Here's the link to the boards...it's already 8 pages long....
I still don't know what to think of it, thought I'd give you all a heads-up.

http://myidol.americanidol.com/Boards/topi...?tid=411347&p=1

I think there's another thread on here about it too... but I found it interesting... I think the majority of responses proves that E has universal appeal because he puts his heart and soul into everything he does and that's all that should really matter.

I know Elvis is kind of a joke now, but if you look back at the beginning of his life, when he started out, these same things were being said about Elvis.

The best thing Elliott has now is that he is more grounded than Elvis was and hopefully his family won't let him crash and burn the way Elvis did at the end.

I usually hate it when questions are about black people and then every white person in the room looks at me (I was the only black person in a lot of classes), but I'll proudly answer this one. Are you kidding? I would buy Elliott's CD before 95% of the R & B artists out there. Good is good, no matter who sings it. Believe it or not, we black people have a tendency to vote for who is the best singer. We don't have it settled in our minds to vote for someone just because they are black. Most of the black people I know were supporting Elliott because he has the best voice and he has soul (we would know soul when we see it).

I agree with every word you just stated. I'm black and I know that many of my family and friends supported Elliott all the way and was a bit pissed off when he was voted off and McFake made it to the top two. Most black people accept white soul singers with open arms, but the only thing we request is that you lay it down and put your heart into the singing. Since Elliott already has that area covered, I don't see how black people will refuse to accept him as a legit Soul singer. I mean, c'mon -- the boy sounds like a carbon copy of Donny Hathaway! How can black soul listeners turn away from that? The last singer that sounded remotely like Hathaway was Luther Vandross, and God rest his soul, he's gone. :(

Also blacks accepted many blue-eyed soul singers such as Teena Marie, Jon B, Michael McDonald, Joe Cocker, George Michael, etc. Hell, they even play Justin Timberlake videos on BET, and we all know that Elliott can sing circles around him. Elliott will have no problem having blacks supporting him.

Wow!!! I just read 9 pages of posts.I learned a lot from it.The praise of Elliott is sowide spread through ages and cultures,it is amazing. I wish someone could make a copy of the discussion for him to read. I would but my printer is dead.He affects many people. I thought we here were the only ones that passionate about his talent an personality. You all MUST read this. God Bless Elliott.

Is that you on the AI board? If so, I just posted, complimenting you. :hello:

museglet a/k/a musicD

It's funny cause my younger sister threw out Micheal McDonald upon hearing Elliott sing this wednesday.

But personally, his voice transcends all color/nationality/etc barriers. It's just that good. I posted a bit more in the musician's thread so I won't repeat myself again hehe.

Trust me on this one (I'm multi-cultural - black/white/Native American) - he already has been accepted. He will have no trouble whatsoever. His talent is immense and his heart is even bigger.

Oh, one more thing. I'm sorry, but my jazz roots are compelling me to say this - James Moody DID NOT SING "Moody's Mood for Love." He wrote the music and performed the instrumental, but it was Eddie Jefferson who wrote and sang the vocalese lyrics with Moody. There, I feel better now. Thank you. :lol:

I'm a black dude and I've accepted Elliott.

I'm also Black, and I just didn't understand why the OP seemed so adamant that the Black community would be so picky about who we accept as blue-eyed soul. I always felt if you're really talented and you make good music, then why not accept you? I just felt that she was making a poor generalization about Black people and Black music.

Did you see someone on that thread quoted the McGirl from this article:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/1401AP_TV_Idol_McPhee.html

See what the Mc said:

" "After the second week ... I made a decision I was going to listen to what I wanted to and then cut a boundary," McPhee said.

The result she'd like to achieve is "a little bit of Joss Stone-Alicia Keys sound, with a lot of soul," she said."

:o :huh: What's up with that girl? Is she running for best comedian now? :blink:

Thank you. I get so tired of people going crazy over Taylor's "soulful" voice (sorry Soul Patrol) but that is NOT soul in the context of black people. Some people don't want to admit it, but we do know R & B and soul music, and having spasms onstage does not a soul singer make.

