Do the Pros on AI5 have the edge?

[AbsentElement]

I'm just wondering what everyone's feelings are about having professionals competing American Idol. For those who don't know what I mean, check out the CD's "Uprooted" (by Absent Element, Chris' band) and "Under the Radar" (by Taylor Hicks).

Paris' Grammy-winning mom and Katharine's mom Peisha certainly have big connections in the music world, undoubtedly lending some advantage to those two Idols. Not to say that qualifies them as professionals.

I guess I'm still on the fence. Katharine, Chris and Taylor both seem to blow everyone away every week. Paris is growing on me. But then there's Lisa (professionally performed in Lion King), who is usually mediocre at best.

I love being entertained every week by Idols like Chris and Taylor, but they have a lot more experience and seem to make the others more boring. Then again, maybe the likes of them are needed to set the bar higher for the others. What do you all think?

[cloie4me]

I agree. I thought this was for undiscovered talent. Katherine was on star search or one of those shows as well. I think it should be strictly...undiscovered talent.

[sittin'backwatchin']

I think AbsentElement has a point in that the more experienced performers are setting the bar higher. This isn't a bad thing! They were still 'undiscovered' at the auditions point. The point of AI is to uncover professional-grade singers/performers who are not nationally known.

Having cut a CD does not mean that one is 'discovered'.

Prior to AI non of the contestants had any national notoriety of their own.

After all, it's not 'Amature Hour'.

[carrierocks]

Well I can see your point. As long as the rules are the same for everyone the contest will be fair. They set the rules and have made a great show, so who can complain?

[Ciuma]

My question is: Do these so-called professionals have contracts? I know of bands made up of my fellow high school students and college students, and they have CDs, but they certainly don't have contracts. They make their own and then sell them for $5. It's like publishing a book... you can get a publisher and a contract, or if no publisher will make a contract with you, then you can start by paying printers to have your books printed.

And, well, I figure that Katharine and Lisa have had contracts, but they were part of something bigger. I'm just wondering if there are no longer any restrictions at all on professionals, or if they just can't have been signed to a contract as an independent singer.

[grania]

I understand what you write, and see another aspect of it. With talents like Chris, Mandesa, and Taylor, AI has already jump-started their careers. We'll be seeing all of them on tour, with or without AI. At this point, one can't help but wonder if being the American Idol, instead of going on their own, is the best way to spend the next year.

I'm very, very tempted to vote for whom would be the best AI, both from responding well to the training and restrictions, and it being a nice career for a year. That person just might be Eliot.

[froggiegurl]

I agree. I thought this was for undiscovered talent. Katherine was on star search or one of those shows as well. I think it should be strictly...undiscovered talent.
She was?? i never knew that. it probably did help her chances a little.

[Magicmarkerman]

Professionals? C'mon, now... ALL of these contestants are 'undiscovered talents' for one simple reason... THEY DONT HAVE CONTRACTS WITH LABELS! Yes, they have probably made their own CD's and demos to shop around to the labels (which can be made on ANY home computer now), and most probably they have all been performing in different venues (not like stadiums and concer halls, yet) but local bars, talent shows and anywhere else they would be welcomed to perform...even high school chior??!! In my opinion some of them ARE truly professionals in a couple aspects...Their mannerisms, their performances, and behavior. This can all be chalked up to EXPERIENCE from doing all those other performances, which demonstrates they are READY to now become actual professional singers and get signed by the big boys.

[AbsentElement]

Professionals? C'mon, now... ALL of these contestants are 'undiscovered talents' for one simple reason... THEY DONT HAVE CONTRACTS WITH LABELS! Yes, they have probably made their own CD's and demos to shop around to the labels (which can be made on ANY home computer now), and most probably they have all been performing in different venues (not like stadiums and concer halls, yet) but local bars, talent shows and anywhere else they would be welcomed to perform...even high school chior??!! In my opinion some of them ARE truly professionals in a couple aspects...Their mannerisms, their performances, and behavior. This can all be chalked up to EXPERIENCE from doing all those other performances, which demonstrates they are READY to now become actual professional singers and get signed by the big boys.

I think, strictly speaking, 'professional' would mean having performed music in consideration of cash or other compensation. But you make a good point. I can make a home-PC CD of myself singing and playing guitar, then turn around and sell a bunch of copies (okay, that would be the hard part), and I might be considered a professional musician. But it doesn't make me a good candidate for American Idol. It really can all be chalked up to experience, and that's why American Idol producers have to draw the line where they do. All the contestants have varying degrees of experience. So they have to draw the line at not having a big label contract.

In any event, the degree of talent and experience that those contestants like Chris, Taylor, and Katharine have, certainly set the bar higher for the others. Elliot and Mandisa are the only two others I see rising up to that level. I'm just surprised that Lisa doesn't fair better in the competition, with all of her experience. For some reason, she's just more boring to me.