Dear Todrick Hall,
I remember you.
I remember watching you for the first time on "American Idol" when it was still popular. You sang an original song and tried to convince Simon Cowell to send you to the next round. I really wanted you to go to the top and become America's new star. Until you got eliminated, and I was heartbroken. I hadn't heard from you since.
I remember watching you again on YouTube. I had access to the Internet for the first time during junior year in high school. I had to do a double take, making sure if it was the same man I saw on TV. Clicking on video called "Beauty and the Beat," I never expected to watch such creative videos. From covering "Grown Woman" with a Disney twist to singing every hit song by Beyonce. You keep bringing something new to pop music and I keep going back listening and watching your videos. CinderFella is still my favorite video you have made. Subscribing to you was one of the best things I did since making a Tumblr account.
I thought your greatest works, in my opinion, were "4 Gaga" and "Epic Love" from your TV show "Todrick" (which I wrote about on one of my playlist articles). Until you uploaded probably your best video on YouTube: "Straight Outta Oz."
I thought it was a full music video from a teaser for your upcoming tour of the same name. Feeling an inspiration from Beyonce's "Lemonade" visual album, you brought your love to "The Wizard of Oz" to a whole new level. The moment you opened "Straight Outta Oz" with a haunting take of the classic tale "No Place Like Home," I got hooked.
You took me to church with a gospel encouragement "Proud." You made me cry with "Over The Rainbow." I wanted you to sing "Color" at a future wedding (I'm asking for a friend). You electrified the screen as the lion king in "Lyin' To Myself" (I see what you did there). I squealed with the lines in "Expensive": "Hello/I'm rich/Nice to meet you/I got a new friend and his name is Mr. VISA." Only Todrick can come up with such amazing lines. You showed temptation with Nicole Scherzinger in "Papi." You brought out my inner diva with "Wrong Bitch."
You honored fallen victims - Travyon Martin, Christine Grimmie and Orlando—with Jordan Sparks in "Water Guns." A strong symbolism of what happened after The Wicked Witch's death and today's shootings and it impacted both black and LGBTQIA+ communities. You reunited with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as you all talk in "Blah Blah Blah." I loved your subtle shade towards a certain someone.
And you brought me to tears (again) with my favorite song, "Home."
Amber Riley, who plays your mother in "Straight Outta Oz," and her power ballads made me down in my own tears with "Lions, Tigers, and Bears" and "See Your Face." Your friends including Pentatonix reminds you to never forget the "Little People." You have other songs featured in the album such as "Dumb" and "If I had a Heart," both detailed on your journey and love life through perspectives of scarecrow and tin man.
Throughout your visual album, you told a story.
Yes, you were influenced by Beyonce and The Wizard Of Oz. But like your past works, you made them as your own.
Todrick, you have created a piece that has stapled yourself as an artist through your ups-and-downs. You told your story on your struggles without missing a beat. "Straight Outta Oz" showed your vulnerability as well as how far you have come. Each song has inspired me to write and tell my story to everyone. I know you are a talented lyricist, writing catchy and clever lines that captures today's pop culture. Along with "Straight Outta Oz," I have become motivated to write my story just like you.
As a fan, I have watched you grow as a singer, songwriter, entertainer, and an artist. "Straight Outta Oz" has got me excited to see what you're going to do next.
I'm sure I won't be the only one who will remember you.
Thank you so much, Todrick.
If you want to see this visual album live, Todrick Hall is going on tour this summer! Please go to Todrick's official site and buy your tickets before they run out. You can also buy the album on iTunes.
