How I got eliminated from American Idol!

As one of the posts below attests, I had some hopes for the new judges, the new tweaks, the new contestants on American Idol. Turns out I hoped too soon. Tonight the two season finalists were coronated; last night, three of them battled each other and the judges had their last say-sos of the year. I could hardly watch either episode. Hence, I lost my spot in Idolville. a) It turned out that the judges praised far too often, and with too little helpful specificity for the struggling contestants. b) It turned out that the audience for AI has gone very young and very conservative. Rocker Haley got the axe in the round of three. AI ended up with two country music contenders, one 17 years old and the other 16.

                            c) If the interesting but vocally limited Scotty wins (my money's on him), it's going to read too much like show's most recent years. Last season's winner, Lee DeWyze, has all but vanished from the music scene. He seemed like a sweet-hearted bar band singer, not an American Idol, and his debut album bit the big one. The season before, Kris Allen's victory was yet another victory for yet another sweet-hearted bar band singer whose debut CD slid down the charts and vanished.

Both these guys were cute, endearing, engaging young men. Neither one had the chops for a big-guns career. If I'm wrong about either one, I'll be happy to chow down on my words.

                                    d) Scotty may actually have a good shot at a big country music run. I hope he hits it. Still, his vocal mannerisms are both unoriginal and annoying; when I lived in Nashville, I heard countless guys with more creative approaches to country singing. e) Even if I'm wrong about Scotty, I can't willingly listen next season to the judging panel sound like they don't know anything about original, thoughtful singing, when I know they do.

I had a great time with American Idol for a lot of years. Nonetheless, it's time for me to watch the excellent "The Voice" instead. I'm also cranked up for "The X Factor" debut. Just the thought of hearing Simon Cowell once again intone, "Look, there's no other way to say it, that was terrible" -- ah, it's going to sound like music to my ears. Original, thoughtful music.