In defense of Taylor Hicks

Much is being made out of the fact that although he did not win the title of American Idol (AI), Chris Daughtry’s debut album simply entitled Daughtry made No. 1 in the hit charts and produced the hit single It’s Not Over. Then there are also the raves that runner-up Katharine McPhee’s self-titled album has been getting. Expectations are also very high about the outcome of the first album by Elliot Yamin and Kellie Pickler, another finalist, has a Gold Record for her first effort.

Great! There are new stars in the music firmament and they all came from AI. But then Daughtry, McPhee, Pickler and Yamin were merely also-rans, read that as losers, in last year’s edition of the popular talent show. The winner was Taylor Hicks, a 29-year-old writer, harmonica and guitar player with salt and pepper hair, propelled to the top by loyal admirers who call themselves the Soul Patrol. Hicks would later earn the nickname Silver Fox and would be chosen by People Magazine as the Most Eligible Bachelor for 2006.

Hicks has also released an album also entitled Taylor Hicks. However, it did not make the top of the charts unlike Some Girl, the multi-awarded CD by his immediate predecessor Carrie Underwood or like Daughtry’s. So there are now talks that the voters can also choose wrongly and that Hicks did not deserve to win. Something like that can certainly happen in a contest where winners are chosen by votes. In this case though, I still like to think Hicks was a deserving winner and that he took AI out of the usual or the predictable.

I do not know why Taylor Hicks is not selling as well as the other Idol albums. Is it because he mixed soul, R ’n B, rock ’n roll and country? But then Ray Charles also did that. Is it because Hicks chose not to include his winning song, the inspiring Do I Make You Proud? Maybe, but truth to tell, I really find it hard to come up with a possible reason because the album is one of the best produced and most enjoyable around.

The closest reason I can think of harks back to the fact that Hicks is an old hand in the business who had been gigging in bars all over America before he joined the contest. He has favorites and knows what he wants. As a result his album refuses to compromise what he had wanted to do for many years. I am sad this is being taken against him because if you will give it a chance, one listen is all it takes to like his CD. Then you too will most likely join Soul Patrol.

Songs were chosen well and show off Taylor’s assorted chops. Wherever I Lay My Hat is a brilliant Ray Charles’ tinged remake of Marvin Gaye classic. He also does well with the pop rocker Dream Myself Awake by Rob Thomas and the ballad The Right Place by Bryan Adams. The Runaround throbs with good old rock ’n roll fun and Just To Feel That Way is his soulful best.

Also included are Heaven Knows, Gonna Move, Give Me Tonight, The Maze, Places I’ve Been and two of Taylor’s own compositions, Soul Thing and The Deal.

American Idol update

Meanwhile, the competition continues to heat up on the set of the latest season of AI. Judge Simon Cowell said, "Bye bye Curly" last week and Chris Sligh, 28, from South Carolina was sent packing. Finalists are down to nine. Favorites have emerged and foremost among these is the growing fan base of Sanjaya Malakar.

With this looms the bigger possibility that Malakar, 17, from Washington might run away with the title. His singing is clearly below par but he has teen idol stamped all over him. I think he can be compared to Fabian, a great-looking then 17-year-old who despite his singing inability made a No. 1 record, I’m a Tiger in the ’60s and built a career in pop music that remains lucrative to this day.

Others who remain in the charmed circle are Melinda Doolittle, 29, from Tennessee; Lakisha Jones, 27, from Maryland; Jordin Sparks, 17, from Arizona; Haley Scarnato, 24, from Texas; Gina Gloksen, 22, from Illinois; Blake Lewis, 25, from Washington; Chris Richardson, 22, from Virgina; and Phil Stacey, 29, from Florida.