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I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But...: Backstage Gossip from American Idol & the Secrets that Can Make You a Star
Do YOU have what it takes to be a star? Simon Cowell reveals the answer and takes you behind the scenes of American Idol in this wickedly entertaining tell-all.
Since the debut of American Idol, puckish Brit judge Simon Cowell has become America’s most notorious critic—not only on account of his incredible instinct for spotting the next breakout musical stars, but for his hilarious, shockingly candid repartee with everyone who crosses his path. Now, true to form, he holds nothing back, offering you a backstage pass to America’s hottest show—the highlights, the gossip, the contestants who blew their chances—and takes you on a whirlwind tour of the music business while sharing his own insider opinions, on everything.
From his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent—and for being center stage. Here, he tells the rollicking stories of his first insult (to his mother), his first music criticism (to first-grade teacher Mrs. Prigg), and his first image makeover (on his unfortunate younger brother). And of course, the side-splitting backstory of the birth of American Idol —and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges’ squabbles, juicy rumors, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.
With his trademark wit and brutal honesty, Simon delivers the real dish Who gave the best and worst performances on the show? What really goes on between the three judges (and what was it like to kiss Paula Abdul)? Who were the biggest divas when the cameras weren’t rolling? And, if you’re an aspiring Justin or J.Lo, you’ll also learn the trade secrets that only Simon how to develop an image and make the most of your talent, how to find an agent or manager, how to nail an audition, and—should you be so lucky to make it to the top—how to stretch your 15 minutes into a career.
Packed with razor-sharp insights into music, the fame game, and pop-music powerhouses from the Beatles to Britney Spears, I Don’t Mean to Be Rude, But… is your ticket inside American Idol, and a highly amusing, no-holds-barred look at what it takes to make it big.
Since the debut of American Idol, puckish Brit judge Simon Cowell has become America’s most notorious critic—not only on account of his incredible instinct for spotting the next breakout musical stars, but for his hilarious, shockingly candid repartee with everyone who crosses his path. Now, true to form, he holds nothing back, offering you a backstage pass to America’s hottest show—the highlights, the gossip, the contestants who blew their chances—and takes you on a whirlwind tour of the music business while sharing his own insider opinions, on everything.
From his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent—and for being center stage. Here, he tells the rollicking stories of his first insult (to his mother), his first music criticism (to first-grade teacher Mrs. Prigg), and his first image makeover (on his unfortunate younger brother). And of course, the side-splitting backstory of the birth of American Idol —and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges’ squabbles, juicy rumors, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.
With his trademark wit and brutal honesty, Simon delivers the real dish Who gave the best and worst performances on the show? What really goes on between the three judges (and what was it like to kiss Paula Abdul)? Who were the biggest divas when the cameras weren’t rolling? And, if you’re an aspiring Justin or J.Lo, you’ll also learn the trade secrets that only Simon how to develop an image and make the most of your talent, how to find an agent or manager, how to nail an audition, and—should you be so lucky to make it to the top—how to stretch your 15 minutes into a career.
Packed with razor-sharp insights into music, the fame game, and pop-music powerhouses from the Beatles to Britney Spears, I Don’t Mean to Be Rude, But… is your ticket inside American Idol, and a highly amusing, no-holds-barred look at what it takes to make it big.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2003
7 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Simon Cowell
14 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Simon Cowell is an English artist-and-repertoire ("A&R") executive and television personality/producer, best known as a judge on such TV shows as Pop Idol, The X Factor, American Idol, America's Got Talent, and Britain's Got Talent. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house Syco.
Cowell is notorious for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults, and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities, or lack thereof. He is often parodied in pop culture. He is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities.
Cowell has been the producer and the creative force of many media, most notably Pop Idol and its international offspring. His success since the millennium has brought him worldwide fame and a greatly increased monetary fortune.
Simon Cowell is an English artist-and-repertoire ("A&R") executive and television personality/producer, best known as a judge on such TV shows as Pop Idol, The X Factor, American Idol, America's Got Talent, and Britain's Got Talent. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house Syco.
Cowell is notorious for his unsparingly blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults, and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities, or lack thereof. He is often parodied in pop culture. He is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities.
