Getting ranty about American Idol
I know. What’s the point? If you start getting ranty about a television show, what does that say about your life? I already know I have no life, so this is no surprise. I’m writing this post in response to reactions I’m seeing everywhere about the show.
Ten years ago I started watching American Idol. I LOVE to sing. I LOVE music. So getting to see different singers sing some of my favorite songs was a big draw for me. From the very beginning Idol claimed to be a singing competition. Almost right away (Okay, maybe into Season 2) we figured out that it was a reality TV show complete with scriptedness and story arcs. There was behind the scene trickery going on, especially when it came to the auditions and people that were actually selected. 10 years later in 2012, nothing has changed. The songs are still the same. The plants are still the same. The judges may or may not give scripted critiques. Someone who is talented will go home early and someone will win.
What has changed? What has us believing that the show isn’t as relevent as it used to be?
Well, let’s look at the audience. I can’t begin to tell you how many people I talked to have said they quit watching American Idol after Chris Daughtry ended up in 4th place in Season 5. So I believe, in the beginning, the audience was much more diverse. I think these days people who watch are people like me who have watched steadily through the years AND teen girls who may not have been old enough to choose what to watch in primetime television when the show initially began. This is important because the show depends on the voting strength of its viewers to choose who will ultimately win the show. (A formula that has not changed.) Let’s remember, not everyone who watches the show has music knowledge or experience. So as we come up on our 3rd Finale in a row (7th out of 11 years all together) pitting guy versus girl and the chances that we could have our 5th white male alt/rock/pop singer winner in a row, it’s easy to become disillusioned with the show.
Part of the allure of winning American Idol is the recording contracts and the chance for the winners (and runners up) to become huge stars in their post Idol careers. History of the show has showed us that one does not have to win to have a “successful” career and winning does not ensure “success”. For people who become so invested in the contestants of the show only to have their favorites dissappear into the background of a floundering music industry is nearly just as disappointing as the tired conventions of the show (repeated songs and group numbers, anyone?).
I get it. As in any show, after 10 years its hard to hang on to a show that repeats the same mistakes year after year and is as unwilling as the music industry to reinvent itself. But then you miss the gems. You miss the performances that make you really listen and pay attention. You miss the performances that makes the hair on your neck stand on end and brings tears to your eyes or makes you say YES! There is some hope for the future of the music business afterall! You miss seeing an artist naturally and organically evolve. You miss seeing the fight and drive and determination in these kids who are so young they missed Seattle grunge in its prime particularly in a time when not much stock is put into the youth of this country. You miss artists who not only want to share their talent with who ever will listen but who really want to make the world a better place.
All I’m saying is, I know why I continue to watch.
Read MoreThe death of my first pet
What am I? 9? I’m not. This past weekend was my birthday and I turned 32. I’m 32 years old and I just lost my first pet and I’m taking it pretty hard.
Read MoreI’ve missed you, you stupid blog…
Last time I updated, I outlined problems I was having with my computer. After that post, problems persisted and are still persisting. It’s made my life turn upside down since a lot of my life is my computer and things I do ON IT (Not with it, that’s just gross). We’ve still got it limping along but I’m afraid to reinstall my photo-editing programs and even sync my iPhone to my new iTunes. Silly me forgot to save my music library configuration. I’m weeping for my 20+ playlists lost and gone forever.
Read MoreWindows Updates Can Kiss My Ass.
I hate computers. I hate hate hate hate them. That being said, I love my computer. It’s like a child when it is sick. I do everything in my power to diagnose the problem and give it the best medicine I can to make it better. Much like a child, sometimes my computer can’t tell me exactly what’s wrong. Instead of crying and whining and a slimy watery nose, I get surprise reboots, or my monitor turns off or I get the blue screen of death.
Read MoreWeighing the issue
I’ve been skirting around it for months. It’s one of those things you put off and put off because it’s not the most dire thing on your plate… until it is. In 2010, I lost a little over 50 lbs on a program through my gym called Thin & Healthy. A combination of things threw me off track. Part of it was my disappointment in the program and rising gas prices on an aging (dying) minivan. Part of me always felt that I would go back and that I hadn’t given up entirely.
Read MoreGreat New Valentine’s Day Music!
I’ve been bombarded today with emails, tweets and Facebook posts about special offers on music found all around the web today. I’ll try to list as many as I can find. Treat yourself this Valentine’s day like I am!
Busy Busy Bee
It seems that I no sooner renovated This Stupid Blog and was bitten by the writing bug that I became a busy bee. Between school things for the kids, scouts, events to sell AVON, and upgrading my message board Visions In Bloom that I found myself with hardly little time to write anything, let alone my poor blog. But I’m changing that this morning. I’m writing a little blurb here to let you know I haven’t forgotten.
I thought that I would post some links to some things that I am trying to keep up on:
Read MoreAbout Me
April is first and foremost an independently thinking individual who relies on critical thinking skills and caffeine. In her spare time she raises three rambunctious children, defends against the dark arts of viruses and bacteria, and masters tele-communication with her on the road husband. Occasionally she blogs. Ask me about:
