If you are a seasoned old timer like me, you long ago realized that AI is less about a "singing competition" and more about making some 19 and Sony/BMG folks richer.
It's about the ratings, stupid !!
AI could not have said it clearer than when they recently announced the addition of Ellen Degeneres to the judging panel. I'm sure Ellen loves music, probably owns some CD's, and certainly has the power to promote anyone she chooses. What I'm not sure about is what exactly qualifies her to judge musical acumen. She doesn't sing, doesn't produce, doesn't write or do any of the things that would give her musical opinion any credibility.
What Ellen does do is bring star power. She comes on the tail of a long time, highly rated talk show with lots of viewers. And there is the rub ... drawing new viewers and saving the ratings that have begun to slide since Season 5. She has shown her ability (a la Clive Davis) to tell America they got it wrong.
Be sure to check out this great blog piece for a deeper look into what Ellen brings to AI:
Idolizing Ellen
http://www.writeonnewjersey.com/2009/09/idolizing-ellen/
By the way, if you don't know, Rewind of Season 5 is just starting to air. Watch Taylor's victory again, even sweeter now that you have followed him and know his story.
Showing posts with label Seven Mile Breakdown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seven Mile Breakdown. Show all posts
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Taylor Hicks ~~ good things will come...and they DO!
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UPDATE: Good things will come....and they DO! "Seven Mile Breakdown" is once again NO. 1 on AOL's "Most Viewed" video list!!
(July 30, 2009)
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I love it when things come together.
It just seemed like things came together last week for Taylor Hicks. The first hint was a twitter from Taylor that the Prime Minister wanted to see him “pimping ice cream.” i.e. The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was coming to see “Grease” and Taylor would meet him afterwards. The prestigious Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail carried the story with pictures. It even made the political page.
Opening Night sold out in Ottawa! We know how all entertainers love the words “Sold out.” Taylor has even told us that. All the shows were packed. The Teen Angel was flying high north of the border. The rains didn’t dampen anything.
Then “Seven Mile Breakdown” video hit No. 1 on AOL Music Videos. It had been hanging out in the Top 11 for five weeks. And now, it was trumping some very impressive competition. For an artist who cannot seem to get radio play for the song, here was the same song on video topping the chart! He even talked about it himself saying it was “BIG.” It’s sits at No. 2 at this writing.
There are over 21,000 videos currently on AOL accounting for hundreds of thousands of “views.”
Taylor Hicks was the “most viewed.”
“Seven Mile Breakdown” had already been in the Top Ten on MuVids.com for six weeks!
Perhaps not quite as significant, but nevertheless “interesting,” was that Taylor reached the Top Twenty in the monthly Mr. Twitter USA contest on Tweeterwall.com. If he stays there this week, he will be permanently enshrined on the wall. Finishing No. 1 would bring even more accolades!
It just seemed like things came together last week for Taylor Hicks. The first hint was a twitter from Taylor that the Prime Minister wanted to see him “pimping ice cream.” i.e. The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was coming to see “Grease” and Taylor would meet him afterwards. The prestigious Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail carried the story with pictures. It even made the political page.
Opening Night sold out in Ottawa! We know how all entertainers love the words “Sold out.” Taylor has even told us that. All the shows were packed. The Teen Angel was flying high north of the border. The rains didn’t dampen anything.
Then “Seven Mile Breakdown” video hit No. 1 on AOL Music Videos. It had been hanging out in the Top 11 for five weeks. And now, it was trumping some very impressive competition. For an artist who cannot seem to get radio play for the song, here was the same song on video topping the chart! He even talked about it himself saying it was “BIG.” It’s sits at No. 2 at this writing.
There are over 21,000 videos currently on AOL accounting for hundreds of thousands of “views.”
Taylor Hicks was the “most viewed.”
“Seven Mile Breakdown” had already been in the Top Ten on MuVids.com for six weeks!
Perhaps not quite as significant, but nevertheless “interesting,” was that Taylor reached the Top Twenty in the monthly Mr. Twitter USA contest on Tweeterwall.com. If he stays there this week, he will be permanently enshrined on the wall. Finishing No. 1 would bring even more accolades!
Taylor NOW sits in the TOP TEN in Mr. Twitter USA! Amazing, if you think about how many tweeters are out there!
