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 4 of 4)
46. Aw Mo,
Top 'O the page to me.
Well, this goes to origin:
Is it just me,
or
If you took Carly Smithson
and that rockin nurse Andrea Overmyer
and crushed them together
you'd end up with Lita?
JG^^
John Giza at 6:01PM on Mar 17th 2008
47. Dang Mo...
Is this the "Irish Soccer Hooligan" blog????
Shan't we all just get along for a pint and a song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU
Rocca the Shamrocca
DameBuddyBoo at 9:13PM on Mar 17th 2008
48. That Carly kicks ass! Thanks, FINN!
Happy St. Patty's, everyone!
giftedgirl at 9:13PM on Mar 17th 2008
49. as long as they are naturalized citizens, i see NO problem with it. and even tho there are a gazillion versions of idol at this point in just about every damn country on the planet, alot of ppl still want to do AMERICAN IDOL b/c if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere to borrow from an old phrase. of course, if we allow unnaturalized citizens to perform on idol, then americans should be allowed to try out for all the other versions of idol. it's only fair. besides, if they don't play "the ugly american" they can be just as big, if not bigger then david hasselhoff is in germany. that way, everybody wins! we're spared simon, and he can deal with ppl just as easily deportable as he is. :p
Devynn at 9:59PM on Mar 17th 2008
50. Again, I have to say that to compete on American Idol, more than likely you need to be a legal resident of the United States. Which means you don't necessarily have to be a citizen, but I guess you should at least have a Green Card. The show offers a prize with monetary value, so it is governed by U.S law.
Ding! We're done.
And now I'm off to procure a car bomb of the Irish variety.
mo-NEEK-a at 9:42PM on Mar 17th 2008
51. Again, WHY does "Mo Rocca" have a blog? Just seeing his face angers me. I can't believe AOL actually pays for this. Well, I guess it's better than hearing him talk..."Thee Thells Thee Thells by the Thee Thore."
Bill at 11:04PM on Mar 17th 2008
52. I never watch the show but the title implies to me that the winner has been chosen by American voters as their Idol. The all-time favorite of the American voting public. It has nothing to do with the nationality of the people competing.
I do "get" where Mo is coming from but just felt the need to throw this out there since no one else has.
And Bill . . . go away please. Everyone on this blog LOVES MO. If you have to ask why, we could never explain it to you.
Nancy at 12:36AM on Mar 18th 2008
53. I'll answer that!
Mo Rocca has a blog because he's smart, funny and informative... the exact three reasons why you don't have a blog, Bill!
On a lighter note, I realized today that the reason that so many people flock to the Dinesh D'Souza blog is because they HATE him so much!
It appears that the key to popularity is not to be loved Mo, but to be hated... just ask Howard Stern, Gordon Ramsay, Rosie O'Donnell, Simon Fuller, Hitler, Eliot Spitzer's hooker, Sanjaya and Danny Noriega!!!
Rocca the HATE '08
FINN at 1:57AM on Mar 18th 2008
54. Id rather be loved for having fun blog posts than hated for being a complete tool.
In Dinesh's case its a no win situation. He has a crappy blog (in which he uses to sell his crappy books) AND is a complete tool :)
Jacqueline (Foxy Lady) at 2:41AM on Mar 18th 2008
55. OK Blobity Bill.....
you got my dander up....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPG_1K2rdII&feature=related
don't MAKE me call the veterinarian!!!
DameBuddyBoo at 9:45AM on Mar 18th 2008
56. FINN,
RE:Bill. LOL,
I'll bet his head was rolling around the floor reading the rest of your comments before he even realized it was chopped off.
JG:)
John Giza at 2:28PM on Mar 18th 2008
57. A few years ago we had an Irish singer win Australian Idol and it was not until a year after he won the competition that he became a citizen. At the end of the day as long as they can sing who really cares? It gives them something to stand out when they are trying to survive the post Idol slump aka Taylor Hicks etc etc etc.
Aussie at 7:59AM on Mar 19th 2008
58. Whoa Mo,
What if The Idol was South American?
Would he/she be American with a southern twist?
Or, a Southerner with an American twist?
Timo at 9:13PM on Mar 20th 2008
59. I think you're funny, Mo. I think each contestant has an equal opportunity.
lulu at 12:06PM on Mar 24th 2008