Listen to The Distance on AOL

You can listen to Taylor Hicks new album here http://kids.aol.com/KOL/2/Music/article/taylor-hicks-the-distance

below are lyrics to a few of the songs


The Distance

I saw an old friend yesterday
Guess we both had too much to say
Seems we’ve taken different sides
All caught up in politics and pride

If we can get beyond the blame
I know we’d see we’re still the same
The Distance between us will fade
They’ll be no distance between us someday

In that distant land across the sea
They are people just like you and me
They just want to see their children grow
And feel the same love we all know

When we get beyond all the hurt and blame
And realize we’re all the same
The distance between us will fade
They’ll be no distance between us someday

We can rise up toward each other
We can build a bridge brother to brother
Take the steps….. we need to take
To get us to a better place
Where the distance between us fades away
They’ll be no distance between us one of these days
One of these days

We can rise up towards each other
We can build a bridge brother to brother
Take the steps we need to take
To get is to a better place
Where the distance between us fades away
They’ll be no distance between us one of these days

One of the these days
We can rise up towards each other
We can build a bridge brother to brother
No distance.. between us one of these days




New Found Freedom

New found Freedom…. I’m leaving the past behind
New found Freedom…. Making up for lost time
Dug a little deeper…… Moved it on down the line
Musta been sleepin…. It’s about time I opened my eyes

When I walk….. I walk with confidence
I hold my head up high
When I talk I’ve got a positive since of who I am inside
New found freedom whoa ho oh Let the light be my life
New found freedom whoa ho oh Gonna spread my wings and fly

It’s no secret where I’ve been before
Turned that corner… standing at the front door
Startin down a new road…. Leaving the other side
Gonna release it…. Breaking away the ties that bind

(When I walk) I walk with confidence…I hold my head up high
(When I talk) I’ve got a positive since of who I am inside
New found freedom whoa ho ohh Let the light be my life
New found freedom whoa ho ohh Gonna spread my wings and fly
When the earth shook that’s all it took to make a change in me

It’s a new way a new day…things aint what they use to be
New found freedom…New.. Found.. freedom Let the light be my life
New found freedom New.. Found… Freedom gonna spread my wings and fly

When the earth shook it’s all it took to make a change in me
It’s a new way a new day…things aint what they use to be
New found freedom…New.. Found.. freedom Let the light be my life
New found freedom New.. Found… Freedom gonna spread my wings and fly
New found freedom new..found..freedom let the light be my life
New found freedom new..found.. freedom gonna spread my wings and fly
Freedom freedom let the light be my life
New found freedom whoo ho oh New found freedom gonna spread my wings and fly
Freedom freedom let the light be my life
New found freedom gonna spread my wings and fly
Freedom freedom standing at the front door New found freedom gonna spread my wings and fly
Spread my wings and fly
(music Stops)
HUMMMMMMMMMM





Maybe You Should

I look around this room’
And feel the pull of tender years
Before we knew enough
To be afraid of all our fears

Baby there was no corner
We couldn’t fight out way out of
And every thought of leaving left us leaning on this love
We had it all you know, before you started letting go
If you can walk away tonight, give it up for good, throw it all away, like we swore we never would

If you can tear down everything we built, deny everything we felt, I guess there’s a lot
That I misunderstood
If you can leave here tonight
Baby maybe you should

Baby I just keep on seeing all that moonlight shining down
The way our love could light up this little Alabama town
So I keep holding on to hope
Still finding reasons to believe
Cause all I ever got from you, was always just enough for me

But if it’s not for you, do what you’ve got to do
If you can walk away tonight, give it up for good, throw it all away like we swore we never would
If you can tear down everything we built, deny everything we felt
I guess there’s a lot that I misunderstood
If you can leave here tonight, baby maybe you should
If you can leave here tonight, baby maybe you should
Maybe you should



Keeping It Real

Her Daddy had the money…. All the milk and honey… she never had to pay any dues
Don’t know what her name is… but man she sure is famous… she keeps herself all over the news
They’re playing close attention… the new Inside Edition… Is feeding all they can to her fans
She’s got the paparazzi… behind her Macerate… Their snapping off as much as they can

I say why, why, why has it got be such a big deal?
We try, try, try… I’ve come to the conclusion.. we’re living an illusion.. better off just Keeping it real
Better off keeping it real

She got a brand new movie..bout giving up the bootie… she showed it all and nobody cared
And made her such a mess..when she didn’t get the press so she went and cut off all her hair

I said why, why, why haS it got to be such a big deal?
We try, try, try… I’ve come to the conclusion.. we’re living an illusion.. better off just Keeping it real
Better off keeping it real

Harmonica solo

I said why, why, why haS it got to be such a big deal?
We try, try, try… I’ve come to the conclusion.. we’re living an illusion.. better off just Keeping it real
Better off keeping it real

He said he didn’t do it.. they couldn’t hold him to it… he smiled and walked away a free man
The glove didn’t fit him…. the jury said acquit him…. It all worked out the way that he planned
But he Couldn’t live without it… he wrote a book about it.. yea everything he did that night
They didn’t get him for the crime…but he’s gonna do the time… cause he’s got to get back in the spotlight
I said why, why, why haS it got to be such a big deal?
We try, try, try… I’ve come to the conclusion.. we’re living an illusion.. better off just Keeping it real
I’ve come to the conclusion.. We’re living an illusion.. better off just Keeping it real
Better off keeping it real
Oh we’re better off just keeping it real




Woman Gotta Have It Taylor Hicks/Elliot Yamin

Taylor: (Fella's I wonder would you mind if I talked to ya for a minute. You know, sometimes we have a tendencies, or should I say we forget, what a woman needs every now and then. That is if you wanna keep your thing together. Listen to me now)

Do the things that keeps the smile on her face
Say the things that make her feel better everyday.
Then you got to stay on your p's and q's. If you don't, the woman you can easy lose.

