The Voice Coach: The True Meaning of an American Idol

Congratulations are in order for both Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice. In my eyes, they are both winners. Bo, you set out to have America notice your vocal abilities and unique style, and now your name is a household word. Carrie, you were the chosen child by Simon Cowell, and you worked hard to make his prediction come true.

To me, a true American Idol is a performer who can withstand the test of time. A true star can still pack in a concert, sell millions of CDs, and retain the love and respect of his or her fans ten, twenty, or even thirty years after their debut albums. Last week, I witnessed this phenomenon when I went to see Barry Manilow’s “Music and Passion” concert in Las Vegas. Mr. Manilow is now performing five shows a week at the Las Vegas Hilton and selling out every night. Although the tickets are very pricey, they are almost impossible to obtain and there was not an empty seat in the house. I met fans from as far as London, England who flew in specifically to see this show.

When Barry takes the stage, he proves that the price of admission is worth every penny. The degree of his showmanship is so outstanding that he makes each audience member feel that he is singing directly to him or her. Cher, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Rod Stewart, and many other seasoned performers are still packing in large venues after thirty years or more of recording and touring. Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken are among the next generation of great performers. Fans are still champing at the bit to get the best tickets available and willing to spend the high ticket fees and travel to the venues. [By the way, you can get such tickets by simply clicking on one of the following links: Clay Aiken Tickets or Kelly Clarkson Tickets or even Barry Manilow Tickets.]

This ability to retain their fan base and still be able to provide their audience with stellar performances constitutes in my eyes true idols. I hope that Carrie learns from the masters that just recording a good song is not enough, but that giving the audience a live performance that they will never forget is the key to a long and rewarding career. Carrie, I am looking forward to watching your performance skills grow; your voice is already great!

I want to thank all my readers this season, I had a ball. Until AI 5, keep singing in your own voice. It is good for your soul.

Barbara Pasternack is a professional singer and voice coach. She studied theatre and music at the University of Massachusetts, and has become an avid fan of American Idol. Check out her music at www.barbarapasternack.com. You can email her at redfox55@comcast.net.

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