Taylor Hicks, Do I Make You Proud | 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏

In the 19^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight “Do I Make You Proud” performed by Taylor Hicks.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 19^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we dive into “Do I Make You Proud”,  the one hit wonder by Taylor Hicks.

“My heart is full / Of endless gratitude / You were the one / The one to guide me through.” Taylor Hicks was an unlikely pop star – period.  The soulful, prematurely graying 29-year-old came out on top in the fifth season of American Idol, beating out Katharine McPhee. With his winning single, the graduation-worthy “Do I Make You Proud”, Hicks secured the sole pop hit of his career.  Sure, he charted his cover of “Takin’ It To The Streets” a few weeks earlier, but peaking at no. 69, and spending a mere four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 doesn’t equate to a sizable pop hit.  “Do I Make You Proud” however debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The eight weeks spent on the chart was meh, but, only select songs ever reach the penthouse.

“Do I Make You Proud” was penned by Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson, and Tracy Ackerman.  It was produced by Dave Way and Absolute.  An uplifting track, Taylor Hicks sings about the come up. No, not materially speaking like the rappers, but growing as a person.  “I’ve learned to love / Myself in spite of me,” he sings in the final verse, adding, “And I’ve learned to /Walk on the road that I believe.” Growth, growth, growth! Of course, it is the chorus is the centerpiece, in all its tuneful glory:

“This is what we dream about

But the only question with me now

Is do I make you proud?

Stronger than I’ve ever been now

Never been afraid of standing out

But do I make you proud?”

Hicks sings “Do I Make You Proud” superbly. If you experienced American Idol in its heyday, you felt it when Taylor sung this thoughtful adult contemporary number. Middle of the road? Perhaps, looking back, but when American Idol was Idoling, number one hits were the expectation.  Hicks secured his with the proud “Do I Make You Proud”.

🎙 Taylor Hicks • 🎵 “Do I Make You Proud / Takin’ It To The Streets” • 🏷 19 Recordings Limited • 🗓 2006

Taylor Hicks, Do I Make You Proud: 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏 No. 19 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 19 Recordings Limited; Julia Larsen, Kurchakto, RDNE Stock project, Victor Terrell from Pexels; Andrew Martin from Pixabay]