A not-so random act of senseless beauty...

Wow. I've been sitting here with the Blogger post page open for about a half-hour, trying to get my thoughts together.

Nope, it hasn't been the easiest week ever for Bucky fans. The media (pro and amateur) has been rather harsh, following Cowell's cues in an inexplicably unquestioning way. The mood on the boards has veered back and forth from determined to--occasionally--subdued.

And yet...this Bucky Covington guy is loved. Really loved.

In a strange fashion, this week shines a spotlight on the delicate balancing act that is American Idol . On the one hand, the producers want good television. On the other hand, the viewers want real music. The excitement of the show is largely based on the thrill of seeing young unknowns grow and blossom and burst into (Idol-style) stardom; the very structure of the show nearly guarantees that anything too organic and authentic will be filtered out in favor of the slick and vaguely familiar.

Throw in a bit of audience participation--and an ongoing debate as to the actual weight of that participation--and you have a recipe for a love/hate relationship with the very show you don't want to miss every week. And this past week, if you're a Bucky Covington fan, might have inspired more of the latter emotion than the former.

You know what I'm going to say next, don't you? Vote anyway.

Yes, really. Vote. You might be mad enough at the judges to hold your nose as you dial, but vote, and keep voting. Last week's passionate voting got Bucky into the Top Ten and on the tour; this week's passionate voting will give the rest of the world a chance to enjoy the beautiful, haunting Southern voice that's been hidden behind odd themes and awkward arrangements for the past two Tuesdays. He deserves it, and so do we.

Bucky's one of the most real contestants this show has ever had the honor of presenting--real in a way that seems to have struck a rare, affectionate chord with the usually-cynical Idol audience. Two hours of your Tuesday evening is a small price to pay for what Bucky brings to the show this year. Call, y'all.

(And if you need some dialing tips, please check out last week's "Why Tuesday means everything" post. )

See you tomorrow with pre-show ramblings and a late night recap after Idol airs. Sweet dreams, and get those phones charged up!