William Hung is to singing like Sofia Coppola is to acting. He has been given a free pass if you will to release his own album, against what should have been better judgement on behalf of the recording company involved. The only difference is that 'The Godfather III' wasn't really that bad and Hung's album 'Inspiration' is the saddest thing committed to disc.

Deep down I say good on you William, your lack of talent shone like a stream of bat's piss (to paraphrase Monty Python), that someone from that wacky theme park we call America was bound to sign you up. Because it wasn't bad enough TV shows weren't wasting record company dollars finding above average karaoke singers and transforming them into a teenager's wet dream while good talent are left to rot. Now we have the situation of getting someone who is out and out bad (an argument nobody can deny except for Hung) and making him a recording star.

As we speak, the next unsigned talent from Bumfuck, Idaho is contemplating slashing his wrists because unless he wants to look like a right goose on national television, he will spend the better part of his life playing sets at his local bar. The one that hasn't yet invested in a jukebox.

This isn't to say the practice of record companies choosing the quick buck over the seasoned talent is a new thing. Just that when you think they can't stoop any lower...well...out pops this album. 'Inspiration' is a 45-minute recreation of a 'squirming in your seat' visit to a dodgy 'Karaoke' bar. However, unlike the real thing where someone sings their one song and sits down to muted applause (and sly chuckles), they go ahead and perform another dozen abysmal cover versions. This is all because there is someone up the back (who kind of looks like Paula Abdul) screaming out "Bravo William, give us an Encore!"

In the end we are unlikely to see a William Hung episode of 'Behind The Music' where his third wife tells of his cocaine addiction and his penchant for hamsters and PVC piping. Nor should we expect in 20 years time to see Lil' Bow Wow giving the introduction to William's induction into Rock 'n' Roll's Hall of Fame. All he will be is a trivia question: Who, in 2004, defied the gods (ie. Simon Cowell) and released his own album?

This gets a One Bone rating for the mere fact that it will be the preferred torture music used by the U.S. military from this day forward.