I thought he did a really good job and he looked AMAZING!  I really hope this album does well for him because he deserves it and I feel like he’s finally found some music worthy of his talent.  Have you heard the album?  If so, did you like it?

Post from: Idol Stalker

Random House has announced American Idol fifth-season winner Taylor Hicks’ memoir “Heart Full of Soul” will be released on Tuesday, July 10.

The 30-year-old Birmingham, AL-native signed the deal with Random House’s Crown imprint early last August.

At the time, the New York Post reported Hicks was paid an estimated $750,000 advance for the memoir, adding it was ghostwritten by David Wild, whose previous work has appeared in Rolling Stone.

The 272-page book is described as an “inspirational memoir about finding your voice and finding your way.”

source

Taylor will be appearing at Six Flags Over Georgia on June 28th!!!! It is part of a concert series which will also feature Teddy Geiger and Cheyenne (June 21), Cartel (July 5), Jordan Pruitt and The Jonas Brothers (July 12), Bobby Valentino and Paula DeAnda (July 26) and Ryan Cabrera and Click Five (August 9).

Click here for more info!

Post from: Idol Stalker

More pics after the jump!

source

Post from: Idol Stalker

Phil Stacey: 29 from Jacksonville, FL
Phil Stacey sings “I Ain’t Missing You At All” by John Waite. I still think this guy is one of the top voices in the contest, still not sure about how far he’ll go, but I’d say he’s got at least 2 or 3 weeks left. He’s really doing a great performance of this song. He’s definitely got it together tonight, but he wasn’t too bad last week in my opinion.

• Randy – that was hot, showing everyond his power
• Paula – likes his tone and says she can hear him right now on the radio
• Simon – very popular, but completely “unoriginal” voice. He’s really looking for something unique, not a “very good karoake singer”

— Commercial Break — 

Interviewing in the “red” room, Sundance says his friends told him to be less “crappy”. I agree, he really needs to turn it on and show us what he did in the original auditions.

Jared Cotter: 25 from Long Island, NY
Singing a little Marvin Gaye and coming out strong with “Let’s Get It On”. I can’t hear this song without immediately thinking of an episode of “The King of Queens”. If you watch it, you’ll know what I mean. Jared’s taking a step up this week. It’s good to see the guys starting off stronger than last week. Not sure if Simon’s going to like it though, and he said to be a littler riskier from last week. He’s doing a good job though.

• Randy – little pitchy, but liked the face move
• Paula – good looking guy, Paula is losing it, too much innuendo
• Simon – appreciates the attempt, but reminded him of the “Love Boat”, as a cabaret singer (Jared follows it up with “That would have been a great love boat man”)

A.J. Tabaldo: 22 from Santa Maria, CA
Dedicating his song to his mom and dad and singing Michael Buble’s version of “Feeling Good”. I like Buble, and A.J. isn’t doing too badly of a version, but is cracking on a few areas moving across his range. We’ll see

• Randy - so much better than last week, proves he’s got skills
• Paula – real, real, real, real good voice. Like’s seeing the change
• Simon – actually “nearly, very good”. Tuning problems. Made himself different and stand-out with some personality

— Commercial Break —

Sanjaya Malakar: 17 from Seattle, WA
He’s dedicating his performance to his grandfather who died when he was five and wears his wedding ring on stage. Singing “Steppin’ Out” with a little jazz, swing kick. Not sure he’s doing enough. Still can’t believe he was won of the top guys in votes last week. Not sure what he’s going on. He’s not bad, just not in the same league with the majority of the other guys in the group this year. Strong voice, but Simon will say he’s “forgettable”.

• Randy – nice kid, really weird, bad high school talent show. Really didn’t work for him.
• Paula – sang on pitch, sounded good, old soul, but needs to pick songs that celebrate his youth
• Simon – some ghastly lunch where the parents asked the children to sing. Very weak. A little weird and absolutely no impact.  

He picked the song to dedicate it to his grandfather, just may not have been the best decision.

— Commercial Break —

Chris Sligh: 28 from Greenville, SC
Dedicates it to his wife who has supported him through all the times he’s wanted to give-up and quit. Singing “Trouble”, and I’m not sure who sings it (Lindsey Buckingham, remade by Coldplay?). He’s doing a great job. I just love his personality and attitude. We’ll see what the judges say though.

• Randy – even better than last week, big voice, he’s got skills, good song choice
• Paula – watch your pitch, getting ahead of the music
• Simon – tonight he was a “very good singer” which is why they put him through

Ryan reminded me that Taylor Hicks did that song last season. Definitely a song that would fit Taylor’s Soul Patrol style.

Post from: Idol Stalker

Here’s a break down of the current American Idol placements on the Billboard Top 100 Album’s List

• #1 – Chris Daughtry: “Daughtry”
• #2 – Jennifer Hudson: “Dreamgirls Motion Picture Soundtrack
• #9 – Carrie Underwood: “Some Hearts”
• #50 – Taylor Hicks: “Taylor Hicks”
• #51 – Kellie Pickler: “Small Town Girl”
• #66 – Fantasia: “Fantasia”

Here’s another link that was sent to me that talks about Chris Daughtry knocking of the Dreamgirls.