All of this made me wonder how one young soul singer gets from the wrong side of Mississippi to greeting foreign Heads of State and making a music video that is the “most viewed” on the internet giant, AOL. What are the chances?
The answer that comes to mind is, “He never gave up.” Taylor Hicks never stopped doing what he loved.
Good things come to those who wait. No! Good things come to those who work their heads off to get what they want.
It’s coming together for Taylor Hicks. His years of hard work and dreaming are paying off.
Makes you want to get a dream and get to work!
Taylor came home this week and headed south to Ft. Lauderdale.
More work, and more good things to come.
Why don’t we do a little bit of the work? He deserves the help…
Keep “Seven Mile Breakdown” on top at AOL –MySpace it. FaceBook it! Twitter (or is it TWEET?) it! WATCH it! (Now, that ain’t work!)
The answer that comes to mind is, “He never gave up.” Taylor Hicks never stopped doing what he loved.
Good things come to those who wait. No! Good things come to those who work their heads off to get what they want.
It’s coming together for Taylor Hicks. His years of hard work and dreaming are paying off.
Makes you want to get a dream and get to work!
Taylor came home this week and headed south to Ft. Lauderdale.
More work, and more good things to come.
Why don’t we do a little bit of the work? He deserves the help…
Keep “Seven Mile Breakdown” on top at AOL –MySpace it. FaceBook it! Twitter (or is it TWEET?) it! WATCH it! (Now, that ain’t work!)
Vote for Mr. Twitter USA. Hey, who knows what accolades and recognition it may bring?!
Go see “Grease” in Ft. Lauderdale this week or when it comes to your town. Now that, for sure, is NOT work!
Let’s keep the good things coming…
I’ve got some “work” to do...
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Taylor Hicks ~~ says goodbye in "Sold Out" Seattle!
Taylor Hicks again takes the “Sold Out” stage as he and the cast of “Grease” play to a packed house in their final performance tonight at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle.
Wednesday night’s “Sold Out” Shadow Tour party at The Triple Door was an all-out last hurrah for the West Coast according to reports and videos. It was jamming on a week night as Taylor showed up in style with guitar and harmonica tuned to hot and an A-list of Saturday night musicians behind him turning up the heat. Seattle got a full energized dose of Taylor Hicks live on stage!
If the meter measured fun, The Triple Door audience scored big! The whole West Coast scored big as Taylor spent the last three months living and working in the neighborhood where it all started on American Idol. In a grueling schedule of eight shows a week starring as Teen Angel in “Grease,” four solo Shadow Tour shows and endless media appearances and performances in every city, Taylor was on the move. He also released his new album, The Distance, on his own label, Modern Whomp Records and shot a music video for the second single, “Seven Mile Breakdown,” without skipping a beat in “Beauty School Dropout.” Frenchy is still going back to high school. And Taylor even learned to “tweet” on the Left Coast!
The fun is about to wind down in the West. After closing in Seattle tonight, Taylor travels with “Grease” to Appleton, Wisconsin, opening on June 2nd and continues appearing in the East and South into next year.
Get ready Deeeetroit! Taylor’s next Shadow Tour appearance is at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, on June 22th. Motown is going to know that Taylor Hicks is in town!
From Seattle, “Sold out” is a nice way to go!
Safe travels to all…
Note: From here, it seems like the best of times and the worst of times…it doesn’t get any better for a stage entertainer than “Sold Out.” How very cool that Taylor Hicks can leave the West Coast this way!
But leave he must. It’s been an amazing three months out here. Of course, he will be jetting back and forth—often, we hope. And we’ll be doing a little jetting ourselves. It’s been amazing to have him in our corner of the world.
Thanks, Taylor, for coming and hanging out for a while!
Wednesday night’s “Sold Out” Shadow Tour party at The Triple Door was an all-out last hurrah for the West Coast according to reports and videos. It was jamming on a week night as Taylor showed up in style with guitar and harmonica tuned to hot and an A-list of Saturday night musicians behind him turning up the heat. Seattle got a full energized dose of Taylor Hicks live on stage!
