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Entry #407456, added on 02-21-06 @ 5:13 pm EST.
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Title:
Taylor Hicks
I knew I liked him the first time he opened his mouth. He is a throwback to a different age of music. A time when dusty, creaking piano benches had old black men from the south sitting at them, swaying back and forth jauntily, fingers pounding out a gospel and blues riff.
I couldn't put my finger on it, until the second time I saw him. He stomped his feet, and slapped his thigh as he sang a catchy acapella blues melody that I didn't recognize. I didn't need to recognize it, because suddenly, the way he closed his eyes and sang, swaying back and forth to the beat reminded me of Ray Charles.
And it turns out that this guy's hero IS Ray Charles. He's even got the jerky head movements, and arm swings of a heroine addict down pat.
It's so obvious that he feels the music, and that it comes from deep within himself. Anyone that didn't see him on TV should definitely click on the links on the left and right side of this page.
The third time I saw him, he was making the long walk to the center of the stage to sit in the hot seat in front of the judges. Each contestant was being told individually whether or not they made it to the top twenty four. Most of the contestants were having a hard time with that long walk. Some ran instead of walking. Some didn't look so graceful on their feet because they were so incredibly nervous.
Taylor Hicks was nervous, too, but he solved the issue by pulling his harmonica out of his pocket as soon as he opened the door, and wailed, I mean just WAILED on it, and strode his way in time to the music all the way to the little chair, sitting down just as the last raspy chord was fading from his instrument.
What a showman! I almost choked on my beverage due to cheering before swallowing. He absolutely blew me away.
He is Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Stevie Wonder all rolled up into a prematurely greying genuine, musical, soul man.
I hope he wins the whole shootin' match.
Taylor Hicks. American Idol.
Zoo  
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