过去十年那些令人难忘的声音

说到音乐大家大概都会说出很多自己喜欢的歌手和歌曲。虽然在过去的十年里有无数的歌手让我们难忘，但总有几个人会深深的震撼到观众。那个令无数人感动的susan大妈，还有让观众笑个不停的后舍男孩，让人难以忘却。

Suddenly, the public got an active role in shaping pop culture. Some of the hottest icons of pop culture were not stars, but regular people. The 2000s defined a pop era of real people and reality shows, contests and homemade videos. Ordinary people got a glimpse or a shot at the dream of stardom. And yet, some people were willing to do anything to get money or fame.

Britain's Simon Cowell created 'Pop Idol,' which led to American Idol, Eurovision Contest, as well as China's Super Girl. Regular people the public could identify with like former cocktail waitress Kelly Clarkson won American Idol in 2002.

Claude Gauvin is a musician from Quebec, Canada who plays in Beijing and thinks this reflects a new direction for the music industry.

"It makes people dream more. It makes people think, 'If she can do it, then I can as well.' And people will actually go out to the auditions and actually try out and think, 'I'm a waitress, I can do this too."

On TV, singing contest like this would change the face of the music industry. Before, Gauvin points out, you needed lots of money or a connection to even get to audition.

"Other people like Kelly Clarkson don't get that chance. I think it's a great thing that it's happening, that they're actually making shows like that. Reality shows that actually get people, a normal person from a nobody and make them a superstar. I think it's great."

Suddenly, an industry that normally focuses solely on the young, beautiful and marketable was forced to rethink its strategy. Shows like American Idol saw contestants of all shapes, sizes and colors, including the obese or not so glamorous.

One of the most stunning examples was Susan Boyle, who shocked and impressed the world on 'Britain's got Talent.' when she sang, "I dreamed a dream," from Broadway musical Les Miserables.

Her plain appearance disguised the enchanting voice of a siren. The Youtube clip was one of the decade's most popular.

Youtube and other video sharing platforms reshaped the way individuals connected with the rest of the world. With technology such as a simple webcam or a mobile phone, people were now able to reach billions.

Known as the 'Back dorm Boys,' two students from Guangzhou, China received international attention in 2005 with their lip-synched video of 'I want it that way.'

Agu Agumudo is a menswear fashion designer from Nigeria who works in Beijing. He says it had a simple appeal.

"It was two Chinese guys singing a Backstreet Boys song and that's not something I would normally see on TV, and I saw it on my computer. So it's refreshing. It's easier to make stars these days. It gives more people a chance."

Indeed it does. Gary Brolsma's 2004 'Numa Numa' webcam dance has received 35 million hits on Youtube. The video features Brolsma with earphones lip synching and dancing to a pop song by Moldovan band O-zone.

It was Brolsma's personality and humor that showed through, said Beijing student Lucia Gutierrez from Mexico.

"I like the Numa Numa dance because the guy, I kind of admire him, that he pours his heart and soul into the camera and put it up so everyone can watch it. I don't think I have the guts to do it."

But some people will go to any length to get famous. While many reality shows include cooking or modeling competitions, others are a bit more sinister.

Shows like 'Survivor' abandon contestants on a desert island to fend for themselves. Some competitors lose extreme amounts of weight and need to be removed from the show. Others go through emotional traumas just to get the prizes.

Claude Gauvin is wary of the direction in which we are headed.

"I personally think that some reality stuff does freak some people out. And I'm right now a bit worried about where all this may go reality TV-wise. I mean, it's entertaining, but when people and lives are getting hurt, I don't think it's a good thing."

One of the more amazing aspects of the decade is that pop culture finally integrates regular people. The public can choose their own role models that they can identify with because it's no longer up to the entertainment industries to decide who is a star.

It's not only the public watching the stars through the TV screen, but actively trying to make a media imprint of their own. Only problem, Gauvin points out, is how far is too far?

For CRI, I'm Andrea Hunt.