Denouement: INXS show

I am back on this side of the planet and -- keenly aware of my priorities -- I have caught up with the final episodes of the INXS show, lovingly recorded for me by TiVo. (TiVo is so thoughtful!)

As I have already mentioned in this fine forum, I was rather surprised when I heard on Australian TV that J.D. was the victor. I was more surprised that MiG didn't even come in second -- that honor went to Marty. However, having now watched the episodes, it is very clear why MiG was eliminated. Perhaps I have been easily influenced by reality television editing, but J.D. really does seem to be the better choice. There are a number of factors that did in MiG:

1. The theatricality. While he was not nearly as saccharine as Ty, MiG's musical theater experience never quite disappeared from his stage act. At the end of the day, he really did seem more like an actor playing the role of a rock singer, versus exuding that spontaneous and genuine quality which is innate in rock singers and simply cannot be taught. Which leads to....
   
   
2. The shirt ripping. When MiG was finally voted into the bottom three, during his performance of "What You Need" he ripped his million-dollar vintage rocker tee to allow forth his heaving, six-packed torso. I don't know if he had planned this or not, but it seemed so out of place that I can't help but assume he made a little pre-show mental note to himself: "Dear MiG, Remember to tear shirt, bare hulking pectorals during Kirk Pengilly saxophone solo. Love, MiG."
   
   
3. The sunny lyrics. J.D. was right when he said that rock and roll lives in the holes. It's at its very best when it's exploring the darker corners of the human experience. Even when all is well in my life, I like to listen to tales of others' woe told via rock and roll. I was relieved when Andrew Farriss suggested that MiG's lyrics move toward a less optimistic place; I can't take an INXS album full of songs lyrically similar to "A Whole New World."
   
   (Aside: this is the same reason I disliked Rhett Miller's solo album, The Instigator. When he got married and contented, his songwriting became way too optimistic for me. I mean, I wish him well, but I'd take the beer-drenched songs of failure and regret over his happy poppy love songs anyday.)
   
   
4. The confusion regarding the meaning of the word "obvious." From the Chicago Tribune, in answer to a question regarding what makes MiG the right man for the job: "Apart from the obvious things, like I'm Australian, and my name is actually Miguel -- MiG is short for Miguel, which is actually Michael in Spanish. And the fact that also my birthday is Jan. 12 and Michael Hutchence's is Jan. 22; and he was born 1960, I was born 1970. Apart from all those obvious things, I think that INXS are looking for a real team member ... I think I've shown time and time again that I'm a team member ... I'm a very generous guy."
   
   What? It is not obvious to me that a qualification for the lead singer gig is proximity of one's birth date to Michael Hutchence's. MiG and Michael aren't even both Capricorns! Please.

J.D. is edgy, spontaneous and a bit dangerous. He badmouths his fellow competitors! He thwarts CBS censors! He sings through a megaphone! He lets girls suck liquor off his toes! He does illicit things with cake! It will be much more interesting to watch him than it would be to watch placid, pleasant MiG.

Sorry, MiG. I wanted you to win, and I was disappointed when I heard you didn't. But when I saw it unfold before my very eyes on the small screen, I understood the decision of Tim Farriss the Wise.

(By the way, this change of heart has nothing at all to do with the fact that MiG likes Ty. J.D. likes him too. So there.)