American Idol 9: Musicians' Perspective?

I've never really given it a chance, though I've heard bad things. Seems like that Simon guy is a jerk. Takes alot of courage to get up there and sing just to have someone put you down the way he does.

I hope I don't get beat up,

I watch it and am just amazed year after year and repeatedly tell my wife you could go to any high school choir and find better singers for the most part.

Crystal Bowersox is the exception, she plays guitar very good and does it with ease and that is who she is a acoustic guitar playing singer songwriter.

No one ever told Bob Dylan, Neil Young , John Prine and on and on to put the guitar down and quit hiding behind it. When Ellen and Kara , Judges on AI told her that you can tell they don't know squat about folk music and folksingers.

Even if you don't watch the show, you should check out Crystal Bowersox, she has got it figured out, what a great performer !

Boycott  AMERICAN IDOL( and geographical equivalent)!!!!!  Worldwide.  PLEASE !!!!!

Send your kids, or go yourself, to your local music store for lessons from real, established, proven, respected, hard-working local musicians. Internet sales are killing many music stores. In-store instruction is the only thing enabling many of these stores to stay open. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MUSICIANS AND LOCAL MUSIC STORES/SHOPPES......

Peace and Guitars,
SouthPaw41L

I watch it sometimes.  My wife watches it, and so that means I do too.  At least until my sound-deadened office is ready and I can go make my own music as loud as I want even when the kids are in bed.  Every once in a while you get someone with a lot of talent.  I really liked the gray-haired guy that sang soul a few seasons ago.  I don't remember his name.  I guess I'm a bad fan. 

Anyway, you'll see better talent at pretty much any folk jamm or open mic night (especially the juried ones).  And at those, usually you can score a beer or two and almost always some nachos.   Plus, you can just clap.  You don't have to call a 900 fee charge phone number to show your appreciation. 

For the record, I'd never make it on American Idol, and not because of being fat and bald either.  I'm a terrible singer.  Just thought I'd get that out in the open so it didn't look like sour grapes. 

- Zurf

I've found it more enjoyable since they have allowed contestants to play an instrument.

I also support my local music store and our Open Mic and coffeshop and try to get to 3 to 4 Bluegrass Events a year.

I know what Southpaw is saying and I respect his views. A karaoke DJ can earn as much and more than a liveband and It's a blankety,blank shame . I have bought all but one of my guitars at  Music Stores and most of them are very competative on guitars and amps. I buy strings online,using several guitars on a regular basis I go through alot of strings. I just can't justify paying 3 times as much at the local shop.

I liked the show a few years ago... not so much now.  I enjoy watching the beginning... when the judges have to see 200 people in a day and pick a couple to move on.  It's good entertainment to see how horrible some people are that actually think they can sing.  On another note, it's also sad to see how good some people are and they get booted off before they've really had a chance all because they're nervous.  My husband says, "you're better than most of those people, you could do that!" ... I say... NOPE, I couldn't.  I've sang a few times in front of people live, my knees knock and my throat closes up   I do ok but not good "enough".  After the beginning I watch a couple more rounds of it... seeing some that made it through that I thought were horrible (wondering why they made it and some of the others didn't, although I know it's just because they had a good story that makes for good TV and not much to do with their singing)... then I pretty much quit watching... it's usually about the time that they start getting told they need to step it up YET they have no way to do that just standing in the middle of a stage by themselves having been stripped of their guitar and half of their self esteem.  It makes me think, "that's probably what it's like to be a famous singer with top 10 albums out... give up everything to do what the monsters at the top of the food chain think you should do to SELL albums"... no thanks.  Towards the end of the show's season sometimes I watch again just to see who's left that they've been able to turn into a really good singer via the $$ and mold that they were able to fit into.  This show reminds me why I'd rather sing in the bathroom than on stage!  Simon is a jerk... but I guess it makes for "good tv" since the show is still running... just not good for me.

A truer statement you won't find......

Papa,

It's just cheap entertainment and all but a few have come and gone. If you aint got it you aint got it and most of them have been just average Karaoke singers.

Some are dedicated musicians, but most were singing in the shower and then decided to go try out

ok I was just watching Crystal Bowersox on the top 11, and MILEY CYRUS was giving her advice! Miley can't sing half of what Crystal can. What a disney joke

>>>Papa,

It's just cheap entertainment and all but a few have come and gone.<<<<

That's what I would think; however, even the worst of them seem to eventually pop up on my clock radio one morning with a "new hit."  Having been there, I understand that a record deal is far from a guaranteed career, but I also understand that it used to - and SHOULD - take a lot of work to get to even THAT point.

If American Idol weren't the ONLY thing going on in the music industry, I would agree that it's just cheap, harmless entertainment.  But, for nine years, this show has been setting the bar for aspiring young artists - and setting it very low, unfortunately.

I don't watch the show until it gets near the finals. I gotta say that this years group of finalists are not impressive at all other then Christal Bowersox. The girl can sing.
She has hinted that next week she will be without her guitar I hope it turns out for her cause if I was a betting man my money would be on her.

LOL!  Good story Wayne!  I did the voice lessons in high school... which came along with a LOT of short choir solos... solo singing competitions in front of judges... singing in a couple weddings (one of which I got paid a whopping $25 but that was a LOT for a 16 year old!)... pushes to do certain songs at Kareokie... and of it all I enjoyed singing "Opera" songs the best.  I see what happens when my dad gets his guitar out at the campfire and I am prepared for the onslaught this coming summer because I know he's going to tell me to bring mine with me or hand me his after about 3 songs!    I think I'll handle the campfires alright (as long as I also have a few beers in me) but I'm not so sure about playing during a Lefse making party!  LOL!  Thanks for the heads up and the encouragement!

That's just it!  They fast track these kids into the false sense of superstardom and tell them what to do so they can make money (not the kids that is)... and if they're lucky they get a great deal that DOES fit with their voice and singing style... but more likely than not they just get run over by a train when all is said and done.  They aren't inspired to create great music... they are inspired to do as they're told to win and pray for a record deal.  It's sad.  Gone are the days (yes, I'm too young to know the days I'm talking about but I've seen enough "good ole" movies about REAL stars to know) when you could walk into a producing studio and beg them to listen to your music and hope the liked YOUR music and actually become a star on your OWN merit and abilities!