Pop Music Notes

Um, Idol spoilers. Just saying.

The title refers to what I was thinking as I watched the end of the “wild” card episode of American Idol last night, which was only wild because the folks involved with the show watched a completely different show than I did. According to the show I was watching, eight contestants were brought back to sing for their Idol careers, and would be judged accordingly. The producers, however, saw an episode where the performances were merely a formality, and no matter what happened, the remaining three four contestants were already determined.

I told someone this morning that I feel like I’m in mourning right now, and that sounds all melodramatic, but I can’t deny it. I’ve invested seven years into this guilty pleasure, and there’s a sense of betrayal that the powers that be don’t trust the American public to make the right decision. Sad thing is, I was actually in favor of the revamp, thinking that the judges would bring an objective eye to a few of the Top 12 13 contestants, but after seeing horrible performances by folks that made it through, and stellar performances not being rewarded, that’s an impossibility now.

I’m quickly moving away from TV as a whole, which many would argue isn’t a bad thing, but the sad part of this shift is that I lose one more watercooler topic that folks at work and friends can bond over. Granted, we can sit here online and cackle amongst ourselves about the latest U2 faux pas, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have some connection to the outside world apart from the news, which really doesn’t do much to uplift. I probably will watch Idol from time to time if I’m home and it’s on, but other than that, I will leave the hand-wringing and visionary predictions to others. Just stick a fork in me…I’m done.