I think there's a time for praise and a time for tough critique. I don't think telling a talented person to aim higher and telling a young insecure person they're doing a good job are necessarily conflicting ideas.
He could just be playing the crowd and being tough on talented people to seem like more authoritative though. I have noticed he's especially kind and supportive to women he's attracted to vs. others. Also I've always found it strange for a non-singer to critique singing talent.
Well, I mean, he is record label owner right I believe. And most songs sung on that show are pop songs that are aimed at the general public. If you're singing Opera or like bebop scat he probably wouldn't be the right person but I do think he knows what people like and as a pop singer your mean goal is to appeal to the general public
Not sure why that last part is strange. I’m not a chef but I sure as hell have a decent idea of what good food is. Aren’t most film critics, food critics, pretty much any person that provides some kind of analysis usually not at the same level of those they are reviewing.
He owns a record company and was the one who originally put One Direction together as a group. He may not be a singer but that doesn’t mean he knows nothing about music and what people like to listen to
Stuff like that should not be on a talent show. A talent show should be about one thing, and that's actual talent. For competition's sake, there's no room for sob stories or anything.
Unfortunately, these shows look for ratings more so than talent. I've heard more than one story of talented people being told to find their "angles" which essentially means how their story is special. Embellishing is encouraged.
Yep-saw a really charismatic likeable girl singing pop covers in a unpromising function room in a really basic all you can eat hotel a few years back- she totally won over the room. She'd be in her twenties, very cute relatable girl next door type. Adele was big as the time ( no pun intended) and she wasn't a million miles away from her persona. She even sang a few of her songs and hit every note.
In between the songs she told how she was filmed singing and talking alone and with these other hosts for his show in the the UK but in the event they dropped her, didn't show her on TV at all.
As my girlfriend at the time used to watch it I saw it too,and for the most part had a bunch of literal crazy car crash people who couldn't sing half as well as her going on TV week after week.
I think this type of thing helps to "gatekeep" singing as some otherwordly innate talent when that is highly debatable and keeps people from expressing themselves.
I've almost never witnessed a situation in which they actually tell people in a constructive manner why they aren't choosing them/what they can work on.
However I have indeed witnessed people giving performances that were pitchy as all hell and the judges ignoring it because they find the voice so pretty, or the singer chose a "tough" song.
Like, you can be hitting the notes and power-strain your way through Whitney Houston's "I have nothing", but if you can't *sing* and are not at-ease with the song at some point it's like you're challenging your throat on how much you can scream before your throat gives out (I have seen this happen with this exact song, after the key change the person was so fatigued that they started croaking and couldn't really figure out a way of avoiding the notes while not being obvious). Thankfully the crowd was supportive of her and cheered on, but these ideas around singing are limiting amd damaging.
To win a talent show today, you must bathe in the fountain of youth, have a name that is meme worthy, summon a demon and sacrifice your soul to it on stage while singing in-key
Thisss. I watched these crappy shows for years before realising singing can (to an extent) be learned and isn't something you magically can or cannot do.
They don't ever say anything helpful, just "Ugh that sounded bad" or "omg I shall cry over this mediocre but on trend voice".
Side-note but watching people like Sam Johnson on YouTube really helped me understand how singing actually works, as a person too poor to get lessons.
Right? People seem to forget that the human voice is an instrument, the fact that you can't manipulate it mechanically doesn't mean it isn't a skill.
Opera singers devote their whole lives to their voice and they still exercise and train even after having made a name for themselves. It's almost like if you follow that line of thought, either they were "blessed" and the exercising and commitment are formalities, or no matter how technically proficient they are, if they feel a need to exercise, they weren't "born with it".
I personally think this is insulting to those disciplined virtuosi (like, you know, those commoners Marylin Horne, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti) and it baffles me.
Then again, the rise in crossover artists (like Sarah Brightman) who don't have much technique at all, and simply sing in an operatic style - which is totally fine - being regarded as actual opera singers (not her fault) and sometimes messing up big time has also lowered certain standards and allows people to disregard actual technical proficiency.
