I will enjoy what I want, when I want

I am sure almost every devoted fan of Taylor Hicks has had people that just do not understand what all the fuss is about. I know I have several that have tried to change my opinion or treat me like I have lost my mind. Taylor Hicks is what many like to call Old School music. I still haven’t figured out why they seem to think this is bad thing. Some of the greatest legends of music are old school. So this argument really does not hold.

I don’t let people’s opinion change my mind. I have never been one to succumb to the pressures of peer pressure. I have always been one to like what is not necessarily considered cool. I know what I like and when I am devoted to something or someone I stick with it forever.

Elvis Presley is a great example of this. I have always been a fan of Elvis. He died when I was 10 years old, but that did not stop my respect and love of this man. Sure I grew up liking all the popular groups as a teen but Elvis was always #1 in my heart.

In the 80s being a teen and a huge fan of Elvis was not the cool thing. I took a little teasing about listening to Elvis and oldies music in general, Tommy Roe, Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens, etc. This did not stop me from enjoying this music or the Elvis Presley and Beach Party movies. If anything it made me even more stubborn to stick to my guns and not hide what I enjoyed.

Why do people think it is ok to treat someone like they are silly or goofy for what they like? I mean what I enjoy should not bother someone else and if it does so what. I am a devoted fan, if I enjoy something I will shout it from the rooftops and if someone doesn’t agree then so be it, they however should keep their unsolicited advice to themselves.

When I became an adult and had my own home there would be Elvis collectibles in my home plus maybe a calendar and a picture. I had an 11x14 picture of Elvis dressed in a red shirt hanging in my front room. Everyone that came to my house thought they had the right to complain about this picture. If I would play Elvis music or any oldies music they thought they had they the right to complain and tell me to put in something else. Did I? Nope! It is my house and no one has a right to come into someone’s home and complain about something in it or the music playing. If you don’t like it than stay away, doesn’t that seem logical?

So anyway back to Elvis and being a fan. I was hooked on Elvis, I still am, and I listened to other artists and enjoyed them a lot. However, none ever compared to Elvis. If I was in a sad mood and wanted to cheer up all I had to do was play an Elvis record or watch a movie and I would be smiling in no time. Not one other musician had the ability to change my mood the way that Elvis did. Everyone who knew me knew if you were going to buy me a gift then anything Elvis related would be the best bet. Did I request items about any other musician? Nope it was always “only Elvis”.


I never thought anyone would ever join that place in my heart that was reserved by Elvis. Now I don’t mean I am in LOVE with Elvis but something about Elvis got in my heart as a child and it just grew as I got older. I never thought that spot would include anyone else. However, season five of American Idol would prove me wrong. It’s a long story that I have talked about many times before, at many places online, but the short of it is Taylor Hicks grabbed a hold of me as the season progressed and though I did not realize it at the time he was about to do the same thing for me that Elvis had always done.

So now not only does my home have items that relate to Elvis there are now Taylor Hicks Items. Lets see in my front room right now is an autographed poster, Taylor’s book and audio CD of the book are on my coffee table, his CD Taylor Hicks is in my CD player where it is always at, it is a 3 CD player, Taylor of course is set at 1. I have the CD of DIMYP. I have DVD’s I have made on my TV stand that have anything I can find about Taylor online. I have the AI Finale along with each performance Taylor did on the show, Jay Leno Appearances and so much more. My computer has Taylor as the background so when the pc is on there is a picture of Taylor. I have a 45 LPM of DIMYP. In my bedroom in a trunk are all kinds of magazines Taylor has been in.

So now more than likely when you come to my house you will hear Taylor singing or see him on TV singing or doing an interview. Do people complain? Sometimes, but I think they have learnt after all the complaints of Elvis that I do not care what they think or say. I have my own mind. I know what I like, it is my home and I will enjoy what I want, when I want. Why do I enjoy Elvis Presley and Taylor Hicks so much? Umm I think that is another post.