Why Do They Allow Country Music On American Idol?

[THUNDER HANDS]

And for that matter, why do they allow country singers?

Isn't there already a country music-version of American Idol called Nashville Star? Doesn't that serve the purpose of catering to the country-music crowd?

Now, I didn't watch AI this week, but I have previously, and Mandisa was a pretty good singer, so was Elliot and Paris, who were the bottom three this week.

Meanwhile, Kellie Pickler and Bucky Covington were not in the bottom three, and never have been, even though they are probably the two worst singers left.

And I think that's because they are the two country singers, and the South is pulling for their own.

Which, isn't fair.

We all know that in presidential elections, the South only votes for their own. Democrats have to be from the South in order to win. And the last American Idol was a Southerner (the two finalists, in fact).

Its obviously a question of geography, not musical ability. This is a pop song competition, not a southern country music competition.

They might as well do a rap night if they're going to have genres that are as far removed from pop as country is.

[terrya]

1. It's not American Country Idol

I think it's understood by all that American Idol is of the pop genre of music...that's how I'd label the likes of Kelly Clarkson or Clay Aiken. Both are basically pop singers, IMO.

I don't quite understand why Bucky was chosen. He's a country singer. That's great, but his appeal is limited because of that.

[Mike Daniels]

13. Why have Broadway or show tunes night for that matter (which they've done)

I'd say people have more chance of handling a country song with some finesse vs. a Broadway tune.

Besides, most mass-appeal country music today is pretty much standard pop/rock with a fiddle or steel guitar accent thrown in. If I had heard most of the songs they performed Tuesday night on a top-hits station I wouldn't have pegged more than 2 as being "country" in format.

[hfojvt]

33. How limited is it?

Way back in 1995 I was playing trivia on New Year's Eve and the question was who was the only musical artist to have had two consecutive albums which sold over 10 million copies.

The answer - Garth :puke: Brooks.

Bucky's limited appeal should be proven then by the voting of the viewers. As for the OP's claim that "the south is voting for its own". That may be true, but there are many country music fans in northern states such as Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas.

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. No - for that matter, why do they allow American Idol?

Says a lot about our society when more people can tell you who got kicked off AI than who is the President, the VP, name a member of the Supreme Court or point out Iraq and/or Afghanistan on a map.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. yeah

but its cool if you can do both.

[tuvor]

4. "Why do they allow country singers?"

Fully one-quarter of the current Billboard top 20 is country music. (One of which is Carrie Underwood.)

(I'm not sure why Country should be excluded based on the existence of Nashville Star. If there were, say, a Soul Train-sponsored version of AI, should we exclude that genre from the show?)

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. um, yes

if there was a soul train singing competition show out there then soul-singers should be excluded from American Idol.

On top of that, the two country singers this season are just awful. And the fact that they're not kicked off, or even in the bottom three, annoys the hell out of me, because if they were black (instead of blonde haired and blue eyed with a 'charming' southern accent) they would have been kicked off weeks ago.

[tuvor]

19. Bucky is undoubtedly this year's mystery.

Much like whassisname (John Peter Lewis?) from last year, except for the slurred speech.

[cmkramer]

6. Southerners and American Idol

Actually, there's only been one non-Southerner to make it to the final 2 in AI -- Justin Guarini in Season 1. And even he was born in Georgia.

FWIW, it was bad night for most of the contestants. I would've had Taylor in the bottom 3 rather than Elliot -- although I understand he had strep throat Tuesday night which probably accounted for how bad he was -- but I can't argue with Paris and Mandisa being bottom 3. And Mandisa was pretty bad too.

I also can't help thinking that maybe her ties to an author who is very involved in the "turning gay people straight" and has openly spoken about "older" lesbians who prey on vulnerable young women who have been hurt and/or abused by the men in their lives could've hurt her too. Maybe people who were voting for her decided to switch favorites or something. But she really was bad enough to have lost without that so who knows?

[Mike Daniels]

17. Mandisa was less than stellar two weeks in a row

And out of the bottom three contestants, Mandisa was flat out panned by all three judges.

Elliot and Paris managed to get at least one favorable comment from Larry, Moe and Shemp.

In regards to someone's prior post on this thread and country night playing to the strength of some contestants vs. others, one could make the same claim regarding Stevie Wonder night.

That said, Queen night is going to be a car wreck waiting to happen for some of these contestants.

[ThomCat]

7. So, Country music fans aren't American?

:shrug:

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. no

they are not

:sarcasm:

[Bridget Burke]

26. Neither are Rap performers...

According to the OP.

[ThomCat]

28. I missed that.

As someone who listens to almost all kinds of music I find that incredible.

Like it would kill the national audience to be exposed to different types of music...
:eyes:

[THUNDER HANDS]

32. mmm hmm

:eyes:

[derby378]

8. I recommend Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and Steve Earle

They're both C&W for people who hate C&W.

Same goes for the Dixie Chicks' Home CD.

[DS1]

9. Because the people behind Idol have already been proven to be

demonstrably unable to show any form of good taste in music.

[BlueJazz]

27. Heh..Heh..How True...

[Sequoia]

11. Why can't these Idol people

sing something else instead of pop all the time. Why can't they have one night of say...a favorite Musical song like say...."Oklahome", or "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria", or something from Westside Story, etc. etc. Heck, even a song from Mozart would do. That would really test these Idol's voices.

[THUNDER HANDS]

12. they do have a showtunes night

that will be coming up in the next few weeks i think. They have it every year.

[Sequoia]

22. Oh...guess you can tell I don't watch it much.

[tuvor]

20. Well, next week it's Queen songs.

That's practically opera.

[begin_within]

14. They should quit the theme nights and let them sing anything they want.

[begin_within]

15. Every contestant should be required to perform John Cage's "4'33".

[tuvor]

21. .

[no name no slogan]

16. That's a stereotype if I've ever seen one

Who says that country music is only popular in the south? Country is popular in many other parts of the country, and the world, too, for that matter. For example, Glen Campbell and Buck Owens are both from California. Are they not country?

And not every southerner likes country, either. I know many who don't care for it, but love RnB-- the sounds of Chicago and Detroit.

I think you're painting with too broad a brush here.

[leftofthedial]

18. yeh. and if the latinos want to compete, let them start their own

La Raza Idol

and let the African Americans do their own Rap Idol

We should keep American Idol pure and only let in real Americans.

[THUNDER HANDS]

23. uh ok

Nashville Star = Country Music's American Idol

Does Country really need to co-opt two shows?

[ThomCat]

29. It's not co-opting anything.

An occational song simply reflects the diversity of American music. What's the big deal?

[leftofthedial]

37. well it is the only music that matters anymore

so why not?

[underpants]

24. DO NOT malign sweet sweet Kellie

:P

Elliott and Paris were in the bottom three just to stir it up. OOOOooo they are in trouble!!! :scared:

Everyone except Chris has been bottom 3 so far. They do that simply to scare their fans into voting more.

There is no guarantee that the votes are tallied anyway on the level but then really who cares?

As far as country music goes you have some points but this is supposed to be ( ;-) ) a full test of their abilities. Much like if The Apprentice had the contestants doing labor negotiations or logistics instead of just one marketing PR test after another.

SO now all of Richmond will call in to make sure Elliott is safe. They literally are tweaking the calls by who they decide is bottom 3.

That being said leave sweet sweet Kellie out of it :P

[Bridget Burke]

25. I'm a fan of Country music--although not today's commercial stuff.

(It's not the only genre I follow.)

I can understand that others don't like it. Ignorance of the good stuff may be the excuse, or it may just be a difference in taste.

For example, I'd rather stick toothpicks in my eyes than watch American Idol. But I try not to look down on those who do.

One question: If you think that the inclusion of Country Music panders to Southerners, the inclusion of rap (as you snidely suggest) would pander to ___________________?

[THUNDER HANDS]

31. yes i think its pandering

because, frankly, i think southerners vote for their own. I think it would be hard to do rap on american idol, since rap is not singing, so that's not a great comparison. But all my point is about is that country has its own talent show and doesn't need to co-opt another show since only country music fans will listen to country music, whereas anyone can listen to pop music - which is why it's called pop music. Narrow-genred singers should not be competing on this show - especially if they have their own show to compete on.

[DrGonzoLives]

34. Narrow-genred?

All they sing is dumbass pop music! There is no exploring of other genres.

"...only country music fans will listen to country music, whereas anyone can listen to pop music - which is why it's called pop music."

This is, quite simply, one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Most country music fans I know listen to a hell of a lot more than the teeny-bopper jackasses who worship at the feet of American Idol.

[THUNDER HANDS]

35. that doesn't make any sense

I'm saying that people who listen to country music will buy and listen to the country singers on this competition. The people who don't listen to country music won't.

You're saying that people who listen to country music will listen to anything.

Fine, then you've just proved my point. That its better to sing pop music because even people who like country will listen to it, rather than sing country, where you'll only have country music fans buying and listening to your songs.

[BikeWriter]

30. Your reality seems to differ from the producer's reality.

[Iniquitous Bunny]

36. Lots of people enjoy listening to crap. (nt)

[StellaBlue]

38. I'm for Taylor, and he's from Alabama

But I like him cause he's got SOUL, not because he's a Southerner. In fact, about 8 (I think) of the top 12 this year were Southerners, so that's not really relevant.