I would love to hear when we were all first enraptured with our man Elliott.

I didn't fall in love with him in Hollywood. I believe it was when he made the final 12. He sang, and I turned to my husband and said, "He is awesome. He is the BEST singer." And ever since then I've been addicted. Calling continuously voting. The night he was voted off I didn't understand. I had called all night and it was busy all the time...

Now I feel sorry for Taylor. I went to the American Idol tour to see Elliott. When it was time for Taylor to hit the stage I was going to the bathroom at the same time. Suddenly Taylor and all his security people were walking right in front of me. They jumped in front of me in case I "attacked" I guess. I said "hi" to Taylor. Fast forward a year and a half and I have Elliott kissing me on the cheek and saying "thanks" for my support. Who could beat that? My husband is out of town tonight, otherwise I couldn't be on the computer raving about Elliott. DH is jealous, but whow can blame him? :-)

Tell me when you first loved Elliott!!

OK, this is when I fell in love with Elliott and have been smitten ever since: I was so touched by Elliott the night Stevie Wonder came on the show when it was top 12 night and when he sang the last notes of "Knocks Me Off My Feet" I nearly fell off the couch and thought wow! Then the next week was Barry Manilow night and he sang "Teach Me Tonight". Not only was the song fantastic, but at the end he bent his head down but looked up into the camera. My heart stopped and I announced to my family that he was THE ONE! Every week thereafter I nearly died hoping he would make it to the next week. I voted like crazy and sometimes I would just sit and cry. I had never in my life had an experience anything like it. When he was eliminated I cried and could not seem to get over it. My family was supportive but thought I had gone off the deep end. All I kept saying to them was that I hoped I would get to hear him sing again. When I found the Etrain I felt so much relief knowing there were so many others that felt the same way. I flew to Denver (I live in Salt Lake City) to see him in the Idol tour then flew to Richmond to see him at the fair. I was literally in heaven. I met so many wonderful etrainers and had one of the funnest nights of my life in the hotel room throwing things at the TV waiting for Elliott to come on the news! When he came to SLC this summer I was one of the first ones in the door. My friend Carol, from Richmond, surprised me and drove from Denver where she had seen him the night before to come see him again with me. It was truely a night to remember as we ended up being the last in line to visit with him and get hugs and autographs and a nice visit. He is so generous with his fans. He means the world to me.

For me, it was Hollywood week. I had to applaud the way he treated that appauling Brittenum twin. He didn't yell or get in the twin's face, he just sang his part and let his amazing voice carry him through; although I could tell the twin bothered him, he didn't seem to really let it phase him.
I remember watching him roll his eyes at that twin - remember loving his reaction - and I said to my sister "If that guy has a half decent voice, he is getting ALL my votes the first week!" Turned out he actually had an incredible voice, and got my votes every time!

And then of course week after week his voice just seemed to get more and more beautiful, and so did his personality. Who couldn't fall in love with Elliott when you watch him get teary eyed meeting Stevie Wonder, or watching his mom talk about him (and vice versa)? I must admit, I never thought I would ever get that emotionally invested in an AI contestant!

I started liking Elliott lots later than just about everybody on here. It wasn't until around the top 5 I started to vote for him - but not as my favorite - and I actually made fun of him and stuff. Once he got to the top 3 and got voted off I cried (well like an individual tear... my mom was like bawling, since Elliott had been her favorite aside from Chris Daughtry) My friend and I even made a comic book where Elliott was magic because of that TV Guide picture where it's all white (It's a really long story XD) but that was before I realized it was "Elliott" and not "Elliot".

It wasn't until my mom, my best friend and I went to the Idols live show and my mom yelled at me,"SHUT UP AND LISTEN NOW!" When Elliott came on that I really noticed how good he was. When he sang Trouble my friend and I were like,"HAHA ELLIOTT IS SO BAD." (As in like trouble bad, not bad singing bad since he was awesome)

And from there I gradually began to like Elliott, and I joined Moosak and here.

If somebody had told me a year and a half ago I was going to have a crush on Elliott Yamin, I would've died. But now it's like, cool and stuff.

It was actually during his audition. I was in my kitchen washing dishes or something, inbetween the commercials for AI, and all of a sudden I hear this voice.....

