Any American Idol fans?

[annr]

Agreed....I wonder if the recording mics make it sound different to us than it does to them. *shrug*

I've wondered the same thing.

This probably isn't a brilliant observation but it seems they are judging the 'marketability' factor: cute, sexy, different...maybe a good singer.

We also wonder how fair the finals are. Seems there is some pretty heavy steering at the end, esp. after the producer(?) gets involved. Ultimately how do we know that the vote count was fair?

I must add that some of the comments by the judges seem quite good and on point. Mostly I would complain about the fact that the majority of the contestants have little or no vocal technique (pitch, breathing, legato, diction, rhythm, ensemble skills) or real control over what they are doing; and many of them act like they know everything!!

And some of those rehearsals...yikes...pure comedy, or tragedy.

 

[annr]

I think singing in the shower or car makes some of these knuckleheads actually believe they've 'got it'.

Having heard singers from the MET or other world-class musicians teach I also get a kick out of some of the coaching from a once-was-popular singer.
Now I don't like opera, but in Great Britain there was a comparable competition for vocalists and the winners did sing lead operatic roles with a professional opera company. The singers were OUTSTANDING! And Idol contestants sing about 3 minutes of music. Imagine singing a 3 hour opera in a foreign language, or playing a 20 minute concerto. Most classically trained musicians who reach 'stardom' and those who don't started when they were as young as ages 3-5 and most practiced 3-6 hours per day, some 8 hours per day. So these wannabes just kill me with their expectations and belly aching.

Granted there is talent IMO, but very undeveloped in most cases.