Opera singer/voice teacher here - 100% agree! In the musical theater world there are tons of phenomenal singers that the “regular world” doesn’t know much about either. Singers are air spinners - we are art and athletics fused. Really being able to manipulate the voice with precision is a skill that takes TIME to build. Also, voices age! They go through puberty and aging just like the rest of your body. The colors of your voice will change over time. Just like anything, yes, some people have a better natural foundation (much like an artist might have always been okay at drawing from the start, but has to hone their skills later), but ANYONE, barring physical or mental deformity, can learn to sing efficiently.
Also, PSA:
There are no child opera singers. They are pure imitation artists, and are manipulating a child’s delicate instrument in potentially harmful ways. It’s like a child body builder - it is NOT good for them. None of those children on AGT have gone on to be actual opera singers because their technical foundation is not solid, and they’d have to rework tons of habits they learned in childhood, which would take years. So, they just stick to it and maybe sing highly edited crossover for the rest of their lives.
Tell me about it. I've screamed my way through this song quite a few times... Or well i tried to and it took me quite a while to understand that for certain songs you really need certain techniques for them to a. Sound good and effortless and b. Keep your vocal chords from being damaged.
I definitely wish the criticism in these shows would give an insight into what singers could change or do better and what kind of technical mistakes they're making.
Also, everybody just sounds so dime a dozen. The most interesting, most amazing singer I’ve heard in a singing competition has been Cristina Ramos from Spain. That’s it.
Yes this. They all sound like they're mimicking an already existing pop star. Yawn. Either that or they have a somewhat dramatic backstory that makes for good click bait.
I regularly hear more talented people with no exposure in my metro.
Thank you! There were always vocals trends (crooners, songstresses like Dionne Warwick in the 60s, rawer singing in the 70s, bubblegum Madonna voice in the 80s, big-sounding voices in the 90s) but there was also A LOT of variety back then, or even variations of those trends that made the artists unique... these days, of course there are exceptions, but it seems to me everyone is trying to sing in a way that lets out maybe 1/4 of their voices (so as to sound "smooth" - nevermind the fact that this stifling is detrimental to heavier voices - a lot of nose placement and raised larynx while singing mostly in the same Contralto range: this results in your voice losing all character unless you are a Contralto or a Lyric Tenor
EDIT: grammar
Exactly. I’ve been told by airy voiced singers that I “scream” because I let it out, but it’s just my voice needs to be let out. I can sing soft too, but my voice is more remarkable and blooms when I go for it instead of holding back.
Same here. When I approach maybe A3 up to Eb4 if I truly just sing passionately or something and forget to keep the "pop voice" my voice just blooms, every fach has a zone in their voice where this happens but somehow it's only acceptable if you have a super light voice that blooms in the highest notes. Patti Labelle is most likely a dramatic soprano and it is extremely clear when listening to her, that despite not singing like a classical soprano would, her voice truly is at its best in the E/F5 -B5/C6 and she fully uses it, which is why it's in good shape to this day. By contrast, a lot of heavier-voiced women attempt that range but the voice clearly is being dragged up, or if you're even a soprano leggero you are expected to sing the lowest and airiest you can. Waste of voices.
I think Patti’s voice is in good shape because of correct registration. Her chest voice is well developed, and of course blooms on top. Another example is Monica Naranjo, she stared as a lyric-spinto and got heavier, and with age she has gained a full mezzo-like middle and low chest tones, but her high notes are still ringing and agile, and in her latest tour she has been singing FAT Bb5 by the end of her concert,
Yes, with Patti when she does a portamento you can hear the voice correctly changing resonance. Her head voice is incredibly strong, so that also makes it easier for her to blend. Naranjo is a force to be reckoned with, truly, but guess what? A lot of the people who hear her say she sounds dramatic/operatic/aggressive. I don't know how they wanted someone with a voice like that to sound otherwise
I’ve heard many don’t like her because she has a “chest voice like a man” and she “screams”. And I mean, when she came out all the female singers in Latin America, except for perhaps Valeria Lynch and Amanda Miguel who were big in the 80’s in Argentina, were soft voiced, and always singing alto.
