Comments on: A Bonenkai for Taylor Hicks

By: mamaforpeace

mamaforpeace — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:45:29 +0000

Wow, girl! That was a great read! “He’s honored to have Ray’s jacket, but he isn’t going to wear it”… Loved that because as much as I loved Ray, I don’t want an imitation of Ray, I want this new guy who is going to take us on a musical journey. I don’t want Ray, or Ottis, or Joe, or Van… Been there, done that, doing it still and enjoying it just as much. I want to hear Taylor Hicks’ “voice”, because I do believe he has his very own unique one. No problem with letting go, I’m ready!

By: Tami

Tami — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:19:01 +0000

Thanks for a very enjoyable read. While I have my opinions about Taylor performances both pro and con, they certainly aren’t meant to say he should do one thing or another in the future as he creates his own special place in music history. I am more than willing to follow wherever he wants to lead and look forward to the journey with great anticipation.

By: KK

KK — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 02:53:28 +0000

Basenji:
It’s good to have you back (since the time you made me cry with a farewell piece somewhere. I’ve had my own “”forget the past” party and can’t remember when or where. ) You are one amazing writer. Love it.
We are ready for the new boy. (But do miss the old as well.) I’m constantly taken aback at how his face changes with each photograph but even more so how he rearranges what music comes out of him. This versatility (chameleon style) will be his success. Thanks for your word picture of Taylor and his music.

By: Robin4T

Robin4T — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:59:49 +0000

aerinphil and all. Just to be clear. I don’t mean to suggest for a minute that I’ve ever come close to articulating what Basenji expressed here. I was speaking instead of the immediate familiarity, the gut-level recognition that I experienced when reading her thoughts. The “oh yes, exactly, that’s it” that I felt while reading this wonderful essay. Basenji is in a league of her own.

By: A.

A. — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 20:14:38 +0000

Thanks for the comment, judyjs. Welcome to the site. I hope you enjoy!

By: judyjs

judyjs — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 19:55:25 +0000

This is my first time here. This was very moving about our Taylor. You have captured the essence of him. I too, experienced tears while reading this wonderful piece. They are not tears of pain or sorrow, but of sheer joy to know there are so many who truly ‘get Taylor’. I am one of the older fans I guess, but you expressed how a lot of us feel regarding the everchanging Taylor. We loved him on AI, we loved on the AI tour, we loved him with LMBO, we love seeing him on Rehearsals. com. We will love whatever he gives to us and will leave us wanting more. We are so anxious to see what Taylor will present to us next. Taylor will evolve. He has said he really likes to perform and I’m sure we have not seen everything he “can do for us”. He knows how to entertain us. I believe he now knows how much he affects us. Taylor loves his fans. This man has so much more just aching to get out. Taylor is one of a kind.
Thanks for letting me express my thoughts. This is a great website. I think I’ll be back.

By: aerinphil

aerinphil — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 08:47:09 +0000

Robin, at least you have “almost” articulated what Basenji wrote, while probably some of us could never come close to putting what we know about Taylor Hicks into words. Thank you Basenji.

By: Robin4T

Robin4T — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 02:50:28 +0000

Basenji, I am late in posting this because I quite simply did not know what to say. And I wanted to say this right. So here goes my best shot.

Much like Taylor’s music, your writing creates in me both a sense of familiarity and a sense of awe. The familiarity, I think, comes from the recognition of thoughts I have almost formulated, ideas that I have almost expressed. The awe comes from the realization that never in a million years could I have expressed those ideas in your unique and beautiful way.

I sincerely hope I’m not bringing up the end of this thread, because this should be required reading for all who support Taylor’s music. Thank you.

By: Basenji

Basenji — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:08:58 +0000

Look in the mp3 section of GrayCharles.com. Look for the group of songs called “Live Set December 23, 2005). He doesn’t rap in the other version.

By: KimLoree

KimLoree — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:36:22 +0000

I read this article the other day and had to come back to it again. It brings tears to my eyes when you call him “our boy”, because that’s how I feel about him.
I can’t imagine that the “profound pleasures” we have coming, will do anything other that to unite us all in our support of Taylor.
Well…I’m going to wipe away the tears and go watch a Taylor video to bring back the smile.
BTW….thought I had seen everything out there, but have not found the “Naked in the Jungle”. Can anyone help me?

By: Jenk

Jenk — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 07:30:05 +0000

“…it is practically inconceivable that with a quality cover song his performance could fail to cause us internal damage from joy.”

Ha! It is lines like this that I read and think, “How does she come up with this stuff? And how can I do it, too?”

Basenji, your ability to intersperse cool-headed, intellectual prose with hints of underlying raw emotion is just marvelous. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: jem4tay

jem4tay — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:59:17 +0000

Basenji,

Whether you are taking us on a glorious fantasy ride or bringing us back to reality, your writing/thoughts never fail to be exactly what is needed. The last thing this Soul Patrol lady would want to do is hold Taylor back. It is that spark of individuality in him and all the things that set him apart from the pack that ignited my strong desire to see him fulfill his dreams. I feel really lame commenting after such an eloquent article, so I will just say…sincerely…thank you.

Ganbatte, Taylor!

By: TrueNorth

TrueNorth — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:18:42 +0000

What a timely, thoughtful, hip and important essay you have contributed, Basenji. Excellent work, you good shepherd.

Ganbatte, Taylor!

By: Cali50

Cali50 — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:21:26 +0000

“Do your best and persevere, Taylor!” So glad you’re back and decided to stay for a while, Basenji!

By: Misccoast

Misccoast — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:51:30 +0000

WOW! I needed that! A great intellectual workout on a subject that obsesses me. I’m so glad you have the love of Taylor that can express some opinions in such a way that we other TaylorObsessed folks are not all offended and argumentative.

I believe Taylor’s chameleon tendencies are the core of the prediction that he will have a long running career. He seems to feel his audiences and instictively adds, not what they think they want, but what they need. He loves to set the desire level for his music, then withhold it until he is ready- like he did Georgia. He sang it in Atlanta, finally!

I would give anything to share a bottle of good wine with you, and stay up all night talking about the man and his music. Again, Wow!