Boy...When Life Is Good...It's Beautiful
As many of you know, when it comes to Taylor Hicks...I've gone 'round the bend and back again.
I like him.
I don't like him.
I'm crushed on him.
I'm tough on him.
I want to marry him.
I'd be happy to just interview him.
I want my picture with him.
I'd just love a picture of him with Traveling Monkbot.
Silliness.
Well...about two months ago I finally came to peace with what I truly want from Taylor Hicks.
I want great music...lots of entertainment...and, oh yeah, to sing a duet with him.
I'm serious.
I've put quite a lot of thought into this final wish.
What would I sing if I had the chance at a duet with Taylor Hicks?
I know I wouldn't want to do a big ballad...too cheesy.
I wouldn't want something cutesy or too rock-'n-roll, either.
After turning it over and over in my mind...I thought I had finally had come up with the perfect song...
This performance makes me smile...one of those pure smiles that overtakes your face before you realize what's happened. A smile that stems from being joyous and in love with life. To sing "Mockingbird" with Taylor would be utterly fabulous.
But, then again...
I love this clip. I love the simplicity and the earnestness. You can see how much Carly loves James. She's so pretty... sun-kissed...love-kissed... and naively bound for heartbreak. This is so bittersweet to watch now...but still so tragically lovely.
This is the song I want to sing.
Taylor, if you're out there...come sing "Close Your Eyes" with me...and I promise to never bother you again...not for an autograph, an interview, a photo, or a marriage proposal.
I swear.
---
Well the sun is surely sinking down
But the moon is slowly rising
So this old world must still be spinning round
And I still love you
(chorus)
So close your eyes
You can close your eyes, its all right
I dont know no love songs
And I cant sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song
When Im gone
It wont be long before another day
We gonna have a good time
And no ones gonna take that time away
You can stay as long as you like
---
Labels: Shelley's World, Taylor Hicks
posted by shelley @ 1/20/2007 12:00:00 AM
36 comments
36 Comments:
Awww, Shelley...
I want to hear you sing with Taylor. If I ever meet him, I will grab him in a headlock (I am learning Muay Thai and can do it) and will make him listen to your voice. He will be compelled to sing with you because your voice is a true reflection of who you are, inside and out.
A Shelley/Taylor duet has been on my wishlist ever since I heard you sing at Christmas. I do love Mockingbird, but you can sing whatever you like.
A Muay Thai headlock?
I'm impressed.
I don't know what that is...but I'm impressed. :)
Thanks, MD.
Yay for the duet! It has to happen. You would be da bomb! Go gettim in that headlock, MD! (It is not a martial art for the fainthearted, but I know you will avoid his larynx.)
Would love to hear you and Taylor sing together, Shelley. "Oh Holy Night" was truly beautiful and still playing over in my head.
Couldn't get the first clip to load, but the second one - yep, that is lovely. it has crossed my mind as to what you might sing with Taylor. I am thinking a version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" would be wonderful, and I have this little gem from the Seventies tugging at my sleeve. It maybe falls into the category of being a bit cutesy, but I loved it at the time and still kind of do. It is up-beat and yet still touching. Wanted to be quirky like Kiki Dee, have her bouncy hair and pink dungarees.
Perfect Day http://tinyurl.com/su293
Elton and Kiki (Don't go Breaking my heart)
http://tinyurl.com/ysfs26
Sometimes, you just amaze me. YES.
Rowan...believe it or not..."Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" was a STRONG contender for my duet choice.
However...I really wanted a song where I did more than just sing a song with Taylor (even a great song like "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart"). I wanted a song where Taylor's voice and my voice could blend.
Singing harmony with someone is such special thing. For just those two or three minutes, each person must totally focus on not only what they do but how they are relating to the other person. It's a push and pull...striking a balance...being in unison.
Shelley - thanks, I see what you mean, about your voices blending. That would be lovely. they would blend beautifully.
