Battle of the aging overpaid douches: Sting vs. Simon Cowell

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Rocker Sting isn’t mincing words when it comes to his opinion of “X Factor” – the British version of “American Idol.” He says that the singers are all bland and derivative and blasts the show for promoting such empty music. I’ve only seen snippets of “X Factor,” but I would absolutely agree with Sting if he were talking about “American Idol.” To the best of my understanding there’s no significant difference between the two shows other than their judges (though Simon Cowell is on both), so Sting might as well be talking about “Idol.”

He’s usually the one meting out the criticism, but this time it’s Simon Cowell who’s on the receiving end of some particularly harsh words about his talent – from Sting. The rock star heaped criticism on Cowell’s British version of American Idol – The X Factor – describing the show as “appalling” and promoting bland, soulless music in an interview with the London Evening Standard.

“It’s a preposterous show, and you have judges who have no recognizable talent apart from self-promotion,” Sting, 58, said. “Basically I was looking at televised karaoke where they conform to stereotypes. It is a soap opera which has nothing to do with music.” One of those judges, of course, is Cowell, 50, who offered a riposte to Sting’s stings on Saturday’s live X Factor show.

“Talking about these contestants being a bunch of karaoke no-hopers … I thought it was pompous,” he said, before inviting Sting to come on the show as a mentor. On Sunday, Cowell followed up again on The Xtra Factor. “Someone has got a little bit grumpy,” he joked with his co-judges. “We’d like a Sting week.” But he later admitted: “He hasn’t called yet. We’re waiting!

Don’t hold your breath, Simon. In his interview, Sting made it clear he had no interest in setting foot on the X Factor stage. “I wouldn’t get on The X Factor because I don’t sound like anyone they’re after,” he said. “I sound like myself. I think they are basically aping pre-existing stereotypes of what singers should do and they’re not being themselves.”

[From People]

I was nodding along to all of this like a bobblehead doll. I agree with every word Sting’s said. “American Idol” has churned out some of the most generic, bland, soulless pop music ever created. They make the boy bands and bubblegum pop of the late nineties look innovative. It’s only once the singers start doing more on their own (often leaving American Idol’s management team, 19 Entertainment, behind – which has caused some controversies) that they break out and have their own sound. Carrie Underwood would be an exception, since they let her go country and she was more hands-on and in control of her music from the beginning.

It sucks for the singers because a lot of them clearly have talent. Some of the best music has come from the second, third, and fourth place choices who have gotten music contracts outside of “Idol,” and thus done well from the beginning. They’re not massively famous, but Elliott Yamin and Chris Daughtry both come to mind.

Sting’s basically just slamming “X-Factor” – which I don’t blame him for – without offering a solution. And he’s totally right, there’s no point in his going on the show because he doesn’t have a sound or style the show would aspire to. I think a decent solution would be to let the singers take more control over their music from the get-go. Sure they’re not industry veterans, but neither are a lot of singers their age – and that’s who usually dominates the chart. Give them some encouragement and guidance, but push them to form their own sound and style.

Or just be Justin Guarini.

Here’s Sting in London on November 4th, and Simon Cowell with “celebrity hugger” Tania McIntosh on November 11th. Images thanks to WENN.com .

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18 Responses to “Battle of the aging overpaid douches: Sting vs. Simon Cowell”

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  1. Mairead says:

    Team Simon!

    “I wouldn’t get on The X Factor because I don’t sound like anyone they’re after,” he said. “I sound like myself. I think they are basically aping pre-existing stereotypes of what singers should do and they’re not being themselves.”

    Oh I don’t know Gordon – there are often plenty of people auditioning for it who insist on singing through their noses, just like you. 🙄

  2. princess pea says:

    Is it fair to call Sting an aging overpaid douche? Granted, he’s aging (as are we all, this very minute! OMG!). But if you get your money through record and ticket sales, can we really say one is overpaid? It’s not a salary or an hourly wage we’re talking about…

    I really like Sting, personally, but I would allow you to call him an aging overrated douche without comment. I just think he’s actually earned his pay.

  3. Shadow says:

    I agree, that American Idol produces some of the most bland, generic pop music, but then I think of the best sellers of recent time, and Britney Spears come to mind. Not only does she produce bland, generic music, but she does not even perform live, yet she has made the most money of any singer in her generation.

    So, is American Idol producing the music they know will sell, or is the majority of the people buying music just have horrible taste?

  4. Praise St. Angie! says:

    can I be on team “I think they’re both a couple of self-important twits”?

  5. MSat says:

    These “talent” shows are just massive marketing ploys. I dare anyone over the age of 30 to try to listen to a “pop” radio station these days. Its f-in painful! Shows like X Factor and AI cultivate that crap.

    If “The Police” were just starting out in today’s safe, manufactured music industry, some evil producer like Simon would make them all wear chastity rings and write songs about soda pop.

    Team Sting all the way.

  6. Pont Neuf says:

    I don’t know what to say. there have always been televised talent contests and there have always been prefabricated acts who offered nothing but sugary pap.

    I think that the shows like AI and X Factor, are just giving the public what they want: something inoffensive, somewhat pretty and emotionally charged in small doses. It also gives them “villains” to criticize until the new cocky/scheming/grating reality contestant comes along. Nothing new, but nothing necessarily bad, either.

    It would also be important to note that Sting hasn’t enjoyed of much visibility in the last fifteen years or so, and he may be just spiteful for the fact that his public has grown up with him, but the new generations don’t have any interest in his music.

    With that said, I hate Simon Cowell, so I will take Sting’s side on any discussion just out of aversion to that slimy toad with a toupee.

  7. posterboy says:

    Sting is a pompous ass, always has been, always will be. I’m sure Simon couldn’t care less.

  8. tekhana says:

    I do think Sting is a douche. But he’s a talented douche, and in this case, I happen to agree with him.

    Simon Cowell is just a giant douche. No talent that I’m aware of, and responsible for the relentless promotion of heinous amounts of mediocrity. I need to reread Dante’s Inferno so I can figure out just exactly which circle of Hell is waiting for him.

  9. Simon is really really someone with no talent, and crying like a women about rinkles, he must have had a face job. He does however gets the things done with X factor. So good job!

    Sting has talent, but no commenting talent. Live your life Sting!

  10. Karin says:

    Why does Sting look like he’s trying to impersonate Tom Hanks visiting Santa Claus? Bet gone wrong? Practical joke? Trying to joing an even incognito? Hmmm…

  11. Firestarter says:

    Team Neither One.

  12. mamalama says:

    And who wants to have tantric sex with a guy sporting both that beard (shudder) AND that sweater (shudder, shudder)?

  13. Mairead says:

    MSat: November 16th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
    If “The Police” were just starting out in today’s safe, manufactured music industry, some evil producer like Simon would make them all wear chastity rings and write songs about soda pop.

    Oh I would pay good money to have sat in on any meeting where they would try and convince Stuart Copeland (<3) to wear a chastity ring!

    They’d be wearing it themselves… and NOT on their fingers 😈

  14. original kate says:

    is sting wearing a bill cosby sweater?!

  15. Tess says:

    mamalama, you’re so right!

    Gordon and Trudy. Ick.

  16. Vermithrax says:

    Sting – 1
    Pre-fab Manure – 0

    Nice one JayBird.

  17. Bete says:

    In Australia, this show (by the same creator) has been accused as being a rip-off. There have been some contestants on Australian Idol (including one winner) who went on to record music but not receive royalties. But the executives are raking it in. One winner, two years ago, recently revealed his resentment in a newspaper interview.
    These shows are horrible and…rigged.

  18. Goddess711 says:

    Sting would know!