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 3 of 4)
31. AS ACTIVE MILITARY TO HEAR REV. WRIGHT SAY GOD DAMN AMERICA PUTS SHIVERS UP MY SPINE. SEEN WHITE AND BLACK DIE FOR OUR FREEDOM, THIS MAN IS A DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY, THIS IS OBAMAS SO CALLED UNCLE, GOD BLESS AMERICA BE SMART THANKS USMC
RAR at 7:21PM on Mar 15th 2008
32. what the hell are you talking about, mo? according to wikipedia, you are of colombian and irish descent... what makes you more 'american' than any other half-breed mixed-race 'americans' i know? the act of your birth took place inside the borders of the cursed country. so what? does that make you a winner, mo? does that make you feel like you can achieve anything?
it really gets my goat that the united states of america, a nation of immigrants, is so keen to point a finger at foreigners. you're all foreigners. duh. (well, apart from the real natives that you banished to reservations.)
people like you with your branding of outsiders and immigrants piss me right off. have a brain and a sense of history to realise that 300years ago (7generations ago in my family), no one was 'american'. and now you have the gawl to suggest that people need an american passport to compete in your shitty uk-format reality show. pisses me right off.
anne at 8:05PM on Mar 15th 2008
33. Oh, Anne - Give it a rest. For cryin' out loud, it's just a TV show!!
Mo Rocca at 7:49PM on Mar 15th 2008
34.
say, Anne, my guess is that you're busy working on your taxes...
take a breather and make some chamomile tea....
b....l...o....b...i...t....y.....b...l.....o....b..
ah,Clem at 9:43PM on Mar 15th 2008
35. ok, here's the deal:
our country consists of persons who were at one time immigrants. If the winner of American Idol is not American born and chooses to return to their country, we should be honored that someone with talent would trust our musical competitions vs. their own country's. We are a nation of immigrants as previously pointed out. Our musical competitions should be off limit to no one.
Eliza at 10:00PM on Mar 15th 2008
36. Who cares!!! As a nation do we really have nothing more important to worry about than the birthplace of contestants in a singing competition?
Marie Townsend at 2:11PM on Mar 16th 2008
37. And followed by an MTF2 nonetheless.
Anne,
If you really believe that Mo is anti-immigration, then you really don't get anything Colbert says either.
And no, Danny Noriega is NOT a Satanist.
JG^^
John Giza at 3:18PM on Mar 16th 2008
38. Geez Mo,
You've really got me thinking about this. Last night on _America's_ Funniest Home Videos, the first-place winner was Canadian. I think we've got to crack down!
Kozz at 11:47AM on Mar 17th 2008
39. In the spirit of St. Pat's...
It's time to "Come Together" people!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjncDWJuwGc
If Paul McCartney and Heather Mills can finally settle their differences then certainly we can all just get along on an AOL blog.
Happy St. Patrick's Day all!
P.S. - And although I'm willing to let this issue go today... I still think we should secure our borders so this doesn't happen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLDBNswsvl4
FINN at 12:16PM on Mar 17th 2008
40. hear hear! Happy SPD Finnegan and all the O'Roccats!
O'Gabrielle at 12:28PM on Mar 17th 2008
41. Hello,
I believe alot of people are getting born in America, and raised by by Americans confused, I do not believe a child from another country can be considered American, because a nice black family could adopt 10 white chilren but that would not make unloved nor would it make them black and visa versa, people now adays are hiding wolves in sheeps clothing. Most people can dress anything up and train it enough to do what they say........
Michael Crawley at 12:27PM on Mar 17th 2008
42. Mo - I'm disappointed that you don't have a story up yet on Emily McIntire, the 15 year old who found an Illinois-shaped Corn Flake and is selling it on E-Bay. (I think it looks more like Indiana, but hey, what do I know?) Are you slacking here, or what?
Dave at 1:23PM on Mar 17th 2008
43. Hello,
I believe that American Americans should stay in America but those like such as in Iraq should stay in Iraq as such. If Iraq Americans want to live in America they should first prove that they can sing. If a black Iraq wants to be a white American, they should first become American in black Iraq before being American such as in white America. However if they don't have maps then how will they find America? Finally if an American sheep wishes to become a wolf like such in the Iraq then they should be trained to sing like a wolf...
Michael Carolina at 4:44PM on Mar 17th 2008
44. Mr. Finn, ya legend,
Well wishes back to ya and all the others who frequent here!
I am your biggest fan!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vdxLxnhGnvo&feature=related
Anna Livia Plurabelle at 5:02PM on Mar 17th 2008
45. Shaazam Mo! You sound dumber than Gomer Pyle. To participate in American Idol all you need to be is an American citizen. We all aren't vanilla, backwoods, or extra familiar with members of our family tree. You sound like your tree could be a stump. Ask a stupid question and somebody should respond in a stupid way to reach down to where you are. I love you, but "Damn!" Don't make it harder than it already is. Ped Egg shavings leave a better taste in my mouth!
Cecil Jones at 5:54PM on Mar 17th 2008