Ryan Seacrest: (Introduction) Starting tonight, Taylor Hicks! Watch...
Intro clip... Taylor: (To camera) When I found out that it was Elvis week I thought to myself "now I'm gonna have some fun". (Laughs)
Taylor: (Singing at Graceland rehearsals with Tommy Mottola) ¯ ...Went to a party in the county jail... ¯
Taylor: (To camera) Tonight I'm gonna be singing "Jailhouse Rock". Completely fitting... the dancing, the whole 9 yards...
Taylor: (In rehearsal) ¯ ...Everybody let's rock... ¯
Tommy Mottola: (To Taylor) Hold it for one minute, yeah... Can we try it up one more...
Idol Pianist: Try it up a little?
Tommy: Yeah, let's take it up a half-step...
Tommy: (To camera) I asked them to move the key up just a half-tone. If you listen to the Elvis rendition where he's really driving the vocal...
Taylor: (In rehearsal) ¯ Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone ¯
Taylor: (To camera) We changed the key to a higher key and it really worked.
Tommy: (To Taylor) By the way I charge extra for that key change. (Taylor laughs)
Tommy: (To camera) This will give him an opportunity to really shine and show his real entertaining qualities.
Taylor sings...
¯ The warden threw a party in the county jail ¯ The band was there jumpin', they began to wail ¯ The band was up jumpin' they began to swing ¯ You should've heard the knocked out jailbirds sing ¯ Let's rock, everybody, let's rock ¯ Everybody on the whole cell block ¯ We dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock ¯ Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone ¯ Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone ¯ The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang ¯ The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang ¯ Let's rock, everybody, let's rock ¯ Everybody on the whole cell block ¯ We dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock ¯ The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone ¯ Way over in the corner weepin' all alone ¯ The warden said, "Hey, partner, don't you be no square ¯ If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair." ¯ Let's rock, everybody, let's rock ¯ Everybody on the whole cell block ¯ We dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock ¯ Everybody on the whole cell... ¯ We dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock ¯ Whoa, yeah! ¯ Whoo! ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: (Laughs) Whoa-yo!... So check it out baby. Wow man! You are in your element now. That felt good didn't it?
Taylor: (Grinning) Yes it did!
Randy Jackson: Way to start off the show. Good job baby! (Cheers)
Taylor: All right!
Randy Jackson: (Clapping) Good job. Good job.
Paula Abdul: Taylor, you look fantastic!
Taylor: (Smiling) Thank you.
Paula Abdul: You're original as ever and you are original as ever and you were phenomenal.
Taylor: Thank you. (He applauds Paula) Whoo!
Simon Cowell: Right. Let me ask you two a favor. There are four people left in the competition, right?
Randy Jackson: Yeah.
Paula Abdul: Ah, yes.
Simon Cowell: So now we're gonna get real tonight. In the... in the real world that was a terrible impersonation (Boos, Taylor smiles.)...
Paula Abdul: Ohhh!
Simon Cowell: ...of...(More boos)
Randy Jackson: Noooo!
Paula Abdul: (Squares up to Simon and gives him a big thumbs down)
Simon Cowell: ...of Elvis Presley!
Paula Abdul: (Flailing her downturned thumb) Boo! Boo! Boo!
Simon Cowell: The dancing was hideous...
Randy Jackson: (To Taylor) It wasn't that bad!
Paula Abdul: (To Taylor) The dance was great!
Simon Cowell: Shut up!
Paula Abdul: You shut up!
Randy Jackson: (To Simon, who's not listening) It wasn't that bad.
Simon Cowell: ...and the dancing...
Randy Jackson: It wasn't that bad.
Simon Cowell: ...and it was just Karaoke with a capital 'K'. (Boos, Paula shrieks) ...it was.
Randy Jackson: (Waving dismissively) Ryan! Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!
Ryan Seacrest: (Joins Taylor on stage) Taylor Hicks ladies and gentlemen.
Taylor: (Shakes Ryan's hand, then pumps his fist) Soul Patrol! Soul Patrol! Soul Patrol!
Ryan Seacrest: Okay, so... Let's start with Simon? Have you ever lived in the real world!
Taylor: (Laughs heartily)
Randy Jackson: Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Paula is up on her feet applauding Ryan. Simon smiles and declines to answer. Ryan Seacrest: He's got staff at his house, staff here, a driver, a Rolls Royce... I mean please? That's hardly the real world.
Paula Abdul: (Overhead claps) Way to go Ryan!
Ryan Seacrest: Ah... Taylor, you're falling apart... (Grabs the bits of wire dangling about Taylor's person)
Taylor: (Smiling) Yeah... I know it's...
Ryan Seacrest: ...Your ears are coming off, you got wires everywhere.
Taylor: (Claps) I'm havin' a good time though! Whoo!
Ryan Seacrest: (Gives out the voting numbers) More from Taylor comin' up in just a little bit.
Taylor: (Clapping) Yeah right! Thank you guys. Soul Patrol!