If the meter measured fun, The Triple Door audience scored big! The whole West Coast scored big as Taylor spent the last three months living and working in the neighborhood where it all started on American Idol. In a grueling schedule of eight shows a week starring as Teen Angel in “Grease,” four solo Shadow Tour shows and endless media appearances and performances in every city, Taylor was on the move. He also released his new album, The Distance, on his own label, Modern Whomp Records and shot a music video for the second single, “Seven Mile Breakdown,” without skipping a beat in “Beauty School Dropout.” Frenchy is still going back to high school. And Taylor even learned to “tweet” on the Left Coast!
The fun is about to wind down in the West. After closing in Seattle tonight, Taylor travels with “Grease” to Appleton, Wisconsin, opening on June 2nd and continues appearing in the East and South into next year.
Get ready Deeeetroit! Taylor’s next Shadow Tour appearance is at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, on June 22th. Motown is going to know that Taylor Hicks is in town!
From Seattle, “Sold out” is a nice way to go!
Safe travels to all…
Note: From here, it seems like the best of times and the worst of times…it doesn’t get any better for a stage entertainer than “Sold Out.” How very cool that Taylor Hicks can leave the West Coast this way!
But leave he must. It’s been an amazing three months out here. Of course, he will be jetting back and forth—often, we hope. And we’ll be doing a little jetting ourselves. It’s been amazing to have him in our corner of the world.
Thanks, Taylor, for coming and hanging out for a while!
~~Photo courtesy of RagsQueen at The Triple Door 5.27.09
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Taylor Hicks ~~ the West Coast finale...
From Tucson to Seattle, the West Coast run for Taylor Hicks was memorable. But just like the iconic pop show where it all started on the West Coast, it’s ending soon—at least for this season.
Taylor makes his last Shadow Tour appearance on the West Coast at Seattle’s Triple Door on May 27th and "Grease’s " run in Seattle ends May 30th. Then “Grease” packs the lockers, the cone, and a lot of memories and makes the long haul back to the Midwest for its opening in Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 2.
For West Coasters, it is a sad realization that Taylor’s not a short flight or a day’s drive away. But our memories are vivid and sweet.
In late February, a warm and sunny Tucson welcomed Taylor and the “Grease” cast from the cold wintry climes of the Midwest. “What’s Right is Right” was out, and Taylor brought out his “Arizona shoes”—snakeskin boots to honor the appreciative Southwestern fans that packed Music Hall. Tucson was his second visit to Arizona. He brought his Modern Whomp Solo Tour to Tempe in 2007.
The first West Cost Shadow Tour performance was in San Diego. One of the songs he did was “Nineteen,” the emotional story of a war hero, from his album, The Distance. It was well received by the many Navy men and women attending the Belly Up show. Taylor dedicated it to our troops, a tradition he began with “Do I Make You Proud.”
In the glitzy LA/West Hollywood circles, Taylor rocked with the beautiful people as “Grease” played at the historic Pantages Theatre just down the street from the Kodak Theatre where he won the American Idol title in 2006. It had to bring back memories.
In March, Taylor joined in a day of purpose at the Los Angeles County Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, in its 13th year to raise awareness, fund research and provide breast cancer screening and treatment to the citizens of Los Angeles County.
The long-anticipated release of The Distance on Taylor’s own label, Modern Whomp Records, hit the streets on March 10th. On March 18th at Roxy’s on the renowned Sunset Strip, the stage was set for the first performance of all the new music from The Distance done Taylor’s way—live on stage! It was a night to remember for West Coasters and visitors from everywhere! The Soul Patrol was there from many Western states and as far away as Tennessee.
As if the warm Western sun were fermenting the creative juices, the phone in the cone was born. Taylor became a "tweeter" at twitter.com/TaylorRHicks and pretty good at standup zingers from the cone, such as the latest one liner from a few hours ago: “The Cone Ranger rides again.”
Why make a video about the wrong side of Mississippi in Mississippi? Why not make it in California when you are Taylor Hicks and Spence Nicholson? So, Seven Mile Breakdown, the video, was shot in Ojai, California, with Taylor performing for the first time (I think) on a grassy hillside. It debuted on AOL Music’s Popeater.com on April 27th. It took West Coast fun to a new high. And the video has well over 84,000 views on muvids.com!
