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The ‘American Idol’ singing competition, which has been adored all over the world, is slated for a new season starting January 26 on ABC and Hulu. The program has confirmed its return with an exhilarating teaser that cleverly mocked Sir Mix-a-Lot’s classic 1992 song ‘Baby Got Back,’ rewording it as a tribute to the mythical vocal power.
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American Idol is back, no more blowing kisses and tooting horns. A gaudy and festive proclamation accompanied the season’s beginning. Compressed through time, the teaser is a rapid-fire presentation of hopeful singers, the trio of judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, the host Ryan Seacrest, all together with a new version of a classic hip-hop track. The new lyrics “We like big amazing singers and we can not lie!” are giving the first indication of a fun and larger-than-life season that will unfold right from the start. The video is filled with quick flashes of auditions, applause, and a lot of the emotional responses for which the show is known, culminating in the big announcement that the road to Hollywood begins.
The announcement triggered a wave of tremendous excitement among the viewers; they were posting their comments, showing their happiness, and making their way to the top. A sizable portion of the initial reaction stemmed from the fans who were applauding the artists who were just featured in the sneak peek.
One user, ready to back a specific singer, posted, “Seth Witcher!!!!! I love him.” Another person strongly concurred with this and even proclaimed, “@sethwitcher IS THE ONLY AMERICAN IDOL!!!,” thus revealing the intense dedication from fans that can bring a contestant to the top. The admiration was not solely directed at soloists. A group named The Texas Tailgaters also received a huge amount of backing. One person said, “So excited and can’t wait to watch @jaysonarendt_ and the @thetexastailgaters band on American Idol next year,” and another almost as cheerfully exclaimed, “@thetexastailgaters OKAY POP ALL THE WAY OFF THEN!!?!” The collective strength suggests the forthcoming season will be a lively combination of both soloists and choirs.
The commercial’s humorous side became part of the talk. If someone was talking about how much he/she liked the ad saying, “I love the advertisement song!! Baby Got Back!!,” the marketing person was not far either, who asking “MAN THIS YEAR GONE BE LEGENDARY,” to which someone in the audience replied, “we like it and we can not lie!”, indirectly quoting the post’s caption. This exchange shows that the show’s marketing is already creating a shared language among the contestants and their backers.
However, not all feedback was positive. One viewer said, “Will not be watching this time. Last year was really rigged,” in disapproval. This complaint was quickly met with doubts and criticisms, but it still highlights the close scrutiny that reality competitions get. The general mood was very positive and people showed that they were looking forward to the show. Another person commented, “I know so many faces this season!,” implying that the upcoming cast is going to make the competition feel more intimate for some audience members right from the get-go.
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Disappointment is inevitable for the new season’s candidates, but the possibility of perhaps one or two acts turning out to be surprises in their own way always exists. This makes the already started countdown to the next Idol even more exhilarating since the premiere is set for January 26. The stage is set, the judges have taken their spots, and a new cabal of aspiring stars is ready to be unveiled. The returning judges are ready for another exciting season.