Posted on 05/08/2006 4:22:13 AM PDT by silent_jonny
Oh, but that's not the way of FR
Where in that post did I say I admired Bill Clinton? You know I understand your passion against the man, he is a criminal, but badgering the rest of us on this thread for any statements we make is a bit tiresome.
First, Wolfstar, thanks for posting this! Fascinating. Second, this illustrates one of the things I like most about American Idol: It really gives you a chance to get to know the Idols and hear them in a variety of situations. Let's face it, Taylor Hicks is an acquired taste. The first couple of times I saw him "dance," I agreed with the guy in the interview -- it was so spastic that it was actually hard for me to watch. But he was very engaging on a personal level, and I really enjoyed his voice. Over time, Taylor's "spazzing" became a fun thing to watch. (I have to admit I laughed a lot! But he was so cute in his joyous approach to music.) Now, his idiosyncracies are part of what make him stand out of the crowd for me.
But I'll say again, I really like it that AI gives you a chance to get to know the kids over several months. Sometimes, an acquired taste is actually worth acquiring. :)
LOL! That's perfect!!
No kidding. When "Debbie Downer" is good enough to become a recurring skit, you know the show's in the crapper.
The Narnia skit was hilarious
I missed it. I bailed right after learning the show was a repeat and Taylor would not be on. :(
Exactly! Taylor is only 29, and he's had his nose stuck in a music book (so to speak) for several years now. He probably just likes Clinton because he plays the sax, and he may never have even heard the allegations of rape. (You'd be surprised how uninformed politically many young people are, even when they're fairly bright.) Heck, when I was 29, I was a rabid Democrat! So you see people CAN come to their senses, and Taylor seems to have lots of sense. (I do agree that I hope he doesn't get involved in Hillary's campaign, though ... maybe we should all write TayTay a nice note and point out that association with her might blight a promising career.)
A side note here, for Broadway lovers ... I taped Saturday Night Live, hoping they would do something about AI, but instead it was a rerun from last year with Catherine Zeta-Jones as the host. If you likewise taped it, and if you follow Broadway stuff at all, check out the second skit in, where CZJ takes her boyfriend to a party with some of her old dancer friends. I thought it was a stitch (though the rest of the show was mediocre at best).
And I have to stay that although CZJ has only an average voice, she is a lady who knows how to sell the sizzle, not the steak. :)
More From The Birmingham News
`Idol' embodies American dream
http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/114880777544790.xml&coll=2
Sunday, May 28, 2006
snip
What does the unbelievable popularity of this one television show say about broader society? For that answer, we must consider the historical context. "Idol" began during a period of economic deprivation (the last recession). By early 2003, the problems in Iraq were escalating and Space Shuttle Columbia had exploded. It was also the early post-9/11 era. There was considerable national malaise, which has continued to this day and has worsened with soaring oil prices.
On top of all this, most of the job growth was and is concentrated in low-wage service occupations as more and more good-paying jobs are outsourced to foreign countries and a tsunami of illegal immigration continues unabated.
Considering all the above, it isn't hard to understand the success of "American Idol." We get to see some very nice people achieve smashing success based solely on their talents. That's happening less and less these days.
"American Idol" is a microcosm of the American dream. Based on their talent and hard work, the good guys succeed at the end of the day. In spite of current realities, that's what we would all like to believe. It's as simple as that.
Paris to release Christmas album
http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060528/NEWS0107/105280026/1004/NEWS
By Edith C. Webster
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
ROCKFORD — Fans who rushed out for tickets and lined up early for Paris Bennett’s homecoming got more than promised from her appearance Saturday at the Coronado Theatre.
The “American Idol” finalist sang more than organizers publicized she would, danced more than she sang, and broke some good news in a question-and-answer session.
“I’ll be coming out with a jazz Christmas album,” said the 17-year-old Rockford native, who first wowed “American Idol” judges, critics and a national TV audience in February, when she nailed the jazz standard “Take Five.”
The crowd of more than 2,000 broke out in applause about the pending release. They were even more excited when she said she’d welcome an invitation to sing at On The Waterfront.
“I sure would,” she said. “That would be a lot of fun.”
Mayor Larry Morrissey, whose office of Tourism, Culture & Special Events helped coordinate Saturday’s appearance, read a proclamation for “Paris Bennett Day.”
Morrissey praised Bennett and her rise to the top five on the hit reality show, calling her an inspiration and “one of Rockford’s great treasures.”
“I don’t think there’s a person from Rockford who represents excellence better than this young lady,” Morrissey said, referring to a campaign theme.
Mark Chambers of Cherry Valley shuttled his six children and another to see the hometown girl they had followed all season long on “American Idol.”
