Hey Elliott.

Its been a year since i met you. Well, i didn't meet you exactly. You were on the other side of my TV screen.
I could see you and hear you sing, but it was a one way communication.
You see, you were the one up there on the stage singing, i was just one amongst the thousands of fans cheering and getting goosebumps as your vocal chords delicately hit every note in perfect pitch and timing, and then i'd stay still and awed in front of a little miracle in the world of music, witnessing yet another unique performance of a song that immediately made it to #1 of my all time favorites. And i'd spend the rest of the night in a tireless marathon of voting thousands of votes to keep you singing for one more week. That was my only way to answer to your melodious message up from the A.I stage. With my thanks, with my desire to hear more.

Can't explain how, can't explain why, but it seems like you have a God given gift Elliott, to move many people with your voice. And i'm one of the thousands of people that your voice touched and i'm here to let you know. That what you do is different. You ARE different.
You sing the kind of songs that don't only entertain. They touch people's hearts. They speak volumes of heartfelt words, truthful and honest, lyrics with substantial meaning. And the music embracing it all, your own voice, is an overwhelming shower of notes, only they are not falling in a random chaotic pattern. They have a harmony. A harmony that makes more sense the more time i spend understanding it, and it cannot be explained in any other way than the fact that you are a truly gifted artist.

Thats why you are unique Elliott. Nobody can copy you or your music. Whatever you sing, will have your signature engraved on it. Permanently. Unfortunately i'm starting to sound like a fan boy here that has nothing to offer back to you but praise.

But i won't stand to that role alone. I've never been a fan of anyone else in my life. I made an exception only for you though. Cause i feel you have a lot to offer in this music industry. So as someone who was reading between the lines of the lyrics in all the songs you performed last year, as someone who connects a lot with the personality that you are on and off stage, i want to write you a few words of advise my friend.

Fame has its heavy toll on people. Especially artists. They end up becoming idols. Empty ceramic idols with no substance, who live to entertain, to be under the spot light at all cost, to be praised, to feel like demigods. I've never been there, where you are, but i bet it feels like a drug dose to be up on that stage, with thousands of fans around you cheering and crying. After a while, after all this fame and glory, i don't know how anyone can remain the same man that he was before. Not to be addicted to the praise, and forget who he was and the convictions he lived by.
And the truth is... I really liked the man that you were a year ago, and i can only hope you will always remain the same. You won't let yourself be snatched by the cogs of this ruthless music industry, you won't fit in their molds, you won't compromise the person that you are for anything in the world. I can only hope that you will remain the same humble Elliott that used to work in that local pharmacy, with the only difference that now you know who you are, and you know where you are heading to.
Don't you ever lose the focus Elliott, of what you do. Of the importance of it all. You are not only a singer. You are not only an entertainer. You also touch the hearts of millions of people with your music, with your honest and humble character. There is a lot of responsibility there, not to let them down, not to change the person that they loved, to keep being a good example. A good soul to identify with.

Thats all i'm asking Elliott, in return for all the countless hours i've spent since last year, voting, creating buzz, promoting, posting little articles and even contemplating on your music. If that counts at all... All i'm asking from you, is to remain you.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for everything!

Have a great career my friend.


Dionysis (a.k.a Outofmymind)

This is so very sweet and true. You are a special man yourself OOMM and your future wife is a very, very lucky woman. I hope you find a way to get this letter to Elliott - he would truly appreciate it. And - after listening to him on the radio interviews today, I think he still is him and probably always will be. God Bless OOMM.

Wow, OOMM, that was touching and you have captured what I think many of us feel about Elliott.

Hey Oomm,
Wow! Those were some pretty awe-inspiring words! Have I been reincarnated??? Your post mirrors my thoughts so much. most especially the latter part where you give him your advice....So true, what you've said.It's a scary world out there, and I along with you, and probably 99.9% of the etrain, feel the same way. You've put it more eloquently than I ever could, so Thank You for that.
And Elliott, if you are fortunate enough to read oom's post.....DITTO!!!!!!

i've send it as a message to him in his myspace page. Hopefully it won't be buried under tons of other fan mail.

I just sent you a PM telling you to do that!!! He does read them - he will read it.

I love this. Thank you for writing it - it says so well what I feel about Elliott and what I worry about when I worry about him. I don't think he intended to be a celebrity, so I really hope and pray that he will not be negatively affected by fame. He really has been a God given gift to me and I'm so comforted to hear how he has affected you, OOMM. It's really very special and amazing for me, almost "other-worldly" (whatever that means). The sound of Elliott singing brings a true meaning to my life, a glimpse of eternity (I call him my "mountain top experience"). However, if he knows things like that, will it cause him to feel pressure? Will he crave this type of admiration like a drug? I don't want him to feel any pressure from me, but I still have this urgency that everyone can hear him sing. " Elliott - basically, in spite of what I just said, just ignore me and find joy and fulfillment in your life - it's yours afterall - I'm just so thrilled that I got to hear you sing!!"

Very beautiful and honest post, OOMM. It reminds me of the posts you used to write on the AI boards. They always brought tears to my eyes and this one is no different. Thanks for being you, a very deep and heartfelt individual. You are so needed here on the e train. Keep posting and God bless you.

Wow! What an awesome letter - it gave me goosebumps! You put into words exactly how I feel. I have been worried that he will be able to stay the same humble, grateful guy. After listening to his radio interview this morning, he sounds exactly the same. I liked the way that he expressed his eternal gratefulness and indebtedness to A.I. for the opportunity the show gave him. I pray that he will never change and stay the "same old E".

Hey, Outofmymind, the same sentiments as mine exactly. I just say, Oh, my God, what has Elliott done to us, mere mortals? The songs on his debut CD are soooo good, they make me pee in my pants literally. What an AWESOME gift Elliott has!

Oomm, I Agree, Your Writings Belong Pinned In A Special Devoted Place On Etrain!! What They Represent Is So Important! Thank You!!

BTW, My 2 year old daughter's best friend at daycare is named OM! As if this has anything to do with anything!!

WOW THAT WAS DEEP. HE REALLY MAKES US ALL FEEL THIS WAY. :wub: LOVIN MY E MORE EVERYDAY :etrain: 4LIFE

Wow, OOMM, just wow.

Thank you for putting that into words, it was beautiful. I hope Elliott remaind the beautiful soul he is right now.

*Ana

Amazing post, OOMM. I'm sure that Elliott will appreciate it. Hopefully, he will read your message while traveling to promote his CD and get a lift out of your beautiful and thoughtful gesture.

AMEN.

:wub:

woooooooooow. well said! i wish i could write like that. just beautiful. :)

That's just beautiful, Den. Thanks for sharing that with us. I hope Elliott gets to read it, too.

A beautiful heartfelt letter..... inspiring and well written. Many of us share those same thoughts. Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us, and with Elliott. I'm sure he'll read it. God bless you.

Judith (carolinablueskies)

That was really beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us. I know that Elliott will read it and I know that Elliott will love it. :wub:

OOMM, what you wrote was awesome.

All of OOMM's inspirational posts are on "The Thread That Elliott Built". And this post will be archived there as well!

Den, you have many wonderful posts on E since his AI days!! I'm glad I archived all of them!

http://z4.invisionfree.com/Etrain/index.php?showtopic=4359