Wednesday, March 10, 2004

HUNG UP
I am so sorry to say, I'm exiting the William Hung love train.

Hung, as you may remember is the humble but lovable American Idol wannabe. His audition was equal parts rudimentary singing skills and fifth-grade choreography. What won the hearts of America were his comments (despite the tongue lashing from Simon about his lack of talent) about having no regrets because he tried his best. This kind of positive attitude is practically unheard of among American Idol personnel -- contestants or judges.

He became an overnight sensation and is in big demand right now on the talk show circuit. He was the final singer in American Idol's special "losers" show, where some of the most notable losing contestants got a chance to be on television yet again and regale us with exactly what they didn't have the first time around. Although Hung sang his "signature" version of Ricky Martin's "She Bang", gone was the Goodwill era, short-sleeved, buttoned up to the neck, patterned cotton shirt. Gone was the goofy fifth-grade choreography. He just stood still, while a quartet of scantily-clad cheerleader types did a bunch of high maintenance scantily clad cheerleader type suggestive choreography. The whole performance was a slick packaged deal, but with the same Introduction to Singing vocal style and none of the cute, quirky mannerisms. It wasn't humble and lovable anymore.

Now, he has a record deal. Is this good news? For William Hung, it certainly is. He'll make a bucket of money. So will the record companies, the agents and the American Idol franchise, which will undoubtedly get a substantial cut from the proposition. It's certainly the "American way." Do what you want, and make a lot of money doing it.

But is it the right thing to do? I think not. Despite his refreshingly positive and optimistic attitude, William Hung is an untrained, unskilled singer. Just because I can put on a pair of ice skates doesn't mean I should be given a contract to Stars on Ice so I can skate my butt-bruising signature program, Ode to a Human Zamboni. If William should be making money at something he is truly good at, have him be a motivational speaker, for heaven's sake. That's what we liked about him to begin with, and he's got a decent message to share.

A recording contract will only serve to highlight the one skill he lacks the most: Singing. His album may be bought by millions, but ultimately it will end up on the shelf next to William Shatner and Florence Foster Jenkins, as yet another example of good intentions gone terribly wrong. Sure, it's good for a few late-night guffaws, but that's it.

I don't think this is what William has in mind. I think, despite his fame, he is still humble and lovable. Now it seems I need to add "gullible" to the list. In the short run, the benefits will be easily measured by dollars and cents. In the long run, it will serve as a lightning rod to an enormous number of performing hopefuls who will point to this record contract as proof that hard work, study, and any measurable talent whatsoever aren't necessary.

I'm sorry William, I don't buy that argument for one second. And I won't be buying your CD.
Sign My Guestbook!

No comments: