“Do I Make You Proud” by Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks’ “Do I Make You Proud” is ultimately a motivational piece, even if at certain points it doesn’t read directly as such. In fact we would argue that this song is actually split into three different sections perspective-wise. And it is the final one, as found in the bridge, which encapsulates the thesis sentiment.

The first two verses, as well as the chorus, center on the vocalist addressing the recipient of the titular question. Originally said vocalist was a timid individual, lacking in self-confidence. But now, via the intervention of the addressee, his self-esteem has risen, and accordingly he is able to accomplish feats that he couldn’t prior.

In the song’s original context, said feat would have been something like Taylor Hicks emerging victorious from American Idol. But nothing like that is specified in the lyrics. So basically, the reason the vocalist is expressing such gratitude in the addressee has nothing to do with having already accomplished anything great per se. 

Rather what he is truly appreciative of is this individual imbuing him with the confidence needed to pursue such goals, as even what he has done thus far is “only [the] beginning”. So the further implication is that whatever successes the vocalist experiences in the future, he will share the fruits of those also with the addressee. 

And that being said, let it be noted that the nature of his relationship with the addressee is never specified, though the latter apparently is some type of mentor-like figure.

Narrator’s Disposition

The third verse is then indicative of the type of mentality the vocalist has adopted in order to overcome his previously unproductive melancholy. First and foremost would be adopting a faithful disposition. Taylor has ‘learned to walk on the road he believes in’, as opposed to, say being discouraged or told what to do by others. 

And doing so requires faith or at least some considerable degree of self-belief, which is the second point of the passage.  That is to say that thought patterns which may lead the vocalist back down the path of low self-esteem still exist within.  But he has “learned to love” himself regardless of such deeply embedded self-doubt.

The Moral of the Story in “Do I Make You Proud”

Meanwhile the bridge is actually the shortest passage in the entire song but perhaps the most meaningful. For it is therein upon which Taylor Hicks drops the moral of the story. And what he seems to be putting for here is a need for individuals to “rise up” under their own initiative. But at the same time, he also appears to identify the love of another as being a prerequisite to effectively doing so.

In Conclusion

So conclusively this is a song of encouragement. But it is more compassionate than the average similarly-themed tune as far as American pop is concerned. This is because it doesn’t put the onus for overcoming low confidence and detrimental self-esteem solely on the victim of it. Rather, this track implies that having someone to lead you through the mires of depression may be a prerequisite for effectively overcoming it.

“Do I Make You Proud” Facts

Artist(s): Taylor Hicks
Writing: This piece was written by Andy Watkins, Paul Wilson, and Tracy Ackerman
Production: Dave Way produced this track alongside Wilson and Watkins
Release: June 13 of 2006

Genre(s)

• Soul

Was “Do I Make You Proud” a single release?

 Yes.

Covers:

• “Weird Al” Yankovic (2006)
• jOpherjOe (2011)

Charts:

“Do I Make You Proud” made a number one debut for the July 1, 2006 issue of the Hot 100.

“Tribute To Taylor Hicks”

Arista Records released the hit song, Do I Make You Proud, in June 2006. It was the eighth song off the 2006 compilation album, Tribute To Taylor Hicks. The album was the first compilation of music by the record label in the name of Taylor Hicks. This was after he won the fifth season of American Idol.

Most of the songs on the album were composed by other renowned musicians and are renditions by Taylor Hicks during his performances on the American Idol show. This nine-track compilation album included songs such as the following:

• Takin’ it to the streets by Doobie Brothers
• Not Fade Away by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty
• Crazy Little Thing called Love by Queen

All of these tracks were phenomenally performed by Taylor Hicks.

The album’s most successful song, “Do I Make You Proud, was not written by Hicks. According to Billboard, the song sold 190,000 physical singles and 38,000 digital downloads in its first week, earning it a number-one debut on the Hot 100 for the July 1, 2006 issue.

The album’s sixth song, Hicks’ rendition of Doobie Brothers’, Takin ‘It to the Streets, became his first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number 69 on the chart.