Carly Smithson was born in Ireland. Michael Johns was born in Australia. Ramiele Malubay was born in Saudi Arabia.
Never has an American Idol top eleven included this many foreign-born contestants. And people are talking.
"I'm sorry but I think it's weird. It's American Idol," says Idol Watcher and pundit Will Bressman, quick to add: "Look, I'm not prejudiced. I just know that these other countries have their own singing competitions."
Let me be clear: This discussion is not an invitation to xenophobic ranting. Readers of this blog know that I am a full-throated champion of the contributions that singers from abroad have brought to our pop music scene. Furthermore I am nuts about foreign travel. (Right now I'd chuck everything for a trip to Sydney!)
But with immigration such a front-burner issue, it is essential that we address head on the question of the rights of foreign-born American Idol contestants. To Will's point: Idol has competitions in over 40 countries, from Armenia to Vietnam. (This includes Australia, Johns' home country.)
On the one hand, we should flattered, right? Winning American Idol is far more important than, say, if Ramiele were crowned winner of Saudi Idol. (Considering that she would be concealed behind an abaya and not permitted to stand near the host or make eye contact with the male judges, it would be quite the feat if she were one of the 24 contestants invited to Riyadh, their version of Hollywood. Never mind how she would ululate from the Lennon/McCartney songbook.) In other words, the American Dream is a universal aspiration, and American Idol trumps every other contest.
On the other hand, we must ask: Is this a case of foreign-born aspiring Idols stealing slots from perfectly able American-born singers? Are these interlopers exploiting our openness, only to turn their backs on us when they don't need us or our highly produced singing competitions? And would an American-born singer even be allowed to audition for Tajikistan Idol?
Look, Carly Smithson is a fine singer. I got chills from her rendition of Come Together. What's more, I have great admiration for the millions of Irish immigrants, starved by the British, who came to this country for a better life. But do we really expect Carly Smithson to "come together" with the rest of us when this show is over? We're more likely to eavesdrop on her in a Dublin salon snickering with her EU friends about the American yokels who texted and called for hours on her behalf.
To paraphrase Ryan Seacrest, America may decide on Carly Smithson ... but will she decide on America?
Some of the more extreme opponents of foreign born American Idol contestants cite security concerns: Why was Ramiele born in Saudi Arabia? Were her travel patterns properly scrutinized by the NSA and Fox TV during her Idol security clearance?
I largely dismiss these questions as Dobbsian paranoia. But clearly a major shift in what constitutes an American Idol is happening. (The first two winners, Kelly Clarkson and Ruben Studdard, were and remain passionately American.)
The question becomes: Are we prepared for an Idol without borders? Or should we put a stake in the ground now? After all, our Constitution mandates that our President be born in this country. Now what about our Idol?
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 4)
16. You just have to get used to the fact that America is not anymore for natural born Americans.Japanese own some,Dubai own some, China own some,etc...I hope that you get over it and realize that It is no more born in USA only.
Sam Hamden at 7:42PM on Mar 14th 2008
17. Speaking as a fairly new American (three generations on one side, four on the other, which is new by many standards,) I say why not? Isn't the tryout process weeding out these things which are too awful for us Americans to figure out? I mean, all those creepy ones are American, too? Can't we take their citizenship back? Ahhh, well, in case not, I guess that let'em slide is good for the many. Democracy in action. Indeed.
Idolwannabe at 9:10PM on Mar 14th 2008
18. Mo, to your readers -
Of course McCain wasn't born in America. He was born while his father was busy defending America as a US Military Officer overseas, so he couldn't be born here. He's actually one up on us all (that were just "born in America"). And I'm being serious here. As for the folks that were really not born in the US like a few of the finalists, it's a tough call but I think they should be American citizens and pay US taxes like the rest of us.
Sonya Rowe at 10:52PM on Mar 14th 2008
19. ...So why is it exactly that this idiot has a blog??? I mean, COME ON! Do people really read this crap?
