Reality TV & The Glamorous Lies it Sells | Salari
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2021
- Correction: at one point in the video I mention how Frenchie Davis was disqualified from American Idol by the Disney owned network, ABC. During the time Frenchie appeared on the show, American Idol was a Fox owned property and was later acquired by ABC. Throughout the years, Fox has also been called out for their hypocrisy in their programming; in particular the kind of content seen on Fox (the entertainment network) conflicting with the extremely conservative views of Fox News. Despite the show airing on Fox, it seems the network decided to resort to family friendly values and ejected Frenchie from the competition, and later decided to keep Antonella Barba, who appeared four years later, a decision which also made by Fox.
I sincerely apologize for this oversight, and I promise to be more thorough with my research in the future.
Reality TV contests love to sell you the idea that the road to stardom is simplistic and smooth, they use the commonly established narrative of rags to riches and turn real people into stories, they utilize the backstories and pain of the contestants and turn them into a tool to turn them into a character. They sells the idea that fame and success is guaranteed upon winning, but on most occasions this isn't the case. For every Carrie Underwood or Harry Styles, there's dozens of names we've forgotten, and shows like American Idol, X Factor, America's Got Talent and others are more than fine with that happening. Let's explore the glamorous lies of reality TV contests
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The second track in the video is by Zai Kowen, check them out on Soundcloud, their music is amazing: / zaikowenofficial - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Aguilera once stated one of the reasons why she left the Voice (apart from being fired, apparently). She said that it stopped being about voices, it turned into a show about tragic stories; they concentrated on whose story would be THE most tragic. It's true; they would kick out people with good voices and personalities in favor of tragic/interesting stories and some kind of agendas. The sad thing is that it's the same in every country and every type of reality TV competitions.
Can confirm. in an episode of holland got talent , they just straight up told a woman she was in the finale because of her sad story and that she was not very good. Or in the voice of holland they thought a singer probably was ugly so they did not turn the seat.
@@Rowenawhite which opens a whole other can of worms
@@Rowenawhite gosh, this is so damn sad and terrible.
The worst thing, it's not only about singing competitions. I watch a top-model show, and there they choose not the best model, but the girl with a story (one managed to defeat her drug addiction, and another was a MOM, plus her father died while she was on the show; not to mention neither really work in the inductry (and the former even develop ED along the way).
Does anyone know why Christina (apparently) got fired?
@@RyanStorey1231 that's just a rumor I read. There are a lot of rumors that she's a diva and is unbearable to work with. perhaps, that. Plus, there was some heat (not in a good way) with Adam. But I do believe she left on her own accord; after all, she did win this god-forsaken show.
I honestly can't remember the exact reasons, but there were some issues with her and other judges. Maybe even some other crew members.
I was a top contestant in NZ Masterchef, made to top 6. Even a cooking show you would be surprised buy how controlled, manipulated, and scripted it is.... Its only us 'warm props' who don't know or have the script. The winners are picked at audition and they work out how to get to that point from the get go. You are also contractually obliged to do anything producers instruct you to do, and there is a lot they tell you to do, then let the judges berate and tear you to shreds for. MC had a reputation for being more.... 'pure'.... Its not and there is no form of compensation or pay in anyway for your months of time lost to the show they constructed to make them profit and left you hollowed and humiliated.
The level of manipulation is so high. Even down to contestants being told different challenge briefs, and select few being told in advance what the challenge even was, easiest was to have one or more us massively flop
@@blondefisk wow, I had always assumed you would be being paid, (for some reason I'm not surprised singing shows aren't compensated but cooking/baking television seems much more surprising? It must be because as viewers we're seeing more "labour"?) but I suppose the "opportunity" is considered payment enough... That's complete BS. Reality TV is just sleazy and considering how much money popular shows make, the lack of compensation for contestants' time and energy, physical, mental, and emotional labour, etc. is disgusting. I'm sorry you had such an experience, but thank you for sharing as it's important for people to know. Sure, we're all mostly aware that reality TV isn't all its cracked up to be, but it's still so dejecting to see how far studios will go to get their desired goal.
Bruh even cooking shows are severely controlled
@@astroblast2325 the media is absolutely brutal isn’t it
I remember once seeing a show in which a contestant lost because her Oven "suddenly" got damaged.
So they basically fucked her over just to play a script and have her as a tragic defeat. Damn.
The part about how the even obviously bad singers had to go through this expensive pre-audition process just to be humiliated on tv for entertainment is so upsetting lol. It kinda reframes the ones who got a little fame from being really bad like the "SHE BANGS" guy. They kinda hit a reverse card ha. But yeah still another reason for me to give up reality tv
Also explains why they so often come across as overconfident. If they made it through so many rounds, they can't be that bad, right? ...
@@yltraviole ah yes the producers probably tell them to be confident so ‘they’ll get through the round’
I've remember reading an article that said that the producers would tell the unaware, untalented singers that they were really good, had a great chance of winning, that kind of thing. They'd hype them up and raise their hopes and expectations so they would react emotionally when it doesn't go well.
I can believe that they do that, it makes sense.
