Steven Tyler talks American Idol!

By Fred Topel hollywoodnews.com: When Steven Tyler sings a song with Aerosmith, he takes it to the next level. He belts it out, runs around stage and even howls in between the words. He’s planning to do that as a judge on American Idol too, Tyler told the Television Critics Association today at their winter press tour. “I think what Idol’s all about now is taking it up a notch, no more no less,” Tyler said. “It’s just looking around, seeing what’s going on. One of the strongest forces today is singing, voice, people singing, stardom. It’s what everybody wants it seems. This is where I’ve lived. I think so. We’re looking for something again different. I could sing good in the beginning. I never really laid back on that. I was looking for the character of it all and what it all meant. I think that’s what we’re looking for this year. It’s just taking it up a notch.” If one of those hopeful singers doesn’t take it to the next level, Tyler will tell the truth. “I’d say, ‘You didn’t bring it. You didn’t bring what we need to see.’ If I didn’t see it, the attitude, you need to bring the whole thing. You’ve got to have the voice, you gotta have what it’s all about.” The American Idols will be missing a formative experience that was vital to Aerosmith becoming what it is. Perhaps Tyler can bring his wisdom to a different group of hopefuls. “I started in ’64, 65 moving up the ranks and finally figuring out what it is. These kids have it so much harder. They haven’t had the good graces to play clubs and get beaten down that way. They have mom and dad telling them they’re great, they feel entitled because they watch the show. They gotta come up and really give it up and it’s just excruciating. I’ve got this melodic sensibility and I’ve learned it’s not just about singing, it’s about character as well. What it takes to be on the road, because it’s a storm out there. To be able to dance and sing is one thing, but to be able to handle fame. To be able to put your finger on that thing, I think I know what it is.” Aerosmith just finished a tour, so that opened Tyler up for American Idol. “We’re just on a break. What people don’t know [...]