LIVE THREAD: American Idol Finals

http://www.freerepublic.com ^ | May 20, 2003

[Howlin]

Live thread for comments on the American Idol finals Tuesday night, May 20, 2003!!!!

[Pokey78]

So, he sweats. Big deal. He'll be just fine for the tour.

Does he need to lose some? Sure. But some of the snide remarks I've seen bandied around by some about Ruben are beneath any FR poster, or should be.

Should I say that Clay Aiken is so skinny he must have hookworms? Of course not. And if I did, Howlin would kick my ass. hehe

[Pokey78]

We need some pics!

[merry10]

He'll be fine for the tour...if he loses 100 lbs and works out. Hard to believe he played college football for 3 years.

[JustPiper]

In 3 hours we got through once on Ruben, had to be a fluke to do even that! Man!

[Pokey78]

More:

Finalists Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken reach into the crowd to greet fans as show host Ryan Seacrest (center), and Paul Anka look on after the final competition.

[pbear8]

I got through three times whilst watching 24. I have two more hours left to vote!

[JustPiper]

So, he sweats. Big deal. He'll be just fine for the tour. Does he need to lose some? Sure. But some of the snide remarks I've seen bandied around by some about Ruben are beneath any FR poster, or should be. Should I say that Clay Aiken is so skinny he must have hookworms? Of course not.

Makes me feel as a Reuben fan, that it is almost like the libs have landed...LOL, seriously someone said they didn't want to argue with me and I have been nothing but nice. I wonder why some fans are so rabid? Not good ;( thanx for bringing this up Pokey.

[JustPiper]

Pokey? Would you not sweat under hot lights wearing this?

Who dresses this big boy with such heavy clothes half the time?

[JustPiper]

West Coast for Clay?

[A CA Guy]

Well, I'm being practical. Reuben looks like touring could kill him and this Clay guy comes off to me like an over-the-top Martin Short with a touch of Palsy in the left eye.

That's the truth.

Reuben's voice is more bearable because Clay is way too synthetic, but he is healthy enough to do the appearances.

So, it is a toss up and there and I see these two as not being all that great.

I wouldn't go see either even if given the tickets.

[JustPiper]

A 24 fan, do you know how rare that is here? And you did not post on my 24 thread

Here

[cyncooper]

Well, I was able to get in three votes for Clay and I'm in Arizona. I'm not sure if AI airs at the same time in CA or an hour later.

With that I'll say I've done my part.

[fightinJAG]

Thanks for the ping, Howlin, although I couldn't make it during the show. Haven't read the thread yet, either, but will say I thought Clay did a GREAT job tonight.

Ruben was the one I thought was off.

[bonfire]

Don't know if this has been posted yet: Clay's first song was called "This Is The Night" and will be his first single out in June. I downloaded it off IMESH and it's gorgeous!

[pbear8]

'Puter and TV not in same room, couldn't post until 10:00 pdt.

Always watch '24', husband doesn't.

Got in three votes for Clay, will try for more.

[pbear8]

JJJJJJJJJJJJJaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggg, where have you been?

Thought Ruben didn't know the last song at all. The judges gushed themselves silly about it, but truly that song didn't work.

Loved 'Here, There and Everywhere', especially nice with harp.

[cyncooper]

Aha!

Was able to get in a fourth vote for Clay before signing off!

[pbear8]

Excellent work cc, am staying up for the 'Tonight Show' anyway so I'll keep on voting.

[fightinJAG]

Pbear!!!

Man, I could not make that trip up and down the hallway tonight (bad knees), so had to settle for watching the show without you all.

I thought Ruben was off. When he gets out of his Barry White mode, he just does not have the range or power. Plus I thought he might have a heart attack or something. Don't get me wrong: I LOVE his voice and think he will make a great and enduring recording artist. But he can't compare to Clay.

I don't know why the judges were gushing over Ruben. I think there is something about hearing it live that is different from us hearing it through the boobtube. Still, nothing Ruben did tonight moved me.

Clay, on the other hand, knocked it out of the park all three times. I really liked his first song---I think he wrote it! Anyway, it's #1 on amazon.com's preorder list. Do the judges know that, hmmm?

[bootless]

I thought "Here, There" was beautiful - understated, a nice arrangement that wasn't overblown. I didn't think it was a safe choice - there were some damn hard notes to reach in that song!

AT&T text messaging works fine - phones are busy.

I nearly drifted off in the middle of Ruben's last song, which I just didn't like to begin with. I liked A House is not a Home - always have - and I am philosophically opposed to Imagine. He did OK with it, but the last song - ugh - he was intermittently sharp throughout. Clay did a really good job with Bridge, Vegas arrangement notwithstanding. I wanted to hear a purer arrangement to showcase his voice - not the choir and brass.