As a musician for the past 56 years, and as a luke warm fan of American Idol for the past 6 plus years, I would like to comment about the opening weeks of season 12. First of all this is a show that speaks to the probably 15 thru 21 year old demographic. This is basically a " family oriented " program. It pretends to show the best of the young talents in America while, half the entertainment over the past couple of weeks has been what most people would call "bloopers". Another 25 % of the show is searching for heartfelt stories and drama. When we get to the truly talented young people, we have to contend with Nicki Minaj, acting like some classy "gangsta" from the "hood", constantly "throwing down" on Mariah.
All the true musicians I've known over these years have always respected the musicians that came before them, and I include vocalists as musicians, for what they did to help all of us get to the object of why we do all this, and that is to touch and entertain the people who pay good money to see them.
Over the years, names like Billy, Sarah, Ella, Barbra, Janis, Aretha;the Queen of Soul, Madonna, and Mariah, these are singers that over the generations, are know by their first names. Lately its Adele. I haven't yet heard anybody referring to Niki Minaj as Nicki. Mariah has 22 Grammy's and other awards that are too many to mention. Mariah, besides Minnie Riperton, God rest her soul, can hit notes that singers can only dream about. She shows her class on Idol by not getting down into the street with Minaj. Nicki Manji has ZERO Grammy's. And if she is smart, she'll get off Mariahs case and do her job of judging talent, before she finds her first year on Idol to be her last year on Idol and her reputation to be the person to put Idol out of business.