The real high in the West had to be when Taylor returned to the American Idol stage to perform his newly released country rock single, “Seven Mile Breakdown” just over a week ago. He brought down the house, brought Simon to his feet, and brought tears to the fans who remembered why they had started this journey.
Looking back, it was a pretty darn good West Coast run! A new album, over 100 performances in “Grease,” four Shadow Tours, a cone phone, a video, the National Anthem on Opening Day at the ballpark, more media appearances than anyone can count, and an Idol appearance that redefined Taylor Hicks, American Idol—not bad for a harmonica player from “back there.” Dare I say, he best return more often? Okay, that’s just wishful thinking.
Thank you, Taylor, for giving the Left Side great memories! You did okay out here! We will miss you, but we’re packing our bags.
It’ll just be a little longer flight next time… and a little more humid!
Safe travels to you and the Grease cast as you continue on tour. And come west again…soon!
~~
Important note: If you are reading this from the West Coast and you haven’t seen Taylor Hicks in "Grease" or in his own Shadow Tour concerts, don’t miss this opportunity to see an amazing performer. Blogcritic Another Chad recently called Taylor the greatest talent to come out of American Idol. Grab a ticket for Seattle and enjoy some West Coast fun!
Screencap by san from AI/FOX capture by Gypsee. Please do not repost.
Taylor makes his last Shadow Tour appearance on the West Coast at Seattle’s Triple Door on May 27th and "Grease’s " run in Seattle ends May 30th. Then “Grease” packs the lockers, the cone, and a lot of memories and makes the long haul back to the Midwest for its opening in Appleton, Wisconsin, on June 2.
For West Coasters, it is a sad realization that Taylor’s not a short flight or a day’s drive away. But our memories are vivid and sweet.
In late February, a warm and sunny Tucson welcomed Taylor and the “Grease” cast from the cold wintry climes of the Midwest. “What’s Right is Right” was out, and Taylor brought out his “Arizona shoes”—snakeskin boots to honor the appreciative Southwestern fans that packed Music Hall. Tucson was his second visit to Arizona. He brought his Modern Whomp Solo Tour to Tempe in 2007.
The first West Cost Shadow Tour performance was in San Diego. One of the songs he did was “Nineteen,” the emotional story of a war hero, from his album, The Distance. It was well received by the many Navy men and women attending the Belly Up show. Taylor dedicated it to our troops, a tradition he began with “Do I Make You Proud.”
In the glitzy LA/West Hollywood circles, Taylor rocked with the beautiful people as “Grease” played at the historic Pantages Theatre just down the street from the Kodak Theatre where he won the American Idol title in 2006. It had to bring back memories.
In March, Taylor joined in a day of purpose at the Los Angeles County Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, in its 13th year to raise awareness, fund research and provide breast cancer screening and treatment to the citizens of Los Angeles County.
The long-anticipated release of The Distance on Taylor’s own label, Modern Whomp Records, hit the streets on March 10th. On March 18th at Roxy’s on the renowned Sunset Strip, the stage was set for the first performance of all the new music from The Distance done Taylor’s way—live on stage! It was a night to remember for West Coasters and visitors from everywhere! The Soul Patrol was there from many Western states and as far away as Tennessee.
As if the warm Western sun were fermenting the creative juices, the phone in the cone was born. Taylor became a "tweeter" at twitter.com/TaylorRHicks and pretty good at standup zingers from the cone, such as the latest one liner from a few hours ago: “The Cone Ranger rides again.”
Why make a video about the wrong side of Mississippi in Mississippi? Why not make it in California when you are Taylor Hicks and Spence Nicholson? So, Seven Mile Breakdown, the video, was shot in Ojai, California, with Taylor performing for the first time (I think) on a grassy hillside. It debuted on AOL Music’s Popeater.com on April 27th. It took West Coast fun to a new high. And the video has well over 84,000 views on muvids.com!
The real high in the West had to be when Taylor returned to the American Idol stage to perform his newly released country rock single, “Seven Mile Breakdown” just over a week ago. He brought down the house, brought Simon to his feet, and brought tears to the fans who remembered why they had started this journey.
