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Taylor Hicks: Fading to gray? |
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Written by Jon Bream, McClatchy-Tribune
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Saturday, 24 March 2007 |
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A record number of viewers watched Taylor Hicks grab the "American Idol" crown in May. His CD zoomed to No. 2 in December. But since then, the silver-haired singer's profile has faded faster than a Just for Men shampoo dye job.
This month, Entertainment Weekly questioned why his single, "Just to Feel That Way," hasn't cracked the Hot 100 and why his self-titled album (though it has topped 650,000 in sales) hasn't made as sustained a splash as the debuts by previous Idols Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Stubbard and Carrie Underwood.
EW speculated that it was a combination of Hicks' unhip look, untrendy sound and unwillingness to consider advice from execs at J Records. Or maybe it's just that his "Idol" moment is fleeting.
We were promised a quarter-hour on the phone with the 30-year-old guitarist/harmonica player. But someone from his management explained that the Alabaman was crunched for time so our 15 minutes became five. Will the same be said of his career?
Here's what Hicks, master of the one-sentence sound-bite answer, had to say in a five-minute, lightning-round interview before his management person stepped in to end it.
Q. How's the tour been going?
A. It's been going great.
Q. What can we expect?
A. It's a high-energy show. It's got a big soulful sound.
Q. What's been the biggest challenge since you've exited the "Idol" world?
A. Just putting everything together for this tour. You're out on tour. This is your tour.
Q. What does being on tour mean to you?
A. Everything. A lot. This is where I thrive as a musician and a performer.
Q. Is this something you've been looking forward to?
A. It is. I've been doing it for a long time, too, in my own little way. Now it's my own little big way.
Q. On the album, you worked with an established hit producer in Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Santana, Aerosmith). How much artistic freedom did you have?
A. I really made the record with my own artistic direction in mind. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. That's the way I was on this record.
Q. What's your honest assessment of how it came out?
A. Pretty good. The songs are great. It's a modern spin on soul.
Q. What's the best thing that's happened to you since you won "Idol" - and the worst?
A. The best thing is that I get to keep playing my music. I don't think there is a worst thing. I'm very happy right now.
Q. If I were a betting man and I had to set an over/under number on the number of times you'll shout "soul patrol" at your next concert, what would that number be?
A. Ten. Yeah.
Q. You're playing a casino in Minneapolis where REO Speedwagon, Randy Travis and Olivia Newton-John play. It's not the hippest room in town. How do you feel about playing a casino at this point of your career?
A. I've always wanted to play a casino. I've been in some pretty unhip places myself, you can say.
Q. Is being hip important to you?
A. No, not really. Being musical and having a good time is.
Q. I thought maybe you'd want to play First Avenue here. I know you're a Prince fan.
A. Yes, I am.
Q. What does Prince's music mean to you?
A. Well, his saxophone player for a number of years is on this tour with me. Brian Gallagher.
Q. But what does Prince's music mean to you?
A. Well, uh, he's one of the greats. I've been listening to him a long time.
Q. And I understand you used to sing some of his songs.
A. Oh yeah, as a kid.
Q. How do you feel about the comparisons of your album with the ones released by last year's other "Idol" finalists?
A. I think they're all great. You can't pigeonhole us as artists. We've all got our own thing going on. Each artist is different.
Q. When was the last time you talked to or saw any of them?
A. I saw Kat and Chris at a pre-Grammy party. Over Christmas, I saw Kellie.
Q. Who has been tougher on you: Simon Cowell or the music critics? And why?
A. That's a tough one. I would have to say, I don't know. That's a good question. Both.
Q. How does that kind of criticism affect you?
A. It doesn't affect me. I don't let it affect me, either way. I just keep doing what I'm doing.
Q. What motivates you at this point of your life and career?
A. Well, the music and the fans.
Q. What do you consider your strengths and your weaknesses?
A. Weaknesses - I got to become a better songwriter. Strengths are performing and entertaining.
Q. Why do you think you're so popular?
A. I guess I'm an entertainer.
Q. Do you think some of your success had to do with you being the anti-"Idol"? You were the entertainer and not the person with the killer, multi-octave voice.
A. Yeah, I think so. I'm into entertaining people. It's what I do.
Q. Do you feel like a musical outcast in that sense?
A. A little bit. But I just do what I do, and my fans enjoy what I do. And that's what I'm about.
Q. What kind of impact do you think your success has had on others who are trying out for "American Idol"?
A. I just hope it's more musical. I hope the musicians' aspect comes into play.
Q. Speaking of the musicians' aspect, how did you learn how to play harmonica?
A. Listening to Supertramp albums and listening to airplanes and air conditioners.
Q. What do you mean by that?
A. I would play off of them for tone.
Q. So you were self-taught on harmonica?
A. Yeah. And guitar.
Q. At what age did you start those instruments?
A. About 13, 14.
Q. What we saw of you on TV was only part of the story. Please tell us what Taylor Hicks is really like.
A. I'm just a genuine guy trying to make it in a pretty interesting business, the music business.
Q. Speaking of making it in the music business, what did you feel about the article in Vibe that called you the new Elvis?
A. I thought it was great. I'm just trying to be the best artist I can be.
Q. You studied journalism at Auburn University. What do you think the angle on a story should be on you at this point?
A. Watching this grow. I think there should be an eye on how I use this platform to become the best artist I can be, in a positive light, which is hard to come by these days, man. | Only registered users can write comments.
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