I thought...whoa, this guy has GOT to make it, and ran into the living room to watch him. Something about his sweet soul came through to me from the very first note. I think it made me almost sick to my stomach to be routing this amazing man on from the very first note, to hollywood week with the doubledoof twins, to Simon's first comment which I had tears already, and forget about Stevie, Rod, all the video's and watching how gracious and thankful he was each and every week. He was my hero from the beginning, and is to this very day. I honestly go to bed every night thanking G-d for putting my ears on point that day, because from that very moment till now, I have had some of the most amazing experiences of my life. Oh, and I have the most incredible second family too;)

xo

It was....uh, ...feel like it was all my life, lolol, but it was actually late in the season, around the time he sang I Don't Wannabe, I stumbled on the show--which I never watched--and it's been a rollercoaster ride for me ever since! I knew he was phenomenal then and there and began collecting ALL his performances...

I started liking him during his audition, but I didn't REALLY start liking him until Stevie Wonder week, that week he just showed us how unbelievably sweet he is! Ever since thenI have been a huge fan :)

I suspect I am an anomaly on this board and my story will be very different than the others.

I first started to fall for Elliott while unwrapping a birthday present. In usually fashion, I turned it over, loosened the tape and folded back the paper on the right. There were 2 beautiful blue eyes staring back at me and I had no idea who they belonged to. I turned the CD over and read,

Elliott Yamin? From American Idol? Hmm, he's changed.

A post-a-note was stuck to the front written by my friend (who knows me sooo well)

Yes, a CD from an American Idol. Now just trust me and listen to it several times before making any judgments.

See, I am not a fan from AI. Oh, I liked Elliott fine enough, but I wasn't really an AI fan. If I were home, I'd usually catch a few performances on Tuesday -- in between bathing kids, picking up toys, signing permission slips, etc. I never watched Wednesdays -- it was up against other shows I watched (Amazing Race, Lost) and since I wasn't invested, waiting until the morning news to find out who left was perfectly fine with me.

I do have a couple distinct Elliott AI memories. One, must have been top 24. I remember realizing someone was going to sing Stevie Wonder and groaning because AI contestants usually butcher Stevie and then thinking "Hey, that guy can sing!" Unfortunately when I looked at him I also remember thinking that he either needed to grow out his hair or shave the beard because the combination drew attention to his ears. I bring this up because my second recollection of Elliott was later in the season and thinking how much better he looked. It was probably in June that on the radio I heard WFY introduced as AI contestant Elliott Yamin's new single and thought "how nice" that he was able to pursue a singing career.

Anyway,

I followed my friend's instructions and by the 3rd listen I was hooked. Hooked, no, I was addicted. I listened nonstop. What was it exactly? Great vocals? Of course..but there was something more-- there was a certain undefined emotion that came thru and I really liked how I felt when listening. I began wanting to learn more about Elliott and googled a performer for the first time. I learned his back story that I had missed during the AI season. I became even more intrigued. I found AI performances on YouTube and really began to wonder how I possibly missed him the first go around. I still wanted more. I watched video from concert footage. I followed links to fan sites and eventually found the E-Train.

In all my (cough, cough) years, I have never been a "fan" of any performer --- until now. I guess I was just waiting for the right one.

