American Idol... Why am I watching?

[johnnie]

I have never seen it until this year and I have been checking it out. My question is..they "audition" over 100,000 people and THIS is the best they can do? Maybe 3 out of these kids have a decent voice.
I'm not a perfectionist myself when it comes to my singing or anything, but I thought this was supposed to be singers on this show.
I know all about studio tricks and blah blah blah, but I remember hearing singers that could sing on the fly. These men and women aren't singers to me.
That's it. I'm not diggin' on the show, I understand about these things...I am just wondering how they can portray this as a bunch of singers in a competition.

[wyldwolf]

1. Don't worry

Like anything on TV and radio, you can change the station.

I happen to think over the last 4 seasons there have been some very good singers.

[johnnie]

2. As I said, I haven't watched the other seasons

I was just wondering if this is the best they can do. As I also said, there are a few on here, but out of 100,000 plus it just doesn't seem right.
And I'm not the typical music snob, I like a good performance and a good singer as well as the next non-elitist, but none of these are really that great.
Thanks for the "change the station" idea, but I think I'll watch and keep my comments to myself.:hi:

[wyldwolf]

6. I didn't mean to suggest

... you should keep your comments to yourself.

But seriously - they're looking for an Idol - not JUST a good singer.

They look for style and appearance as well.

Sometimes those might trump vocal ability.

Someone could be a truly remarkable singer but if the stand there like wood and don't look the part - if they don't project a certain flair (Judge's determination), they don't pass the test.

As Simon often points out, there is a thin line between an pop idol and a hotel/kareoke singer.

[johnnie]

12. But when I think of "idol"

I think of people like Elvis, Bing, Prince, Barbara, ect... It just seems none of these people have what it takes to be that lasting. I could be wrong.

[wyldwolf]

16. well, sure.. but there have been "idols" of lesser "talent"

... and what you're seeing is raw performances - before the coaching starts (yes, all the greats had coaching.)

And even some we consider legends weren't all that good.

Rod Stewart? C'mon! Sounds like he gargled with nails.

[johnnie]

19. But there are better singers in my opinion

I was thinking that they would have 24 or whatever great singers. Not just a handful of good ones and some that shouldn't be singing at all.

[wyldwolf]

20. there are always better singers

I think Mariah Carey rules, (and my wife, a voice instructor, agrees), but that opinion isn't shared by many on DU.

As for American Idol, they settle on over 100, then whittle them down based on performances each week.

As you can hear by the judges, some of the singers do better or worse each week, depending on song choice and presentation.

[johnnie]

23. I understand but

What I am saying is...they try out 100,000 people. Lets say that 90% of those people shouldn't even talk let alone sing. That leaves 10,000 people. They go down to 100 and then 20. My thread is about how they can go thru the country and out of all those people, they end up with about 5 that can keep the pitch and sing in key.

[wyldwolf]

33. I'm not going to debate what is ultimately someone's opinion, anyway

..one of the reasons I like to watch with my wife is because she is a voice instructor and can give me a perspective of how they're really doing.

Often, people react negatively to a music style instead of the actual vocals.

[johnnie]

36. OK

You like them all and I like a few of them. I just think that there are singers out there that can sing in pitch more than 50% of the time. And since the judges agree with me on a lot of what I say, then I don't feel so bad..lol.

[Misunderestimator]

42. Only certain kinds of people will try out for this sort of competition.

More talented performers may not see this as the perfect avenue to their success, and I would definitely agree with them. They could have a certain path in mind, and American Idol isn't part of it. Nor should it be.

[Misunderestimator]

41. Gargled with nails!!!

LOL :thumbsup:

[Misunderestimator]

28. The women aren't as good this year, and the men are better.

[johnnie]

34. I have nothing to compare to

I like the girl from Oklahoma and the girl from Miami. Some of the guys are OK too..I guess.

[Misunderestimator]

37. Yeah... nothing really stands out this year...

there were some last time... but they didn't win... (like Fantasia) go figure... :shrug:

[SW FL Dem]

39. I agree

there are several good men this year. I was not that impressed with the women tonight.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. You are hurting your country by allowing your mind to be...

filled with that meaningless "teeny bopper" crap. Don't let yourself buy into this crap that distracts us from the real world!

