Taylor Hicks will try his hand at country music…again
Back on April 29, 2009, I put up a post titled “Taylor Hicks trying his hand at country music.” You can read that by clicking here. That was three years ago. At that time, Taylor had a song called “Seven Mile Breakdown.” I heard it on YouTube, and I heard other bloggers talking about it. However, I never heard it on country radio – and I don’t think anyone else did either. You can still hear this song on Taylor’s web page though.
Now Taylor is at it again. That Nashville Sound is reporting that Taylor is planning a country album. He expects to get a single to radio sometime this summer, with an album to hit later in 2012.
In a CMT Insider interview, Taylor said “I gotta stay true to who I am, and that’s a southern, soulful, country guy.” Really, Taylor? I know he’s from Alabama, and the last I checked a map, Alabama is definitely in the south. Now don’t get me wrong. I liked Taylor when he was on American Idol six years ago. However, I did not hear country music coming out of Mr. Hicks. I didn’t consider him country then, and I’m sure if I go to one of his Las Vegas shows at Bally’s, opening in June, I won’t be hearing any country there either.
Here is one of Taylor’s American Idol performance. I’m just not sure about him singing country. Let me know what you all think.
Time to head out of here for a while. Have a great ‘rest of your Sunday’.
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Tags: american idol, country radio, insider interview, mr hicks, nashville sound, taylor hicks, time taylor
Taylor is a fabulous country soul singer. If you’re heard his last CD, The Distance, you’ll hear quite a few country-tinged songs that are excellent… esp cuts like Maybe You Should, The Distance (the title track), Nineteen and Seven Mile Breakdown. I can’t wait to hear his new album coming up.
Sorry, you are wrong. You will hear some country at Taylors Vegas show just as you do at all his shows if you had been to one. Telluride was a great example from last year. He has done several shows with Jamie McLean, an excellent country band.
On AI, you are given a genre each week and Taylor having the ability to sing many types of music never disappointed. You don’t perform in the bars of the southeast for many years and not know country. Taylor will do a rootsy, soulful country as he has for years and will do it well. Much as Ray Charles did. He is an excellent live performer. I did hear Seven Mile Breakdown on country radio, but it was not presented as it should have been. Taylor has been writing with some of the best of the country writers and this will be an excellent album. I hope people are open minded and give him a fair shot. He works incredibly hard and deserves it.
Yes, you will find Taylor singing country at Bally’s, just like he’s been doing at his latest concerts. This new CD will be all country. He has been singing “Teach Me To Dance” and “Country Living”,which will be on this CD. They are definitely country! I am a Taylor Hicks fan regardless of what type of music he sings, but I grew up listening to country, so I’m especially excited about this CD! I wish more people would give him a fair chance instead of doubting him before they even hear what he’s doing.
Thanks for your comments. There are a few things you need to keep in mind here – first one, and maybe most important, is that we are all entitled to our opinion. The second thing is – I didn’t say I don’t like Taylor Hicks. I do – I just don’t consider him a country artist. And, the third thing is – I’ve been listening to country music for more than 50 years. It’s definitely changing. When I started listening to it, it was just country. Today, it’s ‘country/rock’, ‘country/pop’, ‘classic country,’ and whatever other name they need to come up with – because the music is changing so much. So, when I say I don’t consider Taylor Hicks a country artist, please don’t get too defensive… I love Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum; but I don’t consider them country either. Thanks again for your comments – it will definitely be interesting to see where Taylor’s career goes form here.
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You don’t consider Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum country, and yet there they are.
Do you consider Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker and Kid Rock country> Yet, there they are. I welcome Taylor Hicks to country with open arms. I hear Justin Bieber is dabbling in country music. Are you going to rip into him like you did Mr.Hicks? Oh, I hear Kelly Clarkson is going country. What are your thoughts about her going country?
