American Idol Buzz

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 8, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry that TayTay hasn’t had the recording success that some of the others have, notably Kelly, Carrie and even Daughtry … But based on his personality and charisma, he’ll ALWAYS be a better showman than recording artist. Such is life. Maybe a label that can match his style and personality will find a way to capitalize on that.

we’ll see!

By Sarah

January 8, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

Who is Taylor Hicks?

By Karen

January 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Let’s be honest: Hicks should not have won that year. Daughtry was far more talented. And it really shows when it comes to real-world celebrity and fan support. C’est la vie. Taylor should try his hand on Broadway and get out of the recording business.

By War Eagle

January 8, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this

LOL Sarah. Good Question

flats if you’re out there congrats on the #2 AP

By War Eagle

January 8, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

WOW new people welcome

I can deal with the format but speed this sumbitch up!!!

By Deirdre

January 8, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

Karen, while I agree with you on who SHOULD have won that year, Taylor Hicks is not even close to being suitable for Broadway. He’s definitely the intimate club singer kind of guy. I think he’ll do very well touring the smaller places. In other words, going back to what he was doing before but with a little more clout.

By AmyG

January 8, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this

I agree WE, that’s the main thing I don’t like about this format - the speed.

Linny, how did you know there was another thread up? I couldn’t tell.

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 8, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

Has Taylor dropped J or J dropped Taylor? I’ve heard it debated both ways. The way I understood it was J dropped Taylor, and this is the article that ran in the AJC coming off the Associated Press:

(AP)NEW YORK — Taylor Hicks might have won “American Idol,” but he doesn’t have his record deal anymore.

The soul singer, who claimed the “Idol” title in 2006, has apparently been dropped by J Records, a label within Sony-BMG, which signs the show’s singers.

“Taylor is going to record on his own for the next album,” said J Records publicist Liz Morentin, who did not give further details regarding Hicks.

Another “Idol” winner — Ruben Studdard of season two — left his contract with J Records late last year, but continues his contract with 19 Entertainment, the company managed by “Idol” creator Simon Fuller.

Studdard is now at work on an upcoming album, but it will not be distributed by J Records, Morentin said. Studdard’s previous album, 2006’s “The Return,” has sold only 236,000 copies.

Roger Widynowski, spokesman for 19 Entertainment, did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment on Hicks’ situation. Hicks’ self-titled, post-“Idol” album, released in December 2006, debuted at No. 2 on the charts. In the weeks after it was issued, however, the disc slid down the charts. While it sold a respectable 699,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data, it did not reach the 1 million mark, unlike all the other debuts from previous “Idol” champs. It also did not register a hit song, unlike other “Idol” winners.

By War Eagle

January 8, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

My dad just called and said he saw me on news. Channel 46 out of Atlanta.

By Fulton

January 8, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

You lost me at ‘soul singer’…..

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 8, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

WOOHOO!!!!!! better your dad than your boss, eh? ~¿@

By ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 8, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

new thread? i logged off and back on, and it came up with something else first … also, over to the side, the links….to other dates… seems to me i clicked on the top one one time and it changed the posting that was up to something newer than what i’d been on…. it’s been a while, i’ll have to remember all my old tricks for dealing with the AJCformat, LOL (that is, the “mushblog” format!!!)

By Deirdre

January 8, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Amy..be sure you bookmark the main page rather than the page where all the comments are. The main page will have a box listing the last 4 comments to post…they could be from any one of the blog’s threads…but the thread that appears before the box is the most recent one. Once you click on ‘comment’ it will take you to all the comments for that particular essay. If you look at the last 4 comments box, you’ll see that they could be from different topics.

Does that help at all?

By Deirdre

January 8, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

If you’re having trouble finding the main page go to www.ajc.com/idolblog. That will take you directly to the main page and you’ll be able to see all the threads from there.

By AmyG

January 8, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

Thank you both! :)

By War Eagle

January 8, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

Yea Linny, Well I start class back again tonight. I only have one class this quarter ” Technical Communication” I’m not really sure what it is all about. I just hope it is interesting because the class last from 5:30 until 9:45 and they don’t believe in getting out early. This will wrap up the program I am in now. I’m leaning towards following up with an electronics technology degree.

By Deirdre

January 8, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

Go for it, War Eagle!!!

Maybe we can find someone with a computer degree who will speed this puppy up!!!!

By noimnot

January 8, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM TAYLOR via www.myspace.com/taylorhicks

To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!”

By noimnot

January 8, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM TAYLOR via www.myspace.com/taylorhicks

To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!”

By noimnot

January 8, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM TAYLOR via www.myspace.com/taylorhicks

To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!”

By Judy

January 8, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

I happen to think that” Taylor Hicks “the album was superb,every track was excellent,and I am excited that Taylor will have creative freedom on his next CD !

