On The Air

I didn’t think it would actually happen. I was hoping, but I didn’t have any faith in America. I didn’t think Blake was going to make it all the way to the final two on American Idol, because American Idol is a karaoke contest and Blake is anything but karaoke. But I was proved wrong, and for once Dial Idol was proved wrong. My faith in the country was restored, and more importantly my faith in American Idol was restored. With someone like Blake making it all the way through, this show is edging ever slightly closer to the kind of show it should be. I mean, imagine a show with twelve Melindas, all singing the same songs the same ways and hitting the same glory notes over and over. Now imagine a show with twelve Blakes, each one pushing the boundaries every week and actually creating something new at every turn. Which show would you rather see?

When Maroon 5 was playing last night, I wished Blake could have stepped in as lead singer, because he would have been better at it. That kind of says everything. He’s already better than the established acts out there.

I wrote in the comments at TV Squad (comment #586! Woo!):

The thing is that we’re not trying to find the best technically proficient singer in the county. If that were so, we’d have twelve classically trained opera singers up on stage. American Idol is all about finding performers, not just singers, about finding pop stars. And vocal talent is only one small piece of being a performer, being a pop star. So what if Melinda had the best voice? I also fast-forwarded through most of her performances because there was nothing there to grab me, no excitement. No originality. They were boring ballads that only served the purpose of building up to a glory note at the end, and that’s what American Idol has been for six years now, and it’s time to change it.

If this was really a singing competition, there would be no band, no lights, no stage, just each person singing a cappella in a dark room. And nobody would tune in. Because as much as anyone wants to protest about the “purity” of the competition, it’s not just about singing. The freshness, excitement, and originality that Blake brings to the stage every week is exactly the kind of thing American Idol should be seeking out, should be rewarding, and I’m glad to see that it’s actually happening for once.

Blake smells new, like the 21st century. Melinda and Jordin smell old and stodgy, like the 20th century. And who you like depends on whether you’re the kind of person who prefers to look backwards or forwards.

It’s not that there’s anything against Melinda. She’s a great singer, and she really deserved third place. She could have even deserved second place, right behind Blake. But she’s not going to be selling a lot of albums, because that’s not the kind of albums people buy. Look at Taylor Hicks. He had a wildly popular run on the show, but then after that his career just died. And I think the same will happen to Melinda. Because out in the real world, there’s no place for her kind of music, for her kind of singing. Where Blake is contemporary and making the same kind of music that is selling right now, that is being played in the clubs and on the radio. And that’s why I see him being the big winner in the real world after the show, just like Chris Daughtry turned out to be the big winner from last year, because his kind of rock is really hot right now.

Idol success doesn’t mean anything, doesn’t get you anything. It just gives you a nudge in the right direction, and you have to run with it in the big scary world of music just like everyone else. Even Jordin, if she wins, I don’t see having a huge career unless she reinvents herself. Blake is like 2008 in a box, all ready to go, ready to hit big. He’s going to launch out of Idol like a Saturn V rocket, headed straight up. Melinda and Jordin are Cessnas by comparison, going nowhere, and going there slow.

Now the real challenge for American Idol is to top last year’s finale show. I don’t think they can do it. Meatloaf nearly having a heart attack on stage? The Clay Aiken wannabe (also known as “Clay Gaiken”) almost peeing his pants? Prince showing up just to collect a paycheck and getting back in the limo before the next commercial break? Hasslehoff crying? That whole two hours was TV genius, and it’s going to be impossible to beat it.

Even if Blake wins and manages to make the horrible coronation song listenable.