"AMERICAN IDOL" MUZZLES ITS ONLY TRUE ROCKER
May 9th 2010 20:07
Link: thejukeboxhero.com
If you are one of those who like your popcorn doused with lots of sugar when you go to the movies, then eagerly get in line for your ticket to American Idol's "Songs From The Movies" theme night this Tuesday.
After three straight weeks of syrupy, teary-eyed song themes custom-made for the pop-oriented contestants Simon Cowell and his judging campatiots love so well, blues-rock ace, Casey James, who has admittedly struggled through the torturous maze of Swoon-Songs, might have figured it was time for Idol producers to finally offer up a musical theme night that would serve as a blessed change of pace so to better accommodate his own rock-oriented style and preferences. So, when "Idol" announced that the theme night this week would be "Songs From The Movies", I can envision the sly smile that might have crept across his stubbled, handsome face. Casey had every reason to be encouraged by the new theme night. After all, everyone knows movie soundtracks are chock full of great rock and roll songs written and performed by some of its most legendary figures. After receiving word what theme was in store, James probably assumed he had weathered the storm of downpouring sugar that was pelting him three weeks running, and now had a fighting chance to rebound from being trapped in his Crooner's Cage.
So, it is isn't hard to picture James' jaw dropping onto his chest in bewildered disappointment once he looked over the list of songs he would be required to choose from this week.
If there was any doubt before that American Idol is intent on getting rid of Casey James, that notion is significantly buttressed by the list of songs Idol has given to its contestants this week. I mean, who came up with this monstrosity, anyway? The song list comprises 34 of some of the most maudlin, saccharine-drenched crooners ever recorded on a movie soundtrack, everything from "Moon River" to "Arthur's Theme" to "Beauty And The Beast". Even the "Velvet Fog", Mel Torme, would say this is too much. With the exception of three uptempo possiblities, the list is overwhelmingly pop-crooning fodder, and contoured heavily to favor James' three other pop-peddling competitors. Anyone can see Idol has strapped the muzzle on the show's only bonafide rocker.
I had originally intended to publish a nice, flattering piece on Steven Tyler and his comeback with Aerosmith this weekend, however, after I looked over this woefully disappointing list of powder puff, Sugar-Songs that Idol has released, something absolutely needs to be said about the conniving antics going on behind the scenes at Idol which have put James in a stranglehold.
This list is a paradigm for why "Idol" has lost a noticeable and ever-increasing deal of appeal and popularity among viewers this year. It represents, in my view, a brazen, systematic attempt by its production staff, and probably the judges as well, to exclude rock-oriented performers from the competition in favor of Simon Cowell's more-beloved pop performers. It causes the competition itself to become unbalanced and stale and predictable. As Cowell himself often laconically remarks: Your material has become "overindulgent". With only 3 songs to choose from on the list that can be remotely considered rock n roll tunes, Casey James has been put in a very precarious position in being able to select a song that will allow him to advance on into the competition and have a fair shot at becoming Season 9's "American Idol". So-called experts who routinely pan James and call for his ouster rely almost exclusively on a mantra that he "hasn't grown as a performer". But, you have to ask: How can James grow as a performer when all he has to nurture him is the same old menu of sweet drippy pulp slammed on his plate every single week? A fair and balanced show that promotes growth for all its contestants would incorporate a much broader range of themes, not just week after week of the same sweet pulp.
From where I sit, I'm definitely getting a big whiff of something rotten in the kitchen at Idol-Land.
I'll say it even clearer: The fix is on.
For you that have not seen the song list for the week, I offer you the following:
Everything I Do, I Do For You----Bryan Adams
I've Had The Time Of My Life--Billy Medley & Jennifer Warnes
A Whole New World---Brad Kane & Lee Salonga
Aquarius (Let The Sunshine In)---The Fifth Dimension
Arthur's Theme----Christopher Cross
Beauty and the Beat---Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
Can I Have This Dance----Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron & The Cast of HS Musical
Can You Feel The Love Tonight---Elton John & London Community Gospel Choir
Can't Fight The Moonlight---LeAnn Rimes
Danger Zone---Kenny Loggins
Don't You Forget About Me---Simple Minds
Endless Love---Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
Evergreen---Barbra Streisand
Eye Of The Tiger---Survivor
Flashdance (What A Feeling)---Irene Cara
Footloose---Kenny Loggins
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman----Bryan Adams
I'm Alright---Kenny Loggins
Into The West---Howard Shore and Annie Lennox
Iris---Goo Goo Dolls
It Might Be You---Stephen Bishop
Kiss From A Rose---Seal
Let The Riverrun---Carly Simon
Moon River---Audrey Hepburn/Henry Mancini
Mrs. Robinson---Simon & Garfunkle
My Heart Will Go On---Celine Dion
One Night Only---Jennifer Hudson
Over The Rainbow---Judy Garland
Separate Lives---Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
Summertime---Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Take My Breath Away---Berlin
Up Where We Belong---Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
We Don't Need Another Hero----Tina Turner
You'll Be In My Heart---Gelnn Close and Phil Collins
A person couldn't find this much sugar to feed on if they had a box of bob-bons and a gallon of Pepsi.
It should be particularly curious to any fan of "American Idol" why this list is so bulging with a disproportionate number of melifluous ditties when movie soundtracks have historically produced so many memorable rock n roll tunes. I even conducted a bit of research of my own with regard to rock songs that have emanated from movies down through the years, and what I found makes me even more certain that "Idol" producers are stacking the deck against "Goldirox" and all "James Gang" members.
How about these songs qualifying for the list:
Old Time Rock and Roll----Bob Seger (Risky Business)
Shakedown---Bob Seger (Beverly Hills Cop)
You Can't Always Get What You Want---Rolling Stones (Big Chill)
Whiter Shade Of Pale---Procol Harum (Big Chill)
Ain't Too Proud To Beg---The Temptations (Big Chill)
Nights In White Satin---Moody Blues (The Big Chill)
Humans Being---VanHalen (Twister)
Hero---Chad Kroeger (Spiderman)
I Can't Drive 55---Sammy Hagar (Back To The Future II)
Blaze Of Glory---BonJovi (Young Guns 2)
Sister Christian---Night Ranger (Boogie Nights)
Wanted Dead Or Alive---Bon Jovi (Wild Hogs)
Live And Let Die---Paul McCartney (Live And Let Die)
This is just the tip of the musical iceberg of what I found in the way of great rock tunes coming from various movie soundtracks. For sake of space and time, I did not include the hundreds of additional songs that, if added to the list, would have provided a more balanced, more attractive, sampling of performance material for which suited Casey James and his rock n roll style during this week's movie theme night. Why "Idol" producers did not attempt to add a better mix of pop, rock, blues, and R&B into the list of possible song choices is no big mystery to me. The very limited number of available rock songs on the list represents a clear bias toward Casey James and for the music for which he is most comfortable, and toward the multitudes of rock n roll fans everywhere who watch "American Idol".
"Idol" will indeed be offering up big bags filled with sweet popcorn for its "Songs From The Movies" theme night Tuesday, which should delight most of the ardent pop fans who want their stars as crooners. One thing you'll notice: There won't be any rocks in your pop-corn bag.
After three straight weeks of syrupy, teary-eyed song themes custom-made for the pop-oriented contestants Simon Cowell and his judging campatiots love so well, blues-rock ace, Casey James, who has admittedly struggled through the torturous maze of Swoon-Songs, might have figured it was time for Idol producers to finally offer up a musical theme night that would serve as a blessed change of pace so to better accommodate his own rock-oriented style and preferences. So, when "Idol" announced that the theme night this week would be "Songs From The Movies", I can envision the sly smile that might have crept across his stubbled, handsome face. Casey had every reason to be encouraged by the new theme night. After all, everyone knows movie soundtracks are chock full of great rock and roll songs written and performed by some of its most legendary figures. After receiving word what theme was in store, James probably assumed he had weathered the storm of downpouring sugar that was pelting him three weeks running, and now had a fighting chance to rebound from being trapped in his Crooner's Cage.
So, it is isn't hard to picture James' jaw dropping onto his chest in bewildered disappointment once he looked over the list of songs he would be required to choose from this week.
No Rock Allowed This Week At American Idol
If there was any doubt before that American Idol is intent on getting rid of Casey James, that notion is significantly buttressed by the list of songs Idol has given to its contestants this week. I mean, who came up with this monstrosity, anyway? The song list comprises 34 of some of the most maudlin, saccharine-drenched crooners ever recorded on a movie soundtrack, everything from "Moon River" to "Arthur's Theme" to "Beauty And The Beast". Even the "Velvet Fog", Mel Torme, would say this is too much. With the exception of three uptempo possiblities, the list is overwhelmingly pop-crooning fodder, and contoured heavily to favor James' three other pop-peddling competitors. Anyone can see Idol has strapped the muzzle on the show's only bonafide rocker.
Casey James: This show's not rockin, so don't come a knockin'!
I had originally intended to publish a nice, flattering piece on Steven Tyler and his comeback with Aerosmith this weekend, however, after I looked over this woefully disappointing list of powder puff, Sugar-Songs that Idol has released, something absolutely needs to be said about the conniving antics going on behind the scenes at Idol which have put James in a stranglehold.
