Don't we all just miss him? This is another one of his excellent renditions of this patriotic song. Bravo, Mr. Taylor Hicks!
In addition to this, Taylor Hicks will also be in Kentucky for this event (among the superstars, hello, he'll be with MJ??) And to think that I have a fascination and a big admiration for MJ having played for the Chicago Bulls. Oh yeah, Taylor Hicks just because.... for all different reasons. I cannot count.
Here's the article:
Guests set for Derby Grand Gala By Mary Meehan mmeehan1@herald-leader.com
Comedian Chris Tucker, Dr. Ian Smith of Celebrity Fit Club, basketball greats Julius Erving and Michael Jordan, and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will be among those attending the Grand Gala 2008 Derby party in Louisville.
Earth, Wind & Fire will perform.
Since 2002, the Grand Gala has become an annual Derby Night party featuring an array of A-list actors, athletes and hip-hop artists.
Tickets for the event are sold out, but for more information about the party, go to www.grandgala.com
Other scheduled attendees include:
■ Football players Adewale Ogunleye, Amobi Okoye, Byron Leftwich, Keith Bullock, Kellen Winslow Jr., Michael Irvin, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora,Vince Young, Warrick Dunn and Will Demps.
■ Basketball players Dwyane Wade and Ron Harper.
■ Actresses Gabrielle Union, Sanaa Lathan, LisaRaye McCoy, Lynn Whitfield, Tichina Arnold and Tracey Edmonds.
TV hosts Star Jonesand Jamal Munnerlyn.
■ Rapper Master P.
■ Sports executive Max Siegel.
■ Models Nicole Murphy and Selita Ebanks.
And they dare say that Taylor Hicks is a "has been."
More great news for our favorite soulman. Right after being inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in February, he is going to have his very own exhibit that will showcase his infamous purple jacket that he wore on the Final Two showdown between him and Kat McPhee (sorry Simon, I think that jacket rocked!) Another shirt that would be on exhibit is that Paisley print that he wore when he sang "Play that Funky Music" and we all still remember that Taylor Hicks had an embarassing moment that night. Remember the "kick the mic stand" failure? Hahahah! I would have been embarassed too. But we all laughed about it and thought it was cute, and yeah, it was Taylor, that was unforgettable. Musical instruments will also be on exhibit, including harmonicas, some donated by fans and supporters.
The unveiling of the Exhibit is scheduled in May 10, 2008, at 10 am. Information is available on their website ALABAMA MUSIC HALL of FAME" Or call Phone: (800) 239-AMHF Email: info@alamhof.org
Good luck to Taylor Hicks and CONGRATULATIONS! You are truly deserving. I wish I could attend, but, be there in spirit!
****The 2008 Induction Banquet and Awards Show will be aired on Public TV on April 14th, 19th and 24th all starting at 7:00 pm CST.
The rock group Journey debuted their newest lead vocalist Arnel Pineda in Chile this February and they did not disappoint their fans. Based on the videos posted by fans who were in attendance, the performances were so powerful that Arnel Pineda was accepted with "Open Arms" by the Chilean Journey fans. Great for them, as a Filipina, I am very proud of Mr. Pineda. I totally commend Mr. Schoen for his dicovery of Arnel, although unconventional because it's through YouTube, he nevertheless hit the jackpot.
Just recently, March 8th to be exact, Journey performed in Hard Rock Cafe, Las Vegas. A throng of fans came to witness the new Journey with Arnel Pineda as their lead singer. Most of the people in attendance were Filipino Americans who showed their love and support for their fellow Filipino who now has to fill the big shoes of Steve Perry, the original Journey vocalist. Arnel stated that he is aware that comparisons will be made between him and Mr. Perry and he will be judged but he knows that there will never be another Perry and that he will sing the best he can. Smart man, smart answer, Arnel. He again rocked the place.
A DVD of that show will be coming out June 9 this year and a tour is planned for July. Ohhh, I can't wait! Rock on Journey, you are back!
Call him ecclectic, different, weird, but I think he is refreshing. Taylor Hicks was that person in 2006. With his quirky moves and ticks not to mention the gray hair. Taylor Hicks won the title as we all know due to his genuine talent and persona. Taylor was also never hesitant to bring in music that may not have been popular to mainstream. One of those artists he covered was Ray LaMontagne and the song was "Trouble." Last night, Jason Castro performed a Leonard Cohen composition "Hallelujah" made famous by the late Jeff Buckley. Like LaMontagne, Jeff has a lot of devoted fans and even after his death he is still very much alive through his great songs and through his fans. When Jason sang this song last night, it made me excited because I am one of Jeff's fans and it even intensified my love for Jason Castro. Jason is truly unique and like Paula said, he has great phrasing when he sings any songs. He's my bet, he might not win it but he'll have a record deal.