@@faeriegraver that’s so twisted imagine what that does to someone’s psyche
Yeah, I went on a tour of one of the places that held auditions for idols in my country. One of the staff that worked there told us that what the producers would do is take the top 100 of each set, and tell those contestants they were in this "top 100". What they wouldn't tell them was that they chose the 50 best and 50 worst singers. That way the singers go all the way through to the celeb judges believing wholeheartedly that they are in the top performers, just so that when its filmed they can have everyone laugh in their face. It's so sickening.
i didn’t know it was possible to hate reality tv shows more than i already do😅😬
Go capitalism lol
Ah I swear 🙄🙄 idk why we still eat this shit up
Eww. Jersey Shore was the only one I could stomach (and I wasn't sober) 😅
The only reality tv shows that are good imo are satirical/comedic ones like Nathan for you
Try Beauty contest or Model TV show
Good luck
I’d argue to say Fantasia and Ruben are household names, for Black-American people. My family and I may never keep up with Carrie or Kelly, but we have definitely kept up with Fantasia for years, and still listen to Ruben, as do almost everyone we know from our background. It just depends on what communities you consider when you think of/define “success.” Still, this video, as all of yours are, is extraordinarily introspective. You are one of my favorite creators- praying your talent is recognized.
Jordan Sparks also is played in my household. She won too.
@@danderson8431 Yes! I used to be obsessed with her as a kid- her journey and winning was what got me invested into AI in the first place! Thank you for bringing her up!
@@jumpdumppyy facts, given Jennifer's career i'd argue she's more famous than any of the other idol winners. especially in the eyes of black americans. jen crossed over into acting too...ijs lol
Y’all are all rights- there are so any Black artists who are still active and praised for their talent, so often categorized as “forgotten” because they are not discussed by “mainstream” American media
@@rozaylabeija6675 I agree. I honestly forget that Jennifer Hudson was on American idol. She’s won an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and a few Grammys is about to star in a biopic about a mainstream household name- Aretha Franklin. If we’re going by mainstream standards of success, she is most definitely there. But the content creator intentionally mentioned the winners and left out the the more memorable contestants.
I never liked Drake. "Started from the bottom, now we're here..." Didn't he start out as a child actor?? Not exactly humble beginnings.
Exactly! Did he think we'd forget about Degrassi?
His family was rlly poor when he was a baby, and then he was on a Canadian reality show and pretty wealthy from age 4 on. So, technically...but I doubt he remembers it much
Sksjddh well they’ve got records to sell so they do need to sell a fantasy (acquiring huge amounts of success)
Catchy track though
And now he's grooming other child actors (see: Milly Bobby Brown)
Makes me wonder why in American Idol, most often, the runners up and contestants are more successful than the winner.
Mainly because a runner-up is not forced into the same oppressive record deal as the winner, and thus can more readily use their leverage as a "famous American Idol runner-up" to negotiate better contracts. Also it has to do indirectly with the narrative being spun by the show. The show is trying to tell a rags-to-riches story, which only works if the audience sees some drastic transformation from amateur to professional over the course of the season. Therefore, a contestant who is polished and industry-ready from day 1 is never going to win; but usually those are the ones who end up with the biggest careers after the show (because they fit so well into the pop market outside the show's narrative).
The multiple auditions explains why people who aren't good think they're good. Because they already passed so many levels
Jennifer Hudson, Jordan Sparks, and Fantasia also went on to have a successful career after American Idol. Leona Lewis had a successful career after the Xfactor.
And Daughtry.
I feel like Jennifer Hudson is way more successful than Kelly or Carrie, and she didn't even win American Idol. She sung the most recognizable rendition of 'And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going' to date. Dare I say an icon?
Didn’t she win an Oscar too, I could be wrong though🤔😌
@@prettysailormoon7290 she sure did, supporting actress😊
...and don't forget Adam Lambert. The intro was a bit rocky.
Phillip Phillips was also pretty big in like 2012-2014
ALL THAT TV SHOWS IS ALL L I E S, V I O L E N C E, K I L L I N G S,
N O R M A L I Z E S I M M O R A L I T Y , G L O R I F I E S E V I L, M A K E S
F A M I L Y A M O C K E R Y. THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA AND NEWS IS
FULL OF L I E S AND D E C E P T I O N AND FLASH MESSAGES OF
KILLING AND NEVER EVER INFORM YOU OF THE FULL TRUTH JUST
LIKE YOU TUBE IS DOING TO THE TRUTHER CHANNELS. TV COMMERCIALS
ARE FULL OF DECEPTIVE CHEAPY RIP OFF PRODUCTS AND ESPECIALLY
PUSHING GMO'S FOODS THAT MAKE YOU FAT, SICK, GIVE YOU ALLERGIES,
DIABETES, CANCER AND OR EVEN KILL YOU AFTER YEARS OF CONSUMING
IT BESIDES ALSO TURNING YOU INTO A CASH COW FOR THE MEDICAL
AND FOR THE HUGE INFAMOUS PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WHICH HAVE
TAKEN IT A STEP FURTHER BY HAVING THE WORLD INFECTED WITH THEIR
PLANDEMIC AND BILLIONS TO BE MADE FROM YOUR TAX DOLLARS PAYING
MODERNA, PFIZER ETC... THEN YOU HAVE THE GREEDY EVIL PSYCHOPATH
BILL GATES ON TV PUSHING VACCINES LIKE A DOCTOR IN WHICH HE IS
NOT BUT AN INVESTOR WHO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAD MADE 1OO'S OF
BILLIONS THROUGH MODERNA AND GAVI VACCINE INVESTMENTS. ONCE
BILL GATES KNEW THAT COVID 19 HIT THE US GATES QUICKLY RESIGNED
AT MICROSOFT AND NOW GATES IS ONCE AGAIN LAUGHING ALL THE WAY
TO THE BANK HIS DREAM CAME TRUE THE DYING OF MASS PEOPLE
WHILE MAKING A PROFITS AND SO IS THE ROCKERFELLERS, SACKLERS AND
THE ROTHSCHILDS. ALL OF IT BY DESIGN WITH TV AS AN INSTRUMENT TO
THEIR EVIL DEVISES. STOP WATCHING TV STOP FEEDING THE MONSTERS
AND DO YOUR KIDS A BIG FAVOR GET THEM OFF THE VIDEO GAMES AND
REALLY EMPOWER THEM TO NAVAGATE IN REAL LIVE CAUSE THEY ARE EVEN
MAKING THEM INFERTILE BESIDES MAKING THEM DUMB DOWN.