Looking back, it was a pretty darn good West Coast run! A new album, over 100 performances in “Grease,” four Shadow Tours, a cone phone, a video, the National Anthem on Opening Day at the ballpark, more media appearances than anyone can count, and an Idol appearance that redefined Taylor Hicks, American Idol—not bad for a harmonica player from “back there.” Dare I say, he best return more often? Okay, that’s just wishful thinking.
Thank you, Taylor, for giving the Left Side great memories! You did okay out here! We will miss you, but we’re packing our bags.
It’ll just be a little longer flight next time… and a little more humid!
Safe travels to you and the Grease cast as you continue on tour. And come west again…soon!
~~
Important note: If you are reading this from the West Coast and you haven’t seen Taylor Hicks in "Grease" or in his own Shadow Tour concerts, don’t miss this opportunity to see an amazing performer. Blogcritic Another Chad recently called Taylor the greatest talent to come out of American Idol. Grab a ticket for Seattle and enjoy some West Coast fun!
Screencap by san from AI/FOX capture by Gypsee. Please do not repost.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Taylor Hicks~~and a guitar in a 'vette...
Does a guitar fit in a Corvette?
Taylor Hicks cruising a hillside in California and singing “Seven Mile Breakdown” didn’t look like he’d ever been down on the wrong side of Mississippi.
We can’t go on without a second, and closer, look at “Seven Mile Breakdown” by Taylor Hicks and Spence Nicholson.
First, I had to do the research.
I don’t mean research Ojai where the video was shot. (I’ve been there, and it is surrounded by some of the most beautiful country in the world, in my opinion. And the Mississippi delta country is beautiful and intriguing even when it shakes its finger at you.)
I don’t mean research the history and mystique of the Corvette with the fuzzy dashboard cover. (I had a date in one of those once without the fuzzy dashboard. It was also red and white, and I did get the call back, but I passed on that one, even the car. I’m not that into cars, anyway.)
And I don’t mean research the flora and fauna of the fields through which the three young pretties ran. (Someone told me it was wheat, and I said that I didn’t think they grew wheat in Ojai, but I hadn’t been there for a long time. I said I thought it was dry grass, but I’m also not into grass.)
What I really needed to research were those close-ups of Taylor with crows feet and lip sincing his own music. (Is it wrong if you lip sinc your own music?
So, for my research, I had to watch the video over and over. (I know…it’s rough, but someone is smart enough to do it.)
Did you know that crow’s feet could be so delightfully charming and expressive! The side view…just like I was riding in the passenger’s (dreamer’s) seat, was enchanting! When he has the kind of crow’s feet that the rest of us have, he won’t suffer.
The same someone who said the girls were running through wheat, said the views of Taylor in the rearview mirror were the best in the video. (She also said she was watching this through her rear view mirror. Dreamer!) They were great shots—a Taylor singing along with “how do you like me now” attitude!
The pretty young thing who wakes up like we wish we did, (but never did), has The Distance on her bureau, a green rubber ducky, makes lemonade the old-fashioned way, and gets mail from a real mailbox. (And will never have crow’s feet.)
Was that Destiny driving by the mailbox? This “head turning glance going by” is the reason for making convertibles. That didn’t take much research. (And this is my favorite shot in the video. Taylor really should watch the road, though. Maybe he’s gotten too used to having drivers.)
More fun things I saw in my extensive research:
Taylor got to drive! Didn’t he say he wanted to? (There’s something about a man and his Corvette.)
There’s a new “glory note,” or “one to watch for note”: “lose” my mind. Can someone tell me what that is called with the voice? (Whatever it is, it’s fun and puts the country in country rock.)
Seismic energy can come from a country rock singer and his guitar. (There’s something about a man and his guitar. But he’s got too many. The harmonicas would fit in the ‘vette.)
Singing in a field brings out the country in all of us. (The same wheat, rear view mirror Dreamer said there’s nothing more country than singing in a field. Okay…she was right this time.)
So, I won’t regret that I once decided to pass on a car like that.
Just look where I am now…looking at a car like that cruising the California hills driven by a blue-eyed, soulful country rock star! (I know his eyes are brown. I researched that too.)
Sometimes you just know you made the right decision!
But I still have a lot of research to do…
Thanks to Cath for some of the inspiration for this piece. Thanks to Taylor Hicks and Spence Nicholson for the rest of the inspiration!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
"Seven Mile Breakdown" spins on country radio!
