What Do We Expect from an American Idol?

American Idol may be a guilty pleasure, but it serves a purpose. The show is supposed to find the newest American singing superstar. The winner expects a long musical career.

But what does the audience expect? A sense of style? A gorgeous voice? A representative of American pop culture?

I think the American Idol should not only sing well, but he/she should perform well. That means knowing enough of the technical aspects of voice and music theory to avoid accusations of pitchiness. But technical skill is not enough, the American Idol should be able to put emotion and charisma into the songs he/she sings. Who wants to buy a CD only to listen to a boring performance?

The American Idol needs stage presence. I mean he/she should be able to move well, and make appropriate facial expressions. I want to believe he/she actually means the words he/she is belting out. To paraphrase, the American Idol should be able to mesmerize the audience, so nobody can look away from him/her. This does not mean running around the stage like a maniac. Yet standing still and making girly wave gestures is not enough either. And speaking of girly wave gestures, have you seen the body language of most of the girls? They hold the microphone with one hand while waving their other hand forward, up, and down. I much preferred Haley Scarnato's performance; that girl danced on stage. The ability to dance and exude energy should not be undervalued. And do not forget audience interaction; this always seems to raise the energy in the room. For an example of an American Idol with stage presence, look at Taylor Hicks. The man knows how to put on a show.

What is an American Idol without style? This pop singer has to look good because he/she performs for us, and performances include costumes. Who wants to pay for concert tickets only to wind up looking at a slob? There is a reason eye candy seems to do well in this competition.

The final key element to an American Idol is composure. The person who wins the contest represents America. He/she will have to deal with the press, and other stressful situations. If he/she collapses under pressure, it just looks bad, and it cuts some of the entertainment value out of the service he/she offers. Would you not be annoyed if the American Idol had a breakdown during a performance you had paid good money to see? I am not saying that the American Idol should be a cold, emotionless robot. I just expect him/her to know how to act appropriately when in front of an audience.

In conclusion, I expect four things from an American Idol: voice, stage presence, style, and composure. Some of these the American Idol can be born with, but others he/she should work to develop. If even one is missing from a contestant, do not expect me to vote for him/her.