quote:

---

Elton John: 'Idol' vote is 'racist'
Upset about 'great voices' ending up in bottom three
Tuesday, April 27, 2004 Posted: 4:07 PM EDT (2007 GMT)

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- British rock star Elton John, a guest judge this month on the U.S. talent hunt TV series "American Idol," said on Tuesday that he found the voting by the national viewing audience "incredibly racist."

John, who heard the wannabe pop stars perform his songs during an appearance on the Fox TV show, added his voice to a chorus of dissent that followed last week's shock exit of black vocalist Jennifer Hudson, considered one of the top talents among those vying for a recording contract.

"The three people I was really impressed with, and they just happened to be black, young female singers, and they all seem to be landing in the bottom three," said John, commenting on the tally in which the lowest vote-getter is eliminated.

"They have great voices. The fact that they're constantly in the bottom three -- and I don't want to set myself up here -- but I find it incredibly racist," John said at a news conference promoting his Radio City Music Hall concert backed by an orchestra of students from London's Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School of New York.

The show often gets more than 20 million people voting.

The other two singers grouped in the bottom three of the seven remaining "American Idol" finalists last week were La Toya London and Fantasia Barrino.

The results moved show host Ryan Seacrest to remind viewers that the series was a talent hunt and not a popularity contest.

"America, don't forget you have to vote for the talent," Seacrest said before closing the show. "You cannot let talent like this slip through the cracks."

Fox Television declined to comment.

---

Pretty simple: a great deal of the American public is made up of stupid morons. They choose people based on looks and little else. They will vote for some pretty white chick who can't sing at all while eliminating a black woman with a greater degree of talent. They buy their music that way, and the dumbasses even vote that way too.

The last time I checked, you listen to music with your ears not your eyes.

I think Elton John is wrong to say the situation is racist. The truth is people will more often vote for the more attractive person regardless of talent/lack thereof. The music industry markets product this way. Does anyone remember the awful poseur shams that happened a little over a decade ago in the dance music industry? Remember Black Box and C+C Music Factory using skinny black ladies more white guys would like to lip synch the vocals of Martha Wash, a very talented but obese singer? Remember Milli Vannili? We saw lots of those two dreadlocked dudes on MTV, but never saw the real guys who sang the hit "Girl You Know It's True."

I can say without a doubt that performers like Bob Dylan, Woody Nelson, Neil Young and any other "ugly" person with great music talent would never have been successful if music video had taken off in the 1950's or 1960's.

It is very rare these days to find someone having a great deal of success in the music industry without being attractive in some way. And even when they have success, they wind up having to change visually to conform to our marketing/sex ideals.

Take Missy Elliot for example. She used to be huge, but now she's dropped a bunch of weight to look more photogenic. I'm certain the record company had something to do with her getting on a diet. They say "she had dangerously high blood pressure." That may indeed be true. But I wouldn't put it past a record company to invent such a story either.

Of course all the cattle out there in TV Land get the boring, stale, but good looking music industry they deserve. That's what they buy. I think it is pretty amazing how most people in country music seem to look like porn stars or something. It's no wonder why Winona Judd is getting DUI arrests. That shit would drive me to drink too.
 

---

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-28-2004, 01:38 AM:
 
Ummmm Bobby? Please remember that talent does not exist. Only skill. No such thing as talent. Remember? Just like drawing. [av=c]
 

---

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-28-2004, 10:33 AM:
 
Luckily, most people only see the artwork and not the artist. So it is hardly ever an issue if the artist is not attractive. Well, at least this is true for commercial art.

In the so-called "fine arts" (cough-bullshit) crowd., it is kind of important how you look, what kind of clothes you're wearing, who's parties you're attending, who you're boinking, etc. Just like any other popularity contest. Only this time, people are standing around in a gallery, pretending to be smart and worldly while eating overpriced wine and cheese. Thus, I chose an illustration major in art school rather than the wholly pretentious fine arts route.
 

---

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 04-28-2004, 10:37 AM:
 
Does anyone care about Elton John or the "Idol" franchise?
 

---

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-28-2004, 10:41 AM:
 
I do. Okay I'm lying.
 

---

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 04-28-2004, 11:37 AM:
 
What I find incredible is that it takes a famous person like Elton John to point it out.

I've visited other people when they are watching that show. The bias was blatant. You could see it in the first few minutes of viewing. I even pointed it out but was met with a chorus of, "Bullshit!", from everybody else in the room.

Now that somebody famous has pointed it out it becomes a hot topic. But at least I am vindicated! Now I can go back to my friend's place and tell them, "See! I was right all along!"
 

---

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-28-2004, 11:39 AM:
 
My question is how can anyone take this guy seriously?


 

---

Posted by Joe Beres (Member # 678) on 04-28-2004, 11:51 AM:
 
Mark, that is actually Justin Timberlake as Elton John. My question is why would anyone take Justin Timberlake seriously?
 

---

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 04-28-2004, 02:49 PM:
 
It is?? Haha! That's even funnier.
 

---

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-28-2004, 06:35 PM:
 
I thought that was the frontman of "The Buggles," the band whose song "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the first music video played on MTV.

One thing is certain. Video has killed lots of music talent. Too much watching with the eyes instead of listening with the ears.

It's no wonder why I hardly ever buy music CDs anymore. Oh, that reminds me I need to buy a CD from Columbia House before May 15 to make good on that 12 CDs agreement. It has been really tough finding something worth buying (particularly through some of the limited title availability with music clubs like Columbia House and BMG). I even got a MAP Class Action Suit settlement coupon from Columbia House (on top of the $13 check that came in the mail not too long ago). The coupon is good for 75% off for up to 3 titles. After the discount, I guess the CDs will be priced probably where they should be anyway! After all, the music on the disc isn't the point. It's how good the singer looks on the cover art photo!
 

---