No, Simon Cowell, we didn't get it wrong.

I'm upset. Furious, actually. I've been told that I was wrong to vote the way I did. And frankly, that pisses me off.

A couple of months ago, Simon Cowell made a statement on Larry King Live that continues to make my blood boil to this day. In response to a comment about Taylor Hicks winning Season 5 of American Idol, the thinks-he-knows-it-all Brit said "I think America got it wrong". I know. That wasn't the first time Mr. Ego Cowell made that statement. But for some reason, his statement stuck with me this time.

How dare he tell me that I voted for the wrong person! How dare he tell me that I don't know what kind of artist and music I like! How dare he tell me that I wasted my time voting for the person I felt deserved to win!

I wasn't the only one that voted for Taylor Hicks. If I had been, Taylor wouldn't have gone all the way to win the American Idol crown. Obviously, a majority of Americans who voted also voted for Taylor. Like me, they must have had their reasons for voting for Taylor. Is it at all possible that we knew what we were doing when we voted for him?

Simon's recent comment led a Soul Patroller by the name of Jenni Jac to write "An open apology to American Idol", a very tongue-in-cheek letter where she apologzies to the producers and judges for getting it so very wrong by voting for Taylor. It was originally posted over on the American Idol Forum in the Taylor Hicks thread. But, alas, it was quickly deleted. Thankfully I stumbled across the letter before it was deleted.

Dear producers of American Idol, Idol Judges, and Idol Associates,

Lately our heart has grown heavy and filled with remorse. We realize now that we have carelessly thrust a mountain of angst upon you. We, the American voting public have caused a wound that seems to have festered even more over the passage of time, and for that we are deeply sorry. As valiantly as you may try to tuck it away, the inner torment seems to be eating away at you. It seems you can no longer hold it in, as you repeatedly cry out: "The Idol voters made a mistake!! Why did they ever vote Taylor Hicks the American idol, why? why?!!!"

Oh my God, what have we done?

After hearing your repeated and united cries of injustice, it is finally beginning to sink in. What were we thinking? We allowed a man with a unique voice, charisma, and stage presence to steal the crown away from other contestants with more marketable genres. I mean, Ray Charles, Otis Redding and Sam Cooke are so-o-o 1960s. That crap will never make it onto top 40 radio in the 21st century. To make things even worse, that ungrateful b******d Hicks decides to shun your generous management offer, cutting you out of a big chunk of revenue. I mean really, what is so wrong with a 40% management fee, or even more? You made him, right? We totally understand why you can barely bring yourself to show his picture or mention his name on the show anymore, what with all the financial and emotional damage he has caused.

So yes, we are deeply sorry and ready to atone. With our experience and hindsight, we can tell you how to avoid a travesty such as this in the future:

1. Screen your prospects carefully. Avoid throwback styles altogether. Their musical knowledge should be limited. If they know more about music than Simon Cowell, it will reflect badly on the show. "Empty Vessel" is the operative term here.

2. Avoid picking contestants that use terms such as "vision", "dues", or especially "songwriting". Believe me, they will cause you nothing but heartache in the future.

3. Once you have your contestants chosen, outfit them all with burkas, so they will be completely covered from head to toe. Next, strap them to a chair. This will eliminate any possibility of voters being swayed by attractiveness/unattractiveness, fashion sense, dance moves, smiles, smirks, facial tics or gestures that could either endear or alienate them to the voters. Just to be safe, put them in their burkas behind a screen and show them in silhouette. You really can't be too careful.

4. Pick one song each week and make every contestant sing it. Ignore their pleas for different arrangements. There is good reason for this. If their own song choice or arrangement goes over well, it will only embolden them to demand more artistic creativity when it comes time to cut that record. That can be such a pain.

5. After each performance, instruct Ryan to ask questions that can be easily answered with either "yes", "no", or "maybe". Place these words in a board and give the contestant a laser pointer to pick the appropriate response. This will bypass the personality factor altogether which is not required for a top 40 hit, so don't be tempted. The "No Speak" tactic will also thwart attempts to mobilize or define any fanbase. That just gets messy.

6. Do not allow them to hold up fingers reminding the voters what number they need to vote for. No reason for this other than it continues to annoy us. You could consider allowing them to stomp their number out on the floor like one of those math horses, but that option is strictly up to you.

7. IMPORTANT: You will need to put a crawler at the bottom of the screen to continuously remind voters that they are voting for contestants who will sell the most records, instead of the ones you actually want to see perform again next week.