The tragic backstory stuff is such a cruel wish-fulfillment thing for us, the audience. Because, we're always going through hurtful things in our lives and we always question whether we're ever going to make it. So, watching these people who maybe have it worse than us get so famous really helps to form this false image that maybe, just maybe, we could also get there. And this feeling/image is exactly what all the big companies exploit.
I had never thought of it that way; you're absolutely right! A bit tragic in itself.
@@astroblast2325 Thanks! And, yes, it really is.
Absolutely agree!!!
In short, THEY win, We lose!
Sad & frustrating truth...🤬
Agree, and I also think it inadvertently perpetuates the belief that those who suffer the most deserve the most, regardless of their actual talents (or lack thereof).
Hope is a tool any manipulator is too glad to use.
Oh boy, time to learn why the entertainment industry is crud again. *hits blunt*
24:33 Carly Rae may not have mainstream a success anymore but she’s carved out a huge niche for herself amongst the LGBTQ community and music snobs who happen to enjoy well made pop music. As someone who runs in the pop music circles I hear about her probably more than I did when Call Me Maybe was everywhere.
I am one of the POP snobs. Glad to be here.
Emotion was one of the best albums that ever came out. Heavily underrated.
@@saderdaze2546 Hard agree
As Fantano attested
Also shes not even technically a one hit wonder I remember "I really like you" and "Run away with me" being on the radio a lot lmao
To answer your American Idol question.....Jordan Sparks. She’s released a number of albums, and films. She may not be as big as Carrie, she still counts.
...never heard of her.
@@ashtons8626 She was more popular in the 2000s. That's probably why.
Jamming out to Battlefield in the car with my parents or listening to it on MTV before school? That was a memory I didn't expect to find here 😂
I immediately when to Jordan too. A name I haven't said in *at least* a decade
Frickking NO AIR. Hellllllo!
Adam Lambert - He started singing cover for Queen and became the front man on Queen 🖤🤘🏽
Was he a winner though?
@@julioagua No, he came in second. He was robbed blind (thankfully, since without the contract he could move much more.freely in the industry).
@@Gaywatch Yeah, sometimes first is not best.
It ain't Queen without Freddie.
ALL THAT TV SHOWS IS ALL L I E S, V I O L E N C E, K I L L I N G S,
N O R M A L I Z E S I M M O R A L I T Y , G L O R I F I E S E V I L, M A K E S
F A M I L Y A M O C K E R Y. THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA AND NEWS IS
FULL OF L I E S AND D E C E P T I O N AND FLASH MESSAGES OF
KILLING AND NEVER EVER INFORM YOU OF THE FULL TRUTH JUST
LIKE YOU TUBE IS DOING TO THE TRUTHER CHANNELS. TV COMMERCIALS
ARE FULL OF DECEPTIVE CHEAPY RIP OFF PRODUCTS AND ESPECIALLY
PUSHING GMO'S FOODS THAT MAKE YOU FAT, SICK, GIVE YOU ALLERGIES,
DIABETES, CANCER AND OR EVEN KILL YOU AFTER YEARS OF CONSUMING
IT BESIDES ALSO TURNING YOU INTO A CASH COW FOR THE MEDICAL
AND FOR THE HUGE INFAMOUS PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WHICH HAVE
TAKEN IT A STEP FURTHER BY HAVING THE WORLD INFECTED WITH THEIR
PLANDEMIC AND BILLIONS TO BE MADE FROM YOUR TAX DOLLARS PAYING
MODERNA, PFIZER ETC... THEN YOU HAVE THE GREEDY EVIL PSYCHOPATH
BILL GATES ON TV PUSHING VACCINES LIKE A DOCTOR IN WHICH HE IS
NOT BUT AN INVESTOR WHO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAD MADE 1OO'S OF
BILLIONS THROUGH MODERNA AND GAVI VACCINE INVESTMENTS. ONCE
BILL GATES KNEW THAT COVID 19 HIT THE US GATES QUICKLY RESIGNED
AT MICROSOFT AND NOW GATES IS ONCE AGAIN LAUGHING ALL THE WAY
TO THE BANK HIS DREAM CAME TRUE THE DYING OF MASS PEOPLE
WHILE MAKING A PROFITS AND SO IS THE ROCKERFELLERS, SACKLERS AND
THE ROTHSCHILDS. ALL OF IT BY DESIGN WITH TV AS AN INSTRUMENT TO
THEIR EVIL DEVISES. STOP WATCHING TV STOP FEEDING THE MONSTERS
AND DO YOUR KIDS A BIG FAVOR GET THEM OFF THE VIDEO GAMES AND
REALLY EMPOWER THEM TO NAVAGATE IN REAL LIVE CAUSE THEY ARE EVEN
MAKING THEM INFERTILE BESIDES MAKING THEM DUMB DOWN.
