Success is getting to do what you love

According to industry sources, only about 7 percent of all music CDs released in a given year sell more than 100,000 copies. If you performed in the top 7 percent of your industry or profession, would you consider yourself successful? Seems a no-brainer, huh?

Sorta puts into perspective the media's tendency to label various former Idols as "flops." Besides Justin Guarini, Kimberley Locke, Diana DeGarmo, and Tamyra Gray released first albums that sold between 100,000 and 200,000, putting them all into that top 7 percent category. Yet, according to most entertainment writers, their albums were not successful. A recent column in the Orange Country Register even referred to Bo Bice as an "abysmal failure," and his album went gold.

There was a very thoughtful article a few years back that called out others in the media for denigrating the professional achievements of the "other Idols" as somehow not worthy because they weren't multi-platinum CD sellers. As that article pointed out very, very few people manage to make a living in the entertainment business. Even some of the former Idols who are performing on cruise ships are nonetheless working in the entertainment business and doing a respectable job of it. There are plenty of people who would give a lot to be able to have that job.

It's true you don't see many of the "other Idols" on your TV or hear them on your radio or read advertisements for their world tours. It takes a lot of money to gain that kind of exposure, and those working outside the major label system just don't have the pool of marketing money to make that happen. But if instead of relying on the media to tell you, you do a little looking, you'll find that many of them are busy, making music and contributing to causes that are important to them.

Take Justin, for example. No, RCA was not a good fit for him. But once he waited out that contract, he went on to produce a jazz album that got strong reviews from sources like AllMusicGuide and The Philadelphia Inquirer (winning over a critic who savaged his first album). He independently raised the funding to make his third album, a soul/funk/jazz album that he's currently recording. He can say, with no promotional BS behind it, that this music is him - he decided what to record, how to record it, who to work with on the project, etc. He's earning the critical praise he's getting.

Over the past few years, he's also made numerous appearances on behalf of various public interest groups, especially those fighting the shrinking budgets in public schools for music programs. That cause took him to Congress, and to address an NAACP leadership conference. He's also made smaller appearances on behalf of children's charities, Habitat for Humanity, and AIDs charities, to name a few. These aren't just photo ops, because, well, we can't even find photos from some of them (and we've tried, believe us). Much to fans' chagrin, his full schedule has kept him from blogging as often as we'd like (hey, Justin, it's been how long since that last one?).

So, next time someone in the media decides you should think the "other Idols" are failures, just shake your head because you know better. Being able to do what you love always makes you a success.

American Idol Rewinds to the First Season

The first season of American Idol is going to be broadcast in a newly configured show called American Idol Rewind. America's favorite fellow Justin Guarini recorded new interviews that will be used throughout the show. Although the first season launched the AI phenomenon, not that many people who watch AI today saw that season. Hopefully, the producers won't mess with it and create a false impression of how it all went down. They should leave intact the innocence and excitement that was that season. It's worth seeing.

There were two break-out stars of the first season: Simon Cowell and Justin Guarini. They were the ones who had people talking at the water cooler, on-line, and everywhere else. Sure, Kelly Clarkson eventually won, but she didn't generate as much buzz as Justin did throughout the season. In fact, it was because he was such a break-out that 19 Entertainment enforced the draconian first season contract to prevent him from releasing even a single before Kelly released her album. Never in the history of AI has it happened again that the other top two finalist has 1) not had an original song selected especially for his/her singing style, 2) not released a single shortly after the end of the season, and 3) been required to wait to release an album until after the end of the subsequent season. "How Not to Market Successfully 101."

Nonetheless, Justin has said many times that he's happy not to have won, because although the path has not been smooth, he's now making the music he wants to make without being accountable to the suits at a major record label. He's recording his third album, so it hasn't kept him down, that's for sure. Amazingly (to us), he's never been anything but gracious about his AI experience. He's even said nice things about Simon Cowell, the horrors!

Now people who have only had the impression imposed on them by the AI machine will be able to check out the first season and make up their own minds. Assuming, of course, that the show isn't edited to advance some other agenda. Justin was the one who defined "It," the whole package. Kelly may have been more consistent, but she was also (to be fair) predictable; Justin, by contrast, was not. Justin took risks, most of which paid off, some of which didn't quite. As TV Guide once said, he walked out on stage and you held your breath, you were so excited to see what he was going to do.

And then, there's the voice. The supple, sultry, soulful voice. The effortless way he conveys emotion, not relying on glory notes or melisma but on it coming from inside the very heart of him. The way he understands the songs (and us) and makes us feel them with him.

Oh, we could go on forever, but you get the point. Justin is a transcendant talent and we look forward to those who never knew him discovering just what hooked us and has kept us around for four years now. Good luck, Justin, we know you didn't win but you will always be a champion to us.

American Idol Rewind airs on FOX and Tribune Company stations. Check http://www.americanidol.com/rewind/ for your local station. Then, check out Justin's fabulous self-produced jazz album (real musicianship, people) at www.justinguarini.com.