I haven't been following the show like I usually have in the last two seasons, so I have no idea what's going on

http://story.news.yahoo.c...hn_idol_dc


NEW YORK (Reuters) - British Rock star Elton John (news), a guest judge this month on the U.S. talent hunt TV series "American Idol," said on Tuesday that he found the voting by the national viewing audience "incredibly racist."


John, who heard the wannabe pop stars perform his songs during an appearance on the FOX TV show, added his voice to a chorus of dissent that followed last week's shock exit of black vocalist Jennifer Hudson, considered one of the top talents among those vying for a recording contract.


"The three people I was really impressed with, and they just happened to be black, young female singers, and they all seem to be landing in the bottom three," said John, commenting on the tally in which the lowest vote-getter is eliminated.


"They have great voices. The fact that they're constantly in the bottom three -- and I don't want to set myself up here -- but I find it incredibly racist," John said at a news conference promoting his Radio City Music Hall concert backed by an orchestra of students from London's Royal Academy of Music and The Juilliard School of New York.


The show often gets more than 20 million people voting.


The other two singers grouped in the bottom three of the seven remaining "American Idol" finalists last week were black divas La Toya London and Fantasia Barrino.


The results moved show host Ryan Seacrest to remind viewers that the series was a talent hunt and not a popularity contest.


"America, don't forget you have to vote for the talent," Seacrest said before closing the show. "You cannot let talent like this slip through the cracks."


FOX Television declined to comment.


Black crooner Ruben Studdard won the top prize last year.


FOX Television is part of the Fox Entertainment Group Inc., controlled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Ltd.

Elton is echoing the thoughts of many other people who I've heard complain about it lately. I don't watch it, but this type of thing just reinforces my negative view of it.

Something is seriously wrong with the voting process this season, that's for sure.

I'm curious, which of the singers is the best? Is there one that stands out above the others?

sabaisabai said:

I think Fantasia is the favorite even though she was in the bottom 3 last week. I've caught 2 episodes of the top 12, but I remember these girls from the top 30 process. I'm not surprised since there were a lot more black singers in the top 12 and theis is, after all, Amerikkka

After the three best singers were in the bottom three last week I'll be thru with that show after this year. It's pathetic.

He neglects also to mention that American Idol is crap - karaoke without artistry.

I really can't understand why people even watch this crappy show.This show is responsible for giving us oh-so-talented singers like Clay,Ruben,Justin,Kelly and the amazingly gifted William Hung ("artists" who most likely won't even be around in five years).


Oh,and I wouldn't worry too much about those three black female singers who didn't make it.I'm sure Clive Davis has already contacted them about a record deal

DavidEye said:

they actually can sing.

Christopher said:

yah but they have no artistry
they have no talent
to me singing is not a talent
hell andre 3000 cant sing well
but hes got talent! he has artistry
Madonna Can't sing But she has some formidable talent,artistry
im not appealed to it, but i won't neglect it
i just like to piss these madonna asskissers here lol
Clay,ruben,Justin and kelly aint but 4 average people who can sing but got no artistry
like the rest of the indusrty
Artistry is something you develop enduring life
these muthafawkas went on a contest and got lucky
C'mon...

Explain to me how this is a racist voting process???

Then explain to me how a BLACK singer won it all last year...and, to
top it off, won it over a WHITE singer!

And finally, explain to me how this is considered racist, but
that isn't...

stop the inferiorority complex mentality...

Revolution said:

We have an american Idol lover
calm down cracky!
aint no thang but a chicken wing
u want some grapes?

Luv4oneanotha said:

Singing isn't a talent? LOL
Try it sometime.

This has to be reverse affirmative action!!! now i see why some white folks get al PO'd when they THINK a lesser qualified minoirity gets ahead when they don't!!! This should be be the lead case on the next Judge Judy or at least Judge Joe Brown!! Where's kenneth Starr when you need him? This has to be investigated immediately.

BTW, don't think there will be any Elton John night next year after that statement

Now I haven't seen the show this season but I do watch the news shows that play clips of the singers and I have an idea what is going on. They did say thatt Jenifer Hudson had the most votes the week before she was kicked off. Part of the problem is that nobody votes for the people that are really really good becuase they figure why bother.

I did watch last year and it was pretty shocking that the singers overall whether really good except for the military guy but he kept staying in there...probably because we were at war! I think that will be the same for this John Stevens guy. The loss of this power singer will reflect on the next show.

