I’m what you could probably call a Yaminiac, or at least a Yaminion, considering that I spent most of American Idol’s fifth season rooting for loveable underdog and eventual third-place finisher Elliott Yamin. And so it was with a combination of surprise and delight that I watched his debut single, "Wait for You," climb to No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 — even though the dude is not signed to a major label, and even though its accompanying video was kinda jank.
Now, Elliott is back with a followup, "One Word," which follows a similar midetempo, pop/R&B template as "Wait for You," and likewise contains about 25 percent too much vibrato. The accompanying video clip, however, is a massive improvement, in terms of budget, direction, cinematography, and styling. That said, I’m not so blind a fan that I can’t be honest and say Elliott should never again rock the white shirt-white pant-white vest-white shoe-white tie combo. At least not while standing in a white room. Also, that opening setup, with Elliott in a black jacket, and a smaller Elliott dancing in the upper right corner, kind of reminds me of my fifth grade class photo featuring me, and an inset of mini-me! And finally, dude is not much of a dancer.
All that aside, though, I still love ya, Elliott, and I bet that eventually, you’ll sell more records than Nanny Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks combined. What do you think, PopWatchers? Will "One Word" provide a second hit for Elliott Yamin?
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Don’t know about the song or the video, but hasn’t he already sold more than McFeeble and Hicks combined. I enjoyed Taylor but I said back then that he would never sell “records”.
He kinda screwed up his looks with the Barbaro-like teeth and lumberjack hair. Now he looks like the poor man’s Patrick Dempsey. The video sucks, but no matter as popwatchers have established, mtv and vh1 don’t care about videos. At least ones that don’t contain untalented reality stars. The song is so-so, not as catcy as “Wait for You.” He’s still the best thing to come out of that Idol season. (Sorry Daughtry).
I just watched the video and song yesterday for the first time and I like the song much more than the video. Atleast his teeth are front and center in this video. I love the song though, I hope Elliot has huge success with this one as well.
I, too, was a Yamaniac and voted many, many times for the man but video is horrible! No one should ever attempt an entirely white ensemble and in a white room nonetheless! Poor Elliot, who ever talked him into this video should be fired and never allowed to work with him again!
sorry I meant to say “atleast his teeth are NOT front and center in this video”
I was distracted by the weird patch on his jacket sleeve…he looks like a security guard.
Maybe eventually, Elliott will be able to sell out the 500 seats bars he’s been playing in. Perhaps he should give Taylor Hicks a call in how to do that.
Smelliot -
Don’t lie. Here are the current sales figures for Elliott and Taylor:
Taylor – 697,000 Sold
Elliott – 437,000 Sold
Taylor has Platinum. Elliott does not. Case closed.
Eh.. I’m gonna have to go with a big no. No to everything – the video, the song, the hair, and especially the clothes. He’s a nice enough guy but the video is such a typical piece of MTV garbage. That whole white on white ensemble reminded me of David Brent’s similarly disastrous music video on The Office.
A couple things: 1) was that David Krumholtz or Elliot Yamin? I was waiting for Judd Hirsch to pop up as his dad. 2)You’re a cool dude, Elliott, but it was a little creepy watching you kiss that girl several times. It’s not the kill, it’s the thrill of the chase… Besides, lets be honest, that girl was waaay out of his league, which leads us to 3) was that girl Tara Patrick? If so, nice job buddy. I hope Evan Seinfeld doesn’t kick your *ss.
Okay, the only good part of that video is that it was filmed in Nashville (I recognize that “Bat Building” anywhere.) The vid stinks something awful, but I still love you, Elliot. Just consider for your next album to do something a little grittier. I’m not digging the “light FM” sound.
He did a nice job this August performing on The Bold and The Beautiful. He doesn’t bring that same gusto to his new video, which is “blah.”
He did a nice job this August performing on The Bold and The Beautiful. He doesn’t bring that same gusto to his new video, which is “blah.”
Hello!! It was a question. Anyway, it will be moot soon.
therightplace- sorry, but neither has platinum, which is 1 million albums sold. Taylor has gold, which is 500,000, and let’s face it, his sales are not going to climb. Everyone in Alabama already owns his CD. He is over. Elliott may not end up with a platinum album either, but at this point he has much more potential to increase his sales, and more importantly, will likely be able to record another album.
I love ONE WORD…love the video….Love Elliott’s LOOKS !!
Who cares Who has outsold Who ? As long as Elliott is putting out Great Music, Making a good living and Happy, I am Happy !
Go ELLIOTT !!
Agree about the white room – but the song will be a hit if it gets the airplay. Slezak, do yourself a favor and hit the Highline tomorrow night for his show – watch the crowd reaction to One Word – they love it, he loves it – and when not on video – he can dance!
Why don’t guys get it? Women fans like to see their guy kissing a woman.
And why don’t bloggers get it? Bring up one Idol while discussing another and a posting war breaks out. Elliott said it the other day: The competition is over.
Wow. The wording of the review invited negative comments and American Idol fan-war posts.
I love the video. I can forgive the white on white in the white room because I love the scene leading up to the cheek to cheek shot and the kiss. *sigh* Lucky girl.
I hope that “One Word” will be a big hit for Elliott. It is one of my favorite songs.
I like the song, but the white outfit is just silly. I wish they would just let him stay who he, because people loved him for being himself. He’s still one of my favorites.
Love Elliott’s voice – voted for him a lot! But I don’t love his hair, his clothes, his dancing, his beard, or his teeth. And, just like the 1st CD, that clapping sound on the song(s) is so distracting! I’ll not buy this CD because of that. It’s annoying.
I really like the song, should be a big hit on radio. The video is alright and he looks great. The kisses are hot…ummmmmm watching it again.
I love Elliot too, he was the first and only time I have ever voted on A.I. “One Word” is also the BEST song on his cd (“Alright” is really good too, can you tell I’m a true R&B fan?)And while this video was definitly better than “Wait for You”, a) Jewish Boys should not dance and b) as much as I love him we all know Elliot could never get that girl in real life. The girl in the “Wait” video was much more realistic. Lastly I LOVE it that the white boys, J.T. Robyn Thicke and Elliot, are bring back real R&B!!
Who chooses the songs to be released as singles?? This is one of my LEAST favorites off of his great debut album. “Find A Way”, “Train Wreck” and “Free” (“Free” being my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE) are ten times better than “One Word”.
Ugh. Very frustrating. I just hope people buy his album and support him though because he is true talent. Him and Kimberly Locke are the only American Idol contestants I’ve ever voted for.
CT…You have got to be kidding…Have you seen Elliott’s Girl Friend ? She is a Gorgeous Model…
Although his wardrobe person should be fired, overall it’s not bad. He went from the pharmacy boy with the jacked up teeth to the poor man’s mcdreamy, not bad at all.
Hey, if you substituted the lyric “One Word” for “Amazing” would it be Josh Kelly’s song?
For those who say “the girl is out of his league”….while on American Idol, Elliott met a drop-dead gorgeous brunette in LA. They fell in love and are still together.
CT – I just have to let you know – Elliott, in essence, DID get that girl in real life – his real gf is a model that looks almost identical to the video chick.
Slezak- that was funny. I like Elliot a lot but the video made me laugh. And the kissing might be a little much for me…
Ok I stand corrected, his girlfriend is very model-esque. But I still say its the voice!! I know from first hand experience that a man who can sing can steal your heart before you even know whats happening. Too bad my husband is tone deaf! Ha!