Nigel Lythgoe finally had the permission to have the Idols sing the music of Lennon and McCartney. The lucky ones who will be singing these songs will be the Top 12 contestants. Wow, that would be a privilege!
Sidebar: Come to think of it, Taylor Hicks was the first one who sang a Beatles' song when he performed "Something" on American Idol in '06. That was an awesome performance.
MCA Music Inc. and MTV Philippines will be bringing a one-of-a-kind music and shopping experience by offering Colbie Caillat “Bubbly” Tour- Live at the Ayala Malls this March.
Being one of the top-selling albums in the music industry, through this tour, Colbie will be celebrating the success of her album Coco with the carrier single Bubbly which has reached the no. 1 spot both in radio and TV with the fastest pace. Her new single, Realize, has also dominated the charts by being in the top 10 even before its official release which only proves the immense support given to her by the local audience.
To reciprocate and to give thanks for the warm support given by her Filipino fans, Colbie will be reaching out to them by roaming around the metro. On her first day, you can catch her perform live, together with OPM’s Soulchild Julianne as the front act, at the Glorietta Activity Center on March 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
On her second day on March 12, she will be raiding your favorite radio stations– Magic 89.9, Hit FM, Mellow 94.7, RX 93.1, Jam 88.3 and Max 103.5 FM respectively from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Then at 6p.m on that day, she will be having another live performance at TriNoma mall. On the said venues, you can grab a copy of Coco and have your new albums signed personally by Colbie Caillat!
Mark your calendars now to give way to Colbie Caillat “Bubbly” Tour- Live at the Ayala Malls!!
So, I'm just exaggerating that title, excuse my excitement. I felt really perky and ecstatic upon seeing a friend's blog a couple of days ago. He had a bunch of great news that I felt I have to share here with you.
Well, we all know that Beyonce' was just in the Philippines last November. And in pure Beyonce' fashion, she rocked and brought the house down with her performance. As always, the fans were left longing for more.
Pilipinas, long no more! MTV Pilipinas is going to be providing the Filipinos' insatiable appetite for music the fix they need because this year 2008, how about more concert performances by other world famous artists? A number of great artists are lined up to tour Manila and negotiations are also being done for Madonna and U2. Now, that's what we're talking about! A lot of us are so excited for those who will be attending these concerts.
Spanky Enriquez thank you for giving me permission to post this great news on my blog as well. You rock!
MTV Pilipinas concerts:
Incubus : March 9/Araneta
Harry Connick Jr. : March 15/PICC Plenary Hall
Duran Duran : April 11/venue to be determined
Matchbox 20 : April 27/Araneta
Bob's son Damian Marley : April/Sofitel (former Philippine Plaza)
Dave Matthews Band : May/venue to be determined
Michael Buble' : June/Araneta
Josh Groban : July/Araneta
Justin Timberlake : October/The Fort or MoA
Usher : November/The Fort or MoA
Additionally, here's an update from my friend, Fred. More concerts in Manila:
Feb 29 to March 1: Ne-Yo
March 5: Maroon 5
March 11: Earth Wind and Fire
April 3: Toto
April 7: Swing Out Sister
May 19: James Blunt
Now that's what I call a "Line up!"
If I could only have one of my favorite new artists Paolo Nutini to tour the Philippines too. Hey, but we'll never know!
It's also appropriate to mention that I just attended Matchbox Twenty's concert in Chicago this month and they just absolutely blew me away.
In conclusion, when Taylor Hicks came to do a mini tour in the Philippines, it was kinda' like "testing the waters," to see what his fans are like in Asia. And in my opinion, they picked the right country to be his first stop for it . Now that he knows how much we love him, he will be back!!!
And for those who felt worried about Taylor Hicks touring the Philippines, put your worries to rest. We may be a third world country, but we do appreciate a great artist when we see one. We may not be rich economically, but our richness lies in our musical taste and passion. And our passion for music makes us all go out and spend our hard earned money to see the Arists that we love. So, I'd say, "bring them on!"
