�(�) something like American Idol would have been laughed out of town in 1967, 68 (�) as a real piece of garbage, as something not hip enough to be taken seriously�

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9385000/9385195.stm

Indeed it is; like Opportunity Knocks was - but horses for courses; the problem is expecting great writers or performers to emerge from a contest for instant, superficial talent.

In this era of worshipping superficiality in everything (politics; media; social behaviour) it is that much more popular.

"In this era of worshipping superficiality in everything (politics; media; social behaviour) it is that much more popular."

You've nailed the whole thing right there JK.


I agree with everything Jimmy says with one exception. As a current pop songwriter who is in the belly of the beast of it, the politics of placement and big-time publishing are as they ever were, and to say otherwise is either naive(and I don't think Jimmy is) or just removed.

Isn't it great to see the writer alone at the piano singing that great song?

The lesson (which I'm always telling Tommy, Charlie, my nephew Oliver and other twenty somethings) is - don't get deflected from the only thing that matters - improve the standard of what you do, whether it's simple, catchy and one dimensional or complex, introvert and uncommercial. What is important - do the best you possibly can, even if you're the only person who ever hears (or sees) it (Van Gogh?).