Music

A number of years ago, I went to the mall to purchase a CD. I only had the songs I wanted on cassette and wanted to upgrade my collection.

After I handed the disc to the clerk at the register, he sighed. Now this was no sullen teenager bothered by some older guy’s nostalgic purchase. This guy was at least my age, maybe older. This will sound mean, but he looked like the guy they would cast in a movie about a 35-year-old guy who worked at a music store in the mall.

While he finished the transaction, he looked down at the CD and said, “Well, I guess some things never come into style.” Yes, this was someone I was willingly giving money to telling me that my taste stunk.

I don’t think I said anything. Maybe I was stunned. Maybe I was in a hurry. But most likely, I really didn’t care what Record Store Guy thought about my purchase of the Go-Go’s Greatest  Hits. I knew the songs were awesome without his input.

I was just sitting around the other week thinking, “We don’t have enough television shows which judge people’s singing ability.”

Well, to be honest, I didn’t say that. I would never say that. But some television executive said it at some point because NBC has started hyping a new show to find a hidden talent.

I can certainly understand the need for another show like this. After all, singers around the country have no way of letting others discover their talent. America certainly suffers from a shortage of performing venues, karaoke nights and web sites which allow people to promote their own work.

And the agents and talent scouts certainly don’t have the ability anymore to go beat the bushes and find someone who they think can develop into a musical superstar. Why work hard when they will audition for you like trained seals?

Besides, we all know success comes down to someone standing there singing. The band which actually plays the music and – gasp – may even write their own songs doesn’t really make a difference. We only care about young, pretty people singing.

At least we used to. The new show coming to TV tonight should solve all of that. The judges will take a massive step and listen to the performers … are you ready for this … with their backs turned so they only make their judgement based on what they hear.

I wonder why some people think we have failed to progress as a society.