NEEDLE IN YOUR BALLOON

28 May 2011

Yes, I watched again after not watching for six years. The last time I saw the show, Taylor Hicks won. He's a mean vocalist with really great control of his voice, and yet it still sounds so wonderfully raw. The year before that, I saw Carrie Underwood's developing into a performer until she won the title. She was so unassuming and so shy on stage especially when the judges start critiquing her. Then just recently, I saw her again performing with Steven Tyler and I was like, wow. That's how far she's gone in terms of performing in seven years.

Anyway, I'm glad Scotty McCreery won and not Lauren Alaina, not because I dislike her but because I don't think she's ready emotionally for all the baggage that the title would burden her with. Both of these kids have talent, different from each other, and either of them could have taken the title. But Scotty is the more mature between them. I think he'd be able to handle it better and yes, of course, he is a very gifted vocalist and a natural performer. Personally, my favorite is Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart. He, because he's funny and crazy and her, because like Steven Tyler said, she sings sexy.

I am not afflicted with my-Idol-is-better-than-your-Idol syndrome. The contestants I like or dislike has nothing to do with competition but their individual personalities. And even then, I am not dismissive of the contestants nor of the show. These kids have genuine dreams, even the rejects that I couldn't, in all honesty, laugh at them. I may or may not agree with how the business of Idol is run but that's beside the point. The kids in there are people who have feelings, and dreams and aspirations. And most of them who got in are talented, maybe some of them haven't found their niche yet but that's to come. If there's one thing I learned from both Doctor Who and Star Trek is everyone's important. Every single person, whether human or alien, has value and the need and privilege to be valued and respected. So, I'm finding that them being panned in the media so hard like it's the worst thing they could ever do to be very, very harsh and very, very unnecessary. They're kids... teenagers or barely out of it, and DOING something about their dreams (nothing beats an adventure in a blue box but hey!). Those people that remain critical, I want to know what you are doing with yours.