Finally, 'American Idol' Confirms Steven Tyler - My Thoughts
Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 12:01AM So, finally, after months of speculation, Steven Tyler was officially confirmed as a judge for the upcoming season of American Idol. Sitting beside him will be new judge Jennifer Lopez as well as Randy Jackson. First, when this was a rumor, I was a little freaked out by the prospect. I've changed my tune.
I have decided Steven Tyler judging American Idol is going to be awesome. Here's why: I get to see the lead singer of my favorite band a whole lot come spring and it isn't going to cost me a dime. Plus, the addition of Tyler might bring a whole lot of rock to Idol!
Here's something else: I think all the smack talk between Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith is going to be epic. Already Tyler says the rest of Aerosmith is jealous. And they probably are! I would be! Now I suspect Joe Perry will issue a grouchy statement about Tyler and then things will settle down. I can already foretell an awesome Aerosmith performance on the season finale of American Idol come May. Just wait.
Okay. Give it to me good. I'm sure all of you hate this or will say American Idol sucks or whatever, but that is missing the big picture: anytime one our favorite rockers is in the limelight for something major - and this is major - it's great. Mark it.
Reader Comments (18)
Yes, Jackson and Abdul can probably sing but are actually a bass player and dance choreographer, respectively.
This will be the first time contestants will actually face a full time singer as a full time judge.
And the fact that it's Tyler is even better! A total character who's never at a lack for words, he has a history of helping kids -- he does a lot for Berklee School of Music in Boston, where they gave him an honorary degree a few years ago (check that YouTube clip at his acceptance where he performed "Dream On". So heartfelt for those graduates!).
Tyler is going to have knowledgeable and helpful opinions for the contestants. My guess is he'll also be a little blunt, when necessary, and will just plain be funny as h*ll.
And I think Al is right, he'll add a lot more of an authentic ROCK cred and vibe to the contest. If you think about it, it actually advances our cause to Bring Back Glam! quite a bit, as Aerosmith is one of the fore fathers of Glam Metal, no matter what anyone else says.
And when Al says Tyler will bring a lot more ROCK to the show, that doesn't just mean the contestants will learn to rock out better. I think what Al is implying is that Tyler's presence could even mean lots of guests the show wouldn't normally get will appear. I wouldn't even be surprised if we saw Jimmy Page on there.
Overall, I think it's a positive, both for viewers and contestants, alike, as they will finally be getting someone who's truly qualified to give them opinions on how to improve their singing and overall stage performance (You've seen Tyler's moves back in the day, right? This guy could have replaced Gumby!).
As for Lopez, she can't sing her way out of a paper bag, but has made hundreds of millions allegedly doing so. She's the perfect example of what is wrong with the entertainment industry that's existed as far back as it's creation. A similar example that goes back to the 50's is Pat Boone.
This guy couldn't sing his way out of a corner, yet made a mass fortune allegedly doing just that. Granted, he was even worse than Lopez, but the analogy still applies.
I think this problem still exists with a lot of performers today like Taylor Swift, for one, though Kanye West didn't need to get up there to make an a*s of himself to point out the obvious when she dubiously collected all of those VMAs.
Still regarding, Lopez, what the heck, she does know a little bit about "singing" and showbiz, so she'll probably bring some value. She's probably going to be annoying to listen to as I really believe she's one step shy from being an airhead.
It's all of her entertainment experience and her knowledge from that which prevents her from being thought of as a complete airhead. Part of what will make the show fun to watch, will be watching her say stupid stuff.
And though, Tyler may get us some huge talents guesting on the show, including Aerosmith, as Al predicts, one person you can count on in a guest performance is someone who can actually sing, regardless of what we think of his music...
International Pop Sensation, Mark Anthony, Lopez's husband.
Argh!
p.s. Very funny, Sean. But let's point out that, even if Wonder is almost completely blind, he sure as h*ll can sing and write killer songs!
As always, I'll watch the first couple weeks so that I can see people make complete asses of themselves during the auditions, and then likely won't see another episode.
Look, I'm not sayin' you don't have the right to not read what I wrote or that it's even worth reading, but the notion that it's "too long" is ridiculous.
I'm happy to see there are others who sometimes write stuff the about the same length as this on other previous posts Al has put up here. I personally like to read and, obviously, write opinions and the paragraphs to elaborate on them.
If they're too long, I apologize to anyone who doesn't care to read them.
Anyway, back into the subject at hand...
Go figure, Biggeek, nothing I said agrees with anything you said.