“They loved it,” he said.
Cooky Wagner, whose husband is a Bennett family physician, followed Paris on the show, too. At a fan meet-and-greet after Paris’ public appearance, she grabbed Jamecia Bennett, Paris’ mother, to talk about an episode when rock icon Rod Stewart was the celebrity coach.
“I told her that I couldn’t believe when Rod Stewart was telling Paris how to sing,” Wagner said. “She’s 5,000 times better than he is.”
Takiya Walker, 9, of Rockford, like many of the young girls who made up the majority of the audience, was among the 30 million viewers watching Bennett on each episode. “Every Tuesday, every Wednesday,” she said.
Seeing Bennett in person was special, Takiya said.
“She’s cute, she’s pretty, and she’s my inspiration,” she said after Bennett’s appearance. “I’m glad I saw her today.”
The hourlong Coronado event was more party than concert, more “thank you” than “welcome home.”
Fans screamed, applauded and even cried for Bennett.
“We love you, Paris!” they kept yelling from the balcony of the downtown theater.
“I love you, too!” Bennett would answer, thanking the crowd again and again for supporting her quest to take the “Idol” title. “I couldn’t have asked for any better support from my hometown.”
Because of contractual obligations to the reality show, she was not allowed to do a concert. She did, however, perform “The Way We Were” and an a cappella snippet of “Take Five.”
That meant she also spent more time dancing than singing. Not only did she dance for the audience, she taught them to do her favorite “American Idol” move — a deep, side-to-side rock and finger snap, punctuated with “Hey!”
She invited three lucky kids up to compete in an on-stage dance competition, and she went into the seats for up-close dancing with audience members.
More proof that the Rockford girl now famous for her singing also enjoys dancing: When a fan asked which song she most enjoyed performing during her quest for the “Idol” title, she said it was her cover of the Beyoncé song “Work it Out,” because it gave her the chance to dance.
“Thank you, Rockford, for letting me dance,” Bennett said, after working it out like only a confident, 17-year-old girl can.
Dressed in jeans, a black sleeveless Baby Phat shirt and high-heeled white boots, Bennett shared with the audience behind-the-scenes happenings at “American Idol,” such as the competition not being as stressful as people might imagine.
“You have fun every minute of every day. You get free stuff. You meet a lot of legendary people that you never thought you’d meet.”
How does she feel about how “American Idol” ended, with L.A. glamour girl Katharine McPhee losing to Alabama soul man Taylor Hicks? Bennett expressed her love for the man she calls “Tay-Tay” by referring to his legion of fans.
“All I can say is ... Soul Patrol!”
Staff writer Edith C. Webster can be reached at 815-987-1394 or ewebster@rrstar.com.
Top 3 moments with Paris
More than 2,000 fans packed the Coronado for “Welcome Home, Paris Bennett.” A few of our favorite moments:
Three loudest moments of applause, besides when she sang or danced
1. When she got on the stage, wearing jeans, a sleeveless, black Baby Phat blouse and white boots, waving and smiling.
2. When Mayor Larry Morrissey proclaimed the occasion “Paris Bennett Day.”
3. When asked whether she would perform at On The Waterfront, if invited. “I sure would. That would be a lot of fun.”
Three behind-the-scenes secrets she revealed
1. “Yes, I got to keep all the clothes, the shoes, the jewelry.”
2. She had lots of fun with the other contestants, for example listening to country boy Bucky Covington crack jokes and teaching country girl Kellie Pickler to dance.
3. She met funk master Prince, who performed on the show’s finale, and he approved of her cover of “Kiss.” “He thanked me for doing his song.”
Eat your words, Simon Cowell
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,107374,00.html
Backwater hick? No way. Taylor Hicks has survived Simon Cowell's scathing remarks, unwarranted criticism and even(unintentional?) sabotage to have the last laugh
By Jeanmarie Tan
May 29, 2006
ACCORDING to Taylor Hicks, one of the best things about winning American Idol is no more 'Simon Cowell scowl'.
The 29-year-old soul singer from Alabama was never a favourite of the British judge, whose comments towards him have been particularly vicious and condescending over much of the competition.
And true to form, Mr Nasty hasn't apologised for his negativity since Hicks was crowned the American Idol on Thursday.
Cowell's remark after one of Hicks' crazier performances - 'Are you drunk?' - offended and upset him till today because he has dealt with others affected by alcohol back in his hometown.
Speaking to the media over the phone from Los Angeles, he said: 'It's a family show, that remark got under my skin a bit. But I'm the American Idol and... Ha ha ha!'
Cowell also could have torpedoed Hicks' chances when he declared at the final performance show that he was going to win.
