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Idol Thoughts, May 16: Why Taylor MUST Win!by Donna Reynolds -- 05/16/2006
View Printable version of this article I started thinking about this article two weeks ago. I mulled over various approaches and titles, and considered several different angles. I tried writing it objectively and went at it from a purely emotional angle. Nothing seemed to be working. Then I watched the videos from Taylor’s trip back home to Birmingham. There he was on the stage at the Hoover Galleria, playing his harp, dancing feverishly, and “feelin’ all right” in front of 12,000 fans. It was then that it hit me. Not only should Taylor Hicks win American Idol, he must win it. Strong words, you say? Maybe, but consider what we’ve got here. Taylor Hicks is the most unlikely Idol contestant in the history of the show. He fits no musical mold and is so far out of the mainstream of pop music that could be a genre unto himself. The music that he loves is from an entirely different era and yet it fits him so perfectly that it could have been written for him. To call him unique is an understatement. 
What makes Taylor so special is the excitement that he generates. Taylor draws people to him and brings the audience right into his world. You never really know what he’s going to do, but when he’s finished, you feel as though you’ve gotten your money’s worth. That’s the difference between a performer and an entertainer, and is one of the reasons that Taylor has been so successful so far. Of all the previous seasons’ contestants, only a handful have been able to do this. Clay pulled people in with his emotion, vulnerability, and crystal clean vocals. Fantasia was a natural entertainer and let everything out on stage. Bo had fun and loved performing so much that people loved watching him. I think Taylor is in the same league. Some say that Taylor is not the best vocalist, and he has been criticized for his onstage antics. Personally, I think Taylor is very much aware of the impact that he has and chooses his songs for maximum effect. He had to know that a song like “Play That Funky Music” was going to get people up on their feet and really invigorate his fans. That was brilliant. “Jailhouse Rock” rocked. Period. And, coupled with “In the Ghetto,” Taylor was able to show both sides of his personality and let his vocals do the talking. He knows what his fans want and plays right to them. He performs, they vote, and so far, it’s working. Taylor’s greatest joy in life comes from performing. People who saw him before Idol tell me that he put just as much energy and effort into his club and party gigs as he does on the show. Music is his life, and it doesn’t matter whether he is performing for 30 people or 30 million. It’s what he does, who he is, and where he wants to be. One of the things that is sorely lacking in today’s pop music is that breathless feeling of exhilaration we had watching the great ones from the past. You know what I mean. There are certain artists and bands that never failed to thrill their audiences and left people literally breathless. Frank Sinatra caused teenage hearts to flutter in the 1940s, Elvis drove fans wild in the 1950s, and the Beatles created mass hysteria in the 1960s. In the years that have passed, there really hasn’t been one single artist or band that has caused such hysteria, at least not that I have witnessed. That is, not until American Idol came along. If you doubt that, consider the whole Clay Aiken phenomena. Need I say more? The noise for Clay started early in the season, and by the time the finale came around, it was positively deafening. It continued through the Idol tour, the release of his CDs, and his numerous sold-out tours and shows. They screamed, they fainted, and they swooned. It was remarkable. Clay Aiken became the star of season 2 and he didn’t even win. Looking back, it is still astonishing. For whatever reason, Simon didn’t see or didn’t want to see what was so potently obvious even then. Despite the fact that he didn’t fit into a neat little box, Clay had something special that drew people to him and his music. I don’t think Simon’s ever forgiven him! Fast forward three years. Simon is faced with another contestant who he doesn’t “get” and hasn’t from the start. He has no idea what he would do with Taylor if he were to win, and I think he’s been in denial that this is even a possibility. He’s been rude and dismissive of Taylor, and even his compliments have been begrudging. But every week, Taylor has been building momentum and he is insanely popular. Simon may not want to see it, but Taylor is steamrollering his way through this competition, and may turn out to be the most popular contestant ever to appear on this show.
I’ve written a lot about why Taylor deserves to win, but haven’t addressed the premise of this article, which is my contention that Taylor must win. Certainly, there’s a big difference. I don’t think anyone will argue the fact that Taylor is wildly popular and has generated a huge buzz around Idol this season. Because of that fact alone, I am convinced that his not winning will have a negative impact on the future success of the show. I think people can only handle so much disappointment before they decide that they can’t take any more! Sure, new people will join the fold, but for people like me who have been disappointed year after year, there comes a point when you just don’t want to go through it again. I’ve never been one of those people who has said “I will never watch again,” but I’m telling you, if Taylor loses, I am going to have a real hard time investing four months of my life in another season. His winning will ease the pain of all those people whose favorites have not won in the past, and will ensure that a lot of them will indeed return. It will also send a message to Simon Cowell that, although he may be the big-shot record producer, this is our decision, not his. Taylor’s winning will also put an end to all those conspiracy theorists who continue to believe that “they” choose the winner early on, and the entire process is manipulated to ensure that outcome. Taylor was not supposed to win, after all! Taylor deserves to make the finals. But I also know that anything is possible this week, and unfortunately, no matter how well he does, it all comes down to how skillful his fans are at power-voting. This makes me sick, but it’s the reality of this show. If you are reading this, and you believe as I do that Taylor must win, you have to vote. No excuses. If he is eliminated, it will be our fault, not his. And I don’t want to be responsible for that! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent American Idol articles on Foxes On Idol and RealityNewsOnline:
American Idols Live Kelly Clarkson Bo Bice Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, New York. While entertainment sustains her emotionally, she earns her daily bread by writing and editing web copy. Check out her new website at www.idolthoughts.net. Donna loves mail, so shoot her an email at foxydonna@earthlink.net. Be sure to sign up for the RealityNewsOnline/FoxesOnIdol e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on both sites! For all of our articles, check out our sections on American Idol, American Juniors, Nashville Star, and Canadian Idol. Also make sure to check out RealityNewsOnline for recaps and articles covering other reality TV shows. For even more news about reality TV, be sure to check SirLinksALot: American Idol and Reality TV Fever! View Printable version of this article
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