American Idol Finals - Live Thread!!

Fox ^ | May 21, 2003 | all of us

[JustPiper]

If Clay sang to me, I'd pass out before I could turn out the lights. lol Well, I adored him from day one and still think he is a doll, but the music taste is what is subjective to me. It would take alot to make me pass out Matthew McConnaghy (sp) -smiles-

[floriduh voter]

MM is cute, you're right and he's not a Hollywood sellout. Passing out is subjective too. lol

[JustPiper]

Passing out is subjective too. lol

Well, when I almost did last July, I was determined not to die, so is this subjective, I dunno ;)

[floriduh voter]

I guess we could just say swooning instead of the medical condition of passing out. I almost passed out at Dubya's Tax Relief Rally in Tampa in June of 2001. It was just too hot but there we are two years later getting more tax relief.

[JustPiper]

Merry, its the Teddy Bear thing like Gladys Knight said. Its the dimples like Paula said. For some it is exactly his size, many of us don't find it offensive. And some of us, especially myself, grew up with Motown as my main music, so Soul music is for me. I saw so many groups live back then. Smokey, Four Tops, Spinners etc. Before them I was a Beatle fan. Disco did nothing for me. Dancing to Motown was more fun. For me Ruben reminds me of those happy times when life was easier for a teen and dancing was a ball.

[merry10]

I'm not offended by his size in the least; it's his heart, and lungs, and cholestrol level, etc and for him to worry about. I've always just wondered why the attraction to heavy black men, and not so for the women. Just wondering, JustPiper :)

[JustPiper]

I absolutely love Queen Latifiah!!! But Aretha is a bit much for me. I knew Chaka Kahn in her very early days and her size is fine with me.

[herkbird]

I went back and re-watched my recording of the final show and Clay had plenty of opportunities to look at the card Ryan was waving around. Since Clay made that remark about seeing who won five minutes before hand. I noticed on two occassions when Clay glanced at the card and then made strange fascial expressions.

I would say that Clay did see the wining results early because Ryan was waving the card right in front of Clay's face for over 5 minutes. Ryan was a meathead for not even trying to hide whatever was on the card. It could also be possible that there was nothing on the card in the first place. Just another way to add more suspense to the shows ending, like there isn't enough already.

I really hated to see all the sweat, fat, racism, and gay remarks thrown into many of the comments posted through out this tread. Life is hell for everyone, rich or poor, gay or straight, fat or skinny, short or tall, and regardless of skin color.

No one really has a perfect life, although some think others do. Life is a battle for everyone, just think of those who are much worse off than you. Being alive is just being part of the food chain, although here were just talking about how people treat others.

One minute you can be flying high and the next instance crushed and crippled.

[JustPiper]

I really hated to see all the sweat, fat, racism, and gay remarks thrown into many of the comments posted through out this tread. Life is hell for everyone, rich or poor, gay or straight, fat or skinny, short or tall, and regardless of skin color. No one really has a perfect life, although some think others do. Life is a battle for everyone, just think of those who are much worse off than you. Being alive is just being part of the food chain, although here were just talking about how people treat others. One minute you can be flying high and the next instance crushed and crippled.

Bump and Applause!!! I think you should be the Presdential speech writer!

[fightinJAG]

in case you missed this

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/918125/posts

[fightinJAG]

also this---


TEDDY AIN'T READY

By ADAM BUCKMAN

---

The Velvet Teddy Bear, Ruben Studdard (above), hasn't shown much fizz during his first week on the talk-show circuit. Runner-up Clay Aiken may have more of what it takes to move on, says Adam.


May 26, 2003 -- CLAY should have won.
And it's not necessarily because he sings any better than Ruben Studdard.

That's a matter of personal taste. My own opinion was that Clay Aiken aced more of his performances than Ruben did during the recently concluded second edition of "American Idol."

However, a vote's a vote and the fact that it was so close indicated that America was pretty evenly divided on their talents (and don't even try to draw me into a debate about whether the voting was fixed somewhow - I'm just not buying that).



But singing ability is only part of the picture. Lots of people can sing. What it really comes down to is personality. And now that Ruben's on the talk-show circuit, I'm wondering how on earth he's ever going to make it.

Now, before you flood my office with hate mail, let me assure everybody I have nothing personally against Ruben.

He seems like a polite, soft-spoken guy who enjoys close relationships with his family, community and church.