The comment risked causing a reverse reaction among voters by triggering runner-up Katharine McPhee's indignant fans to vote more.
Hicks said: 'I was nervous when he said that. I didn't want the jinx factor to go into effect. And thankfully it didn't.'
Obviously, the Soul Patrol pulled through, and the grey-haired wonder is lapping up his new-found fame.
Even though he has been fielding interviews for 48 hours after the results show, he declared energetically: 'I love press. I've been grooming myself for the possibility of such a break for 10 years now, so that prepared me for celebrity status.'
The highlight of Hicks' victory was appearing on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show.
'As a struggling musician and performer, I used to watch entertainers go on it. So for them to call my name and be interviewed on the show, it's a moment I'll never forget in my career,' he said.
But the one thing fame won't change is his hair colour.
Hicks, who insisted he has never once dyed his tresses, said: '(American Idol's hairstylist and I) have been battling back and forth on that. But I didn't change it when I was 18, and I'm not going to change it now.'
Hicks doesn't have a girlfriend, but revealed that his partner must be able to cook.
He said: 'Just because I want to get in the kitchen together and cook meals.
'When I'm on the road, I like to come home and be around the house during my spare time.
'The best thing about being single is the freedom to do what you please, but I'm looking to settle down one of these days.'
Meanwhile, the harmonica and guitar-playing musician guaranteed that his debut album will have his 'stamp of approval' on it, and that he was glad he could 'Taylorise' his debut single, the critically-panned Do I Make You Proud, to be released in the US on 13 Jun.
R&B diva Mary J Blige, who performed at the finale, reportedly admires Hicks' Southern soul vibe so much, she believes his win will change the whole US music industry - especially since he was so popular with viewers.
Hicks concurred: 'That's my vision as an artiste - to make music real again and inject more feeling into popular music.'
Jointritis, young man - jointritis!
Thanks for the article post. Hicks sure seems to have his head on straight. This is another one of those "overnight" successes that really isn't overnight at all. The guy has planned for his big break to come one way or the other. I think he will do very well for himself post-Idol. I'm definitely a fan!
A couple of weeks ago, we did have a bunch of bad weather go through and the local weather guy held up broadcasting for 45 minutes while he and the other one (from some ofhet location-home I guess) chatted about the bad weather that MAY hit Springfield, MO. We were livid but we didn't call in. Apparently, a LOT of people did. They showed the full broadcast at 10:00 instead of Seinfeld. The other day when it was the finals, we had more bad weather. Hubby said "if they butt in now then I AM going to call." They did butt in but they waited for the comercials to come on and then it was an on then right off announcement - and there was (possible) tornado warnings then too. LOLOL
That's crap...Simon only didn't like Taylor's spaz, that's it! He liked most of his singing. Taking It To The Streets, Levon, You Are So Beautiful and others. I know Simon is harsh and I know he didn't "Favor" Taylor, but he did give him very favorable comments, even admitting he was wrong about saying he'd never make it to the finals.
IN TERMS OF RADIO AIRPLAY ...
Taylor Hicks is #59 and might go up after the next update, he is in the #1 position for "Taking off" -- there are some very interesting other AI listings further down...check out the whole list here :
http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Charts.asp?format=h1R&showtopn=500&cutoff=1
These are current radio station leaders that are playing it...if your locals on here call & request more, if you local stations are not on the list email or call them to request they play it :
http://w2.mediabase.com/mmrweb/AllAccess/Details.asp?sngcde=HICKDIMY&format=H1M&mode=leader
Wow. That should have been called the Kat McPhee show. I counted 60 responses by Taylor and 104 by Kat. She IS a very self absorbed spoiled little girl IMO.
SEACREST: We'll be right back on LARRY KING LIVE.
MCPHEE: I didn't get to finish.
snip
MCPHEE: Well, I can answer for Taylor. He has turned into a big jerk. Just kidding.
snip
MCPHEE: That would be like the day that we fly to Graceland or something like that. And we do the whole singing thing for the guests.
HICKS: Sundays are for...
MCPHEE: Sundays were forward shoots, so that is all day long.
(You're interrupting again!!) snip
MCPHEE: He knows all the dates. I don't know anything. snip
MCPHEE: Well, OK, basically, if you want to get into my personal life, fine.
snip
MCPHEE: And, you know, that's the only thing I can connect. Because I have not -- still found out that rumor. The only thing I can think of is maybe a fellow scientologist was like, oh, I did a course with her.
a fellow scientologist? hmmmmmm
Anyone familiar with Toby Keith's wonderful tune "The Critic"?
Heh.
a fellow scientologist? hmmmmmm
"Oops. Did I say thaaaaaat? ROFLOL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.