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An "interview"
Topic Started: Jan 19 2009, 04:24 PM (223 Views)
mouser
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I would normally not post a blog spot here, but I think this one has enough "vital" information that it warrants our attention. Taylor's words speak to Gypsee's post about abiding by Taylor's wishes about video and photography.
This is from a-caryling's blog.




Monday, January 19, 2009
Taylor Hicks: "Is This An Interview?"

*chuckle*

I must give off some kind of reporter vibe (perhaps the pad and pen?* haha!) because Taylor Hicks asked me if our meet and greet was an interview last Friday night. I laughed and said "no" but then he asked if our talk was going to appear on my blog. I said I wasn't sure and I meant it, because I'm not interested in crossing any lines or betraying a trust even if it is with a stranger. That's just not what I'm about. I'm a nice person.

But his expression looked hopeful. I got the impression he wanted other fans to be able to read what he had to say, so I said, "OK, yes." (There have been some nasty remarks made elsewhere online about messages being sent at M&Gs, so I wanted to get that out of the way.)

And I'll be honest, after getting home from Chicago and reading comments on other blogs, I decided I really don't want to write this up. I'm tired of the effort it takes to be an online fan: making sure that what you write isn't misunderstood, worrying that people will think you think you're somehow special if Taylor says something quotable to you. Believe me, I know I'm just a face in the crowd. There is nothing special about me in Taylor's eyes. I know that, I'm fine with that, I don't care.

But I feel an obligation to relay a few things Taylor said to me that were meant for all of us to hear. Let's just do this so I can commence my disappearing act from the online world for a few days.

After some opening pleasantries:

C: I’m going to Martyr’s tomorrow. So, you’ll be doing the new music?

Taylor: We’ll see...I’m gonna keep everybody in suspense.

C: You like to do that.

Taylor: It’s not that I...I know what the fans want but you have to create demand for yourself. That’s the key. I’m planning on playing some music from the new record but I gotta make sure that the record is effective. This record is really important to me from an artistic perspective. I have to do everything in my power to make the release as big as possible.

C: Sure

Taylor: That’s just good business. You want to make sure that you have the biggest impact as possible, so going and playing a bunch of new music before the album comes out is not necessarily making a big impact when you release a particular product. But you know, I understand what fans want. I get it. But it’s a business, too.

C: Yes, unfortunately.

T: So I’m gonna play some music from the new record. Am I gonna play the whole record? No. I can’t. You want people coming to your shows. The digital age has made the artist like…very…(he hunched his shoulders and hugged his arms around himself)...

C: guarded?

T: well, yeah, guarded with his product. And you know, as a fan, I would think you would want to make this record as impactful as possible. The quality is what I’m worried about…I want people to hear great quality especially when you’re talking about new material. And we’ve got to create a buzz. What if I play a different song from the record in each market? You give people of piece of that and they wonder what he's going to do.

C: To keep people interested.

Taylor: Not just that but maybe they go away with something that nobody else gets to have.

C: Are there gonna be more shows? Are you gonna tour the south with Grease?

Taylor: (mischievous smile) Maybe.

C: (laughing) You drive us nuts.

Taylor: Do I? Is it really nuts or is it that people just want information out of me?

C: Hmm...I don’t know.

Taylor: I just hope people enjoy my music and my entertainment, that's all I care about. I’m trying to put it out there as much as possible for everybody. People say to me all the time, 'you think it was tough getting here, try staying here'. Staying here requires more work than getting here. But you know, everybody’s happy! C’mon this is all fun here!

C: Fun for you! Then we all get online and say 'what did he mean by that?'

Taylor: I can’t help all that. I just want to make the biggest impact I can with the record. Also, I want to be able to play live for some fans. I could NOT play live, but I’m not gonna do that.

C: Uh huh.

*pause*

Taylor: People thrive on information from me and I understand that. People use information as currency. All I can do is go out there and be who am and entertain and hopefully please old fans and make some new ones and keep working it as long as I can.

C: Yeah. (smile, head nod) Oh, I rewrote 'Somehow' for you, it’s a funny version (http://a-caryling.blogspot.com/2008/11/somehow-rewrite.html). Somebody told me I should give it to you. Sorry. (laugh)

Taylor: (laughing) Who knows, I might play it sometime!

More goodbye pleasantries and then he was gone. Well, I'm off to walk my dog, talk to my children, hug my husband and yes, rake a few leaves. Y'all have fun.

*I had the pad and pen because I had questions written down. I was afraid I'd get flustered and would forget. I hate that.
Edited by mouser, Jan 19 2009, 04:30 PM.
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This is info that he has said to a few fans, so it's not some privileged info. However, it does support what he has said before....about respecting him. That is something that certain people don't do nowadays.
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Oldiebutgoodie
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That is probably the most honest interview with Taylor I've ever read. He KNOWS what goes on, he's frustrated by all the "garbage" and selfishness and I feel sorry that he has to put up with it.

Thanks SOO much for posting this!!
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I don't think it's the most honest...it's similar to other interviews or questions he has answered by fans. It's good to see it confirmed again, though. He is sick of being used.
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Oldiebutgoodie
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What these idiots don't realize is that if they keep this up that NONE of us who TRY to follow the rules (and excuse the pun)-- IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE--will be able to get any pics or vids or anything when the CD tour starts or even those who are fortunate enough to get to a shadow show during the Grease tour AFTER the CD drops--he'll just simply make the rules that we don't get anything extra-and THAT would be a crying shame--but unfortunately a necessary step that he'd have to take to protect his precious music.

Rest assured-the Montgomery Soul Patrol will STAY in compliance with Taylor's wishes-anyone who doesn't-will no longer be in the club-and SOMEHOW Taylor will be assured of that-at least then he'll know that there are a FEW fans who know the meaning of the word "No" and " R-E-S-P-E-C-T"-and I am including TTHC in that fandom!!

I haven't posted much on other boards-tried to stay out of it because I post on the boards I do for a different reason--but THIS is a bit much-and its hard not to comment.

ANd through it all-bless Taylor's heart-I'm sure this is hurtful to him-and behind the scenes he's probably saying "how much more do these people want from me" or "what else do I have to do for these people" and yet-as illustrated above-he's STILL the consummate Southern gentleman-choosing his words carefully, choosing his battles, and trying not to offend anyone--endearing him even more to my heart!!

I think those of us who are angered about this need to let HIM know that we ARE angry-and that we stand with him--Gypsee is there a way?
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Oldiebutgoodie
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OK-just spoke to Jazzy about all this-her computer is down-again--she asked to be quoted:

"I'm upset about all this too. It's not fair to Taylor. He deserves better. He's been so nice to me and Tinkerbell and I know he's hurting. He's got my support and Tinkerbell's. We'll pray for peace in his soul."
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OBG, I am pretty sure he knows who supports and respects him :) I bet this is hurtful....he gives so much and then gets slapped in the fact to some he gives to.
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medolark
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OBG - I'm sure that Taylor knows that he has many fans that do respect his privacy and requests. Unfortunately, he is learning many hard new lessons in many different areas. There will always be selfish people but there are also people who live the 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. I hope and pray that in Taylor's case the latter outweigh the former. The entire situation is disheartening. I know many performers do NOT allow any pics at their shows. We have been blessed with a very open policy thus far during his cd tour. I sincerely hope that a few don't ruin it for the majority.
I'm glad that he took the time to explain himself to this fan and that she passed it on. Ü
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Oldiebutgoodie
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I just don't want those who DID follow the rules (and especially Taylor) to suffer because of this unfairness and disrespect.
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