Frankie Avalon, brought on to the Idol stage for last night’s “songs from the year you were born” struck some folks as a head-scratcher. The reason is obvious, actually: Avalon’s 1959 hit “Venus” is two things: 1. exactly the kind of schlock the Idol aesthetic prizes (thus the standing-o he got from all four judges, because, y’know, it’s not art, but it’s the “whole package,” as the judges like to say; he “brings it,” dawg), and 2. exactly the kind of lousy pop music the Beatles, Motown and Stax Records, the electric Bob Dylan, and every other adventurous music act from the 1960s on through to today was meant to erase.
But thanks to Idol, this kind of junk continues to have its place. It also gets to the question I always ask of people who enjoy American Idol: What did you listen to or watch before this show debuted? Was it a steady diet of Tony Orlando and Dawn, or Debby Boone, or the Carpenters for you? Did (or do) you have to reach back into history to find the kind of “showmanship” and overwrought vocalizing you crave from Idol? If so, you must have to ignore everything that makes current pop music interesting, and love tracking down music from direct Idol precursors such as Pat Boone, Bobby Vee, and Fabian. Here, I’ll make you feel at home:
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I thought it was great. Not sure why every commentary has to be insulting. This one in particular seems like a put down of Idol fans, many of whom are EW.com readers and EW subscribers. Lame.
Wow, Ken. Not disagreeing with you, but, ouch.
I don’t know about you…but I loved it. I’m only 21 years old…and I still loved it…how the music business has come full force…plus boy did Frankie Avalon look good…
You ask “What did you listen to or watch before this show debuted?” You seem to be inferring that we watch American Idol for the music. Nothing could be further from the truth. My friends and I enjoy Idol because we like to hear Simon verbally eviscerate contestants. We watch Idol to hear Paula babble incoherently (which she hasn’t been doing this season). We watch for the drama of seeing nobodies get their fifteen minutes of fame. But the music bites. Most of the singers can’t sing. The band is bland. And the show’s song selection is annoyingly limited. It’s not a music show. It’s a real life soap opera with a marginally musical soundtrack.
Frankie Avalon and Flo Rida perform on the same show and Frankie Avalon is the one you call “junk”?
Oh and who would you have rather listened to Ken? Flo Rida? Really?! Once again, you prove why you are the critic who deserves to get sh*t on. EW should let you go. Every critique I read from you is negative these days. Go get laid.
While I didn’t particularly love the performance, I think Idol trys to bring appreciation to music from all different eras. While Motown may have replaced Frankie Avalon back in the day, Avalon still has his place in music history.
While I didn’t particularly love the performance, I think Idol trys to bring appreciation to music from all different eras. While Motown may have replaced Frankie Avalon back in the day, Avalon still has his place in music history.
Wow, I thought you were more intelligent than that, Ken. So the millions of Idol viewers fit into one descriptive box!? Amazing.
btw if you’d watched, 1959 was the year Simon was born.
What an offensive entry, Ken! So, because I enjoy watching, what my partner calls “the show with the bad singers singing”, and that somehow means that I am deficient and have no taste in music? How shortsighted, arrogant, obnoxious and just plain wrong. I have lost a lot of respect for you, sir. I’ll think I’ll be skipping any future post from Mr. Tucker.
Geez – who whizzed on your cornflakes this morning? Nice that you can feel so superior in your tastes and dismissive and judgemental towards anyone who enjoys AI.
How rude. Seriously. Do you actually watch the show? Because I’d venture to say that things like Adam’s “Mad World” and Allison’s “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” veer pretty far from the “Venus” archetype. Moments like those are why I watch the show – not for the schlocky group performances or the thousandth retread of a tired Whitney tune. You’re welcome to your opinion, of course, but when you generalize like that you come off as nothing more than a music snob (which I know you’re not, having heard your review of Britney’s “Blackout” on NPR).
Wow — that was a pretty cranky commentary. What’s next, Ken — chasing kids off your lawn?