Cowell has been the producer and the creative force of many media, most notably Pop Idol and its international offspring. His success since the millennium has brought him worldwide fame and a greatly increased monetary fortune.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 15, 2012
You may wonder why I ended up reading this autobiography so I'll tell you. My Mum is a massive fan of Simon Cowell and her friend bought her this book one Christmas as a joke since she's so obsessed with him. I was desperate for a book to read and ended up finding this...
Well, I found this quite interesting & enjoyable. You either like Simon Cowell or you don't (or in my mother's case you love him). I quite like him and this book justified that.
The main thing I love about this book is the fact that it's honest. Brutally honest. About everything up to that point in his life. Also, I can't explain why but it was interesting learning about his past life, how he pretty much came from nothing and worked his way up from the coffee boy to where he is now. Plus, the funny remarks made me laugh.
So yeah, I found this book very enjoyable and I'm not afraid to admit it. However, I must point out that's Simon's 'cupid predictions for top celebrity couples' were not that accurate e.g Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston: True Love, Guy Ritchie & Madonna: True Love, Paul McCartney & Heather Mills: True Love. All wrong Simon, sorry.
Well, I found this quite interesting & enjoyable. You either like Simon Cowell or you don't (or in my mother's case you love him). I quite like him and this book justified that.
The main thing I love about this book is the fact that it's honest. Brutally honest. About everything up to that point in his life. Also, I can't explain why but it was interesting learning about his past life, how he pretty much came from nothing and worked his way up from the coffee boy to where he is now. Plus, the funny remarks made me laugh.
So yeah, I found this book very enjoyable and I'm not afraid to admit it. However, I must point out that's Simon's 'cupid predictions for top celebrity couples' were not that accurate e.g Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston: True Love, Guy Ritchie & Madonna: True Love, Paul McCartney & Heather Mills: True Love. All wrong Simon, sorry.
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December 4, 2018Wow what a masterpiece Simon cowell is such a good looking old man... no just me... WELLL I LOVE HUM DONT JUDGE ME
June 17, 2010
I think you either love Simon Cowell or hate him. I'm not sure how I feel but this book was a good read. He comes across as you would expect - arrogant, egotistical and opinionated but totally interesting. I was just engrossed and read the book quickly.
Back Cover Blurb:
Simon Cowell needs little introduction. His acerbic put downs and trade-mark insults have made him a household name. Now, for the first time, he tells his own story with all the brutal honesty you'd expect. He reveals the truth about his schooldays, girlfriends and career in the music industry. Simon also give the full inside story of the Pop Idols phenomenon both here and in America.
Working with record-breaking artists like Westlife, Gareth Gates and Five has earned him well over 90 million record sales and 34 number one singles worldwide. In I Don't Mean To Be Rude But.....Simon Cowell uses that experience to give you inside information on the music industry and tells you what it takes to become a star.
Back Cover Blurb:
Simon Cowell needs little introduction. His acerbic put downs and trade-mark insults have made him a household name. Now, for the first time, he tells his own story with all the brutal honesty you'd expect. He reveals the truth about his schooldays, girlfriends and career in the music industry. Simon also give the full inside story of the Pop Idols phenomenon both here and in America.
Working with record-breaking artists like Westlife, Gareth Gates and Five has earned him well over 90 million record sales and 34 number one singles worldwide. In I Don't Mean To Be Rude But.....Simon Cowell uses that experience to give you inside information on the music industry and tells you what it takes to become a star.
September 19, 2011
I enjoyed this book. I can't really hate on Simon Cowell. It's completely honest about how he feels, yeah... a little harsh sometimes, but at least consistent. It seems he's been that way since he was a child, so it's not like he's faking the funk. But he worked his way from the mailroom, to where he is now - and was persistent. I respect him for that, and this book made me make more sense of him, and his passion for the industry.
July 25, 2019
Back in the day I LOVED American Idol. I mean, I had a notebook and took notes each week to help me decide who to vote for! And I’ve always loved Simon and his brutal honesty. I enjoyed this book a lot and thought it was very interesting.
