I have not been keeping up with American Idol this season. I have caught a few, and as always, the young talent is remarkable, and I find myself thinking again, If you’ll just listen to Simon, you have a chance in The Business.

I hear a lot of folks say that Simon is just there for the shock value that they get good ratings with his determined meanness. I see it differently: he’s startlingly frank, blunt, direct. The worst I would accuse him of is using the verbal tool hyperbole — over-stating or using exaggeration to make a point. I can’t even hear the words horrendous, hideous or absolutely appalling without hearing his distinctly British accent.

The one I would accuse more easily of exhibiting a mean spirit is the show’s host, Ryan Seacrest. If there is a playful understanding between him and Simon, the recipient of the majority of his barbs, the humor in it escapes me.

Simon might
be showing
a softer,
more
spiritual sideI always blow it off thinking Simon can laugh all the way to the bank. The show is, as I understand it, his creation, and he gets a percentage of every dollar made from the show and the recordings all the Idol stars make, at least for some period of time.

Imagine my momentary surprise when at the end of tonight’s show American Idol Gives Back, a charity drive for a variety of causes, the current Idol stars joined a choir on stage to close out the show with what is, in my opinion, one of the most singable, exquisitely musical and moving worship songs I have ever heard in church — and in my 50 years of church, I have heard everything from the trite ‘7/11 songs’ (same 7 lines sung 11 times) to the forever-great standards like Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art — the song, rooted in Psalms, which they sang so beautifully, so powerfully: Chris Tomlin’s Shout to the Lord.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength;
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You.

Chorus
Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and Majesty, praise to the King;
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have…
Nothing compares to the promise I have…
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

I sat and watched in wonder. It had a calming effect on me. It even brought a slight smile to my face as I wondered if that old curmudgeon Simon might be showing a softer, more spiritual side.

I don’t know.

But when the show’s credits were done rolling and the screen went black, they added a cameo bit with Ben Stiller showing up on an empty stage in the now-empty auditorium, who upon realizing — as the bit went — that he was too late, walked off the stage cussing and swearing, having his mouth blurred and sound bleeped.

Brilliant, Hollywood! At least you have consistency working for you.