Taylor’s new single, “Heaven Knows” releases today. It’s a fantastic song, full of old-school soul and modern groove. Samples of Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye give this song a great foundation and Taylor’s vocals and emotion carry it to a whole new level. This is one of my favorite sing-along songs and is phenomenal live. Taylor tears it the heck up!
Taylor was on Leno on May 14 to kick off the Toyota Summer Concert Series. I highly recommend visiting the Tonight Show website and watching the videos – not just of “Heaven Knows,” but also a Taylor Hicks original song – “Soul Thing.” There is an interview with John Melendez as well. The performances are stellar (quite possibly the new standard for “Soul Thing” and lots of harp), but the interviews are also great.
Did anybody watch Saturday Night Live this weekend? I honestly can’t remember the last time that I made it through an entire episode, but I did it Saturday. Why?
The host: Zach Braff. He rules!
As usual, SNL didn’t use the host enough, but when they did he was HILARIOUS. Too bad Maroon 5 sucks so much or it could have been a much better episode.
At any rate, my Zach Braff crush continues to grow.
On April 26, 2007 I got the news – Congratulations! (reads the subject line) and when I open the e-mail I am greeted by this familiar form letter:
My reaction was, naturally, hysterical laughter.
What? Is that wrong? Did you forget how badly it went last time?
After the laughter subsided, I had a decision to make – do I go or not? I had already had my “Taylor moment” (for better or for worse) and I know there are people who have not (and would appreciate it). I started mentally compiling a list of folks to whom to offer this opportunity.
In either case, take it myself or pass it on, I had a gift to deliver: KraftR (a Boogie Friend in Nova Scotia) had sent me a CD of a local musician/singer she likes (Charlie A’Court) and a lovely card to deliver to Taylor. Check him out here.
I think you’ll really like him.
KraftR had included a brief biography on Charlie, and I visited his MySpace and printed out a blog entry from March (he writes his own). I thought it was a hysterical slice of “road life” that Taylor may appreciate. Or not – I don’t really know.
Since I had a week, there wasn’t as much pressure as last time. I started thinking of a new CD mix (to compliment the last set I gave him) and began Private Messaging various people on The Boogie Board. Surely, someone would want to avail themselves of this opportunity to meet Taylor.
You’d think that, but apparently you would be wrong.
There was one person in particular whom I really wanted to take this M&G, but she continually refused me. Turns out she had her own lined up (Super Secret Karate Monkey Death Car Meet and Greet), so good for her!!
Fast forward a week and I suddenly find myself at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, gift bag in hand, friends all around, lack of sleep evident in my occasional yawning (I’m going on about 36 hours of awake time at this point). I’m still trying to find someone else to take this M&G as we wait for the will-call window to open. No takers.
It’s not so much that I’m nervous, because really I’m not. It’s more that I’ve done this and I already made a fool of myself and am not looking forward to the repeat performance.
But, maybe, just maybe, I can surprise myself tonight. As the time for that darned will-call to open rapidly approaches, I feel suddenly more self-assured. Is it because I have already met Him? Is it because I am surrounded by people I know and care for (and I am reasonably certain care for me)? Is it because I am having a good hair day?
Who knows? It’s probably a combination of these things and more.
I do know that I have met Basenji and she is every bit as wonderful as I knew she would be. Since meeting her was what was making me nervous (and that has now passed), perhaps the sense of well-being that has washed over me has something to do with the release of that tension.
When the will-call opens and I am handed my envelope, I remove the bracelet and (almost without thinking) slap that puppy on my wrist. (Anyone recall how difficult it was in Atlanta?)
So after placing the bracelet on my wrist, I knew I was committed. You can’t get those things off without scissors and I wasn’t gonna waste it. I joined the rest of the M&G folks on the porch in what I guess could be called a mass (’cause it wasn’t really a line). There was no sign of The Man yet anyway, so we all milled around chatting.
I met some cool Boogie people: lisaisheretoday (I’ll never forget her interpretation of Taylor’s lyrics to Texas Flood) PST (You may know him as Taylor’s new back-up singer) JaneyLOL (or as she refers to herself “The Deaf Fan”) lostelf (NEWBIE!!!)
There were many more whose names I didn’t get, so can’t really mention them!
I notice some *ahem* interestingly attired women who are hanging toward the back of the crowd, evidently jockeying for last in line (it’s been said you can finagle a few extra moments with Taylor by going last). They aren’t socializing, but instead are preening like cockatoos on display in a pet shop while eying each other up and down (presumably to see who’s gonna win this Battle To Be Last).
Eventually, a door opens and we all look expectantly in that direction. I think we are all assuming that we are about to be led into The Dungeon (these M&Gs have historically NOT been held in the nicest of places).
Instead – a table is set out on the porch and a few moments later a very familiar young man comes out and seats himself behind it.
Interesting. An outdoor M&G … in the sun … no dumpsters in sight. I can go with this.
It’s at this moment that it becomes real for a lot of folks. A couple of people who had been right up front suddenly become timid and slide back a few places in line. Some others who had been hanging back rush up to the front.
All of a sudden Basenji (who had been standing right near me this whole time) is gone – she has beelined to the table. Getting it over with, perhaps?
I believe JaneyLOL goes next, but after that it’s a blur. I’m not really paying attention, just continue chatting with the people around me. It’s funny – as nervous as I was in Atlanta, that’s about as un-nervous as I am in L.A. I can’t explain it, I just feel it.
When I get pretty close to the table, there is Bill holding three, maybe four cameras. He makes a joke (I’m not sure to whom) about being certified in 400-something cameras. We all laugh.
I start talking to the woman behind me and say something about being glad I had readjusted the white balance on my camera since we are outside. Bill looks at me and in a mocking tone says “Ooo, ‘white balance.’ Aren’t you fancy?” I reply with an “Aw hush! I just learned that not too long ago. Somebody else showed me.”
As people start passing by me on their way back from the table, I start to notice their faces. Most are a little dazed, some people are a little wobbly – but they all look very happy. Big smiles on beaming faces.
The Taylor Hicks Effect.
Lisaisheretoday notices, too and we comment on it to each other. She jokes that she should be taking their pictures as they pass. I think this is a great idea – maybe a video of “happiness on wheels” so to speak.
It’s amazing really. Taylor has this ability to just make people smile. I don’t know what he’s doing at that table of his, but I can feel the glee radiating off of these people as they breeze past.
When it comes time for me to step up to the table, I hand my camera to Bill and just slide on over, placing the gift bag in front of Taylor.
He is in “business mode”, a.k.a Autograph Man. He has a silver Sharpie uncapped in his hand as he reaches somewhat blindly for the bag (do people bring him bags of things to sign?)
I placed my hand on the bag and said “I don’t have anything for you to sign, Taylor, I just brought you a couple little gifts.”
This is when he stops and looks up at me. To be perfectly honest, I can’t even say if he greeted me, but he was listening. It’s a good thing I had something somewhat interesting to say.
“A friend of mine in Nova Scotia sent me a CD to pass along to you. He’s a local artist that she really loves and thinks you’ll like him, too. He’s kinda bluesy, really good.”
“Cool!”
“I brought you a couple little things from me, too.”
“Thanks!”
(A man of few words, but at least he is smiling and enthusiastic)
Taylor pulls the gift bag closer and starts to rifle through it. He looks to me like he’s about to start pulling stuff out like a boy at Christmas, and since there is still quite a sizable line behind me I stop him by saying that I have included a couple of cards (one from KraftR, one from me) that explains what is in the bag and why.
He reluctantly (at least this was my impression) put the bag to the side, looked back up at me smiling, and said “Thank you very much. I’ll enjoy going through it later.”