No, Taylor is not broke or have gotten desperate for a job that he has resorted to going back to sing at weddings. Contrary to reports that Taylor has disappeared and is unsuccessful, actually, he is highly successful and has been everywhere. If these reporters and bloggers would only do their homework first. It's not hard to find info on anyone, just Google them for crying out loud. Just an example of what Taylor Hicks had been doing since the start of 2008: He played golf at the Bob Hope Celebrity Golf Tourney side by side with stars like him. This March, he will play basketball at the McDonald's Celebtrity Basketball Tourney side by side with celebrities as well. While everyone awaits in great anticipation the release of his "Whomp at the Warfield" DVD, plans for a tour are also on the works. So there, and it's only February?
Oh yeah, the wedding singer. This is not your ordinary wedding. A couple named Kacy Hardenbrook and Jordan Edsall won this "Dream Wedding" on daytime TV show "Regis and Kelly" after the show went through countless of entries. This couple was supposed to get married last year but tragedy struck. Their house exploded, the family members suffered burns. Regis and Kelly made their tragedy a little bearable by making their dream come true and Taylor Hicks helped them realize it. It turned out that their favorite Idol is Taylor Hicks. The producers were encouraged when they were asked what their favorite song of Taylor's was. The rest is TV history. What a lucky couple, inspite of what they have gone through. And Taylor's performance was simply outstanding.
McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on ESPN at 7 p.m. ETBrace for an All-Star Battle in the Bayou ... Where Celebrities Hitting the Hardwood HappensNEW YORK, JAN. 2, 2008 -- Tickets for the McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, showcasing the hardwood talents of some of the entertainment world's biggest names, will go on sale Thursday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. ET. The game will tip off on Friday, Feb. 15 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Center Court inside NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and will feature a star-studded cast of players from film, TV, and music including, among many others, "American Idol" 2006 Winner Taylor Hicks, rapper Common, former NFL player Deion Sanders, "Friday Night Lights" hunk Zach Gilford, "Heroes" star James Kyson Lee, "The Wire" star Seth Gilliam, and New Orleans native Master P. Hip hop star Lupe Fiasco will perform during the exciting halftime show. The full roster for the game will be released in February. Tickets for the game are $25 and available at 800-4-NBA-TIX (622849), Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Outlets or the New Orleans Arena Box Office. A limited number of tickets are available. Tickets include admission to Jam Session on Friday, Feb. 15 where fans of all ages can meet and collect FREE autographs from NBA Players and Legends, shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day, compete against friends in skills challenges and much more. For the fourth straight year, ESPN will televise the game, which also features NBA and WNBA players, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. It will also air on ESPN HD and will be simulcast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobil TV. The game rosters are subject to change without notice. Visit NBA.com/jamsession or call 866-NBA-JAMS for more information.Last Feb. 17, the team of West celebrities defeated the East squad, 40-21, in Las Vegas behind an MVP effort from Tony Potts, co-anchor of Access Hollywood. Potts registered 14 points and eight rebounds. In perhaps the game's most stunning development, superstar running back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints had his night end early after a slight ankle sprain. NOTE: A $20 TICKET (STANDARD PRICE OF ADMISSION) TO JAM SESSION ON FRIDAY, FEB. 15, DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TO THE CELEBRITY GAME. ****As of February 2, tickets are SOLD OUT!
One of my favorite songs from the great Otis Redding, "I've Been Lovin' You Too Long." I figured we are talking "Soul" in the Soul Patrol. This performance was from the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1967. On that same event, Jimi Hendrix also played. But this soulful and playful performance of Otis Redding made my list as one of the GREATEST SOULFUL PERFORMANCES of all time. Just ask Taylor Hicks.
Arnel Pineda: Rebirth with Journey at 40 DAISY C.L. MANDAP, GMANews.TV
HONG KONG - Hearing Arnel Pineda sing for the first time is always a riveting experience. Just ask any of those who might have chanced hearing his rousing rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody" at the Cavern in Lan Kwai Fong some two years ago.
His voice was so pure, so electrifying, that he would almost always get a standing ovation at the end of his performance.
It was almost a shame then that he was relegated to doing cover versions of songs by Freddie Mercury, Sting by The Police, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, and many others.
But as luck would have it, it was this special talent of sounding very much like “the original" that gave Pineda the ticket to attaining a feat he never even dared dream of---that of joining one of his favorite bands, Journey. And as its lead singer, no less.