Carly Rae Jepsen is actually still pretty big in the hipster community.
I guess that includes me then.....
Yes but the hipster community hasn’t been heard from since 2014-2016 just like her....
I still listen to some of her songs but with you comment I went looking for her music slate. She had that one single that exploded but been struggling since. I think part of her problem is that she is Canadian and they always have problems with USA and international market. Anvil, a band that may have inspired many other heavy metal bands was never able to break out into the mainstream.
id say shes bigger in the gay community
@@loeliamargaret5882 sksjsj
The whole thing about being “worthy” of something just because you’ve had a traumatic experience is really everywhere. A lot of my friends are finding it difficult to apply for competitive scholarships just because they’ve had a normal life. Most are the top students in my grade but still struggle to find things to say in essays, etc. I had a major health problem/surgery when I was younger so I at least have something to talk about but even then I feel kinda of bad using my past experiences as a way to get scholarships.
So true! I felt the same way. Feels like you have to exploit any "sad part" of your life to have a chance
@@beth-bi9yv YES, def felt the same way when I was writing my college entry essay
It’s like if you didn’t go through significant cr*ap, you were privileged (and thus deserve nothing further).
I responded to a comment above similarly, because I really think it's a troubling belief in our society--maybe our world at large--that the more you suffer, the more you deserve to win. I have a former friend who was so hung up on her own tragic backstory and all the things she'd been through and deserved that she could never, ever be sincerely happy for anyone else. That sweet vacation you saved up for and finally got to take? Yeah, SHE should have been the one to take that vacation. That job promotion you earned? SHE should have gotten that promotion. Someone complimented you on your looks? Bombard everyone on social media with your duckface selfies until you get more compliments about your looks. And so on.
You should know too, that only exists in America. I go to university in the UK where the process of applying to university is much more simple in general, and they base decisions about 90% on grades, most universities don't even interview you. You still have to write an essay but it's 500 words, so about a page long, and it's about why you want to do the course you're applying for, what books you've read about the subject etc. Talking about sad experiences would be seen as really inappropriate.
Universities ask for information like household income and use your address to see what area you live in for scholarships, they don't require you to beg for it. Plus university is significantly cheaper anyway.
This video is Turtle approved
Hello, I’m a fellow comrade
Apparently I'm following you around YT, because I have seen this comment on a few vids lately.
Yo my homie
I swear, the biggest reason why finalists and even winners are discarded 98% of the time is because they always do covers. The audience hears them sing and gleans some of their personality, but at the end of the day we have no idea what the person is like as an artist. (In some shows they let them perform one original song in the finale, wayyyy too late to build an audience who likes what you actually DO and not what you cover).
So everyone gets invested in an artist based on covers of smash hits and then the artist's work is almost always wildly different (or they're just a crap artist, since they weren't chosen for their songwriting or composition skills).
The only singing competition that will get my attention at this point is one that makes a serious attempt to fix this problem (and several others mentioned in the video)....and that will never happen.
So true
And some of the contestants cover songs sound better than their original songs. So they lack an audience for their originals
That’s certainly a contributor, but I don’t think it’s the main thing. Even if the contestants sang originals, audiences aren’t watching for the talent, they’re watching for a feel-good story and some drama.
Wow, I bet Lindsey Stirling is glad she didn't win, she's probably a lot better off than most winners.
Contestent: my parents died on the titantic and i can only play the kazoo please give me a record deal.
Judge: maybe?
I remember when I was young my sister who must have been 12-14 auditioned for The Next Star which is american idol for Canadian kids and she was thrown off by the first audition because it wasn't the judges we watched on TV, I remember her being so disappointed and the magic was gone
Speaking of bad contracts squiky clean images and selling dreams, Here's a Pandora box you can open in s moment of insanity: Kpop!
K-pop is the most absurd of capitalist fever dreams
Oh yes please! Make a video about K-pop!
Ok but level up.... K pop reality tv like produce 101
I'm pretty sure there already is a video like that made. It's called "The Late Capitalism of K-pop"
@@jjrhwy3376 oh yeah that was a good video
Great video, but Disney didn’t get the rights to American Idol until season 16. Until that season, the show was on Fox, so it was the executives at Fox who disqualified that competitor.
