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| From | "Christopher" <plattc@optonline.net> |
| Subject | Re: You Know What I Think? |
| Date | Fri, 15 Apr 2005 10:10:09 -0400 |
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Thought this was an interesting perspective on American Idol, excerpted from
Stephen Holden's review yesterday of Barbara Cook's cabaret show. It's a
bit harsh, but he nails a lot of what bugs me about AI. (My nutshell
problem with it: pointless melismas and vocal acrobatics do not equal
talent, particularly when, for most contestants, accurate pitch is often
optional.)
"While watching "Tribute," I thought back to the Broadway anthology
unleashed on the April 5 edition of "American Idol," whose nine contestants
struggled to articulate fragments of songs like "The Impossible Dream,"
"People," "My Funny Valentine" and "Hello, Young Lovers." The paradox of
this toxic singing contest, which is the rough equivalent of the old "Ed
Sullivan Show" in suggesting the median level of mass musical taste, is that
it has the power to canonize songs, which its clueless judges then go on to
treat as stunts in a gymnastic competition that rewards crude physical
prowess.
To listen to Simon Cowell dismiss the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic
"Hello, Young Lovers" as a "mind-numbingly boring" song that belongs on "a
washing powder commercial in 1965" was to hear an ill-willed philistine
sneering through a cloud of his own noxious vapors.
The contestants are urged not to be "pitchy" (the program's favorite
pseudo-technical word for off-pitch, which they usually are), and are
congratulated for their high notes and telegenic appeal. ("I admit I'm
falling in love with you," Paula Abdul gushed to one. "When you smile you
melt America's heart," she blubbered to another.) The third judge, Randy
Jackson, doesn't know the difference between a dude and a "dogg" (his two
favorite words).
Let's not kid ourselves: the ascendance of "American Idol," and its turning
of music into sports, signals the end of American popular song as we know
it. Its ritual slaughter of songs allows no message to be carried, no wisdom
to be communicated, other than the screamed and belted song of the self.
Ms. Cook, who gives master classes in how to sing and tell the truth, could
talk herself blue in the face to these people and never be understood. What
a stunning loss we face."
For what it's worth.
Christopher
> -----Original Message-----
> From: audities-owner@smoe.org [mailto:audities-owner@smoe.org] On Behalf
> Of Michael vg
> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 9:53 AM
> To: Stewart Mason; audities@smoe.org
> Subject: Re: You Know What I Think?
>
> How cool is this!!!!! I love AI and was shocked also
> Stewart. The girl has "it", the thing Simon keeps
> saying the winer needs. But then Simon's past
> choices haven't worked out as planned either.
>
> michael vg
> --- Stewart Mason <craigtorso@verizon.net> wrote:
> > I realize this may be the wrong place to do so, but still, I must
> > vent:
> >
> > Nadia Turner was fucking robbed.
>
> > S
>
>
>
>
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