Be My Valentine

After winning over the hearts of all of America, Taylor Hicks is ready to win over the heart of one special lady.


From: LIVE With Regis And Kelly ~ Dating With The Stars

Born and raised in Alabama, he is a true Southern gentleman who has spent a lot of time in NY lately starring in Broadway's "Grease"... and is now touring the country in the show.
Besides music, Taylor loves golf, scuba diving, skiing and watching college basketball. He would love to meet a free spirited career-minded gal who can be serious during the week but can cut loose on the weekends.
If your heart is ready for a little Soul Patrol … Taylor is your guy.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but even if you don't have a special someone to celebrate with, it's not too late to find love. In fact, Regis and Kelly are going to play matchmaker! We have two adorable, charming and more importantly single men that we are giving our viewers a chance to go on a date with, which may include a trip to New York City to be on our show.
Click here to read more!


Valentine's Day Fun Facts
About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in the US each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.

Women purchase 85% of all valentines.

Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers.

Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year.

California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America.

Men buy most of the millions of boxes of candy and bouquets of flowers given on Valentine's Day.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentines Day candy box in the late 1800s.

To be awoken by a kiss on Valentine's Day is considered lucky.


Valentine's Day Superstitions
On Valentine's Day, the first guy's name you read in the paper or hear on the TV or radio will be the name of the man you will marry.

If you see a squirrel on Valentine's Day, you will marry a cheapskate who will hoard all your money.

If you see a goldfinch on Valentine's Day, you will marry a millionaire.

If you see a robin on Valentine's Day, you will marry a crime fighter - maybe they mean Batman!

If you see a flock of doves on Valentine's Day, you will have a happy, peaceful marriage.

If you find a glove on the road on Valentine's Day, your future beloved will have the other missing glove.


Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with all the love your heart can hold!
~Bloom~

Today's cup:

"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."
~Aristotle~

Pillow Talk - What's Right Is Right - Is So Right

"What's Right Is Right"

From his upcoming album,'The Distance', Taylor Hicks' first single to be released, "What's Right Is Right", is available (MP3 download) as of today, January 27, 2009, at AMAZON.COM and iTunes.

I've long been a listener of Alan Almond's Pillowtalk radio program. I'm a romantic at heart and Pillowtalk is all about romance. Taylor Hicks' "What's Right Is Right" is a perfect tune for lovers - it is full of passion and romance and emotion. It's a baby making song, and I honestly am unable to listen without tears in my eyes.

When I first shared this song with my daughter, I told her, listen to the words and emotion in this song, this is the kind of love I have always wished for you and I do believe that you have found it. She was as profoundly affected as I am and agreed - it's a great song! She was moved by how beautifully Taylor delivered the song, she knows good music when she hears it!
Like Mother - Like Daughter :-)



'The Distance' due to arrive on March 10th is available for pre-order at AMAZON.COM

"Wedding Day Blues,"
"Seven Mile Breakdown,"
"What's Right is Right,"
"Hide Nor Hair,"
"Woman Gotta Have It,"
"New Found Freedom,"
"The Distance,"
"Nineteen,"
"I Live on a Battlefield,"
"Yes We Can,"
"Maybe You Should,"
"Once Upon a Lover of Mine,"
"Keepin It Real"
"Indiscriminate Act of Kindness."

PLEASE visit TAYLORHICKS.COM to view additional stills of his upcoming video release of "What's Right Is Right", and for a current listing of his scheduled performances!

Taylor Hicks LIVE - My 3 favorite words
:-)
Bloom

Looking in the Rear-View Mirror

They say that "hindsight is 20/20" ...
I agree with that particular statement. So often, when we glance in our personal "rear-view mirror", we see so much more than we did when we initially experienced all of those life lessons along the "Road of Life". When we look back, we often see how a situation could have been handled in a much different way than it was at the time. Due to our inexperience or immaturity, we handled it the best way that we could at the time. In some cases, people simply do what they have to do in order to survive in this very complex world of ours.

I happen to believe that everything we have seen and heard in our lives, whether it be positive or negative, leaves a lasting imprint on our psyche. It is very fascinating to me that no two people have travelled the same "road". Each of us perceives words, actions and reactions differently when they directly affect us.

It is with great hope that through our travels, we will emerge with personalities, hearts and souls that are influenced by the good things in our lives. Every action/reaction makes us what and who we are today. As we mature, we hopefully will gain a greater understanding of the whys of our "calendar of life events" and we will continue strive to be the very best that we can be. I like to think that the majority of us try to overcome our shortcomings. I guess this could be a good description of "Karma" if you subscribe to that theory which I personally do.

I have always been amazed with the people in this world who, as young children, just "know" what they are going to do with their lives. They seem to arrive here with a very clear destination in their minds and they possess the determination to get where they are supposed to go.

Sometimes, they are blessed with a support network that helps them to achieve their goals and sometimes, they just "do it" through their trials and tribulations. Often, doors will unexpectedly open and they find themselves connected to the right people and friends at the right time who help to guide them to the end zone.

I am often in awe when I think about those individuals who are outstanding political and very influential world figures in various arenas. The "shining stars" in this world often have faced many struggles to fulfill their hopes and dreams.

Since I seem be very analytical in my way of thinking, I always want to understand the "how, what, when, where, and why" of many situations and people in general. What makes them tick? While I will never know the answers to many of those questions because I do not "know" these people, it is always fun to wonder about these things.

