I have mulled and mulled over what to say after the latest Soul Patrol blowup. There are so many things that I can say…but instead, I’ve just decided to say this:

This is my sandbox and if you don’t like it, go play somewhere else.

I have built this blog in order to have a place to “talk Taylor” or talk about anything that I want. I have tried to be fair and kind regarding all the posters. I have respected the opinions of others. However, just because I respect your opinion does not mean that I agree with it. Just as some of you don’t agree with mine, I don’t agree with yours, and no amount of cajoling, arguing or intimidating will change that. There are other blogs, there are other boards. If you want to be overly enthusiastic, go to those. Nobody is forcing anybody else to read or comment on this blog. If you don’t like the style of the posts or the content, don’t come here. If you want to continue to come here, that’s fine, too. But be prepared. Apparently I am going to have to moderate a little bit more. Obviously, an open board where all opinions are given cannot be tolerated by certain factions of the Soul Patrol.

There is a reason why this is the only blog in the Taylor Hicks fandom where good and bad things can be said about Taylor Hicks.

So, you can stay or you can go. I don’t need paragraphs about why you’re not going to post anymore. Honestly, I don’t care. I am not here to serve your Taylor Hicks needs. I am here to write the blog that I want to write. That’s really the bottom line.

Sean Priester’s official launch of the Soul Patrol lunch wagon is tonight on Maunakea in Chinatown. Formerly the executive chef at Top of Waikiki, Sean has started a socially conscious venture that serves up gourmet leftovers to the houseless. We caught up with Sean for lunch… here’s a glimpse of his soul food inspired/Pacific Rim influenced menu:

Creativity is the name of the game when it comes to launching a new business in this economy. Sean’s committed to making his operation as simple and nimble as possible, while serving up gourmet eats for the complex palate.

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin ran a story about the Soul Patrol and its special mission that satisfies Sean’s passion while serving up a profit. Link to the story: “Chef’s soul fuels lunch wagon, Sean Priester and pals will take Soul Patrol to Waianae to feed the homeless”

You can find Soul Patrol on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pacificsoul

By following Chef Sean’s tweets @pacificsoul, you can find out where the lunch wagon is each day.

As I write this, I’m so full and satisfied by my pulled pork adobo sandwich. Wish I could take a nap.

A clip from The Soul Patrol launch later the same day… First Friday:

– BAP

…Ray Charles

…Rockin’ Pneumonia

…random interview

Yep. I’ve got nothing after that.

Tonight I’m posting a brilliant open letter by The Birdman. Listen up Baldy, he’s speaking wisdom that could impact the rest of your career. Thanks, The Birdman!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Baldy.

You probably don’t remember me. I was at your Seattle show in August – short, skinny, tattooed dark guy in a wifebeater come to mind? Probably not, cause I was right up the back and left early to go get a beer.

I’m also a regular member of the former Idletard and now hang on various AI tard-bashing sites including this one. I know you know of us – one of our members gave you one of our famous Tard Strong bracelets (a high honour, but what did you do with it?) and you ran into the esteemed admin of this site in Virginia. Many Idletard members believe that you used to read the site pretty regularly and that you check out this site as well, although for obvious reasons (fat chick stampede) you don’t admit it.

There’s a reason I’m taking time out of my day to write you this. I like you. I think you’re a funny guy, you have decent taste in music and I can respect anyone with the balls to tackle an Our Lady Peace song on American Idol (although why did you sing the second verse? The first verse of Innocent = 10 times better). But when I went to your show, I was met by what we Idletard-ites (hey, you’re the Word Nerd. Tell me how to do it right, won’t ya.) call the frau. And not just one or two. Several. Several fat, sweaty frau pushing, shoving and bitching their way to the front while stinking up the place and making me (and the hot blonde near me) nauseous. And the show hasn’t even started.

At the time, I was not a regular Idletard member and was merely travelling through America as a way of getting over a break-up. However, when I heard I was in Seattle at the same time you were I remembered the tales of crazed fans I had heard and decided to check it out for myself. I had long assumed all the tales were at least partly exaggerated.

Fuck, was I wrong.

I have been going to hardcore punk and metal gigs since I was in my mid teens and old enough to carry a fake ID and look it. I’m no stranger to gig violence at all. I have been punched in the face, kicked in the shins and the only reason I’m still fertile is because I started wearing a box to protect my nuts. And I have been known to dish it out as well.