This list is a paradigm for why "Idol" has lost a noticeable and ever-increasing deal of appeal and popularity among viewers this year. It represents, in my view, a brazen, systematic attempt by its production staff, and probably the judges as well, to exclude rock-oriented performers from the competition in favor of Simon Cowell's more-beloved pop performers. It causes the competition itself to become unbalanced and stale and predictable. As Cowell himself often laconically remarks: Your material has become "overindulgent". With only 3 songs to choose from on the list that can be remotely considered rock n roll tunes, Casey James has been put in a very precarious position in being able to select a song that will allow him to advance on into the competition and have a fair shot at becoming Season 9's "American Idol". So-called experts who routinely pan James and call for his ouster rely almost exclusively on a mantra that he "hasn't grown as a performer". But, you have to ask: How can James grow as a performer when all he has to nurture him is the same old menu of sweet drippy pulp slammed on his plate every single week? A fair and balanced show that promotes growth for all its contestants would incorporate a much broader range of themes, not just week after week of the same sweet pulp.
From where I sit, I'm definitely getting a big whiff of something rotten in the kitchen at Idol-Land.
I'll say it even clearer: The fix is on.
For you that have not seen the song list for the week, I offer you the following:
Everything I Do, I Do For You----Bryan Adams
I've Had The Time Of My Life--Billy Medley & Jennifer Warnes
A Whole New World---Brad Kane & Lee Salonga
Aquarius (Let The Sunshine In)---The Fifth Dimension
Arthur's Theme----Christopher Cross
Beauty and the Beat---Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson
Can I Have This Dance----Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron & The Cast of HS Musical
Can You Feel The Love Tonight---Elton John & London Community Gospel Choir
Can't Fight The Moonlight---LeAnn Rimes
Danger Zone---Kenny Loggins
Don't You Forget About Me---Simple Minds
Endless Love---Lionel Richie and Diana Ross
Evergreen---Barbra Streisand
Eye Of The Tiger---Survivor
Flashdance (What A Feeling)---Irene Cara
Footloose---Kenny Loggins
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman----Bryan Adams
I'm Alright---Kenny Loggins
Into The West---Howard Shore and Annie Lennox
Iris---Goo Goo Dolls
It Might Be You---Stephen Bishop
Kiss From A Rose---Seal
Let The Riverrun---Carly Simon
Moon River---Audrey Hepburn/Henry Mancini
Mrs. Robinson---Simon & Garfunkle
My Heart Will Go On---Celine Dion
One Night Only---Jennifer Hudson
Over The Rainbow---Judy Garland
Separate Lives---Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin
Summertime---Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Take My Breath Away---Berlin
Up Where We Belong---Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
We Don't Need Another Hero----Tina Turner
You'll Be In My Heart---Gelnn Close and Phil Collins
A person couldn't find this much sugar to feed on if they had a box of bob-bons and a gallon of Pepsi.
It should be particularly curious to any fan of "American Idol" why this list is so bulging with a disproportionate number of melifluous ditties when movie soundtracks have historically produced so many memorable rock n roll tunes. I even conducted a bit of research of my own with regard to rock songs that have emanated from movies down through the years, and what I found makes me even more certain that "Idol" producers are stacking the deck against "Goldirox" and all "James Gang" members.
How about these songs qualifying for the list:
Old Time Rock and Roll----Bob Seger (Risky Business)
Shakedown---Bob Seger (Beverly Hills Cop)
You Can't Always Get What You Want---Rolling Stones (Big Chill)
Whiter Shade Of Pale---Procol Harum (Big Chill)
Ain't Too Proud To Beg---The Temptations (Big Chill)
Nights In White Satin---Moody Blues (The Big Chill)
Humans Being---VanHalen (Twister)
Hero---Chad Kroeger (Spiderman)
I Can't Drive 55---Sammy Hagar (Back To The Future II)
Blaze Of Glory---BonJovi (Young Guns 2)
Sister Christian---Night Ranger (Boogie Nights)
Wanted Dead Or Alive---Bon Jovi (Wild Hogs)
Live And Let Die---Paul McCartney (Live And Let Die)
This is just the tip of the musical iceberg of what I found in the way of great rock tunes coming from various movie soundtracks. For sake of space and time, I did not include the hundreds of additional songs that, if added to the list, would have provided a more balanced, more attractive, sampling of performance material for which suited Casey James and his rock n roll style during this week's movie theme night. Why "Idol" producers did not attempt to add a better mix of pop, rock, blues, and R&B into the list of possible song choices is no big mystery to me. The very limited number of available rock songs on the list represents a clear bias toward Casey James and for the music for which he is most comfortable, and toward the multitudes of rock n roll fans everywhere who watch "American Idol".
"Idol" will indeed be offering up big bags filled with sweet popcorn for its "Songs From The Movies" theme night Tuesday, which should delight most of the ardent pop fans who want their stars as crooners. One thing you'll notice: There won't be any rocks in your pop-corn bag.
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