecting him to make it this far. Taylor sings from the heart and everyone watching can tell it. I hope he makes it all the way." Well, Tammy it is PUSH time. What that means is we cannot sit back and let AI5, 19E and fat-wallet Simon Cowell, Nazi in the outcome. Voting is not enough right now - if we believe in our guy we have to PUSH him through and not let what happened to Clay Aiken and Bo Bice occur again - support for Any and All articles about Hicks have got to have a premier stage, and voice. Boards, especially AI let them know we are watching. I want to do what we/I can to not let Hicks be robbed. I entered the Bo Bice fight too late to do much; Hicks I'm fighting for him from the first time I saw him sing. He is phenominal.
13 - Jewels
Carol, thank you for this, "Taylor makes you smile. Sure he is a little spastic, but this is what makes him so appealing. He is definitely an original for American Idol. I love his "whiskey tenor" voice and his love of performing. I haven't enjoyed American Idol for several years....but he is the only reason I do now."
Man, my favorite thing about Tay is his spazticfantastic dancing. It's like watching lightening in human form BAAAMMM!! pop pop pop BAAMMMM! Nothing like it in decades. Natural, human energy. Exploding. In front of GAWD and everyone.
His voice though, it haunts me in my sleep. I love his voice, I love the songs he has written. Hicks is like a song I loved years ago that I had forgotten, then just recently remembered and rediscovered.
Yeah it's like that.
14 - Jewels
Thank you Gayle for: "Taylor was back! I grinned, I felt the music, I loved the voice, the moves are great - and because of who he is, he could miss the microphone stand and move on with us smiling and moving on with him. I've only felt this way twice before in my life...Elvis and the Beatles! Taylor has wide appeal and there are legions of fans of every age out there. Win or lose, he will be making Simon feel foolish in years to come!
I certainly hope so. He has the potential. I only hope he won't let Slimon's comments deride his confidence. Taylor has more talent in his smallest toe that most of the so-called artists on the Billboard charts today. We have become so inundated with Non-talent that the mainsteam audience has forgotten WTF "It" is. Hicks is IT.
15 - Jewels
Kay! Thank you for being the First to post to this bit of Taylor Hicks PUSH piece. I will do this now every week. Your comments, "Simon's behavior toward Taylor Hicks is obnoxious and makes me determined to vote, vote, vote for Taylor; so I loved the line "(Be afraid Simon, very afraid...)" Tayor is my pick for American Idol this year. I love his performances!!!" Great gal, love it - but tragically not enough - we have to write, and barrage the AI forums with the fact and obvious truth that we Know Hicks should be the next Idol; it's not about Cowell's pocketbook anymore. Got it?
Groove on Soulman!
16 - Jewels
Barb, thank you for your contribution to this piece of Hicks Push! Gal, we gotta work to get him through or he'll end up another Aiken or Bo. I so appreciate your comments, "I have disliked Simon Cowell since AI2. Yes, I am a fan of Clay Aiken. He is doing the same thing to Taylor. I love Taylor and vote for two hours for him every week (when I can get through). I hope he wins. He is a breathe of fresh air. Thanks for giving him props."
You're welcome. I have cleared time in my schedule (from ABSOLUTE Hell) to every week from here on out to PUSH Hicks. ---IT'S PUSH TIME SOUL PATROL PATRONS!!!---
I love how I feel when I listen to him.
That's it. Only Reason I need.
Groove on Soulman!
17 - Doug
Mentioning Taylor Hicks in the same sentence as the young Elvis or (heaven forbid) the Beatles should be illegal. Whether you like him or not, saying stuff like that should get you thrown in jail. For life. Elvis' moves weren't the spastic, vaguely geriatric and over-eager moves of Taylor Hicks, they were the embodiment of Rock and Roll sexuality. I guarantee you that Elvis never went back to for a second try if he ever missed kicking over the mic stand.
18 - Jewels
Doug, aren't you the sweet one. Tossing me in jail for comparing Hicks with Elvis, that's a bit random.
I find Hicks extremely sexually appealing as do thousands of women. It's curious how Taylor is able to draw out love and adoration from so many fans and yet also attract such powerfully negative responses such as yours.
The mic stand miss was adorable.
Thank you for taking the time to post.
19 - Cinci
Taylor's moves ARE similar to Elvis. Watch some of Elvis' early singing & dancing - practically spastic (but not in a bad way).
Taylor puts his whole body and soul into singing - draws you right in and makes you smile - even missing the mic stand. Those who don't like him, just don't get it. Too bad.
By the way, love the "SLimon" term!
20 - Jewels
The man is energy, joy, and have I said sexy?
Folks who don't 'get' Hicks are just flat missing out.
Regarding "Slimon", just calling it like I see it.
Thank you for your comments!
21 - Sharon
Sorry - I agree that Taylor is "fun" to watch but this show is supposed to be about muscial talent and this guy just does not have real talent other than hopping around like a sick chicken and making serious "other" sounds. Plese - let's have someone with real muscial talent (Katherine) for instance win this show!
22 - Jackie
I thoroughly enjoy watching Taylor Hicks perform. He's my favorite for the win. He can sing well, but he's a genuine performer ... not just a "singer." I think Elliott has a better voice, but who would I pause to watch if he were on a show? Taylor!
23 - Jewels
Exactly my thoughts on Taylor; he is great in action.
Katherine is a gorgeous gal but BORING - what were those stage arm movements she did the last show? The slowly moving arms from her sides up then...down. Puhleez so overdone. The batting of her eyelashes like Bambi. Ack. Regarding vocals, I think she can sing but she's not All That. No she's Not.
Elliot has a fab voice, but not the stage persona Hicks exudes. No one has ever detailed this crazy show was a competition Only about singing. Ever. It is a competition about becoming the performer voted as most exciting, talented overall...'the next American Idol' (open to interpretation).
Many folks start with harping it's about the pipes.... yah, yah, yah. Pipes definitely count, you can't suck vocally and think about going on, but Idol is about the whole package. Otherwise Elliot would win this hands down tomorrow.
Hicks fits the whole Idol criteria. To a T. (What's up T.? --- don't let them get to you baby!)
Groove on Soulman!
24 - robert singer
yo Jewels check it out man. this is only a tv series to entertain you and I.
These singers are all very good but lets keep it in perspective shall we. they are all just amatures, and for the most part Simon is right on with most of his comments. Taylor is good no question but an idol
I don't think so. Lets put someone in there that can actually sing like chicken little. lol another kid who should have not been there.
25 - Jewels
yo Robert, thank you for your snapping me back into reality. Geez, for a moment there I thought the contestants on this show were striving for a recording contract - or something. Forgot it was just for our entertainment. I am so silly.
Seriously, I like your tone, you're probably a fun guy, come back and visit again. I may need future reminders on my perspectives... LOL
Thank you for taking time to post -