Just Words - The de-powering of compliments
I was watching American idols tonight, for the second night in a row, and for the last night of my life, and I was glad the hot girl didn’t get voted off. If you don’t know the show, there are three judges who make comments about the people and an announcer who also makes his comments. And a croud who screams their comments. AND you can call in. Everyone’s making comments.
But when AJ, the wanna-be Backstreet boy was booted, Paula and the big black guy told him that he had a lot of talent and that he was really great. Then, Simon, the British man whom everyone hates and who Abdul bickers with on a nightly basis, told the truth.
Simon: “My advice to you is to get better. Seriously. It’s a harsh industry. You have to be the best.”
Now I thought that was good advice, you know, the ‘ol “you can always be better,” but everyone was booing and even MC and Los Angeles radio fixture Ryan Seacrest said AJ had talent already and he didn’t need to improve. As if it’s an insult to say “improve your craft.”
But then Simon, as if he were the supercomputer in the movie “PIE,” broke down, and in a bitter, desperate bark at their jeers, blurted out in anger—and spoke the truth.
Simon: “You people say all these nice things, but they’re just words. You really want to help this guy? You really think he’s good? Then Ryan, put him on your radio station. Paula, help him record an album…You’re just giving him words..”
At which point the topic was changed because, woah, that sounded like personal responsibility. That is, everyone giving him compliments were simply phonies. If they really liked his stuff so much they would do everything they could to help him out. Or at the very least make a phone call or two to insure the kid has an “in” route in the hyper-competitive world of music. Seriously, do any of these supposedly “nice guys” mean what they say?
Half assed angels. Or worse, they DON’T mean what they say and just want to get the people out of their hair without making them feel bad. So they can have their story, “Paula Abdul said I was good.” But what the fuck did she ever do for you? Not a damn thing. It’s all just words.
_Note: Quotes are not exact, but an exact interpretation from my tired, sad little mind…