Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr Discuss ‘American Idol XIV’

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr American Idol XIV Interview
‘American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick JR., and Keith Urban. (Photo by Matthias Vriens-McGrath © 2014 FOX Broadcasting Co.)

Fox’s American Idol is still going strong with judges Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr, and Jennifer Lopez critiquing up-and-coming talent hoping to find the next Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, or Phillip Phillips. The Fox singing competition show remains the most successful series when it comes to launching talent, and at the TCA winter press event the judges participated in a press conference to talk about why the show remains relevant.

Keith, has your fanbase changed since you’ve joined American Idol? Have you gotten more younger fans?

Keith Urban: “Yeah. Yes, to all that. A much broader audience, and particularly at our concerts.”

Before the three of you were judges on Idol there was a rule that the contestants couldn’t play musical instruments. How important do you believe it is for the contestants to be able to play while they’re singing?

Keith Urban: “Well, I think it’s important for certain people that have a comfort level with it, like I do. I’m not accustomed to singing without the guitar. So if I was to walk in and have to audition without it, I’d be a little out of my comfort zone. So I like that we support that. At the same time, there’s some people that shouldn’t be playing.”

Is there a tonal difference in the auditions, depending on the city or even big markets compared to smaller markets?

Harry Connick, Jr.: “I think you see probably a higher percentage of talented people in the bigger markets, like Nashville and New York. We certainly did this year. But that’s not to say there haven’t been some real jewels in the smaller markets as well. It’s kind of a mix, though. When I went to New Orleans, there were some very talented people there. But probably out of all the cities, the people who showed up on that particular day were probably the fewest, in terms of percentage, of the whole crowd that came. But, you know, like we expected great talent to be in Nashville, and we saw it. We expected great talent in New York, and it was incredible.”

At this point, do you almost expect there will be someone during the course of the auditions that comes through the door that you have a connection to in some way? Is it almost anticipated now that that will happen during the season at some point?

Keith Urban: “A little bit. I’m never quite sure. I have mixed feelings on that when it happens because I want to, obviously, be objective. But it’s tricky if you have any sort of history with somebody. In the case of a couple of the people that have been in this audition process, I’ve played on stage with one of them, and another guy had won a sort of competition thing that I was judging at the time as well. So, it’s a strange feeling. But I mean, of course, there are only X amount of musicians. No matter how many there are, it’s more than likely we’re going to come upon people we have a connection with somehow.”

Jennifer Lopez: “For me, it’s because this is my fourth go-around with Idol and it’s always kind of like repeat contestants. I’m like, ‘I know you from the first season with Steve and Randy,’ and things like that. It’s always good to see them get a little further every single time.”

Have you noticed a change in the kids you’re seeing walking in the door now, whether they’re more comfortable or less comfortable in performing and whether you get a sense that this is the first time they have performed in a studio situation or in front of a crowd as opposed to being at home with a laptop and just sort of doing it for themselves?

Jennifer Lopez: “To me, there is a bit of a change and I think it’s more with the producers, to be honest, because when you’re talking about laptop, you’re talking about creating actual music and beats and being able to record yourself and things like that. There is something about going to a studio and getting out and being around other musicians and things like that or writers when you’re making music. I feel like some of the, and this is just my opinion, some of the EDM [electronic dance music] sound of what’s happening right now and the stuff that’s going on in music is because of the fact that it’s just kids at home kind of making beats and doing this thing. It’s just it’s a new time. As far as the contestant that’s come into the room, no. We get singers, so it’s a different thing. I think that’s more of a producer/writer thing that’s going to happen that really changes music in a way and has begun to already, if you ask me.”

Fast-forward to the end of the show, is it easier or more difficult for the two or three singers who come out at the very end of the process to forge a lasting career in music? Do you think it’s a little easier for them now or much harder because of all the different distractions out there?

