9.17.14 Adam News: Day 1 of AI Judging
Sept 17, 2014 10:29:48 GMT -5
Post by stampsgal on Sept 17, 2014 10:29:48 GMT -5
If a contestant strums an acoustic guitar, playing some basic chords, and a mentor suggests he add riffs and melodic lines like Brian May, no one would expect the contestant to instantly be able to do what took Brian many years to master. If you accept the premise that the voice is an instrument, and takes as long as any other instrument to master, you can understand why contestants, even with excellent coaching, do not change their singing much over the course of a couple of months on Idol. The same can be said about their performance/presentation style and their musical arrangements and interpretations.
If Idol wants to graduate seasoned, professional level performers/singers/musicians, they are going to have to CAST seasoned, professional level performers. (Like Adam. Idol, didn't MAKE him, they simply gave him his platform.) Alternatively, if Idol wants to pluck a very young kid out of total obscurity with little musical training or performance experience, and create a STAR, then, they are going to end up producing exactly what the reality shows are known for: a fake, manufactured celebrity who has no cred or staying power in the BUSINESS.
One approach finds extremely talented, original artists and gives them a launching pad for a successful career in the business. The other produces a series of popularity contest winners who are adored for a season, and largely ignored afterward.
I don't watch The Voice, but it seems they do chose much more seasoned performers. Now, if those contestants got the mentoring and followup support given to Idol contestants they might turn out more "stars."
I read into Simon's words....it took time for him to realize that you should be finding those who can sing and entertain AT AUDITIONS ...not look for "potential" as there is no time to really develop an artist.
Lil Rounds was used as an example. Simon was as questioned on predicting Lil would win ....and he did not deny that, and indicated a singer has to know who they are as a singer. Etc etc. and she didn't; she lost her way with singing and song choices. I wonder if that was also a small part in his decision to leave AI. Who were the candidates the producers were pushing forward in the last years ??? as some who made it seemed pretty raw to me. Also thank goodness the producers, Paula and Randy really liked Adam to give him a chance to move to and shine in Hollywood week. That is where Adam started showing himself as an artist to the judges. Simon then thought Adam and Gokey would be the final 2.
Looking at how much Adam has grown in the past 5 years, with voice, artistry and image....
My view....his voice is showcasing ....."betterer and betterer" because he did have the support of training and experience in entertaining. The owners of the Upright Cabaret pushed Adam to do those gigs....saying it would be good for him....and it was. Glad they did encourage him. Glad for all those voice lessons, musical theatre lessons, and singing for money/life lessons!
