Gauging Scotty's commercial success

When Taylor Hicks was crowned American Idol in — who cares what year?

Oops, sorry about the crassness.

No, that was not the lazy bone in me who wouldn’t bother to do research (it’s only two clicks at the most via Google). Neither was it an overeager senior moment trying to manifest itself this early.

His victory was actually a dark phase in my life that I’d rather erase from my memory bank.

It all started when I said after his proclamation as winner that he didn’t have a bright future waiting for him in the American music industry even if he topped the contest.

Ouch! Now I realize that was nasty. And it didn’t help when I also added that he looked like Jay Leno doing rock ‘n’ roll.

Oh, but I paid dearly for those comments.

One day Ricky Lo (he wasn’t in Startalk yet) asked me to pick up from his house what looked like a whole ream of bond paper. I thought he didn’t want me to buy anymore a whole supply of paper where I printed my column that I used to fax to The STAR office.

Surely, that was bond paper that I saw — a thick bunch. But those were reactions from readers sent to the newspaper’s official e-mail address (I keep mine tightly guarded).

I went through four or five and read the foulest language that I am not capable of using even at my angriest.

Around that time I was already practising this dictum: Never read anything pertaining to you if you want to last in this profession. What you don’t know won’t hurt you.

I grabbed several sheets of those e-mailed remarks and tore them up and this I exaggerate not: I was laughing sinisterly — like the villainous laughter in old Filipino movies — while dumping the torn pieces of paper into the trash can. A lot of wasted effort from nasty people — I snickered.

After a while I realized that I was also going to waste a lot of paper. And so I donated the rest of the bond paper — catty remarks and all — to a recycling center. I hope the staff that accepted my donation is still there. You can ask her about the other comments. I never bothered to know.

That wasn’t the end of it. I also got whacked in the Inbox section of this newspaper. That’s how this publication practices democracy. I have no control over that anymore. It’s a forum for you readers. (And no I didn’t bother to check what was said on the Internet — I never do to this day.)

What were in the Inbox? The kindest one said that I didn’t know how to spot talent.

I never made such claims to begin with.

Three out of the four or five reactions that I read in that bunch of paper that went to the garbage disposal said that ‘‘perhaps” I was a talent manager. But how come I can’t appreciate Hicks’ talent?

Maybe that was what really annoyed me. It must have been what drove me to ignore the other comments sent to me.

How can they so easily presume that I am a talent manager simply because I host a showbiz talk show? It’s an honorable profession, but I have said again and again that I can’t even manage my own hair. Either Celeste Tuviera or Susan Aquino cuts it once a month. GMA 7 stylist Ernal Forte fixes it for Startalk. The rest of the week, all the strands are on their own.

I probably would have gone over those remarks had it not been for that ignorant presumption and the cuss words used by the rest. My Mom probably had fun because there are four of us kids. But she was never like that! I will not allow myself (and certainly not my mother) to be abused in that way. Neither should you permit anyone to verbal abuse you.

I simply let showbiz history judge me. And waited for the success of Taylor Hicks.

The other Saturday the Supreme section of this paper came out with its list of the 10 best Idol contestants ever — winners and runners-up. Hmm, I don’t think I saw Hicks’ name there.

No, I’m not gloating. It’s unfair to the guy. He doesn’t even know me. I’m sure he is a good person and heaven knows I never prayed for anyone else’s downfall.

However, I don’t think he got very far. And don’t you notice how I am being very careful just in case there are still remnants of Hicks’ following?

I’m bringing up a closed case because of all that fuss over Scotty McCreery’s victory. (Actually, it was more of the success of American Idol that we are raising a toast to.)

So what can I say about Scotty?

I can only hope that the path of his music career doesn’t follow the style of his singing: Impressive in the beginning, but becomes a tad boring toward the middle. In other words, he is not always able to sustain the listener’s interest in him till the end.

Oh, no! This time I already have to buy myself a paper shredder!

Let me stress, however, that Scotty’s singing voice is golden. It is classic and will always have room in the music business.

To begin with, his style is country and that in itself is an entire industry in America. And he has captured the hearts of fans among the young (his generation) and the old by experimenting with songs from eras prior to his time.

But he can be an even bigger star by trying out other styles. He is a big talent and is capable of expanding his horizons. Or maybe let us just make him stay where he is because country music also needs fresh blood.

 Then he doesn’t have to change the way he sings anymore — never mind if he gets boring in the middle part because country music is basically like that. Or maybe I’m just not a country music fan.

Or maybe I’m getting it this time from country music fans. Anyone selling second-hand paper shredder?

If we stick by country music, then I say that Scotty is already made. Done deal. That is my forecast. He will be very successful there.

Of course, success is relative.

How do we gauge his eventual success then?

Maybe if — like Kenny Rogers — he also gets to have his own line of roast chicken.

I bet he’ll get there.

When that happens, first round of chicken on me.