Dog Days of Summer

[Tom22]

I tweeted just before the album was released that I had a touch of melancholy about the long journey with Haley coming full circle. That when the initial hoopla of the album release wore off Haley would return to a more normal life with much less tweeting, fans would move on with other interests, and Halien world would become a much quieter, less active place. I think we're seeing that starting to happen now, and while there will still be a few die hards straggling around, the wide-spread, mass-trending, daily-voting/requesting fanaticism will surely fade away.

Of course, if Haley becomes a huge megastar, with platinum albums and tabloid celebrity the frenzy would return, but that's not going to happen now or anytime soon. It's a bit of a reflective time for us even as we look ahead to her future. The true end of the American Idol Haley era occurred shortly after release day, May 22nd, and now we go on with life as we always knew it before the Halien madness took hold of our worlds.

It's normal, healthy, and doesn't mean we're not wonderful fans. It's just reality. As the old .38 special song goes, you hold on loosely, but don't let go. I'm sure being among the most devoted, we will continue to follow her career every step of the way, but maybe not obsess over small details. Time marches on...

I knew she was a great singer.

I didn't know that she was a great song writer. That was a huge and wonderful surprise bonus.

The great album she released probably secretly made me feel better about being so interested in her career happenings. I knew that I couldn't keep listening to cover performances of hers but I had to ask myself "Is it possible that I've got this extra level of interest as an act of rebellion and support coming from that unfair treatment by the judges?".

The album with 13 songs she helped compose which I really liked made me feel confident in a bright future for her.
I don’t think direct promotion to fans is the way to her next step at all at this point.
The music needs to get to fans in ways like that Step-up revolution placement. Maybe the football placement will find a more and more use by ESPN producers if it works for their ear and image. Maybe a producer will use a song as a TV show theme or a high profile theme throughout a different hit movie.
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As for the near future.. I’d love to hear more random events like the Irvin Mayfield jazz club recording last fall. Its all about the music for me.

Do I want Haley on the cover of People magazine? Only because that will mean she’s selling enough albums to keep making more music with great writers and musiciaans collaborating.

Fame shouldn't be the goal, it’s just a means to the end for her to make music that will get to us and others that appreciate it and being able for her to support herself and her future family in a comfortable style through her life . If she can get enough money from song writing royalties and put out a modestly selling album every couple years, it might be a healthier life than traveling the country playing huge venues (although heck, that might be what she wants, and more power to her chasing her dreams)

In the shorter term, I'd be happy for another jazz club recording like the one we got last year with Irvin Mayfield.

I don't think a concert tour is what will build sucess.. thats a way to pay the bills once you have a hit.... its a low odds way of becoming a star. Being there and free to make TV appearances seems better than being comitted to travel the country opening for other performers.

I'm not in that business though.. I 'd think the experts know what they're doing.