| It's Taylor Hicks - American Idol 2006! |
The 2006 finale of American Idol is a night of ultimate idolatory and music's royalty is out in force. Katharine pairs up with Meatloaf, Taylor and Toni Braxton get on down "In The Ghetto" and Elliott R'n'Bs with Mary J. Blige. All 12 finalists reunite for a Kodak moment when they accompany Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach on a medley which includes "Walk On By" and "That's What Friends Are For". |
| The biggest shock though is when Prince takes the stage and sings two numbers without assistance from any of the Idols. This is great to watch but it also seems a bit out of place, as it shifts the focus away from the next American Idol and onto an old one. Still, Prince will no doubt be very "Satisfied" if his album sales shoot skywards after tonight. |
| Taylor and Katharine sing together on "I've Had The Time Of My Life", and they surely have, but after nearly 2 hours of relentless razzmatazz it is now time for new Idol royalty to be crowned! Ryan tells the silver-topped Alabama boy that he is this year's king. "Soul Patrol!" yells Taylor, in tribute to the legion of fans who have just made him the American Idol 2006! Katharine handles her disappointment with grace and seems truly happy for Taylor. |
| There's no doubt that Taylor Hicks is worthy of his new title. He has tapped into America's soul and even made inroads into Simon Cowell's... although admittedly that was a much tougher job! |
He closes out season five by singing his first single, due out on June 13. It may be a stereotypically aspirational Idol winner's song but as Randy often remarks, Taylor finds a way of making it his own. It's entitled "Do I Make You Proud  ?" and the answer is "Yes... oh, and by the way... congratulations Taylor! Whoo!" |
|