on Criticism and false sunshine

I know I am both late to the proverbial party and a sad, lifeless husk of a human for this confession, but … I am watching this season of American Idol. I almost wish I had watched it when the British guy everyone said was so mean was on it. My main complaint about the show is the judges’ complete lack of ability to say anything helpful.

I am the last person to suggest that a budding/growing artist needs to get torn apart on national tv every week, or even behind closed doors once – art needs the freedom to take risks, and the freedom to learn from what doesn’t work. That said, however, I also feel that the opposite is true: art does not need to have sunshine pumped up it’s butt every week when there are perfectly valid critical points to the performance.

When Peachy McBabyface (Lauren) performed “The Climb” this week, she did an admirable job. She also slid into the high note like a runner stealing home plate – she didn’t hit the note, she sent out sonar signals until she found it. Scotty McTwangypants does the same thing with every note in any given song, under the guise of “country.” And the judges NEVER call them on such lazy, unprofessional behavior. They say how wonderful and moving and great all the contestants are.

Paul-y McShinyteeth (sad to see you go, buddy) had potential, but I felt like his performance would have been better if he could STOP smiling once in a while. I might not think the “I killed a man in Reno just to watch him die” lyric was half as unsettling if he wasn’t grinning like it was the best joke in the world. Maybe the judges, instead of telling him how much they loved him, could have given him that note in addition to their compliments about his godawful suit choices.

The judges are supposed to be there to shape and mold the contestants into real performers – if they send the impression that there is nothing to improve when even an armchair music aficionado can see that there is, how can they ever grow??

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