American Idol: Rock Critic Dave Marsh's POV

Cafe Society
1

In the New York Times Book Review this weekend, there is a review of a book about the blues (the book only sounds okay, but that isn’t the point of this thread). The review is written by Dave Marsh, a long-time, highly respected rock critic. In the one-sentence blurb about him below that review, it merely says: “Dave Marsh is writing a book about why “American Idol” is evil.”

Well - there you have it, then. :wink:

2

Ugh. Dave Marsh chaps my ass to no end. His pompus writing style, his view that rock criticism is some scholarly intelligent endeavor, his constant use of words that no one uses, ever, (using the word shibboleth unncessarily in one review is the “nadir”) and his view that anything without “soul” is shit, and everyone who records is trying to sound like a Motown recrod an failing miserably, except for his chosen few. But he’s probably right in this case though.

3

A really fascinating book *could *be written about Idol, and what it says about American values in the early 21st century, and how it fits in the history of American popular music…and how we’ve moved from authentic roots music (former cotton pickers and hillbillies and church choir members) to shiny new pop singer clones coming off a factory assembly line. I have no idea if Marsh’s book will be it, of course.

4

Dave Marsh is respected? When did this happen?

Seriously, is there ANYBODY who likes the show who’s going to read what Marsh has to say and gasp, “Why… he’s RIGHT! I must stop watching this evil show at once”?

And is there anybody who hates the show who’s going to say, “Thank God Dave Marsh came along to confirm that I was right”?

5

American Idol is a hit, therefore a target.
While there is lots to criticize about the show, and I do mean lots, there are some simple facts that cannot be refuted:

  • Winners (and most notably the so-called losers) have gone on to win many awards, including many Grammy Awards and even an Oscar.
  • Some contestants have sold millions of CD’s and gone on successful and lucrative tours.
  • For 99% of those singers who go on to have a career in music, American Idol might possibly have been their one and only chance to break into the industry.
  • American Idol has brought music into many homes that rarely, if ever, listen to music and has enabled multi-generational families to sit and watch a show together. I don’t think that has happened since the old Ed Sullivan Show.
    So I am sure Dave Marsh can find lots of crap to write about - horrible contracts, unfair selection process, unoriginal music selection - the list will go on and on.
    But Dave Marsh also knows that having the name American Idol on a book will sell books. This makes him better than Simon Cowell because…?