December 18, 2018
Simon is soooooooooo uggggggggllllllllyyyyyyyyy he better eatttttt hiissss chickennnnnnnnnnnnn
April 4, 2022
If you like Simon Cowell you will enjoy this book. It's written exactly as he speaks and is equally honest and witty. Unfortunately I wasn't an American Idol fan and didn't watch any of it until about Season 8, so I wasn't aware of many of the contestants that he was referring to since this was written after the 1st season. Quick read.
June 25, 2013
I am reviewing the book I don't mean to be rude, but... by Simon Cowell which is an excellent autobiography and which I bought from a local secondhand bookstore. This book traces Simon's career from when he was a runner delivering mail for a music publishing business. He got offered a job as an messenger for Stanley Kubrik but thought the job had poor prospects. He moved on to get a job as an estate agent which didn't work out. He then got a job once again delivering mail for a music record company. His big break came selling songs to potential pop stars. Quite early on he worked quite a lot with the pop group Five. He says one of the best groups he ever worked with was Westlife. He does give you some of the background information on the UK version of Popstars & American Idol. This book was written in 2004 so it doesn't cover more recent projects like the X Factor. He does say that Kelly Clarkson deserved to win American Idol as she was a very hard worker and also she didn't start arguing with any judge who gave her negative feedback. She also took positive feedback quite humbly. Apparently in the early stages of the series she crept through the stages quietly and didn't seem like the obvious winner. In the later stages though she stuck out more as a potential winner. Some people say you just need hunger to become a successful pop star but you also need talent. Some people creep through hardly able to sing but generally they don't last long. He does say that he thinks it's best to be honest to the contestants on his shows. I think sometimes he does go a bit far but I agree he should try and be honest with them.
April 3, 2013
I've had this book for years and never read it. I stopped watching American Idol in season 5, because of boredom (which, coincidentally, Simon discusses). One of the reasons I picked it up now is because my new roommate loves "The Voice" and I began watching it with her and have found myself equally as obsessed.
I have respect for Simon, in the sense that he knew what he wanted to do and he went for it. He didn't let anyone tell him it wasn't possible and he was able to prove that he deserved everything he worked for. However, I still think he's the biggest douche I've ever known of. And that, in a sense, is why I mentioned "The Voice" in the first paragraph. The number of times that he mentions that someone didn't have the look or the entire package shocked me... not to mention, him saying that 3 members of the band Westlife had to be fired because they were ugly? Who cares? If they can sing, why does it matter what they look like?
Anyway, it was interesting to read, but didn't change my opinion of him in the slightest. American Idol still bores me and outside of being a model of determination, he can fall off the face of the earth for all I care.
I have respect for Simon, in the sense that he knew what he wanted to do and he went for it. He didn't let anyone tell him it wasn't possible and he was able to prove that he deserved everything he worked for. However, I still think he's the biggest douche I've ever known of. And that, in a sense, is why I mentioned "The Voice" in the first paragraph. The number of times that he mentions that someone didn't have the look or the entire package shocked me... not to mention, him saying that 3 members of the band Westlife had to be fired because they were ugly? Who cares? If they can sing, why does it matter what they look like?
Anyway, it was interesting to read, but didn't change my opinion of him in the slightest. American Idol still bores me and outside of being a model of determination, he can fall off the face of the earth for all I care.
June 15, 2022
not a nice man. bio
August 28, 2022
I don't mean to be rude but this book sent my opinion of Cowell down another notch or two. However, the description of the earlier part of his career was interesting.
April 14, 2022
I read /I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But...: Backstage Gossip from American Idol & the Secrets that Can Make You a Star/, by Simon Cowell.
It was poorly written but Cowell's story is so compelling in several ways.
He's the Twitter of music and TV stars... where he didn't fit the norm of most of the successful stars (in this case), and then everything that could go wrong did go wrong, for a while.
Cowell was in the mail room of a label for 18 months, with no hope of promotion. Cowell tried a series of dead-end jobs while his brother was making 10 times as much money. Pete Waterman, his producer, was an undertaker, prior. When Cowell first had his key idea (below), his label predicted 0 sales and laughed at him (he switched labels). TV show executives wouldn't even let him finish his pitch before kicking him out of conference rooms.