It was Journey’s guitarist, Neal Schon, who was responsible for roping in Pineda, after seeing him on YouTube performing “Faithfully" with his Manila band, The Zoo.
“I was frustrated about not having a singer," Schon says in a blog on Journey’s website, “so I went on YouTube for a couple of days and just sat on it for hours. I was starting to think I was never going to find anybody. But then I found The Zoo and I watched a bunch of different video clips that they had posted. After watching the videos over and over again, I had to walk away from the computer and let what I heard sink in because it sounded too good to be true. I thought, ‘he can’t be that good.’ But he is that good, he’s the real deal and so tremendously talented."
Schon was of course, speaking about Pineda, who was himself so shocked when he first heard from Journey that he immediately dismissed it as a hoax. It was only after some prodding from a friend that he decided to reply to Schon’s email.
“Until now, I still can’t believe it. Hindi pa rin nag- si –sink in," says the diminutive singer during a recent phone interview with The Sun. “But I am so proud that it happened." It almost never did, however.
After a few talks, Schon invited Pineda to fly to San Francisco for a two-day audition in December last year. Pineda thought he blew it on the first day.
“Maraming palpak, (maybe because) I just had two hours of sleep during the 15-hour flight," he relates. “It was so nerve-wracking, the pressure was too much."
But during a recording session the next day with Schon and the other band members Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valery (bass) and Deen Castronovo (drums), Pineda managed to relax a bit. “That was the defining moment, I think."
After singing along with the group, Pineda was able to convince even Cain, their most skeptical member, that he was the man for them.
On Feb. 1, Pineda is set to leave for the U.S. again, this time to join the band in recording a new album that could be out as early as July. “After that, siguro pwede na kaming mag-tour," he said.
At the age of 40, when most musicians are bound to think fame has already slipped past, Pineda is experiencing a rebirth in his career.
It’s a big jump from his early days as a member of various bands that traveled across the Philippines and later, Hong Kong, for gigs. It was an even bigger leap from the days he was forced to sleep rough on the streets of Manila after poverty forced his family apart.
It was not always the case, though. Pineda still remembers the time when his parents, both tailors, would suit him up for amateur singing contests starting at age 5. “They knew even then that I could sing, but I was so shy," he reminisces.
At age 12, his mother died after a long illness that left his family heavily in debt. Eventually, he and his three siblings had to find ways to fend for themselves. “Naghiwa-hiwalay kami."
He became homeless, and spent much of his time sleeping at friends’ houses, and sometimes in Luneta Park.
The first opportunity to mend his shattered life came when a friend invited him to join a band. That was how, at age 15, Pineda became a professional musician.
He became a lead singer of Ijos (later renamed Hijos) band in 1982 and just five years later, first won international acclaim when he won the Best Vocalist award at the World Band Explosion in Tokyo.
He then joined a pop/rock band called Amo which played in clubs in Quezon City, Makati and Olangapo. In late 1990 Amo disbanded, and Pineda teamed up with four former bandmates to form “New Age." It was with this band that he first came to HK to sing at the now-defunct Igor’s and Grammy’s.
Nine years later, he was lured to return to the Philippines on his days off so he could record a solo album for Warner Bros. One of the songs in his self-titled album, “Iiyak Ka Rin" became a very popular karaoke tune while another, “Sayang," became a radio favorite.
Still, Pineda remained on the periphery of success, and largely made his mark singing covers of his favorite bands.
This became his trade mark even as he and three members of New Age split and joined forces with a female singer to form “Most W@nted." The band played for six days each week at The Cavern, and on Sundays, their only rest day in the week, they obliged requests to sing at Filipino community events. It was also during this time that Pineda recorded the theme song of the short-lived Filipino radio show, “Dayo."
In 2006, Pineda again decided to move back to Manila along with longtime friend and bandmate Monet Cajipe, and formed The Zoo.
That, as his newfound fame now shows, proved to be the most serendipitous move in his musical career.
Though he is soon to be a citizen of the world, Pineda says he intends to come back to HK every so often so he could retain his permanent residency, and ensure the same thing for his three sons, aged 18, 12 and 2.
That could also be his way of keeping grounded, even as he embarks on a journey that up until last month, he never thought was possible.
Love him, or hate him, Reynaldo Lapuz, is an unforgettable character on American Idol Season 7. During his audition this week , he also performed an unforgettable song that had Simon, Randy and Paula joining in the fun (or having fun at his expense.) Whatever it is you feel about Reynaldo, the fact is that we Filipinos have already embraced his oddities and crowned him our own version of William Hung.
