A couple with a sad story was thrown a big wedding by Live with Regis and Kelly on Friday. Taylor Hicks performed “The Right Place” during the wedding procession. Apparently, Taylor is the couple’s favorite American Idol. Ignore the wedding stuff and just listen to the music. Taylor did a beautiful job.
Taylor Hicks - The Right Place on iTunes.
I love the Taylor Hicks CD and look forward to more music from Taylor Hicks.
These fans who think Taylor owes them something make me laugh.
I understand and that’s what a lot of his fans like too. But remember, the sort of sound that you love isn’t going to sell millions. Today’s CD buyers and radio program managers don’t dig this type of music. That’s all I’m saying. If his fans who love that style are willing to buy his records, I’m sure he’ll still make close to gold, but a platinum seller is going to be a hard climb.
And of course, because he won’t make platinum, he’ll still be called a FAILURE no matter what.
Wow. Thanks for the scoop.
Seems like a perfect fit for Taylor. I’m really hoping the collaboration with John Mayer finally happens on this next record. And I’d love to see him work with Rob Thomas again, if that’s possible.
I have to say I’m very excited for this next record. I don’t know if it’s going to sell very well, but I’m betting the music is going to be outstanding to this Hicks fan.
LBB, Im not trying to be argumentative here and I dont know why you think that I would measure his success in numbers of Albums sold because I wouldnt. In other words, if Taylor cut a record that was like what Im waiting for and it didnt sell to mainstream, then he keeps people like me happy and I will continue to buy his music. Im still not convinced that mainstream would not like some of what he does best but Im not sure cause he hasnt put anything out that even I could wrap myself around.
>>I understand and that’s what a lot of his fans like too. But remember, the sort of sound that you love isn’t going to sell millions.>>
He isnt selling millions anyway so why not make his base happy. I mean yeah, his CD sold 700,000 or something like that but that was out of anticipation not because it was that good. We are the ones who bought that crappy CD in the first place and if he puts another one similar to that POS out then he will have lost this fan. I dont like to be taken and if he does not go back to his roots, back to what got him recognized in the first place by people like me for example, well then as time passes his chances of making more than 2 major CD’s will have vanished. (Im not counting the 2 inde CD’s he cut which were, IMHO, very very good.
Im not expert but I think its crucial for him to get back to the studio and make some real music similar to what got him there in the first place. For the record, I loved heart and Soul but thats just me. I hope he gets to collaborate with people who will have name recognition but I dont expect him to go Platinum thats for sure.
>>These fans who think Taylor owes them something make me laugh.>>
Easy, Taylor owes me nothing but if he wants this fan to continue to take a chance on him and buy his music then he has to do better than what he did. If he is happy with what he did on that CD then Im speechless cause I think he is capable of so much better. Thats why Im disappointed. I have been to the mountaintop so to speak and I have seen and heard the power of Taylor. Its been a long time since I took that trip and its the reason I continue to listen to his Inde CD’s and his old bar room music. I think it was some of his best stuff.
He owes me nothing but that works the other way around as well.
Just curious Dingo — exactly what part of the album did you not like ? There are 13 songs (one a bonus ) in the album.
Are you saying EVERYTHING in the album is crap ? Or did you at least like a few ?
Your answer to that question will help Taylor’s handlers design the next set of songs in his second endeavor.
Let me tell you my personal take :
1) RUNAROUND — I Love it ( I’ve always been a sucker for big, rousing horned pieces ).
2) HEAVEN KNOWS — Hey, I loved Ray Charles’ What’d I Say — why not this one ?
3) DREAM MYSELF AWAKE — I’ll pass
4) GONNA MOVE — This version is ( as Randy would say ) — Ai’ght. But I’ve heard better versions (e.g. Susan Tedeschi’s for instance).
5) WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT — I didn’t like Marvin Gaye’s song, so why would I like this ?
6) GIVE ME TONIGHT — I loved it. Throwback dance music. But then for those who love acoustics, this is going to be heresy. This piece makes his album a little confusing because you don’t really know what Taylor wants to be musically.
7) JUST TO FEEL THAT WAY — Yes. Loved it. It ain’t HEART AND SOUL but hey, it’s a dramatic and soaring ballad.
