Critics and Clay Aiken Fans

7/13/04

by Diane Sprague

The underlying assumptions in our statements slowly seep there way through to the surface. Sometimes we can get caught by surprise when someone points out what we are really saying underneath our words. Maybe we did not mean it, or maybe we did and we are not sure we wanted to give our true thoughts away. If we are brave enough, perhaps we would allow ourselves to challenge our own assumptions and determine if we are holding onto some blind spots or prejudices that can only make us smaller.

I am writing this because I have discovered that I belong to a category of people who has no claim to good musical taste: middle-aged females. I came upon this startling conclusion while reading various negative articles about Clay Aiken. I kept coming across statements that are meant to dismiss Clay's talent by pointing out that his fans consist mainly of middle-aged females. Apparently estrogen is the culprit in distorting our abilities to discern between someone who is a great singer and someone who is a mediocre one. Unfortunately, our tacky tastes continue to deteriorate over time.

The world of music need not worry though. To counter our outrageous passions, there are hoards of music critics out there to remind the world our enthusiasm is meaningless because we are middle-aged females who obviously should be given no say in where true talents lies. Of course, depending who you read, the category is sometimes broadened to include young teenage girls and blue haired old ladies. Young adult females seem to be granted some leniency, but not too much. There is still that dreaded estrogen to worry about.

Now some may say that there is some blatant sexism afoot here, but I won't say it because it is much more fun being sarcastic. Okay, I will say it. And there is blatant ageism too. What I am wondering is if the music critics would like to admit it. Probably not. Nobody wants to be stuck with an –ism attached to his or her name. Whether one admits to them or not, these prejudices have been glaring, obvious, and ugly and I wanted to point this out because assumptions that continue to be made without questions being asked often remain in our consciousness as hazy “truths."

Unfortunately, many people seem to believe in this hazy “truth” that older females do not have a clue when it comes to musical tastes. Certainly it is a hard myth to counter because how does one argue over tastes? I cannot prove that I have good musical taste. I cannot prove that Clay Aiken is a wonderful singer. People who try to engage in these discussions are fighting windmills. I can only say that my life experience as a female has opened my heart and mind in such a way that when I hear Clay sing, I hear something that is absolutely beautiful to me. We could argue tastes until the cows come home, but no one is able to negate what I have experienced and what it has enabled me to understand and feel. It is ridiculous to hear an argument that somehow because I am female and no longer in my twenties, that I cannot possible trust my own judgment in this matter. It's utterly ridiculous, and the critics know this. They are not idiots. Well, okay, maybe a handful of them aren't. They should be ashamed that they let their ugly prejudice slip through, and we should be ashamed of ourselves if even for one minute we let ourselves believe they are saying about women is true.

And by the way, when I have seen the cameras pan audiences at many of Clay's recent appearances, I have noticed an amazing diversity in the crowds. Apparently, the middle-aged females are being joined by others. Probably the critics will let that fact slip through, but who needs critics anyways. The best person to judge anything will always be only ourselves. Nobody else counts in this matter. And once we realize this, life becomes as fun and beautifully outrageous as some of the jackets that Clay chooses to wear… but that's another article.