Wow — that was a pretty cranky commentary. What’s next, Ken — chasing kids off your lawn?
Okay, despite what you may think of Frankie Avalon, he was tons better than Flo Rida not only in performing but also in dress and taste and Frankie’s pant weren’t down to the bottom of his butt. I’m also done reading your articles after this comment.
Seriously. What a grump.
Can’t say that I watched it, nor was I shocked.
What a crabby old coot you are,Ken. I don’t think you should make yourself unhappy anymore by watching Idol.
Good grief, Mr. Crankypants. Frankie and Fabian were it in their day. They were singers, actors and entertainers – package artists if you will. Are you saying all music needs to go to the lowest common denominator, one hit wonder, karaoke crap AI is looking for now? I enjoy watching Idol, but I bet precious few of the recent contestants will be coming out to sing at AI Season 50. There is a lot to be said for the staying power of these original idols.
Somebody piddled in the Cheerios?
You are crabby, aren’t you Ken! I’m an avid Idol fan… but I am also a fan of Vampire Weekend, Barenaked Ladies, Indigo Girls, Jason Mraz, Fleming & John, U2, Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Ray LaMontagne … etc. Don’t make such sweeping generalizations and presumptions Ken!
what a jerky, naive, disrespectful commentary! The music of the 50s was critical in our music evolution, and Avalon was a HUGE part of that. He deserved every second of that standing ovation. Ken, you are an idiot!
Someone needs to fire this writer! He has taken on way more than he can chew, and it making EW lok idiotic!
Of course you realize the Beatles started by playing the same kind of schlock, right?
Dear Ken -
Why didn’t you find something useful to do with your life?
BTW – Do you hate Barbie, too?
BTW #2 – the kind of idiots that love schlock must absolutely ADORE your columns!
I’m surprised. Usually I look forward to Ken Tucker’s pieces and I’d say 98% of the time I agree with every word he says. But this was one of the most offensive articles I’ve read, not just by him but by anyone. Who are you to judge someone’s taste in music? Who are you to decide that if someone enjoys American Idol they must also be a fan of 70s easy listening acts that you disapprove of? I have the Carpenters two-disc Greatest Hits. I also have CDs from Linkin Park, Kanye West, Patty Loveless, Ben Folds, After 7, Dresden Dolls, Keane, Tegan & Sara, Pet Shop Boys, Weezer, just to name a few of the 500 CDs or so I cherish. If you want to put down my choice in music, or suggest I’m musically illiterate because I think “Venus” is a sweet song, please have the respect to say it to my face instead of hiding behind an unflattering photograph and an article that comes across as both bitter and extremely condescending. In other words, F you too, Mr. Tucker.
Wow, cranky much? lol I’m 28, and I’d rather listen to Frankie than the dreck that Flo Rida came out with last night.
Wow! Somebody did something in your Post Toasties didn’t they? JUNK? Drek?
The music of that era is a heck of a lot better than most of the garbage that passes for music today… Lip sync much? There are no true artists anymore.
Take off those cranky pants and appreciate all forms of music for what they each bring! And in this case…Frankie Avalon, Neil Sedaka, Fabian…all bring a smile to my face when I hear it!
Hey grumpy Ken. Remember, almost everything on TV is about selling commercials in between a bit of entertainment. Entertainment is the name of the game. It is not about being snooty. Entertainment comes in all forms. You are not the entertainment czar!!
Pretty silly post Ken. The fact that Frankie Avalon performed on Idol does not mean that everyone watching Idol is a Pat Boone fan. Most people watching Idol are probably not even aware of anything from before the seventies other than the Beatles. People watch Idol for a lot of reasons; it’s a phenomenally well produced live television show, people like Simon Cowell Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson and/or Paula Abdul (sorry Kara), people like to see live music on TV, no matter how bad, people have wives that bet on the winner, etc. Shame on you for your dull and snarky piece.
P.S. Is most of the content on ew.com any more original, artistic or interesting than Idol anyway?