I. Dole Americana.

There are those days... those shoes untied days. My shoe was untied this morning. A hang-over from yesterday, which was.. one of those days. And then there are the other days. Not necessarily the amazing-blow-you-out-of-the-water-great days, but the other ones. There are days when things happen that make you seriously reconsider your conception of the random universe, endlessly spiraling farther and farther away from itself, spattering and splattering its guts across the black sky. Many things. That song on the radio... then the next song. The sun coming out at just the right time. ..The connections. Running into people you know and haven't seen on the street or the bus. Flowers that think spring should come early. Today is one of those days. Not the shoes untied days..... the other kind.

I never watch American Idol. 'S not really my style, ja know? But it's culture. So, I expose myself to it. I've seen maybe one or two episodes, and then one last night. It was the auditions in some city last night, where they showcase the best and the worst. You know there are people there who are really going to go to the next level, or stay on the show. And you know there are people there who really think they have what it takes, or whatever else, and everyone else knows they don't. Then there are those people who go on to be shocking just for the sake of being shocking so that they can get on the Worst-Of list and have their fifteen minutes. Anything to be on T.V. And there are the thousands of people just singing their hearts out. People who sing to the stereo and sing in the shower and just love to sing. This is their only chance to sing for somebody -- to perform for a Somebody. This is their moment.. with some hope or none, but just to feel... I don't know what.
But it got me to thinking. If you were going to try out for American Idol, what would you sing? There's got to be one song for everybody. Something to showcase who they are and how good their voice is at its best. American Idol is a formula. It isn't really about the people who are in it, but it's for the people who watch it and what they want to see. Originality only goes so far. In the tryouts you see the crazy people who are trying to send a message through their dress or manner. They say they will bring to the show what no one else can -- their unique personality. They will do things that no one on the show has ever done before! ..But I don't see how they can believe that they will make it onto the show. The show isn't about that. Have you ever seen "that guy" on it? The public does not want to see those people. They want to see people performing songs that they know and like and want to hear. But they don't necessarily want an exact cover. It is okay to change it up a little -- not too much! -- to make it your own. That is the definition of unique the show wants. When you walk into the tryout it is pretty obvious if you won't get on, but not so obvious if you will. You have to have a certain look, or else you can't even get considered. Not. an original look -- a certain look. You have to have a certain sound, and you have to have a certain song. The song must be a song that is relatively well-known, but not a standard! It has to suit your voice -- you can't sing a song you like that is bad for your range or tone, or else you will still sound horrible. And you have to have the kind of personality that the judges and the public (key being the public) will enjoy and want to vote for. You can't sing whatever you want at first. You have to gain their trust and respect first. You have to entertain first, before you can express. A formula. And carefully played... you can go far.

I don't know what I would sing. But I think it is important for everyone to know what it is that they fit into the formula with. It can really say something about your personality.