Whoa oa oa I, Oh I had a love, a love and I lost her, and no one can help me share the pain that she caused me. Ohhh, a woman's gotta have it, I believe, she's gotta know that she's needed around. When you kiss her, you gotta make her feel it, everytime boy, she wants to know that she's not walkin' on shakey ground. Ohhhh, yeah.

Elliott: Well, think it over.
Taylor: Think it over
Elliott: Think it over my brother. Don't take for granted the smile
(Taylor and Elliott)on her face.
Elliott: Check a little bit closer, you might find
(Taylor and Elliott)a tear trace.
Elliott: Maybe the girl might never say a
(Taylor and Elliott) mumbling word,
Elliott: but you gotta make sure that her voice is heard.

Taylor: Whoa Ohhh Ohhh I had a love,
Elliott: Had a love
Taylor :, a true love and I lost it,
Elliott: Yes I did
Taylor: I'm suffering all this pain that that love caused me. A woman gotta have it,
Elliott: Woman gotta have it
Taylor: I believe
Elliott and Taylor: she's got to know that she's needed around
Taylor: you gotta make her feel it,
Elliott: You gotta make her feel it
Taylor: Anytime boy
Elliott: Every time boy
Taylor and Elliott: she wants to know that she's not walkin' on shakey ground.
Elliott: Ohhh Yeah.
Taylor: WHOAAAAAAAAAA Yeee ahhh
Elliott: Yeah, yeah, yeah Think it over yeah whoo hoo
Taylor: What ya trying to say boy?
Elliott: yeah you know a womans gotta have it
Taylor What ya tryin to say guy?
Elliott: You got to please her, you got to
Taylor: What ya tryin to say boy
Elliott: I said a womans gotta have it Oh yeah all right
Taylor: What ya tryin to say boy?
Elliott: A womans gotta have it, you know she does
Taylor: What ya tryin to say boy
Elliott: You got to give her her what she wants when she wants it yea
Taylor: OHHHH what ay trying to say boy?


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Fade

Request at Open House Party TONIGHT!!

If we can get WRIR played on Open House Party it would be major coverage for the song. OHP is played on over 150 stations. Lots of these are monitored stations and also show up at yes.com giving lots of voting when it is played. Here is a little info about OHP for those who do not know.

Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio (CHR) music. started in 1987 and is syndicated by SuperRadio to more than 150 stations in the U.S. A companion program, Open House Party Sunday, hosted by Philadelphia, PA WRDW-FM radio DJ Kannon, also runs on the next evening on many stations.

Both programs are broadcast live (in Eastern and Central time only) via satellite from 7:00 P.M. to midnight (in Eastern and Mountain time) or from 6:00 P.M to 11:00 P.M (in Central and Pacific time). Some stations only broadcast OHP on Saturday, while others broadcast it only on Sunday, while most broadcast it on both Saturday and Sunday.

Some stations only broadcast a portion of OHP to make room for a local or another syndicated program. Many stations rebroadcast OHP from midnight to 5:00 A.M. (in Eastern and Mountain time) or 11:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. (in Central and Pacific time).

I called them last week and they told me they do have the song. They also have cool little segments on the show that our requests could get them to feature WRIR for.
These are a few of the segments heard each week on the show:

• Rate The Record:John Garebedian plays a new song each week and listeners call in to say what they thought of the song.
• Who Sings It?:John plays a song and listeners call and guess the artist in order to win a prize pack.
• Satellite Mega-Mix:John talks to one of the world's top club DJs and a dance mix of up to 3 songs is then played.
• Research Rich:Mediabase president Rich Meyer gives his company's list of the week's top 5 songs(based on radio airplay) and then John plays Meyer's pick for the "Hot New Song of the Week"
• The Big 3:John plays the 3 most requested songs of the night. After this, there are usually one or two songs played afterwards and then the show ends.

Listeners can call 1-800-669-1010 to make song requests during the live show.

You can go here to see if you have a station in Your area broadcasting it http://www.openhouseparty.com/stations.html

Kelly Clarkson is on the show tonight. Maybe they would play WRIR to talk about a fellow American Idol having a new song out.

You can email requests at requests@openhouseparty.com

I think if we are going to request we should really listen to the show. I know lots of the music isn’t something we all like but I would think if they received tons of requests but not lots of new listeners they probably would not like that. You can find a station playing it online of listen on your radio. I listen to the show almost every weekend my kids love it so that would mean lots of young people would hear Taylor’s song.

Get What's Right is Right Played on VH1 Top 20 Saturday

You can help get Taylor Hicks' new video What's Right is Right on VH1 Top 20 Countdown tomorrow. Got to VH1 Scroll a little to the bottom of the list. You will see a wild card section. Type in Taylor Hicks and What's Right is Right then click add to list. You the need to drag it from the list over to the section beside that. After putting Taylor in number 1 spot :) then drag other videos you like over to the boxes and click submit.

Come on you on go vote and lets get Taylor's video on VH1 it will help his single and gain new fans. We all know seeing and experiencing Taylor wins fans all the time.

Review of "The Distance"

Review of "The Distance" New Album by Taylor Hicks
"The Distance" takes the listener on an amazing journey with songs of love, humor, heartache, the effects of war, and growing together as one
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1490822/review_of_the_distance_new_album_by.html

Taylor Hicks Video What's Right is Right

It is time. Taylor Hicks Video for What’s Right is Right is at Yahoo Video Premieres. It is an awesome video that showcases the concept of love and devotion without the use of sex that is seen in so many videos. So head there now enjoy a music video that is about the song and the devotion of love. Tay looks awesome in the video and love how the whole video was shot with the lighting and all.



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Taylor Hicks What’s Right is Right Video Premiere

Taylor Hicks new single “What’s Right is Right” will premiere this Tuesday Feb 17th on Yahoo Video Premeires. So for all of us who have been waiting patiently for a video with Taylor Hicks the long wait is almost over. Taylor is a very visual preformer and this video should help shoot the song “What’s Right is Right” up the radio charts. “What’s Right is Right” is on the AC BillBoard charts at #25.

I love this song. It is a very romantic love song about a man being there for his love through every thing, not only good times but when things are wrong. What better message on Valentines Day? Feb 17th is going to be a great day for all fans of Taylor Hicks as we finally get to see Taylor put a story to this beautiful song in the form of video.

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Picture Perfect Video Frames – Taylor Hicks “What’s Right is Right”

Jake Davis is a very talented man who shot Taylor’s video for “What’s Right is Right. Jake has been very kind from the beginning of the process in giving fans tidbits about the video and amazing frames from the video. He has amazing talent and with Taylor’s talent combined with Jake’s I am sure this going to be a wonderful video. The pictures are below but be sure to visit Jake’s blog and leave him a message while there.







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If You Have Nothing Nice To Say

There is an old saying that says “If you have nothing nice to say than say nothing at all.” Most of us were taught this at an early age by our parents. Now I truly believe in most instances this statement is best to be followed. There are times when it is not best to Not say anything.


Take for example telling someone who has a horrible voice that they are good and should try out for American Idol or some similar thing. If you know that their voice is absolutely horrible than I feel it is cruel to encourage them to embarrass themselves. If someone is dressed in a way that makes them look so bad they may embarrass themselves and will be ridiculed than by all means tell them. But if it is simply that you do not like the style they choose then maybe it is best to not say anything. They have a right to dress how they please. But what got me thinking about all this is people who cut down Taylor Hicks’ choices in HIS career.


There are a couple songs of Taylor’s that I don’t particularly like but that is true with all musicians. They have a few songs I do not like. But the thing is I do not go on public forums, blogs and fan sites and rag on Taylor for the songs I do not like. Instead I choose to talk about what I do like. If someone asks me if I like a song and I do not I will say I don’t but I will not write a post talking about how much I don’t like it.

Why? Because it is Taylor’s music career. It is his choice to record what music he likes. Whether I like said song or not is not going to make him change his opinion of the song he chose. But it could cause someone who stumbled across my post, which had not yet heard the song, decide not to check it out. Maybe they would have liked it but they passed on it because of the bad comments I had to say.

This is true in all regards to Taylor’s choices. I am not saying everyone has to like every single thing he does. But if you are a fan than there are things you must like. Why not concentrate on those things in what you post. If you are a fan than you should want Taylor to succeed and gain new fans. You should not want to say something that may make someone decide he is not worth checking out.

I read where someone said that they are amazed at people getting so worked up to defend a perfect stranger. See I see it such a different light. I see it this way. Why get so worked up into cutting down a perfect stranger and finding fault in everything that they do. If you do not like them than just tune them out. If you only like certain things about Taylor Hicks than just pay attention to what you do like. The stuff you do not like than just pay no attention to it. I do not like everything Kid Rock records. But I do like some of songs. If I talk about Kid Rock than I concentrate on what I do like. I recommend what I do like to others but I don’t go and discuss the stuff I don’t like. No one can please anyone all the time. That will never happen. If you are looking for someone who you will agree with everything that they do than I think you will end up being very disappointed in every person in life.

I think people seem to forget that celebrities are humans to. They have feelings just the same as the rest of us. How would you feel if every single thing you did in life was closely monitored by millions of people everywhere and then talked about it online for all to see? Do you think you would come out smelling like a rose in everything that you do? Yes I know a celebrity has to be prepared for this to happen. They chose to be in the public eye. But that does not make them any less human.

What if it was people you thought cared about you that were posting horrible things about you? Wouldn’t that make you feel even twice as bad? Fans of musicians/celebrities are supposed to be people who care about you. They are supposed to be the ones who want to see you succeed. You don’t expect them to turn on you. But it seems with Taylor that quite often happens. Some think Taylor is wrong for doing Grease. That totally makes no since to me. He is getting paid well I am sure. He is getting tons of publicity and rave reviews. He is playing too sold out venues. He is cross promoting his new CD. How could this choice be wrong? More importantly who has the right to say that it is wrong? It is Taylor Hicks life it is not your life.

How would you like it if someone was telling you that your career choice was wrong? What if they said you were ruining your life with your choice but you were doing what you enjoy and what pays your bills. Would you change just because they said you were wrong? Another example, what if someone was telling you, you were not cleaning your house right, correcting your kid’s right, treating your husband how he should be treated? Would you put up with their meddling or would you tell them to back the Fuck off?

I know we all have the right to voice our opinions just as I am doing here, just as you are able to do in comments. But maybe you should think twice about what you are going to say. Is your negative opinion going to make things change or is it simply going to maybe cause someone who might enjoy what you do not, just decide not to even check it out? If a new Taylor Hicks fan saw all the negative put downs would they bother checking around for good comments or would they maybe think “well if he can’t please his established fan base how can he please me?” Maybe they will just stop right there and never bother with checking out all of the good music and entertainment Taylor Hicks has to offer.

Your opinion is your right. But my opinion is this, if your opinion is going to cause a negative effect instead of a good one than it is best to JUST SAY NOTHING AT ALL.



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Ice Storm Causing Me Lack of Taylor Hicks Information

I have missed so much info regarding Taylor Hicks this week. I am in Ohio and the ice storm that came through has had my electric out since Wednesday Morning. Then yesterday my phone goes out. We are surviving though. Kerosene heaters and lanterns sure come in handy. Though cooking is a challenge. They are saying they hope to ave electric on Sat at 6pm but no guarantees. I am at the library right now using the WIFI access to check on what I have missed so far. So Feb 17th we will get to see Taylor Hicks video. Can not wait for that to be come available. Also saw where Taylor has gotten 19 spins on the media base chart. Awesome!! Looks like Taylor doing things HIS way is going to pay off for him. I can not wait until I get to hear Taylor’s music on the radio where I am at. Ok that is all for now. Hopefully I have my electric and everything back on soon. I am hating winter. They say we have lots more snow coming next week. Geez I am getting spring fever. Catch up with ya’all later on.


Update Electric is back on YIPPEE Phone still out but I have heat and can cook so who cares lol

Here are some pics I took Wednesday morning when I got up. It was cold and I was barefoot so i took them from the porch. In between the cars and mailbox is our road. Yea its there under the ice and snow.






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Words from Taylor and Just my Thoughts

I have been debating on what I want to say in this post. I’m still not exactly sure if what I mean to say will come out exactly how I want it to. I read a blog today by Caryl. She had a meet and greet with Taylor Hicks and asked him some questions. Taylor was very open with her and gave her some information that I think is enlightening. We all know Taylor is a man who is great at giving short answers that sometimes does not give out all the information that the question is seeking. But in the last few times that someone has spoken with Taylor it seems he is giving more in-depth answers. This is what he did again with Caryl.

Last week Taylor made it known that their would be no audio or video recording aloud at the club dates he is doing while on tour with Grease. Many could not believe Taylor would say this. I thought it made since in away though. I know many people who if they can hear a song or watch a video online then they just do that instead of purchasing that product. Like the old saying says “If you can get the milk free, why pay for the cow?” I know all of us die-hard fans would still purchase anything Taylor has no matter what we have watched online. There are many people however who are not that enamored with Taylor and if they can hear/see it free they will.

I have several friends and family who have asked me to make them copies of Taylor’s music that that I have so they do not have to buy. They get upset when I tell them no and to go buy it. Some do go out and buy but most just go online and goggle for the videos and audio available or worse yet they just forget it.

Because of this I can understand why Taylor does not want it out there for people to get free and not purchase. It does not help his wallet or his standings in the music world for those who get it free and do not buy the product.

So back to Caryl’s blog post. A couple things that Taylor said that really stand out in my mind are below

Taylor: I know what the fans want but you have to create demand for yourself. That’s the key. I’m planning on playing some music from the new record but I gotta make sure that the record is effective. This record is really important to me from an artistic perspective. I have to do everything in my power to make the release as big as possible.

I agree with many who have said that Taylor’s release date for “What’s Right is Right” was changed from Jan 20th to the 27th because Obama’s inauguration is the 20th. I think that Taylor’s answer above even basically says the same thing. He wants the release as big as possible and competing with Obama will be hard. Hence the change in release date.

Taylor: well, yeah, guarded with his product. And you know, as a fan, I would think you would want to make this record as impactful as possible. The quality is what I’m worried about…I want people to hear great quality especially when you’re talking about new material. And we’ve got to create a buzz. What if I play a different song from the record in each market? You give people of piece of that and they wonder what he's going to do.

As a fan Taylor is right. I want this record to impact the music world in a major way. Taylor is on his own now. He has to make a name for himself from basically the ground up. He has to prove he has the talent and the smarts to do it his way and do it in a way to get people to notice.

People are constantly referring to Taylor has the lowest selling Idol. They don’t mention he has sold over 800,000 copies and was certified platinum. If Taylor can bring this record out and hit platinum and beyond it will mean amazing things. Or if he can just get music out their taht the masses enjoy.

Just think back to the reaction when it was announced Taylor was going to be Teen Angel in “Grease”. many thought Taylor had lost his mind and was making a huge mistake. But guess what, its Taylor’s decision to do what he feels is best for his career and “Grease” has proven to be a major accomplishment for him. People have taken notice and most have loved what they see.

So I have no doubt Taylor Hicks once again knows exactly what he is doing and it is going to turn out great. The man has loads of talent and the brains for knowing “”WHAT’S RIGHT is Right” for his life and career. Do I wish there was something out to see and listen to from his club dates and the new music? Well of course I do, I would watch and listen and I would still go buy it. But in away I am also kind of glad it is not. It is just like opening your Christmas gifts early. You love it when you get to, but when Christmas comes and there is nothing to open then the excitement for the big day is not there. Sure you still enjoy what you received but that experience of enjoying that day is gone.

When his last CD “Taylor Hicks” came out I had already heard them all online. Except for “Hell of Day” that was on the CD purchased at Wal-Mart. I rushed to Wal-Mart at midnight. I bought the CD and I was filled with excitement telling them to go get me 2 copies of Taylor Hicks’ new CD and telling them who he was. I went to the car I put the CD in before pulling out. But I had already listened over and over to the other songs. I went to “Hell of Day” and there was the excitement for hearing it for the first time. But still it was not the same excitement as if I had put that CD in not having the foggiest clue what was about to be heard. Does that make sense to anyone? Or am I just crazy?

Another answer that hit a cord in me was

Taylor: People thrive on information from me and I understand that. People use information as currency. All I can do is go out there and be who am and entertain and hopefully please old fans and make some new ones and keep working it as long as I can.

People use information as currency. Am I guilty of that? Are we all guilty of that? I started this blog strictly because I love to write. I love to have people read what I write and I love the talents of Taylor Hicks. So of course my thoughts back then were write about Taylor.

We all search for the places that give the most up to date information about Taylor. The sites that have it first or create controversy get the most attention. Is that my blog? Of course not. My blog is simply just a blog about Taylor Hicks among a long list of blogs about Taylor Hicks. I have had a couple interviews with Taylor ,do I feel that makes me special to him? No way! Do I feel that makes me special to anyone? Again nope. Does it feel good when someone reads them and say “You asked some amazing questions, thank you for asking him that“. Of course. Everyone feels good if someone compliments them on something they do. Did I ever think I was using those interviews as currency? Maybe I have gotten paid for a couple things I have written about Taylor or interviews if you call $5 to $20 pay. But I would write everything I have written all over again for just the joy of it. Most times I write the articles for free so people can read the information quickly or I simply blog about it here. The interviews I have had with Taylor mean more to me than any amount of money because for a few seconds I got to speak to the man that I voted and rooted so hard for.

But I do not think Taylor meant currency as in money but currency as far as in who has the information about Taylor. Who is “important” in Taylorland, well, who thinks they are important because as we all surely know Taylor is selling a product, his music and we are the buyers. I love getting info out there for people to read. I share the links to things I have written or interviews for people to get that info. So yes maybe in a way that is currency to. Go here read what I wrote. Yes guess we are all guilty.

But if it gets Taylor even one more fan than taht is great.

Sure he loves having fans, sure he appreciates us. Without fans he wouldn’t be where he is but we are just that.. fans. The only thing Taylor owes any of us is entertaining us. That is all he owes any of us.

Maybe we all should just enjoy the music and the man and let the business end be handled by the man we often refer to as Taylor Smart. This post has become quite long so I guess that is all I have to say. Make sure to visit Caryl’s blog and read what all Taylor had to say.




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Taylor Hicks Happenings Jan 12th - Jan 17th 2009

This past week was a busy one for Taylor Hicks. Along with appearing in 2 shows a day in Grease. Monday Jan 12th was the video shoot for his first single “What’s Right is Right”.

A few days later Jake Davis who is shooting Taylor’s video posted a picture of Taylor during the shoot. Jake had this to say.

“We're out of the snow of the windy city and in the warmth of the edit. Since a lot of you were asking for behind the scenes photos I thought I'd give you just a little taste. I'll get in trouble if I show you too much. Taylor was a real class act and a real pleasure to work with. The video is going to be really iconic. I'll keep you posted”.



Here are a couple shots of the picture I messed with in photo collage






He was on WGN’s Early Morning show Jan 16th where he was able to play the Bozo the Clown grand prize game. This was a game that used to be on the show and kids would play for a chance to win a bike. This was a show Taylor watched as a child . Taylor donated $500 for every ball that he successfully threw into a bucket too the Boys and Girls Clubs in Chicago, he was able to get 5 balls into a bucket, the Boys and Girls Club will get $2,500 dollars. Taylor not only has talent and charisma he has a heart of gold doing whatever he can to help kids any time that he can. Taylor also performed his song The Fall from his Early Works album.







Saturday Taylor had his first after show concert at Martyrs in Chicago. The reports are that as expected the concert was amazing. Taylor sang his single “What’s Right is Right” among songs from his album “Taylor Hicks” and some cover tunes. It is also reported that Taylor sang a song by Bobby Womack “Woman’s Got to Have it”. Even more exciting is that is has also been said this song is on Taylor’s new album.




I can not wait to hear Taylor’s version. I love Taylor’s versions of “Gonna Move” and “Wherever I Lay my Hat” . I do not like the originals very much but those songs sung by Taylor Hicks are a couple of my favorites off of his album.

Gonna Move Paul Pena



Gonna Move Taylor Hicks



Wherever I lay My Hat Paul Young



Wherever I lay My Hat Taylor Hicks



I hope Woman's Got to Have it is on the new CD The Distance. I am excited to see wehat Taylor has done to make this song his own.


Taylor’s single release of “What’s Right is Right” has been pushed back again from the 20th to the 27th. I hate that we have to wait longer but being as the 20th is President Obama’s inauguration day it is probably for the best. We want Taylor’s song to get as much radio play and attention as possible the day it is released and the nation will be focused on getting out the old and bringing in the new that day not new music.

Maybe with luck the video will also be ready on the 27th and we can get both that day.





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A Turn in the Tide? American Idol Supporting Taylor Hicks.

