Antonella Barba, a Real American Idol in an Un-Idol-like Situation

I am an "American Aberration". I rarely watch "American Idol". As a friend of mine would say, "I'm not hip to the hype". I have never seen the syndicated "American Idol Rewind" either. The name alone makes it seem like your watching the show played in reverse. This conjures up memories of my Beatles "White Album" days. A bunch of us gathered at my friend Harlan's house hand working the LP in reverse to hear Lennon's "Paul is dead" prank. I can only imagine discovering on an episode when played in reverse, hearing a sinister Paula Abdul voicing, "Simon sucks" or worse.

True class stands out above the fray

What I am is "hip" to people who face the music and rise above those who try to drag them down. "AI" contestant Antonella Barba had the distinction of having some wet tee shirt pictures pasted on the internet. The timing of course was chosen to capitalize on her introduction to fame. As I pointed out in "Fame Exposure Pictures Women and Hypocrisy" this type of net stunts are commonplace. Knowing that someone is trying to embarrass you for no reason other than just to do it is disturbing. Ms. Barba hung in there and tried to sing her way through the incident. Some say public sympathy advanced her farther than her performances should have allowed. From what I read, some of Simon's remarks bear that out. While Antonella finally was voted out, she hung in there showing professionalism and class in the face of what some would consider public humiliation.

Accepting responsibility