:kick:

[johnnie]

5. True

We all know that 9/10 of the discussion in the lounge isn't teeny bopper.

[Deja Q]

4. Not just that only 3 are good. Lots of pre-teen kids can call in 50 times

on the same line, and it still counts.

In this day and age, it's damn easy to do call monitoring. Yet the last I heard, they only says "Please don't call more than once." Can't they afford the monitoring equipment? :eyes:

[johnnie]

8. To be honest

I don't really care who wins. Hell, I'm not calling in...lol. Has anyone from this show went superstar? I know that one girl has a song on rotation.

[madison2000]

7. Yeah, but its addictive isn't it?

This is the first time I haven't watched though I may get going towards the end. Once you start watching you get invested in the people, and they do improve as the weeks go on, and you really want to see them do well.

[johnnie]

9. Well yeah...in a way

There is that one guy from Cleveland on here, so I watch him. I don't think he is going to win, but yeah... it can get addictive.

[Obamarama]

10. See my DU post from earlier today...

Who told these people they could SING?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=2729647&mesg_id=2729647

[wyldwolf]

11. I love Avilla!

Not the best singer, but she can dance, flirt with the camera and audience, and is HOT!

[johnnie]

14. Is there an Avilla?

I don't know which one that is.

[wyldwolf]

17. she just sang "Turn the beat around"

[Misunderestimator]

13. The one from Tampa ... was it her... was pretty good as a package..

on the local news here they just had some teaser saying to vote for 07 so I think it was her. (Of course it's FOX, so this is news :eyes:)

[johnnie]

15. Yeah

She did pretty good.

[Misunderestimator]

18. I guess it should concern me that I find myself agreeing with Simon

more often than not...

[wyldwolf]

21. well, he has lots of experience as a talent scout and manager

... Paula is a performer, Randy is a studio musician, so they look at different things.

[johnnie]

22. I think Simon gives the best critiques.

I have heard about how harsh he can be, and from I have seen he is telling these people how it is.

[wyldwolf]

24. yeah, I do, too

He's been involved in the "discovering/signing/promoting" new talent part of the industry for a long while.

[Misunderestimator]

25. I think that Randy and Paula try to be diplomatic but they usually

seem to agree with him too... they, unlike him, know what it is like to struggle as a performer. I agree with Simon, but I would never put things the way he does.

[Seabiscuit]

27. Randy and Paula have proven time and again they know NOTHING

about music.

[wyldwolf]

30. I've actually seen Paula and Randy live

Paula live in '91. Not a strong voice (it was shot in 20 minutes which is how I know she wasn't lip-synching!) But she has such a personality and can dance her ass off.

Randy Jackson was Journey's touring base player on their 1986 tour.

[Misunderestimator]

32. Yeah... Paula was one of those great packages... the voice was the least

of her talents. And I never heard of Randy before American Idol. Doesn't mean though that they don't understand the hardships of being a performer.

[johnnie]

31. The thing I have noticed about Simon is

If these people can't take him, they would never make it as an American "Idol". I'm sure you know how mean critics and people in general can be. Not saying you ever got bad reviews..lol. But being in the "business" I would think you know what I mean.

[Misunderestimator]

35. I got a few... one really bad one... and I was only doing a small part...

in that one. I had a bad cold... and the review said "she sounded as if she had never warmed up..." LOL Funny that I remember that verbatim better than all the good ones. :)

[johnnie]

38. Ouch..lol

I had to do a few gigs while being sick..luckily I was never really that good to begin with :)

[Seabiscuit]

26. No it shouldn't - he's the only one on the panel with half a brain.

So if you agree with him half the time, while still disagreeing with Randy and Paula almost all of the time, you know you have a functioning brain.

[Misunderestimator]

40. LOL... you feel pretty strongly about Randy and Paula, don't you?

I do find myself agreeing with the way in which Paula expresses the truth more often than Simon.

[realisticphish]

29. a friend of mine was on there

and made it to hollywood. didn't get past there. Her name is Bri, and she sang a song from the phantom of the opera, i think


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat