America’s Misplaced Obsession With Lazaro

I’ll admit it. I watch American Idol. In fact, I’m damn near obsessed with the show, and have been since season six when Jordin Sparks won it all over the superior master of beats, Blake Lewis. I still blame that stupid fan-made song that they forced both of them to sing in the finale that was obviously tailor made specifically for Miss Sparks. But that’s all water under some bridge now. I want to talk about this season and why I’m pissed with the results this week.

Lazaro should be home right now sipping mojitos with his family and watching from his couch. Seriously, his rendition of the Beatles last week was laughable, and he forgot the words this week. Yet, he outlasted a better Paul Jolley last week, and he somehow got away with a top 3 showing this week based off a karaoke-type performance. Why, America, why?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of Lazaro’s story. It is amazing that someone with such a speech impediment can sing like he can sing, which is pretty good. It’s just not great, and to get to the top six of American Idol, you should have to be great. The other contestants there are consistently great, and they sing rings around Lazaro, even the guys who were eliminated this week and last, Burnell and Paul. And Jimmy Iovine has even gotten on board the past couple of weeks, saying unequivocally that Lazaro should have gone home last week and this week.

To quote the dearly departed (from the show) Simon Cowell, “This is a singing competition,” so shouldn’t America want the six best singers left in the competition to be vying for the title of the next American Idol? And yet, America has spoken loudly and clearly. They prefer a feel-good story to an honestly good singer, and that’s where the great divide comes in. Now, believe me, I don’t think Lazaro will win this thing, but he’s developed an almost cult-like status, similar to the great Sanjaya (anyone remember him?) in that people are pulling for him because he’s not the best singer, almost the anti-candidate. That, combined with people just assuming the better singers will move on, has created this vacuum giving Lazaro a disproportionate number of votes each time out.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Lazaro’s story, and I commend him for going after his dreams. I just think he should have woken up by now, because it’s a singing competition, and two guys were just sent home who were better singers than him. Hmmm.

Sam