I am African-American and Elliott's talent transcends all genres and ethnicities, because he is truly talented. He will be accepted by the African-American community, because the man can sang and he does not try to act like a wannabe. Elliott appears to be very real and humble and grateful for all of his good fortune. He does not appear to be a person who takes things for granted or who have a sense of entitlement. Elliott is almost like an honorary brother, he's soulful, he has to work harder and longer to recieve the same respect as others, his struggles do not defeat him, but only make him stronger and he surely is very connected to his family and friends. Not that these traits are unique to the African-American community, but his struggle seems familiar, so the African-American community will relate to his journey, which will only enhance his chance of being accepted.

There are other things that make Elliott an honorary brother, but you have to check out THUD thread to see those similarities in pictures.

ELLIOTT will definitely be accepted in the R&B genre. Ethnicity is secondary. Your vocal ability and heart are the primary factors. ELLIOTT's talent is a given and there's just no phoniness about him at all, so there should be no problems. ELLIOTT will be accepted. :yes:

Elliott will be accepted! I'm black and my family loves Elliott!

Interesting...

AI was the #1 show among African Americans at the beginning and middle of the season-- here are ratings for the week of 05/08:

1) CSI
2) Girlfriends
3) Without A Trace
4) CSIL Miami
5) House
6) AI- WED
7) All Of Us
8) AI- TUES
9) Grey's Anatomy
10) Next Top Model

I love this, I love all the posts here and on the original thread because it proves what the corporate AI machine refused to see - or can't be bothered to - that Elliott really does have a special gift. I don't know what everyone else thinks - although I can guess - but I've been a fan of Soul since I first heard The Jackson 5 when I was girl. I've listened to lots of soul music over the years but during my adult life I've been unconsciously searching for 'the voice', you know the voice that chimes, that REALLY does goes soul-deep and that's what Elliott's voice does. For me there are only a handful of singers who can sing songs I don't like and make me listen to them in a new way, see the beauty in them, and not just tolerate them - Elliott can do this. What I'm trying to say, and others have said the same, that Elliott just isn't good or even great, he's EXTRA special. I'll go further, Elliott is uniquely talented, a one-in-several-million talent. In this way I truly do believe that given the opportunity he will be an Elvis, a Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra or any other world-class singer you can think of.

To put it plain and simple - Elliott Yamin, Soul Man.

The fact that he's a great guy (and so very, very goodlooking :wub:) is the best icing on the cake.

Since when aren't singers accepted by other races? Didn't some of us grow up with great black and white singers? It didn't matter and shouldn't now. Besides, Elliott loves a lot of black singers...Stevie wonder for one is his idol. A beautiful voice transcends everything else.

This is just another way to perpetuate racist stereotypes on behalf of all races. While it is a shame that people have been pigeon holed into different genres of music because of race in the past (on both the part of people of color and non-minorities) I am hoping that we can we transcend this- it's 2006. Talent is talent and it doesn't take a skin color to recognize, appreciate, and enjoy it.

To add to my post above -

Sorry, I got carried away. I started writing that post to eventually get to my point that quality of Elliott's kind trandsends any concerns about race. It's just not important because Elliott is obviously so totally respectful and genuine in everything he does regarding singing that I can't imagine ANYONE being offended by anything he'd do.

A5elliot, whereas I don't think the UK is a place of blissful racial tolerance (far from it, unfortunately) I think our music scene is far less 'pigeon holed' than in the US. Our chart here is mixed and there is a huge mainstream love of R'n'B. If Elliott can't get a good career in the US he should try the UK/Eurupe - we love Soul, regardless of who is doing the singing.

Not sure what to make of this. Whle I think all of the posts have reasonable meaning, imho this should not be an issue :D E isn't trying to do an Eminem, right?