Well, I hope we have been helpful. Sorry again about the Taylor thing, I'm sure it won't happen again.

By the way, it should be noted that since 2004, Ray Charles has been certified Gold six times, Platinum 4 times, 2X Multi-Platinum once, and 3X Multi-Platinum once. Yeah, American Idol, Ray Charles is "so-o-o 1960s."

Simon Cowell isn't the only one taking potshots at Taylor Hicks. Many journalists and bloggers take their fair share of shots at him as well. They don't understand how anyone could possibly like Taylor, a bad-singing, old-looking guy who has no charm, charisma, or stage presence.

So I decided to ask my fellow Soul Patrollers the following question: "What was it that caused you to notice Taylor Hicks?"

I had no shortage of responses.

Disclaimer: Some of the following responses have been edited for grammar, punctuation, length, and/or readibility. None of the flavor nor intent of the responses have been altered.


BamaChic - Right away, I took notice of Taylor from his first audition. I am going to be honest here. My first thought was "Who is this guy? Is he for real with the hair?" Then he belted out "I was born by the river, in a little tent" and that just blew me away. After the audition, I was hooked and became one of Taylor's many fans. I anxiously voted week after week in hopes of hearing Taylor sing just one more song and hoping to push him through to victory. And, yes, I do believe that the right person won AI 5.


PEARLPATTIE - I never watched AI before Season 5, but wanting to keep up with all the goofing around at work about the auditions I turned it on. I stopped dead in my tracks while listening to Taylor and loving the Joe Cocker references, but there was no real attraction except being glad to see him get thru. I would sporadically check to see if the gray haired guy was still there. I guess around "Funky Music" I was really sitting up and taking notice of how sexy he could be. When he came out of that black hole playing the harp during the Finale I was totally GONE!!! We had a Taylor party that night at my friend's house and the place exploded when he actually won.


soulsurvivor - I didn't have chance to vote for him coz I am not from the US. But here's my comment on what makes me attracted to that gray hair dude: I fell for his funkiness and his salt-n-pepper voice. Taylor is a great performer. With his harmonica and geeky dances, he rocks the stage whenever he performs.


Soul Traveler - The first thing that I noticed about Taylor, besides his gray hair of course, was his speaking voice. As a girl born and raised in the deep South, it just reminded me so much of home. The way he so matter-of-factly said he wanted people to hear his voice because he "felt like he had one" had me very curious and anxious to hear what he could do with it. When he started to sing, "I was born by the river in a little tent. Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since..." those words came out just like molasses over a hot buttered biscuit - thick, soft, slow and sweet. I was hooked and have been ever since.


Jolene60 - I've watched AI, every show, every year. When Taylor came out at his audition I stood up in my apartment, pointed at the TV and said "He is going to win AI". Once I realized I was all alone, I sat down and smiled. So after that I joined the AI Taylor board and became one of the early Soul Patrol people. His love of music brought back my love of music. I was tired of listening to people singing to make a fast dollar. Taylor was singing to sing, to bring enjoyment to people. Even now, when I am very down and having a bad day, I sit down to my computer and play some of his performances on AI from You Tube. I relax, take a deep breath and learn to love life all over again because of the joy I feel when he sings. He is just what Simon said once: "just totally into the music."


marilyn - We were not AI watchers. While surfing channels we came across Taylor's audition. The interview was interesting, but it was his VOICE that made us sit up and take notice. I can still see the look that I shared with my husband. "WOW...that was really great." SO, we watched to see what became of Taylor. The night he sang "Levon" I was hooked and began voting every week. I loved his voice, his attitude and his committment to music. His understanding of what audiences want, his stage presence and his handsome good looks were factors too but it was the VOICE that grabbed us and still does.


sallyannlady - I think the first thing I noticed about him was his speaking voice - that soft Southern drawl just drew me in. Being from Ontario, we HAVE no noticeable accent, and his voice was like music to my ears. Then, I think, the hair - I have never seen anyone on AI like him before. Even though at that point I didn't think he was that good-looking, the hair caught my attention, and that's what I looked for week after week - the guy with the grey hair. But when I heard that strong, soulful voice coming out of him, I knew I was hooked. I knew he was going to go all the way. If I could have voted, it would have been him, every week. I was wrong in my choices for winners in other seasons, but this one was right on the money, and he's been a part of my life ever since.


oldand crazy - His personality, kindness, sincere, southern attitude. His charisma just makes you want to get up and dance ! Of course you can't not mention he is very good eye candy!