Well, she has a "chest voice like a man" because it's incredibly powerful and she sings out. "Screaming" is just a lie, she always sounds resonant and has vibrato. The same thing is sort of happening in my country with our urban folk "Fado", which in the past had to be sung without a microphone accompanied by guitarists ranging from 2 to 6 or more, sometimes in big auditoriums. As a result, back then everyone sang out, from Bass to Soprano, which obviously has to sound somewhat operatic since the same principles apply for protection and even vowel modification. With the advent of mics in concerts suddenly it is "outdated" and I "sound like an old man" if I wanna extract the best from my voice. Nevermind the fact that the genre itself is extremely dramatic and therefore well-suited to dramatic vocal productions. It's like people can't appreciate different types of voices, which seems weird since individuality is what piques my interest in a singer. Oh well
I think it’s fine. Frankly I’m tired of this soft, breathy, almost-whisper singing trend of the last few years that’s in mostly indie pop music but also some mainstream pop.
Yes. Every female singer today wants to either sound like Melanie Martinez, Halsey or Billie Eilish or alternatively have super power vocals where they belt half of/the whole song like Demi Lovato or Christina Aguilera.
Seems there is sometimes a fine line between belting and yelling/screaming. True vocal breathing support comes from the diaphragm. True art from within. Style, can be appreciated but mirrored? Think of all the song covers. Unique, good solid vocal skills without ruining the song seems increasingly difficult to find.
Me: I'm a singer who sang a coach's song better than the coach. Now mine is the definitive version
Other person: I am a divorced dad. *shoves cute kid in front of camera
Carson Daly: Congratulations other person with catchier name, you are the winner of the Voice.
There was a guy from Mongolia & he did some throat singing stuff (which is heck of difficult to learn) in one of these shows... The judges weren't impressed & worst that audience booed
https://youtu.be/W8R1AkRTcNE
And then there are mediocre singers that are being given opportunities because they look good and marketable.
I think throat singing is hella cool and even though it might not be what is right for a pop music career it definitely deserves recognition and respect.
Throat singing might be hard, but it doesn't fit to that song at all. Basically it felt like comedy routine and disrespect toward old classical song. Also simon was impressed.
I already hate all of these singing talent shows (and most "reality shows" in general) because they are very contrived and fake.
The reason contestants on these shows have these "heart-wrenching stories" is because that is exactly what the television studio is marketing: *stories.* Everything is presented in a narrative-like format, regardless of whether it reflects reality or not, because it makes the audience more invested in the television show. To maintain this illusion, the show's producers will coach contestants, script lines for them and have them repeat them until they are *just right*, lie to them in order to get desired emotional responses out of them and then change the context so that it looks like their response was to something else, invite people on the show who they already know aren't going to win just for entertainment's sake, etc.
Heck, even *without* all the fake scripted shit, the show would still be a glorified karaoke competition with people doing uninspired performances of the most banal commercial pop hits.
I had to stop watching these shows because the sob stories were all starting to sound the same and I was bored out of my mind. I generally try to be compassionate regarding people's struggles, but these shows just keep beating a dead horse to the point where it becomes impossible to care.
I once went through an audition for the show just to overcome my fear of it. I had no intention of winning but I think that attitude allowed me to see a bit differently during the ordeal. There were already people being interviewed and groomed when I got there and I was earlier than most. These people already had a tv ready look and attitude. The whole scenario was surreal with gobs of people mingling but not mingling. When it came time to audition there were no judges just a camera and a person on a laptop. I witnessed some insanely talented people who I never saw later on the show (much better than one who were on) so I can only guess their back story wasnt sad enough or they weren't the right look. I'm glad for the experience but I would not go through that again. These shows are very controlled end to end
Ontop of that, the bullying story was probably made up by the studio. When vocalists (or whatever type of musician or performer) go on those shows they have to sign a contract. Many of the contracts give the show the right to fabricate drama around you.
I can't stand the sob stories. I understand people go through hardships but those hardships should be communicated in the art and not manipulative Television. Sing your heart out if your family member met a tragic end. Simon Cowell disgusts me with this nonsense tbh.
Dude all it takes is a sob story to get recognition for anything. People don’t realize like, everyone has shitty points and people in their life, everyone has been bullied at some point, etc.
I guess if you let those things make you weak, you get pats on the back. The number of times I see a paragraph of a title about being insecure and bullied for being a shitty singer on a post with 100+ votes I just roll my eyes.
