Could it be....

[Budfred]

As I sit here listening to Conan O'Brien making fun of Ruben Stoddard because of his weight, I was thinking about something I thought of earlier today. The American Idol winner was chosen by the American public and the last 3 finalists were all people who you would not normally see performing for a large audience.

Ruben is large and clearly overweight...
Clay appears to be a nerd...
Kimberly is a large woman, not model thin at all...

Could it simply be that the reason we have had so many mediocre singers who are physically attractive rather than incredibly talented individuals who are not necessarily attractive in conventional ways be because that is what music executives think we want???? And could it also be true that what we really want are nice people who have talent and we don't care that much about how they look????

Naahhh, that couldn't be it....

[gracious]

Budfred, I agree! I was watching the Diva Duets and towards the end they all got to sing snipets with Stevie Wonder. There was one in particular, Mary J. Blige, who was just horrible. She was out of key and I thought to myself "People like this?". These virtual shows like that one have turned an industry which already is plagued with 'no talent, thoughtless, tasteless, not really musical junk out' into a whole new realm of farce. I sing and I grew up listening to Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, The Kingston Trio, Opera, Jazz, these performers today, I just don't see where the real musicians are. Maybe I am wrong. Great music all started with Beethovan, Mozart...The Beatles, The Beach Boys...look what it has become, ycch.:(

[Budfred]

I think there are still some excellent talented artists out there, but so many times the package has become more important than the contents. I remember Blues Traveler: they had a front band to portray them in concert to promote their first album because the lead musician is obese and he couldn't get sold as himself - damn good musician too!!! He is an example of a recent artist who is really quite good. But then there are the Britney Spears, Madonna and so on...

[HeadachesAbound]

Here's a thought...

When was the last time you *watched* a song on the radio?

[Whyzman]

But then there are the Britney Spears
Interesting you should mention....

A short time ago I noticed that in a couple of appearances I happened to catch that she was singing more a a ballad type of song. I suspect to show her vocal versatility. My take is that she'd best begin jumping around on stage again to create a distraction...:p

[Mark Miller]

HeadachesAbound has hit on the head as far as watching a song. I read an interesting comment that FDR would never have been President if there was T.V. in the early 30's, people would have never voted at that time for someone who was handicapped.
Bud I agree with you completely, who cares what a singer looks like, as long as the music is sweet.
Mark:)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Little Feat had lyrics to the effect of "saw it on the radio" in one of their songs.

But consider the troubles Heart had with the Wilson sisters, having to make album covers with the lead singer not in the forefront. Ann Wilson is one awesome vocalist.

I'm sure there's many more. Take a look at country music. If you ain't drop dead gorgeous you ain't got a chance at a 'reecored label'... Not sayin' Shania didn't earn her keep nor any of the others, it's just that there's sooo much talent left behind because of the shallowness of the mainstream USA

The 'Skins' deep America. Got more programs with continually evolving facades than you can shake a stick at, and I don't care for a one of them. Just clutter... Windows Media Player for one... :rolleyes: Why does that need to open audio files??? I prefer regular old CD Player from 98SE for that. Simple, clean, just press 'play'... :) Why didn't M$ call it "Hear" though???

[Budfred]

My point is that I don't think it is the MASSES that are demanding all these pretty people for music and other media, it is the people in charge who believe themselves that is the only thing that sells...

We keep getting examples of amazingly talented people who rise above the industries expectations of what a STAR should be, but they really have to be incredibly talented or incredibly lucky to do so. The thing about American Idol (overhyped though it was) is that the masses voted and chose the people they thought deserved recognition, not the industry......

[mjc]

This is going to quickly turn into another bash the industry thread.....but hey, they deserve it!

Lots of the best in music are not "pretty" people....and guess what, for the most part that will always be true. The n'Sync-Britney crowd spend way too much time concerned with vanity items to really devote their hearts to developing their merger talents into something awesome. While on the other hand the not so "pretty" do have the time, often because the "pretty" jeer, ignore or otherwise trample them into the ground...come hell or highwater they are going to show those stuck-up prima donna types who is really good!

[kayofcircles]

"Pretty is as pretty does." is what my mother used to say all the time.:)

As per usual, I am off topic, but think that our entire society has lost "value" on anything other than the superficial..not just the music industry. Heard last week on the news that teenage boys are taking steroids so that they can look bulk..or whatever the current slang is. Heard last night that some high school senior will receive 90 million dollars to advertise for Nike. What kind of message does that send to other kids?

[killercow]

My school is full of people who like rap. I like SOME songs but they get horribly old. But getting back to my point there is a rapper one of my classmates likes a lot named FAT JOE. He isn't exactly model style either. He's bigger than ruben. He bought a porche and he can't even fit in it. I personally don't care how they look (hold on i change my mind). But if you can sing good you should get a record deal or something. You shouldn't be turned down because you're EXTREMELY overweight or nerdy. Ruben already has a record deal for winning the contest but clay might still get one.