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Hey Dixie Dawg,

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I'm up for sensible discussion.  I agree that what we're talking about isn't "good singing" it's "Idol good singing."  Meaning, it's good compared to the Ryan Starrs, Anthony Federovs, Jasmine Trias', Josh Gracins, Scoot Savols, Diana DeGarmos and Kevin Covais' of the musical world.  All of them miraculously made it into the Final 10, and some like DeGarmo, and Trias made it into the top 3.  

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That's what is hysterical about Idol, so much non-talent rises to the top of the show that never has a prayer of having any kind of recording career.  And the judge's effusive praise for such non-talent devalues the people who actually DO have talent that appear on the show...  Clarkson, Underwood, Senor Bice and others. 

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Also, if you suck and you want to have a musical career after Idol, sing country.  Worked for Pickler and Bucky.  If you have negligible talent but were born within 1,000 miles of "The South", record a country album and play the country fair circuit.  DeGarmo is doing that.  I'm sure many others are too. 

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I'm not denigrating Country music, I'm just saying the record-buying, I-Pod downloading fans are knuckleheads.

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--Chan

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&;#160;

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I would say AI has produced more than its fair share of good singers. However, I can't think of a single one of all those mentioned who I'd consider a great singer. There's been definitely no one who I could see becoming legendary. How many will even be remembered in another generation?

One exception. If Nick/Normund capitalizes on the opening he's gotten and hits Broadway, I could see him as the next Zero Mostel or Nathan Lane.

And that may be more because he's a great performer rather than a great singer.

Thank you, Professor Chan! I do enjoy reading your articles and your fascinating observations!

I really do question why a lot of the contestants get into the Top 10. This country has so many talented and creative young people and it's just amazing that a lot of them do not make it onto the Idol stage. If Idol is in the business of making a lot of money, you would think they would want the best of the best!

A lot of the singers who do make it into the Top 10 may be mediocre at best and some may be really good, but a lot of them don't have stage presence. It is obvious that many of them are not comfortable on stage - couple that with so-so singing, and of course, people start raising their eyebrows.

I never understood how Jordin Sparks won over Melinda Doolittle. As far as pure vocal ability and stage presence, Melinda Doolittle is one of the best singers AI ever had to grace the stage. She was a consummate professional and reminded me of the very talented entertainers of yesteryear - when people actually would sing instead of scream.

Of course, Jordin is talented, young and pretty, and nothing against her at all, it's just that Doolittle truly had the pipes for performance. At the very least, Doolittle should have been runner-up instead of Bee-Bop Blake.

People today had rather have someone running around the stage dressed in garb suitable for Bozo the Clown and screaming like a dying cow in a hailstorm than actually listen to a trained voice dressed in elegant clothes (or at least a nice outfit) performing like a 20-year veteran.

Many times I sit on the couch with my husband and ask him while watching a performance, "How in this world did that person EVER get the ear of a producer at Capitol Records and why are they worth a million dollars"? They sound like fingernails on a chalk board.

I'm so glad the Flame-bert ended the stupid show with such a lame song like Cryin. I had to cover my ears and log on to VFTW so I don't have to sing that stupid song all week. Go Gokey!