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American Idol reminds America of what good music is all about. This is what I enjoy most about the show. It tells us that all people can enjoy quality music and you don't have to be in a specific age group to know what's good or bad. Too long there has been the perception that once people reach a certain age they become set in their ways and can no longer appreciate new music. American Idol has demonstrated that a love for good music is universal and both young and old can enjoy it together.

Growing up in an era where no one over the age of thirty could be trusted, I was pressured into thinking that some kinds of music were good and others bad. The older generation demonized Rock and Roll while the kids mocked Beethoven and assumed those who played in high school orchestras were nerds. Perhaps I'm a bit naive to think this has changed dramatically, nonetheless, I think American Idol has come a long way in changing America's understanding and appreciation of a broad spectrum of music.

When Simon Cowell introduced the "el Divos" to the world, their albums shot up to the top of the charts overnight. Who would have dreamed that classical music could be so popular once again? I think this in itself speaks for what the "Idol" series worldwide have done for music in general.

Personally I enjoy many genres of music, including classical music. Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing for me than to turn on a Rachmaninoff record or CD and turn down the lights. But depending on my mood, I can listen to pop, rock, country, adult contemporary, gospel, jazz, or big band music and be equally entertained.

There are some genres of music I do not care for, and I find it interesting that the American Idol judges seem to be in hearty agreement with me. There have been contestants who attempted to do their vocal renditions of "death metal" only to be met with derision. Let's face it, some forms of so-called music simply are not music. You might call them phenomena, usually rooted in adolescent anger, frustration, and rebelliousness, which seems inherent to some teenagers of all generations, but music? Who are we kidding?

Record companies are constantly coining new names for new genres of music because that's their business. They'd record the noises on a construction site and market it as "constructonica," or "building grunge", if they were convinced enough people would buy it.

But American Idol is about good music. Every now and again Simon Cowell goes out of his way to re-establish this simple principle when he talks about things like the importance of contestants' song selection. American Idol is by design and necessity in the business of giving Americans what they love to see and hear, whatever kind of music that may entail otherwise they'd go off the air. For this reason the show reaffirms what good music is all about for Americans because, in the words of Abe Lincoln "some of the people can be wrong all of the time, all of the people can be wrong some of the time, but all of the people can't be wrong all of the time"!

I'm sure we've all questioned whether we're losing touch with what truly constitutes art and what doesn't. With all the critics confidently asserting what is cutting edge and what's schmaltz, we sometimes begin to doubt our own sense of judgment. It's good to have a show like American Idol to confirm in our minds that we're not far off base, and it's O.K. to enjoy the Big Band sound while still being fans of rock, country, or house music.

Learn more about this author, Bohdan Rewko (Bo of T.O.).
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