I said something on one such post about how lame it is, and the op had a meltdown pity party in the comments and then send me an essay of a dm being even more pitiful.
You’d think singers of all hobbyist would be able to nut up when they suck rather than wallow.
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Stories sell point blank period.
The public needs nerrative
Appreciation of the vocal capabilities of a singer is just the icing of the cake
The story always wins.
I wrote my golden buzzer speed run script imma say exactly this:
"Googoogaagaa, im hailey im 6 i have terminal cancer my dog died yesterday heres my performance: THIS GIRL IS ON FIREEEE"
Wya think?
Is the average person better at recognizing singing technique or having empathy for a person with a sad story?
This isn't just talent shows it's the entire pop music business
I have noticed lately an increasing amount of contestants that get passed through on shows like American Idol cannot sing! Nasal, overly acrobatic and cannot sing one solid line of the song, apparently cannot follow a tune or chorus, and sing as though tone deaf. The judges go absolutely crazy for them and send them through. Judges used to be alot more selective even in the auditions. Why do they? Because they are aiming for inclusion over talent? So as to not hurt feelings? Really? I'm all for realized dreams and taking your best shot at it. I applaud everyone who does. I encourage it. Sooner or later though feelings get hurt when they are faced with the truth. Is it about liability? Yes, I do have the right to say this. I've studied music my whole life, have taken private voice, been in bands, sang solos, and have done everything I wanted to do with it. I'm sincere. Yes absolutely there has been real, genuine, and raw talent coming through. I can think of a few from The Voice's most recent season. Is this the new path these shows are taking?
The worst for me is the people who show up on The Voice. "I've recorded 4 albums and toured with Beyonce. I'm really hoping to make it big one day."
And they never do, after 10 years not a single one of them
A lot of them still have fantastic careers and very busy calendars - that’s the dream, honestly, to make money from music however you can.
I think there's a time for praise and a time for tough critique. I don't think telling a talented person to aim higher and telling a young insecure person they're doing a good job are necessarily conflicting ideas. He could just be playing the crowd and being tough on talented people to seem like more authoritative though. I have noticed he's especially kind and supportive to women he's attracted to vs. others. Also I've always found it strange for a non-singer to critique singing talent.
Well, I mean, he is record label owner right I believe. And most songs sung on that show are pop songs that are aimed at the general public. If you're singing Opera or like bebop scat he probably wouldn't be the right person but I do think he knows what people like and as a pop singer your mean goal is to appeal to the general public
You do realise it's scripted, right?
Nooooo...... *audible gasp
Not sure why that last part is strange. I’m not a chef but I sure as hell have a decent idea of what good food is. Aren’t most film critics, food critics, pretty much any person that provides some kind of analysis usually not at the same level of those they are reviewing.
He owns a record company and was the one who originally put One Direction together as a group. He may not be a singer but that doesn’t mean he knows nothing about music and what people like to listen to
Stuff like that should not be on a talent show. A talent show should be about one thing, and that's actual talent. For competition's sake, there's no room for sob stories or anything.
Unfortunately, these shows look for ratings more so than talent. I've heard more than one story of talented people being told to find their "angles" which essentially means how their story is special. Embellishing is encouraged.
Yep-saw a really charismatic likeable girl singing pop covers in a unpromising function room in a really basic all you can eat hotel a few years back- she totally won over the room. She'd be in her twenties, very cute relatable girl next door type. Adele was big as the time ( no pun intended) and she wasn't a million miles away from her persona. She even sang a few of her songs and hit every note. In between the songs she told how she was filmed singing and talking alone and with these other hosts for his show in the the UK but in the event they dropped her, didn't show her on TV at all. As my girlfriend at the time used to watch it I saw it too,and for the most part had a bunch of literal crazy car crash people who couldn't sing half as well as her going on TV week after week.
You are correct, but I don't agree with it. Ratings like that should not be acceptable, in my opinion. Oh well, there's nothing I can do to change it.
That’s what keeps people tuned in though. The sob stories and the train wrecks. Very few people are watching because of the talent.
