Very Sweet Article -

Inquirer Lifestyle

THE SOULFUL Taylor Hicks stays true to his style and music

‘Idol’ sings the blues in Manila

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.

I'll be shocked if he don't buy a house - they treat him like gold over there, thank goodness!!!!!!!

Great article. I was about to post it. Thanks!

I was sent this article in my e-mail. Definitely a good article and love hearing great things about our guy!

:huggy: Taylor is just so yummy!

Thanks for posting, I've been gone and feel so out of the loop now and what a way to get Taylor thinking again. Great article, to bad that he doesn't get the same treatment in this country huh?

It'd sure be nice, *sigh*. I like him small - where I can easily and comfortably be near him, but let's face facts - no one gets into this business to be ignored or bashed the way some persist in doing to him. And I missed you, chic - welcome home.
~tyg

I agree, Don't understand some media people, I was always taught that if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything, It's so true, I guess some don't reliaze that when they speak others listen and feelings do get hurt and that's never good.

I'm really hard not to miss huh? ha ha.. :) . I'm glad to be home, don't go to often and now I know why to long of a drive and I'm still beat, think I'll stay home permently unless I make another trip to Iowa to see Taylor :) :)

Iowa? To see Tay? See, I have two very good friends who are Iowans and one Nebraskan who have been trying to get me there to see him. Now another excuse - yay! I love to travel actually. If I had enough money, that's all I'd do - travel and buy stuff for my friends.
~tyg

Yep Iowa, I went to my second Concert there, drove by myself for 7 1/2 hours one way seen the concert and 7 1/2 hours back to good ol South Dakota, I'd do it again in a heart beat.. Great concert...

So you were in Council Bluffs? Yeah, I had herd how cool it was, and some of my friends called to give me a listen and others taped part of it for me too.
~tyg

Yep I went to the Concert there in Council Bluffs. It was a great concert and I got so lucky, it was in a Sports Bar and I only had General tickets so got stuck in a area that had a big screen TV with about 10 others, 7 of us 10 complained to the manager that they did not pay to watch this concert on a TV, and although they could not refund their money they did give them Buffet tickets for the Casino Diner to just shut them up I think, I declined and could not believe that of the 10 that were there the 7 just got up and left, I told the manager the free meal would do me no good as I didn't know when I'd be back that way but asked him if he could please take my camera and take a good picture of Taylor, he told me he wouldn't do it but took me up close enough to get a picture, so I got a picture and then back to the TV about 1/2 way through the concert with only 3 of us left in this area, the Manager came and got us and took us to 3 empty seats about 3 rows back dead center, no one was in the seat in front of me and I had the best view and boy did I love it, I swear that I had the best seat in the house and when Taylor sang and looked out at all of us it was like he was looking right at me, I LOVED IT.. could not believe my luck and could not thank the manager enough for sure.. It was great...

Heyy, I am a firm believer in that good things happen to good folk. Because of your generosity of spirit, you were rewarded by that kind manager. He's now in my prayers, because he didn't have to do that for you, but he was kind and did. Stories like this warm my heart.
~tyg

Wietzema....that's wonderful!!!

The great thing about most venues (I'm learning) is that once the show is going, if there are empty seats closer, you can move up. We did that at my 4th and last (so far ) Tay concert in Niagra Falls. We had seats way back but ended up second row center!!! It was amazing!! And we stood most of the time when most around us weren't standing so obviously Tay could see us and he looked at us ALOT!!! ( THUD! ) And when that gorgeous sexy ass man looks dead at you............. GAH!!! (THUD again!) I'm getting chills just remembering.

I've been lucky in that all the shows I've been to were great 'seats'. Well, two were SRO and our legs and feet died. But most importantly we were right there at the stage! And again, got looks and smiles. And at my very first Tay concert in Cleveland at the HOB, at one point as he sang "I can't get enough of you baby" I was the only one at one point to be pointing to him and singing along so he saw me....just me pointing at him in that second, and he pointed back at me!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At first I wasn't sure but immediatly my friends both turned to me at the same time and shouted "He pointed at you!!!!" We were so excited!! :haha:

Oh God, I'm getting giddy and rambling here. Sorry. Topic

Glad your concert experience got better! I'm sure there will be more to come.

They might not have been the best seats in the house but they were good enough for me, and with no one in front of me it was the best.. The first Concert was in St Paul MN, good enough seats but they were off to the side a bit and even though he tried to make sure and look in all directions at that concert I think he was more looking toward the center, I had a camera that is rather big and the lady that was monitoring our section kept trying to take it away from me, thinking it was a video camera so I kept arguing with her that she was NOT TAKING my camera, finally had to show her that it was just a old still camera. Gee, My daughter went with me that first concert in March of 07 and boy did it Taylorize her... One Fan at a time right??

That's right. One at a time.
~tyg