Allowing American Idol Contestants to Play Instruments: The Best Part of Season 7

This season the ratings of American Idol have dropped. Even when American Idol was almost unopposed during the strike the ratings still weren't that impressive. Some people chalk it up to people being "over" American Idol, others think the show is worse. I happen to agree with the latter. Almost everything about the past two seasons are worse. The contestants on American Idol are worse, the genres they are forced to sing are worse and the advice the American Idol judges give are worse. There is only one thing really good to come from the current season of American Idol: instruments.

For the first time American Idol contestants were allowed to play instruments during their performances and this was a great addition to the show. Since the very beginning of American Idol the judges have told the contestants to "make it their own" but how can somebody "make it their own" if the can't even play the music the way they want. A contestant can come up with a certain arrangement for the song but relying on the band isn't always a good thing. There's a reason that Simon says every bad performance sounds like a bad karaoke performance. It's because the American Idol band sounds like cheesy karaoke music.

Allowing the contestants to use their instruments on stage also helps the performers feel more comfortable. A lot of performers always perform with their instrument of choice and they feel awkward without the instrument. Granted a performer should still have stage presence without an instrument but I think it's okay to let them use an instrument if it makes them feel more comfortable.