So, I just watched my first episode of American Idol.

[Plaid Adder]

Not sure why, but I have.

Because I can't sing, and know that I can't sing, what amazes me most are the people who sign up to do this who actually sing worse than I do. And yet, someone in their lives must have encouraged them to do it. The burning desire to be a singer despite any evidence of talent is not something I understand. But anyway.

Observations:

1) Bad singing is much worse when it's loud. It is especially painful listening to people who are really trying to belt, but are belting wrong.

2) What is with the crazy vibrato on all these people? Have they been taught to do this so that nobody will know that they're not at the right pitch 60% of the time?

3) Although it is easy enough to spot the bad people, I have to say that I personally don't see a lot of difference between the people who get picked to "GO TO HOLLYWOOD!!!" and the people who are rejected as, "Enh, you're OK, but see you next year." But, perhaps my ear is not well-trained enough. Or, perhaps my sense that most pop music is crap to start with protects me from telling the difference between a good rendition of "My Heart Will Go On" and a sucky one.

Ah well,

The Plaid Adder

[Scout1071]

1. It's an acquired taste.

And they will quickly wash out a lot of the people going to Hollywood. But it's fun to watch them grow as performers as they move on to different rounds.

The first episodes are both painful and amusing. I literally hurt for some of the contestants. Give it another go, it gets better.

[southlandshari]

2. It was even more painful to watch than usual tonight.

We watch it each season as a family, silly as that may seem. Our six year old daughter enjoys supervising the annual game in which we divide the top 12 contestants up (like picking dodgeball teams or something), then cheer "our" singers on the rest of the season.

She kicks our tails every year. Last year, all of the final three were on her "team".

There are usually a couple of genuinely talented singers in the final group that competes head to head. The rest might can outsing me, but that's not saying much!


:P

[cynatnite]

3. Don't they have to get through to other judges...

before Simon, Paula and Randy?

I mean, can't they save them the embarrassment of having someone's face plastered everywhere with their horrid singing ability? Or do they do it for...well...let me take a shot at this...ratings???

I'll start watching once they get through these horrible auditions. It's so old now and I'm tired of it. I'd rather wait until the finalists so I can at least half-way enjoy the singing.

[Plaid Adder]

7. There must be some kind of screening process.

But obviously they're not screening for talent.

I mean when you think about the hundreds of people that these cattle calls must drag in, there's no way the precious celebrities are listening to them all. So someone must be deliberately selecting awful singers to make the audition shows more interesting.

They are also apparently deliberately getting all the awful singers they plan to feature to perform "Lady Marmalade."

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[DanCa]

4. The one guy from crystal lake lives five miles from my house

So I had to watch. Wont watch the competition part it's not about vocal ability it's about cliques and popularity contest.

[cynatnite]

5. The voting is bullshit...so we don't waste our time doing that...

but will enjoy the singing if it's good.

[DanCa]

6. Ya know ever since Tymara Gray got screwed

I have been very skeptical of the whole voting thing myself. I mean how the hell does Carrie Underwood beat out Bo Bice, Constatine, and Anwar Robinson - who had the purest voice of them all.) Unless am just judging by ability and not popularity that is.

[Plaid Adder]

8. Karl Rove fixed the whole thing!

Apparently their system allows you to vote multiple times. So I guess it's just about who's got a crazy claque of friends and relatives willing to spend the whole night hunched over the 'redial' button.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[DanCa]

10. Lol . I just heard Bo Bice is going to be on Jimmy Kimmel tonight.

-just fyi-

[cynatnite]

9. I'm still convinced Bo Bice should have won...

Much better voice and he's a real musician. Constatine was okay and I really loved listening to Anwar. He had a fabulous voice.

Carrie has a pretty voice, but I think her looks is why she won.

[DanCa]

12. I agree with everything you said.

Now how do you explan John "Red" Stevens too me?

[LostinVA]

26. I love my little Bojangles Bearded Growly Bear

My love for him completely confused my teenage niece, who said, "Aren't you gay? I thought you don't men that way." Silly, silly girl. I had to explain to her that wanting to sleep with Kate Winslet and Ashley Judd doesn't mean I also can't love my little Bojangles Bearded Growly Bear.

[Orangepeel]

21. if they are trying to find someone who will sell CDs...

then it makes sense that it is more about popularity than talent.

Somebody like Carrie Underwood (who my 12 year old daughter LOVED) who can get a bunch of people to call up and vote for her, can, presumably, also get a bunch of people to listen to them on the radio, watch their videos, and buy their CDs.

[Redstone]

11. Better you than me.

I guess SOMEBODY has to do it...

Redstone

[Skittles]

24. watching people humilate themselves

not my cup of tea

[democracyindanger]

13. There's another big cut in Hollywood

so the chaff hasn't been completely separated from the wheat yet.

I swore I wasn't going to watch it this season, but I can't help myself.

[DanCa]

15. It's kinda like watching a car wreck you know you shouldn't but

you cant take your eyes of the scene.

[democracyindanger]

18. "fascinoma"

There's actually a word for what you're describing. And you're 100% correct.

[mvd]

14. Wow, how did that crazy guy at the end get through?

Simon was right - that was stupid, and he wasn't talented. The Ukrainian girl was weird but more interesting, and she got sent home.

I definitely like some pop music, but not all of the performances are my kind. Still, I'll enjoy the season. I wanted Bo to win but Carrie made a decent CD (though not as good as Kelly's,) so I'm not as mad.

[Zookeeper]

16. Like another poster, it's a family thing with my kids and me.

I actually enjoy the audition episodes more than the later ones simply because I can't stand that kind of "pop" music and don't enjoy listening to the entire songs.

But, I agree with your observations, Plaid Adder. The auditioners confuse singing loud with singing well. They also overload on the "vocal stylings" instead of just taking a damned singing lesson! And it drives me nuts when they do that thing of putting one hand over an ear, as if they are in a studio. Or they move a hand up in a choppy fashion as they try to reach a high note. :eyes:

Finally, don't these really bad singers have a tape recorder or video camera available to them? One would hope that their friends and family would do the kind thing and play them a recording of their performance before they leave themselves open to endless ridicule.

[merh]

17. I can't believe that Kelly Clarkson won the People's Choice

award. She was the first year's winner and she is not that talented. She is really just average, imho.

[mvd]

20. Not IMO

She deserved it. And she keeps getting better.

[Dave Reynolds]

19. I have been thinking that the truly bad singers

are there in the hope that they will be on the highlight reel of really bad singers.

For some, negative attention is also good attention.

[SeattleGirl]

22. I absolutely cannot listen to bad singing!

That's one reason I don't watch the show. That bad singing hurts my ears and makes me cringe! :scared:

[NMMNG]

23. I almost enjoy the tryouts more than the actual competition

It gives me some of the biggest laughs I get all year. :rofl:

[LostinVA]

25. They sing for producers the day before, and the very best AND

very worst go through to Simon, Randy, and Paula... along with those people who just want to get on TV.

[RockaFowler]

27. Everyone wants to be the next William Hung

William Hung is a lot better than 1/2 of those they even let go to Hollywood. William Hung still is terrible, though

[LostinVA]

28. William Hung made alot more $$$

Than many AI finalists. I love that little freak!