I love me a good “song to brood to.” These two songs are my favorites – Have been for quite some time, actually. I found it impossible to just pick one and not the other – please forgive me for the apparent ‘cheating.’
Basically, back when Taylor Hicks was still on Idol, and right after I heard him sing “Something”, I found these two songs. Had I heard nothing else of his prior American Idol repertoire (which, of course I did), and had he done nothing else of note on the show after that week (which of course he did, and quite well, I might add), I’d have voted for him regardless based solely on these two songs. These days, I’ve been feeling both these songs quite a bit, but “it’s alright, I’ll get by, somehow..”
I can honestly say that the majority of friends I’ve made in my life, I’ve become acquainted with through music. It’s strange , I know. My two best male friends? We became friends over a mutual love of Pink Floyd. My oldest female friends? I met through our mutual admiration of a local band we all followed. The folks I spend the majority of my time with these days? I met through musicians I currently follow. The musicians I currently follow, I became aware of them through my musical guru, a phenomenal woman from Boston named Rachel, who I met –
Wait for it….
…On a Taylor Hicks fan site (don’t judge).
Back in the Spring of 2006, I was home, sick with pneumonia. While I had watched previous seasons of American Idol, I very rarely bothered until they’d hit the top 10 or less. This particular year, I hadn’t watched any of the season. I had no interest after Bo Bice had lost the previous year (what? I thought he was hot), effectively killing my 100% record of predicting the winner (yeah, I know, Carrie Underwood is very talented and totally deserved to win—but Bo Bice was HOT – and I loved his voice – and his hair).
So, there I was, sick, in bed, flipping through the channels, pausing momentarily as Ryan Secrest begins to introduce some guy named Taylor Hicks, who was apparently going to sing “Something” by the Beatles. My initial reaction was to groan. As a Beatles fan, I’m very very critical of anyone who tries to remake their songs (seriously, I love U2, but their version of “Helter Skelter”? not so much). “Something” is pretty much one of my absolute favorite songs (note to any man who ever wants to grab my attention, THIS song, DMB’s “Crush,” or “Pretty Girl” – David Ryan Harris or Ernie Halter version, is sure to make me melt… just sayin’).
Now I’m with most folks who love music in believing that this show is pretty much nothing more than glorified Karaoke.
But then the guy started singing.
And he did a phenomenal job.
See?
I immediately go on line to see if there were any sites where a video of this would eventually become available. I wanted to see it again… and again… and again. I stumbled on an entire website devoted to Taylor Hicks, which apparently had videos and mp3 downloads of all of Taylor’s performances. Of course, in order to get these gems, one must register to join.
So I did.
I figured I’d get the vids and/or mp3s and that would be that. But then I started reading the threads…
And I was intrigued.
I’ve never seen such blind devotion towards an as of yet (‘yet’ being back then), relatively unknown. Now, I love people watching, and studying human nature in general, so clearly, I decided to stick around. Having never been a part of “fandom” I never truly realized how crazed some people can get. I’m not talking your average fan who will go to shows and buy CDs and try to meet the object of their devotion. I’m talking about people who devote a majority of time to that person in such a way that would make a more normal person fear for said person. But somewhere in that congregation of crazy, there were a few folks who seemed normal. And by normal, I mean they didn’t think that the goofy gray-haired guy shit flowers and farted bubbles or was their future husband because he shared the same birthday as their cat. (I shit you not – this is a true story)
Now despite the infatuated and the dillusional, some of the info on the site was useful. For example, I found out that Taylor had released two cd’s independently, prior to his appearance on American Idol. I took a listen and loved what I heard (seriously, listen to “Somehow” or “The Fall,” you’ll totally understand). The man was nothing if not talented. So I began to visit the site regularly and eventually wandered in to the chat room where within hours I met a few ladies who have become some of my closest friends in the world.
After the Idol finale, where Taylor won (and my streak of being able to predict the winner was restored – seriously, I have predicted the winner each year since, at top 10 week… Now if only I could transfer this talent to the lottery, I’d be all set), I began meeting these ladies in person at events in which Taylor would be performing. Suffice it to say, I saw A LOT of Taylor Hicks over the next year or so. July 21, 2006 Rachel came down from Boston, on a very soupy day, to see Taylor perform on GMA. The minute we met in person, there was a mutual recognition of kinship. It was like hitting the friend jackpot. I’m generally pretty skeptical when I first meet someone, but with Rachel, it was an instant friendship – One that has continued way beyond Taylor Hicks.
Eventually I, and all of the friends (out of something like 4000 members, I’d say there were 10 of us that weren’t insane), left the site -screaming.. seriously.. the people in charge over there? Nuts. Not even kidding a little.. (one day, I WILL write blog about THAT experience and why I fear super fans so much – seriously, the cat thing, not even scratching the surface of the surface of the crazy).
The friends I made there, in addition to being some of the best friends I have ever had, friends who supported me and my husband when he was sick, helped me pick up the pieces when he passed away and who even now, as I go through yet another crappy time in my life, are there to hear me out and help me, have also become the ones I plan vacations with (most of my vacations are music related) and who have introduced me to some of the best music (and the best musicians) I have ever known.. which also, has brought a whole other new group of awesome people into my life (and given me a glimpse to other potential crazies out there).
Rachel had been telling me about this guy Ernie Halter for months. “Go see him, I SWEAR you’ll thank me. You’ll LOVE HIM.” Eventually, (January 2008), I took her advice and went to see him at the Bitter End.
She wasn’t kidding.
I continue to thank her to this day.
If YOU haven’t checked him out, you REALLY should… http://www.myspace.com/erniehalter … you WILL thank me (and Rachel, and his mom for forcing him to take piano lessons, and his label – Rock Ridge Music- for letting him record his stuff the way he feels right..and…), I promise. He is an amazing singer/songwriter, and beyond that he’s a fantastic person! But don’t take my word for it. Give him a listen, and then go see him perform. He’ll be on the road this summer with another amazing singer/songwriter named Tony Lucca http://www.myspace.com/tonylucca . Both of them are coming out with new CDs this summer… I can go on and on (and probably will in future posts), but right now? Just go check them out.
But by going to see Ernie Halter (and Tony Lucca, and Keaton Simons and Curtis Peoples and…) I also have met some phenomenal people who I see regularly, speak to almost daily and who genuinely make my life so much better than I ever thought possible in the aftermath of my husband’s death.
And I can trace all of this goodness in my life to…
Yep, Taylor Hicks.
So thank you Taylor. Without you, I wouldn’t have met my musical guru; my iPod would probably not be nearly as filled with awesome music; and my life, as it is today, would definitely not be nearly as blessed.
Recently, while debating the state of music these days with my cousin, and how much I seriously loathe, detest and okay HATE the song “Single Ladies,” and most of Beyonce’s music as a whole, my cousin snarked at me with “oh please, you just don’t like any female musicians.”
Not true.
First of all, you can’t call Beyonce a musician. I’m not even all that sure she can really sing (when I hear her sans auto-tone, I’ll believe it, until then, the jury’s still out). A musician is a person who can PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT – and I’m not talking being able to play ‘Chopsticks’ on the piano, okay? (For example, Alycia Keys is a Musician. I appreciate her talent and her vocal skills, even if I don’t like her entire musical repertoire).
Granted, most of the women on the radio don’t suck. The problem is, well, they’re so busy pandering to the masses that they just don’t appeal to me. What can I say? I like my female musicians much the same way I like my male ones – sans extraneous crap. Basically, if they can’t do it without auto-tune, if they can’t sing/perform live without a back up tape (and back up dancers), they’re not for me.
The other night I went to see two of my favorite female singer/songwriters, Aslyn and Toby Lightman, who in a stroke of brilliance, are touring together.
I first heard of Toby Lightman when she was on tour with Taylor Hicks (don’t judge – listen to his pre-American Idol music, or better yet, go see him live, then we can talk). I immediately bought both of her CDs and have been a fan ever since. I was introduced to Aslyn’s music on The Rock Boat. (There is no real way to explain The Rock Boat. Simply calling it a music festival on a Carnival Cruise is not even scratching the surface but, it’ll have to do for now). Again, I loved her songs, related to some of them all too well, and of course bought her CDs immediately.
What sets these two apart, from say, Taylor Swift (who’s song writing I genuinely admire, but who’s live performances just don’t cut it for me), or Lady Gaga, or Beyonce, or well, just about any female you’ll see on an awards show these days, is , in my opinion, they are the real deal. When it comes to music, at least for me, it’s about sincerity, it’s about the live performance, it’s about being relatable. I know it’s different for everyone, but really, if you a) can’t sing in tune live, b) need to shock people in to giving you recognition (so much so that your ‘shock value’ overshadows your actual talent- Lady Gaga? Very VERY talented, but who the fuck could tell under all that schtick?) or c) need auto-tune, and super vocal enhancement during your live performances, you’re really not impressing me. Which really won’t matter to any of the ladies I’m referring to because they’re billionaire superstars by now, so what does it matter what I think, right?
It’s just sad to me that female singer/songwriters, more so than their male counterparts need to up the ante somehow just to get ahead or to make it big at all. Seriously, how many truly talented women are out there singing their hearts out and still struggling to be noticed just because they refuse to get up on a stage and shake their asses like some overpriced pole dancer while lipsynching songs about some dude who lost his chance because he didn’t ‘put a ring’ on it? (okay, so in a nut shell – Guys, if you feel you need to ‘put a ring on it’ so she won’t go off with some other dude, then you’re fooling yourself. Ladies, if you NEED a ring from the guy as a sign that he loves you then you’re not looking for love, you’re looking for a ring. You love a guy? You’ll wait. He loves you? You’ll get the ring without having to threaten him with losing you. Seriously, as a woman, this is the DUMBEST most insipid and INSULTING song I’ve ever heard).
So back to Aslyn and Toby Lightman – Both of these women are super talented. Their songs are relatable, and beautiful and their voices are spectacular. When you see them live, it’s them, not some fucking circus made to sell to the masses who need the flashing lights and half-naked dancing men and women because their ADD-ridled brains can’t muster the necessary focus one would need to appreciate real music (or real lyrics, you know, the kind that don’t make all single women seem desperate for a leash.. umm.. ring). Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a little flash is okay, especially when you have the talent to back it up (Pink, I love) – but when flash becomes a necessity just to get attention? In the words of my first major live performance disappointment, ‘that don’t impress me much.’
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