Taylor Hicks sends his country rock hit, "Seven Mile Breakdown," from his album, The Distance, to radio today!
“The sun is sinkin’ down on the delta
Seven Miles is the only sign that lights our way
I hope someone is there to care about me
I’m gonna tear this old place down
And I’ll be on my way.”
The rowdy, bluesy country rock sound was written by Taylor and friend and former band mate, Wynn Christian. Backup includes some fine slide guitar work by Doyle Bramhall II. "Seven Mile Breakdown” is the second single released by Taylor from The Distance, out now on his own record label, Modern Whomp Records. "What's Right is Right" was released in January.
The gritty delta country tune plays out on video Wednesday on AOL.
Tune in for country rock with Taylor Hicks!
Get “Seven Mile Breakdown” on The Distance at music retailers Target, Walmart, Bestbuy, Amazon and iTunes.
“The sun is sinkin’ down on the delta
Seven Miles is the only sign that lights our way
I hope someone is there to care about me
I’m gonna tear this old place down
And I’ll be on my way.”
The rowdy, bluesy country rock sound was written by Taylor and friend and former band mate, Wynn Christian. Backup includes some fine slide guitar work by Doyle Bramhall II. "Seven Mile Breakdown” is the second single released by Taylor from The Distance, out now on his own record label, Modern Whomp Records. "What's Right is Right" was released in January.
The gritty delta country tune plays out on video Wednesday on AOL.
Tune in for country rock with Taylor Hicks!
Get “Seven Mile Breakdown” on The Distance at music retailers Target, Walmart, Bestbuy, Amazon and iTunes.
Graphic by san from capture by Gypsee~American Idol_FOX. Please do not repost.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Taylor Hicks...can do country!
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On my nervous meter it was the same as singing the National Anthem ten times without stopping. American Idol is the biggest show in the world! And the world’s toughest critic would be sitting front row center.
Taylor Hicks was coming “back home” to American Idol to perform “Seven Mile Breakdown,” his new single release going to radio play in the country genre on May 5th.
During a surprisingly quiet introduction, Taylor and guitar swaggered in from the shadows. Then he hit the spotlight singing and nothing was quiet after that! One reviewer called it “American music,” and it was as American as the fiddler who played along at side stage conjuring up images of deals with the devil. On the slide guitar was Jay Leach adding to the ambiance wearing classic black and cool white.
Taylor did the country look with impeccable style! In some circles, it might have been a gingerly step into country garb, but it worked. The chic black vest and black shirt, dark jeans and boots said designer inspired—the new man in black and very cool! The look suggested a country boy who had seen the city!
Forget that this was LA or the stage of pop culture’s icon! This was a party seven miles from anywhere! Seven Mile Breakdown is fun! Taylor Hicks was having the most fun! His smile was volcanic from somewhere deep inside that lit up the stage brighter than the hot lights that made his eyes sparkle! Was it smiles from the soul because he was back here where it had all begun? And he knew that he was on top of his game!
It was ironic that Taylor Hicks would rock the Idol stage with country music. In Season Five’s competition, country theme night was not Taylor’s best performance by his own admission. Now, here he was flaunting it, working it, and making it his own! Was there a desire to say, “Hey, I can do country!” If so, he sure proved it! He can do country!
But this was not your mother’s country! It was Taylor’s in your face country rock…with a daredevil attitude of “It’ll be how I sing it!” In other words, he “taylorized” it!
The end was sweet. Taylor turned around with an engaging nod to the drummer ending with a final, frenzied flourish. Then Taylor Hicks turned back to face the wildly cheering audience on its feet at the biggest show in the world.
And the toughest critic in the world was standing, applauding, and smiling… front row center!
Note: I couldn’t quell the idea that Taylor’s performance on American Idol deserved one more blog! Now, I will try to move on. Taylor’s performance on American Idol Wednesday night will be added to my “When Life’s Not Boring” list! This one is near the top.
Moving on…
“Seven Mile Breakdown” goes to the country airwaves on Tuesday.
Stay tuned…here and to your favorite country stations. If you don’t have one, saunter on over and make friends!
Taylor Hicks was coming “back home” to American Idol to perform “Seven Mile Breakdown,” his new single release going to radio play in the country genre on May 5th.
