Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-32402397-20190723050512/@comment-25433488-20190724184643

Curious Poker Chip wrote: Caution: Incoming rant.

During Robert Finley's judgment comments, Simon mentions that he left a show because the age limit of the show was 29 and that he felt that you can't put an age limit on talent.

Let's not beat around the bush, he's talking about American Idol, specifically when he left after Season 9 ended. While I am an "Idol Worshiper" (as I like to call it), it was my recollection that he left over other disputes and not specifically the age limit rule.

Now on one hand, I see where he is coming from with this and I completely agree that no matter how old someone is, they can still have talent. I would argue that Robert Finley is more talented and has more of a reason to have his songs on the radio than the majority of today's artists (though I enjoy some of them).

But I am actually going to defend Idol this time around. The age limit is put in place because of the nature of the show. The show is about trying to find someone who can compete in the charts alongside the previously established artists and in the era of modern-day music. It's a lot easier and more appealing for artists to be younger than older. In my relatively short life of listening to the more modern hits, the oldest artist where I heard their hits consistently on modern-day themed radio stations was Madonna in 2008 when she had that song "4 Minutes" with Justin Timberlake. I believe she was like 49 or 50. But the majority of artists today who have airtime on stuff like American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest and artists currently on the charts are young people. Arguably the biggest modern-day artist right now, Billie Eilish isn't even 18 (even though I don't understand her songs). I love Robert Finley and all but I don't expect his songs to appear on that radio show at all.

Also, Simon really has the gawl to badmouth the show that made him a superstar. News flash: but without American Idol, you would still be in UK being a record producer and you wouldn't have an iota of the notoriety or fame that you would have today. No X Factor, No Got Talent, no nothing! A large reason why people tuned into that show for this nine years was because of you, because of your brutal honesty. He should be more grateful to the show that made him who he is today, instead of badmouthing it because of one silly rule that makes them unique over the other singing competitions.

Simon is starting to become more and more of an idiot with each passing year and my respect for him is waining.

Rant over. You're overreacting, I think. Everything you said is technically true, yes, but Simon does have a point and I don't think him saying what he did makes him "ungrateful". The age limit is completely stupid, if America doesn't want an older singer then they can just not vote for them. Banning older singers is a bad idea.

Tbh though, American Idol has tanked since Simon left. I don't really watch that show, but the last winner I remember being popular was Phillip Phillips, and even then I think he only had 3 or 4 songs that actually played on the radio.