Re: Inspiring Bullshit: The X-Factor

[Guest guest]

Thank you Randy,

Actually my post was another one of my big mistakes which has tormented me all

day because it could be taken so wrongly. It is indeed inspiring to see someone

so happy despite all the odds. I hope that eventually I find contentemnt too

despite all that has gone wrong.

Kv

>

> It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factor

> video has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,

> or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutually

> exclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannot

> intersect.

>

> The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lot

> of cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look at

> that video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side with

> amazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savage

> humans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of how

> mindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck together

> in however many short minutes.

>

> My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of course

> they vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so the

> reactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy has

> amazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at

> 17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well for

> someone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handling

> objects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothers

> are lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is far

> from my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for his

> sweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way it

> cut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love between

> the two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially the

> mother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?

>

> And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.

>

> No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me much

> more than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did

> however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we

> are all pretty amazing.

>

> - Randy

>

[Guest guest]

The X-Factor is, after all, an entertainment show. I don't mind if someone tries to manipulate my emotions because I am still in charge of them and can respond from my heart while still being aware of the attempted manipulation. Or I can choose to hate the manipulation when it is so over-the-top and not respond, and I've done that at times, too. To say the producers and judges don't care because they are just in it to make money is something I don't understand. They ARE in it to make money; what is wrong with that? If they care also, that's fine and good, but that is not why they are there. I personally believe that some genuine caring occurs along with, or in spite of, the money-making goal. If some contestants are vetted and some stories are presented in a deliberate attempt to add drama or create an emotional experience for the viewer, so what? It's entertainment. Anyone who watches such shows knows that, or should.

People who can't enjoy such shows because they feel they are being manipulated are missing the point, IMO: the show is, bottom line, a money-making entertainment endeavor first and foremost; sincerity, naturalness, non-manipulation and such things are secondary. But that's just my opinion, and each person is perfectly within their rights to avoid or even hate such shows for any reason. I happen to be a fan of them, particularly American Idol, although I detest how they sucker-punch some of the truly awful "singers" during the tryouts just for a laugh - but hey, they must have known what they were getting themselves into.

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 4:21:40 PMSubject: Inspiring Bullshit: The X-Factor

It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factorvideo has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutuallyexclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannotintersect.The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lotof cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look atthat video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side withamazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savagehumans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of howmindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck togetherin however many short minutes.My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of coursethey vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so thereactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy hasamazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well forsomeone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handlingobjects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothersare lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is farfrom my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for hissweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way itcut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love betweenthe two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially themother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me muchmore than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we are all pretty amazing. - Randy

[Guest guest]

Agree with a lot of what you wrote, Randy. I think there was an element of cringeworthiness there. That's not to gainsay the singer's talent and the wonderful work done by Moira .Personally, I was more moved by Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. It's all rather subjective, isn't it?Regards,Detlef>> It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factor> video has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,> or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutually> exclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannot> intersect.> > The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lot> of cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look at> that video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side with> amazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savage> humans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of how> mindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck together> in however many short minutes.> > My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of course> they vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so the> reactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy has> amazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at> 17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well for> someone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handling> objects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothers> are lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is far> from my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for his> sweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way it> cut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love between> the two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially the> mother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?> > And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.> > No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me much> more than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did > however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we > are all pretty amazing. > > - Randy>

[Guest guest]

" Imagine " the song itself is perhaps the most beautiful and moving song ever written.  It could bring tears just to think of the lyrics.  It causes pain to me to think how difficult the world is when it doesn't have to be.  This song touches that very clearly.

I did not think he was that great of a singer.  Too much vibrato for me but he has overcome a lot of problem and good for him. He is far better a singer then I am.  He also has a nice personality and will not allow his issues to stop him from getting on that show.

These shows are strange to me.  I compare these singers in these types of shows is to figure out if they make the song their own.  How did he do it compared to the original, Lennon?There was some sore of manipulation when they suddenly stood and cheered after the line " Imagine there's no countries "   - perhaps they flashed a sign " applause " or something. 

 

Agree with a lot of what you wrote, Randy. I think there was an element of cringeworthiness there. That's not to gainsay the singer's talent and the wonderful work done by Moira .

Personally, I was more moved by Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. It's all rather subjective, isn't it?Regards,Detlef

>> It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factor> video has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,> or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutually

> exclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannot> intersect.> > The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lot> of cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look at

> that video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side with> amazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savage> humans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of how

> mindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck together> in however many short minutes.> > My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of course> they vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so the

> reactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy has> amazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at> 17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well for

> someone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handling> objects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothers> are lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is far

> from my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for his> sweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way it> cut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love between

> the two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially the> mother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?> > And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.> > No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me much

> more than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did > however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we > are all pretty amazing. > > - Randy>

-- Regards,Phil

[Guest guest]

I was around my girlfriend's yesterday and X Factor was on so I decided to give

it a fair chance ater I put out my rather mean post the otherday. Well, within

10 minutes I hated it again but afterwards Harty was on and I thought

the show was very good even though I am not much into popular culture. At the

end there was Will Young who sung a song and he was very good. He was one of the

fisrt people to win one of these X Factor type shows round about ten years ago.

I liked the fact that his music was non mainstream and was about the art which

meant it had authentic soul.

In a public comment section on a newspaper site recently someone got called a

snob. In his defence another person wrote in and said everyone is a snob about

something, and I liked that. X-Factor is about family entertainment (nothing

wrong with that) and not mind bending synths and electronics so it doesn't do

much for me.

But we need variety if we are going to find something that really works for us.

And as so much music is pap, it makes the good stuff very good for those that

can appreciate it. My friend is into serious Jazz, but that goes a bit over my

head. Each to his own.

Kv

> >

> > It is interesting how many different reactions the Emmanuel/X-Factor

> > video has sparked. There are stories layered on top of each other,

> > or inside each other. And there are stories that are mutually

> > exclusive, like Venn diagrams showing two circles that cannot

> > intersect.

> >

> > The story seems to bring out a lot of pain in some of us. And a lot

> > of cynicism in some of us (including me). No surprise - just look at

> > that video. There is deeply crafted manipulation side by side with

> > amazing grace; side by side with evidence of how mindlessly savage

> > humans can be toward each other; side by side with evidence of how

> > mindfully loving humans can be toward each other. All stuck together

> > in however many short minutes.

> >

> > My own thoughts while watching: 1) This is a slick setup. Of course

> > they vetted the boy before putting him on stage. 2) But even so the

> > reactions of the judges are probably not faked. 3) This boy has

> > amazing presence for someone 17 years old - I didn't have that at

> > 17. 4) What a handsome kid. 5) He handles that mike really well for

> > someone with half a hand - hey, why not? He must have been handling

> > objects really well that way since he was a kid. 6) These brothers

> > are lucky to have each other. 7) Nice voice even if the song is far

> > from my favorite. 8) Hmm, seems to like Lennon for his

> > sweetness; whereas I always liked him for his acidity and the way it

> > cut McCartney's excess of sugar. 9) Look at the love between

> > the two adopted boys & everyone else in the family, especially the

> > mother. 10) How lucky can you be to have a mother like that?

> >

> > And 11), 12), 13) ... on and on and on.

> >

> > No, it did not move me to tears. Others things move me much

> > more than this, which is saying nothing in particular. It did

> > however make me think that if this kid is amazing, then we

> > are all pretty amazing.

> >

> > - Randy

> >

>