American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part III)

Fox ^ | 5-8-06

[silent_jonny]

always for Tammy

[SirLinksalot]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/421192p-355375c.html

'Idol' chance at success

Hicks may be a hard sell

Taylor Hicks

He may have made millions scramble for their cell phones to vote him in as the latest "American Idol" winner. But can Taylor Hicks inspire an equal stampede to the record stores and downloading portals for his forthcoming music?
On the surface, it hardly looks like a lock.

The music Hicks specializes in - a boomer-style take on '60s soul - does not fit current radio's vogue. Hicks' sound (let alone his look) has a lot more in common with foggies like Michael McDonald or Michael Bolton than with current favorites like the young romantic James Blunt or thug rapper Chamillionaire (who has a No. 1 hit with "Ridin'").

Then again, "American Idol" plays to a different crowd. A key part of the show's clout comes from its uncanny ability to entice viewers who don't normally buy CDs, those who land far outside the loop of hip.

Take past star Clay Aiken. He may seem more at home in Branson, Mo., or on a Broadway stage than in a pop arena. But he sold nearly 3 million copies of his debut CD to "Idol's" otherwise silent majority. In fact, no previous winner has sold fewer than 1.5 million copies of their debuts. The top draw, Kelly Clarkson, moved over 5 million copies of her latest.

Hicks' first single, "Do I Make You Proud?," sounds so sappy it didn't even impress gush-happy "Idol" judges. Fans won't be able to buy it until July 13. So we've got a ways to wait.

Stay tuned.

[Netizen]

Hicks' first single, "Do I Make You Proud?," sounds so sappy it didn't even impress gush-happy "Idol" judges. Fans won't be able to buy it until July 13. So we've got a ways to wait.

Thanks, I had just chekced out Walmart to see if they had anyhting. Just the AI5 season group CD. No thanks. I'll wait for his single and full CD. :)

[misterrob]

I think that it became obvious that Taylor would win it but it sucked seeing people leave that you liked and connected with on some level. This cast was a good batch of people so it could be easy to like Mandisa, cheer Elliott's progress, have a thing for Bucky, etc..

[EmilyGeiger]

Kat was just a little flirty with Ryan, wouldn't you say?

[StrictTime]

Here's a link to that atrocious performance by Braxton-Hicks in the finale. Poor Taylor! He looks completely uncomfortable.

In the (Sleazy) Ghetto

[Wolfstar]

G'day Jonny. Schadenfreude, indeed. :)

More on the Chicks: Early projections over on Hits Daily Double indicated that they would probably open #1 with around 400,000 units sold. At first blush, sounds like a lot, but HDD pointed out two things that indicate it really isn't. First, it's roughly a 50% drop off from the debut of their last album in 2002. Second, they have been all over the Leftist mainstream media getting maximum publicity in advance of the album's release.

Their pre-release media blitz is unusual for a music album, and it clearly is targeted more toward politically motivated anti-Bush types than the general music-buying public. Here's how HDD says it:

Thanks to glowing stories in Time magazine along with [the] L.A. and N.Y. Times and an appearance on 60 Minutes, the trio's first album since 2002 looks headed for between 410-430k in sales. [Their 2002 album] debuted in August of that year with 780k in sales...

If they only manage around the projected 400,000 units at its release, and their single is getting no radio airplay to help support the album, it will fade quickly.

Here's wishing you a great Memorial Day weekend.

[sweet_diane]

Ok.. my daughter saw Fight Club, but obviously I didn't.

I've seen Meatloaf here and there in movies and TV and always loved to watch him perform.

[Wolfstar]

Meatloaf and Toni Braxton were bizarre!

They really were.

[Wolfstar]

Cowell argued that "Idol" was different, that it could become the American dream, that the audition route with the weeding-out process built suspense and got the audience in the mood to participate later on.

Obviously Cowell was stone-cold right and the network executives were wrong. May explain why network TV is such a wasteland these days.

[retrokitten]

Did you hear the lastest how they bashed The View? It's hysterical. Those broads just don't know when to shut up.

[SirLinksalot]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/26/earlyshow/printable1658214.shtml

CBS NEWS

Can Taylor Hicks Be A Star?

LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2006

---

(CBS) Taylor Hicks is still savoring his victory as the latest "American Idol." But as The Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman reports, music pundits are already questioning whether the soulful singer has what it takes to make it past reality television and into the real music world.

It's one thing to win "American Idol" but another to win over the record buying public — especially if you're gray-haired and 29 years old. Taylor Hicks is ancient by industry standards.

"The record companies are just not interested in anybody over 22 with gray hair," says Michael Laskow, a music agent for Taxi.com

"So the challenge is to figure out a way to capitalize on having 35 million viewers see you a week and figure out how to make them active record buyers," explains Billboard Magazine's Melinda Newman.

Kelly Clarkson is the most successful idol winner, with seven top 20 singles and two Grammy awards.

Clarkson says she never felt that "American Idol" was just a make-believe pop show. "I think that everyone gets in the industry in some manner or form," she says.

Clarkson's star has the risen highest, selling 13 million albums but the others have also climbed the charts. Carrie Underwood sold 3 million albums; Fantasia and Ruben Studdard, 2 million each.