Kid Rock and other singers who’ve gone country
http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2011/01/26/kid-rock-and-other-singers-whove-gone-country.html
I’m sure they all fall into the new country classifications – Carrie Underwood is definitely ‘country/pop’. I’m sure you don’t consider her music anything like Kitty Wells or Dottie West – those ladies were country. Like I said, country music continues to change. And maybe that’s not a bad thing. Look how many people listen to country music these days. Granted, it’s not ‘classic country’ … but it’s still one form of country or another. And I didn’t ‘rip into’ Taylor Hicks. I simply stated my opinion that I don’t think he’s country. Now, could he be ‘country/pop’ or ‘country/rock’…possibly. Could he put out music like Lefty Frizzell or Hank Williams Sr.? I doubt it… and to me – THAT was country music. But again, I didn’t say I don’t like Taylor Hicks, I just said he isn’t country.
I saw nothing in your article to be defensive about. Taylor, however, will do well with a country album if people will give him a chance and just listen to his songs. From what I have derived from his interviews regarding Vegas, he will be doing a little of everything, including country. I hope you will go see him there and then let us know what you think.
Country- I understand what you mean, I also am not a big fan of the Country/pop whatever it is. But I think Taylor could surprise you. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and listen to him. Don’t just dismiss him out of hand.
I didn’t think you ripped into him, but just give him a listen. No hes probably not going to be old school like Lefty and Hank and I do miss that country also. But Taylor is capable of a good country song.
This is an example of a country ballad that was on his last album. What do you think of it, Country? It’s called Maybe You Should.
Well, the fact that you don’t consider Carrie or Lady Antebellum country puts a whole new slant on your article. Taylor certainly fits in with Country Music as it exists today. And NO he did not sing with a country twang on Idol nor will he ever but the Country genre is full of singers without the twang. The fact that he got little play on the radio had more to do with him being an Indie artist and we all know how hard it is to break into radio without the support of a big label. I must say I laughed out loud at you using his song “Do I Make you Proud.” It was his only number one record and he NEVER sings it. Idol picked it and he had to record it. It was not who he was as an artist then or now.
I agree that country is changing. I like a lot of the newer country, but also love the old stuff too. I’m a huge George Jones fan, but I also love the Zac Brown Band. Country has such a huge variety now, that it’s mind boggling to try to classify every song to a genre. In my opinion, good music don’t need a genre. As far as Taylor is concerned, I have seen him live 117 times and love all of his music. I’ve seen a lot of other artists too, but nobody compares to Taylor! I do hope you’ll catch him either at Bally’s, or anywhere else he plays. One of my favorite things about his shows are listening to peoples reactions. They always love him! Another thing about Taylor is that he always takes time to come out after every show and sign autographs and talk to the fans. I know it don’t have anything to do with the music, but it matters to me. I wouldn’t spend my time and money supporting somebody that was a jerk. I think Taylor will make the country community proud to have him.
I can understand where you’re coming from,as a country music purist, but there is a lot more to Taylor Hicks than what you saw on idol. He lived in Nashville briefly before idol, writing & recording songs and knocking on doors. He has always been recording & performing country songs along with songs in many other styles. The only difference this time is he is going for a unified country theme throughout the album. If you check out this video I took of Taylor a few years ago singing a country song his friend wrote, you will probably get a better idea of what his brand of country might be like.
I would be interested to get your take on the album after it is released.
Time will only tell. If Taylor Hicks’music turns out not to be “bona-fided” country, then it will definitely fit in with the other country category,just like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sara Evans Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban etc.
I think what Taylor called himself in the CMT interview describes him best. “Southern soulful country guy.” Taylor, in my opinion, has more soul in his blood than anything. Can he fit into country? I think he can. Country music embraces all different kinds of sounds now. The old-time country, via Loretta, Conway, Merle, et.al is still there, but the younger country generation gravitates toward more of the latest country/pop, country/rock. southern rock. What Taylor fans need to remember here is this is someone’s opinion…we all need to be respectful of each other and try not to come in and defend Taylor to the death.
He’s been working his ass off trying to find a niche in today’s music scene to be heard. And I have always said since the time he won Idol, that he was born in the wrong century. That man’s voice was born to be heard in the days of good soul, jazz and classic R&B sound. We’ve all heard/seen him live…the tagging…the classic Ray Charles tagging(who also was heard on country stations). I hope the country audience gives him a far chance and listens to the music and his voice. Forget Idol. He is soooooo much more than that show. One of the best live performers I have ever scene. Like he said in his audition: Give him a chance.
