Quoting Taylor Hicks, "The Soul Patrol rides on!"
Individualism was rewarded on American Idol this season. The 'regular Joe' morphed into an American hero. The whole small town guy makes good by beating the system fantasy that many of us love and hold to our hearts came true. Taylor's appeal is spanning from the true music aficionados, to the against-the-mainstream misfits, to the retro music fans, to the baby boomers desiring a return to a time where real American idols were born, not churned out pre-fabricated, dressed and dyed and plasticized.
Talent was rewarded this season on American Idol. This reality talent show surpassed being about just pop pipes, to a show premiering true talent with real stage presence and high-decibel charisma and charm.
Drive was rewarded this season on American Idol. From the beginning I have said Mr. Hicks is not a stupid man. It was evident to me from Taylor's initial audition that he was a man with the desire, the drive and the intelligence to make this happen. He had that fire in his eyes. He projected a definite sense of self, independence and originality.
Taylor Hicks has played this Idol game with the savvy and know-how he ripped from the streets, derived from honest to good, blue-collar on-the-job training. Performing at regional honky-tonks and clubs helped to hone his sensibilities on music delivery and reading his audience. There are many aspiring artists wanting to enter the music business who should take to school the precedence Mr. Hicks' has set on this talent show.
Taylor began shaping an image from the beginning of this season. Mr. Hicks came in with a dream, with a vision, with a plan. The acoustic performance of Sam Cooke's classic, "A Change is Gonna Come". His enthusiasm, his trademark, "WOOOOO!". The much discussed 'harp walk', Hicks' enters the judges' quarters, harmonica playing, working that stiff-legged bluesman walk where he discovers he is indeed moving on to Hollywood. His attire. The blazers representative of several things, communicating he was taking the show seriously, the fact he was more mature than his counterparts, but most importantly the blazers helped create that old soul vibe. Researching some of Hicks' heroes whom he patterns his music after; Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown, Solomon Burke you see these men as careful with their appearance as they were with staying true to their music.
Article comments
1 - Tinak
Wow, very nice article. It's all part of that Taylor magic, it's unreal the effect his music has on people and it's going to be even more fun to watch him succeed :D
2 - Bliffle
I saw the AI semi-finals, and wasn't impressed enough by ANY of the singers to tune in for the finals.
I did, however, watch "Live From Lincoln Center, 30th Anniversary" on PBS and it was fabulous! Great performances, both instrumental and singing. Selections from the first 30 years of this terrific program. Pavarotti, Renee Fleming, etc. Even a performance of St. James Infirmary, sung by Wynton Marsalis.
Watch it when you get a chance. Some of the best 2 hours you'll ever spend with music.
3 - sal m
i'm amazed at the criticism that is heaped upon some of these contestants, not only by the judges but by people who watch the show.
when you consider with the exception of prince and live on the final show, there really wasn't an established singer who appeared on the show as a guest, that could have competed as a contestant.
shakira, rod stewart and kenny rodgers wouldn't have even made the final 12, and stevie wonder, barry manilow and boccelli would have been voted off before any of the final 5.
the fact that these people could get up there week after week a sing tough songs - many songs you've never heard covered by professionals - and sing them live is impressive.
and the studio versions that have been recorded by the final 5 are just as good if not better than anything that you'll hear from a "known" singer.
4 - Teresa
Great Article! You summed things up so well and it is a great tribute to Taylor. He deserves it. I love him, but I would have voted for him at the end just due to persistence and determination. He is an example of hard work, what I always thought was the American dream. He was always polite to Simon, when Simon deserved a punch in the mouth. Taylor was a gentleman. Thank you for this article.
5 - Dave
#2
Take your highbrow attitude elsewhere. Why are you even reading an article about talent that couldn't impress you?
6 - Johan
Great article - very insightful and emotionally perspective; due just was given to Taylor in this artcile and what he actually accomplished. You are also a very good writer with a very meticulous style that is refreshing !
7 - Jewels
Johan, thanks for your compliment on the article. I had to do a wrap up for the Idol season on Taylor; I have a great deal of admiration for him and all that he accomplished on this show. He moved Idol mountains and established new precedences for this talent show. Part of the show being able to draw some of the big names for the finale had to do with Taylor. He has a lot of fans now, that are currently in the music business and in the entertainment industry.
sal m - I'm glad someone sticks up for the contestants. Some of the artists currently on the top charts today wouldn't be there if it wasn't for who they knew to pump them up. It takes a certain amount of grit for the hopefuls that put themselves through this ordeal called Idol and I don't think they get near the credit.
Teresa, perserverance and commitment, those attributes of Tay's fans are what got him through. The support kept him strong and really gave him the courage and ability to not let anyone with AI or 19E get to him. It also completely threw the shows producers for a real loop. This kind of support that Taylor's received made history for this show. The fan turn out in Alabama, folks from all over the country waving their signs proudly to let Tay know how far they'd come to see him; you know that had to stir his heart. I have heard his father still is in awe. Tay told his Dad and friends he was going to win this show and he pulled it off.
It is just his beginning.
8 - Deidre
I am so happy for Taylor! He is a great performer and so fun to listen to. My sister and I were so excited when we heard his single on the radio Friday. I hope big things are in the future for him!
9 - Liz
We are soooooo proud of Taylor. He worked his way all the way into the hearts of America and
the world. He is a true "Southern gentleman", and
will never forget where he came from.
I have known him for many years and what you see
is what you get!
Great article
10 - detroitsoul
Dear Jewels, Loved your articles on Taylor and loved your writing. Good writing is hard work. We became Taylor fans from the get-go. We realized he was different from the others and had something real and significant to offer. He's got a lot of heart and soul. I grew up IN Motown, surrounded by R&B and Soul music. Taylor fits right in there with the best of them. I generally don't like 'pop' music, but this man has won my ears and my heart. His 'coronation' song was filled with gratitude for not only his 'soul patrol,' but also for the other Idols and America. My spouse of 18 years is a professional musician who has played with many of the professionals on Idol and many of the performers mentioned by #2. He thought all along that Taylor had the most potential and was by far the best performer. Each week, the kids and I turned to him and said "well?" And each week, he backed up Taylor (he also thinks Paris is going to make it big--we hope so!). The best part of this though, is that Simon has to be eating a lot of gray crow right now. Love the fact, he's also producing Taylor's CD. I only wish Toni B. had a little more class 'In the Ghetto.' Oh well, we can't win them all--but we did win this one! Go Soul Patrol--Go Taylor. Also #2, I prefer Denyce Graves to Fleming any day and many musicians believe Pavarotti is past his prime. Jewels, again, thanks for the great writing, thanks for the awesome articles. I'm usually pretty hard hearted and quite cynical but this Soul Man has won over this Detroit Soul Woman.