Reader comments
Mormon Pop: Looking back, ahead for 'American Idol's' Mormons

Jeffner | 5:33 p.m. March 3, 2008

Luckily for David he has the teenybopper vote which trumps the evangelical vote any day. Finally for once the teenybopper vote is going to someone who deserves it.

Belinda from Australia | 7:15 p.m. March 3, 2008

I think David's choice of the third verse was more of a liking for the words and the pitch rather than there being a religious choice. Believe it or not, not everything is about religion, especially the Mormon religion (and I am Mormon). The third verse of Imagine speaks of the world being a better place to live and the dream of that becoming a reality if we believe and work towards it. Good song choice and great performance David - keep up the good work and you will be the next American Idol!

Brett | 7:20 p.m. March 3, 2008

Nice job on the article...I don't think you'll be getting any credit for David's being outed...it aint gonna happen!

Comments continue below

Steve | 3:35 a.m. March 4, 2008

I hope Bill Keller does not watch Pop Idol as he will be trying to stop people voting, for by saying a vote for David will be a vote for Satan.

Michael | 6:21 a.m. March 4, 2008

What David did was no more than censorship. If he had a problem with the first verses, he should not have sung the song. Plain and simple.

Charlie | 10:56 a.m. March 4, 2008

Well Michael...it wasn't censorship...he has sang the whole song before. A.I. only gives a certain amount of time that does not allow for an entire song to be sang. He chose the portion of the song that showed his voice the best since he didn't have the time to sing all the verses. When he was 13 he did sing the whole rendition of the song in front of an audience. His choice has nothing to do with religion.

Unknown | 11:31 a.m. March 4, 2008

What is going to happen when David wins, Michael? Will the world stop because we have a nice "Mormon" boy as the next American Idol or will "you" learn to be quiet and just appreciate talent when you see it!?! LDS or not, the Lord gave him that gift and you really should take from that! It's not polite or Christian! People need to stop imagining all this non-sense and appreciate him for his talents, not is religion! No pun intended.....

leSavaii | 12:08 p.m. March 4, 2008

Why always talk religions when Mormons from all walks of life have the spotlight? And why not talk religions on the other contestants? American Idol is a telent show and we should focus on the talents of these beatiful talented young Americans. "Imagine" is a beautiful song and there is nothing against any religions & beliefs. Great job David. God bless!

Rebecca | 12:41 p.m. March 4, 2008

Why is there all this specualtion surrounding David when Brooke outright sings a song to 'dis' Simon, I just don't understand how she can be so disrespectful to him and yet we are spending more time talking about why David didn't sing the 1st verse. Maybe it was because of his religion maybe it wasn't, all I know is perhaps Brooke should learn more about the kindness aspect of her faith!

umm Rebecca? | 1:35 p.m. March 4, 2008

Go back and look at it. Brooke never makes that assertions about the song. Randy, Paula, Ryan and Simon himself put that context in there. Brooke's is meek and kind throughout it all only exhibiting nervous laughter at the controversy she unintentionally created.

Rebecca | 3:40 p.m. March 4, 2008

Actually she seems kinda smug about the whole thing to me, and she never really responds that it wasn't just for Simon, and watching her performance she does look over at the judges table. If it was me and I didn't choose that song just for Simon I prob would have mentioned that when they brought it up, she never did.

RE: Micheal | 4:45 p.m. March 4, 2008

It is not censorship. ONLY the government or state can censure or someone in greater power over another or has power to deny others access to something.

Has david denied you anything? Has he stopped from finding out(on your own) the rest of the song?

If david is guity of that than so is everyone on the show and everyone who has ever been on the show.
Because they all edit songs to fit time constaints.

jared | 11:13 a.m. March 26, 2008

There are many possible explanations for him electing not to sing the first verse.

A) he didn't agree with the lyrics and therefor did not sing them

B)Time constraints-he simply liked the other verses more and because of time constraints didn't sing the first

or C) He is smart enough to know that singing the first verse would be very risky. He knew that, regardless of his personal opinions, people(aka voters) might hold it against him if he sang the first and controversial verse.

Ben | 10:59 p.m. April 3, 2008

I'm not a Mormon; In fact, I'm a Jewish (by birth & by culture), Atheist (by choice) gay man. David can sing whatever he wants to; Self censorship is not censorship at all. And what ever that kid has, I want some! His talent and his "aura" of joy are wonderful to listen to and watch. He's like an adorable puppy: He just makes you smile!

Carlie | 11:16 a.m. April 22, 2008

Just so everyone knows, the contestants only get 1 and half minutes to perform maybe he liked the later verses rather thant the first.

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