Totally Tunes: That's What Makes You Realityful

Reality shows aren't very well received in common culture. After all, they're the homes for Kardashian crap, Ow! My Balls! level competitions, women fighting each other for a flying potato, and whatever The Only Way is Essex is. But there is good stuff sometimes! Like, new color configurations, fleeting moments of self-awareness, and talented people who get their chance at the spotlight. On this very last front, there are singing competitions, which is kind of a mixed bag of talent, but there are always some great musicians who take advantage of the high viewership to try and make a name for themselves.

Oh no, Paris Hilton's singing again?! courtesy of Pexels

One of my most favorite examples of this is none other than Queen's brand new pseudo-frontman, who skyrocketed to the spotlight thanks to American Idol, even after finishing second to "so anyways, here's Wonderwall" personified.

Not everyone on Idol went ahead and filled an absolutely unbeatable position on a classic band, with this particular winner doing fairly okay on small circuits. He's the inspiration for this post, actually, as my mother was listening to a live performance of his on Facebook the other day.

Moving across the pond, this recently-anniversaried reality-produced boyband did quite well as a group and in solo projects, or so I'm being told by a screaming masse of prepubescent girls.

They did fare better than other foreign-born singers on singing competitions, at least I don't think Liam (I think Liam was the forgettable 1D one, according to my students?) was dumped on an airport by his bandmates...

Does participating in a cringy reality show with your family, and somehow landing a record deal coasting solely on the cringy show's popularity count? You tell me:

Okay, that last clip is enough torture for the week (but, if you want to self-flagellate further, here's The Darkness' Justin Hawkins singing Radiohead in a ridiculous costume). What's your favorite reality show-produced artist or band? Do you have a weird idea for a music-themed reality show?