American Idol Turns the Corner

I have always felt that one of the major problems with American Idol is that at the end of the day, it is a singing competition. There is no emphasis placed on what kind of music these contestants are able to create.

This (IMHO) has led to a plethora of albums by pop singers who look good, sound good, but end up releasing what is for the most part, a bunch of innocuous albums

But as I began watching the show this season (in order to tag my protest video against them) I began to notice that this year the series seems to have had some of the most original sounding contestants that they have ever had. I think a lot of this is due to the fact that Simon Cowell is no longer part of the series. His barometer of good has always been very vanilla and with his exit, has been the exit of so much of the shows cruelty too.

But the real surprise this week though is that three contestants on American Idol (where allowed to) perform  their own original songs as part of the competition.

We only got to hear a few bars of these songs (We only got to hear a few bars of the cover songs too, so it's not like there is any bias going on with this), so there is no way to know if these songs are as good as the hits that the other contestants are singing but the genie has been let out of the bottle.

American Idol has finally acknowledged a little thing called song writing

Who knows, they might even start to acknowledge that it's important to the health and long life of music in our popular culture.

Will there be more original songs this season?

I will be curious to see.

Because let's face it. As much as I have despised this show and found it to be denigrating to musicians, A.I. has an enormous impact on the general public. I have always thought that what the music industry and America needs is an American Idol style show that concentrates on finding artists that can not only create a great performance but can CREATE great new music.

American Idol is still not that show yet. But this is a step in the right direction.
Now they just need to stop their discriminating practices and allow the mature artists a chance at "The Dream" too.

UPDATE 03/16/11 : I continue to be impressed with the new direction that the show is taking. The cruelty  (and musical narrow mindedness) of the Simon Cowell era really has gone out the window. That's not to say that there isn't criticism. But instead it is professional and constructive and kindly given. Diversity and uniqueness, is being valued over cookie cutter pop singers. This show is no longer about who will be last man standing. It's about using the opportunity to showcase what you can do. Before it was a chore to watch this show (so I could tag my video), Now it's a pleasure to watch it......They still need to take away the age restriction though.

It's the song that's King

One thing about releasing my  American Idol music video, is that it has really given me a glimpse into how the rest of America is thinking.

While reading through the comments, I noticed an argument between two youtube users.

One of them argued that no American Idol  contestant could play guitar as well as I (thank you, that was nice of you).

The other argued that just being able to play an instrument doesn't make you an artist (someone should tell that to Joshua Bell) and that you HAVE to be a great vocalist to be a great artist.

I certainly don't agree with this last statement. I can name tons of musical icons whose voices (while distinctive) would not be considered great voices by the AI judges. But what they had in common was the ability to create great songs that speak to you.

And that's when I realized that it's not the singer that is king.

It's not the guitarist that is king either.

It's not the drummer, the bass player......and it's definitely not the producer either.

It's the song.

It's the song that's king.

Somehow we as a culture forgot this.

Deep Thoughts

There is a kind of conceit among music fans and musicians too, that deep thinkers write deep lyrics, and that if you don’t write deep lyrics (In other words you write songs about girls, cars, etc) that you aren’t a deep person.

But you know, just because you write songs about cars and girls, doesn't mean that you are not a deep thinker.

Or perhaps a better way to say this is: Just because your songs don't have "serious" lyrics, doesn't mean you aren't a deep thinker (or a serious person).

When I first started writing songs for my first CD, I wanted to write songs that where fun. I didn't want to be serious. At the time I felt that my biggest challenge was trying to write songs about girls, cars, etc, but find something lyrically new to do with it.

Since that time some of the songs on my later albums, have ventured into songs with more serious (IE: Deeper) lyrics. But to be honest, I was no less deep when I wrote about how stunning a woman is, then when I wrote about the demons that torment my soul.

Speaking or tormented. We often associate thinking deep with being tormented, conflicted, etc.

As if you can't be a deep thinker and be happy.

I remember when John Lennon released his (sadly) last album, critics had a hard time with it because the songs mostly reflected a man who was happy with where he was in his life and with his family (As opposed to the more tormented genius that they where used to).

I remember one writer referring to the album as his version of "Silly Love Songs".

But I am sure he was no less deep when he was happy.

How to create your own Brittany Spears

While searching for work as a musician and songwriter, I came across
this ad.

This ad is real. I did not make it up. Below is the entire ad
verbatim

Check it out and then read my follow up commentary:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We need a songwriter to write some songs for one of our singers. They
need to be either hip hop, pop, or r&b songs. Your name will be
credited and shown to other singers. You'll also get $150 per song.
You'll just need to write the song, send the lyrics to me, and if we
decide to use your song we'll send you the money however you chose.
These songs are going to be for a teenage girl. Here are the songs we
need:

1). rich & awesome (kind of about being conceited)

2). can't stop loving you (about wanting someone who doesn't want you
back but you don't want to give up hope)

3). im just me (about not wanting to change for someone else)

4). rumors (about being tired of all the rumors going around)

5). the perfect lie (about you being a mistake)

6). forever a true friend (about having one friend who's always been
there)

7). party girl (about just wanting to have fun)

8). drama queen (about being a drama queen)

9). this is life (about all the troubles life brings but also about
the good times).

If you can help with any of these songs please email me! We do not
have any samples of the singer to send but if it helps she sounds
like Christina Aguilera.
>>>>>>>>>>>

Now what struck me about this ad, besides the unbelievable and
outrageous fact that they are buying you out for $150 dollars a song,
is the formula they have presented.

Basically they want to produce a 9 track album and they already know
what each song needs to be about.

We always knew these acts where formulaic, but this ad spells out the
album formula for every Brittany/Hillary/Ashley pop princess in the
making.

Every record label owes the author of this ad a debt of gratitude for
their efforts to further the formula that is the product that we call
pop princess.

All you have to do is find a teenage girl that will do what you tell
her (Who cares if she can really sing or not, it hasn't hurt Ashley
any). Add some slinky clothes and follow this album recipe and
Walla!.... Instant pop princess.