Fansites for Reynaldo are already emerging on the internet,and you know when you've arrived when there are countless of your audtion videos being posted on YOUTUBE. There are even videos that made remixes of his own composition, that now infamous "I am your brother, your brother forever" song. I have to stop myself from adding smilies to this post as to make it sincere and earnest. ;)
We truly take pride in every Filipino, from the very talented ones, like Cheryl Burke, the two time Dancing With The Stars Champ, Leah Salonga, a Tony Award Winner, the young Charice Pempengco, the newest vocalist for Journey, Arnel Pineda, just to name a few to the odd ones like Reynaldo. After all, Filipinos have a great sense of humor, and when we see a representation of all the sides of a Filipino, we are all for it, in fact, we love it.
So for Reynaldo, go ahead kaibigan..... have fun, mabuhay ka!
It’s all in the news, “Taylor Hicks dropped by JRecords.”
I don’t take criticism really well especially when I know I’m “attacked” and “cornered”. Now, they drop this bomb on Taylor Hicks, who happens to be my idol. Any fan of his would probably be infuriated by now, defending him against the absurd and exaggerated reports that are all over the television, papers and magazines. But where do we stand on this issue? Moreover, where should we stand?
My friend Claire already expressed her views and I admire how she chose to disconnect herself from this subject matter and remain faithful to the artist that has touched her soul. I share her stand on this with a little something to impart to everyone, OPTIMISM.
Not all of his fans are on the same page. Some worry, fearing that without the BIG JRecords he would have some trouble. Some put all their trust on Taylor remembering he has been there, done that. It’s not the same anymore, now he has us, the Soul Patrol.
I am with the latter side of the boat.
There is so much to be happy about despite the news of splitting and dropping. If you reflect hard, there’s actually nothing to be worried about. For me, I’ve understood that in my mind and in my heart.
Where were we before Taylor Hicks? Try to remember what your lives were like before Taylor Hicks came on that big show we call American Idol.
Me? I was a nerd determined to graduate as one of the top in my class. I didn’t have a lot of friends, I was moody and I was deprived of opportunities, a lot of them. I constantly felt I was too fat, or not good enough. Most importantly, I didn’t like looking back. They simply made me anxious, even angry.
Were you living the same life I lived? Or had better lives? Worse? Satisfactory? You may have done something else to kill time, immersed yourself in your work, watched TV, read magazines or books.
Your lives before? Let’s admit, they didn’t have Taylor Hicks in them. Those books and magazines you read, those television shows you watched, those websites you visited? They probably didn’t include Taylor or The Soul Patrol.
Now, however, since American Idol (a show I’m still grateful to despite their constant stress that Taylor Hicks was a mistake) we had the opportunity to come across the man we all have come to dedicate most of our time and lives to today. The simple fact that we have him to admire and support is a GREAT gift we can never and should not forget. Whether he was put on the show to be a joke or a real contender, it doesn’t matter. We have seen him and are glued to him.
Some of us have seen him perform live, experienced his magnetism, his intensity and his artistry on stage. Most of us have all his three albums and have listened to them religiously. And quite a number of us have spoken to him, met him and have a photo with him that we probably put on the most special sections of our homes. Isn’t that something we should always be grateful for?
We got to know him more through his book which he wrote himself. Some of us even sleep to his voice sharing his own story to us. How many people actually get a chance to listen to their favorites tell them stories?
The Soul Patrol, the best people on the planet, who we have not known before Taylor Hicks but are now our constant shoulder to lean on, our online buddies to who we can share our craziest ideas to, most importantly our friends who will be there not only when we need them to but even when we don’t. They’re with us now. Isn’t that something to be really proud of?
So what if he parted ways with JRecords?
We have him NOW to admire, support, go crazy over. We have Taylor Hicks, now in his TRUEST SELF. We will have him for a long time, he assured us that. He can’t do this on his own with us busying ourselves with worry. He can do what he wants to as long as we stay with him. We made him win American Idol, right? We helped him defy the odds, remember? We can make him win a successful career. I know we can. Taylor Hicks reached the sales he has today because of US even after the lack of promotion on the part of his record company (who I also thank because they gave me one more Taylor CD to keep playing. In my opinion, it was still a good CD). We have TAYLOR HICKS in all of our minds, hearts and LIVES. We go on with life dedicating a part of us to helping him succeed without treating it as a burden but a blessing.
