American Idol - are these people DEAF?

Question

My mum loves American Idol and she got me watching it last night (Its shown here in the UK).

I seriously could not beleive some of the contestants. They stand there on TV and squeal, caterwaul and croak in the most horrendous manner, and then look surprised when the panel tell them they can't sing!!! Some are even angry about it and insist they "have what it takes"!

Are they deaf? Can't they hear whats coming out of their mouths? Surely they must be able to tell that its all out of tune? I mean I've taken singing lessons myself and I know the odd flat or sharp note can be hard to spot sometimes when you're nervous but with some of these contestants there wasn't a single note IN tune!

The big red haired guy "singing" Bohemian Rhapsody was hilarious! Even my other half who doesn't like shows like American Idol, was rolling with laughter over him!

Answer 1

Another mentally ill participant who was told Simon would be hard on him and to react strongly has an upset mother whose phone was ringing off the hook after his appearance on AI. As far as the red haired guy you mention, here is something I saw online earlier about him. Steven Thoen, 28, said the Fox television show's producers were disrespectful and unfair to him.

His mother, June Lorimor of Superior, said that the show took advantage of Thoen’s mild mental retardation and made him a laughingstock. It seems there is some preplanning done and scripting if producers told him in advance Simon would be hard on him, so it seems some of it is planned cruelty for a reaction.
As far as the man Simon called "Bush Baby, his grandmother states he has Aarskog Syndrome which causes his facial abnormalities and short stature. The syndrome causes 30% of the males to have mental retardation, so Kenneth may or may not have mental disabilities, but is definitely a sufferer of a medical condition that causes his appearance which is beyond his control. Simon is definitely wrong for his mean comments to the man, who to me, seemed pretty nice and who handled Simon's comments admirably.His grandmother also reports Kenneth has been made fun of all his life and wants Simon to apologize. It seems the comments have hurt the family.

To see the video on TV on his grandmother speaking...,
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=local&id=4953566


As far as his overweight friend, Jayne, I read the following. "Jonathan James has a mild form of autism and has participated in the Special Olympics. I do not personally think it is right for the show to make fun of people with mental and phsical disabilities or for weight or height being above the norm..the critiques should be limited to the person's singing.

It is odd that people don't have the ability to see if they are American Idol quality or not as far as their singing. I could see if they are pretty good but not sure if they will make it, but the one's who are plain awful..although sometimes ones they harshly criticize, I doubt think they are all that bad..some, of course, are, but not all.

Answer 2

FYI...American Idol's NOT a UK only show. It's here in the States too.

I agree with you. Some of the contestants are beyond repair! The vocal coach who taught students music?! HE STUNK! The obese woman who had a 10 yr degree in Music?! She was more off-key than I am! That red-haired guy that tried to sing Bohemian Rhapsody was beyond idiocy. I hope when they get to Nashville this week there are better singers. Although since that's home to Elvis, I'm sure we'll have to suffer through a ton of Elvis impersonators.

Answer 3

I too am an American Idol fan. I know aren't some of them just awful. Now I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but, at least I know it. I wonder why nobody ever told them they can't sing. I mean that can't be the first time they've sung, even if it's only in front of their families. If the singers themselves can't tell why do family and friends let them make a fool of themselves on worldwide television???

Answer 4

Oftentimes our perception is defined not by what we actually hear but what we expect... all senses occur in the brain based on signals from the outside, and our own minds tend to present information in such a way that sounds good to us.

So these people hear themselves as sounding good simply because they believe they sound good. The mind hates what's called "cognitive dissonance" and so it will affect what they hear of themselves. Kind of like how scrawny anorexics who believe they're fat still see themselves as fat, those who believe they can sing will hear themselves as singing well.

Also that they evidently have no concept of tune probably prevents them from knowing that they're not in it.

Answer 5

the best about watching american idol is the auditions.my family laughs so much at it.i too can not believe that these people really think that they sing good.they cry and get all upset like it is the end of their lives when they get turned down.but lets face it - if those fools were not on there, would we watch it? It is the only part of the season of it that i like.

Answer 6

i totally agree with you!!! i would think even if they thought they can sing (but really can't) a friend or family member would stop them from going on international television and making a complete fool of themselves?!?! I guess some people aren't that smart!! I hate to say it, but simon is usually 100% right on the money!! he just doesn't sugar coat it!!

Answer 7

Mike K has a valid point, but I believe it is just that they want their 5 minutes of fame -- even bad fame is better than none at all. Just look at William Hung -- good God, that guy made my ears hurt and now look at him!

Answer 8

they could be tone deaf. My daddy is tone deaf. He still sings in church...LOUDLY...and is completely off tune...wow!

Answer 9

Its funny!!

Answer 10

Thanks For The Two Points :)