DJinKC - I was surprised at him the first week, but played that off as "someone weird" that happens to have a good voice. Then in Hollywood he came out on the stage and surprised not only Paula, but Simon and Randy too! But that wasn't it either. There was an audience in front of him and he nailed that song! The other contestants were going WILD for him at the end of that 60 second song!! I knew at that moment he was one to keep my eye on!! Work the crowd Taylor! These were people that didn't want him to move on! But they were on their little feet cheering!!
That's when I knew that Taylor had something special!!


Carryviking - I remember watching the audition and seeing this gray haired contestant and wondering what kind of voice he had. He blew me away with his soulful sound from day one and from that time on, always looked forward to what he sang every week. He has a nice smile too and a great personality. He had the best song choices of anybody on the show hands down too. Loved what he chose most of the time. Overall he deserved to be the winner!


medolark - What attracted me to Taylor and got my vote was his unassuming sincerity, unique style, personality, southern gentlemen manners, love of the older style musicians, humbleness and of course his unbelieveably great voice. He seemed like the kind of guy you'd invite in for dinner and he'd fit right in; someone you'd like your grandchildren to watch and appreciate.


oldiebutgoodie - I first saw Taylor on the recommendation of a cousin about nine years older, who in turn had started watching "Idol" on someone ELSE's recommendation--and it was ALL ABOUT TAYLOR!!

I had never watched "Idol" but vaguely knew of Ruben's victory - and being from Alabama of course I was kinda proud of that. This cousin had come into town for a weekly Bible study and stopped by for a visit and on a whim during conversation asked me if I was watching "Idol". I said no - the contestants were too young and the music wasn't my style. She then described Taylor: "He's 29, sings the oldies - our music - and he's got gray hair...and he's winning!!"

Intrigued but skeptical, I tuned in the next Tuesday to find out it was Elvis week. Having been an Elvis fan for many years I was even MORE curious and muttered to myself out loud: "Elvis week eh? OK, let's see if this young punk Taylor whoever can sing Elvis and sing him right!!" Well, of course he was first, and at the end of his speech when he said "Now I'm gonna have some fun" I first saw the twinkle in his eye and inched closer to the screen, After just ONE LINE of "Jailhouse Rock" I was a member of the Soul Patrol. I could feel Taylor's charisma and power shoot through the TV all the way into the room and into my soul. And as they say, the rest is history!!


sonyab1974 - When he first opened his mouth to sing I was like "WOAH! that voice!!!! Amazing!" Then he sang the second song and WOW!!! I didn't catch his name so I said I have to keep my eye on the gray haired guy. That's what I used to call him until I learned him name. I finally learned his name during hollywood week when he used the harmonica during the long walk. He is one of a kind!


laurensilk - What made me take notice of Taylor was multi-faceted. It was the hair, the harmonica, but mostly it was the look in his eyes. There was something there for me that I've never seen in any other contestant. I never voted before him or since.


soul spirit - I never really watched AI before, at least not from the auditions. I thought the auditions were lame and strange. I remember being in my kitchen with the TV on in the background and all of a sudden I heard this voice. I heard this voice that gave me goosepimples. I'm in my mid 40's, so I could appreciate his style, and I thought I was listening to a seasoned veteran singer and I went to the TV and saw Taylor. I think my very first thought was, "This is music, this is real music." I think my overall impression was a soft spot in my heart for his music and his sweetness. He had this vulnerability, yet he was so passionate about the music which gave him self confidence. When I hear that audition tape even now, it makes me cry, remembering how much he moved me from the first time I heard that voice.


poetcindy - I will never forget what made me first take notice of Taylor Hicks. When he first walked out I didn’t think he would have much of a voice. Simon asked why he was there he said “Because I want my voice heard” Simon said why? Taylor replied. “Because I think I have one.”

His confidence got me interested and then he opened his voice and as Simon said later in the season, which he seems to have forgotten saying, “MAGIC”

What kept me rooting and voting for Taylor all season long was a combination of many things. First his wonderful voice, everyone time Taylor sang he made each and every song he said his own. In my opinion each and every song he sang was better than or just as good as the original. I wanted to hear what he would do next so my vote went to him each week. Taylor had the talent, the charisma and the likeability factor. He is the whole package. He was the obvious choice from the moment he walked in.


No, Simon Cowell, we didn't get it wrong. We got it very, very right.


Tags: Taylor Hicks, American Idol, Birmingham, Alabama




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