I suppose I am just missing the point of what the "story" is.
That
someone over 25, who doesn't get 'styled' has a decent voice and can
hold a tune? I'm not being funny, but haven't these people ever been to
church or a choral concert, or seen them on TV? Or noticed diverse
community groups. Or dog-walkers. Or playgroups. Or whatever. Haven't
they ever met anyone with moderate learning difficulties? People who think you have to be 'beautiful' to have musical 'talent' have obviously never heard of the Rolling Stones. If you haven't heard of the Rolling Stones, why on earth should I pay any attention to your musical opinions. (Not that I'm an RS fan, but despite their ugliness, they've clearly got something).
The majority of people don't get styled. The majority of people have a modicum of talent somewhere or other. If one spotted a really ugly, intellectually challenged, bloke in one's local pub would one be surprised that he's a steady opening bat? We wouldn't be signing him up for England, just maybe suggesting he could do better than the pub team, maybe the village/town First XI.
I don't have enough time to listen to all the recordings (commercial and downloads) of great singers, so why bother with mediocre? If I am going to pay money for a live performance, I want the very very best. Why can't we, as society, accept that all over the place lots of people are getting personal satisfaction from amateur participation in group activities, Ents, Sport, whatever. Why does everything have to an implication of a price tag?
If Simon Cowell was serious about talent, he'd go looking for it, in the pubs and clubs and village halls where real talent performs week after week. A friend of mine, his sons auditioned for the X-Factor (best unsigned band in Kent blah blah blah FWIW) and SC turned them away from being too good, too indie, and too original.
Don't get me wrong, I don't wish any ill on the woman, but I don't see the point of raw talent. I want singers who have worked for years to get to where they are, like I want footballers who train day-in day out, hour after hour. If I wanted amateur night, there's enough churches and back-street pubs round here to keep me occupied nightly.
I use the sporting analogy deliberately, because the 'common' or 'ordinary' person demands elitism in sport. I see no difference in Arts. It's like the Paralympics. Jimmy said he's not interested in people in wheelchairs achieving this that and the other. I made out to be all right-on and po-faced. Simple fact, I didn't watch the Paralympics, yet I never turned the telly off for the Olympics.
I think it says a lot about the inherent sexism in society - that women have no value other than as decorative objects. But I also think Cowell Morgan and Holden are total frauds for letting the audience think they are genuinely surprised when, obviously, they heard her at auditions and, probably, rehearsals.
I actually think it's just a bit sick, and probably just a guise to get people to vote on a premium rate phone-line (or else ITV would go bust). Fine, she's going to make a CD and earn a fortune (less expenses, less percentages to agent, manager, stylist, PR agency, TV placer, advertising agency, backing band, session singers,). Given the opportunity, would I turn it down? No. But to think that there are people out there who will actually buy the CD, like, as if there's a shortage of MOR singers singing West End hits! Ah well, their money, their waste!
