Taylor Hicks: Levon

[@stephaniewilliams2255]

He's still amazing after all these years. This was definitely a performance for the vault. And it was the very first time he called out to his fans, the Soul Patrol. It was thrilling then, and it is a lovely memory now. ❤❤❤

[@idolwithdespair]

Yes, I still listen to him. Season 5 was the best season IMO. I love Kat, Daughtry, Paris, Kevin, Elliot, Will, Ayla, Kelly... Only season I bought the albums for. The AI album, Taylors Daughtrys, and Kats. Actually I ended up buying the on Taylor did right after the show a few times, cd and a couple digital. Also his original before idol I knew, from the moment Taylor open his mouth at the audition and sang with the soul of Sam Cook and moves of Ray Charles that he was it. And Simon was going to eat his words. How long did you watch the entire series? I quit after 8. They changed a lot after he won that season, the producers weren't thrilled he beat Kat. They tweaked it a bunch to manipulate the ending. For years Taylor was hidden, excluded, or shafted from anything that showed the previous idol winners. I can go on but ultimately he marked the best and last of the great seasons and ushered in the beginning of the downfall as ratings started dropping the next season.

[@stephaniewilliams2255]

@@idolwithdespair I quit watching around 8th season, too. But I watched some of this past season via KZbin because of Alejandro Aranda. 😊 He's amazing, too.

[@idolwithdespair]

@@stephaniewilliams2255 Just got sadder and sadder after that... Full disclosure, I was in the VFTW crew. A web community "Vote for the Worst" who would collectivly vote for the "worst" contestant. Not necessarily coz they sucked but mostly because they would be ones that would annoy the producers etc... We would pick one and vote until they got voted off then chose the next. Taylor was our idol for the last several weeks. We loved him and claimed his victory ours. It just became sad watching it after that and seeing how they were rigging it...making fun of it got boring...

[@stephaniewilliams2255]

@@idolwithdespair I remember the VFTW crew! 😂 Classic! Yes, pissing off the producers was a lovely hobby y'all had. 😁

[@idolwithdespair]

@@stephaniewilliams2255 ahh you were a worster too! Remember Our savior Sanjaya?

[@woodk6519]

15 years.. still love this.

[@jugifu]

Chills every time he sings. From the heart.

[@nightvisiongoggles]

Season 5 was the best. McPhee, Daughtry, Yamin... And Taylor Hicks, though he may not have found mainstream success, is still the best of them. He delivers the spirit of the song, pours his heart out when he sings, and that's what sets him apart. His recent performances are proof that he deserved that win.

[@ronaldguz]

Best season ever

[@thousandyardgavri2785]

And Paris put up a good fight as well

[@nikki-gj7xw]

watching in 2016!!!! Go Taylor Hicks LOVE YOU MAN!!!!

[@Twistedpeppermint99]

Watching in 2017.. I absolutely never get tired of watching this performance.

[@yesitsme9]

Loved it! One of the best Elton John covers ever, IMO.

[@maulcs]

legendary

[@StarlaRamcy]

Where are you Taylor? I think you're amazing!

[@DodgerOfZion]

The moment I watched this very performance (which happened to be on), I said to myself "A star is born." To this day, Season 5 is the only season of Idol I ever gave a crap about; they'll never let another Taylor Hicks into the finals, and that's a crying shame. SOUL PATROL

[@CaroleofOakview]

Watching this, I got goose bumps and I KNEW he would win! Saw him in Portland, OR and he rocked the house!

[@AmericanIdolz2011]

Best performance of that night. People forget because of his antics, that Taylor has a wonderful voice.

[@michelbl9162]

Taylor is one of a kind of a winner

[@lottieeast8614]

He's great

[@reginaldfairfield]

@Dodger of Zion ... I AGREE!! Taylor was definitely one of my favorites. George Huff, too!

[@sammyjudeh1117]

Not exceptionally technical singer but great energy and feel good

[@reginaldfairfield]

@@sammyjudeh1117 ... that counts for so much. I'd rather have a great performance by a mediocre singer than a lackluster effort from a superior singer.

[@aepps20012001]

My favorite Taylor performance!! LOVED IT!!!

