American Idol/XFactor/Pop Idol
musicismylife78
Posts: 6,116
What is your opinion on these shows? I personally cant stand them, but I am in the minority it seems, as these shows when they have votes, draw in HUGE amounts of people and thats something because typically tv viewers are thought of as being passive, especially young ones.
I love a great pop tune, and can freely admit this. But I think the culture that these shows promote is dangerous. To Simon, and all the judges, Paula Abdul included, success is singing passive, non threatening songs (non political, not shaking up the status quo). Success is creating art that is in no way challenging or experimental, for fear of losing fans, or worse, losing the judges. The songs for them to be successful need to follow traditional, and orthodox structures, verse, chorus, verse.
And the basic principle, in these shows, is that for someone to be successful musically, they need the approval of people like a Simon or Paula or whoever. Nowadays that seems more and more out of touch, with the changing shape of music and how it is distributed and obtained and listened to. These shows spread the idea that art is to be safe, basic, predictable, and basically boring, otherwise you lose a fanbase, and dont win a prize (money, exposure).
All art that has ever spoken to me, has usually been experimental and unorthodox, and doesnt sound like anything else. And what makes that more impressive i usually the risks these bands take, to make their music, to sell it, to promote it, despite having so many people telling them to do something else, or change this verse, or do this or do that.
Additionally, many performers who are the best we have ever seen, would never have made it past the opening audition, Dylan certainly would have been laughed off the stage, Neil Young as well. Tom Wait? Forget it! Radiohead's Kid A phase? No Way! Joanna Newsom? Give me a break. Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective? No way in hell.
I love a great pop tune, and can freely admit this. But I think the culture that these shows promote is dangerous. To Simon, and all the judges, Paula Abdul included, success is singing passive, non threatening songs (non political, not shaking up the status quo). Success is creating art that is in no way challenging or experimental, for fear of losing fans, or worse, losing the judges. The songs for them to be successful need to follow traditional, and orthodox structures, verse, chorus, verse.
And the basic principle, in these shows, is that for someone to be successful musically, they need the approval of people like a Simon or Paula or whoever. Nowadays that seems more and more out of touch, with the changing shape of music and how it is distributed and obtained and listened to. These shows spread the idea that art is to be safe, basic, predictable, and basically boring, otherwise you lose a fanbase, and dont win a prize (money, exposure).
All art that has ever spoken to me, has usually been experimental and unorthodox, and doesnt sound like anything else. And what makes that more impressive i usually the risks these bands take, to make their music, to sell it, to promote it, despite having so many people telling them to do something else, or change this verse, or do this or do that.
Additionally, many performers who are the best we have ever seen, would never have made it past the opening audition, Dylan certainly would have been laughed off the stage, Neil Young as well. Tom Wait? Forget it! Radiohead's Kid A phase? No Way! Joanna Newsom? Give me a break. Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective? No way in hell.
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Although last year we did watch X factor until Laura White went out, but that was because my hubby fancied her. The whole thing is just set up for entertainment purposes and for the producers/record companies to make a fast buck. I think as long as the person is aware of this when they go into the competition all well and good. It's been proved there's a market for this kind of programme as it's been on year after year. I don't think it will take over from the traditional ways of discovering new talent, I mean a lot of the past contestants, even winners have vanished without a trace anyway.
I can't stand them either. Good music doesn't need a TV show to promote it. I also feel that shows like this are just temptations for too many people who just shouldn't take a stab at being musician. Not because they're not talented, but I feel that they are just products of a mold. In my opinion I think originality/individuality is the most important thing to possess as an artist. American Idol in no way promotes that.
But hey, I don't see these shows going away anytime soon...there are plenty of people out there who eat this shit up day and night.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
I have always felt like most people that go on these shows are striving to be a mold. To them, this is what makes a successful musican. I'm sure there are exceptions, but most of them are looking for fame versus making music. My understanding of the contracts on these shows is that you pretty sell yourself to them. They manage you, tell you what to sing, how to sing it, etc..... If someone was really trying to make it as a legitimate musican, would you really give up all your creativity to be someone's puppet?
I actually had a similar discussion with someone about the shows not too long ago. Their comment was that its hard to make it in the music business and you will do what you have to do to make. My arguement to that was its actually never been easier for your music to be heard. If you are willing to put in the time and the work, there are so many ways to get your music out there. Not to mention, nowadays, how many successful bands out there have never been on the radio?
The industry was fucked before these shows, but it was the same mentality with throw away bands, and singers that led us to this shit !!
I hate all these shows with a passion, and have a really hard time hiding my contempt for people who watch them and care about them.
that's just me though.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
That's a very good point, and something I didn't consider. Although I think that shows more about your neice, and not the show.
Perhaps I'm being close minded, but myself personally I just can't tolerate these shows.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Exactly. We all judge music to a certain extent, and even I am guilty of checking out the endless year end lists of "best albums of the year" or "best albums of the decade", but these shows promote the idea that one has to be a certain type of singer and do certain things in order to be successful. The biggest part of the show, the main draw, is seeing the reactions and opinions of the 3 judges, at least for AI. While obviously the singer can do whatever he or she wants, there is no doubt, the 3 judges opinions matter to the larger population, and to the singers themselves. As I said before, what I have always found most appealing in music, is the bands that take chances and risks, the bands who push the envelope, who are unique and original. And lets be real folks, you aint gonna find any of that on these shows. These shows are about cookie cutter/manufactured pop music, not GOOD pop music. And despite that other posters statement, I dont think people who watch these shows go and search out other music, or the original songs that these singers cover. The biggest lie, and its a pretty disturbing one at that, and basically the reason I think the show should be pulled, is that to be a successful and famous musician, one has to be on these talent shows. These singers live and die depending in large part what one measly person, Simon, says about their music. That is absurd in the highest.
Music in its purest and most beautiful form, is the raw, intense, unfiltered, and uncensored exposure of what is in the singers heart.
There are better examples of this though. The show Glee, had many people searching out the real versions of those choir songs, and tv shows and movies nowadays regularly feature soundtracks, and many you tube videos are littered with "I heard this song in the movie xyz", or "I heard this on the new episode of (insert tv show).". That to me is more a reality than someone seeing some american idol episode and going to search out the dischography of dylan.
I LOVE what you've said here.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
i love the show Glee and i watch it with my neice ( she lives with me so we watch alot of TV together). look back on all of our lives their might be some sort of music that we are ashamed abotu liking but i look at it as it made me a fan of music and i think that when you are young you explore different types of music but you have to have that love for music before that happens. i remember watching "my co-called life" and hearing Julinna Hatfield and i fell in love with her and still love her to this day. let people hear music when they are young and hopefully they will grow up to play in a band like Pearl Jam which we all love.
my niece is 1 smart person of course i take all the credit
Bitch about it forums. I'm not about to hold mybreath waiting for this dumbass reality/contest tv show craze to die off. It'll live much longer than disco, I imagine.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2