Mariah vs. Nicki?

The so-called “feud” between new American Idol Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj has been exaggerated in the media, as Wednesday’s episode revealed. 

In the much-hyped episode, Minaj stormed out of a room where Idol hopefuls were auditioning after Mariah and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Keith Urban grilled a contestant about whether she saw herself as a country singer or not. As Minaj rightfully pointed out, the judges were overemphasizing the twangy tone of the girl’s voice and intimidating her to admit, as a condition of receiving a “yes” to go on to the Hollywood round, that she liked country music and saw herself as a country singer.

Interestingly, Minaj stormed out after Jackson – not Mariah – made a remark that implied Minaj didn’t have enough experience to accurately gauge a singer’s vocal ability. Minaj made angry comments directed at all the judges, not just Mariah.

But of course the media plays up the mini-scandal as a catfight between the two women on the panel. I guess a Randy Jackson/Keith Urban fight wouldn’t make for titillating viewing.

I’ve only caught a little bit here and there of the new Idol season and haven’t watched it regularly since Simon Cowell left the show. When Mariah and Nicki Minaj were announced as judges, I assumed I’d be more partial to Mariah since I grew up with her music and there’s no disputing her vocal prowess.

But I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Nicki Minaj. Maybe she’s not a “singer’s singer” and her rap style might be a bit derivative (she’s often been compared to Lil’ Kim, but I actually here more of an influence of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes from TLC). But on the Idol panel, she has proven herself to be articulate, able to dish out criticism without being mean and fair-minded when it comes to judging talent. I have to respect the fact that she has an opinion and she’s not afraid to express it.