Idol has the courage to "Shout"
Regardless of the people who say it's losing its appeal, American Idol remains the number one and two show every week. Millions of people watch to see the lovable (for the most part) superstar wannabes try to croon their way into America's hearts. I am among the viewers that keep the show in its top spot every week.
Which is why I was very pleased when, at the end of the "Idol gives back" charity show, the eight remaining idols sang "Shout to the Lord." A praise song. On network television.
Rivaling my delight was my surprise that the producers chose that song as the finale. Several religious songs found their way onto the Dolly Parton night of the show the week before.
What was spurring this change of heart? I am sad to say that any mention of God or religion is lacking on prime time television in this age of political correctness.
Curse words can fly left and right, and steamy physical acts that make me cringe when my three-year-old is in the room are no problem for today's TV producers.
So when Brooke, Jason, David, David, Syesha, Michael, Carly and Kristy took the stage dressed all in white and sang to God (whether or not they were singing to God or to their future record producers we'll never know, but I choose to believe the former) on the highest-rated show in America, I was encouraged.
It showed a lot of bravery, and I hope the show's producers did not get a lot of flak about it.
In fact, I think they got a lot of positive feedback, because what was the opening number of the results show the next night? That's right, "Shout to the Lord." They sang it again, and the audience cheered.
Score one for the forces of good.
Of course, the praise song was not the last scene of the show (which also raised millions of dollars for charity causes around the world). The last scene was Ben Stiller, cursing Ryan Seacrest with several bleeped-out f-words for telling him the show was in the wrong theater.
Funny, yes, but vulgar, and somewhat inappropriate directly after such a beautiful song about praising God.
But isn't that what humanity is? Isn't that what God is trying to save us from?
We're human. We're not perfect.
And as long as there are people out there willing to do good things, maybe we'll be able make something good of ourselves in spite of ourselves.
Sharron wrote on Apr 18, 2008 4:30 PM: