Inspired By Soul

What is soul?
It's like electricity - we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room.
~Ray Charles~






"The music that's in my heart - soul music - is the music of healing.

Music that speaks powerfully to life's pain and somehow makes you feel better all at the same time

Music has given me almost everything that's good in my life.
Mother music I call it."
~Taylor Hicks~

It was Otis Redding who first opened the doors for Taylor Hicks to the world of soul music.

Taylor was just 9 years old when he began singing along to Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" from "The Best Of Otis Redding' album.

Hearing Otis Redding sing stirred deep emotions for Taylor, the music didn't just touch his soul, he thought that perhaps it had awakened it for the first time.

It was to be twenty years later that the world finally heard Taylor Hicks perform "Try A Little Tenderness" at the Kodiak Theater on May 16th, 2006.

It was a triumphant night for Taylor with 3 perfectly executed deliveries of "Dancing In The Dark, "You Are So Beautiful" and
"Try A Little Tenderness".

Amid thunderous applause and standing ovations, these two comments still continue to stick in my craw almost 2 years later!

Paula Abdul's comment "I waited all season for you to perform this song" ... um hello ... we all know that Taylor wasn't allowed to sing "Try A Little Tenderness" when he originally chose it for Week 7 - Greatest Love Songs Of All Times.

(In a radio interview, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe even admitted Taylor had to change his song choice from Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness", saying it didn't fit the week's genre)

Then there's Simon Cowel's comment "A hideous ending", he just couldn't say great performance and be done with it.
Had Simon never listened or watched Otis's version of "Try A Little Tenderness"?

In 'Heart Full Of Soul', Taylor tells us that as it turned out, he was glad the producers had made him wait for a truly dramatic moment to sing "Try A Little Tenderness" and that yes, to him it was still one classic love song.

"Try A Little Tenderness" is a standard that has been recorded by many artists, including crooners Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Bing Crosby and Michael Buble.

It was Otis Redding though who did a very soulful version that was a completely different take on the song featuring a slow soulful opening that eventually builds into a frenetic R&B conclusion.



I thought this comment at You Tube interesting
"This is by far Otis's best version of this song.
A performer who was better live and in person than restrained by a studio, Otis' music will live on."

Redding did not want to record "Try A Little Tenderness", but Stax Records executives and his friends wore him down with a constant barrage of requests.

When he finally recorded it, he did it in a way that he was "sure" that it would not be released.
The ploy didn't work.
Redding's version of "Try a Little Tenderness" became his signature song, and the biggest selling of his records released before his death.


Sam Cooke's version of "Try A Little Tenderness" was a big influence on Redding.
It was never released as a single but was one of the high points of his live
"Sam Cooke at the Copa" LP (1964), as part of a medley that started with "Tenderness" (followed by "Sentimental Reasons" and "You Send Me").

Redding idolized the man, particularly after Cooke's death, but he did not want to record "Tenderness".
He caved in after tremendous pressure from his friends and (according to one source) a family member - he didn't want to record it LIKE Cooke (in fact, he considered his version a "joke" to quiet the people who wanted him to record it).
The rest is history.

The Soul Of A Man

"Soul Thing" is my story.

"Music is maybe our highest form of communication -
it permits the telling of stories and sharing of them
with anyone who might want to hear them or even
need to hear them.

"Soul Thing" hits home for me because it's so much
about who I am and what I do."
~Taylor Hicks~

The story of Taylor Hicks' personal anthem, "Soul Thing", is beautifully interpreted in this video tribute which was done by KarinP.
Thank you Karin!



"I'm proud that my name has become so closely
associated with the word soul.
The moniker used to describe people who dig
what I do, the Soul Patrol, seemed to just
take on a life of it's own.
I love that my supporters wound up naming
themselves and did such a fine job."
~Taylor Hicks~



~The Soul Of A Man~
What a gift from Heaven, to bring forth such emotion.
I wonder if he ever knew, he would cause this fan-comotion!?

He stands so true, to himself, in the music that he sings.
I hope that he has realized, the joy, his person brings.

Kind and caring and gentle, are the impressions that he gives.
It's in his music, in his soul, it's in the way he lives.

He's not just, another 'star', but a new one, in his own right.
And high above the musical world, he is shining so very bright.

To love so much, so deeply, what it is, you so well do,
Is testament to strong dedication, and to staying to roots, so true.

He's full of a deep-set passion, which he feels so deep inside.
He's not afraid to show the world, his kindhearted, softer side.

