Taylor Hicks Performs at the Republican Convention, Sings "Taking It To The Streets" (Video)

Taylor Hicks Performs at Republican Convention

Less than a week ago, my wife and I enjoyed seeing Taylor Hicks up close and personal, at his last performance in Las Vegas.  That was last Saturday, at the Bally's Hotel on the strip in Las Vegas.

Taylor Hicks was an American Idol winner a couple of years back, beating out Katharine McPhee for the top spot.  He performs as a country/rock singer.

We saw him in a room only large enough for 100 people.  He put on a great performance and I liked his band.  It included a hot saxophone player.  Hicks told of smoking Kool cigarettes with Simon Cowell during commercial breaks on American Idol.  My dad smoked Kools.  They are heavily mentholated and Hicks remembered them with disgust.  In any case, Cowell told him he should really sing Elvis's song "In the Ghetto," and he performed it for us, giving a nice rendition.

I Snapped this Pic of Taylor Hicks Sign at Bally's in Las Vegas

Hicks also sang a song he wrote called "Nineteen," about a young Marine from the South who dies in Iraq. Hicks showed his Southern pride at the end of the song, when he had his Saxophonist pick up a flute and play a line from "Dixie" three times to end the song:

Oh a way down South in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away!  Look away!  Look away, Dixieland.

I love the song "Dixie," though some consider it controversial, being the anthem of the Confederate States of America.  I knew then that I like Taylor Hicks, even though I voted for McPhee.  I felt a kinship with him:  we are going to celebrate our Southern heritage and if you don't like it, get bent Yankee.

Tonight I was surprised when Taylor Hicks took the stage at the Republican Convention and sang one of his songs for the Republicans.  I assume he must be a Republican or he wouldn't be there.  Now I like him even more.  This time he wasn't wearing jeans and a black leather jacket, but a nice gray suit.  Taylor my man, I'm a fan.  Sorry about that little McPhee misunderstanding.

UPDATE:  Taylor sang his song "Taking It To The Streets."  See his interview and performance in the video below.