Good Gone

Open the doors of opportunity to talent and virtue and they will do themselves justice, and property will not be in bad hands.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson



What may have begun for me as a piqued musical curiosity about the diminutive not-so-fortunate-looking Boston auditioner called Elliott Yamin soon developed into a undeniable recognition of an extraordinary level of vocal talent. That recognition in time turned into a real appreciation, which developed into a great admiration and enjoyment of his voice, which turned into fanatic support, which developed into love, which turned into a more profound appreciation that went deeper than mere love of his voice, but a fondness for him as a human being which enhanced my appreciation of his talent, which turned into a realization that nothing less than American Idolhood would be acceptable for him. No one else in five seasons of the show has deserved this little victory as much as Elliott Yamin, an obviously humble, loving, kind person who has clearly never let one moment of this experience go to his head and has appreciated every second of this journey toward his manifest destiny of greatness. This is a guy who unapologetically loves his mother, who is easily moved to tears, once when overwhelmed by the honor of meeting Stevie Wonder -- this is a guy who has a unique ability to open his mouth to sing, and by doing so give Music itself a good name, and make me feel fine while doing it. A guy who embodies what an American Idol should be, and could be. This is a good soul, a good singer, a good guy.

This is a beginning, Elliott Yamin. Yeah!
Amen.