GREAT BLOG FROM JAMES HUDNALL ( REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT EQUALLY GREAT MUSIC SITE : graycharles.com ).
HE SEEMS TO DISLIKE THE DIXIE CHICKS EVEN WHEN HE DOES NOT MENTION THEM BY NAME....
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Feel The Force: Part One
http://jameshudnall.com/blog.php?/weblog/feel_the_force_part_one/ Im breaking my Idol finale review into two parts. Because there are two separate issues here. One is the culture and how Idol fits in. The other is the episode itself. The next part will come later tonight.
Im going to make a confession that Ive never made before. I like variety shows. When I was a kid, I watched all of them: Sony and Cher, Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Carol Burnett Show, Dean Martin, Mac Davis, Glen Campbell, Tom Jones. I think I even saw all three episodes of the Starlight Vocal Bands show. My fascination with the genre waned with Pink Lady and Jeff. But, to paraphrase the OJays, I love music.
And I like performances. Which is probably why I got sucked into American Idol last season. To some extent it reminds me of the variety shows of my youth. When I was a kid, I wasnt familiar with all the songs they would sing because they were from before my time. But in Idol, theyre singing the songs I can relate to. And it brings me some degree of pleasure.
A lot of people dont like to admit they enjoy American Idol. But when 200 million people world-wide view a show, its safe to say youre not alone. And really, why should anyone be ashamed of watching something they enjoy? This is a question that really bothers me lately. And the answer is fairly simple.
We live in a time when the culture is relentlessly negative. Our media pundits are jaded, filled with ennui and cynicism. They spend a lot of time trashing people, when they arent puffing them to so they can knock them back down again.
Many of our celebrities are self obsessed, talent-impaired manikins, living in mortal terror of aging because our culture borders on Logans Run in its pathology. Between the botox injections at 25, starvation diets and weird religious cults, our celebs are pretty crazy these days. Perhaps made that way by their strange bubble universe. And when theyre not being wacky, they like to head over to Europe so they can tell everyone how stupid Americans are.
How endearing.
Our musical celebrities arent much better. When they arent swiping other peoples music and putting their lame rap lyrics over it, theyre telling us how they want to kill someone, get more hos in their Ben-Z, or in the case of many female singers, how slutty they are.
Between a news media which is pounding us with a litany of woe every day, we have the pundits praising the mindless pretty person du jour. Because thats what they tell to like. Anyone who falls short of their extremely narrow definitions has to be ridiculed. Because we cant have anyone stepping outside the parameters set by these depressed cynics.
And then American Idol comes along and proves them wrong. Brutally. Which may explain why so many media mavens denigrate the show and call it cheesy and an over rated karaoke contest. From from that very show, which has ratings far above all others, a force of cosmic energy has descended on the scene. And this force may be just what the culture needs a change. A change for the better.
In the middle of every decade, the culture looks to a new sound and direction. Were long overdue for a positive vibe. Negativity is played out. And that new vibe comes to us in human form. His name is Taylor Hicks and hes here to show us a good time.
If you want to find good examples of bitchy pop culture cynicism, the best place to look is a gay magazine like the Advocate. Witness the power of Taylor Hicks force. He played a Jedi mind trick on the hilarious media critic Dave White:
"And I dont know how this happened and it feels weird to say it, but somehow in the process of writing about it I have learned to enjoy the flavor of the Taylor Hicks Kool-Aid. My snooty music snob nature will never allow me to declare myself a member of the Soul Patrol, but Im definitely putting his name on my TiVo wish list in hopes of seeing much more monkey-dancing from him in the years to come."
I have to ask the question once again. Whats wrong with having a good time? Whats wrong with being entertained?
We dont watch shows to be bored, made angry or depressed. Certainly, not musical variety acts. If any of that happens, its probably unintentional.
Let me tell you why American Idol is a good show. It brings families together. The kids arent off in their rooms watching Lost or Veronica Mars while you watch Law and Order. The family comes together for this show. And wonder-of-wonders, its a family show. A show thats in good taste and presents people from all walks of life working hard for success.
Is that a bad thing, oh ye conservatives who claim the media is full of negative influences?
No one on this show gets anywhere unless they bring their A game to the stage. And to get there, they need to be good. They cant slack off, play it safe, or the audience votes them off.
Several contestants found this out the hard way. But one, and only one contestant was never in danger of being voted off the whole season. He was consistently bringing his best effort and was never smug, egotistical or arrogant about it. His name was Taylor Hicks and hes your new American Idol.
And what an Idol he is. Let me tell you the secret of his success. Are you ready, because you should be taking notes.
He worked hard for 10 years, honing his craft, playing in honky tonks, weddings and county fairs, often to indifference. But he didnt slack off or lose persistence. And when he was on the cusp of turning 30, his dad told him he should consider finding a better paying career. His brother, Sean, suggested he try out for American Idol. Hurricane Katrina closed the nearest audition in Memphis. Taylor had to take a $400 cab ride back to Birmingham. But the storm also got him a free ticket because of his cancelled flight, so he went to the audition in Vegas. It was his last chance before his birthday made him too old for the contest.