8) THE MAZE — Yes. Loved it. Again, it ain’t his style, and he’s trying to experiment. Some of his “pure” fans will hate it. Me, being more eclectic, loved it. But again, he doesn’t define himself musically here.
9) SOUL THING — I confess I loved his original version over this one. This modernized one has too much electronic synthesis to me, and I missed the guitar lick in the middle when he sang the phrase “IT AIN’T NO COUNTRY TWANG”. Plus, I prefer the Sax solo to the electric wah wah in the middle.
10) PLACES I’VE BEEN — I always skip this part when it’s on my car CD ( Dianne Warren and Taylor Hicks are like oil and water ).
11) THE DEAL — What’s not to love ? This is Taylor Hicks through and through.
12) THE RIGHT PLACE — The best cut of the CD period.
13) HELL OF A DAY — Didn’t like this version. Prefered the plaintive wailing of the original.
Overall the main complaint you can have about the album is this — Taylor’s style is neither here nor there and there is no DEFINITION of what kind of music genre it is. You can’t pin him down. It’s like a mixed bag of adult contemporary music being played by a DJ on Sunday — dance music now, acoustic later, big band next….
But hey, for me, its still a listenable album.
No offense to Daughtry fans ( because I like him personally ), but like Chris Sligh ( who reviewed both of them ), I still prefered Taylor’s crap to Daughtry’s best seller. Daughtry’s songs have an eery sameness to them the moment you progress through his album. But hey, sameness appeals to the modern ear, what can I say ? And get this — Daughtry doesn’t try to “experiment” with other genres or types of music. He sticks to his persona and who he is. He’s rock and he rocks. Taylor on the other hand tries too many things and too many sounds and pleases only his diehard followers.
Now Dingo m’lady, tell us which songs in his album are crap and which songs in his album are acceptable to your personal ear…
OMG.
People are entitled to their opinion! DO not beat a dead horse. Don’t try to change opinions. It’s a waste of time and boring to read.
LBB - ENOUGH! We didn’t need a track-by-track rehash of Taylor’s album, not only is it off topic, It’s pedantic. STOP IT.
Pedantic.
Shit, I hate when I have to break out my dictionary.
Thats my word for the day. The things I learn at MJ’s place.
Now I gotta go campaign for Obama, my new passion of the moment.
I personally cannot stand Taylor’s voice, it grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. To me he sounds perpetually congested, like he needs to blow his nose or something.
The Right Place is a beautiful song and Taylor sang it beautifully. Loved it!
Taylor’s strength is in performing! Everything that was mediocre to most on his CD came alive on his tour.
Taylor has lots of irons in the fire including a soon to be released DVD that “shows” what a touring phenomenon he is.
His new CD will be filled with music that will thrill his touring audience. If it catches on the CD market that will be a bonus.
I’m happy that Taylor is happy. His money is in touring and this is from his own lips. He has ignited the Asian market and I’m sure Taylor’s style will slowly ignite those who have a chance to see him on his DVD and pass the word along.
Taylor’s goal was always to be able to make a living from performing his music and I think he has accomplished this. I’m happy :)
One final comment from me on this topic. I compare Taylor’s first CD with Bo’s in that neither truly showcased the elements that made these guys so appealing on Idol. I didn’t hate either CD, but was disappointed in that neither was “authentic.”
Bo’s second CD, ‘See the Light,’ is much, much better, and while it didn’t sell millions (or even hundreds of thousands) it represents Bo so much better than did TRT. Bo’s happy, his fans are happy, and he’s touring in the spring. No, he’s not at the top of the charts, but this time, he wasn’t forced to compromise, and I’ll bet he’s not complaining one bit.
If Taylor’s second CD is more reflective of his true style, I’m sure his fans will react the same way Bo’s did (and the majority of critics as well). Will it sell millions? Probably not, but that’s not the issue anymore. It’s about these people as artists who happened to end up on a hugely popular TV talent show and who are now celebrities whereas a few years ago, they were unknown outside their region. Yeah, there’s a little selling of the soul involved, but now at least, Bo is comfortable with where he is professionally and I think Taylor will be as well. I look forward to his second effort.