[SirLinksalot]

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

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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 JPL’s 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, CAN’T 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 Mclean’s 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

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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 don’t 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 Taylor’s 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 he’s playing it safe and boring if he doesn’t.

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.

[over3Owithabrain]

As you've mentioned previously, I think Taylor is done with trying to please Simon or fit the AI mold. He made that clear last week - he will go down his way or win the thing by appealing directly to the fans. Either way he walks off a winner.

Good shout-out for Don McLean, a truly great singer/writer who I think is underrated in the pantheon of pop artists.

[RobFromGa]

Taylor has nothing to worry about till the Final 2. The support is there.

[Netizen]

I agree with the majority of your post, particularly the songs to avoid. I like Crying in the Chapel and One Night is another song that is bluesy by nature.

I think he will do one fast one slow and I'm thinking he might do All Shook Up.

And yeah, he better ignore Simon and he better not mess up.

The worst of it is that there are things that are beyond his control and you mentioned one, the band that plays too loud! He could also be the recipient of not being able to hear himself, like DeGarmo.

[CajunConservative]

We are prepared and are even basically predicting just what Simon will say. This one's my favorite from the AI boards.

I'll save Simon the trouble:

"If I am being perfectly honest with you, that was like a barmy Las Vegas Elvis impersonator performing at a drunken Portuguese wedding on a low-budget cruise ship to nowhere ."

We are on to Simon's limited critiques. Some of us suggested sending Simon a thesaurus to help him out.

[Wyatt's Torch]

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.

Taylor fans just want Taylor to be Taylor and ignore the hell out of Simon. They know what he is doing. Probably the worst thing for Taylor would be for Simon to praise him to the hilt.