Simon Cowell did not see a star. He saw someone with gray hair, and that means old. You cant be old and be a pop star. Especially when youre influences are people from the 60s and 70s. Thats what the experts tell us. Its not sexy to skew old, they say. Everyone should look 18 and be thinner than Patrick Stewarts hair.
Heres Taylors audition in case you missed it. It should be required viewing because it speaks volumes about how our culture tries to beat us down and tell us were not worthy. Fortunately, Simon was over ruled by the other two judges. The rest is history.
Taylor has been the most popular contestant the whole season. His unique stylings and fun performances have put smiles on the faces of people around the world. His humble, gracious nature, his sly humor and intense performances have garnered him a legion of fans. Many of them women. Yes, to millions of women he is a sex symbol.
Even Condi Rice is a huge fan.
What was that about having to fit in?
Listen up. Gather round. Here is what cool is. Heres what millions of people voted for over the gorgeous young girl with large breasts. Over the hot pretty boy singers.. A man who is everything the media experts dont get. A man who proves they dont know what theyre talking about.
Hes not political. Hes not egotistical or vain. Hes not going to insult anyone. Hes fair minded and loving. Hes worked hard to get where he is and is not the least bit bitter about it. He praises his elders. He expresses his joy to the world. He gives us 110% every time. He makes people feel happy because he loves what he does and shows it. He reveals to us the deep, fathomless ocean of soul in his heart.
How can you not him unless youre bitter and unhappy and he reminds you of what it sincerity and joy is. Because he is not shy about expressing his joy. .
For many people, he takes their pain away for the moment he is playing. And thats a beautiful thing. Thats a magical gift that is both healing and fulfilling.
Its why I think he has the potential to be one of the biggest stars of his time.
It all depends on what events follow from here. What kind of music he can make. What further opportunities come his way. But he already has millions of fans out of the starting gate and they love him. But more incredibly, he loves them back. He really appreciates the support of his fans and expresses it every time he yells Soul Patrol.
In an age of cynicism and negativity, when we feel our leaders are selling us short, when the world looks like a scary place, we should welcome Taylor Hicks with open arms.
And more importantly, the culture needs to take a good hard look at itself and realize that someone who understands the meaning of the word entertain is just what the doctor ordered.
May Taylor Hicks become a vanguard for a new kind of celebrity. Someone we can respect and admire.
Lets agree to stop focusing on the plastic people and start appreciating those who work hard, want to make us smile, and dont rub their agenda and smugness in our face.
You do make us proud, my friend.
Jonny and everyone, check this news out about Taylor -- he's doing GREAT in radio airplay already. Radio across the board is welcoming him with open arms. His still unreleased single is climbing the radio airplay charts at Pop, Hot Adult Contemporary and even Country. This is VERY important, because radio airplay still drives sales even in the digital age. So far, radio has only accepted and supported Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, but none of the other AI alumni, not even Clay Aiken.
First, remember that Taylor's "Do I Make You Proud" has not yet been officially released as a single. So it doesn't even have a label yet. He starts his promotion tour next week. However...
On the biggest, most important airplay genre chart, Mediabase's Pop -- drum roll please -- Taylor's "Do I Make You Proud" debuts at a rockin #71. (Mediabase tracks airplay for all current singles. It's usually a list of between 750-800 songs.)
It's already on 183 pop stations, which have decided on their own to start playing the single. (Normally, a record producer releases a single and sends it for adds in the target markets. DIMYP has not been sent for adds yet.)
Early this morning on Pulse Music Board, someone with access to the in-depth Mediabase charts (not available to the general public) posted this info about Taylor's single:
Oh, this morning +125 on AC, +105 Hot AC and *gasp* +47 country!
Just to give you a point of comparison, new singles by big established artists like Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Rascal Flatts, Coldplay and Rob Thomas are all lower than Taylor's single. All of theirs have officially been released and, of course, are being promoted by their labels.
Assuming these pre-release trends continue after the single is officially released -- and assuming sales rise with airplay -- Taylor has a bona fide smash hit on his hands. :)
Thanks for the heads up.
A few thoughts:
He is riding the wave of popularity from winning AI. How will that play out over the next year? Secondly, this is not a great song so will he be able to come out with something that is more akin to his core style? Lastly, will the album be strong enough for him to create a sustainable listening and album buying base? Really easy to become a one hit wonder in music so I hope that he will put out a great album that will serve as a stepping stone to future and long term fan loyalty.
Clay should have been bigger but he seems to be touring more and involved with other stuff than making records. (As an aside, Craig Berman of MSM called his new do a Swiffer Look)
Taylor needs a big album and a good second in order to cement a big fan base rather than just the Soul Patrol who could easily have voted on average 100 times a night. (That's why AI is hard to gauge in terms of real popularity) If he is successful then he can pump out multiple platinum albums in succession.