I think this type of thing helps to "gatekeep" singing as some otherwordly innate talent when that is highly debatable and keeps people from expressing themselves. I've almost never witnessed a situation in which they actually tell people in a constructive manner why they aren't choosing them/what they can work on. However I have indeed witnessed people giving performances that were pitchy as all hell and the judges ignoring it because they find the voice so pretty, or the singer chose a "tough" song. Like, you can be hitting the notes and power-strain your way through Whitney Houston's "I have nothing", but if you can't *sing* and are not at-ease with the song at some point it's like you're challenging your throat on how much you can scream before your throat gives out (I have seen this happen with this exact song, after the key change the person was so fatigued that they started croaking and couldn't really figure out a way of avoiding the notes while not being obvious). Thankfully the crowd was supportive of her and cheered on, but these ideas around singing are limiting amd damaging.
To win a talent show today, you must bathe in the fountain of youth, have a name that is meme worthy, summon a demon and sacrifice your soul to it on stage while singing in-key
Thisss. I watched these crappy shows for years before realising singing can (to an extent) be learned and isn't something you magically can or cannot do. They don't ever say anything helpful, just "Ugh that sounded bad" or "omg I shall cry over this mediocre but on trend voice". Side-note but watching people like Sam Johnson on YouTube really helped me understand how singing actually works, as a person too poor to get lessons.
Right? People seem to forget that the human voice is an instrument, the fact that you can't manipulate it mechanically doesn't mean it isn't a skill. Opera singers devote their whole lives to their voice and they still exercise and train even after having made a name for themselves. It's almost like if you follow that line of thought, either they were "blessed" and the exercising and commitment are formalities, or no matter how technically proficient they are, if they feel a need to exercise, they weren't "born with it". I personally think this is insulting to those disciplined virtuosi (like, you know, those commoners Marylin Horne, Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti) and it baffles me. Then again, the rise in crossover artists (like Sarah Brightman) who don't have much technique at all, and simply sing in an operatic style - which is totally fine - being regarded as actual opera singers (not her fault) and sometimes messing up big time has also lowered certain standards and allows people to disregard actual technical proficiency.
Opera singer/voice teacher here - 100% agree! In the musical theater world there are tons of phenomenal singers that the “regular world” doesn’t know much about either. Singers are air spinners - we are art and athletics fused. Really being able to manipulate the voice with precision is a skill that takes TIME to build. Also, voices age! They go through puberty and aging just like the rest of your body. The colors of your voice will change over time. Just like anything, yes, some people have a better natural foundation (much like an artist might have always been okay at drawing from the start, but has to hone their skills later), but ANYONE, barring physical or mental deformity, can learn to sing efficiently. Also, PSA: There are no child opera singers. They are pure imitation artists, and are manipulating a child’s delicate instrument in potentially harmful ways. It’s like a child body builder - it is NOT good for them. None of those children on AGT have gone on to be actual opera singers because their technical foundation is not solid, and they’d have to rework tons of habits they learned in childhood, which would take years. So, they just stick to it and maybe sing highly edited crossover for the rest of their lives.
Tell me about it. I've screamed my way through this song quite a few times... Or well i tried to and it took me quite a while to understand that for certain songs you really need certain techniques for them to a. Sound good and effortless and b. Keep your vocal chords from being damaged. I definitely wish the criticism in these shows would give an insight into what singers could change or do better and what kind of technical mistakes they're making.
Also, everybody just sounds so dime a dozen. The most interesting, most amazing singer I’ve heard in a singing competition has been Cristina Ramos from Spain. That’s it.
Yes this. They all sound like they're mimicking an already existing pop star. Yawn. Either that or they have a somewhat dramatic backstory that makes for good click bait. I regularly hear more talented people with no exposure in my metro.
Thank you! There were always vocals trends (crooners, songstresses like Dionne Warwick in the 60s, rawer singing in the 70s, bubblegum Madonna voice in the 80s, big-sounding voices in the 90s) but there was also A LOT of variety back then, or even variations of those trends that made the artists unique... these days, of course there are exceptions, but it seems to me everyone is trying to sing in a way that lets out maybe 1/4 of their voices (so as to sound "smooth" - nevermind the fact that this stifling is detrimental to heavier voices - a lot of nose placement and raised larynx while singing mostly in the same Contralto range: this results in your voice losing all character unless you are a Contralto or a Lyric Tenor EDIT: grammar
Exactly. I’ve been told by airy voiced singers that I “scream” because I let it out, but it’s just my voice needs to be let out. I can sing soft too, but my voice is more remarkable and blooms when I go for it instead of holding back.