True, Bryon, the Producers have a lot to do with the selection of the artists, but mark my words, they will rock out more, and Tyler will have something to do with it.
Rock is far from dead, Bro. Especially when you look at the success of the vid games, Rockband and Guitar Hero. They'll expand the Rock thing on Idol and Tyler will play a part.
Besides, they've got their bases covered with Lopez who is a former pre-packaged Diva, though a shadow of GaGa's talent.
She got an estimated 12 mil for this gig and that's not solely for calculating she'll boost ratings. You can bet she's gonna have a lot more say in what goes on.
Let's not forget, Cowell had a lot to do with how the show was run. Why should it be any different for these judges.
p.s. There, is that shorter for ya, Bigjerk?, sheeeez...
I think it would be cool to think that adding Tyler would cause a boatload of young metal & rocker kids to start watching the show and that the producers would feel the need to react accordingly, but it won't. Tyler has barely any cred left in general, and certainly none with the young'ins. To them, he's just an old, famous guy who was in rehab last year.
In addition to Randy "Dawg" Jackson, the other 2 judges should be:
1. A newly religious Blackie Lawless
2. RuPaul
That'd be worth watching.
And that song would be "Jaded"...
Anyway, I think it's cool to ponder all of this...
I for one will watch it now that Tyler is on it just to see what's gonna happen.
And look how Tyler and the boyz pack 'em in at large arenas in every town. You don't think a lot of those audience members aren't gonna tune in.
I'm not sayin' the show is totally gonna rock out more but it will sure as h*ll rock out a little bit more, for sure. You'll see, Bryon.
And, Bry, check out Hansel, Reckless Love, Miss Crazy, Vains of Jenna, Loud'n'Nasty, The Last Vegas, Papa Roach, Dirty Penny, Crash Diet, Crazy Lixx, Mad Margritt, Slippery, Dynazty, The Poodles, H.e.a.t., Buckcherry, Johnny Lima, Gunfire '76, Wednesday 13,'77, Bullet, Wolfmother, Airbourne, Major Tom, Charm City Devils, Taddy Porter, Big C*ck, Stampede Queen, Stone Gods, Crash Kelly, Wildstreet, Crucified Barbara. Lynam, Kissin' Dynamite, Pharoah, Big Elf, Steel Panther, Million Dollar Reload, Lynam, Kortini, Towers of London, Fireball Ministry, etc...
Those are Rock'n'Roll Bands, and it's not about measuring whether they have had #1 albums or not. It's about measuring how ROCK a band is and each of these bands blow A&X or Disturbed out of the water!
They are way more ROCK than A7X or Disturbed. If anything, the fact that those two bands having #1's in the last 2 months is proof that we have a long way to go to Bring Back Glam!
They are so UNROCK!
But, I digress...
So, anyway, I think Tyler's gonna surprise everyone, especially Bryon. You all are seriously underestimating the impact this guy is gonna have on this show.
Tyler has more talent on his pinky than the cummalative talents collected in that entire studio where the show is broadcast, including Lopez and all the rest of these poseurs, including the contestants and the studio audience. He might even have more talent than the entire city of L.A., at least musically. So that makes him a perfect judge. A judge who is a singer who knows how to judge singers.
And as NirVana pointed out, he's gonna be zingin' left and right. He's gonna be the one to fill Simon's shoes. He's funny, he's quick witted and like NirV says, quick with the comeback.
And Lopez will pick up the slack way past Paula and the others. She'll be very positive and supportive. Tyler will also, where the talent truly is evident in these kids that are going to be singin' for 'em every night.
And I gotta say, Raw Shoshanna is so right! How killer would it be to have either of the people she suggested added to the panel of Judges.
The producers are going with Star Power as a last hurrah to save this show. With whom they've selected as the new judges, no matter what I may personally think about Lopez, they just might beat the odds and turn this show around.
Rock Man, that's overreacting. At first I was aprehensive about Tyler doing this, but c'mon, why not? Glad to see Tyler duzn't think of himself as so immortal that he can't enjoy himself a little.
I think this will do wonders for awareness of him and Aerosmith. Believe me, there are plenty of clueless people who will wake up to the greatness of Aerosmith because of this show.
And Perry should be grateful as this will boost Aerosmith's catalogue sales and pave the way for a new Aerosmith album, if he plays along.
I just hope they realize to make it like Rocks and not Pump, sorry, folks!
Give Tyler a chance.
And, Shadow, you may be right, but I'm hoping it will be more than the quick shot it arm. I still believe it's more of a shot at saving the show if Tyler and Lopez catch on as judges.