I can’t quite shake being bugged by the American Idol thing from the other night. The “Shout to the Lord” episode.
I guess I have a tendency to think of things from a performer’s perspective. I put myself in their shoes. I relate. And while I personally wouldn’t have had a problem singing that song — well, the vague cheesiness of the song would make me drag my heels a bit — I find myself wondering if any of the AI finalists DID have objections to singing that song. I have my theories about that. I mean, all it took was the camera panning down across their faces to plainly see — at least to me — that a few of the singers were just not into it. What if one of the finalists was a Buddhist? A Hindu? Jewish? Is it fair to expect him to sing a blatantly evangelical song about “my Jesus, my Savior”? If I were on AI and they wanted to end the show with a rousing rendition of “Shout to the Vishnu,” I think I’d have a bit of a problem. I don’t view it any differently if there was someone the other night feeling forced to sing a Christian song.
Of course, I’m sure they’ve all signed contracts and I have no idea, really, what those contracts stipulate, but was this fair? Do the contracts mean the finalists MUST do whatever is put before them? Can they ever say no? Probably not, but I really don’t know. Is there a possibility that one of the finalists could have felt harassed by having to sing that song? And what would that person’s options be — if given options? “Sing the song or have people notice you’re not there”? “Sing the song or you’re out”?
I mean, what would it have been like for any finalist who, deep down, was really opposed to that song?
I know it might be easy to think, “Oh, I like it because I’m a Christian and I agree with the sentiment of the song,” but I try hard to look at things from other sides, different angles.
Let’s say that God “uses that song.” Maybe it touches someone who heard it. Okay. Fine. So a little “+” for the cause of Christ, I suppose.
(I still think the motivation was pandering.)
But what if one or more of the people who had to sing it became embittered from having to sing something that they didn’t personally believe in? Embittered toward the producers, embittered about the entire incident, and maybe even the message of the song? A bit of a “-” for the cause of Christ, I think.
Now basic math — which is all I’m capable of — would tell us that there were more people watching the performance than participating in the performance, so there were likely to be more pluses than minuses. Anyone watching who didn’t like what they were hearing could simply click away. Singers couldn’t, of course. Oh, well. Too bad for you, singers. Your teeny minuses are nothing compared to all the huge pluses.
Perhaps the pandering behind it all was used as a way to placate the singers: “We know that some of you may not agree with this song, but when you sing it, more people will give more money. Think of the bigger picture. Your personal beliefs don’t matter here.”
Ends justify the means. Always. Of course.
Maybe I’m making a big deal of nothing. Whatevs. It’s what I do. Maybe none of the finalists was really bothered, but the facial expressions were telling. To me, it was obvious. The whole thing was so out of left field to me that I watched everyone very closely. Body language, facial expressions. There were singers who were squirming inside.
But they raised a lot of money, I guess, so who am I to cry any foul at all?
I don’t have TV, and so i’ve never watched AI, but the idea of a group of people being assigned a Christian song to sing when the occasion has nothing to do with Christianity and the people aren’t necessarily Christian… well, it ceases to have any meaning, doesn’t it? Just a bit of PR? Like politicians talking about which church they attend. Dunno, but it feels upsidedown somehow. I don’t think the arguement that the song could have touched somebody holds any weight, really – God has a reputation of using evil for good (i.e. Judas), but that doesn’t excuse the behavior (not that singing the song was evil, i just don’t think it can be excused solely on those grounds).
marshymallow — Yeah, I’m still thinking about the whole thing. I don’t give the incident a pass just because I’m a Christian, you know?
I applaud you on the no TV thing. We’re toying with the idea.
I also wondered how the contestants felt about singing the song. I wouldn’t want to sing a song I didn’t feel or relate to. 🙁
Personally, as a TV viewer, I don’t like to mix something like American Idol with religion or politics even if it happens to reflect my faith or ideas. While I like the idea of “giving back”, I didn’t watch the special. *shrug* I am not motivated to donate money to charity just because Brad Pitt tells me to.
God works in mysterious ways, yes, but people (especially TV people) are master manipulators. I’m just not convinced that anything about the idol show – beyond wishing to raise money for charity – was authentic and truly reflective of the show and the participants.
Jeannine — Amen. You will now write all my posts, okay?
And Brad Pitt doesn’t motivate me to do anything at all.
Brad Pitt motivates me to turn the channel…as did the song, actually. Okay, I didn’t turn it, but I did fast forward through it.
