Last night on American Idol Chris Daughtry, the rocker with an awesome voice, received the fewest votes and was sent home. But is he really a loser?
I don't think so.
If anything, I really believe that this is going to turn out to be a big help to his music career. Of all the winners so far in the American Idol journey only two have really shown that they are worthy of the title and have actually done anything with it: Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
I would suggest that Kelly's success was largely due to the fact that she was the first American Idol. Carrie has sought her fame in the country genre rather than the "pop" genre that Kelly dominates. Reuben Studdard and his runner-up Clay Aiken have done little to really excite the American population and Fantasia has shown very little as well. I don't know exactly what is required of the contestant, contractually speaking, that wins American Idol. However, I am comfortable suggesting that it is probably a little limiting.
For example, the winner is most likely required to do all kinds of appearances, concerts, and control over the artist's output is most likely a little one sided. It is for that reason that I really believe Chris will be better off without that hanging over his head. I am very confident that Chris will be snatched up by a solid band that needs a fantastic voice out front. Additionally, let's face it. If you are a rocker does it really matter if you win American Idol?
Chris has consistently shown that he has the most clear, recording studio quality voice than any other contestant on the show. The exposure he has gained during the competition is really what he needed. The trophy would have been the cherry on the top, but is it what Chris needed? I say no. If anything, the "American Idol" moniker may have been more of an anchor than a parachute for this guy. If American Idol has show us anything it could quite possibly be two things: First, if you really, really like someone in a competition that requires you to pick up your phone and vote . . . PICK UP THE PHONE AND VOTE YOU LAZY BUM! For crying out loud, all you have to do is dial the number. You can't count on someone else to do it. I've been reading all morning how shocking this is to people - that Chris lost, that is.
The other thing it might have shown us is this: American people are short on good taste. I'll admit, Katharine is cute and she can sing. But I am really beginning to wonder about her ability to handle the pressure. Elliot has a good voice, but he's no American Idol. He's not a pop-star. He's a crooner. I could see him performing in a Las Vegas much more than any bubble-gummer concert.
Taylor is a great performer and a decent singer. But, here again, he's not a pop-star. He's more of a blues, jazz, country kind of performer. In other words, Elliot and Taylor are not going to appeal to a broad audience. Katharine has a chance of doing that if she can deal with the stress. I think that Chris and Katharine had the potential to appeal to a much broader audience than Taylor or Elliot.
So, in summary, Chris will be better off without the American Idol label. He has the voice that I believe many bands will be looking for once he's put American Idol behind him. Regardless of the fact that I think he probably had the most raw talent of any of the contestants, winning the competition may have hurt him more than help him - in the long run. My forecast for who will win now? Taylor.
If anything, I really believe that this is going to turn out to be a big help to his music career. Of all the winners so far in the American Idol journey only two have really shown that they are worthy of the title and have actually done anything with it: Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
I would suggest that Kelly's success was largely due to the fact that she was the first American Idol. Carrie has sought her fame in the country genre rather than the "pop" genre that Kelly dominates. Reuben Studdard and his runner-up Clay Aiken have done little to really excite the American population and Fantasia has shown very little as well. I don't know exactly what is required of the contestant, contractually speaking, that wins American Idol. However, I am comfortable suggesting that it is probably a little limiting.
For example, the winner is most likely required to do all kinds of appearances, concerts, and control over the artist's output is most likely a little one sided. It is for that reason that I really believe Chris will be better off without that hanging over his head. I am very confident that Chris will be snatched up by a solid band that needs a fantastic voice out front. Additionally, let's face it. If you are a rocker does it really matter if you win American Idol?
Chris has consistently shown that he has the most clear, recording studio quality voice than any other contestant on the show. The exposure he has gained during the competition is really what he needed. The trophy would have been the cherry on the top, but is it what Chris needed? I say no. If anything, the "American Idol" moniker may have been more of an anchor than a parachute for this guy. If American Idol has show us anything it could quite possibly be two things: First, if you really, really like someone in a competition that requires you to pick up your phone and vote . . . PICK UP THE PHONE AND VOTE YOU LAZY BUM! For crying out loud, all you have to do is dial the number. You can't count on someone else to do it. I've been reading all morning how shocking this is to people - that Chris lost, that is.
The other thing it might have shown us is this: American people are short on good taste. I'll admit, Katharine is cute and she can sing. But I am really beginning to wonder about her ability to handle the pressure. Elliot has a good voice, but he's no American Idol. He's not a pop-star. He's a crooner. I could see him performing in a Las Vegas much more than any bubble-gummer concert.
Taylor is a great performer and a decent singer. But, here again, he's not a pop-star. He's more of a blues, jazz, country kind of performer. In other words, Elliot and Taylor are not going to appeal to a broad audience. Katharine has a chance of doing that if she can deal with the stress. I think that Chris and Katharine had the potential to appeal to a much broader audience than Taylor or Elliot.
So, in summary, Chris will be better off without the American Idol label. He has the voice that I believe many bands will be looking for once he's put American Idol behind him. Regardless of the fact that I think he probably had the most raw talent of any of the contestants, winning the competition may have hurt him more than help him - in the long run. My forecast for who will win now? Taylor.
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