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I was listening to a local adult popular radio station today (Easy listening venue, spanning classic rock mellow to present).  I thought I was listening to a new Michael Bolton song.  It was a Taylor Hicks release. They utilized his light gravel to give him that Michael Bolton style mellow. As to whether this is an older song, or a new song of his newly released, I have no idea. First time I heard it. I don't even recall the name of the song.  It sounded pretty decent though.  I suppose this should be no surprise however.  As we discussed earlier given some talent, and a decent voice quality, the producers & a studio will do anything with anyone they opt to work with.  The producers knew what they wanted when Taylor won AI

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I'm with you Kappy..(not litterally, but you know...)  I think they have already decided what genre they are going to focus the winner on after the competition is over...Just like Clay Aiken (2nd place winner)  I think they have led him in the direction of replacing Barry Manilow..Or, if you will being a young Barry Manilow...If you think about it it's kinda weird...Both have those noses..They both have a sexuality that is different..sexy to women but then a weird air that they may be gay too...When I first saw Clay Aiken I thought he looked like Barry too...  Maybe it's just me...

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

But are we all forgetting that AI is rigged, and the producers know before anyone is chosen of what type of singer thaey want to win.  They find that singer, and POOF a star is born, or marketed.

A friend of mine tried out for AI in Minneapolis, she has a bit of a Janis Joplin type voice, and is a good singer.  Well after the produceres hear her, they said "Sorry, we aren't looking for any rockers this year."

It's all marketing.  THey could take a turd, pollish it, and sell it to sheepele, and the sheepele will buy and buy.

Kappy is that you? Where have you been, buddy.. ....Isis....I have a nose like that......no possibility of me being gay though.....shoot, I'm not even happy.....is Kappy Happy.....I sure hope so.....

If I had a studio and I wanted to find new talent I would do the same thing.    It might not be rigged but, It might be.     Most studios have a certain path they want to take.    The style of music they are concentrating on.     So they need to find that type of a singer/performer.     This is all based on making the most money they can.

So the TV show needs good rating to help them make more money.   They need to keep it exciting.     So they manipulate the contest the way it will optimise all the good factors.    They may have had to pick between 3-4 artists.     So in a way it was fair.    Testing them to see if they could stand the pressuser and perform well.    Big money in record sales and concerts.    So of the 3-4 they knew they would sign 1-2.    Just had to figure out who they were.     They don't want to waste money trying to develope a turd.

Whenever a popular artist dies or fades away, there are openings for a similar type of artist.   So when the find one they work it.

Is Halliburton in on this?  If not, maybe they should start a music production division!

Right,  I'm not judging the ethical aspects of how AI decides or operates in my original post, we've already gotten into that in past discussions in the room, but as you mention producers *very likely* had something in mind for him unforeseen by most before he won.  I suppose they felt that (in the case of the release I mentioned) they can take a guy like that and turn him into a Michael Bolton type "love ballad" heart throb, OR a trend-setting style changer taking music in a slighly different direction.  Since he's so popular (my guess is) they can use *HIM* and not necessarily music style to sell just about any style they'd like to move towards.  Sort've like....

Does the radio listener decide the style that becomes popular ?   or do the producers use the radio to get us used to music THEY wish to become popular controlling the venue ?.. In time we get fooled into thinking WE like the style.. but like Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart etc.. we habituate and acquire a "taste" thru time...  We get used to it, and learn to like and eat what we are fed ?

Of course it's about money..  But producers can use someone like Taylor Hicks to bait and switch music style, OR keep a certain style alive..  The producers control the listener.  We (like kids) eat what's put on the table for us... Learn to like some of it..

JMO

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I didn't have the impression there was much of a market for Barry Manilow. He was from an era where the style of music he sings was popular, and IMO the landscape has changed since then. I doubt Michael Bolten is a much better fit nowadays either. Personally I was never that impressed with Taylor Hicks. Not sure why, I just didn't like his style - it seemed a bit boring to me. I suppose he is a good fit for a Chevy commercial though.

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The Truth Is Out There

My personal feelings are similar Bill, but here's some food for thought.  WHO is the industry trying to pull in, and swoon ?   We older guys ?   or the younger female, and similarly older female listeners ?   Who comprises the larger audience with more influence...  Look at it this way,  We might've hated James Taylor when we FIRST heard him come out with his ballads,  perhaps we found him "too sappy" as males.  Yet how many males will play him now because *A woman* we like loves his stuff, or we just got used to his ballads and like them ?   Additionally, we males will have music that might enable us to "get lucky" anyway, whether we really like it or not..

FEMALE listeners are more important to the producerss than the middle-aged old male fart (like myself) who given a choice,  would have music trend stay at "Classic rock" and "standards"...

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Taylor Hicks kinda reminds me of the 'what if' Jay Leno and Michael McDonald could father the same kid.

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I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

Oh yeah... VERY VERY Michael McDonald sounding.  That's what likely got him as far as he made it...  His knack for covering Doobie stuff..


Personally,  I'd opt for a David Letterman & Boston or Scorpion's sounding hybrid... Yet the producers don't care about my tastes

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I was wondering about Taylor Hicks.

I've seen Kelly Pickler performing (tv I mean)..... and I've seen Chris Young from Nashville Star (what a hottie) and I wondered it Taylor Hicks got lost by the wayside, I haven't even heard his name mentioned since the show.

But I was just having a discussion (okay, okay, an "argument" if you will).... with my hubby about this. We never see how far some of these people go, he thinks it's cause it's "all rigged" and "just a money maker show"...... but it's cause we don't listen to the type of stations they play the music on. Like even Kelly Clarkson, heck I only know ONE of her songs, and that's because my niece introduced me to it on karaoke.... Up until Carrie Underwood, I don't think any of them hit the country music scene. (and now... Kelly Pickler too)

I'll have to find Taylor online somewhere, see if I like the style they have him doing.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

No No, he's around..   I listen to a local easy listening "listen while you work" type station.  He's got a release and if you didn't know it was Taylor, you'd likely think

"When did Michael Bolton compose that song?"

They have him doing the "love ballad" genre so-far..  "Easy listening" dental office type radio

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Look at it this way,  the producers have a clue.   Now they'll have Oprah falling in love with him

She LOVES Michael Bolton.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Well...  :oops: ...... I wouldn't know Michael Bolton by voice if I heard him come on the radio, so I'm not getting what style you're talking about. I'll have to look up song titles he sang, then it'll click in my head.




I woulda figured he'd come out with more of the classic rock stuff, that's the style I liked him on best anyhow. (or.. IS that MB style?)

I best go look it up, I'm looking dumber by the second here.  :D

(btw.... my last dentist office, really nice guy- funny too- he played the '70's station, literally blared it, and sang along while working on your teeth.... shoulda invited him out to karaoke, haha... my kids loved him)

.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

I thought Taylor was disappearing like Rubin did. It looks like the girls from AI are the only ones producing hits. (Carrie and kelly)

I don't know how fixed things are. You'd think if they were fixing the results. Rocker
Chris would have won last time. He was the most marketable by far in my opinion.

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Babs....do I remind you in any way of Taylor Hicks?....I've had several people, while out singing tell me that I remind them of him....maybe it's my gray hair.....I don't want to remind anybody of him..........maybe I remind you of Stinky Stevie....

Johnny, you remind me of the Phantom of the Opera. I hope that helps.

Hey, I resemble that.....yunk yunk yunk

No way - You don't look like Taylor Hicks.  LMAO

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