During a surprisingly quiet introduction, Taylor and guitar swaggered in from the shadows. Then he hit the spotlight singing and nothing was quiet after that! One reviewer called it “American music,” and it was as American as the fiddler who played along at side stage conjuring up images of deals with the devil. On the slide guitar was Jay Leach adding to the ambiance wearing classic black and cool white.
Taylor did the country look with impeccable style! In some circles, it might have been a gingerly step into country garb, but it worked. The chic black vest and black shirt, dark jeans and boots said designer inspired—the new man in black and very cool! The look suggested a country boy who had seen the city!
Forget that this was LA or the stage of pop culture’s icon! This was a party seven miles from anywhere! Seven Mile Breakdown is fun! Taylor Hicks was having the most fun! His smile was volcanic from somewhere deep inside that lit up the stage brighter than the hot lights that made his eyes sparkle! Was it smiles from the soul because he was back here where it had all begun? And he knew that he was on top of his game!
It was ironic that Taylor Hicks would rock the Idol stage with country music. In Season Five’s competition, country theme night was not Taylor’s best performance by his own admission. Now, here he was flaunting it, working it, and making it his own! Was there a desire to say, “Hey, I can do country!” If so, he sure proved it! He can do country!
But this was not your mother’s country! It was Taylor’s in your face country rock…with a daredevil attitude of “It’ll be how I sing it!” In other words, he “taylorized” it!
The end was sweet. Taylor turned around with an engaging nod to the drummer ending with a final, frenzied flourish. Then Taylor Hicks turned back to face the wildly cheering audience on its feet at the biggest show in the world.
And the toughest critic in the world was standing, applauding, and smiling… front row center!
Note: I couldn’t quell the idea that Taylor’s performance on American Idol deserved one more blog! Now, I will try to move on. Taylor’s performance on American Idol Wednesday night will be added to my “When Life’s Not Boring” list! This one is near the top.
Moving on…
“Seven Mile Breakdown” goes to the country airwaves on Tuesday.
Stay tuned…here and to your favorite country stations. If you don’t have one, saunter on over and make friends!
Thanks to Gypsee for AI capture...screencap by san.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Taylor Hicks owns the Idol stage...with miles of attitude!
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Taylor Hicks belted out a whole bunch of attitude...with a grin!
He held nothing back! “Seven Mile Breakdown” rocked the Idol stage tonight and Taylor Hicks, in chic-country black, smiled, growled and hit every note like no one was listening. It was pure joy in performing.
He held nothing back! “Seven Mile Breakdown” rocked the Idol stage tonight and Taylor Hicks, in chic-country black, smiled, growled and hit every note like no one was listening. It was pure joy in performing.
It was an absolutely stunning performance by Taylor Hicks!
Taylor to the world: "What'd you expect?"
Thanks to Gypsee for the screencap from tonight's Idol performance.
Taylor Hicks~~tonight on American Idol..."What'd you expect?"
The harmonica was Taylor’s first instrument—the first one purchased at an outdoor sale for $2 when he was fifteen. He later disclosed in his autobiography that it was his wisest $2 purchase although the girls were not impressed with a harmonica-wielding teenager.
Taylor Hicks and his screaming harmonica has become a signature. On the stage, it can take him to his knees. He is very good. He even took it to Broadway!
When he appeared on a radio show last week in Portland, he wielded the harmonica, not to a familiar tune, but to the station’s theme song. It couldn’t have been something that Taylor had practiced or performed many times. In the background, the radio tech listened attentively, then smiled, and then smiled broadly. At the end, grinning from ear to ear, he said, “That was awesome!”
Taylor smiled and joked, “What’d you expect?”
It was just a little bit of good-natured attitude by someone who has paid his dues—traveled the wrong side of Mississippi, performed in empty clubs, sold CDs from his car trunk, and never given up on his dream. He has practiced, performed, and perfected his craft into “awesome” musical artistry.
Taylor Hicks has earned the right to a little attitude! He has the talent to back it up.
Yet, that rare bit of “attitude” is balanced by a remarkable and humble spirit that is reflected when the modest Taylor Hicks says over and over how blessed he is to have had opportunities like American Idol and “Grease” on Broadway.