Ah, I'll add a disclaimer to the description about it. Fox have also been called out for their mixed messages on certain things, namely the kind of programming they have on the Fox network (like Seth McFarlane's shows) conflicting with the extremely conservative values of Fox News. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
And now Disney owns Fox as well
Friend's aunt once auditioned for American Idol, getting to the second audition. Really musical family, amazing singers incl. my friend, so I thought that she'd at least get past the pre-auditions and make it to the judges but nope. I don't know if it was something superficial like her look or accent, or that she didn't have a tragic enough backstory, but after he told me abt the process it made watching such shows even worse (and I didnt know that was possible)
"But Salari, you're not funny". I have to respectfully disagree.
Gotye is so freaking solid though, especially his early albums imo. His hit is wonderful and hits a poignant note with me, I totally jammed to it on the radio, but it's not even his best song!! People are really missing out.
EXACTLY I keep telling people this!
Also didnt he intentionally lay low for a really long time so his fame would die down? I remember him saying something along those lines a while ago
He is absolutely fabulous and so wonderful live! Everytime I play some of his older stuff for people they're impressed. He both deserves more credit/fame but I know that isn't something he necessarily wants. Just a really wonderful artist.
@@R_S747 I'd believe that. He also deliberately chose not to monetise the TH-cam video for Somebody That I Used To Know, and as a consequence those 1.5 billion views have never generated a cent.
His album making mirrors is one of my favorites, so many good songs!
love when you can't repackage your trauma into a feel good redemption story and end up hating yourself for it
Serious question: Does anyone here think that the NBA or any of the other leagues count as reality television? I've got a bit of a knack that some of it is ...
In a way. Im still holding on hope that in the middle of a basketball game it zooms in on some guys and he falls and scrapes his knee. The screen cuts to a hopital waiting room, and it just turns into a soap opera. "He's not going to make it" cue soft piano, overdramatic crying, etc etc.
"Sport is soap opera for men"
Look at how shows like UFC's TUF copy the American Idol format(down to the "tragic origin story" trope), or how many sporting feuds are manufactured by media or promoters, etc.
The NFL, for sure.
I'm only :38 secs in but i just wanna say Jordan Sparks, Fantasia. Thats it. Now I'll enjoy what I'm sure will be an exceptional journey of insight
Ooh yes, Fantasia is very successful!
"Reality talent shows are a lie. They are wrapped in a dream, and sold to you as the truth." One could argue that that statement also applies to life itself.
unfortunately...
Years ago my Mom took all of this super seriously. She really thought that all of it was real. Slowly over time, I started making snide remarks about the shows like "How do they record this stuff?", "Wow there are so many contestants how do the judges go through them all?" or "I wonder how the contract looks like" After a while, I showed her a few Behind the Scenes videos for these shows and left it at that. I would still question those shows in front of her. A year or so after I started questioning those shows she said: "You ruined those shows for me. I didn't see how absolutely awful they were until you started asking questions."
With that said I still find those shows entertaining but it is like drugs. Some of these shows you should avoid completely (Heroine) and some you can enjoy (Weed) without big consequences. Just be aware that either way you are harming yourself a little.
I think a lot of the commenters pointing out that “X artist is actually quite popular among Y community” are sort of missing the point. The purpose of arguing that “very few show winners reach mainstream success” is not to knock performers who didn’t reach “mainstream success.” Reaching “mainstream success” doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how talented or beloved the artist is. The purpose is to demonstrate that the production companies are clearly not interested in helping artists reach “mainstream success” (defined in this context as chart topping sales/streams), and are instead interested in manufacturing dramatic sob stories to maximize ratings/profits. This isn’t necessarily a video about highlighting artists who deserve more recognition, it’s about lambasting reality tv. I do think the video could benefit from recognizing show contestants who deserve more recognition, especially those representing marginalized communities, but that’s clearly not the central thesis of the video.
Reality TV is faker than fiction. the biggest paradox ever.
Cry stories are at the top of my "I really don't like this"- list. It's kind of sickening to put so much focus on human misery. It feels almost perverse that studios are trying to force watchers to react emotionally.
It also feels like watching plastic move around. The reactions, the words: everything is paper thin. I wouldn't be sad if it were to disappear forever.
Great video, I have something interesting to maul over in my head again!
I’ve always hated these “talent” shows. They’ve always been a farce. Based on their criteria for “talent” legendary singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen wouldn’t even get past the cattle call auditions.
9:02 - oh my god THIS video was so enraging to watch in terms of how directors and casting agents treat actors and potential talent! im glad you included this!
What is it? I've never seen that video
Fantasia and Jordin Sparks are definitely not obscure but... I get your point.
@Wu Xeitan Atreides But he's talking about American Idol so...what's your point? Also, they are very relevant outside of America. You must mean it's not relevant for white people.
Why does it go live when it's 11.30 pm here and I try to have a good sleep cycle?
Sorry about that. I was hoping to put it up at 12pm EST, but thanks to Adobe Premiere being a mess and failing to export, I was up until 3am last night trying to fix it, and tried for hours this morning until it worked. Next video will be up at a reasonable time for international viewers, pinky swear.
@@Salari it's all cool :)
I happened to have a long and wholesome conversation with my roommate, which is a good reason to still be awake so I will watch this right before sleep now.