But what I saw at your show was completely different. I normally like to stand at the front, however when I tried to get there the frau all glared at me and told me to get to the back because “I’m not a real fan.” And I wasn’t the only one. Through the night I watched these bitches harassing everyone who dared to come closer to the stage even from my place at the back of the floor, especially younger women. And their behaviour while you were playing was fucking appalling. You and I both know what is appropriate concert behaviour, particularly in a larger venue. Screaming when you tried to speak, yelling into the monitors and continuing to harass everyone else is not appropriate behaviour anywhere. The worst part was that if I or anyone else said anything back to them, we were fucked. Even if they actually wouldn’t have assaulted me, I wasn’t willing to take the chance especially as almost all of them were twice as wide as me.

You have probably read Smartie and Teevho’s entreaties to grow some balls and tell the frau to fuck off. I’m not going to give you that line. I’m a working muso myself. I know how important it is to have someone fund your lifestyle, even if they are psychotic bitches. And I’ve seen your retorts – the myspace blog, the video etc which are about as much as you can do on the road short of kicking their heads in, which = jail time.

There is, however, one thing you can do.

You’ve mentioned you plan to return to the studio early next year. Great. But here comes the advice.

Give the frau a fuck you through the music.

You’ve mentioned your love of Nine Inch Nails in the past. Get Trent Reznor as a collaborator and producer. Get Chris Cornell back, but don’t accept any half-arsed Carry On/Scream leftovers from him – this is the guy who wrote Jesus Christ Pose, get some of that brutal magic. Collaborate with Jerry Cantrell and have him bust out some classic Alice riffs for you. Don’t let Brian Howes within a hundred miles of the studio. Hell, go to any alternative/indie club night and offer the best bands’ songwriters as much of 19E’s cash as you can to help you write a few tracks. Or go in a totally different direction. Whatever pleases you. But for the love of God, mate, don’t record another album of post-grunge dirges that any real music fan (frau being TV rather than music fans) can hear in a bar every Saturday night. Do something crazy already to show to everyone who matters (i.e. everyone other than a few crazed fat chicks who will leave you next time some other Idol contestant makes their vaginas explode) that David Cook is a legitimate artist, not a TV karaoke performer.

Already you have a pretty big credibility problem as I’m sure you’re aware. The AI powers that be pimped you hard because they thought you could be Daughtry 2.0., but even they’re not stupid enough to realise that it didn’t really work for you the first time. They’ll probably give you another chance, but if this next album is more of the same and doesn’t sell to anyone other than frau, it’s back to playing bars in Kansas City for you. Only now you’re gonna wind up like Taylor Hicks and the Soul Patrol who follow him everywhere. If you read some of the Idletard Soul Patrol stories, you’ll know what I’m on about. And stuff like a Christmas special won’t help you regain credibility, or a place in Carrie Underwood’s pants.

However, if you show some balls and aren’t afraid to do something a little more hardcore, you might actually have a shot at gaining some credibility with rock fans, who are mostly smart enough to realise a fuck you when they see one and will respect you for having the balls to do so. And who will, yes, buy your stuff.

Get one thing straight first. You are not going to be Nickelback or Creed. Packed out arenas are not in your future unless you’re working the snack bar. Daughtry got lucky because he was able to mostly do his own thing after Idol and that thing happened to be popular. Your nuts belonged to 19E. You couldn’t do that. But now’s your chance, cause with all the focus on Adam Lambert they’ve probably forgotten you anyway.

If you don’t take my advice, enjoy your life as it is now, cause it’s only gonna get worse. Maybe you can marry Svagjina. She’s gonna be a lawler, you know. And I’m sure you can wash the taste of Neal out.

Regards,

The Birdman.

P.S. Speaking of Neal, he hasn’t paid his dues to the Fugly Unwashed Guys Who Play Guitar To Get Laid Union yet. Can you remind him to pay? Paypal account F.U.G.W.P.2.L.U@fuckyouall.com. You’re free to join as well – we need a treasurer.

As I listen to this new interview(Wednesday, Segment 11-13), I just wanted to throw some random thoughts out there. So, here goes nothing…

*This DJ dude loves Taylor. That’s cool, he needs more of that. First off, the obligatory questions about the “girlfriend”. Taylor doesn’t have time…and “I tried the relationship thing on the road.”

*When the DJ basically asked him why AI hated him, Taylor responded with “The songs that you record you have to live with the rest of your life. I started blazing that path of having my own creative control.” In other words: I was basically an ass and did what I wanted. That pissed them off, and they blackballed me. Ok, maybe not exactly, but that’s my interpretation. Isn’t that what you’re reading for?

