 David Archuleta |
 Brooke White |
On Wednesday night's American Idol results show, something extraordinary happened: The first of the Top Ten finalists announced was tiger beat boy David Archuleta. The second was the group's "Mommy" Brooke White.
So for at least a few minutes 100% of the confirmed finalists were Mormons. Think about that.
This day was a day that was never supposed to come. Indeed for the first few seasons of Idol the idea of an openly Mormon Top Ten finalist was simply unfathomable. (Statistics on Mormon Idol contestants are famously unreliable.) Clearly times have changed. Is this a belated validation of the strides made by the Mitt Romney candidacy? Perhaps. Although the Republican ex-Governor's campaign failed, he forced Americans to come to terms with their anti-LDS prejudices and emboldened Mormon voters (and singers?) to flex their muscle (and vocal cords?).
Whatever the ramifications of this explosion of out and proud LDS singers, the question must be asked: Are Mormons simply better at singing than other Christian denominations? The answer seems to be yes.
With 5.5 million church members in the U.S., they represent less than 2% of the population. And yet they're 20% of the Idol Top Ten. (Factor in the international scope of this year's competition - itself a controversy - and the LDS representation is even more impressive.) No other Christian denomination comes close.
The Osmonds, of course, are the best example of what critics call the "Mormon Melody Mafia." Out of nine children born to George and Olive Osmond, seven (a whopping 77%) are gifted singers. The other two, Virl and Tom, are deaf. Yet even they appreciate music, having appeared on The Donnie and Marie Christmas Special in 1978.
So why are Mormons such good singers?
- They don't smoke. (I love Bonnie Tyler as much as anyone, but raspy-voiced singers spend their careers swimming upstream.)
- They don't drink alcohol or caffeine.
- They have large families that sing together at home and in tabernacle choirs. On a trip to Salt Lake City in 1999 I had the great pleasure of sitting through a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The acoustics: astonishing. The organ: 11,623 pipes. The experience: unforgettable. One of my favorite cds remains the choir singing civil war hymns.
- They live at high altitudes. Because they're used to thin air, their breath control is unrivaled. (Whether that gives them an unfair advantage at sea level is another matter.)
- They don't dance.
(That Marie Osmond could put one foot in front of the other on Dancing with the Stars was a miracle. Of course it would have helped had she practiced more and shrieked about her doll collection less.)
Not surprisingly the first of the Top Twelve finalists eliminated was lap-dancer David Hernandez. (Lap-dancing is strictly forbidden in Utah, with two exceptions: the Olympic village in 2002 was granted dispensation. Plus there's a club in Provo that sells membership cards for lap-dancing.) I liked David Hernandez but I suspect he would have sounded better had he not spread himself so thin.
So what do you think? Why are Mormons so much better than other Christians at singing?
***
HELP WANTED:
- I'm still looking for material for my cabaret show featuring music about states. Specifically I'm looking for a recording of - or even just sheet music for - the early 20th century song "When it's Apple Blossom Time in Orange, New Jersey, we'll make a Peach of a Pair." (I realize that this is more about fruit than New Jersey, but it sounds like a winner.) Also has anyone heard Steve Allen's song "Spring in Maine"? Is it any good?
- Is anyone reading involved in planning a 200th birthday celebration for Abraham Lincoln? I'm a huge Lincoln lover and want to get involved. I emailed historian Richard Norton Smith at George Mason University, but he hasn't responded. (He once gave me a private tour of the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, so I'm guessing he's just been busy. Or maybe he's still sore at my Mary Todd Lincoln wisecracks.)
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 5)
16. Hello Mo Rocka:
Your Comments on Is Mormons better then other Christians!! I think all us Christians have beautiful Voices!! I Have been in Choirs most of my life and I have a beautiful voice as well as My Co Choir Member friends at the Morrison Heights Bapists Church!! We are now singing our Easter Services and Easter! Wish you could here us sing!! We are at www.morrisonheightschurch.org and for Comments on The Osmonds??? They have been the Best singers in the World today!! I am glad they hit there 50th Anniversary!! Horray for The Mormons!!
Valynn at 10:28AM on Mar 21st 2008
17. MORMONS ARE ALSO INSANE! THEY BELIVE IN ADAM & EVE
THE FLOOD & NOAH'S ARK. THEY THINK THE GARDEN OF EDEN IS IN MISSOURI. THEY BELIEVE THE EARTH IS 4,000
YEARS OLD. THEY ARE AGAINST SCIENCE, FREE WILL, AND WOMEN, THEY ARE RACIST, AGAINST BLACKS & MINORITIES.
THEIR "DOCTRINE' IS NONSENSE! THEY KILL CHILDREN
& THEIR WIVES AND WHEN CAUGHT THEY SAY "GOD TOLD ME TO DO IT"
Chandler Yergin at 10:33AM on Mar 21st 2008
18. 17. MORMONS ARE ALSO INSANE! THEY BELIVE IN ADAM & EVE THE FLOOD & NOAH'S ARK. THEY THINK THE GARDEN OF EDEN IS IN MISSOURI.
True but the flood may have been localized.
THEY BELIEVE THE EARTH IS 4,000 YEARS OLD.
Not true, The creation of the earth took eons of time. Adam and Eve lived 4000 years ago.
THEY ARE AGAINST SCIENCE,
One of the first things the Mormons did once they reached Utah in the mid 1800s was build a school. They started the University of Utah, BYU. They are very much for Science and learning. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering, my brother is becoming a doctor, my father has a MS in Sociology, my Grandfather a PhD in Psychology. I have cousins in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology, Child and Family Development, Economics. We are not afraid of learning nor science.