As to "Don't go Breakin my Heart", I am going to show my age, and write that you could have it as a "B side"!
Definitely a "B" side! ;)
LOL
Shelley, Didn't it look like JT was so into the music, and Carly was so into him? I've never heard that duet before. It was bee-yootiful. I can see you and Tay doing it.
I would let you go for musicality, but I would have to go for the cheeze!! I would like to recreate the Babs and Neil Diamond moment and sing You Don't Bring Me Flowers like they did on the Grammys (I think it was the Grammys). This could come later in his career. They might have to roll me out on stage in a wheelchair, but it would be spectacular.
Thanks for the clip of James Taylor and Carly together, it was sad when they split up.
Shelley, of all the folks who've been given interviews with Taylor Hicks, you are certainly one of the most deserving to do one. With your humor, and above par writing abilities he'd be much better talking to you rather than some of the others who have already done the deed. (I shall not mention anyone in particular...*putting duct tape on my lips/keyboard)
Sunny Loves Soul...thanks so much for those kind words. That truly means a lot. ;)
I am pulling for the duet, too!
Yes, Carly looked really into JT in that second clip. It made me think of another song that, when I first heard it, made me feel all warm inside for Carly.
There You Are
... Oh I don't know if I told you
But you hold my heart in your hand
And I found out something about you,
Baby without you, I'm a lonely man
So though I never say that I love you,
I love you, darling I do - Carly, I do love you
And though we are as nothing to the stars that shine above,
You are my universe - you are my love
Sigh.
Ivory, big sigh!!! Gotta love JT. It makes you wonder what makes love like that fade away? Philosophical question for the day.
Ivory...that's one of my favs.
So sweet.
So sad.
Lee...I don't know if I'm right, but I think that they broke up because of JT's heroine addiction.
Have ya'll heard their son, Ben, sing. He sounds exactly like his dad...his uncanny.
Here is Ben singing at the end of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye with his mom. It's unbelievable.
Shelley, The heroine addiction makes it even sadder because I bet they both still loved each other but he loved the heroin more. I had no idea he was a heroin addict at one time.
I love Carly Simon's voice because it's one of those that you hear, and you know right away it's her. Carole King is the same way. I hear Carly sings a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on her new CD. I need to listen to that to "cleanse my palette" after too many over the top (imo) Kat renditions.
Shelley, I just read over your list of ever changing feelings about TH, and I had to chuckle. I have experienced the same type of cycle. It's soo weird. What is up w/that? Love/hate/like/crush--the only emotion not in the cycle is indifference. Who woulda thunk it when we saw him audition last year.
Go for it Shelly...
Your feelings reflect the way many of us feel...
It just makes me happy to hear Taylor's voice making sweet music for all of to share.
Ah yes, Ben Taylor. First time I heard him, I thought it was his dad.
"I Will" was the first song I heard him sing. I didn't realize it earned him a Grammy in 1995. Really nice version.
Even JT's brother Livingston has a similar-sounding voice. My favorite JT song is actually one that Livingston wrote called "I Can Dream Of You." (The version I have is from a 45, so you'll hear those pops now and then.)
I wonder this Taylor family voice thing applies to women too, and if so, how can I get me some of those genes?
(In the meantime, I am laughing here imagining JT being addicted to Daisy Miller, Jane Eyre, Elisabeth Bennett ... Wonder Woman ...)
Ivory, ROFLMAO!!!! That is the funniest thing i've read all week. I can't believe I spelled heroin that way. I have tears rolling down my face, and my stomach hurts.
Awww, Lee. Sorry about your stomache ach. I think you need some hot soupe. :)
Ivory...lovely, lovely songs.
For your generosity...you get the
Official Prize of the Day
Oooh ... prize of the day. Thank you, Shelley!!
Now, how to get him to write me a song like "There We Are." Hmm ...
(I will always think of "I Can Dream Of You" as my song because my first boyfriend introduced me to it almost 20 years ago, saying it was his song to me. (Awwww.) But I was glad to share it with my monkbot sisters because, you know, I have none in real life.)