*”I don’t have to work at a bank to get in my underwear, drink beer, watch television, watch football.” hahahahahah

*”I was in Italy…not thinking that I would get Soul Patrolled.” Once again, Taylor is breaking through, inventing new phrases. Gotta love it.

*DJ: When you’re a single guy traveling the country, women must be jumping all over you.
Taylor: *grunts*
DJ: Do you like fat chicks?
Taylor: Maybe…maybe I do.

*That little exchange cracked me up. But then it gets better. We get tips from Taylor on how to pick him up.
“I like grey hair and I like one night stands.” ahahhahaha…I love this side of Taylor. “Be real.”

*”You guys got me a cake??!! Oh crap!!”

*”I have a Coldstone cake. It’s a very hard ice cream cake.”

I love this interview. I love that Taylor showed a side of himself that perhaps only his inner circle sees. Also, I love how the other two DJ’s are giving the guy a hard time about having a crush on Taylor. Kudos to Taylor for showing some personality..it’s kind of like Taylor gave me a gift for his birthday. Ha.

Every once in a while, I think to myself…Ok, I’m done. I don’t need to hear every little bit of Taylor news. I don’t need to know where he is 24/7. I don’t care who he’s dating. I just am going to back to my normal life and leave Taylor in the past. Every time, Taylor then does something to pull me back in. I knew that the Mecca weekend would bring some pretty good videos. I knew Taylor would be on his best behavior and put on a hell of a show. I don’t think he disappointed anyone. Not even me.

Here are some of the videos responsible for my inner fangirl seeing the light of day:

Wow. Tons of emotion in this one…

I haven’t listened to this song in a very, very long time…and hearing it brought back some memories…good and bad. I can’t say enough about Brian Less. He is seriously awesome!!

Josh Smith. AMAZING. If you’re like me, you’ll skip to about the 4 minute mark when the magic begins. What can I say? WRIR is not one of my favorites…but damn, the ending is fantastic!!

Whew. I’m about spent. But this one…is very cool. Love, love, love the original ones.

Shut up and sing. I voted for you.

Priceless.

Talk about it.
Post it.
Share it.

BRING IT.

GO!

Something to get us started…

I know Workplay is coming up…and I also know that all of your hardcore stalkers fans will be there. I know you’re probably looking for some sage advice on how to handle all the adulation. So, because I love to tell you what to do, here ya go:

1. If you’re invited to a family reunion, but it’s not your family…don’t go. There’s a couple of sis fans that would like to bring you into the fold. And by into the fold, I really mean lock you in their basement.

2. These people know where your parents live. Don’t go there. Better yet, send them to Tahiti for a second honeymoon. It will save them a lot of grief.

3. They also know where you like to go for your meat and three. Get delivery.

4. Can you swing by Georgia and pick Bill up? I miss him.

5. We recommend promoting Clay to “Drink Tester”. Don’t drink anything that a fan has bought you unless Clay has first. If he doesn’t pass out in a drug stupor within 30 seconds, you’re fine. Consume at will.

6. Tell your family and your inner circle, no new friends this weekend. It doesn’t matter if they’re friends on Facebook or not.

7. When you get drunk and go out at 2am, there will be cameras and video wherever you go. Stay locked up. Drink alone. This is why you need to pick up Bill.

Most of all, have fun and SOUL PAH-TROL!!

Yours in unbridled sarcasm,

Straw

Another show, another review…boy, the Houston press doesn’t take too kindly to Taylor, do they?

Even though I don’t agree with a lot of what this guy says, he did hit the nail on the head with this:

We couldn’t tell if the crowd was excited to hear an obscure Nawlins track or if they just enjoyed being able to smell the man’s dry cleaning. You could stick out your finger and taste the sexual charge in the air.

and maybe this:

After watching Taylor Hicks last night in the studio last night at Warehouse Live we now know why these hallowed blog halls have been strewn with bitter words from angry Soul Patrollers. Hicks is a modern day Dan Fogelberg, a one-man Bread, and an American Idol anomaly.

As for this part:

It’s his original work that gets overwrought and clunky, with every song either rhyming “love” with “above” or “hand” with “man.”

I completely disagree. I love his original stuff.

Although, this vid is great:

and this:

I love Battlefield, too…

This is a great version of Don’t Let Me Down

I haven’t heard him sing this in a long time…

Some random observations:

1. Distracted much, Taylor? Dude, Ritalin can be your friend.

2. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could actually smell the person that was talking? What? Might be a good thing…might not be.