So, you better be hanging in there Soul Patrol because Taylor Hicks will be back blowing all of us away, and of course with no more strings attached.
P.S. I am a better person now. I have a lot of friends and still fighting to graduate with honors. And looking back? It’s such a wonderful experience especially since I have a Taylor Hicks memory with me. ☺
I'm about to turn off my Google Alerts for Taylor Hicks this week. Everytime I read the articles, almost all I'm reading about is the negativity that surrounds Taylor's split with J Records. Didn't anyone know that Taylor was just back from a highly successful stint in Asia? But that would not make NEWS, it's just ASIA. (**rolls eyes)
I'm almost ready to answer each negativity with an all out assault complete with full combat gear and put these writers in their places. In other words, my loyal fan "claws" are coming out and I wanted to scratch someone's eyes out. (breathing*****, inhale, exhale...) But, I'm better than that, therefore, I'm just blogging away, attempting to make sense as to why these reports seem so one-sided and unbalanced.
Taylor Hicks did not just get dropped people! It takes meetings and talks represented by the concerned parties to have a break-up, especially in an industry that has lawyers up their noses. I'm sure there is a much more intelligent explanation for this, but I am just offering my layman's understanding of this issue. It is not hard to deduce that there was an understanding on both sides, and yes, financial settlements may be at play.
Besides, let's look at the positives on this, Taylor Hicks is free! And they are free of Taylor Hicks--which they did not want to promote in the first place. And Taylor Hicks is free of them. Call him bullheaded or stubborn if you want and that is why he got the boot, but has it ever occured to anyone that he wanted to cut the ties off because of that very reason?? Obviously, he did not want to be part of J Records' assembly of a NEW generation of manufactured, pre-packaged stars, with pre-made songs to be played to the mainstream audience. Okay, maybe not everyone is pre-packaged, some of them are legitimately talented, hello Carrie Underwood! Who decides on what is "mainstream" anyway? The radio stations that are getting hooked up by the record company executives? It's just a question, and everything else is just my own humble opinion! (getting off my soapbox, turning off my Google Alerts)
Soul Patrol- Forever!
A message from Taylor Hicks about this issue posted on his MySpace:
"To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I've been a working musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career. Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going to stop anytime soon. I've started working on the new album, writing and scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it's final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight, because the best is yet to come!"
For someone whose day begins at 12:00 P.M. in the afternoon, whose timid ways make striking up conversations with people hard and whose hesitant manners make her an easy target for cunning buyers in supermarket lines, competing for limited stubs to the Ayala Malls concert was not exactly the perfect place for me.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm at 4:45 a.m. in the morning. My head was still heavy because it wasn’t my routine especially on school breaks. But, once I got a glance of the Taylor Hicks concert flyer that I posted on the ceiling, I immediately got out of bed and got dressed to go to the mall.
Two weeks back, when I first saw the flyer, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Taylor Hicks is coming to Manila. I seriously thought it was a mistake. So, I checked several sites that could clarify this but I only got more news and details on his visit. From this moment on, I was determined to catch him live. Who would have thought he’d come to Manila? Even after poor airplay and lack of proper promotion of his album which for me was one of the best I ever held and listened to, he’d choose to visit the Philippines. I thought it was definitely unbelievable but wonderful.
I arrived in the mall at 6:35 a.m. No one was around yet and then I got word from the security guard that stubs will be released at 11:00 a.m. I was four and a half hours early. I admit I was frustrated but I had to do the sacrifice. I thought, this may be the first and last time I’ll see Taylor live (well, as well all know it won’t be ;) ).
At around 8:00 a.m., there were more people coming in. And the group grew by the minute; each one eyeing on the concierge that distributes the stubs. I couldn’t say I deserve it more than the other people who also made the same sacrifice to get stubs but I thought to myself, I was first here and so I think I deserve to get the good passes particularly one with a meet and greet opportunity. Forgetting my introverted ways, I pushed myself to the concierge and started the line for everyone to follow. If it was the supermarket, I’d gladly make way for other buyers since I have the luxury of time and opportunities. But for this one instant, I didn’t have that luxury and I just felt I needed to meet Taylor. I just had to.