American Idol was originally on Fox, not ABC. It started airing on ABC at the same time Katy Perry became a judge. Disney owns both Fox and ABC now, but back then it didn't own Fox.
Legit. The only time I hear ppl talking about Gotye is when they’re saying how no one ever talks about Gotye. I’ve heard good things about him since tho
Awesome video!! I never realized how scummy these shows were until I saw the video Zoe Alexander made about the X Factor. It's so horrible what she went through and her X Factor audition is still up on TH-cam!! Like Wtff :(((
Streaming services are definitely the way we are going to continue to trend. In a way, they are actually a pretty great way for very small artists to reach a larger group of people. I would never have heard of Whale Bones or Good Kid had it not been for Spotify. They are some of my favorite artists now. (Seriously give them a listen their work is incredible.)
It’s unfortunate that it pays the artists themselves so little.
Agreed Spotify and TH-cam provide great opportunities for other people
@@afz5355 This is definitely true!
It's so easy to find amazing, not very well known artists on Spotify. I absolutely love it.
Definitely checking them out! Thanks for the recommendation
You are quickly becoming one of my favorite video essay creators. This was really thought provoking, and the production quality is superb. Thank you so much for putting time into these videos, your introspectiveness and talent keep me so engaged. Keep up the excellent work Salari!
In the x factor is literally hit it miss because the winner sign a contract and don't release an actual song until a year later, which is so stupid cause but then the hype has died. And other than Alexander Burke and Leona Lewis and maybe James Arthor, I can't think of another winner that had successful albit a bit short lived, singing careers
Try Korean reality tv, they tend to focus in everyone’s feelings
It’s weird at first but wholesome
I honestly think it would be a great video idea if you analyzed the first album of the winners and what happened to them, let's shine a new light onto these people who worked so hard and got so little
I’ve had a long battle with cancer and me and my mum always joke I’ll probably have a good chance on these things, even though I can’t sing.
lol my family does the same thing. Let's form a band. I have lupus and a kalimba!
I genuinely love how quickly you post videos. Please keep making more ❤️
I was expecting this to be about reality shows for some reason... also, I think tend to sing well known songs for auditions is because the audience can better gauge if the performance is good or not, compared to the original.
Love your work, and glad to finally be a patron
All I can think of is that episode of Black Mirror (15 Million Merits)😂.
That Sonic Youth "Superstar" intro clip tho...nicely done 😁👍
10:52 I think you're handsome. To me, being handsome isn't just having a face that resembles a specific, heavily curated stereotype of facial features: it's conveying and evoking a whole set of emotions that attract and captivate. And you convey an image of a tortured artist - an image that, as you exemplified with Cobain and Ledger, is pretty captivating.
I think it's wonderful of you to say this, and I agree halfway, but to romanticize the idea of mental illness and the tortured artist concept is not healthy. People's intrigue shouldn't lie in their struggles but rather how they overcome them, and being captivated by people struggling does little to encourage or help them out of that misery and could very well do the opposite: which is making them identify with that and thus unintentionally refusing to get better. Just some food for thought!
@@Hugo-mh1pe you make a very good point, thanks for the feedback
That moment when you realise that Aerith’s Theme is playing in the background when Salari is talking about music 😁
Damn. I already knew about the unsuccessful winners, but lots of the how-it-works info is new. Thank you! Great job.
Reminds me of Passenger's song; I hate; "And I hate the X-Factor for murdering the music. You bunch of money-grupping pricks" 😂 so true
I find it quite telling that, to this day, I'm into things like anime, My Little Pony, and Minecraft - all things that are generally considered to be for kids - yet I'd fully outgrown reality T.V. by the time I was, like, thirteen, and I've never gone back to it since.
I get your overall point, but you not gon’ disrespect Fantasia. She has a real fanbase in the black community. Just because you don’t remember her doesn’t mean she’s not popular.
With that said, it seems like there was a real effort in the first few seasons to ensure the winners of American Idol actually had a shot at a sustained career. That seemed to go somewhat downhill after a few seasons.
Of course! Lots of these contestants still have a solid fanbase, like I said it's not like their career took a nosedive after their first album. As you say, Fantasia as a huge fanbase in the black community, but her levels of success have been mixed compared to Clarkson and Underwood, who achieved a level of success and notoriety you would expect after winning a show like Idol. I used those two in particular because they're universal household names, and their album sales are huge. Every one of their albums has landed in the top 5 of the Billboard charts, whereas Fantasia has been a mixed bag by comparison.
Although if I'm honest, Underwood probably sells well because she does country music, and that stuff's easy to sell since it all sounds the same...
@@Salari also Jennifer Hudson.
Another good video. Keep up the good work, Salari.
I was SHOUTING YESSSS during so much of this video ❤️
And - if you wrote your own songs prior to entering the competition, let's say on a TH-cam channel, that is now also property of the show/production company/etc.
Another great video. Wondeful, insight work.
Your videos are so amazing i love your work!
My boy been putting out banger after banger of thoughtful entertainment.
Keep Vibin bro
This is a brilliant video, I also wasnt expecting to hear Aeriths theme in this which as a game nerd made me love it even more!
