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Giving Up Music to Have a Career

If there is one thing that bothers me the most about Fox’s American Idol it is when the would-be superstars admit they gave up their aspirations in music to pursue a “career.” Usually their “career” is something nondescript, safe, and relatively stable. This season, one of the men is a short-haul truck driver. Last season, it was a bartender. Thee is always someone who says that line and it irks me to no end.

For me, music is my career. I wake up every morning and I do musical things all day until I come home. Then I do more musical things, eat, relax, sleep, and repeat. What’s wrong with that? Why do I need to give it up? I have a family, just like the Idols. I have bills. I have other activities. I have things I want to buy. What is the difference?

The difference is, I took a risk that these hopeful singers were unwilling to take. I decided, when I was young, to devote my whole life to art and music. I did it because I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. The Idols, and many others like them were not willing to risk that, and therefore deserve no sympathy from me. Fox shows these people, from rural roots and presumably middle-income lives, who are taking their one big shot at success and that irritates me. I work everyday. I never quit.

I am not looking for the fame and fortune that comes with being an American Idol. It would be nice if classical saxophone players could assume that role, but we all know that is not going to happen. I am not jealous of them. The point is there are many wonderful musicians who struggle, and work very hard everyday to make something awesome. When I hear a sob story about an Idol’s tough life and how they had to give up music to support a child, wife, sick relative, etc., I am not sympathetic and I don’t blame anyone who isn’t.