Post from: Idol Stalker

The show started with a great introduction to where we’ve come so far and how great past idols are doing like Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and of course Taylor Hicks.

The auditions started off in the hometown of last season’s finale closer, Prince, which would put us in Minneapolis. One of the guest judges for the Minneapolis auditions is Jewell. It just so happens the first auditioner’s favorite artist is Jewell. It’s too bad she was really bad. She of course broke down on camera. She’ll be returning to her “unique” job as a make-up artist at the Mall of America.

Looks like we’ve got plenty to endure here in the Land of 1,000 Lakes.

— Commercial Break —

Urban Amish guy, never seen American Idol, I wish I could have said I’d never seen him before. Lot’s of other rejected highlights of really horrible people trying to perform.

Up next was Jessie Holloway, who has a unique vocal range, and the ability to talk WAY too much. He says he hit some notes that Mariah Carey can hit, just not the good ones. This guy was so bad! Do these people really think they can sing before they get here?

— Commercial Break —

Apollo Creed? Some guess dressed in a patriotic uniform with boxing gloves, you remember the scene from Rocky don’t you? He starts off with an Italian Aria. This guy can’t sing either. Crack baby girl is up next. She’s got a great tear-jerking story. She says she’s received a gift of singing. Too bad she didn’t receive a gift of knowing how to present herself. She’s probably the best I’ve seen so far, but that really doesn’t say much either. She made it through though unanimously. Good luck to her in Hollywood.

— Commercial Break — (way too many of these so far)

The American Idol Appeal. For those people who forget their words or just completely screw up. Tashawn Moore just really screwed it up. The tie didn’t help. It’s almost painful to see people do this to themselves. Spanish girl is up next, flirting with Ryan Seacrest. She can’t sing either. Hopefully someone will remind her to use the right door on the way out, because she stinks. OH MY GOODNESS!! She made it. Let’s hope she won’t get “compared to Shakira”.

— Commercial Break —

More girls making it to Hollywood than guys. Cowboy (server, bartender, cook) guy is up next. Cowboy guy, Matthew Volna, did Johnny Cash doing Folsom Prison Blues. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Jewell asked him if he was serious when he was doing it, he “can’t sing the other stuff”. Randy was bold with a statement and said he was “Awful”.

More guys, more horrible displays. Even an sound effects guy that made himself look like an idiot.

Up next is Navy guy, with a background story on his ship. Hmmm, I wonder if he’s going on. He did win the USS Reagan Idol contest on his aircraft carrier. He sings Rascal Flats “Bless the Broken Road”. He’s the best guy so far. He’ll go through, at least I’d hope so if the Spanish girl did.

— Commerical Break —

We’ll do the second half of the premiere in the next post

Post from: Idol Stalker

It seemed there were some microphone/sound problems initially, as Taylor was singing and you couldn’t hear anything. Good to know he’s not lip-synching though.

He sang “Runaround”, which I’m really starting to enjoy more and more every time I hear it.

Updated image from WireImage

Post from: Idol Stalker

Here are the different videos that are available on the AOL Music Sessions site

• Home
• It’s Not Over
• There And Back Again
• Used To

This site is a great chance to see some video of two of the greatest American Idols ever.

Visit AOL Music Sessions

Post from: Idol Stalker

When Taylor Hicks filmed a memorable Sessions performance recently, the ‘American Idol’ told AOL Music that his just-released album is justifiably self-titled. “This album, for me, is a representation of who I am, and it’s also as many styles as I have in me,” he says. “I really was able to use the songs and show examples of each side of my musicality.”

You can read more about Taylor’s experience recording his first album as well as seeing special video recordings from his sessions thanks to AOL Music.

Post from: Idol Stalker

For the right price, “American Idol” castoffs, finalists and even champs will pay a visit to your wedding, Sweet 16 or bar mitzvah.

“The average going rate for an ‘American Idol’ finalist can be as little as $15,000 or as much as $150,000,” says a source familiar with the business of brokering singers, bands and other talent for corporate functions and exclusive private parties.

A wealthy entertainment mogul once shelled out big bucks – more than $30,000 – to hire second-season “Idol” champ Ruben Studdard to sing just three songs at a party for his wife.

Taylor Hicks, the latest champ, fetches as much as $150,000 for a private performance. He’ll be able to demand more if he ever becomes as popular as the original “Idol” winner, Kelly Clarkson, who sources say is paid as much as $300,000 to put on a private mini-concert.

On the lower end of the “Idol” scale are acts like second-season finalist Kimberly Caldwell, who garners around $2,000 a gig, according to the gossip Web site, PerezHilton.com. She pockets $3,000 if you ask her to sing. But she’s made bigger money in the past; at one gig, Caldwell got as much as $7,500 to sit for hours signing autographs, an industry source says.

If anyone is interested in getting me a present, feel free to send an Idol my way. Can I charge for tickets though once I receive something like that as a gift?

Source: ‘Idols’ for Hire

Post from: Idol Stalker