I never had a chance to audition for American Idol.  I'm an adequate singer.  With practice before the audition, plane fare to wherever it would take place, and the wherewithal to face the trio of judges, I could've spent at least thirty seconds to a minute singing something.  I probably would've tried something in moderate tempo without high notes.  It's not to be, though.  I'm too old to be a contestant. 
     One man auditioning a few years ago came out wearing a Darth Vader costume.  I could've lasted a few seconds longer than he did.  The Darth Vader contestant apparently didn't take the show seriously.  Simon Cowell dismissed him almost immediately, disgust showing on his face as he earned his millions dealing with a stream of non-talent decorated here and there with genuine artists.
     The show will air its final season this next go-around.  Its impending demise will probably inflate its ratings.  Jennifer Lopez's final appearance on the show will let us see real tears on a reality program hostess's face.  I won't watch the final season, just like I didn't watch the other seasons.  I see clips on other shows, including news programs.  Someone said, "Pop will eat itself," and he was right.
     This morning I listened to a singer more along the lines of what I like: Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, possessing one of the best rock and roll voices.  Is he the Robert Plant of America?  Maybe so.
     When I was in ninth grade, Cheap Trick's album Live at Budokan got a lot of play on the radio, particularly the songs "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me."  I've heard these songs hundreds of times and they still work.  They have nothing of the spirit of what one hears on American Idol.  They're vibrant, original, and alive, and yet, Zander's voice and others of its kind, wouldn't be accepted on American Idol.  If you sound like Whitney Houston, however, you just might make it to that show's top tier, but really, how many Whitney Houston knockoffs do we need, if any?  I have nothing against Whitney Houston; in fact, I was sad when I heard she died.  American Idol voice-clones of Houston?  No, please stop.  Would Jennifer Lopez want to sit before hopefuls imitating herself?
     If I had ever been young enough to audition for American Idol, would I have tried to sing like Robin Zander?  No.  I can't sing like he does, but I would've put forth an original style, and that's probably essential in winning the marbles on that show.

                                                                           Vic Neptune