Bill at 1:04AM on Mar 15th 2008
20. I just want to educate and inform this writer. Ramiele Malubay was born in Saudi Arabia because her parents were overseas Filipino workers or expats. Her parents were both Filipinos, mother a nurse and father an engineer who both work in Saudi Arabia but Ramiele was raised in the Phils until she was 5 years old. Are you not aware that the Philippines is the no 1 exporter of medical workers, engineers and computer programers? Maybe you do not go and observe any hospitals in america that majority of nurses, PT's and caregivers are Filipinos? Have you been to San Jose Silicon Valley and observe that most computer programers are Filipinos? where in the world have you been? Have you taken a cruise and not observe that almost all sailors or maritime workers are Filipinos?
Maria at 1:12AM on Mar 15th 2008
21. If I'm not mistaken American Idol is a competition governed by U.S. law. So if the contestant meets the criteria for winning the cash prize, then they can compete. I think one just has to be a legal resident of the U.S. If someone really wants to be a part of that cheesefest, then let them.
The American Idol winners in no way represent me as an individual. What they represent is the fame and money hungry, celebrity loving, ignorant, separated-from-reality America that one can find in any mall in the country. If the foreign-born want to swim in that cesspool, be my guest.
Did anyone catch the season premiere of Beauty and the Geek this week? There's a gay geek!
mo-NEEK-a at 2:12AM on Mar 15th 2008
22. I vote that "My Lovely Horse" should win the 1994 Eurovision song contest. I'm afraid, my lovely Mo, that I can't bear to watch "American Idol." So I'l just lurk until you do politics or American History or what you should smell like or et cetera.
SallyMutant at 3:37AM on Mar 15th 2008
23. Aw Mo,
I stacked my milk crates up so high yesterday,
I got a nosebleed. No more of that, I tell ya.
Hey, what about Danny Noriega? Is Hell an American Protectorate?
And just when I thought I've crammed as much into my "New Words from Mo Rocca 180 Dictionary" with "Finnduism," I get "Finnstigator."
JG^^
John Giza at 9:27AM on Mar 15th 2008
24. Gee Bill,
I don't know.
What "crap" were you specifically referring to?
John Giza at 9:29AM on Mar 15th 2008
25. God Damn American Idol
Ramiele at 11:16AM on Mar 15th 2008
26. As long as they are citizens of America.....it is full speed ahead............non-citizens, THUMBS DOWN..
Sherri at 11:25AM on Mar 15th 2008
27. Sherri,
Although you are mixing your metaphors, it does appear you have both oars in the correct arena.
I guess where I am having a little bit of trouble is that this is a television show, entertainment and not the Olympics.
Americans spend more money on entertainment than many people around the world can afford to spend on food.
And remember, too, just because someone wins at AI doesn't mean you have to buy every album (do they still call them that?) that that artist puts out.
But in the end, you are the consumer and you decide (thumbs up or down) who appears on the show and who lives or gets the boot. If I were God and not just one telephone vote, Danny Noriega would be in first place.
Ah, but my nosebleed returns, and so I return you to your regularly scheduled program.
JG^^
John Giza at 12:21PM on Mar 15th 2008
28. Mo are you kidding?? I think it's stupid to even debate this argument. This is not the Presidency, it's a freakin tv show. Besides, Simon - the creator of American Idol - is from where? That's right, England. He's foreign-born also. If the CREATOR of the show is foreign why would it make sense for someone to get all mad over a foreign-born contestant? Why not kick Simon out of the judge's spot for being English? Please. This isn't Woodrow Wilson's isolationist era - it's a global community now. If there are Americans with enough talent to win the competition, they will shine through and beat their foreign-born competitors.
Mike at 12:50PM on Mar 15th 2008
29. Hmm, I like Carly. She's got a great voice. I'm not really looking at it because she's from Ireland that she shouldn't be American Idol. Americans have ancesters from all over the world. They came here for a change. I just don't think we should discriminate. I see your point and it can change American Idol completely. But, I think we all are looking for a great entertainer. I do believe that we all want someone different.
Stefanie at 3:24PM on Mar 16th 2008
30. American citizen versus American born should be the criteria. This preserves the "American" aspect without adding a xenophobic twist. In fact, it further underscores the prominence and significance of our cultural, racial and ethnic origin pluralism. I
Mona at 4:35PM on Mar 15th 2008