Jeannine, put it perfectly…it was the mixing of something religious with something pop culture that bothered me. What does A.I. have to do with Jesus? It made me very uncomfortable.
I just dislike the notion of someone or something using religion or a song about Jesus to manipulate, and it felt like a manipulation to me…a sort of pandering to the Christians out there. We will make them sing this song, if it will make you send some money.
It felt…I don’t know, just wrong.
I didn’t see the performance. I know I can YouTube it, but honestly, I’m avoiding it. It just feels too strange. My first thought when I was told that they sang it was, “Why?”
You’re right – there was some motivation behind it. What that was, I’m not sure. And, while I’m also a Christian, I would have no problem singing that song because it has meaning to me. To the AI contestants, and those who watch who are expecting a pop culture show, it doesn’t make much sense to have them singing something (and listening to something) that they don’t necessarily believe in – especially when the words are about God.
MM — I feel differently about it when one of the contestants picks a gospel song or a song that mentions Jesus for themselves. To sing themselves. But when the show is choosing it for them … I don’t care for it, because I wouldn’t want it done to me. A viewer could click away or fast forward — as you did — the singers were stuck with it.
Tracey, I agree. I never fast forward when singers choose the song for themselves, but this was different. Strange, and like I said before…uncomfortable. That’s why I fast forwarded…the plain weirdness of it.
Bit of a non-sequitur here based off of Marshymallow’s comment and your reply, but giving up TV was one of the best things my husband and I did for our family. I must admit I really didn’t want to give it up at first but I haven’t regretted it a day since we turned off the cable connection. And where we live we can’t even get a station with an antenna so we truly have no TV. Instead, we have time to play with the kids and to exercise ourselves. We still have a vcr/tv but we only watch that when we are running/riding to help motivate us to exercise. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that good things can flow from something you may think of as bad right now 🙂
sam — Thanks, that’s good to know.
I personally am not a fan of overtly mixing faith with commercialism. It probably sounds extreme but there’s this sort of moneychangers-in-the-temple feeling.
(Full disclosure: I’m Christian, but praise & worship music leaves me cold. It’s just not my thing but people should listen to whatever they like.)
:o) Some people think we’re weird, and others that we’re making some wort of statement, but… We do have a television and watch quite a few movies. It’s just that during us kids’ so-called formative years, we lived in places that didn’t have TV, or didn’t have it in English, so we never miss it. We’d rather have hi-speed internet.
Kate P — There is some worship music by particular artists I really like — Rita Springer comes to mind, but she’s a bit raw for some people, I imagine. Her very voice sounds like she’s been through the ringer, all gruff and rough. The song “Hungry” by Irish (or is she Scottish?) worship leader Kathryn Scott is one that resonates for me, too.
But if it borders on Jesus is sunshine and lollipops and rainbows, I’m afraid I have to pass. There’s a song called “Shine, Jesus, Shine” that just makes me want to slit my wrists and end it. You can see what it’s about from the title.
I like your “moneychangers in the temple” thought. I agree. Worship music is, but its very name, about worship. Not selling, not pandering, not commercialism. It serves a very specific purpose that I don’t think was being served on AI.
It actually warmed my heart a little that AI wasn’t afraid to offend the viewers by putting it out there. There is so much pandering to political correctness that I give the show a pass on stuff like that.
And I think the singers do have a choice. There was that one night when they were singing some bubble gum pop hokeyness, and when they showed Amanda, she was barely even pretending to lip synch. She just had this look on her face like, “Nope. Not doin’ it, dudes.”
If I were one of the singers, I wouldn’t have sung the song. I don’t worship with instrumental music, it’s one of my crazy beliefs. I may listen to someone else singing worshippy songs with instruments, but I listen for the music and detach from the words. Weird probably, yes. But I couldn’t perform or record a worship song with instruments because I wouldn’t want to be responsible for anyone else worshipping along with instruments even if I weren’t worshipping when I sang the song.
Please do me a fave. If you do get rid of your TV, just promise not to think you’re better than the rest of us. 😉 I know you’re not that kind of person, though.
sarahk — You and your crazy beliefs!
And why else do you think I’m toying with getting rid of the TV? This has become my last shimmering hope for personal dominance.
I can’t wait for all of your pontificating about how mundane the lives are of those people who waste time on TV and how much less your poo stinks now that you are TV-free (if you do decide to get rid of it).