Of course for entertainment purposes they are showing the truly bad on these episodes. But Naomi has asked the pointed question. Just who are the people telling these people that they can sing.

I don't think I would have any qualms telling a family member they shouldn't attempt a skill in front of a national audience for which they have no skill. And I feel fairly comfortable knowing my skill level in areas I've participated in.

Yet they continue to parade out people who say they picture themselves equivalents of [ insert name of a popular singer ]. Then proceed to butcher a song made famous by said singer. Although I really don't even think butcher is strong enough here. And when the judges call these people on their absolute, total lack of singing ability, the vast majority get angry.

>>>Which goes to show the kind of people he hangs out with. From the first note when he started singing the judges were cringing. He was sooooo awful. Almost comically bad.
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>>>Bud I think he did bare a striking resemblence to Terry.
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>>Or may be to all of us?
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>>But it's really weird, all these people trying. Can they hear themselves?
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>Decade and change ago we had a show where contestants would, among other things, sing to the music they heard on a walkman. The point was that they couldn't really hear themselves so well, they heard the earphones better. The audience, OTOH, didn't hear the tape at all, just the dry voice.
>
>I think even {your favorite singer} would sound bad under such setup... at least these guys were really funny, and the MC didn't push them too far, maybe just 10-20 seconds.