Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
EDIT: None of this matters anyway, because David Cook won. Still, we can treat this as a hypothetical.
David Archuleta is under two hours away from taking the American Idol crown, and it’s true — he’s a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But can Americans handle their Idol being an Osmond?
We remember what happened last time a Mormon tried singing black music to an awkwardly receptive crowd (Edit — new video, shorter and includes the “bling bling” line Jake alluded to):
Can we be sure that he won’t take Paula back to the Yearning for Zion Ranch in West Texas? Yes. But we must be wary of the forthcoming album that likely champ will be putting out… I know I’ll be listening to it backwards, searching for hidden messages. I think they’ll sound something like this:
“Hello friend, can I interest you in the church of Jesus Christ of… oh, no? OK, sorry to bother you. Have a wonderful day.”
I have chills down my spine just thinking about it…
41MilesToFreedom. 
10 comments
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May 21, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Jacob
Haha yes! That baby’s got some bling on it!
May 21, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Keith
Your article is full of false information.
1. The picture on your page is FLDS not LDS
2. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have nothing to do with the Zion Ranch.
3. There are MANY famous LDS people that are household names.
Get a clue before you write things.
May 21, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Tom Wright-Piersanti
4. David Cook won anyway.
Keith, you must be freaking out. You guys thought you had this one wrapped up.
May 21, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Keith
Not freaking out, just tired of it. Its like comparing Catholics and Lutherns both had the same teachings at one point but neither are associated now.
LDS members are for the most part good honest, caring people. Then things like this come up and peoples uneducated stories hurt people that have no relation to the story.
May 21, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Tom Wright-Piersanti
Obviously I know there is a difference between FLDS and LDS, and I put that picture there on purpose. It’s a joke, as Archuleta is the most family-friendly, sugary figure in the history of TV and would not follow Warren Jeffs back to Eldorado (which is why I said, in the article, that he wouldn’t). I’m certainly not ill-informed; I’m just making jokes.
Oh, and by freaking out, I meant that you were upset Archuleta lost. Your comment didn’t classify as a freak out — we have had those before and they are a lot nastier than I could imagine a Mormon writing. As you can see, I made it a point in the post to pick on the stereotypical over-niceness of the average Mormon.
I’m usually not apologetic for anything I write on here, and this is no exception — but I don’t mind asking people to relax and just take a joke. The people who don’t know the difference between LDS and FLDS are no different than the people who think all Muslims are terrorists. They’re ignorant and that’s not going to change. But those of us who understand the difference should be able to laugh about it. It’s what Ken Jennings would want.
May 21, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Keith
I have actually not watched an episode of AI since the beginning when all of the strange people try out. I think that is the best part of the show. So no I was not freaking out. I still have not heard either contestant sing.
As for the joke. Well to me it is not really a joke. I am a fun and outgoing person but taking something that I believe in along with 13 million other people and in a since mock it… I fail to see why someone would do that. But that is why we live in this great country. A country that we can say and believe what we want. That is what our forefathers wanted. I just wish people could be a bit sensitive to others.
And yes Ken Jennings did rock. Here is an interesting page full of Mormons that have done things.
To all a good night.
May 22, 2008 at 5:00 pm
ditchu
Tom,
Please explain what you mean by Black music? Is that some sort of dig on a people’s Race, or does it describe the music as writen in Black ink, or does ir typofy a music gerana, like the Blues?
May 22, 2008 at 5:30 pm
daniel
where’s jerry springer at?
May 23, 2008 at 1:36 am
Tom Wright-Piersanti
No… ir definitely typofies a music gerana. Nothing about ink, for sure.
I’ll assume you aren’t American by your writing and explain that black music is music generally created and performed by black people. Go here if you’re still confused. And please, if you’re ignorant of a culture, don’t criticize those of us who aren’t for using perfectly acceptable terminology.
Dan, if you would, please get Jerry in the room to calm everyone down.
May 23, 2008 at 12:20 pm
ditchu
I am not ignorant to the term but I think you could have typofied it better than “Black” music. R&B or Rap would have been better unless you wanted to include Jazz, Blues, Funk, Clasical, Punk, 50’s rock and Disco. All of these musical styles have been preformed by both “Blacks,” “Whites,” and people of all colours. In fact most of your modern music has it’s roots in a “Black” culture.