Taylor Hicks My Idol: Simply The Best

Friday, August 15, 2008

Simply The Best

I am long overdue in officially welcoming KarinP on board as a blog author here at The Pond.

Karin, I really wanted to to do something for your Birthday that was beautiful or at least clever, but as I wasn't clever enough to even realize I missed your birthday, this is the best way I could think of to celebrate your Birthday!

Plus it gave me a perfect opportunity to say thank you for your friendship, thank you for your endless support, and to thank you for all of the wonderful videos you have given us of Taylor.

YOU are "Simply The Best" and I don't know if you remember this or not, but this is a video you made for your friends at The Official Soul Patrol way back in November of 2006.

The "Groove Moment" is on this one!

video: Taylor Hicks Is "Simply The Best"

And so MY Friend are YOU!

Audio: Taylor Hicks self-penned "My Friend" is available on his newly released "Early Works".

10 comments:

KarinP said...: Bloom, thank you for "welcoming" me to The Pond and for the warm birthday wishes.

I will never forget that "Groove" moment. It was one of those "once in a lifetime" glimpses of Taylor and everyone went wild when they saw the original concert video that was posted by a fan. To the best of my knowledge, Taylor never did repeat that "feel that groove" moment.

We have shared many a smile as friends do and I am looking forward to sharing many more with you. Hopefully, some will include future concerts on the much anticipated future Taylor Hicks Tour.

In the meantime, I look forward to continuing to ponder our thoughts together at The Pond as we share a cup of Karma coffee.

It is hard to believe that the video was done in late 2006. My thoughts have not changed though - Taylor Hicks is still "The Best"!

Thanks, Bloom!; August 16, 2008 at 12:05 AM
RagsQueen said...: Nice to see such good friendships shared and acknowledged!

Happy Birthday to you, Karin, as well!; August 16, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Bloom said...: You are welcome my friend, just sorry that they are both so late in coming.

Can you believe that your 'Simply The Best' video is a new find for me?

Hard to believe, but back then (2006) I didn't have access to watching videos and by the time I got a real computer and high speed internet access ... I had a lot of Taylor video viewing to catch up on ... somehow I never found this one.
It is great and I hope more people unearth it, the words in the song are so befitting ... Taylor Hicks IS Simply The BEST!

I've enjoyed sharing all of our virtual cups of Karma coffee as well as our Tim's ... hope we''ll do so again soon!

Thanks Mandy for popping in and wishing Karin a Happy Birthday!

Good friends are one of the greatest gifts we can receive in our life. We have all been blessed with new friends of the heart as we've travelled the internet highways and the highways that took us coast to coast on Taylor's tour.

Sometimes I sit and shake my head in wonder, that one man could have been responsible for having such a temendous impact on so many people and then I just smile!; August 17, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Great video and a very Happy Birthday to you, Karin! Bloom is so right...great friends are a treasure. Taylor has helped many of us form bonds that have truly enriched our lives. Hope you had a very happy birthday and I treasure you and Bloom!; August 17, 2008 at 5:19 PM
DidNotExpectThat said...: OOPS...the anonymous was me!
Tina; August 17, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Anonymous said...: mush, mush......okay let me join in. welcome karinp...and happy belated birthday....how about some tim horton's to celebrate? good stuff.
hey one of these day's the flower girl and I will come back to you town, perhaps with the female child going to see her BF....just not when there is going to be snowstorm, you can keep us abreast of that.
miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;0); August 18, 2008 at 7:45 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Belated Birthday Karin!! Here's hoping that you have a blessed and wonderful year ahead of you!!
It's so great that The Pond has a new blogger, you've done wonderful!!
Thanks so much for the video's also!
Enjoying my cup of karma now!! :); August 19, 2008 at 1:33 PM
KarinP said...: Mandy, thanks for stopping by and for the birthday wishes! I am often amazed at the "friends" in my life whom I have never met YET. Looking forward to meeting you one of these days!

Tina, the birthday was great, thanks! It has been so long since I have seen you and you are definitely one of my "treasures"!