[@teresaorange8731]

I love him and I love his version of this song

[@mollysouth3987]

Never another like him. He was great then and he still is. Ever get a chance to see him live, do it.

[@maulcs]

totally

[@idolwithdespair]

Idol producers made sure there wasn't another like him.

[@berbchiderly6241]

I listed to this when he was on... and Canadian Idol was running the same time, and I lived in an area where I got both.. Check out Billy Klippert covering the same song. don't understand how this guy won but Billy didn't

[@OrangePony75]

I rooted for Taylor from the beginning (12 years, jeez). Where in the world is the guy who made Simon Cowell himself admit he was wrong in world TV?

[@crissyg.simmons-weaver1306]

Watched the original live showing in Churchill Downs, Knoxville. I miss home.

[@justincastillogayray]

I remember watching that performance and finding his stage presence unintentionally funny.

[@mollysouth3987]

Best performer Idol ever had and a unique gorgeous voice. He wasn't given much of an opportunity to record thanks to some not so very nice people in the business but hes doing well. Making new music, 2 years in Vegas, lots of shows and host of State Plate, Really entertaining show on INSP. Also has a BBQ joint thats doing well. Hes always been one of the busiest Idols

[@idolwithdespair]

Sorry, don't check this account much, don't get me started on how he was treated at idol and post idol. I have a lot to say...well you can ask if you wanna know...

[@mollysouth3987]

Taylor will be doing Elton John songs at the Lyric Theater in Birmingham on Dec 6 .2019 Going to be an outstanding show!

[@idolwithdespair]

Yeah I saw he did that. Haven't heard much...hoping he did (in my deepest Alabama accent) "Levon"

[@COMUEN]

Just awesome.

[@DexterHaven]

I'm glad this had the judges' comments. Simon was great, admitting he was wrong about Taylor. The reason Taylor's father was not overjoyed during that breakaway shot? 4:48 He initially poo-pooed Taylor's decision to auditon for Idol. He didn't think Taylor had a chance. He said he might as well "buy a lottery ticket." So Taylor lacked his father's support like he did Simon's.

[@idolwithdespair]

Jesus wanted to go to Venus, Levon wanted his son to grow up learning how to be a good man. And he shall be, Levon, like you, a good man with traditions and values like that...but his own way. And He shall be Levon!

[@idolwithdespair]

VFTW Plus geniune soul patrol. WOOO!!

[@Yup71719]

Imo THE BEST performer ever on AI

[@qtkat2000]

He may be the least successful, commercially, but he made me FEEL his songs, more than any contestant, before or since. Taylor Hick's Version of LEVON on American Idol My FAVORITE performance ever, from ANY of the competitive singing shows....

[@NSB-me8fv]

He is actually doing all right he hosted a food show and is the first idol contestant to have a las vegas residency

[@jackscreativestudio7356]

I'm naming my future son Levon

[@melissamariebrown1892]

Fans didnt vote for Chris Daughtery cause everyone thought it was gonna be Taylor and Chris sudden shock Chris ( it was all over Chris face but his fans all thought Chris was in. Taylor won cause he definitely entertainer keep the audience on there feet he was the one to get out in the audience; this season was just awesome and lot of great talent came out and there season tour broke records.

[@pup1008]

If it wasn't for the music from the UK I think X-Factor would consist of musical chairs & pass the parcel winners!

[@moimeme6533]

Randy is flat out wrong on this one...TH is *_the_* voice for this song.

[@normavera2617]

I love me some Taylor hicks not only does he look good but sings w. a growl that turns me onnnnn!

[@idolwithdespair]

I love adorkable ppl. Blue eyed soul is what gets me too

[@midgybin8622]

Is it just me or does Taylor look like he could be Mark Cubans Dad?? lol.

[@reginaldfairfield]

I love Taylor Hicks!! #sosexy

[@thereactionpodcast1620]

I wonder if the carpet matches the drapes?

[@Tayfancier]

He did what a singer is SUPPOSED to do. He connected with the audience. Some folks don't get it, but the Taylor voters did. They made him the American Idol.

[@jenniferscott375]

His best performance on AI, in my opinion.