But could he be any more lethargic? Entertaining is about energy. Entertainers at the top of their game project an electricity that infects an audience, whether they're watching in-person or on television. And that includes non-singing appearances on talk shows.

I said it about Clay Aiken from Day 1: This kid has the sparkle. You can see it in his eyes everytime he opens his mouth to speak or, especially, to sing (I can't resist saying it again too: His voice really is a miracle of nature).

But Ruben? This guy has no pep whatsoever. On the talk shows last week - including "The Tonight Show" and then the next morning on "The Today Show" - Ruben projected no inner life at all.

What he projected was disinterest. Here he was on the two highest-rated late-night and morning TV shows back-to-back and he seemed like he couldn't have cared less.

He just sat there like he was in a stupor, and answered Jay Leno's and Matt Lauer's questions in monosyllables. Watching him, I wanted to grab him by the shoulders and yell, "Hey, Ruben! Will you please put some zip in your dip?!"

Shaking him out of his laid-back demeanor will be Job 1 for whoever is handed the task of molding Ruben into a professional.

Clay Aiken might lack the official title of "American Idol," but he already possesses the personality necessary to make it big.

Ruben, on the other hand, has the pipes, but whether he can be drawn out of his self-described country boy's shell remains to be seen.

[floriduh voter]

I've been meaning to get Kelly's cd. I have a Borders gift card. Need to get it done. Then, I need to get Clay's stuff. I missed a lot of posts and just caught this one today. Maybe I'll get caught up. lol Or not.

[floriduh voter]

Rift riff. I spelled it phoenetically. Sounds like there's a "T" in it to me.

[pbear8]

I didn't stay awake to watch R on Leno. Thanks for giving us your take. You are correct, nice guy and talented though he may be, Ruben is no intellectual giant. I wonder how they are going to market a man who speaks in monosyllables.

Well Simon got who he wanted, let's see him make it work.

[JustPiper]

Maybe by season 3 hey? ;)

[stlnative]

Hey I just saw Clay on Fox & Friends this morning and what a GREAT person he is! - Clay is amazing with how he handles himself and his sense of humor is great! He is not shy and is a happy and cheerful person! - Clay is the real winner in my opinion and maybe him not winning top spot on American Idol may have been a blessing in disguise for him.

Who knows we might see him as part of the Fox & Friends crew in the future!

[stlnative]

Here is the profile on AI's Randy Jackson

NAME: Randy "The Emperor" Jackson

MARITAL STATUS: Divorced; remarried

CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNEY: Bass

YEARS WITH JOURNEY: 1983 and 1986

ALBUMS WITH JOURNEY: Frontiers, Raised on Radio

OTHER BANDS: Mariah Carey, Tracy Chapman, Billy Cobham, Destiny's Child, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Trey Lorenz, Patti LaBelle, Madonna, NSYNC, and many more.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES: Of the four musicians hired to fill the shoes of Ross Valory and Steve Smith during the recording of Raised on Radio and the subsequent tour (1986), only Randy Jackson appeared both on the album itself and live with the band, thus making him the only one who came close to being considered a full-fledged member of the band. He had also previously appeared as an additional bassist on Frontiers (1983). His membership was, of course, temporary; the band cut the tour short due to Steve Perry's exhaustion and went on a hiatus which lasted ten years. During the hiatus, Randy maintained his friendship with Steve Perry, and helped him put together his band for the For the Love of Strange Medecine solo album (1994) and tour (1995). Following the hiatus, Smith and Valory returned to the band for Trial by Fire (1996), thus eliminating the possibility of a return to Journey for Randy Jackson.

Randy's bio from the American Idol Website reads as follows: "Randy Jackson is a twenty-year music industry veteran. For eight years, he was the V.P. of A&R at Columbia Records followed by four years as Senior V.P. of A&R at MCA Records.

"Randy has recorded, toured and performed with the likes of: *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child and many more.

"Randy has worked on over one thousand gold and multi-platinum albums. With his amazing talent, immense studio knowledge, performing, touring and record company experience, Randy has become one of today's most highly sought-after music industry experts."

[pbear8]

I just saw a few minutes of 'Dayside' with Linda Vester. Ruben and Clay were on. Whilst I had troubled decerning everything that Ruben said, Clay was quite articulate and funny.

I agree with your observations, not 'winning' may be best, lower expectations, less pressure, etc.

[pbear8]

I meant discerning. Hmmm...

[JustPiper]

I so miss Steve Perry, I think his voice is one of the most rare and best I have heard in 51 years! Wonder what happened to him?