3. So, I guess Taylor is now an Idol expert since he’s talking on the Early Show. Guess what? The Early Show is on in the morning. Ha.

4. Taylor does not want to be on COPS. Damn, that could have been fun. He could always be on Entourage. That can’t be too far from the truth. They just did an episode at a celebrity golf tourney!

5. How many times is he going to say “You guys!!”?

6. “Let me read some of this chat stuff. Ummmm…..cool.” ahahhahahahhaaha

7. 1976-1982 That’s what he wants to go back to? Oh boy. He wants to be the next Tom Jones. Well, he’s already got a drum full of panties.

8. Limin’…gotta love that song.

9. You can tell that he is definitely having a hard time focusing. And he’s cracking himself up too.

10. ” Hire a good mouthpiece.” “Don’t date a musician and don’t mess with anybody’s dogs.” Ok, is it just me or does it seem like Taylor talks in sound bites?

11. It seems a little odd to me that he won’t mention the cologne he wears. Is it because it’s too personal? Or because he doesn’t want 4908574 bottles sent to him? Or is it because it’s really Love’s Baby Soft Musk? ahahaha

12. Well, that was…interesting.

Tomorrow, the Taylor fandom will be in front of their computers, salivating for a chance to chat LIVE!! with their American Idol. The problem is, this is Taylor and it’s live. The chances of something going wrong are numerous, especially since, as my friendly neighborhood astrologist tells me, mercury is in retrograde. I really don’t know what that means, but I don’t think it’s good. So, in order to avert the evil eye, bad mojo or the Brady Bunch Tiki doll of doom, I’m throwing some ideas out there.

1. This is live and this is Taylor. Wait, I already said that. Taylor and technology don’t exactly go together. Do I even need to remind you what happened when he wanted to have a “chat” and it got postponed 843576 times before actually working?

2. Taylor will sweat profusely, necessitating a shirt change in the middle of the video chat. Some people might like that though.

3. Taylor will rely on the interview standby’s for answers, such as “I’m running a marathon, not a sprint.” and “Grease is a great opportunity for somebody breaking into the acting field.”

4. Once again, he’ll mention how many roles he was offered before accepting “Grease” or worse yet, how he was in the middle of eating a barbecue sandwich while accepting “Grease”.

5. Taylor will proclaim himself Mr. Twitter and is taking over the universe.

6. Taylor will refer to all his fans as “twats” because they twitter with him.

7. He’ll talk about how Bill found the perfect cheeseburger and that’s why he’s no longer working with him.

8. Let’s just hope Taylor doesn’t pan the webcam down and show a glimpse of Clay rubbing his feet.

9. Taylor’s allergies will act up, causing there to be technical difficulties with the webcam. Perhaps a particularly potent sneeze will topple it from the stand.

10. He’ll refer to himself in the third person, but only as “Cone Ranger”.

Seems like it’s time for Season 5 on American Idol Rewind. Finally. I’m going on record saying I don’t really like this show since I can only view it on the TV Guide channel. I have a real problem watching a program while the viewing guide is scrolling below it. My attention span is short enough without any help, thanks.

It seems some members of the Soul Patrol are already in an uproar over The Wronging of Taylor, Redux. Of course they are viewing the Season 5 rewind from the fandom point of view. But, let’s look through the eyes of a corporation, namely the Evil Monster (FremantleMedia), the massive company that has such a huge impact on American culture, the megacorporation that can make or break an artist in a matter of seconds. Fremantle has a wildly popular show, one that makes them a lot of money. So, what does one do with great shows? Replay them, and not just for the fans viewing pleasure…. oh no. Replay them featuring the performers who have already made (you guessed it… ) MONEY, those artists who appeal to a mass audience. Artists like Daughtry, and even Pickler.

While Taylor Hicks was the winner of American Idol, Season Five, he is not the contestant who has made Fremantle the most money. Thus, he’s not going to be the one featured. Fremantle replays AI to remind people of these artists, so they’ll go out and spend … say it with me now everyone…  “MONEY!!”

Speaking of Season Five:

And just in case you haven’t seen this enough for a lifetime:

Woke up this morning and noticed that Taylor had an announcement. The old taylorhicks.com is out the window, and a new revamped website is up. It’s kind of like a Facebook for Taylor fans. You can add photos, videos and become “friends” with other fans. It’s an interesting concept, and may help the fandom in the long run. Kudos to Taylor and his crew for doing this!! Here’s some great pics that Taylor posted:

The harps…how cool is this pic?