Twitter (and its parent company Obvious Corporation) were saved by one idea (the 140-character tweet). Similarly, Simon Cowell had one key idea as an A&R executive at Artista records, a BMG imprint (Sony). Prior to Cowell's idea marketing/promotion was the biggest budget item of most labels, to promote their music.
Cowell's idea was rather than take a musician or band and spend millions of dollars (or more) promoting their music, to go to established radio and TV stars (and other stars) and create and release albums for them.
Cowell's first album was for WWF wrestlers, and it was a hit, going gold and selling 1.5 million records without the need for label promotion or radio play. Cowell then put out albums for TV characters Zig and Zag, and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Both sold millions of copies without any significant promotion.
Cowell went on from there... you know the rest of the story.
It was poorly written but Cowell's story is so compelling in several ways.
He's the Twitter of music and TV stars... where he didn't fit the norm of most of the successful stars (in this case), and then everything that could go wrong did go wrong, for a while.
Cowell was in the mail room of a label for 18 months, with no hope of promotion. Cowell tried a series of dead-end jobs while his brother was making 10 times as much money. Pete Waterman, his producer, was an undertaker, prior. When Cowell first had his key idea (below), his label predicted 0 sales and laughed at him (he switched labels). TV show executives wouldn't even let him finish his pitch before kicking him out of conference rooms.
Twitter (and its parent company Obvious Corporation) were saved by one idea (the 140-character tweet). Similarly, Simon Cowell had one key idea as an A&R executive at Artista records, a BMG imprint (Sony). Prior to Cowell's idea marketing/promotion was the biggest budget item of most labels, to promote their music.
Cowell's idea was rather than take a musician or band and spend millions of dollars (or more) promoting their music, to go to established radio and TV stars (and other stars) and create and release albums for them.
Cowell's first album was for WWF wrestlers, and it was a hit, going gold and selling 1.5 million records without the need for label promotion or radio play. Cowell then put out albums for TV characters Zig and Zag, and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Both sold millions of copies without any significant promotion.
Cowell went on from there... you know the rest of the story.
November 17, 2023
I mainly wanted to read the book because I’ve always had such a great respect for Simon over the years as a „no-nonsense“ type of guy who arrived at his trade the hard way, all the time knowing exactly nothing but the TOP would be good enough for him and always being honest and speaking the truth despite what everyone else thought of him … he never quit and he just kept right on forging ahead. I have to admit that I found out way more about the music industry than I cared to know and I respect Simon's opinions as he certainly knows the music business inside and out.
So, in case you plan on auditioning or going into the music business … this book with all its information about the music industry would be indeed quite helpful to you. You definitely should absorb every single criticism and word of encouragement that comes out of Simon’s mouth and then you might probably succeed …!
I really have to give Simon such respect for suffering through all of those auditions which obviously were very painful … but he is and always will be absolutely right! I couldn’t agree more with him, having watched countless auditions on TV in various casting shows myself.
So, I having said that, I really enjoyed this book a lot … it’s a quite interesting and entertaining read … I’ve finished it within 24 hours ☺️
So, in case you plan on auditioning or going into the music business … this book with all its information about the music industry would be indeed quite helpful to you. You definitely should absorb every single criticism and word of encouragement that comes out of Simon’s mouth and then you might probably succeed …!
I really have to give Simon such respect for suffering through all of those auditions which obviously were very painful … but he is and always will be absolutely right! I couldn’t agree more with him, having watched countless auditions on TV in various casting shows myself.
So, I having said that, I really enjoyed this book a lot … it’s a quite interesting and entertaining read … I’ve finished it within 24 hours ☺️
November 19, 2017
I picked this book for the '2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge' "book written by someone you admire" task. While I don't exactly admire Simon Cowell, I've always thought that his remarks and observations about music-reality-TV participants to be forthright and spot-on (if not immediately evident to the less-astute viewing audience, then at a later irrevocable point); he's simply got an eye and ear for marketable talent.
That said, in the early teething days of American Idol, especially in the auditions, I thought that Simon was sometimes very unnecessarily caustic in his comments (true though they may be), and other times, just outright rude. At some point, while I still thought that all the uncovering and 'humiliation' of less-talented contestants was not necessary -- in spite suspecting that they probably knew what they were signing up for when they decided to audition -- I understood that televising all the 'drama' made for high viewership and ratings. Taking this into consideration, I cut Simon some slack, but I still would not watch the auditions.
