So, I have a confession. An addiction really and I know I am not the only one. I love American Idol this season. I’ve watched on and off in the past, but I decided at the beginning of this season that I would watch all the auditions. I do revel in the strangeness of our country and love to see a show exploit those who are disallusioned with ideas of being a famous singer. Although I certainly have my doubts about the authenticity of some of the auditioners, it still makes for some entertaining television. Say what you want about people getting famous without exactly working for it, not writing their own music, and going through the production mill of ”carving an artist” by a record label (which is all to Elvis Presley… you know… The King), you still have to give credit to some of these folks at really being able to sing.
What I have really enjoyed about this years is that you have a strange mix between those that are really marketable commodities as pop/rock musicians, and then those who just have an unbelievable talent and are great performers, but don’t fit the typical American Idol mold. Lets examine the final five contestants (in order of elimination). Paris Bennett, coming from the mold of Billie Holiday and other jazz greats, had probably more natural ability and mature talent than all of the final five, and this being only at 16 years of age. Her song selections were often geared towards the jazz/blues side, which was part of the reason she got eliminated, but had no interest in just going pop. Next you had Chris Daughtry. Definitely one of the more marketable characters on the show, with his Fuel sounding vocals and Ed Kowalczyk of Live looks, Chris had as much talent as some of better rock vocalists in mainstream music today, and a good stage presence. Next we have Elliot Yamin. This small, slack-jawed kid definitely didn’t have the marketability, but, man could this kid sing his butt off. By looking at him, you would never suspect that his voice could produce Steve Wonder type vocal ability, with as much soul as any white boy. Lastly we have our final two, Katherine and Taylor. They go to prove this back and forth dynamic. Yes, Katherine with her good looks, pop music sensibility, and all-to Kelly Clarkson vocal range can be branded for mainstream pop music, but the frontrunner to win tonight is Taylor Hicks, the Michael McDonald/Joe Cocker knockoff who actually has modern appeal. Its not that Taylor can’t be marketed to the mainstream, it just hasn’t really been done with anyone sounding so classic in today’s age.
The amazing part about all of this is that America actually seems to be voting (on some level) based upon talent. I would have doubted as much as Simon from the start. American Idol is about a package, looks, talent, marketability, etc. There’s no way this almost 30, grey-haired soul singer (who slightly reminds me of Robert Dinero when he sings, and I think he was raised similar to Steve Martin in The Jerk) could ever by “your next American Idol.” But here we are on the last day of the show, and the likely winner is no pop-star ready for Mtv. We’ve got someone who is a classic soul singer with a great stage presence and ability to perform, who respects and actually emulates some of the great historic singers. Good job, America… good job.