Check it out!!

The Idol tour has started. People are throwing sex toys at Adam Lambert, much like Taylor had panties thrown at him. Where are the limits for fans of musicians? Or are there really any? I mean, panties are one thing, but sex toys? With kids in the audience? Should this kind of behavior be saved for shows at nightclubs and/or bars?

Check out this video around the 2:18 mark.

Take a look at this video. David Cook is out signing autographs after a show. Listen to how he talks to his fans, as he has every right to do. I swear, these people must think he’s a trained monkey. Geez.

I also came across this pretty interesting blog. Lots of interesting fan violations on there…how many of those have you been subjected to? Shouldn’t there be some kind of fan guide?

…my favorite day would be out on my big ass boat, trolling for Soul Patrol, because they always take the bait. This dude even states in the article that he is hoping that the SP will comment. Just face it, there are people who are never going to like Taylor Hicks, just like some people despise Disney, or Matt Damon even. Not everybody has the same taste in music, cars, love interests, hobbies…and thank God for that. I will never understand the Soul Patrol’s relentless need to have everybody love Taylor Hicks. But then again, there are those that look at this as an unmoderated hate blog. Yes, I’m talking to you, L.

Thanks to NolaMar for these great pics!! Seeing them reminded me of my TH journey.

This is like the beginning of my journey, so full of optimism and hope for the future, waiting to see Taylor on American Idol every week. Reading all the blogs, listening to all the pre-AI music that Taylor had done.

Then I partook in the excitement and the music, loving every minute of it. The American Idol tour, the shadow gigs, traveling around the country going to concerts, making great friends.

Then came the bitterness of the Soul Patrol, the fan site wars, the competition of who was the better fan fueled by speculation of who Taylor was really dating. The excitement and the music were still there, but the drama of the fandom took it’s toll.

But yet, with a smile on my face, I keep coming back for more. Drawn by the music, perhaps drawn by the potential that I see. Maybe I’m still waiting for that “something”…

And then this:

Thanks to Candy for getting this!! Gotta love Spoonful James. These guys rock!!

This could quite possibly be one of the Top Ten Dilberts of all time:

It’s kind of sad I’ve had to post it more than once, though.

So, I was considering staying out of the latest Soul Patrol fray…until it got so ridiculous that I just can’t help but make fun of it. I’m not sure how this mess got started but it might have something to do with twitter messages like these:

bella313: Why is the biggest Taylor Hicks fansite following CD and Kat McPee.on their twitter page?

RT@sweetsmoke1 Y is biggest Taylor Hicks fansite soliciting votes 4 other people 4 Mr.Twitter what’s up with that http://tinyurl.com/mdmnve

I mean honestly, after three years, people are still referring to Katherine McPhee as Kat McPee? What grade are we in anyway? And I bet Taylor listens to Daughtry. Hell, most of America does.

It’s unbelievable. Being a Taylor Hicks fan doesn’t mean that you can’t be a fan of other musicians. Taylor doesn’t have the exclusive rights to your musical soul. How boring would it be to listen to the same artist, over and over? There are so many artists out there, just waiting to be discovered. Taylor Hicks isn’t the be all, end all of the music world. And the twitter tattling? Get a grip, people. Taylor isn’t your father and I bet he really doesn’t give a damn about any of it.

Anyway, I’m moving on to this interview:

Just when we thought we knew everything about Taylor Hicks, he throws some more tidbits our way.

Some highlights:

*Hicks knows he helps get Soul Patrol fans into seats, which is why the touring company booked him. “The fan base is definitely there,” he said.

Where? (I kid…ish.)

*Hicks is also unfazed by the fact Web sites such as TMZ mock him for not being a monstrous Carrie Underwood-level success. “If they talk about you, then deep down, they love ya,” he said. “If they don’t, then you have problems.”

I’m not sure love is the word that I would use.

*Hicks said this is the first year since he won that he’s had time to follow the show carefully. He wished he could have played an instrument like contestants can now (an innovation added season seven.) “I had to wear paisley shirts and dance really funky,” he recalled. “I was told if I even pulled out a harmonica, I’d be disqualified. I did it anyway. And they didn’t disqualify me.”

Interesting… if I recall, Taylor didn’t actually play that harmonica. The late, great Paula Abdul asked him what he had in his hand. There’s a scandal for you: Paula Abdul kept Taylor from being disqualified in Season Five!!

