I know, I know, I write a googillion words a week about American Idol — and I’ve already referenced an unfunny Ben Stiller "Idol Gives Back" joke in the first sentence of this blog item! — but all the recent press about the show slipping in the advertiser-craved 18-34 demographic, and now having a median viewer age of (le gasp!) 42, got me thinking.
As Idolatry viewer Lee Chesnut from Barnard, Vt., griped in a recent e-mail titled "Oldies Idol," the show has been bizarrely reluctant to allow season 7 contestants to sing contemporary songs. "Neil Diamond Week, Andrew Lloyd Weber Week, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Week, Dolly Parton Week, Beatles Week (twice!), ’60s Week, ’70s Week, ’80s Week…. I mean it’s almost cruel to imagine this season’s winner being turned loose to compete in the ‘real world’," Lee writes, before hitting the all-caps button. "WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY FAVORITE SHOW??"
Exactly.To remedy the heinoustries, I say we brainstorm some new and exciting theme weeks that will keep the MTV set happy without alienating Oldie Olsens (like me). I’ll get the party started!
- Timbaland Night: Why not turn to the dude (pictured) who seemingly produces half the hits on today’s Billboard chart? Lest we forget, he’s even worked with Ashlee Simpson, so it’s not like he can say Idol’s beneath him!
- Dream Duets Night: The contestants get to choose any artist in the world for a duet partner, then collaborate with said star to select the perfect song/arrangement.
- Undiscovered Songwriters Night: Idol producers offer up a pool of, say, 100 undiscovered songwriters, and after listening to their demos, each contestant gets to choose one with whom they’d like to collaborate.
Okay, PopWatchers, there’s three from me. Your turn!
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What if we were to try a season where there were NO theme nights. Ever. Just let them sing–week after week–the kinds of songs they would sing as if they had already won.
I don’t think a lack of theme nights would change anything. During the semis in past seasons, most of the contestants still picked songs that were at least 10 years old. Personally, I liked the theme the show did in Season 5 where they had contestants pick songs that were currently on any of Billboard’s Top 10 lists.
Movie Soundtrack night
Fan’s choice night. Contestants pick 5-8 songs and viewer’s pick the song on the Internet.
i agree–do away with theme nights for a season or two and see how it goes.
Christina Aguilera Night / TRL Night (have to pick a song that’s been on TRL in the past year) / R&B Night
love the idea of a duets night! would even like to see duets amoung the idols themselves (i’m hoping for a carly/michael johns duet on the finale or tour). OR WHAT ABOUT PAST IDOLS. man i just got chills thinking about a chris daughtry/david cook duet. man i need to get a life.
i would also like to see younger mentors, like john mayer, ben folds, alicia keys, justin timberlake, nelly furtado, john legend, etc. heck, even (gasp) dave matthews. it doesn’t have to be their songs – just maybe their advice.
In the past they have done a “Billboard Top 100″ night in which contestants could pick any song on the current Billboard charts – in any genre: pop, country, rock, etc. I definitely want to see that every year.
A Timbaland night would be great, but I’m not sure how many of his tracks would work with a singer and live band. They don’t tend to be “singers’ songs.”
Well, they have done country night. Why not folk music night? There are a ton of artists making great music in those areas who are not as well known. Some have even hit the charts (Sara McLaughlin, the Indigo Girls or Shawn Colvin for example). How about a hard rock or indie rock night? How about a one-hit wonder night or a novelty song night (c’mon you know you want to hear something by Wierd Al). How about allowing them to sing their own songs?
I hadn’t realized this, but, since the “real” competition began (after the audition rounds and Hollywood Week), the Idols had to sing, in order, 60s, 70s, 80s songs (semifinals), then two weeks of Beatles materials, followed by the “songs from the year you were born”.
Since most of the contestants are more than 20 years old, that means we got six straight weeks (or a month and a half) of the “Idols” not being allowed to sing something originally recorded after 1989. I totally agree this needs to be addressed.
NineDaves is absolutely right in that there are plenty of great potential mentors under the age of 35 that should be considered. (I could especially see a Dave Matthews night.)
This years themes have sorely been lacking in relevance to todays music. Themes that I think could work:
iTunes Top 100 night: The show is already tied to iTunes so why not
U2 night: They have a catalouge spanning 30 years but they’re still relevant in today’s scene
Duets Night: I’ve been wanting a duets theme for seasons. They would have to do it later in the season when they sing two songs though in case the duet goes horribly wrong
I’d watch death metal night or two whole weeks of reggeaton.