This book is not entirely about the behind-the-scenes of American Idol. It's a memoir of sorts, of Simon's path into a music career, of forging paths where there were none before. Whether you like or dislike Simon, there is no denying that he is an unparalleled talent scout in the music industry -- and if nothing more, therein my admiration lies.
That said, in the early teething days of American Idol, especially in the auditions, I thought that Simon was sometimes very unnecessarily caustic in his comments (true though they may be), and other times, just outright rude. At some point, while I still thought that all the uncovering and 'humiliation' of less-talented contestants was not necessary -- in spite suspecting that they probably knew what they were signing up for when they decided to audition -- I understood that televising all the 'drama' made for high viewership and ratings. Taking this into consideration, I cut Simon some slack, but I still would not watch the auditions.
This book is not entirely about the behind-the-scenes of American Idol. It's a memoir of sorts, of Simon's path into a music career, of forging paths where there were none before. Whether you like or dislike Simon, there is no denying that he is an unparalleled talent scout in the music industry -- and if nothing more, therein my admiration lies.
March 13, 2018
Some info on Cowell's childhood and how he got into the music business, written conversationally. I didn't start watching "Idol" until Season 4; this book goes into depth about the first two seasons, which would have been more interesting if I'd watched the show then and knew more of the contestants he was talking about.
The description on this page is inaccurate. While there was a brief reference to a joke scene they filmed, showing Simon and Paula kissing (because of the false rumors about them), there was certainly no description of "what it was like" to kiss her, which is something I could not be less interested in, anyway. Really, it's mostly about the business.
The description on this page is inaccurate. While there was a brief reference to a joke scene they filmed, showing Simon and Paula kissing (because of the false rumors about them), there was certainly no description of "what it was like" to kiss her, which is something I could not be less interested in, anyway. Really, it's mostly about the business.
July 4, 2018
I had watched some of American Idol over the years but I wasn't obsessed and I definitely didn't vote. I always thought Simon Cowell was the best judge and thought he made the show a true phenomenon. People may think he's rude, but I think people were probably more rude to him than he was to contestants. He's a professional and honest and probably helped more people in their career than any other judge! I really thought his criticism about the music industry and words of wisdom spoke across to a lot of other careers.
I think I enjoyed the book more than I did actually watching American Idol.
I think I enjoyed the book more than I did actually watching American Idol.
May 1, 2023
I feel like people rating this book didn’t bother to read the jacket prior to picking it up. This is exactly what I expected based on the summary provided on the back. A little bit of backstory on Simon Cowell. A little bit behind-the-scenes expose on American Idol. A few snarky opinions about musicians that are pretty darn accurate. And some basic advice for breaking into the music industry…or not.
Is this book going to be the great American (or British) novel? No. Was it a quick and easy read from an industry leader who delivered exactly what he promised? Yes.
Is this book going to be the great American (or British) novel? No. Was it a quick and easy read from an industry leader who delivered exactly what he promised? Yes.
August 10, 2023
Read it in 2 days. It was interesting to read his little autobiography at start up. As the book progressed to American Idol 1 & 2 it got a little tedious. Someone wanting to get into the musical field might want to read the book as he gives advice for potential wannabees! I must say after reading the book my opinion of him has positively changed. He is very driven and honest (however crudely).
November 8, 2018
Picked this book up on a whim at the library and got hooked into it. I don’t even like Simon Cowell, but have a new respect for him and why he is so critical as a judge. You can’t be nice! And sometimes the truth hurts. Very interesting reading.
April 14, 2018
Fun read. unfortunately I don't recall most of the contestants though..
January 25, 2019
Picked it up at a book adoption. Nothing special. Super easy read. Great loo book (to read when you're doing your business).
April 8, 2020
Story about the authors life and experiences with American Idol. C
August 9, 2020
horrible writing. boring as sin. Take your own advice Simon, and stick with what you do well, which is NOT writing
January 19, 2023
DNF. Not my cup of tea.
