By xxx

October 19, 2010 12:11 PM | Link to this

He’s right, most top 12 participants don’t make a dent in the music world-with a few exceptions: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and Clay Aiken. The rest are soon forgotten…just like this show without Simon Cowell. I won’t watch this season.

By mrb14230@msn.com

October 19, 2010 12:58 PM | Link to this

What about Chris Daughtry….geez!

By db

October 19, 2010 1:08 PM | Link to this

elton is just stating the obvious, i don’t know how anyone could watch such mindless trash.dullards watching dullards i guess.

By Common Sense

October 19, 2010 1:57 PM | Link to this

The man has a good point!

By Squirrellygirl

October 19, 2010 1:58 PM | Link to this

Okay, I really like Elton, but this is crap. Daughtry is still at the top of the charts—perhaps Elton is a little jealous? But I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be exposed to my very favorite artist, David Cook, Season 7 AI winner. IMO David has the best voice in the world. I look forward to his next album to be released early next year. Maybe Elton is too tired to notice.

By Rick

October 19, 2010 1:59 PM | Link to this

The man has a good point!

By Common Sense

October 19, 2010 2:08 PM | Link to this

@ Squirrellygirl, What would EJ be jealous of? When this guy you are enamored with has the hits, fame and notoriety of Sir Elton then you can talk. Jealous, give me a break.

By no way

October 19, 2010 2:08 PM | Link to this

I am 100% confident that Elton John is jealous of no one from American Idol. You’re talking about a man whose output in the 70s was only equaled by Stevie Wonder.

By Lori

October 19, 2010 2:14 PM | Link to this

I don’t see the difference between the Gong Show, Star Search and American Idol. (I admit I have only seen a few seconds of American Idol). I think it is so stupid and a real testament to the dumbing down of America. Sulley Sulenberger is American Idol - not dopes singing on a show.

By Edward

October 19, 2010 2:49 PM | Link to this

I just figured out why Reginald Dwight picked the name JOHN as his stage name. He certainly has the potty mouth.

By Squirrellygirl

October 19, 2010 2:58 PM | Link to this

Here’s the thing: I don’t think you guys know David Cook. I believe his career has been mismanaged. David Cook had 14 American Idol hits on the Billboard Top 200 all at once at the end of Season 7 AI which came closer to the Beatles’ all time record. David came closer than anyone yet he was an unknown who was discovered on AI. David Cook redid MJ’s song “Billie Jean”—this is the song the Olympic skaters danced to and won the silver medal. David has a new album coming out next year. I don’t know why he has not had the promotion the other AI’s got. But I will tell you that David Cook will be bigger than the Beatles one day, and I’m just waiting for him to prove it to the world. He’s already proven it to me. Maybe Elton John lost his musical heart.

By Squirrellygirl

October 19, 2010 3:02 PM | Link to this

You have to admit that Elton John forgot Daughtry. Come on, now. Daughtry is still at the top of the charts. David Cook will be back there again if he can get his new album released!!! Elton is wrong on this one, except I didn’t like the one season where Lee won. Chrystal was much better than him.

By null

October 19, 2010 3:05 PM | Link to this

Pop music is boring and brain cripling. Baby baby baby baby ohhhh. David Cook? I don’t think rodents should speak of musicians.

By Null

October 19, 2010 3:13 PM | Link to this

I love Squirrellygirl. She’s the sexiest, smartest, and everything she says is 100% correct. I love rodent girl. Sorry, but I couldn’t help myself.

By KatfromNYNJ

October 19, 2010 3:46 PM | Link to this

Dearest Sir Elton, FYI, Taylor Hicks did indeed pay his dues the very way you’d suggested he do,for 10 long years. It may interest you to know that Simon Climie, who has produced work for Eric Clapton, also produced Mr. Hicks his last full-length release (The Distance, 2009). Also, musicians who have toured with both Clapton and Paul McCartney contributed to The Distance and also toured with Mr. Hicks to support that same album. This speaks volumes for Mr. Hicks’ talent, integrity, and work ethic. Since your heart is still in the right place concerning music, thanks for noting this and passing the truth on. Most sincerely, One who saw you live in The Garden in NYC

By Kathy

October 19, 2010 4:06 PM | Link to this

Aside from Kelly and Carrie who happened to achieve that elusive but much sought after “Fame” all the rest of the American Idols are working musicians with varying levels of fame but all making a pretty good living. Taylor Hicks made 3.5 million last year. Not too shabby. There are many working musicians who would love to be doing that well. Let’s face it the music industry the last few years has taken a nose dive. If you are a not a young kid or have some kind of Circus act it’s hard to get any attention. Even Daughtry who had a big success with his first CD has not found anywhere near the same success with his second CD. The industry is changing so much that even Kelly and Cariie might not be able to have the same success if they were just starting out today. Elton should have enough sense to realize that the Idols are all back to doing what he said “paying their dues”.

By bettylou

October 19, 2010 4:48 PM | Link to this

I think John is on crack again!!

By Carolo

October 19, 2010 7:04 PM | Link to this

It’s all about ratings. They are the proof of success for any TV production. As long as the ratings are up the show will go on, and really, what else is there to watch? I do like several of the contestants and have purchased thier recordings as well as the performances from the show i-tunes sells. On the other hand I have never bought and Elton John record, never will.