Ivoryhut. You get my official prize of the day and I don't have an official prize of the day...
"(In the meantime, I am laughing here imagining JT being addicted to Daisy Miller, Jane Eyre, Elisabeth Bennett ... Wonder Woman ...)"
I want to hear Shelley and Taylor do "You've lost that loving feeling" by Hall and Oates. It has plenty of beautiful harmony and the lead sing "Baby, baby I get down on my knees for you"
JT is to me as James Brown is to others. His songwriting and musicianship has been inspiration for many a Superstar.
My favorite "collaboration" with Carly is Terra Nova from the JT album.
Oh end this day, show me the ocean, when shall I see the sea.
May this day, set me in motion, I ought to be on my way.
Out to the west of Lambert's Cove, there is a sail out in the sun.
And I'm on board, though very small, I've come home to stop yearning.
Shelley,
I have shared "Taylor Baby" with several friends since the holidays - they are all amazed and impressed with your singing abilities. Just as I am.
Your duet with Taylor would be a wonderful gift for all of us !!!
Love the video of Baby James and Carly Simon -- always love to hear them sing -- together or apart.
Just so sorry that I cannot make it to the MB convention in New Orleans -- maybe the duet can take place then -- if so -- someone promise to send back the video !
Thanks, Libby.
I really wish you could come, too. :(
DD's mention of "Terra Nova" inspired me to record this tonight.
Carly does it much better...but it's fun to sing anyway.
Shelley, I've never heard that song before--you're voice was so clear, and the way you layered it was outstanding. It's difficult to have vocals w/o any instrumentation behind sound so pure and clean. Loved it.
Sigh.
just lovely, shelley.
thanks.
On the heroin addiction front -- I work with lots of folks who have lost everything because of it. I have a patient right now, who -- despite mental illness -- has kicked her habit for some years. Addiction is a heart-rendering thing to watch. I can imagine nothing worse than having to see someone you love go through it. I am sad that CS and JT broke up, but I do understand it.
shelley, you have such a beautiful voice!
Addiction is always painful to watch, especially when it is a loved one that's in its throes. It's like watching someone so precious to you battling something they feel so powerless against but that they know is killing them.
Shelley, did I ever tell you how much I love hearing you sing? No instruments needed there. I love how your voice curls to hit that high note. Just lovely.
I wish I could sound like that. I have the kind of voice that, every now and then when I answer the phone, will make my dad mistake me for my brother. And when I say, "No, Papa, it's me," he just replies, "Son, I have no time for games right now. Just put your sister on the phone, will you?"
Earl Wilson: "Have you ever been mistaken for a man on the telephone?"
Tallulah Bankhead: "No, have you?"
Ivory...that just means you sing bass. ;)
So cute. I LOVE that you call your dad "Papa."
Man, I wish you would come to New orleans.
Ivory, I forgot to say thanks fore the soupe yesterday. It was yummeeeeeeeeeeee! You are my heroin/heroine/hare o'win .
Leejolem, LOL!!
This is your brain. (shows eggs topped with garlic corn nuts atop a bunny wearing a cape)
And this (shows exactly the same thing) is your brain on Ivory. Any questions?
(Ivory has one question. Can she call a hare a bunny?)
Shelley, yes, I call my dad Papa and my mom Mama. Strangely, the only time I sound like a "normal girl" (my son's observation) is when I'm talking to my mom. For some reason, when I'm with her, I revert to my "little girl" voice.
And with that same "little girl" voice with a bit of a whine, I want to say that man, I soooo wish I were going to New Orleans too.
*insert sad pouty face here*
The monkbot convention redux needs to be in the works. I am itching to meet you all, and it looks like this one is not going to work for me.
I'm with you Mind Doc. We'll have to do 2 in 2007!
How cool would this be?? It would RAWK like nothing has ever RAWKED before. :)
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