When a tide turns, it goes in an opposite direction. That is just what appears to be happening with American Idol in regards to Taylor Hicks. I think it is about time. After Taylor won American Idol we heard Simon saying America got it wrong. We saw and heard Simon tell a contestant to stick her gum on Taylor’s face. Meaning the poster behind her of Taylor of course. But knowing Simon if it had actually been Taylor standing there we would have heard the same thing.

American Idol the past couple years have appeared to completely leave Taylor out of AI promotion. Hiding his posters behind plants and such, sticking it off in the corner of our TV screens and seemingly wanting to throw Daughtry (I have nothing against Chris just stating a fact) in the viewers face and leave Taylor out.

It seems that is changing now. We know Taylor will be on American Idol sometime this Season and AI has posted upcoming news about Taylor on the American Idol site the past few weeks. If you visit http://american-idol-updates.com/ now you will a piece about Taylor’s request for extra’s in his video. It is the 1st Article there. I am almost positive that is a first since Taylor won. (There is a pole there to vote for your idol to, while you are there. Taylor is in the lead so far.)

Now that Taylor is such a huge success in the Broadway production of Grease, is that why the tide as turned. Is this why American Idol is now remembering that yes Taylor did win Season 5? I don’t care what the reason is, it is just awesome to finally see Taylor getting support where he should have been getting it from all along.

Another thing I find interesting, is that with Taylor’s debut self-titled album, after winning Idol, there was NO music video. But now that Taylor has his own record company (Modern Whomp Records) and his album is Independent, there is a music video that is being shot tomorrow.

The old saying is If you want something done right, than do it yourself. Seems like this is going to be true in regards to Taylor Hicks and his music.

Be in Taylor Hicks’ Video What’s Right is Right Jan 12th

For all you ladies and gents aged 16-40 here is your chance to be in Taylor’s new video for his new single “What’s Right is Right”. The video is being filmed Monday Jan 12th. Call time is 9am and you need to be prepared to be there for 6 hours. Be appropriately attired for cocktail party. The look is downtown chic with an edge. Young, sexy, modern, classy. Men please come in a suit. Women should come dressed for a cocktail party , also bring a street option. Sexy street, not cheesy. Bring a couple of different looks and tons of accessories.

Place to be:

California Clipper
1002 North California Ave
Chicago IL 60622
9 am
Monday Jan 12th 2009

http://www.californiaclipper.com/

This is posted at www.taylorhicks.com
So if you live in Chicago, feel the need for a road trip or just want to be in a Taylor Hicks video then drive your car, jump on a plane or stop a greyhound and head to Chicago to support our Soul Man in his first music video. Let’s help Taylor show the music world “What’s Right is Right” and the whole CD “The Distance” is going to be amazing.

Taylor Hicks is Going The Distance, But are we in the Twilight Zone?

January 5th I posted a picture and link to Rocket Science that was info on Taylor’s upcoming single coming out Jan 20th and the CD coming out March 10th. Then it was discovered that you could go to Amazon and hear a 30 second clip of “What’s Right is Right”. A song that I am very eager to hear the rest of.

Yesterday the play button was removed and you can no longer hear the single. Today it was discovered that Rocket Science took down the promotion page. So now all the info that was discovered has disappeared. Have we landed in the musical version of The Twilight Zone.

Did we all just have a very vivid premonition of events to come? Did we read and hear what we think we did? Or are we in the “Soul Patrol Twilight Zone?”

New and Amazing things are happening for Taylor. We the "fans of Taylor" and his amazing music" are going to benefit greatly from those things. That is absolutely NOT The Twilight Zone.

Taylor Hicks New Single What's Right is Right"

Rocket Science has a hidden goldmine of Taylor Hicks Information. We now have a single title ‘What’s Right is Right” There will a be a feature on Taylor in People and Entertainment Weekly. There will also be TV appearances with Leno, Regis and Kelly, Ellen, Rachael Ray and Craig Ferguson. Ryan Seacrest and other radio. Video Shoot Jan 12th for “What’s Right is Right” Hits AC Radio Jan 20th. Beautiful Pictures Below with info



http://www.myrocketscience.com/MusicNews/News_TaylorHicksOneSheet.html

Happy New Year!!

I just wanted to wish all my visitors a safe, happy, fun and healthy New Year. I enjoy writing about all Taylor Hicks happenings on this blog. When I started this blog October 16th 2006, I wasn’t sure how far it would go or how long I would keep posting to it but now it is nearly 3 years later (boy it doesn’t seem that long) and I am still following Taylor Hicks news and music and enjoying every minute of it. Thank you all for the visits and comments to my blog. Some of you are friends who I really am so happy to have gotten to know. Through the music of Taylor Hicks we have not only discovered a man with an awesome voice and personality to match, we have become a fan base filled with people who have made friendships that have uplifted us and enriched our lives.

When something good happens for Taylor, you can feel the excitement the fan base feels as a whole. When we are awaiting new music or videos, such as the upcoming CD the anxiousness and excitement we all feel comes through. We all have a common bond and it brings us closer.

I can not wait to see what the future of 2009 holds for Taylor and to experience all the joy and excitement that will abound in the Soul Patrol.

Taylor Hicks 2008 The Year in Review

2008 brought some great Taylor Hicks new for fans. Taylor kept busy taking his career in new and bigger levels. I am sure I have missed some happenings so please leave comments of anything you know I have missed and I will get it added to the list.

