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May 24, 2006-Your Memories; Relive the night that changed our lives-positively!
Topic Started: May 26 2010, 10:07 AM (228 Views)
Oldiebutgoodie
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Now in this crazy world there are more important issues to deal with-but just for a few moments lets escape the realities and recall a night that gave us all such pleasure and love-May 24, 2006-the night Taylor won Idol-

And Yes when I saw the YouTube video and question above it I thought about starting this thread-so thanks to the mods here for tagging my feeble brain for the idea-

Where were you and what do you recall about that night 4 years ago?

For me, it was like I had found music again-three weeks earlier I had "discovered" Taylor on Elvis week-and watched him since-I was still learning about how AI worked having never watched it before or even CARED to do so-then just the night before I had laughed so hard at the purple jacket performance-KNOWING that Taylor was giving the audience something to remember him by whether he won or lost-he was going for broke and I somehow knew it-I recall that I voted after the final performances for the first time-I dialed that phone over and over and over for almost three hours and got through I think 4 times-I'd never done anything like this before but somehow I KNEW I had to participate in this venture-

I can recall that I was sitting in my bedroom on that night-at the end of the bed with my feet over the damaged footboard-with Jazzy-this night was her FIRST time seeing Taylor and she'd been listening to me ramble on and on and on about him for two weeks-funny-it was like I KNEW what he was gonna do cuz SHE later told me that I basically narrated the whole thing to her about how he was and what kind of moves etc-she watched him that night and I saw her glued to the screen just as I had been some weeks earlier-

I recall thinking "Come on guys let's quit doing all the hokey stuff and get on with it-Did Taylor win or not??????" and I probably said it out loud a couple times-and like Taylor said "The Ryan Seacrest dramatic pause took ten years"-

But when he announced Taylor as the winner I screamed, bounced up and down on the bed, cried, clapped etc. Jazzy just watched my reaction-it was almost like Auburn had beaten Alabama in the Iron Bowl and won the National Title-I think even SHE was a bit surprised-


But then DIMYP came on-and the tears flowed endlessly-I looked over and I think THAT is when Jazzy became a fan-cuz like me the tears were flowing and HER face was glued to the screen watching the joy on Taylor's face and the reactions from Bham-I heard her whisper "OMG That's beautiful"--and when it was over she was a SPer through and through-

That night music came alive for me again-I had stopped listening to the radio cuz I never heard anything I liked-and I had NEVER watched Idol because "That's for young folks"-but Taylor changed all that-a young, stunningly handsome man from Alabama who sang MY music and who had blazed his way through the competition, showing the world that he KNEW this was his chance-I knew there was something different about him that was sorely needed in the "business" and I wanted to be a part of it.

Its been an incredible ride. Now when I watched Idol Rewind this past weekend-I used my JVC Everio camcorder to record it-just for me-and there's tearful commentary there as I watched-which NO ONE will hear but me-when I want to spend some time with Taylor during this down time for him and reconnect with the music then I can go there and remind myself of this night 4 years ago-

Believe me ladies-anyone who can shut ME up so that all I can do is hoarsely squeak out "You're welcome Taylor" when he's shouting "Thank You" to everybody during the biggest moment of HIS life and realizing that he's about to have all his dreams become realiity-is worth it to me-and I thank you for letting me come along on this incredible adventure!

Now its your turn...............................................
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kaitlin45

OBG, like you, I'd stopped listening to the radio; it was like nails on a blackboard. I was forced to move from NY to Jersey due to my husband's job, and in so doing, left behind ready access to my entire musical arena, including the world's best and b***siest DJ, Vin Scelsa, who made the decision to leave commercial radio when play lists were instituted. Before I found Taylor on Idol, I'd given up all hope of finding a new and genuine artist to follow.

The night Taylor sang Just Once, to perfection, he got panned by all three judges. I was terrified that he'd be voted off. I feared if that happened, I wouldn't be able to find Taylor and I would retreat back to my old LP's, tapes, and CD's of my beloved artists. That night, I began to pray in earnest. I said, "Jesus, show the world that justice does exist. Let Taylor Hicks win."

God heard my prayers.

My husband was rooting for Kat McPhee, big time. My boss (under pain of death from me), my oldest nephew, who was 14 at the time and who always loved soul music, and my sister in law were rooting and voting for Taylor. We'd call each other every week to crow that Taylor had advanced again, and was going to take the crown. My sister in law was on total bed rest with a very tricky pregnancy and Taylor gave her an escape and lot of joy, two nights a week.

