The votes have been counted, the confetti has fallen, and the tears have been shed. The sixth installment of American Idol has come to a close. Jordin Sparks won but her song, “This is My Now,” is another syrupy soft rock stinker.
Congratulations to the songwriters who won the nationwide competition are in order, I suppose. These two unknowns will be laughing all the way to the bank as the trite ditty inevitably shoots up the charts. That being said, the tradition of picking mature Richard Marx-like ballads for young contestants is perplexing. After all, this is a show based on what the youth of today wants and I hardly think they want another song to listen to in the waiting room of their orthodontist’s office. Take a look at the iTunes top songs and songs like “Buy U a Drank” and “Party Like a Rock Star” tend to support my theory. After enduring months of Ryan Seacrest, is a catchy radio friendly hit too much to ask for? Or as “This is My Now”’s lyrics say ”I've settled for less now I'm ready for more.”
It’s not shocking that the song is a dud because Idol’s rich history of crap-tacular ballads is a painful and nearly criminal one. Take for example, “Flying Without Wings” by Rueben Studdard. Please. With predictable R&B production values and greeting card lyrics, it’s a natural for weddings and graduations. And that’s not a good thing, people. We already have a surplus of tooth rotting anthems like this thanks to Diane Warren, author of co-dependency classics like “How do I Live Without You” and “Because You Loved Me”. Still, I guess the song works on multiple levels for both Rueben and Clay. For Studdard, the “wings” in question could be buffalo, while Aiken’s could be fairy.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Me
If personal attacks are not allowed..shouldn't the same be said for you. If you can't take it, don't write it..and no I'm not talking about your critique of this year's "coronation song" on that I agree.
2 - Phillip Winn
Me, the "no personal attacks" policy applies to comments, not articles, but you clearly haven't read it anyway. In what way is criticism of a song a "personal attack?" It's not.
3 - sean Paul Mahoney
Thanks, Phillip.
Me, I don't know exactly what you're talking about but I can assure you that I can take both positive and negative feedback. I enjoy smart, lively discussions. But passive agressive veiled comments? Not so much.
4 - Sterfish
I agree that the American Idol songs are usually pretty bad. "A Moment Like This" is the best one and I always seem to hear it in commercials. I remember "Flying Without Wings" because it actually got a video. The only reason I know "Do I Make You Proud?" is because I hear it all the time on my job's Muzak.
The problem is that the producers need a song that's innocuous but flexible enough so that most of the contestants in the top 10 could do a reasonably good job in singing it. The Idol producers like uplifting songs and those can be hard to pull off without going into cheese.
If their smart, next season they'll just have professional songwriters work with the top 5 to craft their potential Idol winning songs/singles. That way, the songwriters could play to each Idol contestants' strengths and maybe we'll avoid another dud of a final song.
5 - sean Paul Mahoney
Sterfish, that's an excellent idea.Adding a hands on songwriting element to the show would certainly seperate the men from the boys.
And who says it has to be a ballad? Uplifting songs can also be up-tempo (ie I Will Survive, I'll Take You There, Express Yourself, etc.)
6 - Rico
I happen to really like This Is The Night and I think 'me' was referring to the trashy comment about what 'wings' could be referring to. You are probably the 'fairy' you were referring to. Jealous much?
Rico
7 - Rico and Katrina
My husband forgot to add my name. I agree with him, I think 'Me' was referring to your attack.
8 - sean Paul Mahoney
Rico & Katrina- First off, if you're gonna insult me at least be funny and make sense. My "wings" joke was funny. You're junior high response was unispired.
Me jealous? Nah. I'm a proud, openly gay man with sense of humor unlike like certain pop stars and their crazy groupies. I've had my fairy wings for quite some time, honey, and it's fabulous!
9 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
At one point I hated A.I. and thought it was total sh*t but then I saw that they were trying to pick singers that had both contemporary qualities & solid musicianship. So, now I hate the "American People" who vote for these singers cause God knows Melinda should've won. She sang flawlessly & without effort. She tackled the hardest song of the season with grace & still had a humble attitude. That's right ladies & gents, the "American People" really did show that they love shallow,mediocre crap. AND, actually I am kinda happy that Melinda didn't win because now she can release an album that isn't weighed down with a crampy formula for success....
As for the new song, I've read better lyrics on bathroom walls. They should've given that song to Bon Jovi. Nowadays, it sounds like he likes that kind of useless garbage!
10 - not surprised
some can dish it out but don't wanna take it
11 - roger
make a joke about fairy wings and then call someone else junior high? that's priceless. clay aiken didn't sing about wings nor does he wear them. i've known clayton most of my life and he is who he says he is. the gay community is always complaining about how they are stereotyped and yet they are the ones that keep stereotyping clayton who has done nothing to deserve the treatment he keeps getting from you. grow up already, if you're so proud of who you are then you wouldn't continue to feel the need to try to convince others that even celebrities are gays. i can guarantee you that if clayton was gay he wouldn't be ashamed to say so, so leave him alone already.
12 - sean Paul Mahoney
Brian, you're absolutely right. Melinda got off lucky. She won't have to record a crappy pop record and can shine all on her own. I hope she goes the neo-soul route ala Jill Scott. I think that would really suit her voice.
Roger, all of that is fascinating but sadly has nothing to do with the original topic at hand. The "wings" comment was a joke, nothing more. I'm not single-handedly trying to ruin Clay's life or turn the world gay. And let's be clear here , I was also making fun of Rueben, too and I was bashing crappy songwriting in general. I also like making fun of Beyonce, CSI Miami,America's Next Top Model,etc.
So relax. If you didn't think it was funny, sorry. But if you think it was, malicious you're wrong.
13 - roger
it's spelled Ruben--he's not a sandwich.
As for the songs they give the finalists, i agree with you that they are craptastic.
Your joke still gets a big thumbs down.
14 - Sugar
Yes I do get tired of reading what could be a good blog, then the gay joke is slipped in. It gets old.
15 - tss
I agree on the songs the 'winners' and '1st runners-up' have to perform. 'This Is My Now' was voted in by the American public. I do not know what the other songs were like in the contest for AI6; but if this is the best of the lot-yikes; I am nervous for the quality of songs we have to look forward to on the airways. Jordin did make the song a little more palatable than Blake, but I do think it will go by the way of 'Do I Make You Proud'-very soon, very forgettable. I did not like the
remarks regarding "Flying Without Wings", especially towards the true Southern Gentleman, Clay. But,Ruben did prove the other night that vegetarian diets are just not for him, in the long run! Too bad, because I think he is a nice guy and the weight he has on him will not fare him well in the future. He seemed to have gained back all the 75-100 lbs. he lost last year. AI, please, for next year, find a better song for the winner-he/she worked very hard to get where they ended up and deserves much better-no more song contests for the public to chose-it has been proven that they sometimes can't chose an 'Idol' either. The choice of Clay as the real winner of AI2 seemed to have been the best choice, so far. Jordin, I do wish you luck-you are going to need it in this cruel world.
16 - Roxanne
I was agreeing with you and thinking you were smart till I ran into that fairy joke. Not funny. Why is is cool to try to cater to the lowest common denominator. It's neither funny nor dignified. Thumbs down from me, too.
17 - nicki
Your blog started out just fine but then you had to throw in the Clay is gay crap. I wonder why all you gay bloggers want to make a straight guy gay. Do you need him on your team for some reason because from what I know, he supports inclusion of all and he is definitely straight.
18 - Heloise
That's why I stopped watching after Melinda got voted off. I predicted Keshia was about to go anyway. But at least they could sing. But let's face it--they're black, and not as attractive as Jordin.
Jordin is good. But the song choices were making my head spin they were soooo bad. And as someone said when Dianna Ross showed up..the show went from bad to worse, if that's possible this season.
All in all, the men of this season sucked big time. And the person who should have won did not. Most of all they need coaching with song choice big time.
Heloise
19 - Martigyrl
sean,
First off, I was in complete agreement with your writing in the beginning, about the Idol song choice winner.
This is the second article I've read that you have written, and I hate to say it, but once a reader reads your 'jokes', the rest of the article becomes obsolete.Non-worthy.
We search for quality writing on the internet, and just when we think we may have found some memorable' writer,(sPM)you throw a juvenile joke amidst some decent writing. Talk about memorable, the only thing I will remember about your articles, are that you use 'personalized innuendos' to 'hook' a reader, and then become insulting, and deny your immaturity, and your lack of integrity.You started with a ' fat joke' about a very good singer, then continued on with a 'gay joke', about a very good singer, and it seems the only one you didn't have something rude to say against was KC.Also, a very good singer.
Makes me wonder what kind of story we could have enjoyed reading, had it not been for your ' jokes'.
Portland, Oregon
20 - Don
I think everyone would agree that for the most part the AI songs are pretty bad, or at least not good. I do find it interesting that you give Kelly a basic pass as well as good compliments. Sounds like a Kelly fan. And then you stab at Ruben with a fat joke, which isn't funny at all. While his song did at least include the word "wings," your spin was childish. Worse was your stupid comment about Clay. Wings was not part of his song and certainly had nothing to do with fairy. The guy has stated many times he is not gay, yet gay jerks, apparently which you choose to be included among, want to continue to try to include the man in that segment of society. What's it matter to you? Why do you and others so desperately want to imply a straight man is gay? Will it make people's opinions of the rest of you different? No, it only shows you have an agenda, one which most people are really tired of. And by the way, his song went platinum, which is unheard of in single releases in this decade. Matter of fact, none have since, and very few before, especially within a 6-week time frame. Guess lots of people found it to be a pretty good song. Far better than the others, including Miss Clarkson's, which was no where near record numbers. Again, just another gay with an agenda, or another Kelly fan out for digs. Maybe even both. Either way, pretty juvenile and stupid.
21 - Steve
Well, this article made me chuckle for one reason...
When I heard that they were going to pick a song written by 'ordinary joes' this year, rather than the 'usual suspects', I thought, 'Oh good, maybe we can get a really good stomping tune this time'...but alas, it turned out to be 'Do I Make You Proud Part 2'!!!!!
Yikes, are good, unrecorded songs really that hard to find in America???...
22 - sean Paul Mahoney
Ouch!
That's the thing about jokes, kids sometimes they work but most of the time they bomb. Sorry this one bombed.
I stand by it for one reason though. It was not meant to be malicious or hurtful. I laugh at others but also laugh at myself.
Lighten up! I made a joke that tanked. Am I the first? No. Will I be the last? Certainly not.
But I'm happy all of you read it and happier that some of you actually commented about the topic at hand.
PS- I have no agenda. I don't even own a desktop calendar.
23 - Dave
My "wings" joke was funny. You're junior high response was unispired.
Me jealous? Nah. I'm a proud, openly gay man with sense of humor unlike like certain pop stars and their crazy groupies. I've had my fairy wings for quite some time, honey, and it's fabulous!
---------------------------------------------------
No it wasn't funny. It was just another tired old dig at a guy that doesn't deserve it. This kind of joke may be a big hit with the Kathy Griffin demographic but you're blogging/joking in the real world where the bar is set much higher. You have the right to identify yourself as fabulously gay but you don't have the right to mock another man for not being what you think he is.
24 - Alltime AI-Fan
Maybe there is something wrong with me...I liked the song and hope it's released as a single. I will buy it.
25 - sweetclay
hello All
As i see all the comments and wonder why do people think or say clay is gay? clay is not gay even if he was we are all forgetting one thing! he helps the kids and to me that is a great thing for anybody to do if you had a child and and clay was the only one that could help your child you tell me you would say no! i dont think you would,because you love your child and you would not even think about anything else but to let your child get the help no matter what or who, i would not care who it was. and why i say this is because i know!my grandson is 5 and i need help at one time 06 and wrote a letter to BFA and got what i need for my grandson did not meet clay or talk to him persay and sais thank you and never had to ask again thanks