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“Talent Scouts”
Every time I sit down and watch “American Idol” I think what a wonderful time it is to be alive and get to see such amazing talent in its early stages. Whatever you think of the show it does offer a chance for anyone to be seen by millions of people. Before “AI” your chances of being discovered as a talented singer were about ten thousand to one. Now thanks to “AI” those odds have been pared down to a believable number.
People love to say that “American Idol” has peaked and run its course but I certainly hope that is not true. Of course at some time Randy, Paula and Simon are going to have to hang up their judges’ robes. And maybe even Ryan Seacrest will have to step aside fore a younger version, for there will always be people who can and will replace them.
The reason I hope the show goes on forever is that I think out there in the heartlands of America there is a child playing an air guitar or holding up a hairbrush and singing away to his/her hearts content. And while they are singing they are thinking about “American Idol” and knowing if they are good enough they too will get a chance to be seen and be heard.
It doesn’t matter if they are from Atlanta, Georgia or Perry, Georgia; from Hollywood, California or Redlands, California. Big town or small town as your hometown, it doesn’t matter. The ticket is your talent and the “American Idol” train roars into a reachable city to let you hop on board.
Talent shows have been around forever. They probably held them in the Coliseum. Of course then if you didn’t sing so pretty they would toss you to the lions. In some of our lifetimes it was “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts.” If my childhood memories serve me well on that show a person would nominate another person to be on the show. Then the nominated person would perform and people would write in their votes.
Later came “The Gong Show” which was a talent show of sorts. If you weren’t good you got gonged and a lot of people were gonged. Still every once in a while you got a person who was actually good.
More recently there was “Star Search” which did discover some talented people. Yet somehow that show never had the impact “American Idol” has had. I never felt as if you got to know the people as completely on that show as you do on this new one. Today you become vested in the “American Idol” kids, especially the top ten winners.
America is known as the land of opportunity and a show like “American Idol” proves that to be true. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, what color you are, who your parents are, or anything like that. If you can sing you have a chance.
So kids out there watching “American Idol” start developing your dream. Know that one day you could be the next Carrie Underwood or Fantasia Barrino. Even if you don’t win the title you can still be a star like Daughtry or Clay Aiken.
This is the right time for anyone who is a singer to believe their dreams can come true. And that is one of the things that makes this country great and makes live worth living. Hope and opportunity, we couldn’t ask for more. |
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©2008 Jackie K. Cooper |
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