By KarenE

January 8, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this

If JRecords have promoted Taylor Hicks as the winner of season 5 like they were suppose to, maybe they wouldn’t be losing one of if not the best that came from AI ever. I for one will not or have not watched AI since season 5 and will not ever watch it again.

By kathy

January 9, 2008 12:11 AM | Link to this

I don’t think it matters one hoot anymore who wins that stupid show. Who cares. The best ones all seem to get their music out there. Someone in Taylor’s camp let it slip this summer that he was trying to buy out his contract whether that happened or they came to some other agreement it was what Taylor wanted. let’s face it a recording contract with a giant conglomerate doesn’t mean you are making any money, they are but is the artist? He can do better with a different company or as an Indie. I loved his CD BUT the songs he did with Elliot on WorkPlay with Limbo, NOW that’s HOT music. I hope that’s the direction he goes.

By D

January 9, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

about time, that guy is not anything special. he exposed American Idol for the pile of crap that it is. you can go to any karaoke contest and any noght club in the metro Atlanta area and find a singer with more talent than this dancing monkey. what a shame it is to all the talented singers that have worked so hard for this hack to be rewarded for his singing.

By D

January 9, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

he sings only ok at best, there is nothing special about his voice, the only reason he won was because simple minded people forget it was also about the singer, but they only cared that he could dance around like a organ grinder’s monkey with a cup in his hand. Dierdre is right, this guy will only do well in a live setting where his stupid dancing and phony smile will appeal to the sheep. put this guy next to someone like Allison Krauss, Pavarotti, Ray Charles, Freddie Mercury, etc., and the difference would be night and day, his shortcomings would so clear to see. once again, Taylor Hicks=dancing monkey; not a real singer!

By Deirdre

January 9, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

D…why don’t you tell us how you really feel…don’t hold back. :-)

I always like people who agree with me but, I liked Taylor as a performer. I enjoyed his take on some of the songs and I also enjoyed the fact that he didn’t ‘fit the mold’. Are there better singers out there? Absolutely! Better performers? Without a doubt! But Taylor has his own unique qualities. There are a lot of people who agree with you, D and for good reason, but I’m not one of them.

By D

January 9, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

hicks is like a very, very poor man’s bruce springsteen. with all the talent in this country, it is shameful to see someone like taylor at the top of a so-called talent contest. on idol they seem to pick people for the show like the real world picks people for their show, like wheel of fortune picks for their show, like springer would pick for his show, they don’t want the best, they don’t want the brightest, they don’t want the most talented. nobody with taylor’s level of talent should have a recording contract. but in idol’s defense, the most talented singers don’t need to go to idol, they can just bypass that step, they are usually seen before they need to enter some popularity contest. idol stopped being a talent show a long time ago. does hicks have some talent, yeah, I guess, because one day when he’s performing outside the bus station, I’ll throw some change in his hat.

By MC

January 9, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

you know how you can tell if someone is a good singer or not? you still want to listen to them with your eyes closed. Taylor does not have that quality. if you can’t see him doing his act then he’s not worth listening to. clubs, Vegas, things like that would work for Taylor. but sadly any future albums he puts out that are just audio will never sell many copies. what has happened to all the great voices?

By Deirdre

January 9, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

MC…as far as I can tell, the only people looking for great voices is the Idol people. True, Taylor won but I think it was because he was charismatic and unique.

We had a couple of great voices last year. Melinda Doolittle comes to mind. Jordin’s ‘voice’ was wonderful…I wasn’t all that fond of her performance level.

And if you look at pop music today…it isn’t about the voice at all…it’s about the show!

By Jan

January 9, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

I heard Taylor wanted out of that contract badly and his lawyers got him out because of breach of Contract. They didn’t promote him, put his single out late, no radio play (and don’t tell me you get played because people request you. I know that isn’t true)etc. So Taylor was the one that wanted out. He was blackballed because he did want out of his contract is what I heard from someone close to Taylor’s management. Taylor has sold over 820,000 cds worldwide. You don’t get dropped for that. There are so many other artist that have sold lots less than Taylor and J records are still representing them. One that comes to mind is Katherine Mcphee. She sold less than half of what Taylor sold.
Taylor has a huge fanbase that will be behind him and support him every step of the way and he will get what he deserves now without that old hag of a Clive to answer to. Taylor has made tons of money on his pre-idol cds. I have both of them and love them both. Clive didn’t see a penny of this money and I am sure it killed him. Also, Taylor will continue to do sold out tours etc. He is a smart businessman and he knows exactly what he is doing. So, Taylor Hicks will be better off without the old coot!

By JC

January 9, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

D…..can’t fool me…you are a Chroll who pretends to hate Taylor but somehow is so facinated with him that you follow articles about him around just to make comments that belittle him. Get a life or get a job.

By Ann

January 9, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this

There’s lots of chrolls in here. They multiply like rabbits.

By Deirdre

January 9, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

I must be off the grid…define chrolls, please. Thank you!