**************MARCH 1, 2006*********************
that was the date.I will never forget it.As I was walking through the living room, I stopped in my tracks, as I heard that VOICE, that song,those riffs,that tone,that sound!!I could not believe it.WHO??HOW????WHAAAAAAATTTTT??Thank God for Tivo. The next morning before work, I maust have listened to it 15 times, if only to reassure myself that I hadn't been dreaming!I hadn't, it was real, it was exquisite, it was perfection, it was mesmerizing, it was ELLIOTT!!!!
Little did I know that it would be the beginning of a wondrous journey for both Elliott and the legions of instant fans. I watched week after week....Heaven was heaven,Knocks Me off my Feet did just that, Teach Me Tonight, taught me that E was a Star, I Don't Wanna Be made me wanna be a funky white girl, If Tomorrow never Comes, made me cry, Somebody To Love was great, and though not the kind of music I expected to hear, I loved it, It Had To Be You was more my kind of music, there's my age kicking in, but then the following week, the impossible happened. I knew it was gonna be special when I heard he was going to do the Hathaway version, but never could have imagined just how special! Seriously, that was probably as close as I have ever come to literally "passing out'. As silly as that sounds, I know that only Elliott fans can understand the depth of emotion that that song evokes. And ever since that night, every time I hear it, it's like hearing it again, for the first time.
I was devastated the following week after On Broadway and Home. I thought for sure that was the end of the road. But then came Elvis week. My reaction to If I can Dream, was practically identical to ASFY, and then Trouble! What can I say about Trouble!!!! I am certain that if that had been the final night, Elliott would have won, hands down! then the UNTHINKABLE!!! Say it isn't so! How could this happen?? At the time, it seemed like the end of the world. Little did we know it was only the beginning! It probably took me close to a year to watch the bad day vid, and even then, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I was pretty devastated, and it still hurts, but I know now that everything happened the way it did for a reason. Look at what Elliott has accomplished since then, and he's nowhere near done!. I am so very proud and honored to be a part of this E-train. Okay I will not be totally happy until I can watch Elliott getting showered with confetti, that may be sooner than later, and I want David Foster to remember, remember, remember, and I want Tommy Mottola to tell Elliott that he needs NO practice, and I want Kenny Rogers to open for Elliott at some future concert, and I want Clive to be the presenter, when Elliott wins his umpteenth grammy!
Elliott, you have made me happy, you have made me melancholy, you've made me laugh, and you've made me cry, but most of all, you've taught me about the kind of person that I want to be! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving us all that is you!
You have touched my soul in a way that NO ONE ever has.

Chloe, that was beautiful. You had to make me cry, didn't ya?
For me it was when he sang IYRLM. Then later on when he met Stevie, who's my idol, I was crying right along with him. Each and every week I was rooting for him but I didn't vote right away. I feel sheepish for admitting that, but ya see, I thought voting was for the kids.
I started voting the night he sang ASFY- I know, I know, a little late in the game.
But once I started I got everyone on board, making sure to vote for Elliott on Tuesday nights. I anticipated Tuesday nights like a kid waits for Christmas. I could not believe that big ole voice was coming out of that slight young man. I loved how his look evolved and was thrilled how his beautiful outside finally matched his beautiful inside. As a mother of sons I loved his relationship with his mom, his genuine affection, pride, and love for her. What an amazing woman she must be to raise a son like that. Well, I digress. Yep, it was when Elliott did Stevie proud that I fell for him and what a ride it's been...

Wait one minute now, he has made you happier than....ME?????

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! You know I agree with every single word you said, except the part about him making you be the kind of person you want to be, because let me tell ya, they don't come much better than you.

and the same is so true for so many of Elliott's fans because you see, you draw in to you, exactly what you are which actually, makes me kind of proud;)

xoxo

Well I meant BESIDES YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:rotfl: :rotfl: member all the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!every night in chat????????????????YELLIN!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotfl:

AWWWWWW you know I luv you, and mini Yellin, and now Mama Yellin!!!!!!!!

Wow. When did I first love Elliott? From the first moment I heard him sing IYRLM. I watched his lil interview played prior to him taking the stage & thought, "Hmmmm, he seems like a sweet fella. Wonder if he sounds good though." Then he came out & started to sing. Oh. My. Word. Completely BLEW my mind. I DVR AI, so I kept rewinding his performance, STUNNED that he was able to not only SING Stevie's music, but make it his OWN as well. I began to root for him from that moment on. I fell in LOVE/became addicted during Stevie week. When I read that Stevie would be the star whose music the Idols were singing, I thought, "Awww, how nice for Elliott. He will enjoy that!" Then I watched it happen, Elliott meeting Stevie. Seeing E's reaction had me weeping & wanting to give him a big hug. I fell in love with him at that moment. Not an, 'I wanna jump his bones' kinda love. A deep, sincere, big sister 'protect him/proud of him/give him noogies' kinda love. And it's only grown stronger over the past year. I voted faithfully every Tuesday & the night he left. ugh. I was absolutely devastated. I'm even crying remembering it. I KNOW it all worked out & he is having the time of his life doing what he loves now. But dayum, that was a night of hurt I will NEVER forget. Some good came out of it though. Etrain was created that night, a place for us to come to & share the pain of 'losing' Elliott with those who understood. As well as celebrate our love of his music & dream of his possiblities in the music industry. Has he ever live up to our expectations!! I dare say, he's exceeded many of them.

