Funmurphys: the Blog

American Idol

I didn't watch the show the first time, and I doubt I'll watch it much this time. Since I happen to live in America, I heard plenty about it the first time. And I have managed to catch a few of the open audition episodes this time around. Frankly, I don't see the attraction. You have people with a wide range of talent, from good to really, really awful (people who's singing is worse than mine, and that's saying a lot) and then three judges react. I don't know what the big deal is about Simon Crowell, he's not just being honest, he's trying to do these people a favor. Some of the contestants honestly don't seem to realize just what terrible singers they are - a candy coated rejection will keep them hanging on to their misperception. Much better to give them an honest appraisal, and be brutal to those who think they can sing when they can't. I wouldn't have thought that until I saw people who, after demonstrating their clear inability to carry a tune in a bucket, want to argue that they are talented singers. You need a two by four to get the attention of a mule; you need brutality to get the attention of the self-delusional.