John Zisa competing on American Idol!

[Editor]

Latest story: He's not singing the blues after 'Idol'

[Hammer]

To "Al"
Your attempted censorship of someone's opinion is truly disturbing. John deserves all the credit in the world for his continued pursuit of his dream and I'm sure this experience will only make him better than he already is. I'm sure John understands that criticism comes with the territory in the entertainment business, it's sad that you don't. John doesn't need your protection. While I may agree with your sentiment, your initial action was ill-founded. But it's OK for you to then insult the writer "Pattie" with your "tactless" remark. Open forums for all to voice their sentiments? I think not... at least you came to your senses and posted Pattie's comments.

[Editor]

Thanks Hammer.  I needed that.   

Apologies to Pattie for deleting the post.

Al

[Pattie]

well like i said, not everyone can be a friend or a relative....and as a singer, i did not think John was, unfortunately, a good enough singer just as i did not think Fantasia or the heavyset black guy were good singers what so ever!!! but it is a matter of who's voting or how many....not talent! I commend your devotion to Zisa but i am giving a hard knock, and at 25 he can either forget it or take some voice lessons and move on....he is a good looking guy and has great music tastes, but i am sorry, i'll say it again, he isn't that hot a singer. I do not think that is at all tactless. It's just honest! He should have picked a way better song for his final song, one that would have been more his genre. Plus let me add that in my opinion, which is educated, Simon is not a singer, Randy is a bass player and Paula was a disco queen and got alot of studio and back-up help...none of these ppl are worthy of judging....

[John Zisa]

I too want to commend Al (editor) for keeping Pattie's post.  It is an important lesson to learn, as an artist who decides to share their talent in a very national way to accept the compliments, along with the criticism.  As we read in Pattie's post, she thinks that two of the acutal previous winners of the competition, Fantasia and Reuben (the heavy-set black guy) are not good singers.  People from all over the world have expressed their opinions about me all over the internet.  Many people wrote kind things (who were complete strangers...not friends or relatives)  And we are all entitled to our own opinions, and I'm happy that even though most of the posts on this thread were comments to support or to congratulate me, Pattie wasn't at all uncomfortable with expressing her unfavorable opinion.  Thank you for your honesty Pattie.  I'll be doing my own concert in April, locally.  You're a singer, and you suggest some voice lessons.  You think you might be able to help get me ready for the show?  

[Julie]

Congratulations John! You made us very proud and we all still hold great expectations for your future endeavors. Your televised performance barely exposed your true talents as witnessed last summer at Hackensack's Cultural Arts Center (and all your school performances over the years).
You've already made your mark, and we know that with your focused determination, bigger and better opportunities  will come your way.  Julie Hanulak

[Hammer]

My my...look what I've started. Thanks to Al for doing the right thing and to John for being the stand up guy we've all known him to be. Oh, and to Pattie - your point is well taken but enough already...don't push your luck!  

[Steve]

John,

Regardless of your performance (which I truly enjoyed) You did a fantastic job representing Hackensack!!! Some of the other communities across America cringed when they saw their representation. 

You made us proud!!!

Keep up the hard work, remember...Clay won second place and outsells Ruben.

Steve

[midniteangel]

John, it was not my intention to belittle or insult you. If you don't get any intimidations, you become a slacker. Friends and family tend to tell you that you are great because love is blinding...you did really good in your initial audition, you went down hill from there...you should have stayed with the genre you are most comfortable with...and help you i would if i were in good old Hacky but i am in Fl....I can do Karen Carpenter note for note, i also do KD Lang, Annie Lennox and Bette Midler, so you get an idea what i sound like. I never pursued my dream....I was without a doubt the best singer in Hack back in the 60s and anyone that knows me would have to say it...I wish you all the luck in the world...AI is the fast way to be on top....getting into the business any other way is HARD. I think you need to practice phrazing and you need some vibrato....I did make a CD but getting it published or produced is HARD...and especially at my age. Let me leave you with this, always think you need more work, always think you aren't doing all you can be doing....the entertainment business is soooooo unpredictable and soooooo unjust...Clay Akins was cleary the better singer and lost to an obese guy that couldn't breathe to hold notes, he was so off key and had no tone what so ever. Fantasia most def was the worst singer they had on the show, did the worst rendition of Summertime i have ever heard and was never in the business, never paid any dues except to sing in the church choir...she was from Paterson....anyway, those 2 are proof of no talents....and i love when ppl say things that they have no idea what they are even talking about, such as Ruben is a great singer...maybe to the untrained ear. Well John, make sure the pool is filled before jumping in....much luck to you...i could go on and on but you probably hate me...LOL...no matter what, you did Hack proud!!!! 

[midniteangel]

you wrote>>>My my...look what I've started. Thanks to Al for doing the right thing and to John for being the stand up guy we've all known him to be. Oh, and to Pattie - your point is well taken but enough already...don't push your luck! >>>>EXCUSE ME? Is that a threat of some kind? What does luck have to do with it? LOL

[midniteangel]

I totally understand your deleting my post...it is instinctive to want to protect...but your analogy was a bit on the bizzare side, but no matter. We need both sides of a coin, do we not?

[Guest]

Let's all try to remember something about "American Idol".  Yes, it is entertaining.  But is it truly a test of real talent?  I think not.  Yes, many a person who auditoned on that program has talent...but very few were trained.  Many just sang popular songs, and stylized their performance as the original artists did.  That doesn't take talent.  That's nothing more than apeing.

With respect to the judges...not a single one of them truly is a judge of talent.  Not one of them has been "trained" in their field.  Not one of them can be compared to trained and school singers or entertainers.  Many of our true talented entertainers have studied with professional singers and/or musicians.  Many of our true talented performers spent years crafting their skill and talent under the tutorial eyes of professional people, either in the field or at such places as Julliard.   To compare many of those who auditioned on American Idol as "talented" is a gross injustice.  The judges on American Idol are not true judges of talent.  All they are is a group of promoters who are looking for a "look."

If you studied those who auditioned, you would have come away with the picture that 99% mimicked styles of our pop singers...the "waaawaaing" of their vocalizations....their attempt at being "like" those who recorded the original versions.  Very, very few had their own style.  That is not talent.

The only saving grace that American Idol has it that maybe, just maybe, some real judges of talent will spot them an take them under their wing and promote them.  But to assume that the panel of judges on American Idol can judge talent is ludicrous.   (No pun intended.)

[Paul]

To say that the panel of judges to not know talent is naive. They are in the industry and have been successful at that. They are trying to select a group of young performers who fit what their perception of what an American Idol is. It is America who finally decide by taking the time to vote and it is apparent from the show's phenomenal success that there is talent, otherwise people would not watch. Everyone has their opinions. I am a singer, and yet I am in total disagreement with midniteangel on John Zisa. I am not a friend or relative and was introduced to his voice through the show. I've since listened to a song posted on his website and it is very obvious to me that he has a genuine vocal talent. There is emotion in his voice and he technically has chops: vibrato, breath control, and nuance, which is unusual for someone his age. Which is why I laughed at the above post, it just goes to show you everyone has their opinions, or perhaps their own agenda. It is always easy to criticize someone else's work when no one can hear your own. Midniteangel toots her own horn by saying she can sing note for note with classic artists, yet she's just watching from the sidelines, posting mean-spirited messages about someone who has proven his talent by making it so far in the toughest talent competition in the world. The fact that he could respond to it with such grace, and humor is to be commended. 

[Hammer]

Nice post Paul. But I'm not sure "talent" is the keyword here. American Idol is very clever in the fact that they "pre-sell" these people to the public thus insuring their return on the investment they will ultimately make. Talent, although better with than without, is not a required asset - saleability is. Why did they continue with all that William Hung promotion?

[guest]

To Paul....

What are the credentials of the panel of judges on American Idol?  What are their qualifications to "judge" talent?   What courses of study did they have to qualifiy them as "experts" in the abilities of those auditioning?  Do they have musical expertise, did they study their art or profession?  Give me a break. 

It's all for money...