Mike,I have a confession that I have watched it before and the contestant Jordin Sparks from Glendale,Arizona.,who we saw sing in our church choir last Christmas.She has a powerful voice and we could hear her without a microphone very clearly.She is the one bright spark(sic),in an abysmal show.
I often say,why isn't there an instrumentalist American Idol,with guitarists,bassists,keyboard players,drummers,and please let's not have Dave Navarro involved at all,

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The guitarist the other day was pretty weak in his Carlos imitation and he had a weird humbucker placed between the PRS pickups.The nylon strung guitar playing was decent.
I still think an instrumental Idol would be cool,encourage younger people to play music,and not just Bodom or Cradle of Filth,ect.
Where are the next Steve Vai's,Eddie's,ect.?
yngwie308