[Chunga]

You are not here distributing warm charitable fuzzies to each and every contestant either.

I most certainly am. I have stated repeatedly that I hate to see any of them go. I have had good things to say about all of them. I haven't rooted for ANY of them to be voted off. EVER!

You and others, on the other hand, pretend to yourself and everyone here that you can know what these young people are like, discern their faults out of a television screen and hold these projections against them, accusing them of petulance, lack of humility and hardheadedness in the face of criticism. And you can dislike their beautiful legs and their low-cut tops when wardrobe, with whom the contestants consult constantly, offers them the best advice they can give and it is taken.

The worst thing I have ever said about a contestant is what I said about McCreery. He is a middling talent. And he reflects the tastes of a majority of Idol voters. I think he will be a major star and if he is I will be very happy for him.

It is not wrong of me that I wish America's tastes were more elevated. It isn't wrong of me to hope that Lauren wins because her level of talent blows McCreery's into the dirt. It isn't wrong of me to wish that Pia Toscano had won the whole thing, because her level of singing ability was approached only by Lauren Alaina and Jacob Lusk, and they don't really come close. And it isn't wrong of me to point out that I believe people are pulling for their favorites based on and determined by a bunch of non-musical criteria.

I am a musician. Music is important to me. I want the best to rise. America WILL NOT HAVE IT. It is reflected in this thread.

Thank you.

[grania]

As a musician, you can maybe understand the distaste some of us dinosaurs have. If I want to hear interesting music by independent artists, I'm better off at some of the smaller venues such as those in Northampton, MA. The current game is all about fitting into a game plan and selling what it's pre-dertermined that people want to hear.

I like Jennifer Hudson. She didn't win AI, but she did find her singing and personality niche. Carrie Underwood is all-country and always knew it.

Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga keep talking about playing a role, like it's acting and theater more than it's about singing. I was an avid John Stewart fan, going to every one of his shows I could get to. Where are the Chers, the Stevie Nix's, the Steven Tylers, the Judy Collins types, etc? I want singers who have wonderful voices and sing about personal experiences and feelings, from the heart and soul.

It seems that more and more each year, AI is trying to bend that into something that the record companies can make quick profits from. Maybe that's what people saw in the two country kids getting the nod from voters. They can sing, and they seem to know who they are.