There're more winners than just the official one. Clay Aiken was runner-up two years ago but his record sales are twice as high as Studdard, who beat him.

So what about this year's runner-up, Katharine McPhee? Industry insiders say she may be the next Clay Aiken, outshining the winner.

"The conventional wisdom is that Katharine is stereotypically the easier to market," says Newman. "She's 22, she's pretty, she can sing, you know, she can be fairly more malleable."

At a time when record sales are in a slump, "American Idol" has become a cash cow. All told, 33 million "Idol" albums have been sold and some of the singers have won over the critics. And some think, despite the "age" issue, Taylor has a uniqueness that could make him the biggest "Idol" winner yet.

"I think he's got a really good shot at matching Kelly Clarkson (in album sales)," says Laskow. "I think men are going to buy his CDs, women, kids, grandmas and grandpas will buy it."

Not missing a beat, Taylor Hicks' first single has already been released.

More than 50 percent of Billboard.com voters said they probably would not purchase Taylor Hicks' album. However, 31 percent were willing to wait and buy it only if it is good.

[Wolfstar]

Did you hear the lastest how they bashed The View? It's hysterical. Those broads just don't know when to shut up.

No, but the more they flap their gums, the more enemies they make. Which is just fine by me. :)

[Netizen]

No regrets for Elliott Yamin
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137836339977&path=!flair&s=1045855936229

BY DOUGLAS DURDEN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
May 26, 2006


HOLLYWOOD The show, as in "American Idol," may be over. But the work, as in a three-month concert tour that starts in July, is just beginning.

We caught up with Richmond's own Elliott Yamin yesterday for a few moments and asked him about the final days of his "Idol" odyssey.

Times-Dispatch: How did you feel during Wednesday's finale? Was it like a graduation?

Yamin: Yeah, it felt like a graduation in many ways. It was good being back with the group and rekindling those friendships. We worked awfully hard. We were up until 1 a.m. a lot of nights rehearsing.

T-D: Did you get to meet Prince, Wednesday's big surprise guest?

Yamin: I only got to shake his hand. But that worked for me.

T-D: So, now that it's all over, who were you rooting for to win?

Yamin: Taylor [Hicks]. We've been good friends since this whole thing started. He's going to be my friend for the rest of our lives. We thought we were going to battle it out for the crown. He said I deserved it. He's my dawg.

T-D: When you were watching Taylor and Katharine McPhee on the stage for the final time Wednesday, did you have a twinge of "That should have been or that could have been me"?

Yamin: I'd be lying if I said I didn't, especially Tuesday night when I was in the audience. There were a few moments [during the competition] when I thought I came really close. But that's a good feeling, not one of regret. Everything happens for a reason.

But, of course, there were flashes that it could have been me.

T-D: What did you do after Wednesday's finale?

Yamin: We went to a wrap party. Everybody and his mother was there -- including my mother. I got to say goodbye no, see you later -- to a lot of people. I've had so many jobs. Now I'm starting a career. And I've never worked with a more awesome set of people.

T-D: There's a rumor that you have your own album in the works.

Yamin: The only album in the works is the "American Idol" compilation album that went on sale Tuesday.

T-D: How did Wednesday's duet with Mary J. Blige come about?

Yamin: Initially, they asked Stevie Wonder. He agreed, then something came up and he went on tour. Then, Lenny Kravitz, but that didn't work out. She agreed at the last minute, and I couldn't have been happier.

[EmilyGeiger]

How long does it take once the show is over for the winner's album to be released? Oops sorry, my manners....How are you today wolfstar? Just jumped right in without saying hello. :)

[Wyatt's Torch]

From what I read about Carrie and Bo's experiences making their albums, Clive & Idol gave them a lot of freedom to choose what they wanted to do. But in Bo's case, he invited way too many "pros" onto his album and the result is a big mess.

If Taylor presents a clear idea of what he wants to do (and I'm sure he will), I think Clive will let him do it. But of course, his album will have to include at least one schlock-pop tune--that's mandatory :)

Bo's record was truly awful (and I was a big Bo fan last season and I really wanted to like it). It was obvious he took a lot of (bad) advice from someone. I have a feeling Taylor will stick to his guns. He knows the Soul Patrol got him here and what they are expecting.

[sweet_diane]

"but this is what makes Taylor stand out among the 12 contestants and in a way, helped his cause because Idol is not simply about singing but TOTAL PACKAGE .... "

What I love about this whole Taylor Hicks AI thing is that it proves that the Hollyweird powers that be have NO CLUE what America likes. They weren't allowed to force feed us what THEY wanted us to buy.

[Netizen]

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Insider/default.htm?cmsGuid={93085A63-0766-4547-8B36-EC2EE6C2272C}

[sweet_diane]

Loved the link and saved it for the family. I'd love to see Meatloaf and Kat as I had to miss that part of the show and have read so much about it!

[Netizen]

What I love about this whole Taylor Hicks AI thing is that it proves that the Hollyweird powers that be have NO CLUE what America likes. They weren't allowed to force feed us what THEY wanted us to buy.

Truer words were never spoken! :)

[StrictTime]