Someone (Bill? Taylor?) indicates that it is picture time, so I step to the side of the table (thankfully the extremely tall stool that had been there has been removed) and next to Taylor.
I’d already decided a long time ago that I would never touch him unless he initiated it (i.e. hugging, grabbing the arm, etc.) Every time I read a recap about Taylor appearing uncomfortable with the spontaneous touches/grabs/hugs from strangers, it makes me cringe. I don’t want to make him feel that way.
However – when I position myself next to him, Taylor places his hand on my back. I have to admit it startled me a little. I was NOT expecting that.
So, I put my hand on his shoulder. And Bill snaps the pic.
I thank Taylor, retrieve my camera (with a thank you to Bill), and make my way out. I just know I am now one of the glowing people, and lisaisheretoday smiles knowingly at me as I pass her. She didn’t take my picture.
A word about what was in the gift bag -
I picked up a dark purple bag and a tie-on card.
In it, I placed KraftR’s CD, card, and the printouts about Charlie. I wrapped the CD in tissue paper and tied it all together with some silver ribbon.
As for my part, I got a nice presentation notebook in which I put a printout of the Fantasy Setlist Thread from The Boogie (http://excoboard.com/exco/thread.ph…hreadid=1335654) and a printout of my M&G tale from Atlanta.
I burned Taylor a couple new CDs like last time (all new crazy mix and I remembered to include some Headstones this time).
And on a whim, I bought him a University of Tennessee hat at the airport. I opted against the bright orange and picked up a tan one. On the small tie-on card, I wrote “I know it would take an act of God for a ‘Bama boy to wear a Tennessee hat, but it’s the thought that counts, right?” and I tied it to the adjustable strap of the hat.
I managed to find an utterly bizarre and hilarious (in a Far Side kind of way) card that was blank inside, so I tried to explain as best I could why we all want to bring him presents. I told him how much fun we are all having, how many new friends we have all made, and how happy he has made us – basically how much he has given us. And that we want to give him something (however small) in return.
I can hardly believe it, but in just a few hours I will be on a plane headed for Vegas! Vegas, bay-bee!!
Tomorrow morning my friends and I hit the road for L.A. and the Sunset Strip, then it’s back to Vegas Saturday morning. Woooo!!!!
Why?
Need I say more? Oh. I do?
Okay – so yes, I am hitting the road once again to see Mr. Taylor F. Hicks. I’ve never been to Vegas or L.A. before. Actually, I have never been further West (in the U.S.) than Arkansas, so this is quite an adventure. A coworker gave me a dollar yesterday and told me to bet it somewhere. “If you win big, we’ll split it!” Okay.
I won another M&G, but I’m not too sure I’m gonna go. After all, do I really want to put either of us through that again? I do have some gifts from others to deliver to Mr. Hicks, so if I go I will hand them to him. If not, whoever I give my M&G to will have to do it.
I will be meeting old friends and new, including BASENJI!! I’m more nervous about meeting her than meeting Taylor.
Ack! Okay – I have a LOT to do and should NOT be sitting on this computer, so … bye.
If you’re thinking I’m crazy for following this man around, I want you to do two things:
Today was the first day I really felt like summer is here. It was hot and windy and dry. I had the windows down on the way home from work. There’s nothing like a summer night in The South. There’s an indescribable feel to it … a certain smell … a certain sound even. Everything is awake and alive and aroused. The air is heavy and there’s the scent of lavender and honeysuckle … and a faint wafting of skunk (ni-i-i-ice).
It’s not too awfully hot here yet, but in about another month or so it will be – the air will be so heavy it will feel like someone is pushing down on your shoulders. It will be so thick, it will be like breathing molasses. It will be so hazy, your eyes will burn as you squint and wipe the sweat from your brow.
I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
The night becomes a sanctuary from the heat, but even that is little comfort. When it’s 98 degrees at 2am, you can’t help but feel alive!
Shoot – now that I am rambling, how about some summer tunes?