Kara DioGuari night. She’s a hit-making songwriter, and a talented singer as well. She deserves way more recognition than she gets.
Whoops! Typo!
Kara DioGuardi
Idol themes only last year were relevant consistently to today’s music. Previously there have been weeks upon weeks of oldies but goodies. What hinders the contestants is limiting themes based upon one artist. That said, get relevant and funny by using a VH1 list of “Greatest Songs of the 90s” or something like that. (I vote for “40 Most Softsational Soft Rock Songs” as the list to use at least once.)
This is part in jest, but what if they had number ones from around the world. Like for the top 5, everyone had to pick a different country, not the US because that’s too easy. It would be like world music night which we don’t have.
U2 night, Tom Petty night andddd hmm I don’t know. One hit wonders night.
I totally agree wtih Movie Soundtrack night. Other possibilities:
*Songs from the year you went to Prom (could provide some funny flashback photos).
*Songs That Would be Ironic on Elimination Night
*Song Choices From Your Mother
*Songs chosen by your high school
Break up the theme nights with weeks where the contestants choose their own songs, from anytime, anyone. That way we can hear their true ‘voices’, rather than the AI producers.
I would love to hear great Break Up Anthems! Songs that are either uber depressing or scream to hell with you. Maybe we could see if any of the contestants are capable of capturing real emotions
Here’s the genius: TV THEME SONGS NIGHT!!! Can you imagine David Cook doing a rock ballad version of the theme from Gilligan’s Island? Or David Archuleta rockin’ out to “As Long As We Got Each Other” from “Growing Pains”? Syesha could probably turn out the theme from “One Day At a Time” like nobody’s business. And obviously Jason Castro would simply HAVE to do “Come On Get Happy” from “The Partridge Family.”
Again, GENIUS, I SAY
So I got on here to plug my awesomely original idea of TV Themes…and somebody beat me to it. But it’s still awesome; the songs are built to last about a minute, so there’s no cutting a song down so much it no longer makes sense. Plus, it would be perfect for a later round where they all do like five songs each anyway. I could die happy if I got to see Archuleta singing earnestly about the Gummi Bears. And I really would die if they all did Zoobile Zoo on results night.
those are fantastic ideas Slezak. I also love the prom night song idea and the iTunes top 100 ideas listed above. How about, favorite summer jam/feel good song? yeah the weather’s just really great today….
ABBA night
Arena Rock night
Punk/New Wave night
Brit Pop night
Indie night (current and classic indie)
Singer Songwriter night
Synthpop night- Singers will be coached by Andy Bell of Erasure
Art Rock night
Songs that were featured in 80’s brat pack movies.
TV Theme Song night! Genius.
Well if they opened up the genre that the mentor sings it would open it up a lot more, ie country instead of only Dolly Parton songs. It has made this season so incredibly boring. I record and fast forward over most of the songs.
I wouldn’t mind “Judges Night” where one of the three judges gets to pick all the songs that the Idols will sing. That way they could stop attacking the Idols for “song selection” and start looking in the mirror. Also, having your hometown or High School pick the song could include outsiders and challenge the Idol contestant. And of course, Top Current I-Tunes or last year’s Grammy Nominees for Best Song (in any genre)or something similar could be good. Why not “World Music” or at least a genre such as Bossa Nova, or heck why not Mariachi? And if you’re going to pick a mentor who is not currently at the top of the charts, have them pick songs of the last 10 years they wish they had written/sung? And I think “Classical Crossover” would really separate the true talents from the wannabes. I think “Christmas in April” would be at least different and not a re-tread. As for Timbaland, absolutely, but don’t you think they have a standing offer out to Timbaland, Jay-Z,Justin & Beyonce?
Songs performed by one time Mousketeers Night.. ^=^
We want the best,so give us the best…KISS
High School Musical Night
The best thing about your Duets night is that the MENTOR SINGS WIHT THE IDOLS! I am all for mentors, but not when they are air-lifted in for approximately 1.5 minutes per contestant. Surely there are stars kind enough (or fame-whorish enough, take your pick) to actually arrange the song and PLAY WITH THE IDOLS. How about a passionate diva like Reba Macintyre or Celine Dion to do this?