I have never been one to follow an artists career. I was the typical fan, hear the song, buy the CD, enjoy. NEVER would have considered joining an internet fan board or chatting with 'strangers' about an artist. Elliott changed all that for me. I am so thankful to Elliott, not only for sharing his voice with us, but for bringing all of us together on this train of love. I could never have imagined what amazing people I would get to know, meet & consider to be part of my family.

Being on the Etrain has been the most phenomenal experience of my internet life. I look foward to the amazing memories we have yet to create together. All in the name of a man, blessed by God, to have the voice of an angel. I am forever grateful.

:etrain:

This is an easy one for me. It was Hollywood week and he was in the group with one of those awful twins. I was so mad the way he dissed Elliott!!

Elliott opened his mouth on stage and I was an Elliott fan for life :thud:
My favorite saying is "That boy right there he's the best of all y'all"

I had watched AI every season but never got into voting much.
I voted like crazy for Elliott even took my phone to bed with me so I could keep voting. I cried my eyes out the night Elliott was voted off, my husband really thought I was insane.

I had never been to a concert before, heck I never even bought CD's much just listened to the radio. I paid a crazy amount for tickets to an AI concert and Elliott was worth every penny. I then did something so unlike me I couldn't even believe I was doing it, I got tickets to Elliott's first solo concert in Richmond Virginia. I drove my 14 year old car 1000 miles because I just had to hear him again.

I told Elliott when I met him that he had changed my life forever. I thanked him for all the friendships I have made because of him. I told him he was magic and he told me no it's the music that's magic.

What can I say I LOVE that boy :awe:

I noticed Elliott during Hollywood week when he outsang the twins! But it was when he got his golden ticket and was in the elevator crying that he stole my heart! I'm hooked forever!! I still haven't gotten to see him but I know dreams do come true & I will get to see him someday!!

Some of you probably already have heard my story of "when I first fell in love with Elliott', but for those who don't know, I hope everyone will bear with me. My twin sister and I would watch AI together or be on the phone together during the whole show, talking about all of the preformances. She LOVED Elliott from the first note, I did, as well, but I also spread some love to Taylor and Chris. My twin (all twins are not so bad) had been ill for a couple of years, in and out of hospitals. The night Elliott sang "Teach me Tonight" she asked me to vote for Elliott for her. She passed away 2 days later. Elliott is the only thing that has gotten me through these past 2 years. His voice and his music is so comforting and so I have kept my sanity by "stalking" him. Have seen him in concert 5 times. It is bittersweet when I get to see him, because it would be so much better if my twin were here to see him. I know she would be so proud of him. She had a way of picking a winner when I was a little slower to "get it". I love it that I feel that with Elliott's music he is always with me, and my twin is always with me, as well. In my heart.

Check out the archived thread for some of your posts!!

My eyes are misty...haven't heard your story. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for sharing this with us...I don't think you can ever really lose her...God bless!

Awww honey, I didn't realize. I am so sorry for your loss. It seems your twin brought Elliott to you, perhaps to ease the loss. :glomp:

Oh my , thank all of you e-trainers that responded to my post about falling in love with Elliott. And, yes, he has helped me through this most terrible time in my life, but Y'all have too, as well. And I truly thank all of you for that. I come here to the e-train every day and I love listening to how every one came to love this wonderful man. We are all blessed that he came along and I am blessed that I have found you also. I love all of you so much.

:hug:

Aw sweetie, I can't even imagine your loss. I have a VERY close friend ( actually I was friends with both of them) who lost her identical twin sister at the age of 32 in a car accident a few years back, and she left behind a 10 year old daughter, and 13 year old son (her husband is in prison..nice huh/). Since then my friend who is a single mom, adopted both her neice and nephew and it has been so terribly hard. I truly believe that out of every sadness, or heartbreak, or difficult thing we go through, comes something good, and it is clear, that Elliott is that for you. G-d bless you and Elliott, and I hope through his music and the magic of his being, it will continue to get you through the hard times, and make you stronger. You know your sister is smiling down;) xo :grouphug:

much love to you, too! Elliott was put on this earth as a gift to us all :hug:

When Did We First Love Elliott...this feels like an essay question :grin:

I can't say anything that differs greatly from what the rest of you have said. I don't think I saw Elliott in the regular auditions from Boston, so my first "ExpEriEncE" was at the Hollywood auditions and the Brittnum twin. I was immediately impressed with how he stood up for himself and knew that boy could SANG! Also I loved how he just shook his head out in the hall as Terrell was trashing Anthony..like he wanted no parts of it. That's our boy :)


I loved how he reacted when he made it into the top 24...my love was growing....

