paulandles912
My children are a blessing!
Member since 5/05 2598 total posts
Name:
Leslie
|
I still HEART Elliott!
American Idol: With Elliott Yamin Gone, Easy Win for Taylor Hicks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Shirley Kennedy
May 23, 2006
I feel so much better; I have finally figured things out. American Idol is a massive scam to get us to act like trained seals. Well, this seal is returning to the water, having grown weary of the game. I have felt for some time that Taylor Hicks was the Chosen One, but now, I’m not so sure. Let me just say that I find it very hard to believe that Katharine had more votes than Elliott, let alone Chris. If you pay close attention to the top three’s homecoming trips, the picture becomes startlingly clear.
Turnoout should mean an easy Taylor win with Elliott gone
Taylor visited a radio station, a television station, participated in a parade, and performed at a local mall, all of which were attended by his fans. I don’t know the numbers for his other venues, but I do know that approximately 12,000 people attended the mall function. Elliott visited a radio station, the pharmacy where he used to work, participated in a parade, visited the James Center, and threw out the first pitch at the Diamond. He also visited the radio station where he formerly worked as “E-double.” The radio stations and pharmacy were packed with people, 4,000 to 5,000 attended the James Center function, and 12,000 visited the Diamond. Both Elliott and Taylor were welcomed by the both the mayors of their home cities and the governors of their states.
Now, let’s look at Katharine’s homecoming. She visited Good Day L.A. and a radio station, and not one fan waited outside of either of these venues. She visited her old high school, where approximately 200 people attended in her support. Then, she went home. No stadium, no mall, no crowds, and I guess the “Governator” was too busy. Who’s voting for her? Likely, nowhere near as many as voted for Chris and Elliott. Elliott’s fan base now rivals Taylor’s, yet Katharine received more votes last week. If anyone still believes this show to be on the up-and-up, I have some prime swampland in Florida for your purchasing consideration. And the so-called close votes on Wednesday? A sham—just like the rest of this show, as I also find it very hard to believe that 50 million votes can be so equally divided. I do have to give the producers of this show their props, though: They are the true masters of manipulation.
I wanted to be bitter about Elliott’s elimination; then, I listened to Elliott’s exit press conference call: “What’s to be upset about? This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
He went out at the right time, in the right way, and with all the class that is Elliott Yamin. His final performance was dazzling, leaving many to wonder why this fabulous singer was leaving the competition prior to taking the title. He made the show look like a complete joke at that moment. Elliott, however, is nothing but gracious and extremely grateful for the time he was given to wow the American public. And “wow” he did. During Elliott’s post-Idol conference call, his upbeat outlook is rather incredible, given the way that the show treated him as pretty much a non-entity. He seems a wise young man; he knows what will come of his appearance on this show, regardless of what The Powers That Be think of him. But, how can you think anything but positive thoughts about this guy?
He smiled throughout the entire show–through the critiques, both positive and negative, through the unjustified, nasty comments about his looks, through the unpardonable treatment he received from the producers and judges on this show; through it all, he came out smiling. His homecoming video is the best I’ve ever seen on this show in four years. His true gratitude for all he has been given shows in everything he does. When his tears began to flow during the video feed, my sister cried with him. Likely, much of the American viewing audience cried with him. He seems such a beautiful soul; that beauty could not have been better displayed than on Wednesday night. Elliott’s take on his elimination continues to display the beauty of his soul: “I felt the opposite of bitter, upset, and disappointed. There were all these preconceived notions from people, how they thought I must have been feeling, but I’m just honored. It was a great way to go and a great way to celebrate.” Yes, Elliott, it truly was.
One of the things that I took from Elliott’s final performance was his determination to remain true to himself. I don’t think Clive Davis cares much about that. With both Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice, Clive Davis made both into different artists than those we learned to love on the show. Ruben was taken from soulful balladeer to hip-hop drivel while Bo, the wonderful southern rocker I fell madly for, was turned into Bon Jovi Lite. While Davis was all too happy to take the stage to crow about the number of albums sold by both of these artists, he likely doesn’t know (and probably doesn’t care) that the majority of people who purchased these CDs are disappointed in them. My sister doesn’t even know where her Ruben Studdard CD is these days, and I spend way more time listening to Bo Bice and Sugar Money than I do the “RCA Bo.” I’ve heard rumors that Idol plans to offer consolation recording contracts to Chris Daughtry and Paris Bennett. Chris is crazy if he takes it. That “dawg” doesn’t need their bone. He stayed true to himself throughout the competition, which some believe resulted in his elimination, but he won’t be able to do that on a Clive Davis production. Don’t do it, Chris. They used you to rope us in, and now, they want you to be their cash cow while two performers with inferior skills vie for the title. You didn’t win, and you didn’t come in second; get out while you can. I’m glad Clive Davis isn’t interested in Elliott. I want Elliott to record music that continues to reveal himself to his fans, that self that we have all grown to love—his sensitivity, his heart on his sleeve, the whole nine. That’s what we want from Elliott, and that is what is going to make Elliott a huge star, despite American Idol and Clive Davis.
While I have often heard Elliott’s song choices referred to as “obscure,” I see them as unique. Those choices reflect who Elliot is, both as a person and as an artist. When he dredges some old soul song up from my past, I am instantly transported to earlier years. I can’t tell you the last time I thought about old soul music, let alone pulled it out to listen (not that I have a turntable these days); Elliott makes me want to do that. He makes old songs new again, and he makes me young again. When he sang “I Believe To My Soul,” I was back at the sock-hop. Even though I have enjoyed Elliott’s music transporting me to a different time and place, I cannot wait to hear Elliott wrap those fabulous vocals around new music. You see, unlike the powers that be at AI, I see the potential in this man; I see people around the world loving him and his musical stylings; I see a true artist, one who is true to his art and to what he believes. In fact, I see beyond his potential—I see a unique new star on the horizon.
“Before the contest started, I was lost, still trying to find my way as a human being, as an employee, all of the above. I have grown a lot in confidence. I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. I’ve actually followed through with something in my life. I’m a better man for it. It’s amazing to know how many people I’ve touched, that I’ve inspired.” Yes, he has inspired many. He has inspired me to be a better person, and part of being a better person is speaking out when life is purposely made unfair. Idol needs to learn to play fair; the fans make the show, not the other way around. I dare say that I am not the only former fan of American Idol. When enough of us get fed up, the non-stop flow of money will do just that, and this show will go with it. I want to leave The Powers That Be with a message, just in case they didn’t get it when Elliott sang his farewell on Wednesday:
One of these days, and it won’t be long,
You’re gonna look for me and I’ll be gone.
‘Cause I believe (I believe, yes I believe)
I say I believe right now (I believe, yes I believe)
Well I believe to my soul now,
You’re trying to make a fool of me (I believe it, I believe it)
American Idol, we’re no fools; one day, we’ll all be gone. Who then will Simon kiss off the day before the alleged votes have even been placed, let alone tallied? It won’t be “that other guy,” when “you know [his] name is Elliott Yamin.” Remember that Donny Hathaway CD that Elliott helped to dredge from the depths of obscurity? It currently sits at #29 overall, #1 in soul, and #2 in R&B. Believe me when I say this guy is going to be huge. The compilation CD hasn’t even been released, yet Elliott’s rendition of “Moody’s Mood For Love” is already on the airplay charts. Very rarely have I seen an artist who possesses the ability to cross racial barriers, cultural barriers, age barriers, religious barriers—all barriers—with his music. That artist is Elliott Yamin. Remember his name; you will be hearing it again.
|
If he puts a full version of "If Tomorrow Never Comes" on cd, I'll buy it. 
He is great! 
