I like this program because it was real life story of interesting people who want to be next pop star, idol, celebrity. I could not believe in my ears when some deluded contester open their mouth and start signing. I am aware of that some people just go there to make mockery of audition (and there are also some kind of people as Renaldo Lapuz who sang "We're brother forever", which i will come later). But i always wonder where these deluded people come from? Venus, Mars? They must have been signing all time in bathroom or they have no friends/family members to tell them the truth. But i admire their courage and love to see disbelieve/shock in their face and eyes when they heard harsh truth from Simon Cowell in the rudest way. Do these deluded people need or deserve such a rude/harsh feedback in front of million on TV? Simon Cowell thinks they must awake from their dreams that they can not sign and Simon does his best and rudeness to wake them and sometimes humiliates them. But where does Simon get this power? How come he can be that much rude and he gets that much rating? I wondered if Simon in real life is also rude and when i saw his autobiography (I don't mean to be rude, but ... ) in a bookstore, i could not help myself to buy it.
As his TV program, his autobiography is also very entertaining, surprisingly. I was not expecting that much i will enjoy the book (although, i must admit i skipped some pages when he starts repetitively talking some American Idol episodes ). He took his autobiography(!) serious and hired the best ever biography author, i think, because it is well structured and story is well told. In book, as all autobiography, the book covers his childhood, his rebel years as teenager, career steps from post office to top of company, and Pop Idol epidemic. Towards the end of the book, he also talks about how to be a star for wannabes, if anybody interested.
Simon Cowell born in 1959 into a middle-upper class, Conservative family in London, UK. His father owns a property and estates related business. He grows up among many actors and actress , thanks to his father's connections and the neighbourhood they live where was close to film studios at this times. And sometimes he joins his oldest brother who works in a near film studios as a runner. He remembers his first rudeness as early as four years-old against his mother on a Christmas Day.
Even though, Simon's dad provided many opportunity for a good education such as sending him to a private school, Simon was not a brilliant student at school and did not believe that studying Math or English will make him a millionaire. He was more into fun and music in his childhood and teenager ages, even though he does not have any musical skills. At age of 16, he decided that school and studying wont provide him enough money (£millions), so he left school.
After leaving school, his father arranged many job interviews for him but he just made mockery of every interview, as he thought, none of these jobs would make him rich enough. He wanted to be rich and from his observations he thought that actors make lots of money and enjoy life. With help of one of his close relative, he starts working as runner in a film set with so little money. But cos of his arrogance, film producer fired him.
In the way of being rich, he decided to give a go to music industry in which he thought he would have a good career. Again, with help of his father's connection, he secured a position in one of the biggest record company, as a postman. To credit him, he knew that in order to get the top of the company with his less background and skill, he had to start from bottom and work hard. So, he worked in the company's basement as postman with big hope and ambitions. When he was working there, he knocked all doors, he tried his best to jump a better position related to music in the company. But as he noted, he made a big mistake. He started from really so bottom that people even did not care him as a postman. After 1.5 years hard work, he finally gave up and see the harsh reality of the life. First time in his life, he thought he wont be a millionaire.
Having failed in music industry, he decided to follow his brothers and father career path and started to work in a estate agent. He was not happy there, and his father knew that. His father again used his connection and secured him a better place in the record company where he is used as postman previously. He says that people there was not nice to him at beginning cos of how he got the job and also a bit of his high ambition and arrogance. In that position, he learned many things and then stepped up his career path and made millions. How he did millions is not much interesting, to be frank. Same old stories! He says the formula behind his success is hard work and be able to see changes in market and adapt. Sure these are important factors, but he forgets to acknowledge the another important one. Luck! I think he was quite lucky in some important moments in his career.
Another interesting point i learnt from the book is that, actually Simon does not have that much great vision, unlike he always claims in the judge panel. For example, before Spice Girls break to pop music world, they talked to Simon first, but he did not signed them. He also hesitated to sign West Life initially and declined to be a judge in first series of Pop Idol. (and in some part of the book, he thinks, marriage of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills is out of real love! As history shown, in the next edition of book, maybe he will update his anticipation on this matter!)
In last two-three chapters of the book, he gives advices to wannabes how to be a pop idol! In a nutshell, the greatest advice he gives is that unless if someone does not have right contacts (such as his father :)) or real talent, whatever he/she do will be waste of time. Even though, after hard work and some luck, if someone achieves to be a pop star, celebrity for a while in some way, he suggests that one of the best way of keeping the pop crown is to be on tabloid papers all the time by putting his/her private life in public domain such as dating other celebrities or doing crazy unorthodox things! Such a great advice! Now i understand the behaviour of Amy Winehouse!
You, reader of my blog, may think that i don't give enough credit Simon Cowell but that's my impression from the book. I think, Simon Cowell is an ambitious businessman and trying to make lots but lots money. That's all. He is not there for love of music but money!
As Simon points out in his book, the success behind XFactor and American Idol epidemic is showing, selling people that American Dreams can be true. Someone from nowhere among ordinary millions can change his/her life completely if he/she wins the program. I think, it is not just a entertainment program but it also sells and feeds many false dreams.
97.5 million in America watched the final of American Idol and i am sure it is popular in other part of English-speaking world too. So, I wonder what is the real affect of this program on society?More specifically, for example, how would rudeness of Simon Cowell affect on individual? Does Simon Cowell is a good sample to society with his rudeness and arrogance? What would happen if people start to behave as him? Just in sake of being honest, if people would break each others heart? You may think i am exaggerating lot! Altogether, we will see and face the consequences.
Although some of pop idols are really so talented, I am not sure if they would ever last a long period of time. The way these pop idols are marketed makes them also so easy and fast to be consumed and make Simon and record companies richer!
Finally, If you like American Idol/XFactor/Pop Idol then i think you will like this book too. It is entertaining as much as its TV programs.
PS: Last night i watched American Idol 2008 final and it was great apart from Renaldo Lapuz who sang "We're brother forever". I loved that song from the moment i heard it and listened it many times on YouTube. But in this program, they ruined, consumed, wasted it. Such a pity! Renaldo Lapuz should not let that happened.
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