Regine-ified Pinoy Idol

So they Regine-ified Pinoy Idol, finally tackling an artist after weeks of trying to whip out a decent performance from its lackluster contestants who have been bombarded with themes reeking of failed attempts to squeeze out melodramatic interludes on stage. Such attempts were outshined by Jolina Magdangal's stupid thumb-ups and incessant declarations of "Winner!", and Wyngard Tracy's pathetic critique of appearances confirming what we all know about talent managers in this country that look for people they and the public would want to bed.

I don't know if the minds behind Pinoy Idol are really stupid or if they're just plain arrogant to admit that they have one lousy show, but Regine Velasquez as the first artist to tackle? Come on, the girls who can pull it off and the boys creative enough to do something new to the Songbird's songs are all gone. Why would you want your remaining contestants to pale even more considering none of them were impressive singing songs culled from their 'greatest performance' or 'the song of their life'? Worse, why would you want to compare your remaining singers to Regine Velasquez when a lot of them may not even sing well enough beside the likes of Richard Gomez on SOP?

As a result, we have a putrid reggae version of "Urong-Sulong", fun but putrid nonetheless, the kind you enjoy on a videoke night with friends when you're all drunk and a little bit uninhibited than usual. We also have an amped version of "Tuwing Umuulan", nice but you have to admit Robin Padilla sang that song much much better. And then you have a bunch of sorry songs from girls who tried to outdiva Regine. Sorry, but they really didn't have it in them to begin with. Nor is it possible to imagine any of them growing in that direction.

Sue Ellen Cubing FINALLY got voted off. On the downside however, they announce that Jaya will be next week's theme. Another screamfest, and another opportunity for David Cook wannabes to showcase their mediocre musical rearrangements. A stupid attempt to salvage fans from the older and more successful GMA singing shows from the past or just plain stupid?

Seriously, Philippine music has a lot more to offer, do we really want these contestants and the audience to think that our musical fabric starts and ends with GMA talents or should we remind them that there are other materials that need to be resuscitated and appreciated? It's bad enough the show sucks, even worse for GMA to use the same lame show to promote itself.

The show's problem isn't technical. It isn't the audio quality nor the lights nor the space, nor the host. The Filipino audience can hear and see through these things. We have a plethora of experiences from local town fiestas to 5-peso karaoke machines that have given us discerning ears to know better. Nor should the audiences be blamed for who they vote. They should be commended for not participating in the whole process since they have unconsciously said no to something not worth believing in. The problem is much deeper. The show has no concept of what it wants for its contestants nor for music, and that much the audience knows that's why not a lot waste time anymore because its not clear as to how the people behind the show would define what their concept of what Philippine music is, and what kind of artist can help them and the audience achieve that vision. All it sees is a false sense of glory, and definitely money. I felt the show was in trouble when I didn't hear any of the judges articulate anything about the talent they are looking for in the first three performance episodes of the show. And they are paying for it dearly.

The real sad thing about it is that they seem stupefied that they don't know what to do about it. Clearly, the principle of establishing artistry through commerce is failing. It's such a pity for a big network-backed show not be able to have the tools to react to it and make the necessary adjustments convinced that their worn money-making ways are the way to go.

Whether you're Kapuso or Kapamilya, it doesn't matter. We are all duped by petty network politics that milk money out of us. And we shouldn't defend their mediocrity nor be satisfied with the practices they have naturalized. They get richer and powerful for it while all we get are a bunch of idiotic shows like Pinoy Idol.