This never-ending curiosity of mine, along with the enjoyment of the music from Taylor Hicks, has encouraged me to try to learn more about where Taylor has been. We all know that he became a household word when he appeared on American Idol. His unique combination of charisma and talent was intriguing.

When Taylor Hicks released his 'Early Works' CD in late 2008, his self-penned lyrics demonstrated the raw emotion of youth and his interpretation of the impact of real life experiences.

There have been various thoughts as to the meaning of his songs. His lyrics, to me, are somewhat cryptic at times but then again, I think that feelings expressed in words will only ever be completely understood by the writer of the words especially if they are based on a personal experience. Everyone is entitled to their privacy and songwriters should be given the same consideration with respect to privacy.

I believe that if a song leaves you wondering "why" then it is cleverly written because you have taken the time to actually listen to the lyrics and the impact of the "raw emotion" has really touched you in some way.

One of my favourite songs, and there are many that are, on 'Early Works' is "West Texas Sky". You may agree or disagree with my interpretation but I hope that you will enjoy the video montage which tells a story based on my understanding of this song. Without the amazing graphics by Allyn, I am not sure that this story would have been told.


video: Taylor Hicks - "West Texas Sky"
Through the songs on 'Early Works', we have been given the privilege to look in Taylor's "rear-view mirror". When we read Taylor's autobiography, "Heart Full of Soul", we learned a great deal about his early years. If you know or have a general idea of where someone has been, then, you will understand more clearly where they are going.

Taylor has consistently displayed determination in reaching his goals. His horizons have broadened since American Idol and he has the sequins to prove it!

From all of the media reports as well as the various fan reports, Taylor's performances of portraying Teen Angel in 'Grease' have not gone unnoticed. He has received much well deserved praise and applause. Taylor has grown as an artist, songwriter and a performer since he first graced our television screens and, in my opinion, the sky is the limit for Taylor!

Taylor Hicks' much anticipated new single, "What's Right Is Right", which is scheduled to be released on January 20th will, once again, give us more insight into the "Man behind the Harmonica". I am confident that when his new CD, 'The Distance', is released in March, we will gain much more insight to this very talented artist!

Blog post by KarinP


Today's cup:


"Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”
~George Sheehan~

Chicago Welcomes Taylor Hicks

It's opening night in Chicago!
Taylor Hicks is currently on tour with the musical 'Grease' playing the part of Teen Angel. 'Grease' opens tonight at the Chicago Theater and plays through January 18, 2009.

Taylor is also performing at Martyrs in Chicago Saturday, Jan 17 @ 10pm (Tickets available through TicketMaster)


video: Taylor Hicks joined WGN TV in Chicago today on their Morning News program to perform "The Fall", a self-penned tune from his 'Early Works' album.



For full interview, exclusive WGN videos and additional photos - please visit WGN TV Chicago

Taylor Hicks ~ What's Right Is Right

Full steam ahead - the Taylor Hicks train is fueled and ready to go!

ROCKETSCIENE.COM announced today - the name of Taylor Hicks' first single, "What's Right Is Right", from his soon to be released new album ,'The Distance'.

The impact date for AC radio, along with a full digital campaign to be launched - is January 27th!

FROM: MYROCKETSCIENCE.COM

(click to enlarge image above)


I didn't see anything about whether "What's Right Is Right" is still scheduled to be available on itunes tomorrow - but the wealth of information RocketScience imparted was fabulous to read!

Click here for a preview of "What's Right Is Right"

Updated January 21st, 2009
Click here to listen to Taylor Hicks' new single,
"What's Right Is Right"


Hear the train?

In The Spotlight ~ Taylor Hicks' ~ The Distance

LJWorld.COM
“For me, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
The longevity aspect to me is the most important.
Doing Broadway theater and looking at movie roles and writing music and putting out CDs — you have to be well-rounded if you want longevity in a career.”
~ Taylor Hicks ~



The Providence Journal
After 10 years playing in clubs in and around his native Alabama, winning American Idol in 2006 was a blessing.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity that it gave me to continue to keep exploring my artistic expression,” he says, and it gave him the chance to learn the ins and out of recording.



At the same time, Hicks was “a working musician — that’s who I am, and that’s who I’ll always be” — before the TV show came along, and the pop-chart game is a different deal.

“It definitely has its positives and negatives.
It’s very short-lived, it seems, along that side.
For me, the key is that you always have to stay in front of people and work,” says Hicks, who adds that he did 282 shows in 2006, the year his self-titled post-Idol album came out.
“That’s something that I’ll always hang my hat on.”



Touring is also where the money is, because it’s something that can’t be taken away from you, and because you can always sell your records at a show.
“If you’re a working musician, you’re always going to have a chance to sell your records.”



Hicks has some serious backing players — guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, bassist Nathan East and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. — on his forthcoming record, and says that “I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised about me as a songwriter."



“I think this record is going to allow me to touch on a lot of different styles, not just from a songwriting aspect but from a musical aspect as well.” The record will come out on his own label, and Hicks has signed a distribution deal with A2M.
He says that going his own way was the way to go.



“I must admit, having your own label is being out on the edge in your art.
You don’t get the cushion, but I like that. … “I think this release is going to define who I am as a singer-songwriter. And I want to put myself on the edge that way, because I feel like that’s where I can create my best work … without people telling me what songwriters I need to work with, or what I should do.”





The scheduled release of Taylor Hicks' first single from his new album "The Distance" is January 6th!
Taylor Hicks @itunes
Mark your calendars!



"The Distance" is scheduled to be released March 10th, 2009!!





Today's cup:

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~