January 2008 In the first couple weeks of January 2008 Taylor parted ways with Arista records.
Now at the start of 2009 with Taylor having his own label, Modern Whomp Records and partnering with Arttist2Market, Taylor Hicks has total control of his new album due out in March and he can create the kind of album that he wants. I am sure 2009 is going to be a great year for Taylor.

February 8 2008 Regis and Kelly aired Wedding Week 08. Kacy Hardenbrook and Jordan Edsall of Garrett Indiana were the lucky wedding couple who chose to have Taylor Hicks sing at their wedding. Taylor sang The Right Place and it was one of his best performances.

February 15 2008 Taylor performed on ESPN for the McDonalds NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

February 22 2008 Taylor received award from Alabama Music Hall of Fame

April 27, 2008 Taylor sang the National Anthem at Talladega Super speedway in Talladega, AL. It was aired on the fox network.

May 10th 2008 Taylor’s performed at Ona’s Music Room with Spoonful James

May 13th 2008 Taylor performed at The Hannah Home Charity Event, Boots, Blues and BBQ in Alabama


May 15th 2008 Mary Colurso at Birmingham News. Alerted us to the fact that Taylor Hicks was going to be in the Broadway production of “Grease” in the Teen Angel scene that was made famous by Frankie Avalon singing Beauty School Dropout

May 16th 2008 Taylor was on the Today show to announce his upcoming role in Grease.

May 17th 2008 Taylor on cruise ship in Italy for a week. Performing and motivational speaker.

June 6th 2008 Taylor started the role on Broadway as Teen Angel in Grease.

Remember when the news first released? Emotions were everywhere. Some loved the idea, others hated it, still others thought Taylor was selling out and others thought he was going to ruin is career. Now look at all the success Taylor is having as Teen Angel.

June 13th 2008 Taylor performed Beauty School Dropout on Regis and Kelly

June 14, 2008 Pocket Full of Soul Documentary about the Harmonica, starring Clint Black, James Cotton, Magic Dick (from the J. Geils Band), Taylor Hicks (from American Idol) and John Popper (from Blues Traveler among others and narrated by Heuy Lewis, was screened at the Maui Film Festival. The film was screened as a "work in progress" and was not in competition, so it wasn’t the premiere.



June 27th 2008 The New York Post reported that Taylor Hicks was worth $150,000 a week in sales for the Grease box office.

July 4th 2008 Taylor performed on The Capital Fourth special aired on PBS. Also on the show was Hewy Lewis who also can play a mean harp.

August 12th 2008 Taylor released his CD Early Works. It was a Target Exclusive.

September 14th 2008 Taylor left the Broadway Production of Grease in New York.

September 15th 2008 It was announced that Taylor Hicks would star as teen Angel in a National Tour of Grease starting December 2nd 2008.

October 1 2008 Taylor Hicks.com was updated and improved. There you find videos, music and info related to Taylor Hicks. Fans signed up over at the Soul Lounge to join fellow fans of Taylor Hicks to chat about any Taylor news and happenings.

October 7th 2008

1 Taylor Hicks turned 32.

2 Taylor partnered with Artist2 Market to release his Indie, sophomore album. The release date was Feb 17 2009 but that dates changes.

3) In the studio with producer Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill)

October 9th 2008 Taylor announced he would be cross-promoting his record within the `Grease' tour. He announced he would be singing a song from his album during the show.

Oct 28th 2008 Taylor left audio blog from France where he was doing pre-production for CD with Simon Climie


November 8th 2008 Whomp at the Warfield can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com Release date of Feb 10th.

November 24th 2008 Early works can be purchased from outlets online such as Amazon.

December 12th 2008 Taylor said in a interview he wrote with people such as Gary Nicholson in Nashville and a couple friends of his, Wynne Christian and Alan Little.

December 2nd 2008 Today was the beginning of the National Tour of Grease at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI

December 3rd 2008 Fox 13 in Tampa aired a brief interview with Taylor. In the video Taylor sang a line from one his new songs.

December 4th 2008 A interview with Taylor on 92 PRO-FM radio in Providence R.I In the interview Taylor says his album title is The Distance.

December 10th 2008 Taylor speaks with Tim’s Travels and tells of some of the names he is working with on his album. Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, B.B King) as his producer. Nathan East who is Eric Clapton’s bass player plays on the album along with, ,Abe Laborial Jr who played with McCartney and Doyle Brammel


December 28th 2008

1 My Rocket Science’s news scroll bar says Taylor Hicks new album The Distance 3/10/09

2 My Rocket Science has news that Taylor’s new music video will be their early January


December 30th 2008 Broadway TV posted a piece about Taylor in Grease. Had 3 amazing things to say

1 Hicks saved GREASE from closing on Broadway during the summer of 2008.

2 Cast-mates when asked what it was like working with him, the answer was time and time again, “Taylor is great to work with!”

3 Following Taylor Hicks while he has been involved with Broadway in 2008, we can say he was a great addition and titled him “Rookie of the Year.” We look forward to seeing if Hicks will contribute to Broadway in 2009.





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Indie Music

I have become very interested over the past couple years in learning more about Indie Music. The interest started when I discovered Taylor Hicks and realized that if it was not for American Idol I would have never heard his soulful voice and I would have never become some interested in music as I am now. I would have missed out on discovering other great musicians also. That brings me to another great Indie artist I discovered and interviewed around a year ago, Judd Starr I now consider Judd a friend and with following the careers of Judd and Taylor I am always reading about the Indie scene. A little while ago I read a article that I like very much.

