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?