Anonymous - mush, mush, believe it or not, you crossed my mind on Sunday as I was driving down the highway. I saw a car similar to yours with Michigan plates and I wondered if you would be coming up this way with female child to visit the BF. It's been too long and I am really looking forward to sharing a coffee with you and the flower girl before this year is over. Definitely not when there is snow though - it cuts the visit too short! I don't have as many ideas for blogs as the "flower girl" but I will do my best to keep you entertained!

djinkc, it is great to hear from you again! It is a pleasure to share a cup of karma with you too! I am looking forward to the year ahead. I really believe there are going to be some good times ahead for all of us.

Bloom. it continues to amaze me the number of people who have come together because of their mutual admiration for Taylor and his music. He is definitely the "Connector" and if I could have one gift in this world, I think the gift that he has would be one that I would cherish. I really do hope that Taylor realizes that he is responsible for karmic connections that many have experienced.

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."; August 19, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Anonymous said...: well, Ms.Karin,,,,,,,a did not realize you are now a year younger....SORRY GIRLFRIEND.....Now you never looked any better than you do now.....Each and everyday of your life has breathed life into someone else's life(MINE FOR ONE)....Now as soon as this darn(M)hurricane does what a man usually does (HUFFS AND PUFFS AND THEN GOES AND TAKES ANAP)I will make sure that I take the time to celebrate the great gift of your life that GOD has shared with me....LOVE HUGS AND KISSES ALWAYS MY ANGEL>>>.; August 29, 2008 at 5:16 PM
KarinP said...: I do feel a year younger, thank you.

Please be safe and I hope that the storm does not come your way or at least, not hit as hard as forecasted.

Take care!; August 30, 2008 at 12:13 AM

Taylor Hicks
"Early Works"

First and foremost, these two albums represent who I am and who I am trying to represent as a songwriter.
"In Your Time" was a first attempt at recording songs that I had written at the time. Some songs that were really hitting home with me at the time.
"Under the Radar" was a second attempt at a first attempt to try to record an album that resembled the production quality of Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." The songwriting was getting better and my direction as an artist was getting clearer. Warmth in the production was the main goal; "nostalgic" and "endearing" are the terms that I like to use for these two records.
Thanks for going on the ride!
Taylor Hicks

MTV News

'American Idol' Alum Taylor Hicks Channels Elvis, Liberace For 'Grease' Gig

In 2006, when salt-and-pepper-pelted soul singer Taylor Hicks won the fifth season of "American Idol," he probably never imagined he'd be popping out of an ice-cream cone, singing "Beauty School Dropout."

Now Hicks is doing just that, playing the Teen Angel - a role made famous by Frankie Avalon in the 1978 film version of "Grease" - in the musical's latest Broadway revival. For his first foray into acting, it's not a bad gig, and Hicks is hoping it will open more doors for him down the line.

"It's a really cool part," he said. "The Teen Angel comes down and tells Frenchy she should put down her teasing comb and go back to high school. I've kind of channeled Elvis, a little Graham Parsons and Liberace, all at the same time, for this role. It was just a perfect fit and a way for me to experience the Broadway stage in a small dose, instead of a full role. I come out in the second act. I pop in from an ice-cream cone, in a blue rhinestone suit, and rock it out for a few minutes."
Hicks said his Teen Angel is like none that has graced the stage before him, because he "Taylor-ized it."

To prepare for the role, he claims he "started doing séances to channel Elvis, and he told me that I needed to wear a midnight-blue, rhinestone-studded suit, and that's what happened. Now we're packing the place out. It's sold-out every night, and I get to play a little harmonica, which is cool. I couldn't do that on 'Idol.' That wasn't the year where you could play instruments."

According to Hicks, the "Grease" part wasn't his first offer. Earlier this year, he'd been asked to join the Broadway cast of "Hairspray," a gig he couldn't fit into his schedule. But being part of "Grease" has given him the itch to act again.

"Right now, I'm releasing a new record in the fall - hopefully - so [doing] this allows me to stay in the city, be in front of thousands and thousands of people for the next three months, and it allows me to reinvent myself, as a musician, an entertainer and possibly a Broadway actor," he said. "This is a nice way to get my feet wet in the acting field. Before, I was so entrenched in music - playing clubs and roadhouses when I was a kid - so Broadway was kind of an abstract thought for me. It's not now. It's real, and I enjoyed being directed from a theatrical aspect as opposed to a musical aspect. It's going to be an interesting road for me."

