Life is like American Idol

Unless you live in a bubble or on a deserted island, you are at least familiar with American Idol. You may just have paid attention to the more colorful personalities that have passed through the program, like Sanjaya or just auditions, as in the case of William Hung! Or you might be one of those fans who is totally informed on the most minute details of the singing competitions, characters, judges, and behind-the-scene details. But regardless of your involvement level with the show, there are a few truths that we can draw from the show; American Idol is a lot like life!

The first observation, and the most cliché, is the truth that you win some and you lose some. Just like one contestant may do very well one night, and totally bomb the next performance, you will not always succeed in every endeavor you undertake. You will not win every battle, but the odds are that the next time will be better!

American Idol judges are notorious for their often harsh critiques of performers. This usually changes over the course of the contest, but odds are that everyone will have to endure this berating at one time or another, sometimes it seems unmerited. In our lives, we have powers that be that often judge us in a way we feel is unfair and unjustified. Try to learn from negative opinions without allowing your self-worth to be crashed. The best thing to do when you have no recourse is to quietly accept the criticism. If you don't believe me, just try to argue with your boss next time you are called on the carpet about something!

This thought continues to the next truth we can glean from American Idol. Life is not always fair. It won't be, no matter how much we want it to be. Even if we repeatedly bemoan it with those famous words, "It's just not fair." Many people who follow American Idol are unhappy with the recent results favoring Kris Allen over another contestant, Adam Lambert. I would say that either contestant has a different take on what "fair" would be in this situation!

American Idol features the contestants performing varied genres of music. The show does elaborate tributes to different performers' works. The contestants have genres or styles to which they adapt better and some that are almost unbearable to listen to! One recent performance comes to mind; Kris Allen, the recent winner, just seemed born to sing Rat Pack music in the nightclub setting they created. His voice, his movement, and even his expressions seemed a perfect fit. Then there is the audition of William Hung, still memorialized on the internet, when he tried in his very stilted Chinese English to sing "She Bangs." It was so horrible that it was funny; Simon Cowell couldn't stand to let him finish. I have included a link to the Youtube video. Real life has the same variety of human talents and the lack thereof. Some of us are well-suited to one thing, while proving totally inept at another. That, my friend, is why we have penicillin, automobiles, artwork, well-cut hair, and clean drain pipes.

The final application of American Idol to real life situations is fairly obvious, also. Not everyone will like you. Some people will actually strongly dislike you. That's just how it is. The audience votes are an important factor in the outcome of the competition. All you have to do is read a little online to find out how varied the thoughts and feelings toward these last two contestants, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, really are. And, frankly, they can't do anything about it. One is a married Christian man and one is a "rocker-type" with raven-dyed hair and eyeliner. Ironically, they are good friends and quite complimentary toward each other. But, the truth to be seen here is that people are different and you can't expect to please everyone all the time. You will have some who applaud you and what you stand for and others who detest you and everything you are. Usually people support people who are like them. There are the rare few with open hearts and minds who can bridge differences to relate to all kinds of people, but most of the time, the former is true.

So, as you watch American Idol, reflect on the correlations to your real life. You win some and lose some. The powers that be will sometimes criticize you, fairly or unfairly, and the only thing to do is take it! Life is not fair. Everyone has their genre or area of expertise. (and a thing or two they just cannot do!) Everyone will Not LIKE you. There are different groups of people who espouse and support different lifestyles and ideas, and they usually support someone who does the same. The really positive note we can end on is that even the losers often go on to success, fame and fortune. William Hung's Christmas Album is proof of that!