I typically get sick of watching Canadian Idol much quicker than its American counterpart, mostly
because I’m always dissapointed by the Canadian judges apparent low standards when it comes to good singing, stage presence, and "x factor".  We need only look at the Canadian show’s track record of winners to guage the judges’ ability to identify singers who should be major label acts.

Because of this all-too-predictable annual dissapointment, I wouldn’t typically bother wasting pixels with a blog post about Canadian Idol.  However, after watching a few episodes this season and seeing the clearly unfair, unjustified favoritism displayed by the judges (and possibly even the production staff) for 28-year old Rob James, I had to vent somewhere.

First off, Rob has already been around the major label track as half of the mediocre contemporary rock duo McMaster & James.  He had a record deal, he made some money, he signed some autographs, and he fell out of style.  Welcome to the Canadian music biz.  One of the more popular McMaster & James tunes was even recorded by Canadian Idol winner (and colossal flop) Ryan Malcolm on his album.  Second of all, Rob keeps performing old McMaster & James tunes as he competes on this season’s Idol.  Hmmm…think he’s trying to sell a few more of his cheesy 6 year old records?

After his now aged voice cracks, after he sings out of tune, and after he dances on stage like someone’s 40 year old drunk uncle at a wedding, the judges practically fall all over each other for the chance to tell Rob how incredible he is, and how much of a heartthrob he is.

Sony/BMG Canada, the label that releases all Canadian Idol albums, knows Rob very well.  In fact, he has likely spent many an afternoon being schmoozed in their funky downtown offices over the years.  The McMaster & James self-titled album was released in 2000 on BMG. There is also little doubt in my mind that a number of people on the Idol staff and judges panel think that Rob has already won this competition (or have perhaps been TOLD so), even though there are still 9 other finalists still in the running. 

I wouldn’t even care if all of the other competitors were legitimately worse than Rob.  But an hour in front of the TV is all it takes to realize that he is clearly outmatched.  So please, Canada, if for no other reason than to prevent further damage to our already tortured Canadian music industry, please vote for Canadian Idol competitors that actually deserve to win…for whatever that victory is worth.

Let’s show Rob, Sony/BMG, and the Idol crew that we’re not dumb enough to fall for an entire TV series as a subversive commercial to sell the leftover copies of McMaster & James that are sitting in the record store bargain bins.