Hicks said that his fans, known as the "Soul Patrol," have been at each performance - so much so that during one of the shows, he looked down and spotted his face tattooed on a woman's body ("It wasn't anywhere revealing," he said).

Hicks' year has been full of ups and downs. It started off on a bad note, as Arista Records revealed they'd dropped Hicks from their roster after just one release. His 2006 self-titled effort has sold 702,000 copies to date, making it the worst-performing of all the "American Idol" champs' albums. But then, Hicks landed the "Grease" gig, and, with a new album to record, he's close to signing with a new label.

"I don't have a name for the album yet, but I do know that it's some of the best music that I've ever written, and from an artistic standpoint, this album, being in my control, has allowed me to really breathe as a songwriter," he said. "As an artist, you kind of understand the times and what your surroundings are and write from them. So there's some political undertones on the album. It's a serious time for us."

Hicks said he's not worried about the future, because he knows he has what it takes to sustain a career in music. "It would be scary if I didn't really believe that I was supposed to do this," he said. "For me, as a kid, I knew I was supposed to entertain and perform for folks. When you have that self-belief and inner-determination, you understand there are peaks and valleys in this business, and you just keep working at it. You show up to work, whether it's 25 people at a Steak & Ale, or Wembley Stadium and there's 500,000 people. If you keep working, and you're good to people, you'll be blessed."

Despite the poor sales, Hicks said he's still proud of his debut album. "As many songs as were thrown at me in the 10 minutes I had to choose them, I kept a good guard up, because I knew my artistic guard would allow people to say that I really took the integrity to keep my art," he said. "I've been working 15 years to make it in this business. I didn't want to not make it anymore. I'm proud of that record. I just wish we would have had more time to record it, but I'm proud of it. That's key."
MTV News (click MTV for video)
By Chris Harris, with reporting by Jim Cantiello

THE INSIDER
May 15, 2008

Taylor sets his sights on a new project!
Soul man TAYLOR HICKS is tackling a new role.
The former "American Idol" is joining the Broadway cast of Grease on June 6, reports the Associated Press.

Hicks is set to play Teen Angel in the infamously popular musical, saying, he plans to add "soulful flavor" to his performance of "Beauty School Dropout."

The country crooner spoke to the AP saying, "It's a big number, and, you know, I've made some pretty grand entrances before ....
And this one is probably the grandest entrance I've made in my career."

PEOPLE.COM - TAYLOR HICKS ADMITS ...

Taylor Hicks is used to being the object of adoring fans – but when the Jonas Brothers made a TV appearance in New York, the American Idol swapped roles.

Hicks, who is currently starring in Grease on Broadway, couldn't resist partaking in Jonas Brothers mania with thousands of other fans outside of the Live With Regis & Kelly studios in New York City Thursday morning, he told PEOPLE.

"Once I arrived and saw all the Jonas Brothers fans, I got in on the screaming.
We were all having a great time out there," said Hicks, who grabbed a sign from a fan and proudly held it up when the band arrived for the show.

"We were all just being fans and that's a cool thing."
Asked if he's really a true fan, he told PEOPLE "I am!"
"What they do is awesome because it gets kids into music," said Hicks who was at the ABC studio to tape a performance of "Beauty School Dropout" for the show's Broadway Week celebration, to air on Friday.

"They are a classy act," he added, noting that Nick is his favorite Jonas Brother because "he's the leader of the band."
Sadly, Hicks didn't get to bond with the guys.
"I just saw them in passing. They’ve got some pretty heavy security."

In addition to starring on Broadway, Hicks is busy recording his second album, which he hopes to release in the fall.
"I love New York.
I'm working on Broadway and it’s a great way for me to get my feet wet in acting and a great way to season yourself as a performer," he said.

"I've been able to breathe more as a songwriter, having the time and being able to find the right songs."

A Soulful Night On The Farm

Boot, Blues, and BBQ with Taylor Hicks
a Benefit for Hannah Home Shelby
(A Ministry of The King’s Ranch and Hannah Homes)
Saturday, May 10th
Presented by Governor and Mrs. Riley

Hannah Homes provide long term shelters for women, and women with children, who are fleeing domestic violence.