To be far please listen to Teach Me To Dance performed 3/17/12 At the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD.
http://youtu.be/SlZjZ-DTeH4 Thank you!
I grew up with country music, unwillingly. lol My dad and his family loved Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, etc., and that’s the music that was played in my house. You’re right, country music has taken a whole different path since the day of those country music stars, and in my opinion, this southerner from Birmingham, Alabama, will find his niche in today’s Nashville music scene. He’s an extremely talented and versatile musician.
I do agree with you Country. If Taylor Hicks does go country..it will be more country rock like Taylor Swift and others. Yes, country music is changing because country music is now getting people like Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, etc. They are country pop. Their songs do not sound too traditional country. Now, Loretta Lynn ,Dolly Parton, etc..they are country. They aren’t going to change their sound. I’ve seen Taylor about a handful of times, he puts on a good show. He’s not the friendliest but hes good. He tries to mix it up. Put some country in there, he even covered Rolling Stones and La Roux. His songs have country flavor but really are not considered country. Original country music never had all this rock and roll sounding stuff in it. Las Vegas loves Country music(they just had the ACA’s there) so, I do believe he will try to mix it up. If he makes the right moves, and does the right things, he wont be singing in a 150 capacity seated lounge for long. I honestly always thought he was very weird on Idol, and I always thought he was a failure of an Idol but that is my opinion and I will not get into that. Good luck to him.
More power to him…the “country music” market is so diluted these days…I say why not? Taylor already has been doing songs with a a country flavour over the years anyway…so regardless, I say go for it. Adding a touch of soul to country?..sounds like a refreshing new category to me. IMHO
Thank you ALL So much for your comments. I enjoyed reading every one of them. Obviously Taylor has a lot of fnas – some people think country will work for him; some realize it isn’t ‘traditional’ country music … but whatever it is, we’ll just have to wait and se how it works out for him.
I really do appreciate each of you for leaving a comment. Thanks so much for reading Country’s Chatter – I hope you will jump over to the Home page and check back through some of the other articles.
Come back and vist often! Many times you’ll see contests to win CDs, concert tickets, t-shirts, and other great prizes.
Thank you all!
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Taylor’s own music has always had a country/bluesy sound. Can’t compare what he did on Idol to who he is today, they had theme weeks and he had to stay within those guidelines. His music has a country flare to it, “Seven Mile Breakdown” was played on many country stations. Hoping to hear more of his music on the radio with the release of his new CD.
Y’ll check out Taylor headlining his own show/residency at Bally’s Las Vegas this summer starting June 26 for 8 weeks!
I think his problem is he’s never gone entirely country. It seems he likes to do all kinds of music – maybe trying to please everybody, and that doesn’t work. We will see if he really goes country with his next cd. My advice to him is stick with one genre and do it really well.
Taylor Hicks has proven to not being committed to any one genre. He will sing any genre he believes will sell his songs and gain more fans. I liked Taylor on Idol but don’t think he should have won. He didn’t live up to his own self marketed hype and continues with that tradition today. I give credit to what is left of his Soul Patrol for trying to keep his name out there. But in the end it will all be in vain. Taylor Hicks is destined for small bars and small venues.
Seems a lot of the opinions still go back to “I don’t think he should have won” – well, he DID win, and he won for a reason. The guy can sing any type of music and he has a passion for it. Listen closely to any of his songs and you will hear what MILLIONS of people who voted for him heard.
It’s been 6 years – get over the fact that your favorite didn’t win.
I hope Taylor has a huge, successful career in Country Music.
No worries, Sunflower. Go listen to whom you like. It’s a free country. I for one can not wait to hear his new stuff.
In addition to the new album, Taylor will be at Bally’s all summer headlining his own show!!! And he’ll be on a new show called “The Chosen” on Fox in June! Not dull in Taylorland lately