I thought people would fight their way for my spot but that didn’t happen. Actually, newcomers were approaching and asking me for details about where they should line up for stubs. I truly couldn’t believe the people I’ve met during the waiting period. I remember perfectly a couple approaching me and asking me about details of the stub distribution. But minutes later, the conversation shifted to topics other than Taylor like our hobbies, our dreams, concerns. The small talk blossomed into a beautiful conversation that I rarely had with people I just knew. Now, we’re constantly communicating through SMS. And we’re up until now good friends.
When I got my stub and exited the line, I was surprised with the number of people waving back at me as I was leaving. Some I didn’t even know by name but I guess they were grateful for the little help I assisted them with. They may not have been my friends now but I’m just happy that I was able to give them assistance because like me, I knew they wanted to see Taylor Hicks, the American Idol live.
As I was in the perimeter of the venue already, I recognized the people I’ve lined up with earlier that day. They never forgot to flash a smile as they saw me. I smiled back for I know this moment was something we’ve all longed for. My back and legs were still hurting from the exhaustion and long waiting and I’m sure they were experiencing the same thing. But at that moment, it didn’t really matter because we all knew we were in for a great show.
The moment Taylor Hicks stepped on stage, I was shaking in excitement and as I looked around, everyone was screaming, cheering hard; enchanted by the American Idol that we didn’t think we could even see and meet. I and the couple beside me were quiet, still trying to let the experience sink in. Then when Taylor starts singing, we shook the shock off and screamed our lungs out. Realizing we had a late reaction, we giggled for a moment then turned our attention back to the Soul Man.
In between numbers, I would always look around trying to catch the expression on people’s faces. All I could see was joy, happiness, excitement, jolliness and fulfillment. I couldn’t blame them for I experienced those same emotions myself. The atmosphere was encouraging, merry and jovial. You could just lose yourself and be in tune with Taylor’s beautiful music. And his performance? It kept us hooked the whole time.
Seeing Taylor Hicks perform live made me forgot how tired I was and how terrible my past few weeks before that day were. I used to rely on reviews made by other SPers for a glimpse of how great Taylor was live. Now, I can’t believe I am writing this article to share with all of you. Still amused and grateful for that opportunity, I am carrying on with life with a memory and realization that I came out of this experience a better person with more friends and a witness to the greatness of Taylor Hicks, the American Idol, our idol.
The Maze(he tagged this with about 4 different songs, phenomenal)
"Do you feel it? Ain't no woman like the one I've got....Easy, I'm easy like Sunday morning! Givin' it up for your love, right now, let's get it on...."
When Taylor Hicks made the announcement that he was going to spend some of his days in December performing in some Asian country, it was hardly news in the US but it sent a wave (make it a tsunami) of excitement to the Soul Patrollers living in Asia especially, the Philippines. A small country in the Pacific consisting of about 7,100 islands and about 77 different dialects. It is a very tiny country, but such a big market for music. As a matter of fact, it is one of the countries in Asia that is a TEST market for music. If your music "makes" it in the Philippines, chances are, it will "make" it everywhere else (given that the artist is promoted properly, ha!)
This announcement came as a pleasant surprise because no American Idol champion had ever visited the country before. We had Elliott Yamin, Constantine Maroulis and a few others but they were not the grand champions. Taylor Hicks' mall tours in the Philippines was a conclusion of his appearance at the first ever Asian Idol held in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 16th. For the first time, all of Asian nations saw what Taylor Hicks looked and sounded like after thinking he had disappeared after the AI Finale in May of 2006. When he was peforming, he was receiving enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. Since Asia is the biggest continent, you better believe a lot of people saw him and were delighted to see him again. Good for Taylor!
Although Taylor Hicks NEVER got the promotion that he should have gotten and we may never know why he did not get his fair shake of promotions that the rest of the Idols, winners and non winners alike are enjoying, Taylor's visit was warmly received by the Filipino people and it is fair to say that his mini concerts were considered hugely successful considering how short the notice was.
But without the people around Taylor who worked so hard to get him to the Philippines and the band that were chosen to play with him, the concerts would not be as successful. So, we would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who worked with Taylor during his visits here. These are the seasoned, well known, session musicians in the country today. The band sounded as if they had played with Taylor for a long time now because they gelled really well together. Until now, it is so hard to believe that they only rehearsed with Taylor once, only several hours prior to the first show in Glorietta on the 18th of December. Taylor Hicks sounded flawless partly because of his accompaniment, the bandmembers which consist of musicians who are sought after in the Philippines' music scene today. Total professionals and highly skilled in their craft.