Thank you for your work ❤️
First of all, the intro: Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, and Phillip Phillips were all pretty big :P
Anyway, I've seen a lot of videos about these kinds of shows, but this one is definitely the best. I thought I'd weigh in from the perspective of someone that's actually watched these shows a lot; I've been actively watching America's Got Talent since I was 12 (I started in Season 7, up to the most recent Season 15) and I've also been getting back into The Voice recently. In all of these shows' communities and TH-cam comments I see this really obnoxious attitude of "THIS THING I DON'T AGREE WITH HAPPENED, THAT MEANS THIS SHOW IS RIGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and I'm really glad you didn't lean into that at all.
Here's the thing about AGT: the older seasons of AGT back when Piers Morgan was a judge were extremely cruel, and Piers in particular said a lot of things that would probably get the show boycotted nowadays (ex. telling a plus-sized dance crew "there's already a show for you, it's called The Biggest Loser"; Da Maniacs from Season 5 if you don't believe me). I started watching actively when Piers left, and I thought Seasons 7-9 were pretty good in terms of not feeling overly mean or fake. That said, I think the show started to go in a really bad direction when Simon Cowell became a judge in Season 11; he owns the entire Got Talent franchise and started exhibiting way too much creative control over the show in a way that was really obvious and blatantly manipulative. For example, there were so many times where a singer would sing and then Simon would stop them, tell them to pick a different song because their first song choice was bad, and then they'd sing their second song and it would be a big hit with the audience and judges. This has happened many, MANY times in the more recent seasons of AGT, with some contestants even being stopped multiple times in different rounds or having to sing 3 songs in the auditions. It comes off like Simon knows which songs will be able to get a good reaction from the audience instead of what sounds the best (which makes sense since he basically jumpstarted the careers of groups like One Direction and Fifth Harmony, both of which have huge fanbases; I don't hate either of these groups, but you can't deny how massive they both are). If you can't tell, I REALLY don't like Simon because he and his shows have recently just come off as really fake; the controversy with Gabrielle Union certainly didn't help, either. The show is also horrible about getting a ton of reaction shots from the audience and judges, often to the detriment of the actual acts (you can get away with doing that for singers, but it can really mess with more visual acts like dance crews). More recent seasons also use a ton of super cheesy slow motion during "cool" moments, as if they're literally telling the audience "LOOK AT THIS SUPER COOL THING! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO THINK THIS IS COOL! ISN'T IT COOL?!?!?!?!"
As for the comment about original songs, that's actually touched upon in AGT because Howie Mandel is almost always super critical of people that sing original songs because he says the audience won't connect as well with them as they do with songs they already know; the thing is, though, he's almost always right. The people that sing originals usually get eliminated, with a few exceptions (the most notable being Grace VanderWaal, who won Season 11).
As for The Voice, I enjoy The Voice much more than AGT because the vibe is a lot more encouraging. You won't get destroyed for being a bad singer, the coaches will just tell you how you can improve and that you can come back next year (which some people do and wind up getting in the second time), and overall it feels less like a competition and more like everyone's helping each other out to become the best they can be as artists. The show also has a lot of fun banter between the coaches that helps take the edge off a bit. That said, The Voice is notorious for not having spawned any big stars from the show's winners; none of the show's winners are household names, and the people that went on there that became big afterwards (Morgan Wallen, Melanie Martinez, RaeLynn, Koryn Hawthorne, Loren Allred) didn't win, or didn't even get very far in some cases. Luke Combs tried out for The Voice and was literally told that his story wasn't interesting enough, so he didn't make it to TV. Heck, even AGT has done a better job at creating stars than The Voice; one of its winners (Mat Franco) literally has a theater named after him in Las Vegas, another one (Darci Lynne) is on a Nickelodeon show and had her own Christmas special, ANOTHER one (Grace VanderWaal) stars in the lead role of a Disney+ film, and a finalist from Darci's season (Preacher Lawson) is on an NBC sitcom. The people that got popular from The Voice feel more like they got popular in spite of it, not because of it. Oh yeah, and The Voice is also infamous for being super biased towards country singers, but that's a whole other story.
I will say, though, one thing about shows like these is that they are NOT rigged, at least not in the sense of your votes literally not being counted (if they were really rigged, that would mean that the shows are breaking the law and their producers would be in a TON of legal trouble). What happens instead is that the producers manipulate the audience via the way they order the acts' performances, how much the show hypes up their stories compared to those of other acts, etc. If you've been watching these shows for long enough, these patterns become more and more obvious. One of the most consistent ones is that the acts that perform last in live shows tend to be the ones that the producers want to win most, because those acts will be the ones that are still fresh in people's minds when they go to vote after the show. Because of this, people tend to call the closing act the "pimp slot", suggesting that those acts have been "pimped out" by producers. Being knowledgeable about this kind of stuff makes these shows really predictable overall; I think the most telling cases are the seasons of AGT where Grace VanderWaal, Darci Lynne, and Kodi Lee won. It was obvious that they would win from their auditions because how how much attention the show gave them. That doesn't mean the show is rigged, it means the audience was sort of manipulated into voting for those acts (that's not to say that they aren't talented or didn't deserve to win, but the manipulation is hard to ignore in shows like this, especially AGT's later seasons).
