Idol chatter

For some reason, for the past couple of years, I have been rather avidly watching American Idol, the US reality show where one singer is chosen above a horde of others as the best voice, the best presence, the best showmanship. Last year, the first time I watched it from start to finish and said rude words when a late work-evening took away that pleasure from me, but I did get to see that final winning moment, when one man (David Cook) was declared better than all the rest. I even watched the musical debacle that was Sanjaya Malakar, feted in this country because he has an Indian gene somewhere deep within him, his stage presence due mainly to the indulgence of the judges and his bizarre hairstyles. This time too there is an Indian connection, a young man called Anoop Desai, but he has a voice, he can sing, he has charm and he can make it through to the finals if he doesn't think so much about it and just goes out there and sings what he can sing better than anyone else. But I bet you he won't, since he wants so hard to win that he works on whatever he thinks that the judges will like, which is usually what gives rise to that set of acerbic comments that includes words like 'boring', 'karaoke', 'wrong song' and the like.

Many of the original group have been left behind with the final eight now battling for the top spot - or there will be by tonight, since one more, Megan Joy, will be eliminated, news that is already on the Net, but which hasn't happened for us yet, local time. I have favourites in these left in the game, from the vivid-haired Alison, who sings like a rock dream but has the fashion sense of a much-younger (how can she be, since she is only 16!) teen who went on a wild shopping spree at Target, to the geeky Danny Gokey, who has a tragic story of his life but a voice that holds all the love, pain and sheer thrill of being able to sing that any one person can earn from the power that be.

My own top favourite is Adam Lambert, who can sing, has what would be described by someone slightly old-fashioned in a way that could not be equalled by more contemporary language as 'the voice of an angel' but sings with a devilish streak in his music and a wicked smile in his eyes. He does everything from straight R&B to punk with the same effortless style, his showmanship soaring beyond the funky hairdo and the black nailpolish to some place that everyone else seems to struggle to reach. He looks like he is thoroughly enjoying his performance, with a relaxed air and laid-back swagger that no one else has managed yet. Of course he has talent, bucketfuls of it, but to present it in a way that leaves seasoned judges speechless and wins kudos almost every week is something out of the ordinary. I am not sure I hope he wins. I do hope he can use his huge talent to bring pleasure to many more lives, just the way his minute-and-a-half or whatever the time limit is on the show makes me smile with a deep satisfaction of having heard something really worth hearing.

Of course, maybe the best part of the show is Simon Cowell and his supremely confident sass. Whether he is drawing a crayon moustache on Paula Abdul or whether he is agreeing with Kara Diguardi or debating with Randy Jackson, all well-known in the music business and respected for their opinions, or whether he is being utterly serious when he praises a contestant's performance, he hogs the limelight and attracts all the attention, good and bad. No judge on any Indian reality show, be it the greatly applauded Farah Khan or the often-nasty Anu Malek, can match Mr Cowell.

How the show pans out will be seen over the weeks to come. But it certainly seems to be getting more interesting with every episode. I am glad I have the time and leisure to watch it, to listen to these talented young people competing in what is often a silly contest, but an obviously worthwhile platform for a musical future. And you know already who gets my vote!