Louie Ocampo - 1st keys and Musical Director Marvin Querido - second keys and Arranger Mike Agorrilla - drums (He's an LA-based Filipino-American session drummer) Tots Tolentino - sax Bobby Taylo - bass Ric Mercado - guitars Rickson Ruiz - percussion (Taylor was suprised to see a 20 year old boy in his band) Elke Saison-Ortiz and Eugene Cailao -- backup vocals
The Soul Patrol would like to thank each one of you for the phenomenal job that you did for Taylor Hicks' concerts in Manila. You all have left an indelible mark in the hearts of the Soul Patrol and most especially Taylor Hicks. We look forward to seeing you perform with Taylor Hicks again in the near future. And when that happens, we will be there again, cheering you on and spreading the word of your greatness in all of Soul Patrolland.
Here are a few "thanks yous" and words of PRAISES coming from the Soul Patrol members from all over:
KarinP:No one would ever know that they had such a short time to rehearse with Taylor. The band was amazing from what I saw on the many videos that were posted.
Ragsqueen:It's hard to believe that the band had little rehearsal time with Taylor! From what I've had time to watch, they were awesome and very tight! Congratulations to them on this accomplishment!
COCHEM:Would this band be considered to be Taylor's band for the whole Asia tour early next year?...If so that would be awesome.....They really gelled in only a couple hours, days.....just think if they had a month or so together....
Mouser: The professionalism of the band was apparent..............and Taylor just went with the flow. They did a superb job of picking up Taylor's vibe in such a short period of time. Great musicians and the two vocalists were a welcome addition to the mix.
tygrlillie:Add my thanks as well. It's tough to keep up with the guy, even a layperson like me can see that. They did an amazing job, bravo.
Girl4Reba:Please send them my thanks as well. I thought they were fantastic, everyone of them!!
cbeans:They did a great job playing with Taylor. I was very impressed with their talent and ability to learn the songs and fall right into place with Taylor. Its a sign of a awesome leader, and amazing band talent. Tell them we really do appreciate them.
By Fran Katigbak Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 19:07:00 01/01/2008
MANILA, Philippines—It’s not easy singin’ the blues to an audience whose daily dose of music comes from skinny teenyboppers, booty-shaking divas and bling-clad “boys from the ’hood.”
Not if you are gray-haired and inclined to play the harmonica or if your dancing looks drug-induced.
But just as he defied pop stereotypes when he won “American Idol” Season 5, soul singer Taylor Hicks also proved it pays to stay true to his style and brand of music.
Filipino fans, even those as young as 6, watched the 31-year-old artist in a series of shows recently sponsored by the Ayala Malls in Manila.
At the show in TriNoma, Hicks was in his element singing tracks from his self-titled album as well as songs he composed early in his career. Of course, not to be missed were the Alabama native’s harmonica-playing and the manic, footloose moves that became his trademark on “AI.”
The chemistry was apparent between the artist and the all-Pinoy band led by composer Louie Ocampo, who had arranged the songs in the program. In fact, the audience would erupt in cheers and wild applause each time Hicks and Ocampo matched antics on the harmonica and keyboards.
The rest of the band had the chance to shine as well. At one point in the show, Hicks introduced each member who then worked up a brief solo on his or her instrument.
Perhaps the only hitch was the fog machine, which produced more artificial smoke than necessary. A wide screen should have been installed to project close-up video shots for the benefit of those behind the VIP/special-pass area.
We also wish Hicks had walked to the audience in “Taking it to the Streets,” like he did on the “AI” finale, but we understand the danger it might pose to security.
The mini-concert put the spotlight on the 2006 “American Idol” as artist and performer. Soulful, energetic, passionate with his music, Taylor Hicks has, indeed, given us reason to be proud of him.
(Sidebar Note)
Correction to this article:Mr. Marvin Querido arranged all the songs with Mr. Louie Ocampo as the Musical Director.
We are Filipino fans of the soulman, Taylor Hicks. We are Soul Patrol Pinoys who are forever touched by his music. Taylor Hicks has the Pinoys' Heart and Soul!
Platinum Seling Debut Album--- Click to Order at Amazon.com
Click to Order Taylor's CDs (Pre-IDOL) at Laser's Edge
Click to Order this Inspirational Book at Amazon.com
Excerpt: "To sing to the whole world, you've really got to do it one person at a time--- at least that's how it feels for me. Singing from your soul isn't about how many notes you can hit or how long you can hold them. It's all about intimacy and honesty. It's about sharing your story in a song."