It talks about the History of Indie music and a couple excepts I like a lot from the piece are these.

1) the Internet has provided a way to get the music out to fans that has never before been attempted. The result is accessible, quality music in almost every conceivable drama.

2) Two definitions of Indie music are
A) Established in the ’90s; an indie act is any one that is not signed on with the big three labels.

B) Another way to define the indie scene is in comparison to the acts signed by big labels, and played on the radio.

They go on to say that any recent listen to a local station should alarm music fans everywhere: the same artists or style of music is played over and over again, on every single radio station. Big labels laud themselves for being a mix, but the truth is there is a lot of R&B, even more pop, and a few dozen acts considered "rock" thrown in to appease those who do not know better. Fans who do not like the feeling of wanting to stick augers in their ears have turned en masse to the potential of the internet.

And the excerpt I like most is “ Perhaps now more than ever before, music has the opportunity to truly be judged (for the first time by both sides) by the quality instead of by the amount of sales.” I find this especially true for Judd Starr and Taylor Hicks and I am sure many, many more that I have yet to discover. But with Taylor and Judd I feel the quality of the music they make and the connection they have to their fans says it all. Read the rest of the article here.http://www.indieupdate.com/category/indie-music-history/





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Awesome Taylor Hicks Tidbits

Just a couple bits of cool info those who don’t follow the boards might be interested to hear about. First the website My Rocket Science http://www.myrocketscience.com/ has some info scrolling on their news scroll bar. It says for one Taylor Hicks new album The Distance 3/10/09

But another ‘Amazing” great bit of news is it says “Taylor Hicks video here in early January”. I have a feeling My Rocket Science will be getting a huge amount of page views this winter along with the site Artist2Market www.artist2market.com . Finally what we have all waiting so patiently for a new song by Taylor Hicks and a “MUSIC VIDEO”. 2009 is shaping up to be a great year.

Another bit of news. It appears American Idol may be going to give some face time to the Soul man. The new commercial airing on Fox now showcases a little of all the Idols including OUR man Taylor. It shows the clip when Simon asks Taylor why was there and he answers “ Because I want my voice heard’ Simons reply why? “Because I think I got one” It is about time and I hope this isn’t a fluke and more promotion of Taylor shows on AI during the Season.






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The Story of The Right Place

So I thought I had read everything that had been written concerning Taylor Hicks’ debut album “Taylor Hicks”. I had however missed something. I just stumbled on it today. Jim Vallance co-wrote the song The Right Place with Bryan Adams over 20 years ago. Yes I had already heard that part. I however heard it was written for Ray Charles but he had died before it was recorded and then it was given to Taylor Hicks. That isn’t the whole story.

Here is the rest. “In March 1989 Bryan Adams and I wrote a song for Joe Cocker, called "The Right Place". Joe asked us for "something that sounds like Ray Charles" ... and that's exactly what we wrote. But Joe decided "The Right Place" was the "wrong song", and he didn't record it.

So we sent the song to Ray Charles himself, but Ray didn't record it either (I was never able to confirm if Joe and Ray actually heard the song, or if it was rejected by their "handlers" before it reached their ears).

After that, we gave up, and "The Right Place" collected dust on my shelf for nearly 20 years.

A year later, in September 2006, when I heard that Taylor was recording an album, I remembered what Randy had said, and it made me think of "The Right Place". I knew the song wasn't a "hit" in the traditional sense, but I thought it might be a perfect vehicle for Taylor to channel his "inner Joe and Ray".

I contacted my publisher, Ron Moss. Ron agreed the song was an appropriate "pitch", and he sent it to Pete Ganbarg, the independent "A&R man" who was assembling material for the Taylor Hicks project.

At first, Pete and producer Matt Serletic didn't think "The Right Place" was exactly right for Taylor. They liked the song, but they wanted us to "re-harmonize" the B-section.


With that comment in mind, Bryan and I traded a few emails. But we were at a loss. We really wanted to "deliver" for Pete and Matt, but we didn't know where to go with it, what changes to make. It looked like the song might spend another 20 years on the shelf.

But then something unexpected happened. During the next week or two the song started to "grow" on Pete and Matt, and presumably on Taylor and Arista chief Clive Davis. They decided to record the song after all, without the requested "re-harmonization".

I was thrilled!

Bryan sang beautifully on our "home demo", but I was equally impressed with Taylor's performance. I was also very happy with Matt Serletic's production and arrangement, especially the use of bass, drums, guitar and gospel backing vocals (our original demo was very sparse ... just me on keyboards and Bryan's vocal).

On July 17, 2007 Taylor performed "The Right Place" on the popular morning television show, "The View". It was "back to basics", with Taylor on vocals and harmonica and Loren Gold on piano, similar to the way the song had originally been written and demo'd.

It was apparent that Taylor had developed an affinity for the song in the ten months since he'd recorded it. On "The View", his vocal performance digs even deeper than it did on the recorded studio version, and Loren provides solid support on the piano.”

And then this part of Jim’s comment really pleases me.


“For anyone who ever doubted the legitimacy of his American Idol success, this performance proves, beyond a doubt, that Taylor Hicks is the "real deal".

To read the rest of what Jim Vallance had to say about Taylor Hicks, American Idol, Simon Cowel and more go to his site http://www.jimvallance.com/01-music-folder/songs-folder-may-27/pg-song-hicks-right-place.html







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