This week has been a huge reminder of the importance of democracy in America and taking advantage of our right to vote. Of course, millions more votes are cast in singing competitions every week than were tallied for the presidential election, but you know, we American’s have our priorities. And our cell phone wielding teenaged girls.

We’ve got more than our fair share of singing competition shows to choose from, but despite the variety of the selection, the actual contestants who end up making it to the later rounds are often boring or irrelevant. It’s tragic, really, because so many more interesting acts fall short just because they aren’t promoted as well by the show.

The problem is that people vote based on a contestant’s likability or their backstory instead of their ability as an entertainer. Notice I said entertainer, not singer. The best acts are not always the best singers. Sure, Susan Boyle has an impressive voice, but who wants to listen to that on the radio unless it’s in the van on your retirement home’s monthly trip to Walmart?

These shows play up the contestants who make for the most buzzworthy stories, but when those contestants win, we find ourselves stuck with a winner that actually has no place on the radio right now. We need to stop voting for people just because Simon Cowell tells us to, because he may be an evil genius most of the time, but he’s not always right.

So here’s a drink to help you through two hours of commercial breaks and Mario Lopez next time you find yourself watching X Factor.

THE SIMON COWELL SHOT

1 oz Amaretto

1 oz Kahlua

½ part coconut rum

2 oz butterscotch schnapps

BONUS DRINK: THE EMBLEM 3

6 kegs of Natty Light

Throw a kegger on the beach. Invite some crazy honeys. Put on your party snapback and go nuts.