So many of us have been scratching our heads (and running our mouths) in disbelief since the American Idol results a week ago and now there's been evidence that the Kris Allen victory was, let's just say, "encouraged" by a major sponsor http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/business/media/27idol.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss. Very interesting. And now the follow up story today was fascinating as well http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/27/att-admits-overeager-empl_n_208281.html Especially in light of of what I wrote (but didn't post) the day after the results. Enjoy:
America the Inexplicable
I am not an American Idol fan. I am actually proud that I never watched the show for the first 6 seasons. Then I watched one episode during the Jordin Sparks season when they had to do Bee Gees songs and was intrigued. Today, I am still not an avid Idol viewer but I do keep tabs on it because I work with emerging artists and I like to see how Idol is packaging their up-and-comings. I don’t even watch the show and I was upset all day the day after.
As an image expert with a passion for music, I believe I know good talent when I see it. I tuned in a few times in season 7 and was impressed with David Archuleta, whom I feel was robbed of the crown. When I checked in back in this past March, I was blown away by Adam Lambert. He had me at Tracks of My Tears. He seemed to have it all – a superior voice, stage presence out the door and a unique image. Well the other night I had to tune in and literally gasped when I heard the results.
There has been tons of speculation about what went wrong on the Internet and I would like to weigh in. Was it homophobia in the heartland? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-michaelson/why-it-matters-that-adam_b_205588.html Or did Kris Allen get all of Danny Gokey’s votes when he was voted off, cause they are both a similar type? Or was the result a backlash to all the Idol adoration of Adam all season? http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/178713/america-gets-it-wrong-kris-allen-wins-idol/
I personally believe that finding an Idol is should be all about voice quality and the ability to command the stage and audience. I don’t think they should be allowed to play an instrument. Standing on stage leaning on an instrument is not half as scary and vulnerable as standing there with just your voice. For two years now I feel that the more talented performer was ousted out because he did not play an instrument on the Idol stage. And then I remembered that the show is on Fox, an unapologetically right wing company, and I’m not surprised at the results. I just keep thinking that we’re making progress in this country and I hate to think that Adam didn’t win because of his androgynous image. So, I’ll just focus on what one of my gay boyfriends, completely devastated by Adam’s defeat said, “This is why little girls shouldn’t have cel phones.”
