I gotta’ qualify this rant because in fact I’ve never watched one episode of the show. All my information is third party because almost everybody else at the radio station I work at seems to be glued to the set when the programs on. However, from what I’ve been able to overhear I haven’t missed much.

In some senses, these programs are no better than any form of beauty pageant. They show a series of individuals dressing up and parading on stage, pandering to the judges, ignoring what real talent they may have and only performing from a set agenda. It’s not too much different from trained animals doing whatever it takes to win the crown.

“OK,” you say “that’s a bit harsh…so what…there has always been that aspect of the music business. How is this any different from what has gone on before. Didn’t they call the Monkees the pre-fab four because they were a manufactured band? And didn’t all those boy bands of the nineties come from a similar manufactured concept. And then there’s the latest singing chanteuse who can fit into the most scantily clad attire and hide behind thousands of dollars of studio production? (That’s something we can thank Michael Jackson for).”

That’s a good point. So how is American Idol different? Besides that fact that evil incarnate sits on the judging panel in the form of Simon Cowell.

It’s different because it presents a false picture of what’s required to have and display talent. As I said before it distorts the creative process even more than any of the examples listed earlier. It focuses on the transitory…the here and now…there’s no thought to lasting talent. Talent is not limited to “one” being the best. There is no end of equal talent in different categories. But not apparently on American Idol. If you can impress the three judges, you’re in. And yet, and this is an important part, the three judges in no way represent the general public any more than three cows with Mad Cow Disease represent the rest of the cows in America. Nevertheless, like those three diseased cows everyone (the performers) is rushing headlong to pander to their witty or snide observations, all the while ignoring what the rest of the herd (the general public) might want.

However, more than that what really bothers me is the condescending subtext that says the person who wins is the one we’re supposed to place on a pedestal as the next big talent. Says who and compared to what? Apparently, they’ve been selected for me to appreciate. They’re the cream of the crop. Chosen by this elite panel of judges who are somehow supposed to know what they’re talking about. But you know what that’s crap!

So let me think about this for a minute…the program is called American Idol…not American Talent. So maybe I’ve got it all wrong. My Oxford dictionary says an idol is a person or thing that is admired or loved very much. So perhaps it’s not about talent at all. It’s about worshipping the individual who’s been selected regardless of what we think about the talent in question.

So maybe, just maybe like the rest of the record label industry it’s all about control…they’d like to control who they make famous and not let us make them famous. No major talents slipping through the cracks if the major labels can help it.

But now I’m angry again because what I think about talent matters to me. And in truth, I’m sure that some of the individuals who’ve gone on that cattle call (sorry about the ongoing bovine references) have probably displayed varying degrees of talent. But not all of them made it to the end. Moreover, to insinuate that the final one selected, having made it through the herd of others in no way justifies the final selection as really being the best at what they do. And it’s really the selection process that’s most at fault here.

None of those judges speaks for me. And so I vote by not watching the show. I will not be party to such a travesty. But what about all those people who do watch? What does that say about the state of music appreciation today? Not much I’m afraid. A sad state of affairs indeed.

About the Author:
Jerry Lucky is the author of the book The Progressive Rock Files, now entering its 5th edition. Please feel free to send feedback to Jerry at www.jerrylucky.com.