By void

October 19, 2010 8:42 PM | Link to this

well, heres the thing , Elton used to be one of my favorite artists but his time has past and he doesn’t know what hes talking about. Hes never even listened to most of these people. Not fond of AI myself and its been dull as horsefeathers the last few years. But there has been real talent on the show. Maybe Elton should visit some of the small bars that Hicks has played in , years before Idol. Maybe he should check out his band and the great musicians hes played with. Maybe he should ask people like Robert Randolph, Ona Watson, Billy Earl McClelland, Kep Mo, Buddy Guy and many, many others about Taylors talent. Hicks will be around long after Elton and most from AI are gone. He was always too good for the show. Everything that sells well now is crap but quality still has staying power.

By Knowitall

October 19, 2010 9:24 PM | Link to this

All reality shows are lame. Think through the list for a moment—-we have unattractive large people on the biggest loser crying, we have the stupid fix-a-home-for-poor-downtrodden-people thing on Sunday night, we have stars that we either forgot about, or never knew, on dancing with the stars(?), then we have american idol. I’m not sure who I’m supposed to idol—-pure crap, but the american people eat this s__t up and come back for more the next week. Sobering statement on american society ain’t it?

By thetruth

October 19, 2010 9:59 PM | Link to this

Taylor Hicks will be for a while. He saw the writing on the wall after he left “J Records”. He now owns his own labels and pockets 5x as much as those still left on majors - selling more than many of them. He owns all of his own masters and publishing rights. People like Daughtry and Cook and all the rest should try to keep a bigger piece of the pie.

By mmd4th

October 20, 2010 1:58 PM | Link to this

The fact that this article again picks out Taylor Hicks, one of the greatest talents to come from AI, is mind-boggling to me. Taylor has been performing since his debut on AI, and continues to prove his talent. He has worked for his dues and remains one of my favorite talents of all singers today. Please…will the writer of this article do some research on the people he is writing about??? Taylor is one of the busiest AI graduates in still working his craft.

By Squirrellygirl

October 20, 2010 2:09 PM | Link to this

theTruth—I agree with you. I’ve been waiting for David Cook’s album to be released. It was originally supposed to come out last Spring, then it was summer, then fall, and now we find out it won’t come out until the beginning of next year. RCA is David’s record label. I don’t know what the reason is for the long delay. Meanwhile other AI artists have released their albums. As a fan, I find it frustrating because I’ve been waiting for his new music, and want to see him live in concert again. I wonder if David wouldn’t benefit by pulling out of the RCA agreement and just put it out himself. I’ve watched the other idols get much more press, much more promotion than David did. I’ve watched them put out videos ahead of their album releases, but no new music from David Cook. BTW, I was a huge fan of Elton when I was a kid, but I will say that Elton is getting older and perhaps he is a tad jealous of the careers AI has created for many new talents. David Cook, even though 25 when he was on Idol, had played music and “done his time”, releasing several albums before he even went on AI. I can’t wait until his new album releases, but I really want to see a new music video hit the #1 spot again on VH1’s Top Twenty Countdown. Looking for it next year, now. Gosh.

By Hilarious

October 20, 2010 9:51 PM | Link to this

Taylor Hicks is a loser. You people are desperate. He’ll never be a superstar and shouldn’t have won Idol in the first place. Dude can’t sing.

By Jennifer

October 21, 2010 1:31 AM | Link to this

Take all the record sales from every American Idol artist, and guess what? Elton John has sold more records than all of them COMBINED. Elton knows music and the music business inside out. This article is just a watered down version of the radio times interview he did, and the writer of this particular piece decided to add a personal swipe on Taylor Hicks…why? Maybe because he’s one of the few unique enough to remember. That’s a real classy move attacking him for going on a show for charity, by the way. And meanwhile, while the “big” stars from idol are being told what to sing, Taylor is following Elton’s advice in the article, which is writing his own songs, doing the roadwork, headlining tours, and basically surviving outside the idol bubble.

By Gin

October 21, 2010 8:09 AM | Link to this

Thanks to Jennifer for finding the real interview!! Orginial Interview! reuters.com Songwriters today “pretty awful,” says Elton John (Reuters Life!) - British singer Elton John described today’s songwriters as “pretty awful,” pop music as uninspiring and reality television talent shows like “American Idol” as boring in an interview published Tuesday. The 63-year-old singer of “Your Song” and “Candle in the Wind,” one of the most successful pop artists of all time, added that the instant fame which talent shows can bring was not the way to become a genuine star. “It’s important they (pop stars) write their own songs, so they’re not at the mercy of anyone,” John, whose real name is Reginald Dwight, told Radio Times magazine. “Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn’t very inspiring.” He said he was a fan of young female pop acts Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, before adding: “I’m not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn’t have lasted if I’d gone on one. I was asked to judge American Idol. I couldn’t do it because I won’t slag anyone off. “Also I don’t want to be on television. It’s become boring, a**e-paralysingly brain crippling.” He said “X Factor” judge and music producer Simon Cowell had discovered some talented acts through his shows, “but the only way to sustain a career is to pay your dues in small … clubs. “I was in a band at 17, became a songwriter with Bernie Taupin and wasn’t successful until we’d had six years of hard graft and disappointment, as well as great times. “TV vaults you to superstardom and then you have to back it up, which is hard. (British X Factor winners) Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke are at the mercy of the next song they can get. ”(‘Britain’s Got Talent’ runner-up) Susan Boyle was an endearing phenomenon, but I fear she might not understand the rigors of showbusiness.” John is releasing a new album this week, “The Union,” a collaboration with his musical hero Leon Russell, and plays the BBC Electric Proms in London on October 28. (Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison) Its apparent that Amelia Robinson the writer of the article I’m commenting on just made up the Taylor Hicks Comments and copied the rest changing a few words here and there. Poor Journlism at its best!!!

By Abby

October 21, 2010 8:37 PM | Link to this

AR is a lazy “reporter”.