October 25, 2015
This book first came out around the time that American Idol was still new. I wanted to read this book to learn about how the reality singing contest first got started and know more about Simon Cowell. Simon Cowell is a music producer and judge for various singing and talent contests such as X Factor, American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent. He is known for his blunt honesty, which can cause upset with the contestants, audience and other judges. Some people hate him for his remarks but I don’t have a problem with what he says. I think he’s just a straight forward person. The book even includes hate mail that people have sent to him.
Simon Cowell is the son of Julie Brett (1925-2015) and Eric Selig Phillip Cowell, Sr. (1918–1999). He has a brother named Nicholas and four half siblings John, Tony, Michael and June. The Cowells were an affluent family as the father was a successful estate agent. They lived nearby a film studio and often had celebrities over at their house.
Simon wasn’t that interested in school and did various jobs before deciding that he was interested in working in the music industry. His father helped him to get interviews through his connections; which some people didn’t like. Simon worked his way from the mail room to music executive.
In 2000, he was approached by Nigel Lythgoe to be a judge in a new reality show called Pop Idol which became so successful that international versions were launched. Simon went on to judge on other reality contests like X Factor and America and Britain’s Got Talent.
My impression of Simon Cowell is that he is a hard worker, ambitious and cynical. I think his confidence has paid off for him throughout his career. He was never shy about talking about what he wanted and his persistence paid off. There are instances in the book where he would ring someone non-stop for an agreement.
I thought he was also good at spotting current trends and cashing in on them. When the Power Rangers was very popular, he got the idea to produce a soundtrack as well as one for the World Wrestling Foundation. Others scoffed at the idea but millions of albums were sold. I also got the impression that his idea of success is selling a lot of records rather than music as an art form .I don’t think that’s a bad thing because the music industry is a business and he is a music executive not an artist.
I think he has a talent for spotting talented artists and finding hit songs. He knew the Spice Girls would be hugely successful and he had wanted to buy Baby One More time which at the time was going to an unknown singer called Britney Spears. He also wasn’t afraid of telling people if he thought they couldn’t make it even when some of them were already famous and wanted to branch into singing.
There’s so many artists mentioned in this book and their songs that I went on Youtube to find the ones that were in the book. As all the songs are old now, some are pretty dated but at the time they were quite good. I didn’t watch much of Pop Idol or American Idol when it was on tv so I went to watch some of the episodes he mentioned in the book as well.
I think aspiring singers and entertainers would benefit from reading this book. The book features advice for entertainers wanting to become famous. Simon suggests aspiring singers should work hard on their craft; they should know what suits their voice, train, work on their image and find a platform for experience. He lists examples of famous stars who were first actors before they became singers such as Kylie Minogue and how it’s good to have an established fan base. Now aspiring talent have so many avenues to become stars, there’s so many reality contests and there’s always Youtube.
Simon Cowell is the son of Julie Brett (1925-2015) and Eric Selig Phillip Cowell, Sr. (1918–1999). He has a brother named Nicholas and four half siblings John, Tony, Michael and June. The Cowells were an affluent family as the father was a successful estate agent. They lived nearby a film studio and often had celebrities over at their house.
Simon wasn’t that interested in school and did various jobs before deciding that he was interested in working in the music industry. His father helped him to get interviews through his connections; which some people didn’t like. Simon worked his way from the mail room to music executive.
In 2000, he was approached by Nigel Lythgoe to be a judge in a new reality show called Pop Idol which became so successful that international versions were launched. Simon went on to judge on other reality contests like X Factor and America and Britain’s Got Talent.
My impression of Simon Cowell is that he is a hard worker, ambitious and cynical. I think his confidence has paid off for him throughout his career. He was never shy about talking about what he wanted and his persistence paid off. There are instances in the book where he would ring someone non-stop for an agreement.
I thought he was also good at spotting current trends and cashing in on them. When the Power Rangers was very popular, he got the idea to produce a soundtrack as well as one for the World Wrestling Foundation. Others scoffed at the idea but millions of albums were sold. I also got the impression that his idea of success is selling a lot of records rather than music as an art form .I don’t think that’s a bad thing because the music industry is a business and he is a music executive not an artist.
