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The success of those with questionable or no talents like William Hung is a prime example of what happens when the radio airwaves are filled with less than talented cookie cutter pop tarts being referred to as "artists". William Hung is just one of the many people who come to the American Idol auditions thinking that they can sing either because they have been told by someone else that they can sing or they actually believe the have talent. and using the first several episodes of each season to "showcase" some of the auditions does little more than perpetuate the rouse. And the fact that people actually enjoy watching that stuff is even more ridiculous.

Programs that showcase these people with questionable or no talent are creating generations of tone deaf people who can not only carry a tune they can't recognize it when they hear it. This is truly sad for the music business. What the record moguls don't kill with their greed the untalented and tone deaf will finish the job.

The newest incarnation from the creators of American Idol called The Next Great American Band is another example of the phenomenon. In both cases hopefuls have actually argued with the judges - who have infinitely more experience and/or with talent - when told that they can't sing or need to get some help to improve their singing.

American Idol has been successful in producing some truly talented singers. And some of them have even gone on the be successful in the recording business with chart topping singles and albums.

American Idol would be a much better program if more focus was placed on the contestants who make the finals and less time on those with questionable talent. Instead of casting an equal number of guys and girls, the show should select the top singers no matter what their gender and let them sing for more than 90 seconds. There is not a musician alive who can sing a song from every genre - and that includes the greatest artists of all time - so there's no reason to expect the contestants from American Idol to do so.

Learn more about this author, Sherrill Fulghum.
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