[@James.chalmers]

Interesting how Simon Cowell said after it he would make the final.. he was clearly one of the favourites back then yet he seemed to give Taylor negative comments each week probably because the show didn’t want him to win and they knew he was getting high votes

[@bigbadbarbiepodcastchannel2682]

Idol I think will admit they put him through probably on a whim, but hey, at the end of the day he got voted to win, what does that tell you? It's ashamed all that talent is going to waste....he's a great singer, love him.

[@tamaramoran7463]

I understand Simon when he refused Taylor Hicks. He looks dorky and not everybody's cup of tea. However he surely can sing. I love his hair.

[@dlh7989]

I think it's interesting how Simon was sort of wrong in the short-term and right in the long-term. He didn't really anticipate that people would find Taylor so charming and an underdog but it didn't last too long except for people who loved him on the show. He didn't really seem to keep getting new fans. So Taylor Hicks was an American Idol sensation but not really a pop culture sensation.

[@idolwithdespair]

He still performs and tours, I follow his tweets @taylorhicks

[@melissamariebrown1892]

oh Simon did

[@luvvinlovelock7254]

I voted for him, I really don't think he was given the opportunities because of Simon.

[@idolwithdespair]

Simon and Nigel wanted Kat to win. They wanted a Kat Chris finale. They changed a lot after Taylor won. I can tell you how they made certain to never have another Taylor incident if you want Sorry I don't check this account a bunch and that's why reply is so late. They want to erase season 5 from the show. Best damn season IMO.

[@randyw.9916]

Taylor Hicks is the only contestant I liked on this show.

[@roere7205]

Now who is laughing?

[@pricegenealogy]

Vocally, the finale should have been Chris Daughtry and Elliott Yamin

[@JG-gn9oq]

Love how he smack simons face and win the whole thing

[@adamrobinette139]

With Taylor Hicks it wasn't that he was the best voice talent that season. Not really close. But you don't have to be when you can perform, and the audience can feel the emotion through what you sing. That's how he won. That's why you can 'feel' Etta James when she sang 'At Last', and no matter how many times Beyonce ran up and down the octaves when she sang it, it fell flat. Beyonce could sing circles around Etta James in her prime, yet Etta James is pure emotion and soul. Beyonce sings the lyrics she's given.

[@idolwithdespair]

Genuine versus manufactured IMO Plus have you read some of the lyrics out loud to Beyonce's songs...

[@amberemory6310]

I think I like his version better than Eltons

[@haroldlasserre5709]

Levon is one of Elton Johns best songs and this guy somehow was able to totally f*** it up

[@idolwithdespair]

How did he totally fuck it up...

[@evaschroeder4020]

Taylor hicks wasn't as good as katherine McPhee but he could certainly sing really well.

[@brandonorb]

how the hell did he win

[@ariespretty1]

WHEN THE NEW YORK TIMES SAY GOD IS DEAD HAY

[@glasgowrus]

Ah, I had to see this for myself. Elton called it a "Fucking amateur performance". Taylor Hicks fucking MURDERED this. Oh My God.

[@jenniferjacobs7771]

Elton never commented on this performance. Even if he did he'd never say anything derogatory about another singer. Elton even said he enjoyed William Hung's interpretation of his song.

[@idolwithdespair]

you must not have watched season 5. Anyways every season is rigged one way or another. And out of the top 3 seas. 5 Elliot had the sob story. Pay attention or move on. Makes me wonder why you even watched a video when you clearly dislike the content. Seems a bit insane to me.

[@eveshr6]

Well, I really couldn't listen to it, beleive me I went on to something different as soon as possible. I'm still wondering how he won. The american people must did'nt hear what I heard. Pitiful!!!

[@eveshr6]

American idol had to be fixed this season, no one should win because of personality. This fellow can't sing. He was pitiful to me. And he sure was not better than Elliott. He must have had a sob story to tell so the american people would feel sorry for him. I don't think anyone will put this song in a vault.

[@Justinpatsfanatic]

He loves the lyrics, yet butchers the very first line? Okay....

[@idolwithdespair]

How? Please elaborate

[@yws4645]

He’s not very good... Voice was shaky.

[@tblightningbolt8902]

Weak