To: TonyWpi
Elvis week should be a boost for Taylor. I'll say the same thing I said for the "country" contestants on country night -- because this is right in Taylor's "wheelhouse", he has to win the night. He cannot afford to let any other contestant out-do him on either performance.
11,282 posted on
05/05/2006 4:49:03 AM PDT by
kevkrom
(Posting snarky comments so you don't have to)
To: kevkrom
this is right in Taylor's "wheelhouse", he has to win the night. He cannot afford to let any other contestant out-do him on either performance.
IF it is Elvis night next week, Taylor can shine. But once again, he has to show off his vocals AND performing ability to make the TOTAL PACKAGE. Make it a concert for the fans. He did great this week by doing a balance of PERFORMING (PTFMWB) and VOCALS ( Something).
Here is a complete list of songs Elvis recorded through the years :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/samples/B00000JYA6/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/103-1301391-2726221?%5Fencoding=UTF8#disc_1
I am not going to suggest any the fast, performance songs except to say that I suggest he keep away from the songs that John Peter Lewis of season 3 did ( A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION and JAILHOUSE ROCK which was JPLs last song before he got voted off ).
Of the 4 remaining singers, Taylor pretty much is unchallenged when it comes to the fast Elvis songs so I trust his instincts here.
For the slow songs, I strongly suggest he stays out of the cliched songs that Elvis sang. Among those he should AVOID LOVE ME TENDER, CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU, ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT.
One great slow song would be CRYING IN THE CHAPEL ( and if he wants a Bluesy, Soulful version of it, I suggest he listen to Don Mcleans version ). Don Mclean recorded this song A CAPPELA with 4 part harmony as back-up. You can listen to a portion of it here :
http://www.mp3.com/don-mclean/artists/4172/songs.html
You can find the CD where Don Mclean recorded the song here :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/samples/B00000DRDN/ref=dp_tracks_all_1/103-1301391-2726221?%5Fencoding=UTF8#disc_1
Background music tends to be too loud and overshadow you. If Taylor can do this song WITHOUT background instruments and only a barber shop quartet as backup and do justice to it
HE HAS THE CROWN IN THE BAG.
This song showcases POWER and RANGE and ABILITY TO HARMONIZE and will silence those who keep saying that Taylor is covering his vocal inadequacies with dancing and entertaining. It will be a Bo Bice "IN A DREAM" moment when he sang A Capella last season. Let the other contestants have the band. Taylor must do something different
Having said that, LET ME ADD A WORD IN ANTICIPATION OF ELVIS NIGHT. I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THIS.
Taylor is in a no win situation for this theme.
I am sure that the Soul Patrol is tired of Simon describing Taylor as a cheesy wedding singer or drunk into every comment that he makes the past few weeks.
I dont know if he is trying very hard to railroad the voters into believing that Taylor is NOT the one to be the finalist and winner of this Idol competition or he is applying reverse psychology to prod Taylors fans to vote for him en masse.
Interestingly, Barry Manilow said Taylor is a whiskey tenor voice and that Rod Stewart loved the way he moves and said a real performer has to perform. Rod in effect tells Taylor not to listen to Simon.
So lets face it, EVEN IF IT IS ELVIS NIGHT, Simon will chastise him if he ROCKS and tell him hes playing it safe and boring if he doesnt.
For those who are Taykor fans, just be prepared for it. As for Taylor, just say to yourself -- s__w Simon, I'm doing it for the fans.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson