NESP Forum

Found this tonight and thought you all might be interested.... Carrie Underwood was listed as the top Idol in this Power Ranking list. They only listed 11, but here they are:

11 McPhee
10 Fantasia
9 Aiken
8 Lewis
7 Yamin
6 Pickler
5 Sparks
4 Hudson
3 Daughtry
2 Clarkson
1 Underwood

Hello!!!! Where is our Soul Man??? Not even listed in the top 11. IMO he's been much more successful than Sparks and Pickler. He should have at least been in the top 5!

Okay I think it's out of my system now. Here are a few comments that were made about Taylor's success.....

--------I'm not disputing anybody listed here, but where is Taylor Hicks? He has had three successful tours since winning, performances in Indonesia and the Phillipines, numerous performances at great events and shows, has a gold cd, a platinum album and a new dvd coming out soon. He's not even listed here? He has sold more album cd's than Kellie or Elliot, although I'm thrilled for them all. Just wonder why this guy is getting such negative press when he is not doing badly at all. He's not sold millions like Carrie or Chris or Kelly C, but he's done so well, far better than the press is suggesting or reporting. I don't get it. Not all may like his moves or style, but many, many do. A mystery. ----------

--------A good batch of Idols here but I also agree the omission of Taylor Hicks is a bit confusing. As far a I can figure, he has sold more records than 5 of these Idols listed, and has the highest first year headlining tour gross of ALL of them. He just returned from performing on the finale of Asian Idol which had an estimated audence of 200 million people. Taylor will never be mainstream but he has a huge cult following that will carry him through many years. ---------

Angela

And it had been such a pleasant day - - -

It's 1:42 AM and am really tired - - but even more tired of this comparison game the media likes to play with us - - - and since we are a publicly read site and there may be some people who don't have a bigger picture or frame of reference to put this latest BS into proper context - - I'll make a stab at providing said context . . . .  

let's start with why I am in such a great mood  

Taylor had a great day with one of the best interviews ever - the inevitable AI questions but also actual music conversation - - lasted about an hour on Sirius Channel 13 - live from Graceland in Memphis.  
The DJs for the show have some real music knowledge and historical reference - - they certainly understand Taylor and appreciate his talent.  Made it clear that they feel Taylor is a very necessary and important player in the effort to keep alive the great music of his heros - the people like Otis, Ray, James Brown and all the others.
There are Sendspace downloads of the full interview available on this site - see the Sirius thread.

And there was a super cellcert tonight on the Boogie from the gala affair at Peabody Hotel in Memphis where Taylor not only perfromed at the very top of his game to a crowd that loved him but also received an outstanding achievement award.  EJ [edjorg] and Mandy [ RagsQueen ] were recording and taking pictures so there will be more fun to come.

And a new audio-blog went up on HQ today with Taylor talking about how excited he is about all that will be happening in 2008

BTW - Taylor is performing for the half-time show for the Liberty Bowl tomorrow - game is on ESPN at 4:30 I think.

Now more goodies - - -
Add in the recent very successful S.E. Asia tour  - info also available here on this site - - - and a very successful U.S. solo tour of over 100 concerts from late Feb to Sept. this past year - -  along with a #1 gold single in DIMYP - almost unheard of for a physical single to go gold now - - and a certified Platinum full album - - and the long list of the things he has done just since his AI audition available on the Whomp Swamp which is an open read site as well
http://z8.invisionfree.com/whompswamp/in...wtopic=398

And it's easy to take the cue from Taylor - - life is good - he is doing what he loves and establishing himself as a serious musician - not a pop world flavor of the moment.  He has always said he is in it for the long haul - a marathon - not a sprint.

While Taylor has received very good reviews from some serious music critics such as writers for NPR, Vibe and Relix magazines, support from noted music sites such as Blues Historian,  and from musicians such as Keb'Mo', Warren Haynes, and Robert Randolph to mention just a few - plus personal attention and support from Ray Charles estate managers - - - -  the majority of the pop culture "writers" at most of the entertainment sites have never been kind to him.  Even though Taylor was featured in their music video section AOL's writers  have been no different - they are all about radio play stats for the top 40 pop-tastic,  or is that pop-plastic ?,  music  and bragging rights numbers.  They also love baiting the SP to see what they'll get for hits.  

At one point it was important to play their game and to respond to the street team of bashers each article would unleash but it is now yesterday's news.  
The polls and tracking sites mouser puts up for us have some search engine impact - - but the kind of temporary crap done for sensationalism like that listing? ? - waste of our energy - the longer we help boost their hits or carry their stuff around the net for them - the longer they'll go after him.  

Since I rarely subject my ears to Top 40 radio or "Entertainment News"  I really couldn't care less what they think or do.   Not sure there is even one artist in my current playlists that would meet the approval of the  " music writers" that come up with these "news" items - - yet everyone one of those artists have out music that is worth 10 of the crap auto-tuned within an inch of their lives songs   I do hear when I bother to sample the Citadel Top 40 channel in our area.

The type of music Taylor loves and represents scares the hell out of the pop crowd - - they don't understand it and they don't like it - - but they can see the in-roads a group of like-minded artists are making.   
Taylor is the most visible and has been one of the most outspoken - - think Workplay summer of 2006 - We're bringing real music back to (*) pop music. - - so he is a target.  
And as someone mentioned recently - - he is a nice guy - - they hate that - it gives them nothing to write about since negative stories are what pays the bills - - sad comentary there if you dwell on it ! !
Add to that the fact that some of TPTB at AI declared open season on him and it is what it is.

People who take the time to learn about Taylor and really listen to what he can do with the music will "get him" and will be fans for life. Those who only care about what's "in" won't bother unless, or until, the talking suits tell them it is what they are supposed to like today.

There - now I've gotten a little out of my system too.  

Wishing for spellcheck but for now  - - yawning and  

This is how I view this hog-wash.We all remember being a little
rebellious as kids at some point in our childhood years.I think that Taylor was that rebellious kid while dealing with his last chance at
making it.I think that the folks at AI just didn't know what or I should put it know how to CONTROL him.He arranged all the endings to all
of his songs he performed and walked out refusing do perform the last song.He knew this was make or break it time.AI produceres had never seen the likes of someone like him.

I guess I'll never understand the presses,or AI's treatment of the best performer who ever graced their stage .This guy is one in a million and they just don't seem to "get it" I'm begining to wonder if they are deaf or hear differently than we do.Taylor's voice just blows all the others out of the water ! He will always remain no.1 with all of us and I still predict that some of his harshest critics will one day become his most enthusiastic fans ! It's simply a matter of time!

Hi Lisa, good to see you back !  
Assume it means your household population is back down to normal ?

Adding an "outside opinion" from someone who doesn't join us on the boards but is a fan and has watched the AI show faithfully since day one.
She made this observation which I thought was worth adding.  

Reporting what she said as closely as I can from my scribbles.

This year it seemed like 19E wanted to make Taylor and his win as invisible as possible.  Things like this AOL piece just show they did a good job of it with the pop media sources that don't do any real work on their own.  Those types just regurgitate what is tossed into their troughs by the PTB they are beholden to for their existence.  
What they didn't count on was that people would be smart enough to realize that not only were they showing disrespect for Taylor they were showing complete contempt for their viewers.  If they are smart they will fix that situation this year but arrogance is rarely smart.

Love her phrase - - " regurgitate what is tossed into their troughs " - -

Makes you wonder doesn't it ?  Is Taylor not being on the list a deliberate slight  - - or did the staff intern who didn't get the holiday week off really forget he is associated with AI ? ?

I will bow to Taylor's never failing gracious comments regarding AI and refrain from commenting on a disassociation from the show.

The top ten ratings / rankings mean very little in the scope of the music business or the Idol business , for that matter. I am with AgingHippie............. Go Taylor.

Taylor has been busy making music and being appreciated by vast numbers of fans. I am happy.

I agree with everything said, and, after all that he has accomplished since his win, I dont give a rats-a-- what the mainstream media says.  They are NOT the gospel, they are not the end all be all of entertainment.  When it all comes down to it, its about money--how much the companies are making on their performers.  Look at Elvis Presely--the only grammy he ever won was for his Gospel album.  I could fire off other examples, but Im having brain farts...anyway...I used to work in the mainstream media--I know what they are looking for and what is going to sell--its not brain surgery, you know?

Taylor is doing what makes him happy and we, his fans, are very, very pleased.  Lets face it--he would still be making music and playing at bars and clubs whether he was Taylor Hicks, AI5 winner ir not...and we would enjoy listening to him.

That's what counts.  

I saw that article on AOL too, and looked for Taylor in the list. I
admit I was shocked he wasn't on it at all, but who knows what they
even based their choices on. Just have to ignore it and move on!!

Linda, I loved your write up. It just emphasizes how many good things
are happening to Taylor and why he will never be "yesterday's news"
like so many other of these people. My mom used to say "the cream
always rises to the top" in reference to teaching and her classes. I
think Taylor will be a true example of this.

I'm glad we've all come together over the "rebel Idol":devil: as we'll be friends for a long long time following his long long career!

Didn't realize what I was starting. My posting this wasn't to make anyone upset, so I hope that I didnt' do that. I'm just sick of the crap that keeps getting posted everywhere and wanted to vent my frustration over it.

As UHadMeAtWooHoo said....ignore it and move on. I'm moving on now.

Angela, it's fine to vent here! I don't think you upset anyone. It IS frustrating to see crap like this, I totally agree! Linda made some great points for people that may be lurking and don't know the whole picture about all this. We're able to discuss stuff here without losing it (for the most part ) it would be boring if everything was
always "sunshine and kittens"