Keith Urban: “I always think, first and foremost, it’s got to be put into perspective of what we’re talking about in our industry is right now. This is not the same industry that Carrie Underwood won and went into. It’s not the same one that Kelly Clarkson won and went into. Everything is relative and proportionate now. Even the definition of a superstar today…I don’t know what the definition of that is, other than someone who is able to create and connect with an audience, substantial audience, and able to do that on a consistent basis. That would be probably the definition of a superstar. But is it about selling records these days? Not so much as it used to be, you know.

Finding a live audience is, obviously, crucial. So what I love about this show and why I love that Scott [Borchetta] is involved is that there’s so much validity in all of these facets of someone’s talent. Maybe they’re not very good live, but they’re extraordinarily clever at creating sonic pictures and paintings that connect with a lot of people, you know, like a Gotye or somebody like that.”

Harry Connick, Jr.: “One thing that I noticed that I was really disappointed about, I think that it’s great  there are many benefits to having the technology in your back pocket for young people. It’s opened up so many doors and provided creative opportunities for so many people. But one of the drawbacks, and I really noticed this in New Orleans, people were coming in that were from New Orleans and the surrounding areas that didn’t sound like they were from New Orleans when they spoke, when they sang. The music didn’t sound like it. There was nothing indigenous about the music. And I think that comes from being able to be influenced by anything, anywhere, anytime.

I hate to be one of the people that says, ‘When I was a kid,’ but when I was a kid, they didn’t have it. You had to go out and we went to Bourbon Street in my world. And I just think it was sad that nobody came in really representing. A few did, but most of them, they really could have been from anywhere. And I think there are blessings to accessibility, but one of the great drawbacks is that it seems like everything is becoming kind of melted down, and it’s kind of sad.”

What do you say to musicians you may meet who are still skeptical about the influence of American Idol and don’t necessarily buy into the fact that it’s helped the music industry?

Harry Connick, Jr.: “Boy, I tell you, somebody came up to me a while back and they said, ‘I don’t like American Idol. I think these young musicians should pay their dues.’ I said, ‘Okay. Let me explain something to you. When you audition for American Idol and if you get out of it in the very first round, I would call that experience. You’ve experienced something. If you make it all the way to the end and win American Idol, you have basically taken six, eight, ten months out of your year and dedicated it to the most rigorous, intensive, high-pressure experience.

You’re surrounded by people who are constantly telling you things that will help you improve your craft. So that is about the best experience you can get for any musicians.’ And listen, I’m a jazz musician, so I’ve heard a lot of jazz musicians kind of, ‘Well, we’re not so sure.’ Well, I give it up to anybody who will get on the American Idol stage and take that ride. It is one of the most grueling entertainment experiences I have ever seen. And I think there’s absolutely nothing negative to say about the American Idol experience.

And hobbling the music industry? I mean, I don’t think…no, I’m completely the opposite of that. I think it’s been an amazing opportunity for young people.”

Keith Urban: “I also think that certain people are ready much faster than others for this journey. And this show will filter that and it will sift it and find those people who are ready. Maybe they’ve never played live in their life, and they’re just extraordinarily good on stage. They just have that thing. Others need a tremendous amount of experience to become good on stage. But at the end of the day, I always feel like nobody gets out of paying their dues. You may do it in front of an arena full of people, or you may do it in a small club, but at some point you’re going to have to figure out how to do it. But if someone is ready for it and this show gives them that shot, that’s a beautiful thing.”

Will the judges be performing with the contestants more this season? Or will it still remain mostly separate?

Harry Connick, Jr.: “I mean, it will remain separate, and it should really. I mean, there wasn’t really an opportunity for us to perform with anybody on the stage that was competing last year. The best part about it for us is that we got to do something on the finale which was we were talking about in an interview earlier. The hardest part for us as three performers is to sit behind that panel and watch other people perform and not be able to do it. So many times we want to jump up there and do it. So I think if there’s any performing to be done, you know, hopefully it would be something like it was last year because that was one of my favorite parts of the show.”

Jennifer Lopez: “Me too.”