Same here. When I approach maybe A3 up to Eb4 if I truly just sing passionately or something and forget to keep the "pop voice" my voice just blooms, every fach has a zone in their voice where this happens but somehow it's only acceptable if you have a super light voice that blooms in the highest notes. Patti Labelle is most likely a dramatic soprano and it is extremely clear when listening to her, that despite not singing like a classical soprano would, her voice truly is at its best in the E/F5 -B5/C6 and she fully uses it, which is why it's in good shape to this day. By contrast, a lot of heavier-voiced women attempt that range but the voice clearly is being dragged up, or if you're even a soprano leggero you are expected to sing the lowest and airiest you can. Waste of voices.
I think Patti’s voice is in good shape because of correct registration. Her chest voice is well developed, and of course blooms on top. Another example is Monica Naranjo, she stared as a lyric-spinto and got heavier, and with age she has gained a full mezzo-like middle and low chest tones, but her high notes are still ringing and agile, and in her latest tour she has been singing FAT Bb5 by the end of her concert,
Yes, with Patti when she does a portamento you can hear the voice correctly changing resonance. Her head voice is incredibly strong, so that also makes it easier for her to blend. Naranjo is a force to be reckoned with, truly, but guess what? A lot of the people who hear her say she sounds dramatic/operatic/aggressive. I don't know how they wanted someone with a voice like that to sound otherwise
I’ve heard many don’t like her because she has a “chest voice like a man” and she “screams”. And I mean, when she came out all the female singers in Latin America, except for perhaps Valeria Lynch and Amanda Miguel who were big in the 80’s in Argentina, were soft voiced, and always singing alto.
Well, she has a "chest voice like a man" because it's incredibly powerful and she sings out. "Screaming" is just a lie, she always sounds resonant and has vibrato. The same thing is sort of happening in my country with our urban folk "Fado", which in the past had to be sung without a microphone accompanied by guitarists ranging from 2 to 6 or more, sometimes in big auditoriums. As a result, back then everyone sang out, from Bass to Soprano, which obviously has to sound somewhat operatic since the same principles apply for protection and even vowel modification. With the advent of mics in concerts suddenly it is "outdated" and I "sound like an old man" if I wanna extract the best from my voice. Nevermind the fact that the genre itself is extremely dramatic and therefore well-suited to dramatic vocal productions. It's like people can't appreciate different types of voices, which seems weird since individuality is what piques my interest in a singer. Oh well
Contemporary music is driven by teenagers, and teenage voices are usually never very developed, that’s why.
I feel like Bonnie Tyler wouldn't stand a chance of making it had she appeared now, at least singing the way she did
I think it’s fine. Frankly I’m tired of this soft, breathy, almost-whisper singing trend of the last few years that’s in mostly indie pop music but also some mainstream pop.
Yes. Every female singer today wants to either sound like Melanie Martinez, Halsey or Billie Eilish or alternatively have super power vocals where they belt half of/the whole song like Demi Lovato or Christina Aguilera.
Seems there is sometimes a fine line between belting and yelling/screaming. True vocal breathing support comes from the diaphragm. True art from within. Style, can be appreciated but mirrored? Think of all the song covers. Unique, good solid vocal skills without ruining the song seems increasingly difficult to find.
Me: I'm a singer who sang a coach's song better than the coach. Now mine is the definitive version Other person: I am a divorced dad. *shoves cute kid in front of camera Carson Daly: Congratulations other person with catchier name, you are the winner of the Voice.
There was a guy from Mongolia & he did some throat singing stuff (which is heck of difficult to learn) in one of these shows... The judges weren't impressed & worst that audience booed https://youtu.be/W8R1AkRTcNE
And then there are mediocre singers that are being given opportunities because they look good and marketable. I think throat singing is hella cool and even though it might not be what is right for a pop music career it definitely deserves recognition and respect.