And he's not afraid to just let go, just have a real good time.
He lets himself be taken away, in his musical, movement rhymes.

It all adds to his character, to the personna he projects.
All he is and all he does, so emotionally effects.

Its amazing to have such a talent, which brings so many to tears.
Though he is still younger, he is wise, beyond his years.

He's given us such a gift, which we cannot fully repay.
But we can, support him, in our own, special way.

What a testament of a person, who gives back all he can.
What a joy to be able to know,
This awesome soul of a man!
© Cathy Faist (used with permission) Thank you!
Taylor Hicks My Idol Scrapbook Tribute



From The Montgomery Advisor
Alabama's own American Idol 2006, Taylor Hicks
never expected to see "Soul Patrol" signs when
his plane landed in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"It's amazing the responses I had in Asia,"
said the Birmingham native, who's as famous
for his head of salt and pepper hair as he is
for his soulful singing and harmonica playing.
"I'm blessed to have such a dedicated group of fans."

These days, he's living on the road.
"There are four pieces of luggage that I carry with me at all times, and I call that my apartment," he said.
"I'm letting the music carry me where it needs to go."

He's also doing a lot of writing and making plans for his next project, for which he will have more creative control.
That pleases him a lot.

"It's thrilling to be part of the
Alabama Music Hall of Fame", he said.
On Friday, Taylor Hicks received the 2008 America's Music Award.
"It was thrilling to just be in the same room with all the legends of music.
I'd buy a ticket just to go," he said.



From The Montgomery Advisor, a snippet of Taylor Hicks'
performance of "Soul Thing" from the Awards Banquet.



Where the city street meets the country road,
where the sun is nice and warm,
no matter how long I may roam,
this song still takes us home.

Takes us home!



Sweet Home Alabama, congratulations to our Soul Man!

Matters Of The Heart And Soul

February 20th began the start of International Friendship Week,
but it was Taylor Hicks who began the connection of many new beautiful friendships made and felt in our hearts and in our souls.

As we continue to celebrate the month of Love here at the 'Pond', once again I feel the need to say thank you Taylor Hicks, you have blessed our lives with more than you will ever know!



Tomorrow night, Friday, February 22, 2008, Taylor will be inducted into the Alabama Hall Of Fame and receive
the America's Music Award!
Congratulations Taylor Hicks!!
We Are Blooming Proud of you!!!

From The Soul Of One ~ To The Hearts Of Many

Taylor Hicks
"Heart & Soul"
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME

video credit: iamvicarious
(Thank You!)



Garden In My Heart
I've a special sort of garden,
In a spot down in my heart;
Many things I've planted there
And many more to start.

Every day I make it larger,
Adding row by row:
And like every other garden,
There are weeds that I must hoe.

Sometimes to see it's beauty
Is a job that's downright hard;
But I'm not about to trade it
For the real one in my yard.

I can't show you this garden,
You can't wander through the rows;
You can't gaze upon the flowers
That are tonic to my woes.

I hope you have a garden
Like the one that I hold dear;
It can make the day seem brighter
And quiet many a fear.

It can help you be more friendly
Make you want to do your part,
Just to have a special garden
In a spot down in your heart.

Friends are precious flowers
In the garden of the heart
Growing through the seasons
And becoming more a part
Of our dearest memories
That are treasured for always
Blooming like rainbows
To brighten up our days.
Bloom

Baby It's Worth It!

"A very pretty ballad that nearly didn't make the album."
~ Taylor Hicks ~

It's confession time, and I'm borrowing another quote from Taylor.

"I'm a firm believer in telling the truth, even when the truth hurts".

The truth is that of the 12 tracks from 'Taylor Hicks',
"Just To Feel That Way" ORIGINALLY placed last in my list of favorites.

I couldn't understand why the majority of the SP thought that it should be released as his first single, until I learned the words and began singing along.

I wanted to be prepared to sing it all the way from Michigan to Jacksonville for his first concert appearance at the renowned Florida Theater.
Not only did I learn the words, by the time our plane landed at JAX, "Just To Feel That Way" had soared to being one of my top favorites!

We are coming up on the anniversary of Taylor's first concert, and I have so many wonderful memories of the camaraderie we all experienced in Jacksonville.
One of those special memories is of walking along arm in arm with new friends, singing "Just To Feel That Way" at the top of our lungs!

