Last week, Betty Buckley called out American Idol and judge Randy Jackson on Twitter for the constant use of the term "Broadway" as a way of dismissing singers they don't care for . I was thrilled someone so respected in the industry was finally speaking out against this and saying everything I have been saying since season one of American Idol. Ms. Buckley's comments were taken seriously by Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe, who said he would "speak to Randy."
Apparently, Randy was spoken to, because he has responded. Unfortunately, Mr. Jackson's response only reinforces his ignorance on the matter, and continues to anger me. Mr. Jackson points out that this has been going on for all 11 seasons of American Idol. Really? So that makes it OK? People have also been upset about it for 11 seasons. Simon Cowell's constant use of "Broadway," "Musical Theatre," and "Cabaret" as an insult turned me off of Idol in the first season. Betty Buckley is just the first well known person in the industry to be so vocal in speaking out about it. Randy also played the "free speech" card. Free speech has to do with your ability to speak out against the GOVERNMENT without fear of being prosecuted for it. It does not cover making ignorant statements about performance. Randy further went on to demonstrate he is still ignorant of both "Broadway singers" and how vibrato works.
Randy claims that "A lot of people who sing broadway, do not have control of their vibrato, which does not easily lend itself to singing other styles of music." Please clarify this statement, Mr Jackson. Are you referring to people who come on AI and audition with Broadway? Are you speaking of people who sing Broadway music for fun, who have little or no training, and no professional credits? If this is the case, you may be right. These people don't have the background and training to know how to control their vibrato. In this case, it's fine and shouldn't even be taken into consideration or mentioned.
IF, however, Mr Jackson, you are referring to trained professionals who have spent years studying voice, perfecting their craft, and who have worked or currently work on Broadway, you are completely WRONG. There may be a few EXCEPTIONS to this RULE, but, by and large, someone with the background I have laid out here has FULL control of their vibrato and can utilize it in the manner most appropriate for whatever it is they are singing.
As an example: several years ago, I lost out on a role I worked VERY hard for. Part of why I lost it was because I listened to my voice teacher and a very respected audition coach about how I should sing in my audition. Almost every actress I have ever heard sing the role uses what, in my opinion, is too much vibrato. Both of these people, however, told me to "straight tone" in my audition. While in my head I was screaming "YOU ARE SO WRONG!" I took their advice, adjusted what I was doing - adjusted how I used my vibrato - and sang that way in my audition. The feedback from the casting director? "Personally, I prefer to hear more vibrato."
Vibrato is ALWAYS present in the human voice to some degree. How much, or how little vibrato is used (in a trained singer) is a CHOICE, and different people listening have their own preferences to what is "good." Further, what is "good" changes depending on what is being sung.
I would also like know what Broadway shows Mr Jackson has seen where a singer has had "no control of their vibrato"? I find it difficult to believe that someone with "no control" would be cast in a major production. I have certainly heard plenty of singers in theatrical productions who I feel have too much vibrato, but never anyone who I felt had NO control of their vibrato - no control of their vibrato would mean no control of their breath support.
Is American Idol looking for "Broadway" singers? No, they are looking for pop singers, and someone who comes in and does not have a "pop sound" does not fit the format of AI. Not having a pop sound is not just an issue of vibrato, either. They need to be told they aren't right for AI, not told they are "Broadway" - they may not be! This use of "Broadway," "Musical Theatre," and "Cabaret" as an INSULT needs to STOP.
What Mr. Jackson is actually guilty of is laziness. Too lazy to research human voice production, and too lazy to be specific in his criticism. I believe that one thing AI hopefuls are hoping for is feedback they can use - "This style you are performing in now requires far less vibrato than you are using," for example. Instead of learning to use terminology singers can latch onto in order to improve their performance of a particular song or style, he's opted for broad-brush jargon that is completely meaningless.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the process, has degraded a gargantuan population of fine singers and song styles to the dustbin. You should be ashamed of yourself, Randy. It's no different than believing that African American singers are only good at jazz, hip-hop, or the Motown sound. Besides being lazy, it's bigoted. You don't have to LIKE the sound, Dawg, but if you don't like it, you DO have to articulate the WHY of it properly.