Holy crap that was awful and kind of frightening all at the same time.
These shows only exist as Schadenfreude, to find joy in the failure of others. Even in this thread the predominant talk is about who sucks or why you dislike them. It is the reason why Simon Cowell is such a star because he is the "mean one"
It is the reason that so few performers have any sustained success. People aren't interested in them once the cameras are off and you actually have to listen to their music. It blends into all the other bland crap that qualifies for radio play now.
O is dead on. You are fooling yourself if you think it is anything else.
I completely disagree. I have this conversation a lot and I am certainly not attempting to persuade you as it doesn't really matter. I get it really. It's just not "cool" to like these shows is what it really boils down to in my opinion. I took the same stance for a long while until I actually gave the shows and contestants a chance. Plus my wife and kids watch them and it give us something we can all watch as a family.
I like most music. I mainly like punk rock and indie music. I would say I am not the typical audience for these shows. So I get a lot flack from my friends for watching these shows because they take the same "anti corporate" stance and same opinions as I am seeing here. This is oh so similar to all the conversations I have had throughout the years about bands becoming "sellouts" which is funny too.
I like people who are passionate about music. I like seeing people being passionate about music and trying to obtain their dreams and goals. These shows "don't exist as Schadenfreude" and this thread isn't predominant talk about who sucks. There was one mention of a kid who sucked and also the comment made about the host. Though of course people are going to voice their opinions about the performers. That's the premise of these shows. Duh.
However, I am one that doesn't have any interest in the artists once they are off the camera. I would say I am in the minority though as compared to the rest of the audience(s). I don't really listen to music on the radio. The music these artists put out, typically, isn't something i personally listen to but a lot of people do. I would argue that a good amount of the artists do maintain a decent level of success in the industry. Total stardom? Probably not, but certainly a level of success that beats the hell out of working a normal 9-5 gig as most of us do.
Few performers in the music industry sustain success or total stardom. Artists come and go. We have "one hit wonders" come out very frequently. So what if these shows give people the same opportunity or a quicker and easier path, perhaps. I say good for those performers. They get to make money off of doing something they love. In the grand scheme there are very few that can maintain success on the charts long term. Maybe your definition of success differs from mine and/or the artists.
I am not going to deny the "corporatization" of it all. That is obvious. But that is obvious in all aspects of our lives and certainly the majority of stuff you see on TV and hear on the radio and has been for decades. Nothing is going to change that. If it gives some the opportunity to do what they love and want then good for them. It doesn't affect me in any way. I can just fast forward through the cheesy Ford commercials and whatnot. No big deal.
...anyway I will keep watchin'. Sure beats watching another episode of most anything else being played on TV that doesn't involve a score. I can't believe I typed all that. I am really bored at work today.