I remember the thrill of hearing "JTFTW" on my local radio station the first time, the endless requests for more airplay, the excitement of watching it's rise up the charts.

The excitement of the following PR release when it hit the wires:

American Idol Champ Taylor Hicks' Self Titled Debut Album
is Certified Platinum by the RIAA!
The first single, 'Just To Feel That Way,' goes to radio this week!

PRNewswire/ -- American Idol's current reigning
champion Taylor Hicks is now a platinum recording artist.
His self-titled debut album 'TAYLOR HICKS' (Arista Records/19 Recordings) was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America selling over one million copies since its release on December 12, 2006.

Hicks has reached this coveted platinum milestone prior to the release
of an official single.
The first single, "Just To Feel That Way," goes to radio this week.

After a lifetime steeped in blues, soul, pop and R&B, Taylor's artistry
was reaffirmed and validated in no uncertain terms this past year, when he
won the fifth season of FOX's American Idol on May 24, 2006.
SOURCE: Arista Records

Unfortunately, this was about it for Arista/J Records' support and promotion for Taylor's first single.

Surprising??? Very!!!

Especially when we later learned that it was Clive Davis who had chosen JTFTW to be Taylor's first single from the CD.

Well I won't get into the whole Clive Davis, J Records debacle, that chapter is thankfully closed, and you can find a great synopsis at Taylorography titled 'The Truth Served Here'.

Instead I want to invite you to a celebration!


Yep, there's a party going on right here, and it's to celebrate Karin's video tribute becoming the #1 viewed "Just To Feel That Way" video at You Tube!!

Woo hoo Karin!!


The passionate lyrics of "Just To Feel That Way" are beautifully portrayed by Karin's selection of images and clips in the video below:



Karin, thank you for your beautiful tribute, and Allyn thank you for giving me permission to use your wonderful artwork!

I hope you have enjoyed revisiting this blast from the past ... 'cause

"Baby It's Worth It"!

Living By The Rules

This is the Creed we live by here at the 'Pond', why we serve only Karma Coffee and sweet tea!

Both this blogspot and it's connected scrapbook are tributes to the respect and admiration we have for Taylor Hicks.

Not only as an artist, but for the innate goodness of his heart, his humbleness, and his integrity.

Everything that is done here is a reflection of those attributes.

My blogs are always inspired by Taylor Hicks, but today's blog is additionally inspired by two good friends' comments posted in recent blogs.

Sometimes I may sound like a broken record, constantly repeating the same message, but what it all boils down to is one simple word ... kindness.

Today's Cup of Karma:
Always put yourself in others' shoes.
If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.


"Call me naive, but I believe that good things happen to good people who do good things.
And I also believe bad things happen to bad people who do bad things.
Eventually, karma will kick in, and payback can either be a blessing or a bitch." ~ Taylor Hicks ~


A Japanese Folktale of Prudence



In a Japanese temple, an image of a meditating Buddha is seated on a lotus blossom.
In front of him are three little monkeys, one with its hands over its eyes, another over its ears, and the third covering its mouth.

What do these three monkeys signify?
By it's gesture the first one says: " I do not see evil and folly."

The second one says: "I do not hear them."

The third: "I do not speak them."

In the same way, the wise man is prudent in what he looks at, in what he listens to, and in what he says.

He considers the consequences, thinks of the morrow, and if he does not know his way, he asks.



The Golden Rules Of Living
If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it up.
If you break it, admit it.
If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you value it, take care of it.
If you make a mess clean it up.
If it belongs to someone else and you want to use, get permission.
If it's none of your business, don't ask questions.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If it will brighten someone's day, say it.
If it will tarnish someone's reputation, keep it to yourself.




"Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You."

This one little sentence is so very powerful and it is a wonderful source of inspiration.

Some version of what we know as the 'Golden Rule' exists in nearly every religion and is considered the best guideline for human behavior there could ever be.

"To me, there's no question that there's a higher power.
Having faith in yourself - and in something bigger than yourself - can be crucial.
Faith and spirituality are an essetial part of who we are.
I firmly believe that the more spiritually correct you can be, the better off you'll be.
Faith creates opportunity, and it creates the strength to keep going while you wait for that opportunity."
~ Taylor Hicks ~



THE GOLDEN RULES

Aboriginal Spirituality
We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive.
- Chief Dan George

Baha'i Faith
Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.
- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings

Buddhism
Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.
- The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Christianity
In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
- Jesus, Matthew 7:12

Confucianism
One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct. . .loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.
- Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism
This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.
- Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam
Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.
- The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism
One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.
- Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.
- Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Sikhism
I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me.
Indeed, I am a friend to all.
- Guru Granth Sahib, pg. 1299

Taoism
Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.
- T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Unitarianism
We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.
- Unitarian principle

Zoroastrianism
Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.
- Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29





The value of our lives is best measured not by the worldly possessions we've acquired, but rather by the wisdom we share, the hope we inspire, the tears we wipe, and the hearts we touch.



