The idolization of blandness

Here in Australia they have a television program named 'Australian Idol'. It is identical to the larger 'American Idol' TV program in the United States. The idea is that wannabe pop-stars compete in a series of competitions in front a panel of judges until only one person is left and crowned 'Idol'. The winner then wins a recording contract, and gets to produce an album.

I've never watched American Idol. But I have heard the buzz about it and it seems to be very popular. I also don't watch the Australian Idol here, except when it is on in the background because my housemate Robin watches it.

Last night on TV, the sponsoring television network tied up their channel for 4 hours with the final contest, held at the Sydney Opera House, in front of what looked like thousands of screaming fans. They crowned a winner and gushed all over her like she had won the Nobel Prize for curing cancer or something.

That is all good and fine. But I could not help but notice how the whole 'Idol' machine produces and celebrates singers who are... well, bland. Their sound and image is so over-produced and over-manufactured. They all look, and more importately, sound alike. They have the "safe" bubble-gum sound.

I'm not saying that they don't have any talent. They can sing. But big deal! If I want to hire someone to do Madonna covers for a wedding receiption, they would be perfect.

When I listen to them, I can't help but wonder how some of the most talented musical artists out there would fare when judged by such standards. Think of Bob Dylan's voice. They would have laughed him off the stage. Johnny Cash, Ricki Lee Jones, Lenard Cohen, James Brown, Neil Young, Joe Cocker, Janice Joplin, Chris Christofferson, Ray Charles, and countless others. They have beautiful, unique, and instantly recognizable voices.

What I can not comprehend is where did all those people in the crowd come from? Why do they bother to waste their time screaming for some a glorified cover-band lead singer? They all sound alike, and sing sappy bubble-gum songs written by other, so called, professionals.

Maybe I'm just too old to understand. I've think that I've always been that way. In high-school, I was the only one who preferred listing to blues over the top-40 crap all my classmates preferred.