A few weeks before he won, I was waiting in my doctor's office and spied a teen magazine that had some Idol coverage. Shamelessly, I picked up the magazine (I'm no teen). Inside was a page with a head shot of each of the Final 12 and the question the magazine asked was, "Who is your idol?" Everyone named a human being. Mandisa said "Jesus" and Taylor's response was that this had definitely been a spiritual journey for him. There was a little more, but basically, he was thanking God. I think a lot of people beside me were praying for Taylor and maybe, just maybe, he felt that. I ripped the page out of the magazine and then asked the receptionist if I could have it! And I'm usually very respectful of other people's property. Needless to say, I took that page home with me. :lm

When Taylor was announced the winner, the neighbors heard me holler for joy. I remember seeing Bradley Hicks cry, and that really touched me. Taylor's body language said it all; he doubled over with gratitude. And then he straightened up and thanked us, his fans, by hollering, "Soul Patrol!!!" from the bottom of his heart.

The win was great, as was all of the resultant media. But really, the best was yet to come. With each glimpse of Taylor I was blessed to receive via interviews, a mind-blowing sound check at the GMA concert in NYC, and concerts, I knew that Taylor Hicks had earned his place among my beloved music collection. He was the real deal. He hadn't entered the Idol contest seeking a shortcut to fame. He respected the music; he lived and breathed it.

And that's when I knew that God had truly answered my prayers!
Edited by kaitlin45, May 27 2010, 11:36 AM.
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mouser
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Simply put:

I CARED WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS GUY. I was mesmerized by his personna . He was the IT GUY ; the one who walks into a room and all eyes turn his way.

There was something vulnerable about him .

You could close your eyes and recognize his voice from all the others.

I SIMPLY CARED and I still do .

He is an investment that I want to see grow in value , for his sake and for mine.

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cbeans
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:bls I was captivated by Taylor from the beginning, by especially when he walked off the elevator playing the harp. I had never seen someone that could "Become" music like he could.

So, the night that he won, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, and when Ryan announced that he won, I jumped up, screamed, cryed, :cs :whe and my cats scattered all over the house :hid thinking it was the end of the world or something. :cs :whe

When I look back and watch the finally again, (which is often) lol, I'm still so grateful and happy that he won.

Each year since then, the person I thought would win, hasn't, and so I'm just so grateful that when it really was important to me that someone won, TAYLOR was the one.......Taylor is that one unique person who captured so many of us!

Anyway, its always fun to look back to that amazing season, and yes, Taylor has certainly changed all of our lives in an amazingly good way. We are so blessed!
Edited by cbeans, May 28 2010, 06:59 AM.
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pat
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;wh Well, it was the very best birthday present I ever had!! Ever! :lm

And I celebrate Taylor's win every year on my birthday! Taylor is the reason I am still here, a huge forever fan!! As almost everyone else has posted, music was gone from my life and I was listening almost exclusively to talk radio! I had never watched American Idol until a month before the finale, when I was in the hospital - my 9-year old grandson told me I just had to watch it! So I did, saw and heard Taylor, and my life changed completely! And I am so glad it did!!

That night? I guess just like everyone else . . . . jumping up anddown, screaming, hugging my hubby, clapping, crying and laughing at the same time! Just thrilled for Taylor!! I will always remember that night -- on my birthday!!

Thanks, Taylor, for the memories!! :ld
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san
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So many times I have read the same story....I didn't listen to music anymore, I had never watched Idol, I was captivated the moment I saw and heard Taylor Hicks!

You have all said it so much better than I can repeat. My story was so similar. I had slow dial up internet and hadn't been on a fansite ever! I actually thought I was seeing the finale live because I'm in the West too. I didn't know I could have gone online and known ahead of time....I didn't want to.

I was looking for something to watch on TV in the dead of winter. I had never watched much on the FOX network so when my carpooling friend told me I had to see this guy from Alabama on American Idol, I had no clue what I was in for. I didn't have a DVR and begged her to tape the finale for me. She forgot to start it and I didn't get the first 20 minutes of it!

I remember sitting on the couch literally holding my breath! Afterwards, I thought, I have to do something. I could not go to sleep. I knew that I had to follow this young man's journey. I had no clue how to go about that.

I learned quickly.

It is strange how we remember certain times...where we were, exactly what we were doing. Those must be the moments that change our lives.

As I said tonight on the Idol Rewind thread after I watch the finale today, that night did change my life. All for the good!

Thanks, Taylor, for the way you touched so many lives on that night and the lives you continue to touch with your music and the way you inspire us all to live life a little better.

You still rock!!!







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