I was asked to answer a couple questions on American Idol and pop music today. One of them questioned how American Idol had changed popular music aesthetics, and I hold by my assertion that if you are looking at simply style and genre, Idol has had little impact on trends of popular music. Because of Idol's young contestant pool, especially in the first 5 seasons, singers rely heavily on their own musical idols to craft their cover song performance week to week (more on that in a moment). Therefore Idol hasn't reinvented popular music styles or even truly impacted any significant musical trends. It is the mirror to which we can see the trends of the music industry from year to year.
But if you look at method of musical dissemination, expectations of musical performances, a revitalization of the "American songbook," and the creation of a new generation of quasi-recognizable musical acts, then Idol has changed American musical society a great deal.
Without getting into my list above too much, I want to discuss the soundbite that didn't make it into the press release because I think one thing will "stand the test of time" longer than anything else when we talk about American Idol in the history books. The All-New Mickey Mouse Club that ran in the 1990s today is remembered for the stars it produced, both actors and singers. And I know Idol's format is inherently much different than MMC, but it is very similar in the amount of viable, competent singers that Idol has produced. 4 of the last 5 Super Bowl's national anthems were sung by former Idol contestants. Former Idols have gone on to win Grammys and an Oscar. They star on Broadway and series television. They become radio hosts and television correspondents. Idol allows musicians enough screen time to become a recognizable name. The weeks they spend on the show become a sort of resume for them, and more contestants should think of the show as not the quest to become a superstar (as the show was initially conceived), but a long running job interview. Through their intro packages and interview with hosts/judges, we get to know their personality. Their song choices show us the style and range of their abilities.
David Cook was the first Idol I heard speak of his Idol arc and conscious journey via song selection. He has talked about his purposeful choice to show diverse styles while still highlighting his singing ability. Adam Lambert similarly alternated fast and slow songs from week to week as a sort of concert set list. Idol contestants should break the mindset of "what song will get me through to the next week" and instead think "what song best exemplifies myself as a musical artist." Katherine McPhee can attest to song choices that follow them years later; her premiere in the new show Smash last night had her singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, one of her highest praised performances that season. McPhee has embraced the Broadway bombshell belter box that Idol put her in over 5 years ago.
I think it can become incredibly difficult for these contestants to see the long game. Melinda Doolittle frequently mentions to Michael Slezack on their tvline show Idology that Idols second guess their musical choices, whether it be the song or simply how many notes to sing. When producers tell you that every week you set foot on stage could be your last, the desperation can lead less confident singers to constantly choose ballads and pour on the melismas. We have to think of the age range of these contestants 15-28; many are still working out who they are as people, let alone their musical sensibilities. Faced with an incredibly short time frame to practice and perfect a 2:00+ song every week, they rely heavily on previously learned songs whenever possible. Many contestants said they simply didn't have the time to rework their songs because they just needed to memorize the words. So some in desperation will also look to their musical idols to influence their style, and we see the loss of individual personality in the whirlwind of the Idol machine.
In the post-Idol world, those contestants who are compared to other musical acts frequently struggle to find gainful employment for a time (with Pia Toscano, aka Celine Dion/Whittney Houston 2.0, being the obvious exception). It seems to be easier in the post-Idol world for contestants who stand their own ground with their own distinct style. Kellie Pickler's home-grown country, dumb blonde charm has led her to hosting gigs and recording contracts. It hasn't been completely smooth sailing for Blake Lewis, but his beat boxing and techno aesthetic has translated to multiple dance club hits. Both Haley Reinhardt and Casey Abrams have been signed to record contracts; these contestants from last season both insisted on arranging songs the way they felt best and had quite a number of "toned down" performances, contrary to the typical idol style.
The Voice is an amazing spectacle. I'm still not completely sold on the show, but I appreciate one outgrowth of its shtick. That show sees many more seasoned performers, older musicians who have worked the menial jobs singers have to endure (empty bars, weddings, etc). Upon arrival on The Voice stage, these contestants are able to be true to their artists' aesthetic sensibilities because, well, it's likely they're quite stubborn and set in their ways. I don't like the stereotypical choices and pigeon-holing, but The Voice has a greater pulse on the diversity of musical genres permeating American society. As it stands, Idol still follows musical trends (rock artists emerging in the wake of a surge of rock music popularity and this past season, country/pop musicians being winner and runner up in our new Taylor Swift-ian world). So if on Idol we could see more contestants being true to their musical aesthetics and not loosing themselves in the stress of the situation, then we might actually have a competition that can shape popular musical aesthetics. But regardless of bigger picture significations of Idol, I hope this season's crop of contestants can look at the bigger picture and give us a definitive picture of who they are as musicians. They can be so much more than just their voice.
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