American Idol: Lights Dim for Anthony, the Fedoration of Love
Published May 12, 2005
Carrie was memorable, as Simon pointed out, and Bo was more handsome and more accessible in slightly shorter hair with some hot curls and a few crimps going on.
And then there was Anthony, looking two years younger, actually looking kind of hot for a 19-year-old, belting out John Secada's "Angel"---well, now I know for sure why the judges put him through. The boy can sing. And somehow it hit me that he had pretty much been a mis-managed asset throughout his AI journey.
Early in the competition, I ragged on the judges for their insistence on stereotyping Anthony as a Clay Aiken clone. I said:
This season the judges have gotten their jollies claiming Anthony is "this year's Clay Aiken." . . .
That's because their reasoning processes are so advanced: Anthony = Different appearance. Different appearance = Geek. Geek = Clay Aiken. Do the math.
Well, the fatal mistake in that arithmetic is equating "different appearance" with "geek." Anthony is not a geek, a nerd or a dork. He's European! For Pete's sake, people, anyone who's spent any time hanging on the Continent knows that. This is how guys look and carry themselves in Europe, and they're considered supremely cool, if in a Sensitive Poet kind of way.
Just like they missed the boat by not recognizing that Clay Aiken was Clay Aiken, the judges missed the boat by not recognizing that Anthony Federov was not Clay Aiken.
The more clips of him I saw, the more I realized that Anthony, the Fedoration of Love, was indeed a hipster with a charming, soon-to-become magnetic Euro-pop sensibility that would make him a star. In Europe, if not, eventually, here and beyond.
And there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think that inimitable tower of business acumen, Koch Records---the label that had the foresight to sign William Hung (hey, he made money for them and that's the definition of success) and Pray For The Soul of Betty (Constantine Maroulis' NYC band)---should sign Anthony as soon as possible and launch him as a pop star in Europe.
Mark my words: before you knew what hit you---forget about Cliff Richard---Anthony's photo would be pinned on the walls of fraulein's rooms everywhere.
This is no untried theory. Believe it or not, both the Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC were launched in Europe first. Once they became established in Germany, then they headed home to America and the rest is history.
I'm not saying Anthony can reach N'SYNC's (former) altitude. But I am saying he can probably best David Hasselhoff---yes, the Baywatch and talking car dude---who became a Superstar (yes, with a capital "s") in Germany by combining his hunky looks with soft-serve rock anthems, such as a cover of the 1970s hit "Auch Der Strasse Nach Suden." Hasselhoff released at least 10 successful discs in Deutschland, and that's not handkase mit musik.
![Backstreet Boys [ENHANCED CD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512AQHVPC3L._SY90_.jpg "Backstreet Boys [ENHANCED CD]")
- American Idol: Lights Dim for Anthony, the Fedoration of Love
- Published: May 12, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Reality TV
- Writer: Sticker
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Comments on this articleComments
they labeled ALL of our AI coverage from ast night Satire, which indicates we have to get our own designations up immediately
How do they pick this designation? This is the first I've seen something like this.
Wonder if that global categorization is done by a human editor?
re Things That . . .
oh tee hee!
i agree, though, that what constitutes satire is one of the existential mysteries of the human experience.
but this is journalism, people! lol
Kuddos as always, Mr Sticker!
I just want to sound off a little about last night's show...
I think it was sad to have to "kick off" Anthony (so to speak) but he REALLY needed to go. I have a coworker who claims to have cried as she watched the results last night. I had to question her about it and her main reason was that she felt sorry for Anthony and his parents. HUH?? I'm very confused here. Did anyone really think Anthony would win this??? Didnt almost everyone in America think he was going to leave weeks ago? Was it really fair that he stayed and a good showman/woman like Nadia left so early? Was is really fair that someone with as great of a voice as Anwar left before Anthony too? I THINK NOT!
This departure has been coming for weeks and even though Anthony appears to be a sweet kid, HE NEEDED TO GO! He is NOT the next American Idol. He IS the next David Hasselhoff. (Sticker, you totally got it right!) There will be a wide group of Americans who will always find him cheesy (like Hasselhoff) but the European nations will open their arms to him. Thats his best bet.
Good Luck, Anthony. It really has been nice to know you but now we're ready for you to move on. Good luck!
Peace out!
I'd be seriously surprised if anyone thought Anthony was going to win this thing, but he was one of the contestants, for whatever reason, evoked a little sadness in his going. However right his going was and it was.
He'll do well, I think.
Good review of Anthony's potential in the industry. Anthony commented that he can sing in Italian and Spanish, and is learning both languages, so he may well be thinking the European route as you recommend. He showed more drive and determination to succeed than most of the other finalists, and that should serve him well.
thanks, synergy
I didn't know that Anthony could sing in Italian and Spanish. I think that's great and he would be to die for singing those sunny Italian pop songs that are so lovable.
And Simon should give props on that, too, considering he just launched Il Divo, singing pop opera in many languages.
I also thought it was our loss that Simon's criticism stopped Anthony from pursuing his Latin-style dancing (that he is trained in). That could have worked out for him.
Anyway, I hope Anthony succeeds!
Well I wouldn't say the missed the boat, but you are right Anthony is NO Clay Aiken.
He is just a guy with a non-distinct voice and very irrating, accented phrashing and it was time that he be gone. Actually his time was up weeks ago.
hey, Lynn -
for the full context of my comments on Clay Aiken, click on the "said" link before the quote
there is only one Clay Aiken!
Satire? Well, ..duh! Review? If it was, it was pretty one-sided. I've read the 'blog' several times and have decided that what we have here is...A FAN LETTER.
I write those too, but I don't pretend that it is anything else.
That's why your blogging, and not publishing.
Shirley Romano
crazedfan
One is allowed to express appreciation in a review, especially if the opinion of the reviewer is positive.
A FAN, on the other hand, might be tempted to point out that this season of American Idol is more thoroughly scripted than Survivor, and the producers have a pretty good idea on Day One who will be left on the stage in the Final Showdown.
AI is entertainment, folks, not a real competition. If that's what you want, watch the Olympics instead...
American Football + Euro Futbol + The Hoff celebrating freedom and all things Deutsch!!!: on my blog
Huzzah Huzzah! Hooray Hooray!
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/29399)
note to gentle readers:
for some reason, this article is coming up on google as blogcritics (satire).
i can assure you it is not satire. it may have some sass in it, as par for the course, but---except to the extent that all life is somewhere on the continuum of satire--it's not satirical in the least!
thank you.
Sticker