Taylor Hicks, the 2006 American Idol Winner. Months after his win, is still going strong, and people all over the nation are still enjoying The Taylor Hicks Experience. Fans from all over America, Canada and other country’s are traveling hundreds and even thousands of miles to see and hear Taylor Hicks perform in the American Idol Tours and the clubs he might show up at after a concert to perform with his pre-idol band, now know as LMBO (Little Memphis Blues Orchestra). Also known to show up at these shows are Elliot Yamin, Bucky Covington and Ace Young.
With past Idol Tour Shows usually the group just does the tour concerts and maybe appears on a talk show or two while getting there first CD ready for release. But Taylor Hicks isn’t happy just doing the tour. He wants to and appears to need go to clubs and play with his band and Idol cast mates and release his pent up energy. This is a great delight to the fans of Taylor Hicks who love seeing Taylor perform in the environment he loves best where he can let loose and be his self singing the music he and his fans love.
This is not to say Taylor Hicks isn’t giving the American Idol concert goers the show of their life. It has been reported by many fans that when Taylor comes on stage the energy level at the concerts goes way up. Even fans of the other Idols have reported that after seeing Taylor live they now are also fans of his. Taylor Hicks can take any song and make it his own. He has been compared to Elvis a lot, whether it is because of his looks resembling Elvis, his charm and charisma, his way of dancing no matter what the media says (they just don’t get it) or the way his fans go completely bonkers when Taylor enters the room. One thing that is most defiantly like Elvis is the way Taylor can take any song and make it his own. He puts his own spin on it.
Annette Bouvier wrote an article for the Post Chronicle Tittle -Tattle section and summed it up best. “Elvis sang "MY WAY", Sinatra's mantra, but when Elvis sang it, it belonged to him. Taylor Hicks has this same gift. He can Taylorize a song, just like the King Elvisized it. Taylor Hicks is unique, talented, sexy, and so very genuine. He is exactly what America is looking for. He is OUR AMERICAN IDOL. Millions of people just can't get enough of Taylor Hicks. It is not only the baby boomers; it is millions of teens and ever 80 and 90 year-olds.”
A couple days after Taylor Hicks won American Idol the New York Post online edition had a piece written by Mary Huhn and she even had an Elvis insight. “After less than 48 hours as Idol, he's so at ease you almost expect him to move into Graceland.”
So what do fans think about comparing Taylor to Elvis? In my first piece “The Taylor Hicks Experience.” I asked six fans that same question among other questions. I now turned to more fans to get their insight.
Julie - If Taylor never ever would have done an Elvis song, I still believe that there is a slight resemblance in style, but the way he slipped into the Elvis role was uncanny. We Soul Patrollers call him “Tayvis” when we think of his Elvis ability!
Dena - As far as being like Elvis.....I feel Taylor is his own man, however he seems to make the women swoon like Elvis did. I have never been this wild for a singer!
Trish - Something in the voice, and I don't mean something that is merely audio perception. No, its much more than that, it is spiritual, but not in a religious sense. Also it shows in his mannerisms, and in his smile. I thought it interesting that the Avi picture we had, showing a split face of half Taylor, and half Elvis, both halves fit together perfectly without any adjustments of facial features. But please understand... Taylor is not by any means an imitation of Elvis. Just like there was only one Elvis... there is only one Taylor.
TaylorRena - On 50's night, I invited my friend from downstairs, who'd never seen AI, up to watch. She HAD heard of Taylor, thru the grapevine, but didn't know anything about him, really, and had never even seen a picture. She's mid-fifties by the way. After he performed "Not Fade Away," with the entire dancing, pouting, etc. she said, "Oh, NOW I get it! He's Elvis, isn't he?!" I asked her what she meant exactly, and she said, "The moves, the looks, the accent, the hair. He's a new Elvis."
