How to Judge American Idol Yourself

There is no reason why we can't all become more educated and participate in judging "American Idol" from our living rooms.



While judging, however, keep in mind that being a great vocalist is only half the battle. It is of paramount importance for the contestants to present themselves holistically, as though it is both their first and last performance.



I will provide some insight into what is expected of the contestant.

Instructions

1. Let's begin by identifying the criteria by which all contestants are judged.
   
   
   1) Vocal ability
   
   
   2) Song choice
   
   
   3) Performance
   
   
   4) Celebrity appeal

2. In terms of vocal prowess, one can usually tell right away if the vocalist is good. Things to look for are:
   
   
   1) Pitch accuracy
   
   
   2) Vocal tone and style
   
   
   3) Originality
   
   
   4) Control of one's voice

3. Pitch accuracy is the ability to accurately perform the vocal melody of the song without wavering too far above or below the target notes, otherwise they will sound detached from the music. You will know immediately if the singer is out of tune just by how you instinctively react to the performance. Out-of-tune notes will most likely make you wince in agony.

4. The vocal tone is usually something specific to the individual artist. Most singers that we all know can easily be identified by their vocal tone. It is what sets all vocalists apart. Vocal style is another attribute specific to each person. The vocalist will be able to emote with verve and can manipulate the melodies to suite their fancy. The more mature and seasoned vocalists have more confidence in their ability and do not have to "showboat" all the time. They understand what it means to perform the song melody accurately without succumbing to the novice "vocal gymnastics" in hopes of impressing everyone. Tone and style are what makes an artist more unique and original.

5. The criticisms of song choice appear to be frowned upon by the the average viewer. Perhaps it's the inability to understand with authority exactly why it is so important. In many ways the song is the "product" that the vocalist represents. In this situation they are much like a model. Beyond the normal realm of understanding, a model is there to represent the product that they are endorsing. You may have even heard the saying, "It's not the model, but the clothes they wear." In a vocal competition it is no different. They have one shot to prove they are worthy of your vote.

6. Now that we understand the artistic side of things, we must cater to the reality of this competition beyond the scope of music and art: the music business. The part we all tend to forget, though without it these artists would all be struggling on the streets in the name of art. The reality is that in order to develop a career as a working musician they do have to succumb to the arena of business. Apart from the internal working of the business the artist has to have a celebrity appeal that is palatable for everyone. They need to be charismatic, charming, approachable and possibly even philanthropic. Yet they also need something that makes them appear enigmatic and larger than life. This folks, is the illusion of the music business.

Tips & Warnings

• Take it easy on Simon. Though not a musician himself, he is the person that most represents the average music consumer. He's just like us and is judging instinctively from the gut. He also understands the scathing scrutiny these performers will be subjected to in the real world. He is doing them a great service by offering valid criticism they would otherwise never receive from their best friend Sally or their grandmother in Des Moines.