*“I have musical Tourettes Syndrome,” he said. “Van Morrison did tagging a lot. Sam Cooke. All the greats. They are all musical enough to incorporate other songs. Let’s face it. Songs come from other songs. And no, it’s not preplanned. It’s spontaneous thinking.”

He finally answered my question!! It’s spontaneous… ; but tell me this TayTay, are you comparing yourself to Sam Cooke and all the other “greats”? Ah well, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

*Hicks is not the most introspective guy. When I asked him another fan question from Michelle in Indianapolis, he was relatively stumped.

He hemmed and hawed, then said, “How about this: I’m happier since I won. I’ve learned to be happier!”

Ok, that cracked me up!! Does that mean no more pissy Meet & Greets??

And this…I am not even going to respond to….

*“A live album is in the works. I’m going to release a DVD called Whomp at the Warfield out of San Francisco. It was taped two years ago.” Why did he wait? “We wanted to make sure we had this second album out, then follow it up with the DVD.”

Or maybe I should… Hey!! That sounds like a song… hmmmm.

I is for In Your Time
This was Taylor Hicks’ first studio album, recorded in 1997, when he was 21 years old.

Here’s the story behind “Son of a Carpenter”

The Fall

In Your Time

Somehow (Rajrae…I actually filmed this video at the Pageant. I know you were looking for the person who filmed it.)

On Broadway. How prophetic.

Tighten Up – Taylor Hicks

Georgia

There’s no embedding on this one, but this version of Georgia is my absolute favorite. I don’t know if he was drunk, high, or just in the zone, but this is awesome.

While there’s been much noise made on this blog (Snow) because of the apparent age of Taylor’s fanbase, he’s not the only Idol that this happens to. I was directed to this very interesting article about Adam Lambert and the cougars that follow him.

The reasons run from scientific:

In terms of biology, Adam Lambert’s attractiveness is kind of bizarre. Some research shows that women like square jaws and deep brows—iconic masculine traits—when they’re looking for a fling. But we like more feminine traits when we’re looking for The One, the long-term mate. Lambert has a little bit of both going on for him, as anyone who saw his version of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” can attest.

to sex:

Part of the Lambert allure is that some women find his onstage lack of inhibition a powerful aphrodisiac. According to psychoanalyst Dr. Gail Saltz, we all have a little touch of the voyeur inside of us, but it’s often repressed. Then along comes Lambert, and those voyeuristic floodgates open. “Here’s a guy who is a maximum exhibitionist, molten hot, can sing anything and is screaming, ‘Look at me,’ and for some women, that’s an incredible turn-on,” says Saltz, author of The Ripple Effect: How Better Sex Can Lead to a Better Life.

to our childhoods:

It may also go back to our childhood, as all things psychoanalytic seem to do. According to Saltz, buried deep inside all of us is the childhood desire to be able to have everything and anything, whenever you want. So part of our fascination with Mr. Lambert is that we may want to be like him. “[Lambert] is the poster child for having it all,” says Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine. “Men want him, women want him, and that ambiguity is as hot as hell.”

And then, this:

“There’s something very wonderful about someone who can say, ‘Accept me or don’t accept me,’” Maltz says. “We tend to lose that as we get older.”

Once I thought about that statement, I realized that that was part of what drew me to Taylor Hicks. He went on AI and didn’t give a shit what anybody thought about him, at first. He danced his way, sang his way and behaved his way…until he decided he wanted to win. Then, it became all about pleasing his fans and not pissing any of them off. The apology on GrayCharles for saying “fuck” on the rehearsal.com videos was the start. Seriously? The man was 30 years old. The “smoking” video on AI. Why was it such a big secret? Why did he stop being himself? He could have just said, “Yep, I smoke. It’s a horrible habit, and I’m trying to quit” even if it was a lie. Hell, that would have only been the first of many lies he’s told his fans. But he didn’t. When he started that, he lost a part of himself…the part of himself that didn’t care if people accepted him. Maybe, in doing that, in trying to keep his fans pleased, he actually lost some of them. In reality, maybe his fan base didn’t want somebody who was so willing to conform. Also, doing that has now put a wedge between him and his fans, almost placing himself on a higher pedestal. That might be why we don’t get the weekly blogs as promised, or the twittering of anything remotely personal. Go to the Adam Lambert fansite (which is free, by the way) and you’ll be greeted with a personal video of Adam welcoming you to the site, encouraging you to become a part of the community. Maybe that’s the allure of Adam. Hopefully, he’ll keep that attitude in his journey to stardom.

Here’s Taylor performing yesterday.