I think he has a talent for spotting talented artists and finding hit songs. He knew the Spice Girls would be hugely successful and he had wanted to buy Baby One More time which at the time was going to an unknown singer called Britney Spears. He also wasn’t afraid of telling people if he thought they couldn’t make it even when some of them were already famous and wanted to branch into singing.
There’s so many artists mentioned in this book and their songs that I went on Youtube to find the ones that were in the book. As all the songs are old now, some are pretty dated but at the time they were quite good. I didn’t watch much of Pop Idol or American Idol when it was on tv so I went to watch some of the episodes he mentioned in the book as well.
I think aspiring singers and entertainers would benefit from reading this book. The book features advice for entertainers wanting to become famous. Simon suggests aspiring singers should work hard on their craft; they should know what suits their voice, train, work on their image and find a platform for experience. He lists examples of famous stars who were first actors before they became singers such as Kylie Minogue and how it’s good to have an established fan base. Now aspiring talent have so many avenues to become stars, there’s so many reality contests and there’s always Youtube.
March 1, 2014
I find Simon Cowell a very interesting man. He was born in the Lambeth district of London, England on 7 October 1959. He comes from a large family of six brothers and one sister but is best known as a is a television music and talent competition judge, A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality.
I enjoyed this autobiography. It is completely honest about how he feels, although he seems to be a little harsh sometimes, but at least he is consistent. It appears that he has been that way since he was a child, so it is not like he is faking that.
You may wonder why I ended up reading this autobiography as it is not my usual fare. I was looking through the village library and decided to choose a non-fiction book for a change. I ended up finding this one. I found it interesting and enjoyable. You either like Simon Cowell or you do not I quite like him and find him interesting. This book justified that. The main thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that it is brutally honest. Honest about everything up to that point in his life. Also, it was interesting learning about his past life. He worked his way from the mail room, to where he is now, a multi-millionaire running his own companies and there is no doubt he was persistent. I respect him for that, and this book made me make more sense of him, and his passion for the music and entertainment industries. Also, the some of the funny remarks made me laugh.
The book covers his life from his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent. He also likes to be center stage. In this book, he tells the stories of his first insult he made, the first time he gave a music criticism , and the first image makeover he made. The book also covers the birth of American Idol and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges’ squabbles, juicy rumours, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.
I really did enjoy this book, but I am not sure I would take time out to read a sequel, if Simon Cowell wrote one!
I enjoyed this autobiography. It is completely honest about how he feels, although he seems to be a little harsh sometimes, but at least he is consistent. It appears that he has been that way since he was a child, so it is not like he is faking that.
You may wonder why I ended up reading this autobiography as it is not my usual fare. I was looking through the village library and decided to choose a non-fiction book for a change. I ended up finding this one. I found it interesting and enjoyable. You either like Simon Cowell or you do not I quite like him and find him interesting. This book justified that. The main thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that it is brutally honest. Honest about everything up to that point in his life. Also, it was interesting learning about his past life. He worked his way from the mail room, to where he is now, a multi-millionaire running his own companies and there is no doubt he was persistent. I respect him for that, and this book made me make more sense of him, and his passion for the music and entertainment industries. Also, the some of the funny remarks made me laugh.
The book covers his life from his days in the mailroom at EMI Records to the creation of American Idol, Simon has always had a knack for judging talent. He also likes to be center stage. In this book, he tells the stories of his first insult he made, the first time he gave a music criticism , and the first image makeover he made. The book also covers the birth of American Idol and all the dreadful auditions, bad hair days, judges’ squabbles, juicy rumours, surprise triumphs, and #1 singles that followed.
I really did enjoy this book, but I am not sure I would take time out to read a sequel, if Simon Cowell wrote one!
May 1, 2013
I really loved reading this book and here was the review that I gave it:
Book Cover - I really liked this book cover and found it to be attractive to the eye. The title of
this book was great with the way it is incorporated throughout the book. *
Story - The book was about the life of Simon Cowell and also the start of of American Idol. I
really enjoyed reading Simon's background and the details in American Idol that he shared
that otherwise you would never know. *
Author - I am a fan of Simon Cowell and think that though he may seem rude at times that all in
all he does have a very respectable opinion on the music business and that people looking
to go into this industry should take his advice because he does know what he is doing and
he does know how to push you to the top and why wouldn't you take the advice from someone
with this much credibility? *
Religious Factor - There really wasn't anything religious about this book in any way, shape, form
or fashion so for that reason I wasn't able to give it a star for this
category. NO STAR
Cleanliness - There were a few choice words used through the book and God's name was taken in vein
on a couple of occations which does not thrill me at all but other than that this
was a clean book. NO STAR
Overall Review: I really liked reading this book aside from the few choice words used throughout. Like I said in the review above I am a fan of Simon Cowell because of his respectable opinion making the book even more enjoyable for me to read. I feel that in order to do something and do something well that you should follow the example of people who are in the position that you would like to be in and follow their guidance and advice and I think this book was really good for that reason. For that reason I would recommend it to someone looking to get started in the music industry.
Book Cover - I really liked this book cover and found it to be attractive to the eye. The title of
this book was great with the way it is incorporated throughout the book. *
Story - The book was about the life of Simon Cowell and also the start of of American Idol. I
really enjoyed reading Simon's background and the details in American Idol that he shared
that otherwise you would never know. *
Author - I am a fan of Simon Cowell and think that though he may seem rude at times that all in
all he does have a very respectable opinion on the music business and that people looking
to go into this industry should take his advice because he does know what he is doing and
he does know how to push you to the top and why wouldn't you take the advice from someone
with this much credibility? *
Religious Factor - There really wasn't anything religious about this book in any way, shape, form
or fashion so for that reason I wasn't able to give it a star for this
category. NO STAR
Cleanliness - There were a few choice words used through the book and God's name was taken in vein
on a couple of occations which does not thrill me at all but other than that this
was a clean book. NO STAR
Overall Review: I really liked reading this book aside from the few choice words used throughout. Like I said in the review above I am a fan of Simon Cowell because of his respectable opinion making the book even more enjoyable for me to read. I feel that in order to do something and do something well that you should follow the example of people who are in the position that you would like to be in and follow their guidance and advice and I think this book was really good for that reason. For that reason I would recommend it to someone looking to get started in the music industry.
March 23, 2012
This guy is a living scum. While being completely tone deaf (ask the like of Stok, Aitken or Waterman); i've never seen and can't possibly imagining him dancing without throwing up either.
In brief, the man is totally Talentless.
The fact that Mr Cowell has made a fortune from judging music talents contests, represents another example of the destructive force of Capitalism and its complete Non-sense.
Some considers him an astute businessman - False, for anything successful he's done, the idea behind was stolen from someone else (pop idol). Also, he isn't an original as he has released Unchain Melody at least half dozen times with different pseudo-artists.
He is a fake as much as his teeth and botox face.
Even when he talks, he is acting out years of tuitions from overpriced master publicists: his rudeness is manufactured!!!
Every real artist should despise this corruptor of young minds - he is sending all the wrong messages about Music and Art.
In brief, the man is totally Talentless.
The fact that Mr Cowell has made a fortune from judging music talents contests, represents another example of the destructive force of Capitalism and its complete Non-sense.
Some considers him an astute businessman - False, for anything successful he's done, the idea behind was stolen from someone else (pop idol). Also, he isn't an original as he has released Unchain Melody at least half dozen times with different pseudo-artists.
He is a fake as much as his teeth and botox face.
Even when he talks, he is acting out years of tuitions from overpriced master publicists: his rudeness is manufactured!!!
Every real artist should despise this corruptor of young minds - he is sending all the wrong messages about Music and Art.
November 22, 2013
This book was not what I thought it would be. I expected, like most biographies, an interesting tale of the subjected celebrity's life from past to present. A story that would excite or intrigue. From this book I received only a little of what I expected. The beginning of the book was biographical in that it began with Simon Cowell's childhood and told briefly of how he worked his way up in the music industry to the present day (that is, the present when the book was written). However, as I said that recollection is only brief and brushes over the story of his life with few details. The majority of the book consisted of a simple retelling of the events of the popular tv shows that Cowell was involved in, namely: Pop Idol and American Idol. As this was the topic of most of the book, I was disappointed with the vast majority of it and quickly became uninterested. I wouldn't recommend this book if you're looking for something properly biographical, depicting the life of Simon Cowell
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