Revolution said:

we are talking about this years competition. Now some would argue that Clay did receive a warmer welcome from the industry than Ruben.....clay gets more love on MTV.


There is something clearly wrong with why people are voting for whom they are voting for. I don't think its the process but simply who America deems "talented". Maybe some got nervous seeing too many black faces.

I don't think its an inferiority complex to question the motives of others.

I think people vote for singers who they can identify with. They vote along racial lines, but they are also influenced by the singer's style and age and appearance. They aren't necessarily trying to be racist.

I think Ruben won because he obviously captured a lot of hearts. Also Ruben is not a "threatening" black man (perhaps because of his size and age and tenderness) so he is less intimidating to some people.

Rhondab said:

Clay got more love from MTV because his fans came up with a gimmick..CLAYNATION.
They are young and vocal. Plus, IMO, he was the better singer last year. His choice of
material thus far isn't that great, but he does possess a good voice.
Ruben also has a good voice, but lacks any gimmick...he seems to be following a very
standard R&B careerpath.

In response to Luv4oneanotha's comment: I hardly ever watch the show, but I do know
what's going on...an American Idol lover I'm not. I'm just commenting on the
holes in the arguement that it's a racist voting system, when clearly it seems to be
a popularity contest.

And of COURSE idiots are gonna vote for the worst singer. Aren't they the same morons who made William Hung a media sensation and who've kept his "album" in top 40 for two weeks running? Yes, so why should we expect anything different from them now? They learned so quickly what the show was all about, and they're just endorsing it implicitly. And what's the show about? The idea that ANYONE can get (and deserves) their 15 minutes, even if they don't have talent. To Paula Abdul, EVERYONE is a good singer, talent be damned. So let's get rid of the contestants who remind us that talent is indeed an important factor in real musicianship.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 28 10:39:19 2004 by VoicesCarry]

gemini13 said:

Of course singing isnt a talent not a big one anyway
i know hundreds of people who know how to sing
better then me anywayz lol
and i sing pretty good IMO
but they have no stage presents, no finess, no savoirfaire
i mean C'mon Madonna can't sing and look at her

I watch the show all the time and don't find it to racist. I think the three black women (LaToya, Fanatsia, Jennifer) all split the black vote. I voted for LaToya. She's the best and as long as she wins I don't care how they place.


RUBEN was BLACK and FAT so I don't think there's any real prejudice on the show. The show also tries hard to keep it ethnic and diverse.

Latin Night
Country Night
Elton John (who's gay) Night
The judges are racially balanced. Paula is HISPANIC.
Asian performers like Jasmine lol and Willy Hung

anyway America is racist. I should know, I live here. therefore the voters may be racist but the show tries hard not to be.

Revolution said:

All those questions should be directed to Elton John. I tend to doubt that he has an inferiority complex, though.

and if things weren't bad enough for this show...the plot thickens. the red headed sinatra wannabe has been getting death threats.

only in america.

SassyBritches said:

Ok, wait, I'm not supposed to laugh, right? I'm supposed to fear for his safety. Let me put on my serious face.

VoicesCarry said:

Revolution said:

this is considered racist because the people voted off are obviously the best in the competition, and they happen to be black. the only conceivable reason that Jon Stevens is getting votes is racism. i've heard no-one come out in support of him, and we all agree he's a terrible singer.

MrSquiggle said:

Well, you have the black audience splitting their vote between the 3 black girls who
sing about the same as each other...THERE'S YOUR DIFFERENCE.
Jon isn't a bad singer, he's made it this far hasn't he. His singing may not be your
cup o' tea (definately not mine), but his style has won over SOME of the voters.

MrSquiggle said:

Actually, I think he has the "dumb teenage girl" vote, which would explain EVERYTHING.

Luv4oneanotha said:

WHAT is a cracky?

butterballz84 said:

wasn't there a big uproar when ruben won last year? everyone was all upset and thought that clay should have won and then people started talking about the race issue.

paula abdul is not hispanic or at least she's not 100% hispanic. she's a mix of many ethnicities.

just because asian performers are featured on the show does not mean that the show isn't racist. let's look at william hung for a minute. He's basically a joke and i feel that a part of that has to do with his ethnicity. i don't think he would bring in so many laughs if he wasn't a "funny looking asian guy who can't sing". the william hung phenomenon says a lot about america's racial attitudes. I'm not saying that american idol is a racist show but that sometimes the racial attitudes of the country can be clearly seen in the voting process.