This Christ-centered home provides free housing, food, clothing, transportation, counseling, parenting classes, dometic violence classes and a host of other services to aid residents on their journeys toward healing and wholeness.

"We've probably all called Hannah Home to come get some stuff from us at one point in time," says Taylor Hicks - musical guest for the fundraising event.

"It's a great cause ... and I'm wearing the old boots, and got some blues, and I just had some barbecue."

Taylor Hicks escorted Alabama's first lady Patsy Riley, as the Governor was on crutches and unable to attend.

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind

Taylor Hicks Donates Autographed Harmonica for 23rd Annual Event
TALLADEGA, AL

April 25th @ the International Motorsports Hall of Fame SPEED Channel Dome at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Alabama’s own soulful singer/songwriter and 2006 American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, is supporting the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind by donating an autographed harmonica for the upcoming live auction at this year’s Race Fever.

Autographed during the 2008 Alabama Music Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Award Show where Hicks received the 2008 America’s Music Award, this “Taylor-made” item is sure to “Make You Proud” when you “Take it to the Streets”.

Opportunity

You never know when it will knock.
My big opportunity came during an audition in Birmingham, Alabama.
I walked through that door and when I came out, I had the opportunity of a lifetime.

We probably walk through a million doorways in our lives – some more important than others.
Some of those doors lead to opportunities that are beyond our imagination.

I believe your home should represent your outlook on life. The front door to your house leaves a strong impression on guests.
My front door is a symbol and it says when you enter my home, you are entering a place that is very special.

I’ve teamed up with Harmony Doors to create a series of distinctive doors designs inspired by the same influences that have shaped my music.

The Taylor Hicks Orleans Collection

Hicks Gets Slick
by Neil Ray Ramos
Manila Standard Today - Philippines
1/18/08
Just like when he slowly but surely won over many to his cause during the fifth season of the popular TV singing contest, American Idol, Taylor Hicks broke stereotypes and exceeded expectations when he flew in recently for a short visit and to perform in several gigs.

Once described as “the least likely Idol,” owing to the fact that he looked very much as tubby (and with the same salt and pepper hair) as Jay Leno, Hicks was surprisingly fit and trim, and is now more comparable to George Clooney (the other famous guy with the same salt and pepper hair) rather than the obese comedian/TV host—and quite amicable to boot.

Clad in black coat and jeans and brandishing his trademark harmonica, Hicks, was as candid as he was accommodating during the press conference held answering every question with typical flair.

Asked what he knew about the Philippines prior to coming over, the singer said that “I knew from friends that the Filipinos are very musical in that you guys love dancing and singing.”
He also said that friends told him that the Philippines is “the place to be if you want (to pursue) a career in singing.”

Well, if Hicks knew a thing or two about the country, most of those who came to the meet-and-greet session seemed to know a lot about him, mentioning intricacies associated with the singer like the Ray Charles Statuette he always travels with (yes, it was with him) and screaming “Soul Patrol” (a term of endearment for Hicks fans and supporters).

'Idol' Sings The Blues In Manila
By Fran Katigbak
Philippine Daily Inquirer
01/01/2008

It’s not easy singin’ the blues to an audience whose daily dose of music comes from skinny teenyboppers, booty-shaking divas and bling-clad “boys from the ’hood.”
Not if you are gray-haired and inclined to play the harmonica or if your dancing looks drug-induced.
But just as he defied pop stereotypes when he won “American Idol” Season 5, soul singer Taylor Hicks also proved it pays to stay true to his style and brand of music.
Filipino fans, even those as young as 6, watched the 31-year-old artist in a series of shows recently sponsored by the Ayala Malls in Manila.
At the show in TriNoma, Hicks was in his element singing tracks from his self-titled album as well as songs he composed early in his career.
Of course, not to be missed were the Alabama native’s harmonica-playing and the manic, footloose moves that became his trademark on “AI.”
Article continued here ...

Taylor Hicks My Idol

Friday, August 15, 2008

Simply The Best

10 comments:

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