WOW, IYRLM about blew my socks off. This is when I first really came to attention. My son, then 11 yrs old, said..."I like that boy, Mom." I said ME TOO!!

Then, week after week, I basically watched the show just to see him and what he would sing. MMFL floored me. Week after week, my love and affection just grew and grew, since we watched him become a star right before our eyes. I was amazed at his impeccable taste in music and song choices. Always going against the odds. Always humble. Always grateful and not afraid to show his emotions. He just gripped my heart like a vice. Always loving his dear mother.

Then there was ASFY....I still can't even explain how I felt that week. In awe, and I knew that everyone would have to recognize the greatness coming from this small man.

You all know the rest......Elvis week, how he stole the finale, ...

Every other artist pales in comparrison for me now, since the pharmacy clerk made off with my heart, and has not yet returned it :awe:

When did I first love Elliott? It was the time he took me to dinner at a romantic restaurant and asked me to...whoops...different story....

A friend from Boston had been trying for years to get me to watch American Idol with her over the phone. The most I would ever do was watch the auditions...then Season Five...I saw the best singer I had ever seen in a long time. His voice was so good that I figured he was gonna win the whole thing. So I started watching and rooting for...Chris Daughtry. Then one night early on while waiting for Chris...this kid gets up and starts singing If You Really Love Me...I stood there staring at the TV with my mouth open, looking like I was missing a chromosone. My life hasn't been the same since!!

Idoltec, first of all, my thoughts are with you. I can't even imagine the loss you feel. To think that Elliott helps you deal with your experience, that is beyond words.

Like most others here, I fell for Elliott during AI. I'd never been a regular watcher of the show. I'd seen a bit of season 1 but that is about it. I did see some of the Hollywood auditions but somehow missed Elliott. Like Hmmmm, when I hear Ryan say Elliott would be singing IFYRLM I thought to myself, "Oh, this should be a waste of time, no one can sing Stevie Wonder well. Why do people even choose the songs of such legends?" Saw this little guy w/ the funny chinstrap and haircut who began to sing and I was in complete awe. I could not believe what I was hearing, not only could he sing Stevie Wonder, he could sing as well as Mr. Wonder (no disrespect meant at all because I've utmost respect for him). When he was done I said "@#$&, he's good."

From them on I watched every week I could (missed a few due to work) and was on the edge of my seat to hear what he'd sing and how well he'd sing it. Like everyone else I was anxious every result night. I was again floored with his great performances (Queen, Elvis, Home....) and in tears when he was voted off and grieved with many on the boards.

Like everyone else I loved his voice first, then his incredible personality and integrity. He still continues to impress me.

I have to say I loved reading Hmmm's story. It is interesting to me to hear of fans that were won who did not know him on AI.

All I can say is that we are blessed to have been given the opportunity to be touched to the core of our souls by this young man.

Wowhesgood, thank you for your thoughts. And Rick1965---what can I say to you Mr. Man? You are so funny. I just love your sense of humor.Thank you for making me laugh again. :santarotfl:

I usually am not "captivated" by anyone until about the final 24. I did notice Elliott during the Hollywood group auditions and thought he was awesome. I loved when the judges singled him out during the group song. That's when he really caught my attention.
From the start I was a Chris fan (and still am) but Elliott just grew more each week and that's when I really noticed him and Chris then came second.
:1word:

Thank you so much, E-trainers, for touching my heart with your stories. I only wish I had found you sooner. :-)

Casual watcher of AI who never voted in her life and thought the show was cheese city. I started out as a Daughtry fan also (but never voted for him) and missed most of Hollywood week as well. When Elliott sang IYRLM, I kept wondering if he was Amish and did the Amish community allow him to appear on AI. I couldn't connect with him at all.

The next week, when he did the intro to MMFL, I realized he wasn't Amish and that he was going to sing one of my favorite songs. I thought how does some guy on AI have the nerve to sing a jazz standard like this. And he killed it.
At that point I cracked and voted for the first time on Idol. If Elliott had won AI or came in second, I might have become a casual fan. But I was so po'ed with the results of that Season, I have become a rabid fan.

It's been a fun ride guys full of ups and downs but still really fun.