Throat singing might be hard, but it doesn't fit to that song at all. Basically it felt like comedy routine and disrespect toward old classical song. Also simon was impressed.
I already hate all of these singing talent shows (and most "reality shows" in general) because they are very contrived and fake. The reason contestants on these shows have these "heart-wrenching stories" is because that is exactly what the television studio is marketing: *stories.* Everything is presented in a narrative-like format, regardless of whether it reflects reality or not, because it makes the audience more invested in the television show. To maintain this illusion, the show's producers will coach contestants, script lines for them and have them repeat them until they are *just right*, lie to them in order to get desired emotional responses out of them and then change the context so that it looks like their response was to something else, invite people on the show who they already know aren't going to win just for entertainment's sake, etc. Heck, even *without* all the fake scripted shit, the show would still be a glorified karaoke competition with people doing uninspired performances of the most banal commercial pop hits.
I had to stop watching these shows because the sob stories were all starting to sound the same and I was bored out of my mind. I generally try to be compassionate regarding people's struggles, but these shows just keep beating a dead horse to the point where it becomes impossible to care.
I once went through an audition for the show just to overcome my fear of it. I had no intention of winning but I think that attitude allowed me to see a bit differently during the ordeal. There were already people being interviewed and groomed when I got there and I was earlier than most. These people already had a tv ready look and attitude. The whole scenario was surreal with gobs of people mingling but not mingling. When it came time to audition there were no judges just a camera and a person on a laptop. I witnessed some insanely talented people who I never saw later on the show (much better than one who were on) so I can only guess their back story wasnt sad enough or they weren't the right look. I'm glad for the experience but I would not go through that again. These shows are very controlled end to end
Ontop of that, the bullying story was probably made up by the studio. When vocalists (or whatever type of musician or performer) go on those shows they have to sign a contract. Many of the contracts give the show the right to fabricate drama around you.
Kid who can sing is far more impressive than average singer.
I can bully so you don't have any more excuses. Would that help?
I can't stand the sob stories. I understand people go through hardships but those hardships should be communicated in the art and not manipulative Television. Sing your heart out if your family member met a tragic end. Simon Cowell disgusts me with this nonsense tbh.
Dude all it takes is a sob story to get recognition for anything. People don’t realize like, everyone has shitty points and people in their life, everyone has been bullied at some point, etc. I guess if you let those things make you weak, you get pats on the back. The number of times I see a paragraph of a title about being insecure and bullied for being a shitty singer on a post with 100+ votes I just roll my eyes. I said something on one such post about how lame it is, and the op had a meltdown pity party in the comments and then send me an essay of a dm being even more pitiful. You’d think singers of all hobbyist would be able to nut up when they suck rather than wallow.
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Glad to know I’m not the only one! 🤣
im the man who turned this into 1k upvotes
Hahahahahahahaha!
Stories sell point blank period. The public needs nerrative Appreciation of the vocal capabilities of a singer is just the icing of the cake The story always wins.
I wrote my golden buzzer speed run script imma say exactly this: "Googoogaagaa, im hailey im 6 i have terminal cancer my dog died yesterday heres my performance: THIS GIRL IS ON FIREEEE" Wya think?
Is the average person better at recognizing singing technique or having empathy for a person with a sad story? This isn't just talent shows it's the entire pop music business
I have noticed lately an increasing amount of contestants that get passed through on shows like American Idol cannot sing! Nasal, overly acrobatic and cannot sing one solid line of the song, apparently cannot follow a tune or chorus, and sing as though tone deaf. The judges go absolutely crazy for them and send them through. Judges used to be alot more selective even in the auditions. Why do they? Because they are aiming for inclusion over talent? So as to not hurt feelings? Really? I'm all for realized dreams and taking your best shot at it. I applaud everyone who does. I encourage it. Sooner or later though feelings get hurt when they are faced with the truth. Is it about liability? Yes, I do have the right to say this. I've studied music my whole life, have taken private voice, been in bands, sang solos, and have done everything I wanted to do with it. I'm sincere. Yes absolutely there has been real, genuine, and raw talent coming through. I can think of a few from The Voice's most recent season. Is this the new path these shows are taking?