With the right amount of marketing, any American Idol can sell millions of mediocre albums. Androids like grunge-rocker Chris Daughtry are engineered deep in the laboratories of 19 Entertainment, the record label run by Simon Fuller, the English music and television producer who created all the world’s Idol talent shows.
Playing a lone rocker in a sea of lightweight automatons, Daughtry was the head-shaven North Carolina vocalist who earned a fourth-place finish on season five. After he did a big rendition of Fuel’s “Hemorrhage (In My Hands),” Fuel actually offered its lead singer position to this loser, but he passed, opting to sign with 19 Entertainment instead. Going into Fuller’s lab with an all-star cast of musical-makeover artists (from Rob Thomas to Slash), the aim was to create a neo-Creed, post-grunge record — basically a foil for the label’s pop dorks: Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken. Released last November and simply titled Daughtry (just like his band), the disc basically sounds like Daughtry covering his favorite groups (Live, Bon Jovi, etc.). And with the backing of the Fox Entertainment Group and RCA Records, the album became the fastest-selling debut rock record in Nielsen SoundScan history. However, like all carbon-copy rock, even if it sells well, it’s still a cheap imitation.
This article appears in Mar 7-13, 2007.
It is so stupid of AI critics to keep describing the music of AI singers as “imitation”. Just stupid. Why can’t the critics of AI live and let live. How many originals are there anyway in the music world today? Every male group that came after the Beatles is some form of imitation of that boy-band style of singing. Every female rocker is some form of Janice Joplin, so on and so on. The music establishment is simply resentful of AIs success and the success of the singers the show has brought to the buying public. Its been six years–get over it!!
Chris is highly talented on his own, and will be hugely successful. This bothers the one dimensional screaming rockers, who cannot hold a tune. Chris is more versatile, and thank goodness for that.
As for Clay Aiken, surely by now, everyone should be able to freely admit he has the best voice out there. It makes no difference where we first heard him, the fact remains he is a phenomenal singer, highly intelligent, charitable, good looking, personable and more capable of carrying an interview than any other artist out there. That is a PLUS, not a minus. He has enormous charisma in concert, and the best live voice I have ever heard. Trying to make him seem less than what he is is ludicrous.
As for Kelly, she makes a great cd. I have seen her in concert twice, and she really does need the studio help, but still has lots of energy, and is no worse than someone like Pink, who turns me off. Kelly needs to have a better rapport with an audience too, but that will come. Her voice is appealing to teens, and she will continue to sell records.
I think I can recognize all of their voices, and do not think they do or would want to copy anyone else.
Finally! Someone who sees it the way I see it!
How many carbon copy-cats can there be of Nickelback (who, in my opinion, are overrated and over-exposed as it stands)?
Anyone know the term, flash in the pan? Take note: Daughtrey will be forgotten when the next “genre” of music takes hold.
I just found this article and I just have to say that I agree 100% with it. There was an article today saying that Chris Daughtry was the best rock singer since Steve Perry. I don’t think so.
While Chris Daughtry does have a good singing voice there is little to distinguish it from several others on the scene at this time. If not for knowing the name of a couple of his songs, I would never be able to pick his out from amongst the other rock music played on the radio these days. So many groups with similar sounds that one seems to blend right into the other. As for his sales, well, what better way to break into the scene than to copy what is already selling. Good for the pocketbook but questionable in regards to sustaining a long lasting career. I prefer a more distinctive sound and was expecting something more original.