Has American Idol Jumped the Shark?

Many people dismiss American Idol and its “manufactured stars,” but I think it is really a great boot camp for future stars. The schedule and the pressure of the show really take a toll on those not ready for a career in show business. It strengthens those who are ready and breaks those who are not.

Simon Cowell was the resident curmudgeon until the end of the season two years ago. He was an equal-opportunity disparager.

You could tell that there were musical genres that he did not like, and he would be very critical of those who sung in those genres. Cowell was also critical of those who were not trying very hard and of those who were too smug and self-confident.  However, Cowell also gave constructive criticism. A contestant could analyze that criticism and change accordingly or stick to his or her guns. The contestant did have something to think about, though, and could do as he or she thought best.

When Cowell left, third string judge Randy Jackson became the lead judge.  Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joined Jackson.

Tyler’s main role on the show was to be the live wire. If there was a double – or not so double -- entendre, it came from Tyler. His critiques, however, quickly became a game of “how many ways can someone say ‘you are the greatest thing since sliced bread’” without repeating himself.

Lopez tried to be helpful but was uncomfortable with the roll of being critical.

Jackson liked to show how many people he knew in the music industry and the different styles of music he knew, even though he gave the impression that he just looked them up that afternoon.

Something changed on the show this year, though. Maybe today’s young audience does not recognize the beauty of the human voice as it sings a heartfelt song. Listen to current music. How many of today’s singers voices are pumped through a synthesizer? That may have been a neat effect in 1998, but now it comes across as a cover for poor singers.

There is also the infatuation for “runs.” A run is where the singer slides all over a wide range while never hitting a definite note. With limited use it may be a nice touch, but when used through an entire song it sounds the singer just can’t find the note.

Some American Idol contestants also think that growling and shrieking is the mark of a good singer.  Again, a little goes a long way.

When I watch American Idol, one of my criteria is whether I could sit through a forty-five minute concert by a singer without getting bored. I want a singer who is dynamic and is comfortable with changing it up a little bit.

I was in radio long enough that I can appreciate someone who is good in a genre, even if I don’t care for that genre. I also understand that my favorite is not going to win every time. That is life. When I watch a season of American Idol I expect the contestants to get constructive criticism dispensed fairly.

I do not mind little clues that tell me that a judge likes a particular performer – the judges are human, after all. Often, when Simon Cowell thought a contestant was beyond redemption, his comments tended to be, “yeah, whatever.” And many times the contestants he thought were good would receive the harshest criticism. He was telling them, “You are better than that.”

This past week featured the final four for this year. Those four are Phil Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, and Hollie Cavanagh. Of those four I have a favorite, one has potential, and two of them have nothing to offer.

Phil Phillips, often referred to as P2, is a bar singer.  Generally speaking, when you have heard him sing one song, you have heard him sing every song that he sings.

Phillips has that “artsy” tendency of missing notes by half a mile all in the name of “making the song his own,” and looking like someone who is seriously constipated. To be fair, it is reported that he has had some health issues.

I do not understand the attraction of 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez. When I watch her, she reminds me of a little girl dressed up in her mother’s clothes. She is a mimic, doing all of those things that divas from the past twenty years have done. I do not feel any connection between her and the songs she sings.

Sanchez was the recipient of the judge’s save this year. For a comparison, watch last year's save of Casey Abrams:

Notice that the judges remained in their seats and offered Abrams come constructive criticism to help him. Compare that with this year’s save of Sanchez:

The judges rushed the stage. “Give me that mic.” Then Randy Jackson lectures America to “vote for the best.” What are the other contestants, chopped liver?

I liked Joshua Ledet at the beginning of the season and I still want to like him. However, he is under the impression that singing in a voice that puts all the stray cats in the neighborhood in heat is a good thing. When he sings softly he is very soulful. Many of his performances, though, have been pedal-to-the-metal. He loses the beauty and meaning of songs that way.

Ledet has rarely heard a critical word from the judges. He, without exaggeration, has gotten a standing ovation from the judges for at least 75% of his performances.  The judges have told him that he is the best singer in the past 50 years. They have ranked him right up with such singers as Sam Cooke.

Joshua Ledet and Sam Cooke, let’s compare:

Ledet is young. He has potential. But as of 2012, Ledet is no Sam Cooke. There are many great recordings by many great singers in the last 50 years, and Ledet does not compare. Maybe he will get there, but he isn’t there yet.

The hyperbole does nothing to help these young singers develop. How can they improve if they are being told that they are “the best singer in America” or “the best singer in fifty years?” Perhaps it could be forgiven if everyone got the same treatment, but that is not the case.

Hollie Cavanagh comes from Liverpool, England by way of Texas. To my ear she has the purest tone of any contestant on Idol this year.  The judges comments, however, have had a completely different tone than the comments to the other contestants.  There have been at least two times this year when the judges have had nothing but praise for all the other contestants but fed Cavanaugh through the shredder. Those comments were really not helpful: “I didn’t like that.” “It wasn’t perfect.” “That wasn’t very good.” This week, Jennifer Lopez criticized Cavanagh for overdoing her vibrato. To me, an overdone vibrato is like fingers on a chalkboard. I did not think so with Cavanagh. They criticized her performance as not being believable.  I believed every second of it:

Cavanagh and Sanchez sang a duet. When it fell flat, the judges blamed it on Cavanagh. Cavanagh has been criticized for “not being fully developed,” as if that is a mortal sin for an 18 year old. When in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine made the same comment about Jessica Sanchez, Jennifer Lopez said, “What do you expect for someone so young.” There is not that large a difference between 16 and 18.

The judges on American Idol have become removed from what America thinks. After Jessica Sanchez sang a Tina Tuner-ish version of Proud Mary while wearing a short dress from the Sherwin-Williams collection, Iovine questioned whether the outfit was appropriate for a 16 year old. Lopez replied that they were in Hollywood and that the standards are different than they are in Middle America. Earth to Jennifer Lopez: Hollywood needs Middle America more than Middle America needs Hollywood.

In theory, I am not bothered that Holly Cavanagh was sent home this week. When there is so much talent in a competition and there is only one winner, many good people have to lose. What has bothered people this year is the hyper-criticism of one contestant who is, arguably, on a par or better than everyone else while the other people get praises by the truckload.

I read a rumor that American Idol will have new judges next season.  Unless they want next year to be the last, that would be a good move on the part of the producers.