Taylor returns to American Idol tonight to perform “Seven Mile Breakdown,” the new single release from The Distance, his new album on his own label, Modern Whomp Records.
We wish him the very best…
“Wield that harmonica tonight, Taylor!
And giv’em a little attitude!
You’ve got it coming!”
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Taylor Hicks on American Idol~~I did it my way...
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The Rat Pack meets Delta blues, and the real Taylor Hicks brings it to the American Idol stage this week.
Idol’s theme for the week’s competition is the Rat Pack standards, and I found the Taylor connection when I looked at the leader of this illustrious group, Frank Sinatra. He always said, “I did it my way.”
Taylor Hicks recently told an interviewer, “I’ve remained true to myself, and I’m still in the game!”
“You know you hate being down before you ever love being up.”
Taylor can return to American Idol and love being up! No judges, no voting, and no bottom three. Of course, he never did have to endure the bottom three. On the stage Wednesday night will be the real Taylor Hicks—the Broadway star, platinum recording artist, concert performer, working musician—making a guest appearance with a new single release from his new album and “doing it his way.”
When Taylor competed in Season Five of American Idol in 2006, competitors were not permitted to play instruments. It was a singing competition, and America voted for Taylor Hicks. There was no wailing harmonica, rocking guitar, or amped up road band. Then the many dimensions of Taylor Hicks were seen on other stages. America got a lot more than it voted for!
“I did it my way.”
I’m betting that America would get it right again!
Photo "Taylor at Roxy's" by san_tthc. Please do not repost without permission.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Taylor Hicks~~"Seven Mile Breakdown"...is new single release!
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From the land of swamp rock and delta blues, “Seven Mile Breakdown” claims the raucous side of both and gets ready to roll out as the new single release and music video from Taylor Hicks!And it's coming to American Idol! Taylor returns to the American Idol stage on April 29, to perform “Seven Mile Breakdown,” from his current album, The Distance!
“Seven Mile Breakdown,” goes to video according to an update on twitter.com by the videographer, Spence Nicholson. The Portland film maker, who studied at the prestigious Brooks Institute of Photography and was mentored by the legendary Wayne Isham, will direct the endeavor that promises to be a fun ride! Shooting is scheduled for April 27th.
“Seven Mile Breakdown” was written by Taylor and friend and fellow musician, Wynn Christian. It’s a rowdy song about struggling with the road on the wrong side of Mississippi— Taylor has said that he’s been there. Now, he can look back and love being up!
“You know you hate being down before you ever love being up. Come on Mississippi, don’t point your finger at me. Just put me on your straight and narrow just as far as my eyes can see.”
Taylor talked to hometown reporter, Mary Coloruso, about this track when his album, The Distance, was released:
Seven Mile Breakdown: "Traveling to the west side of Mississippi in a conversion van with no air-conditioning in the middle of summer. That was the inspiration, and I have first-hand experience. Doyle (Bramhall II) plays a great slide guitar part in it."
With swampy rock sounds of sliding steel and relentless rhythms of the road, Seven Miles is a fun musical trip. Taylor’s voice slides, bends and growls with the mossy blues sounds of a Mississippi road house. It is a band and vocal party with each getting wrapped up in the other—a concert favorite from the first performance.
Images from “Seven Mile” flood the mind. This is a land where, in many ways, time stands still. People still live along side the two lane. There is an exquisite musical journey through this country called “Deep Blues,” a movie project that captured the music of these people who still gather on the porch and in ancient road houses to play timeless blues songs. This could be the home of Taylor’s “modern whomp.”
“The sun is sinking down on the delta. Seven Miles is the only sign that lights our way. I hope someone is there to care about me. I’m gonna tear this old place down, and I’ll be on my way.”
This is a good-natured song for the hardscrabble life in all of us, and it may just look and feel like a trip “back home.”
“Seven Mile Breakdown” will be as much anticipated as the first beautiful video, “What’s Right is Right,” from a snowy Chicago. But it may be more than just miles away from the cold, dark streets of the city.
Will he go from city chic to delta down? That’s the many sides of Taylor Hicks!
Get ready for the down and gritty Taylor Hicks!
Photo by san~"Taylor at Roxy's." Please do not repost.
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