Overall, shows like these are entertaining if you don't take them too seriously and just watch them to see cool people do cool things; both AGT and The Voice have exposed me to a lot of great talent that I wouldn't have found otherwise. These shows should be watched for the performances, not for the story aspect, and that's the bottom line in my opinion. That said, I might stop watching AGT because it's gotten more and more blatant with its manipulation tactics to the point of being frustrating to watch. I'm still okay with The Voice, although its most recent season came off as a bit heavy-handed with all the talk of "the world sucks right now"; yes, I know it does, you don't need to keep reminding me :P
Salari, you're great and your videos are great. Please keep on keeping on. Much love myman
I *love* you vids man! Keep up the great work!
Did I Just hear Sonic Youth in a Transition slide?
Subscribed.
I just found your channel and I'm binging
Then also try Hbomberguy!!
Great video again!!
Glad I found this channel
The comment section has taught me that at least three American Idol winners are huge deals... in America. As a non American, first time I ever saw their names in my life... but I at least knew of Kelly Clarkson.
Another excellent video 😊
I got an ad for a reality show streaming service at the end of the video and I've never hated an ad more
I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I thought it was very sus how *9/10 guests* have tragic backstories. Like I get it, plenty of people go through horrible situations but at the same time tho.........Why and how is this the only thing I remember from shows like “American Idol” & “X Factor”?
There was a similar show like this in Turkey. People just forget about these people after show ends. It's foggy fame imo
Has there been contestants who had back stories made up for them? I feel like I remember hearing that abt some contestant from on of the earlier seasons of AGT
Regarding the licensed songs used in the show. Simon Cowell has bought rights to A LOT of older songs. That's why they use them. He isn't losing money because of the payoff of using popular sings. He's making money on the royalties.
Thank you salari more than everything for showing me the great music of Junko Ohashi
wow sal, you do some damn amazing work here. this is another really good vid #lateToTheParty lol
Fantastic video homie
I have a really dumb cousin who actually believes this stuff is real and that everyone involved is culpable in scamming the contestants. She won't even call these shows what they are: Game Shows. These contestants lacked a legit brand prior to the show and lacked it throughout the show. We remember stars. They were not. The pro musicians knew it and were cruel with "You're going to Hollywood."
Good video. Just a point, when Frenchie Davis was disqualified in season 2, American Idol aired on FOX.
"without love, it ain't much" - Sheila E, The Glamourous Life
I've seen other talent shows in the past. In the eighties, there was something called "Star Search". (A band I was formerly in made it to one of the finalist stages, though not while I was with them.) It's certainly correct that most viewers aren't aware of the vast numbers of people vying for advancement through that system. That's an astute observation about the back stories, and those involving tragedy and/or struggle having the most appeal.
Zoey Alexander did a video on her experience with XFactor and how they fabricated this whole story and made her look like a crazy, bratty, obsessed with Pink gal when she is far from it.
You should check it out
Thank you.
Sonic Youth, nice. Also carpenters but like sonic youth as well
So Fantasia and Ruben Studdard just don't exist 🤔
wow that's so cruel that they force people with obviously no musical skill to audition in front of nearly 50 people before being ultimately humiliated on national television in front of celebrity judges.
there have been a string of videos recently in support of Zoe Alexander and the manipulation of her image on the UK X-factor. They made her look like a complete idiot-- her audition is allegedly heavily edited and they intentionally forced her to sing and present herself in a way that she would not have chosen otherwise. They also made her wait hours with no food or water and then played the wrong track during her audition. She was set up to fail and it ruined her reputation for many years.
Sadly, it appears as though when you sign a contract to be on one of these shows, you often waive the right to stop them from presenting you however they like. There was another nice video from a guy reading a Britain's Got Talent contract and it was horrifying. I don't know if the contracts can be made that way in the US, but I assume a lot of the language is quite similar.
Excellent video very insightful i learned alot
American Idol's producers choose who gets to even audition.
"Music Sales Plummeted because piracy" is actually a bald-faced lie.
Music sales 'plummeted' because *less music was released during that period.*
Releases were way down, but individual sales were actually *up* over the same period.
Music piracy was never a problem, it was an excuse around which they could garner support for terrible legislation.
... and that's before you even delve into the fact that we're talking revenue and not *PROFIT.* Digital distribution costs almost nothing but the charges are often as high as physical copies.
Here in my country we have an amateur singing competition that is televised on national TV that actually values talent over story. It was interesting how the show impacted other reality singing shows here because people began to be sick of sad stories and just want to hear the battle of powerful voices take place. Their stories simply become just that, a story. But if you cannot out perform the current winner, you'll be dropped in an instant. It's very high stakes and very dependent on the skills and talent of the contestants, same is true behind the camera. They have a choice on what they want to do after the competition, and if they prove themselves, they can always be helped by the people involved in the show.
There's a parody show in this genre, with the intentionally cumbersome name of "Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice." It's very aware of the type of show being made fun of: One of the 'contestants' is rejected during screening on the grounds that he does not have a sufficiently tragic back-story, only to be hastily approved after his grandmother dies of disappointment at hearing of the rejection.
I can't imagine putting my kid on a show like America's got talent. Any reality TV show, really. They can't consent to it, and what a cruel process to voluntarily put your child in.