My wife has a dirty secret
Published by Woody May 15th, 2008 in Music Musings.
It’s been awhile since I ranted. On Tuesday I had a softball game that was canceled, so instead of going out drinking, I came home to see my kids before bed. I walked into the bedroom and to my horror, my wife and kids were watching American Idol. I was in shock. I think I would rather walked in on her with another man. She told me it was the first time and that she doesn’t normally watch it, but I’m sure Elliot Spitzer used the same line of defense with his spouse.
I prided myself on never having watched a minute of American Idol. The whole concept of the show makes me ill. And it’s not because of the choice of music . Find me at a bar in Wrigleyville post Cubs game and 10 beers deep, and there’s no one singing “Since You Been Gone” louder.
But there we were, in this awkward moment not wanting to make eye contact with one another. We started putting the kids in PJ’s and the first ass-clown trotted out on stage. He was the “rocker guy.” Yikes! He sure was a bad boy. His hair product may cost more than his Les Paul. He fired up a Nickleback cover or something similar. Girls screamed and people were holding up signs. I was mortified. To say that it sucked would be an insult to the word suck. Then Simon, Dawg and the washed up 80’s pop princess babbled on about this, that, and the other thing.
Next up was a young (hot) girl who did her best Beyonce impression. Yawn. And then the tour-de-force. Some young guy came out and covered “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg. I remember being forced into listening to that song as kid and going into fits, banging my head against the window. And that was that. I couldn’t watch it anymore. I was hyperventilating at this point, breathing into a brown paper bag.
So that was my first and last encounter with the American Idol phenomenon. Here’s my verdict - It’s a joke. It lacks soul or feeling and it’s completely packaged. I feel sad that this is where the majority of American people now look to find their next pop star.
This show is unwatchable. My pain threshold is broken after viewing for somewhere between 30-45 seconds.
Sayesha is gone now, so it’s down to the two David’s! I wonder who’ll win!
Daughtry is a guilty pleasure of mine, as is Carrie Underwood. That Louisville Slugger song about her cheating boyfriend is just an amazing tune. Amazing piece too.
I also just noticed that the little google ad on the right says “Screw my husband.” Nice work.
The overproduction on this show is way too much and it can be hard on the eyes. BUT…I still like the fact that dudes like Daughtry are making millions of dollars as recording artists now when he would be working some hourly gig back in N.C. if this show didn’t exist.
In fact, in honor of Chris Daughtry shortening his name, I’m shortening my HearYa handle.
As far as this year goes, my wife is obsessed with David Cook. I don’t really have anything against the guy…..he can definitely sing and I’m not an afficionado on guitar playing but it seems he can do that as well.
He’s never stood up there and been like “I’m a rocker, man!” The judges and producers just package him like that.
Wow! I just wrote about three paragraphs defending American Idol….uh….Oz watches October Road.
I also love AI. I think the whole “manufactured” bit is exactly what fascinates me. Here you see exactly what happens when artistry meets “the biz.” The last two currently standing are certainly not the best that America has to offer (though I do believe Archuleta’s gonna be huge and rightfully so). But you do encounter some interesting talent along the way. Most of them get tossed aside, and let’s face it–it’s because the public at large simply doesn’t want them. As far as reality programming goes, I don’t think it gets anymore realistic than this.
I agree, American Idol is a joke. Or a brilliant marketing plan to making money. it appeals to the white trash of our society which unfortately holds a large percentage of the American population. I don’t feel anything.. no emotion.. no chills.. nothing real wihen I watch these singers go through a thousand licks. It’s overkill. Isn’t that the opposite of art?