The happiness and lasting contentment we get in our lives is not to be found in what we have, but rather in what we are.



There is much pleasure to be found in the power of kindness, and it is one of the most difficult things to give away because it is almost always returned to us.



When we bring sunshine into the lives of others, we're warmed by it ourselves.



When we spill a little happiness, it splashes on us.



We are nourished when we make the lives of others more enjoyable by something as simple as a smile and a wave, a helpful gesture, an offer of assistance, offering a thank you or an excuse me, or other such simple courtesies.



If every day, we take some time to do even little things, then each new day can be the very best we'll ever live.



Bloom

Where Would You Be Right Now?

Without love, where would you be right now?

Since we are celebrating the month of
Love
and today is Valentine's Day,
I thought this an appropropriate video for today's blog,
and a good question to ponder.

From Taylor Hicks' Philadelphia, MS Concert
"Long Train Running" (Without Love)
originally by the Doobie Brothers



We have so many treasured videos from Taylor's concerts,
unfortunately I can't thank the person responsible for capturing this video, I hope someone can correct that error for me :-)
In the meantime thank you!


And a Happy Valentine's Day to ALL!

TREASURES

Valentine treasures are people who
have often crossed your mind,
family, friends and others, too,
who in your life have shined.

The warmth of love or a spark of light
that makes you remember them;
no matter how long since you’ve actually met,
each one is a luminous gem
that gleams and glows in your memory,
bringing special pleasures!

Heart(s) in The Right Place

Another's heart is a rare and fragile gift, hold it gently.

The heartbreaking and courageous story of Kacy Hardenbrook and Jordan Edsall was brought to the attention of the Taylor Hicks' fan communities when Taylor Hicks was named by this special couple as their favorite performer.

Kacy and Jordan had been chosen as this year's (2008) couple to have their Dream Wedding on 'Live With Regis and Kelly', and as their story continued to unfold and the details of their special wedding were revealed, we learned that Taylor had graciously consented to appear and sing their favorite song "The Right Place".

As you will hear in the video below, Taylor said it was an honor to be there for their special day and an honor to sing for them.
This is the tenderest rendition of "The Right Place" I have ever heard, and portrays beautifully the meaning of hearts in the right place.


video presentation and capture by KarinP
(Thank You again Karin!)

More ... Giving Heart(s) In The Right Place
The Kacy Hardenbrook Fund account has been established by the People's Federal Savings Bank in Auburn, Indiana to assist the family in their recovery from the serious injuries sustained in a house explosion on August 20, 2007.

If you would like to contribute to the Kacy Hardenbrook fund please click here to print this form and submit your contribution

Please include: Name, Address, Phone Number, Amount, Date, Check Number with your contribution.

Please make your check payable to Peoples Federal Savings Bank and mail to:
Peoples Federal Savings Bank
Attn: Hardenbrook PO Box 231 Auburn, IN 46706-0231

Shriners Hospitals

Kacy and her family continue to receive amazing care from the wonderful doctors, nurses and support staff at Shriner's hospital in Ohio.
This is an incredible healthcare organization doing invaluable service across the country.



Click here if you would like to contribute to the Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that provide specialized care for orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate.

All services are provided at no charge.
Eligibility for care is not based on financial need or relationship to a Shriner.
If you know of a child Shriners Hospitals might be able to help, please call our toll-free patient referral line:
In the U.S.: 1-800-237-5055.
In Canada: 1-800-361-7256.

God Bless all of the giving hearts who each and every day help to make a difference!

A wedding is a joyous occasion, and Jordan and Kacy's reception was a 'lively' affair, the video below will leave a smile in your heart!

From 'Live With Regis and Kelly' Taylor Hicks and Kelly Ripa are "Takin' It To The Streets" during Kacy and Jordan Edsall's wedding reception held at The Tavern on the Green.




May your Heart always be in "The Right Place"! Bloom

Let The Sun Shine In

It was The Age of Aquarius and "Let The Sunshine In" by
The Fifth Dimension held the number one position on the
U. S. Billboard charts for six weeks in 1969.

This song was based on the astrological belief that the world would be entering a new age of love, light and humanity.



"Let The Sunshine In" is the title of today's blog, 'cause I am thrilled to tell you that there was sunshine actually streaming in my window today!!

In my section of the country we haven't seen the the Sun in what seems like forever, and I would imagine that those that suffer from (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder, are going bonkers.

There are many songs that have been written about sunshine and the Sun, some happy and some sad, but the two that I want to share with you today are superb acoustical performances done by Taylor Hicks.

Just like the Sun, Taylor shines both vocally and instrumentally, I call it soulshine!

"Ain't No Sunshine" (originally written and sung by Bill Withers - 1971) and "Here Comes The Sun" (originally written and sung by George Harrison - 1969)


"Ain't No Sunshine"
video montage: by nemoesll
(Thank You!)


"Here Comes The Sun"
video capture by: Erin (elaine1154)
(Thank You!)

About "Here Comes The Sun"
With the dissolution of The Beatles in the works, they were required to spend day after day in meetings at Apple Headquarters.
When the meetings ended for the day, George was relieved to be finished, and glad to be outside, in the sun.
Having gone one day to visit his friend, Eric Clapton, while walking around his garden, basking in the sun, this song came to him, and through it, renewed optimism.

Sunshine is good medicine ...



Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Joy To The World

A.K.A "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog"
I thought this song would be a cute animated Valentine's video, as "Joy To The World" first swept the charts in the month of February!

The year was 1971, and Three Dog Night's nonsensical #1 single went on to spend 6 weeks at the top of the pop charts!

Thirty-seven years later this song is still a crowd pleaser!

Here's a little Valentine present from me to Taylor Hicks and his Soul Patrol!



"Joy to the World" - (Hoyt Axton song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Joy to the World" is a song written by Hoyt Axton, and made famous by the band Three Dog Night.

The song is also popularly known by its incipit, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog".

The words are nonsensical.
Axton wanted to convince his record producers to record a new melody he had written and the producers asked him to sing any words to the tune.

Three Dog Night's version went to number one on the pop music charts in February 1971 and was the top single of the year in Billboard Magazine for 1971[1].

The song was released on the band's album Naturally.

It was also released on their albums Around the World With Three Dog Night (1973), Joy to the World: Their Greatest Hits (1974), The Best of 3 Dog Night (1982), and Celebrate: The Three Dog Night Story, 1965-1975 (1993).

Three Dog Night never really wanted to record the song but they needed one last track for their Naturally album.

The group had been on an overseas tour when that album was released and were greatly surprised to hear that the song they didn't want to record ended up being a big hit.

Joy To The World
Joy To You And Me

Bloom
Happy Valentine's Day from the 'Pond'

Greatest Love Of All

Learning to love yourself, believing in yourself,
Is The Greatest Love Of All
The #1 take away message in Taylor Hicks' story
told in 'Heart Full of Soul', is Believe in Yourself!
The greatest gift you can give to your children is teaching them to love themselves, and allowing them to follow their dreams.

Believe in yourself.
Believe to your soul.
Be confident.

If you believe in yourself, anything that comes your way - good, bad, or really ugly - can't knock you too far off track.
Believing in yourself is the thing - sometimes the only thing - that will carry you through any situation.

It is amazing what you can achieve when you combine belief, hard work, dedication and hustle.
Belief may be the most important, because a show of self-belief causes others to believe in you.
~Taylor Hicks~

I created the following video, as an inspiration to all children, to dream big, believe in their dreams and follow them!
"Greatest Love Of All" ~ Whitney Houston


Some people believe that the most important thing to give a child is the best education money can buy.

An excellent education is important, but we must also set a good example, by sharing with them our sense of values and ethics, and encouraging their curiosity to learn and explore on their own.

What we leave IN our children is more important than what we give TO them.

Once we have given our children a solid foundation and the basic knowledge and tools they need, we need to let go and trust them to create their own lives, make their own mistakes, have their own successes, and follow their own destiny.

We need to let them blossom on their own.

Dare To Be Different

The German philosopher, Rollo May, quoted modern man as saying,
"I'm just a collection of mirrors, reflecting what everyone else expects of me."

Many people allow other's mediocre expectations of them to become their reality.

Don't be afraid to be different!
Take advantage of your difference and make it work for you.
Make your own way!

An excellant example of making your own way would be Taylor Hicks' strategy for playing the American Idol game.

From 'Heart Full Of Soul' by Taylor Hicks
(An inspirational memoir about finding your voice and finding your way)

"From the beginning my main focus was turning my biggest disadvantage into an advantage.
The undeniable truth is that by nearly every standard, I didn't fit in.
I was older, fatter, and I had gray hair.
So I decided the smart thing to do was embrace my oddness for all it was worth ... like they say, vive la difference."



The soulful music that saved Taylor Hicks as a young man, and gave him the dream of making his own music, soulful music ... also allowed him to stand out from the pack.

"Soul music spoke to me, it is the music of healing, music that brings people together, and I believed I had a voice to share.

As embarrassing as it sounds to say, I felt special, as if I were born for one purpose - to sing and entertain people who were going through their own journeys and troubles."

Bingo ... The answer to why 63.4 million votes were cast, and why Taylor Hicks became the new (2006) American Idol.

"To sing to the whole world, you've really got to do it one person at a time.
Singing from your soul isn't about how many notes you can hit, or how long you can hold them.
It's all about intimacy and honesty.
It's about sharing your story in a song."

Taylor Hicks made his differences work for him.
He capitalized on what he called his oddness, and it gave him the opportunity to realize his dreams.
His voice was finally being heard.

Is your voice being heard?



Each of us are originals, we are not meant to be carbon copies of our parents, our siblings or our peers.
It is up to each of us to find our own special abilities and talents and capitalize on them.
Children often learn through mimicing, and too often continue down the same path through life.



I recently found this question posed on a teen forum ...

Do you think too many people copy off others and don't try to go down their own path.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Yes and no, conforming to social norms helps to gel us together as a society and is also often the easiest option, and when given the choice people often take the easiest path open to them.

On the other hand it does encourage stagnation and a lack of thought ... hopefully there will always be a few people willing to think outside the box and shake things up for the rest of us sheep, then we can follow them and conform to a whole new system of norms.

Simply put, there may not be a single one of us who is not in some way guilty of copying others. (If you work a 9-5 job, that's all it takes to prove my point.)

But I guess we could be a bit more original.

Unfortunately society seems to award copiers.

Why else does the #1 selling song in the country sound merely identical to 5 others songs in the top 10?


Why, indeed.



The choice is yours ...
Do you march to a different drummer?
Have you followed your own star?

You Give Me Fever

Boogie Fever!

Taylor Hicks really turned up the heat when he hit the stage at the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, Illinois.

The Soul Man had his audience on it's feet boogieing along, as he delivered at fever pitch, one fantastic number after another.

He had us swooning and thudding when we heard his tag of "Let's Get It On", and "You Send Me" literally knocked me to my seat as it was so unexpected.

Back in November, I featured Taylor's smokin' hot performance of "Run Baby Run" from his Joliet concert in my blog post titled
'How To Carry On'.

Here is what I had to say in a nutshell:
"It was a bitter cold night and raining to boot, but inside the Rialto Square Theater, Taylor was on fire heating up the audience!
Let's just say even the non-smokers wanted a cigarette after this concert!"

"Run Baby Run" was just a taste, a mighty tantalizing taste, of how phenominal an evening this was, and thanks to The Boogie Board we have a full sampling of the heat Taylor Hicks' generated that night captured on their 'Jamming In Joliet' video presentation!



AND
(Darlin' (DidNotExpectThat) this one's for you, so it will be forever embedded in your memory!)


video credit: 1brc (Thank You)

Well now, where's that tall cool drink when you need it lol?
I hoped you have enjoyed revisiting this phenomenal concert ... and my trip today down memory lane.
I know I sure did!!

April really does seem like such a long, long time ago, but not as long ago as if we were to look back to where it all begin ...

On October 7th Taylor Rueben Hicks was born
&
"Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers was a Billboard #1 hit!!





Want to relive your Boogie Fever??
Here's one place, that happens to be in my neck of the woods, where you can put your boogie shoes on!
You can join WOMC's Beau Derek at the Boogie Fever Cafe every Saturday night from 8 p.m. - midnight for their Saturday Night Dance Party!

Boogie Fever Cafe
22901 Woodward Avenue
1 block north of 9 Mile Road
Ferndale, MI

Have you got a special place to boogie the night away in your neck of the woods?
Or are your boogie shoes saved for your next Taylor Hicks concert?


I'm ready!