Taylor Hicks Performs “Taking It To The Streets” – Republican National Convention (VIDEO)

By On 08/30/2012 · 72 Comments · In American Idol, Taylor Hicks

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Taylor Hicks performed “Taking it to The Streets” tonight at the Republican Convention in Tampa, FL. Look at those repubs shaking their bootays!

You might remember Taylor performing this song on the 5th season of Idol during the semi-finals. He brought the house down with the Doobie Brothers tune, pretty much ensuring his advancement to the finals.

Watch the performance below.

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  • http://twitter.com/LindsayKempFan Not fit to print

    WOW, that HD TV isn’t doing Taylor any favours. You can see it’s the HD and not him – the wideness is clearly a stretch.

    I didn’t watch Taylor’s year but I did follow a lot of the post-Idol interviews of him and Catherine. He can sa-a-a-a-ng and he’s built himself a nice career.

    Not sympathetic to the Republicans but my ears don’t always get the message in my head. He did a good job. 

  • jpfan2

    Taylor and Clay are quite the contrast when it comes to the Republican Party.
    If Taylor isn’t a Republican he’s a big hypocrite! Which I think he is anyway.
    You don’t perform at political events if you don’t share the beliefs of the group.

  • Lovesyesha

    “I am sooooo rooting for Romney/Ryan to win this election on 11/6 :-)”

    So you plan on rooting for two men who want to take away free health care from all kids just coming out of college, who otherwise would not have the means to get it, and whose platform directly impacts a woman’s decision to decide what she is allowed to do with her body? Okay… 

  • fuzzywuzzy

    If these quotes from Taylor are accurate:

    “I’m an American supporter,” Hicks said. “I do think the Romney-Ryan ticket is a great ticket and I’m excited to perform.”

    and

    “I think Romney is a great family man and I think he represents the good old fashioned values of America.”

    then to me, that suggests pretty strongly that he’s a conservative, politically. Especially the latter quote, since to me, “good old fashioned values” has often become code for wanting to turn back the clock to the social environment of the 50′s. No, thank you.

  • ellen8

    Don’t forget the lies – NPR noted 5 lies about Obama in Ryan’s speech and Andrea Mitchell pointed out the errors in Clint Eastwood’s speech.  If they win, their win will be based on the lies they are telling about Obama.  

  • ellen8

    Wonderful exposure for Taylor !!   Just wish it hadn’t been on this particular stage.     I hope he realizes that this is costing him a few fans but hopefully gaining some new ones.    Of course, the same would happen if he performed for the Dems – which I wish he would !!    

    Yuk – Jon Voight.   

    Thanks MJ for letting us blow steam here !!    

  • kd29

    Taylor did a great job. I enjoyed his performance. I am a democrat but I honestly wish that there were other candidates to vote for this year. I am not thrilled about the choices on either side. The economy and lack of jobs is the real issue and no candidate has a good plan.  

  • marmom07

    Sorry anyone who says

    “I do think the Romney-Ryan ticket is a great ticket …..”

     sounds like a supporter to me. 

    They have no substantive, realistic, plan beyond bashing Pres Obama and they continue to be lying, liers who lie. Lying seems to be the only thing they do well.

    But good on Taylor for getting to perform and get more exposure.

  • OfficeTen

    I would never have believed it had I not seen it lol.  Never thought Republicans could loosen up like that :).  Looks like Vegas put some weight on Taylor, probably all the booze lol. 

  • mmb

    My husband was watching the convention on Fox News last night (grrrr…we have very different politics, lol) and I heard a familiar voice — looked up at the TV and there was Taylor.  I thought he sounded great!

  • Indigobunting

    Karen, the video of Danny Gokey’s performance is here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpK8ofrAlI4&feature=player_embedded

    He sang his first single and did a really great job and looked good.  He was also third trending worldwide on Twitter during his performance :)

    “IMO, an entertainer should not be criticized for performing at either of these events.”

    LovetheUSA1776 I so agree!  They are entertainers for all audiences, it is an honor to be asked and a nice opportunity for the Idol alum.  Good job Taylor!

