American Idol Winners: Talent or Torment?

Since American Idol (taken from a British show called Pop Idol) hit the television scene in 2002, it has become a national success. People everywhere are finding themselves meeting at their lockers or their company’s break room discussing who got voted off and who’s going to win each season. During the American Idol season, it’s rare to find a person who doesn’t keep tabs on this show. In fact, American Idol is rated the number one television show on TV today – even beating The Sopranos and CSI. Personally, I had never watched the show because I don’t have much of an interest in pop music. However, this past season I finally forced myself to watch the show from the beginning and then did a little research on the show and it’s winners. I was shocked.

American Idol isn’t just about singing – not even close. It’s about image and how marketable a person they are. In other words, no matter how gorgeous a voice someone might have – if they don’t look like a pop star they won’t be one. I did a little research on the past winners of this show and this is what I came up with.

1.) Kelly Clarkson – The first and probably the most successful winner of American Idol, since her win on the show she was nominated for a Grammy, won 2 more, and has scored over four #1 singles as well as selling over 10 millions copies of her albums. If any of these winners can claim success, it’s definitely her.

2.) Ruben Studdard – The second winner on the show, Ruben has been unable to even come close to Kelly’s success, scoring a #1 album on the Gospel charts with his latest album “I Need An Angel” and a #1 album on the Billboard chats with his first album “Soulful.” However, aside from the Gospel chart, good luck finding any increment of “idol” status after his win on the show. You’d be more likely to see success with the runner-up of that season: Clay Aiken.

3.) Fantasia Barrino – The third winner on the show, Fantasia’s debut album hit the shelves on November 23rd and only managed to secure her a #8 spot on the Billboard charts – making her the first American Idol winner whose album did not make it to #1 in it’s first week. She has since been praised by critics on her album but the praise has not brought her the fame she was promised.

4.) Taylor Hicks – The fourth and most recent winner, it’s uncertain as to his fate. One can only hope he doesn’t continue on the downward spiral since Kelly’s win.

The whole idea behind American Idol is that one winner will be chosen by the country’s votes and this person will be given a record contract as well as fame and fortune. So far, only one winner has achieved that. Then again, if it were up to me I would have the contestants do more than just sing. I’m not saying singing is easy because it’s obviously not something everyone can do, but I think it should take more than a voice to become a success in the music industry. Call me old fashioned if you like, but I believe that good music is music that is written and performed by the same person or persons. To become a pop star, all you really need to be is a model with a singing voice. Nowadays, singers rarely even write their own songs. It shouldn’t be that way. To really make it in the music industry, I believe it’s still important to have some real musical ability. To be able to sing is great, but can you play the music you’re singing? The music industry today is nothing like it used to be. Twenty years ago it was talent, not looks, that got you that record contract. Maybe that’s why I listen to so much classic rock. Then again, maybe somewhere inside me I’m hoping that this show will be over soon so I can stop having to wait for American Idol to be over to watch House.