FREE WILL,
One of the most basic doctrines is Agency and Accountability. You have a choice in all things, but you also will reap what you sow.
AND WOMEN,
The church sponsors the largest womens group in the world, the Relief Society. Also just look at who gets the padded chairs in church. The men get very hard metal folding chairs.
THEY ARE RACIST, AGAINST BLACKS & MINORITIES.
Since the beginning the Mormons were against slavery, and believe that all people are children of God. We don't separate into white and black churches. Has our membership learned to be more welcoming to minorities over the past century, yes, just as the rest of the country did as well.
THEIR "DOCTRINE' IS NONSENSE! THEY KILL CHILDREN
& THEIR WIVES AND WHEN CAUGHT THEY SAY "GOD TOLD ME TO DO IT""
I don't know what you are referring too here, but I'm sure there isn't a statistically significant increase in instances of homicide in the Mormon population.
I wish you well, and hope you can reduce your stress level. Living in ALL CAPS must be very tiring.
UmYeah at 11:24AM on Mar 21st 2008
19. UmYeah,
Which only goes to prove my theory:
You can't keep a good house of cards down.
But, why aren't the men singing "hard metal?"
Anyway, Mo,
According to your rationale for why Mormons sing so well, the same attributes could be applied to you:
You don't smoke
You don't drink alcohol or coffee.
You are tall (I'm sure the air you breathe is much thinner than that which we vertically challenged people breathe.)
You have 11,623 pipes (scratch that, I was thinking of Blayze.)
Anyway, since you meet these criteria,
I expect, no, I demand, you produce a
Mo Rocca Christmas Album to be released this year!
And there should be at least one duet with Will Hines or Willie Nelson (what's the difference?)
JG^^
John Giza at 11:52AM on Mar 21st 2008
20. Not dance??? They sang as they crossed the plains over a hundred and fifty years ago. Each evening as they stopped to camp, there was singing and dancing the likes of what had never been seen before, but still exist in the many church programs around the world.(Someone always had a fiddle)
june bosworth at 12:57PM on Mar 21st 2008
21. As good as Brooke and David are, they can't hold a candle to Billy Graham's lead singer, George Beverly Shea.
I'd like to hear Brooke or David try to sing "The Old Rugged Cross" or "Standing On The Promises" half as well as George used to.
Kent at 1:01PM on Mar 21st 2008
22. National Champions: BYU Cougarettes
http://byucougarettes.com/
National Champions: BYU Ballroom
http://pam.byu.edu/pdfs/BD/FactSheet.pdf
And BYU has a killer hip-hop club: Club Style
http://byu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2201308752
Hilton3 at 1:16PM on Mar 21st 2008
23. Thanks, Hilton3, for weighing in. But I must be frank: I'm sick and tired of Mormons hurling dance links at me and my blog. This defensive and bullying behavior is unbecoming. Why can't you be satisfied with my compliments about your singing?!
If LDS members expect me to buckle and describe them as strong singers AND dancers, then they better be prepared to wait.
For goodness sake, people, Gene Kelly couldn't really sing, and Bing Crosby wasn't all that great a dancer, and they were two of the greatest entertainers EVER. What do you want from me?!
Mo Rocca at 1:26PM on Mar 21st 2008
24. Actually, Mo, Mormons CAN dance, very well, in fact
Exhibit A: From the BYU website: "The [The BYU Ballroom Dance] Company is the undefeated U.S. Formation Champion and have won the prestigious British Formation Championships several times.
Exhibit B: Dancing with the Stars- at least 2 of the professional dancers are Mormon! (Julianna Huff and her brother) Uh-oh- I think your Mormon domination theory is expanding to other arts!
sirenseven at 1:32PM on Mar 21st 2008
25. Let's not forget Gladys Knight... She's Mormon too!
Hopemary at 1:49PM on Mar 21st 2008
26. I have lived in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Michigan, and have traveled throughout the United States (love a good road trip), but Utah is by far the most bizarre place I have ever lived or been to in the US. It was like moving to the twilight zone. I was a complete outsider. There was no blending in, no coffee, no beer, no cigarettes, no bars, no jogging, planting, or any other activity on Sunday. It was an interesting experience, but I would never live there permanently. The Mormon were very nice but I am quite certain they all thought I was hell bound.
Gwen at 2:02PM on Mar 21st 2008
27. Mo,
This was an entertaining post. I laughed. The "pile-up" was harsh. (However I concede there is always a wee bit of truth in jest)
And just for the record, I also dance.
MormonSoprano at 2:47PM on Mar 21st 2008
28. Come on now...
Have we learned nothing about tolerance from Obama's race speech people???
By the way, the new send-off song for Idol is written and performed by Ferras, a Muslim American...
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/Ferras/Hollywood-Is-Not-America-Whos-Next-Exclusive-Performance--58015300
Rocca the Idol '08
"And everybody here's from somewhere else..."
FINN at 3:07PM on Mar 21st 2008
29. Mo,
All I want is a big hug...
and release from this prison of a front hall table.
Crafty at 3:46PM on Mar 21st 2008
30. A friend of mine does the Ghosts of the Library production (http://www.alplm.org/museum/ghosts.html) at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield, IL, and I'm thrilled to be visiting again March 29!
Natalie at 4:42PM on Mar 21st 2008