Pastor Jeremy Stephens

When you purchase a new CD (if any of you still buy those things), what qualities do you look for? Do you get it because you already love the band? You’ve heard their style or their sound and you want to hear more? Someone told you they were good and you’re checking it out for yourself?  What makes us love a particular musician or group?

Whatever it is, I’m pretty sure it isn’t because you think the artist has a good story.

I’m a bit of an American Idol junkie.  I blame my wife Kim, who has seen every episode since the beginning. I’m intrigued by the direction that the producers of the show have taken this year.  Sure, there are the obvious changes like the addition of a third judge and mixing up the current rounds to only allow the top three contestants to advance, but there is another difference that is a little more subtle–we’ve barely heard anyone sing!

I think its nice that a roughneck, a welder and a bar piano player are on the show.  I’m even impressed by Danny Gokey, who has gone through with becoming a part of the show only a few months after the loss of his wife to a heart condition.  These are all good stories that will probably make me continue to tune in.

However, it seems like this season we’ve seen more clips from back-stage and back home, and barely any singing at all.  Do any of you know who Kris Allen is?  If you watched on Wednesday night you may have heard him sing for the first time.  Its fortunate that he was voted through!

I hope that we get the chance to see if these people are actually talented!