  • brightones

    Did you ever support Taylor?  You’d be surprised to see all the performers that are Republican, including Carrie Underwood!

  • pj

    I don’t know what Taylor really thinks, but he’s definitely hedging his bets:

    Hicks was down on Radio Row here at the convention, and was asked if he is a Republican.

    “No,” he said, then thought better of it. “I’m figuring that out.”

    Then he added, “I actually had, “Yes, We Can” on my record as an extra track.”

    Then he said, “I think the Romney-Ryan ticket is a great ticket…family values are big in this country
    caring compassion, having roots intact.”

    But asked about President Obama, Hicks said he was “just the same
    great family..a family guy. He’s definitely instilled the same values he
    has.”

    They don’t call it show business for nothing.

    This is from the article I posted up thread.

     

  • Happyhexer

    Just reporting back.  Watched the vid of TaylorH at the RNC.  Seemed like they didn’t take as many close-ups of the women dancing as with Danny.  Looked like the videographer couldn’t move his or her camera away from Taylor, LOL.  Too riveted, I guess!  There was a banner over the vid that obscured some of Taylor’s moves, but did I see him shake his booty?  Nice performance; sounded great!  Very relaxed and commanded the stage.

  • curly_yenta

    Nice picture accompanying this post!

    “I’ve worked many stages in my life, but never, ever have I had to weave in and out of a lectern,” Hicks, 35, told PEOPLE while laughing and downing a draft beer at the bustling CNN Grill after the convention adjourned. “And the Teleprompter was definitely a stage hazard – having to dance with that thing.” Hicks, sporting an American flag scarf by John Varvatos, was actually coy about his own political party allegiance, saying only, “I’m gonna go old-fashioned and not disclose my vote.”

    Read the rest from People Magazine:
    http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20626063,00.html

  • JosieX

    Taylor was way before my time on AI, I didn’t start watching until S8.  So I know little about him.  But he sounded great! I love his voice and his exuberance onstage.  AI was well represented with Taylor and Danny, as a big Danny fan I was so pleased with how he did too.  Who was the other one, Ayla Brown?  Hopefully she did well too.

    I guess I could be characterized as a bleeding heart liberal, but I don’t jump to any conclusions about what Taylor and Danny’s appearances here mean in terms of their own political beliefs.  Taylor’s comments to me appear to be someone trying to be polite and appreciative to the hosts of the party where he was invited to peform and nothing more, which I see as professional and appropriate behavior.

  • shouldbedancing

    Taylor sounds great but damn… RNC dude…

  • http://twitter.com/seor seor

    It is so wierd how some people get so concerned over what party they think Taylor or any other celebrity endorses.  Do you judge your neighbors, friends and family by their party afflilation?  I have no clue how someone defines an “everyday man”. We are Americans and a varied bunch of people.

    Anyway, I thought Taylor Hicks did an excellent job. Perhaps I’m strange but I’ve never watched Idol or any other talent show while pondering what party someone may subscribe to. Also trying to define people by what state they are from is just wrong.

  • steph6449

    Huh.  That looked like G.E. Smith playing in the band.  He was the musical director forSaturday Night Live back in the 1990s.

    Yes, it was. He and his band were the house band throughout the convention. He had a quote in something I read that they were the “non-party” band or something like that, just there as working musicians to play music without being for or against any of the politics/politicians. Sensible refreshing view, IMO.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    @taylorhicks Glad to read you’d perform at the #dnc if invited! It would be a first for an entertainer! #politicallycorrect #obama2012

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/C6HV2UO4WHAHKMAPXSH5DZTLAM drew

    He was asked on an Atlanta radio show this week and refused to say.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/C6HV2UO4WHAHKMAPXSH5DZTLAM drew

    I wish more people had your health attitude of separating fandom and politics.  I wish more artists and actors would do that! 

    Clay went on a racist twitter rant about the convention, Jason Biggs made disgusting twitter remarks about the candidates’ wives, Ellen Barkin tweeted she hoped the hurricane would kill Republicans… It’s sad and sometimes they just go so far it’s impossible to separate offensive comments from the entertainment value they hope to sell you.

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