American Idol Finals - Live Thread!!

Fox ^ | May 21, 2003 | all of us

[CarmelValleyite]

I think Ruben can sing. I don't think he can sing for very long and needs to pick his songs very carefully. I noticed the raspy quality to his voice a couple of weeks back and it's gotten worse. Many on this thread have noticed it too. How will he do in the long run? Anyone's guess.

I, however, will purchase Clay's CD the minute it is available. "Raspy" I can do without.

[RedWhiteBlue]

The problem is the voting system. Each contestant has their own number, and the lines are open for a set amount of time. Fans for each can try to vote over and over again. If the lines are open three hours, and there are enough fans for each calling the entire time, the system will only be able to take about the same number of votes for each contestant, regardless of how many fans each one has.

Suppose Clay has 10,000,000 fans and Ruben has 7,500,000 fans (or the other way around -- it doesn't matter). That's enough on either side so that the lines are constantly taking the maximum amount of calls for both, and they're going to end up with roughly the same number of votes.

The only way to find out who really has the most fans (and will therefore sell the most records) and to make it fair is to somehow allow each voter only one vote.

I only managed to get through 2 times last night for Clay, and now I'm going to buy his album. That speaks louder than some call-in contest that only proves how many calls the phone system is able to receive in three hours.

[ejdrapes]

<"Ruben won because he is BLACK. The white person won last time -- this is OH SO TYPICAL!!!!!!!!!"

You're response is OH SO TYPICAL! I figured if Ruben won people would say it's just because he's black (even though Fox claims the vote difference was only 1,300 out of 24 million cast). I wanted Clay to win because the judges were soo biased in favor of Ruben, but I didn't think he was that much better than Ruben. It was a tossup and Ruben got lucky. I'm sure Clay will get just as much attention though.

[ShadowDancer]

I will debate that with you gladly. Clay is gruesome to watch and nowhere near a 'pop' idol. Only three other people in my memory have been able to pull off a good voice while not being able to tolerate looking at them and those were Johnny Mathis, Barry Manilow and Elton John. He is none of those men.

[OldFriend]

Ruben can't sing and he proved it again tonite.

The proof will be when the two CDs are released at the same time. That is how we can vote and the truth will be known. Buy Clay's CD!

[mel]

What happened in Raleigh with the phones

[ozaukeemom]

I never got through last night at all. Funny, how in previous weeks, I had no problem.
All right! Darryl Worley is singing! Woohoo!

[LurkerNoMore!]

Heads up on the Country channel

[joyful1]

"Freepers should be above posting bigoted and hateful comments about ANY of the contestants. Leave that to the losers on DU."

Clay is clearly a better singer, period.

[joyful1]

"Freepers should be above posting bigoted and hateful comments about ANY of the contestants. Leave that to the losers on DU."

Clay is clearly a better singer, period.

[JustPiper]

I came along with the NBC Primetime, Hey what channel was Lucy on?

[LurkerNoMore!]

Did you see the POW's in audience mouthing the words?

[OldFriend]

Bigoted comments to some but the truth to others. If you have bigotry in your heart then you accuse others of the same.

Ruben cannot sing.......there were other contestants during this run who had better voices and at least one of those black contestants was on the stage tonite.

[Capt. Jake]

Actually, Barry Manilow is the precise comparison that comes to mind. I watched for the first time tonight and thought Clay's voice to be much more impressive. Maybe I missed something.

[FreepEverything]

[I]I said that a few posts back. It wouldn't have mattered if EITHER could sing. WHite female won first contest, NO WAY a white male was winning this one.[/I]

I thought only liberals saw race in everything.

All you Clay lovers, it doesn't matter who won except the name of AI, that dork will be fine, according to you Clay lovers, he'll sell a lot of CDs and have people go to his shows.

Go Ruben. Go Fox.

[fightinJAG]

Amen, Pokey! I love you, man.

[RAT Patrol]

Sorry I missed the thread. I'm more disappointed than I thought I'd be. I love Ruben, but Clay is better. I think they will both be rich; Clay will just be richer. I'm trying to not be a sore loser. If they hadn't pushed Ruben unfairly I wouldn't be feeling this way now. Oh well. In the big picture of life, this really doesn't matter at all.

[Howlin]

I just don't see why it's racist to say that AI had decided a black guy was going to win. He's been their favorite since the beginning.

[Carolinamom]

Frank Sinatra didn't look so hot when he first started.

[ewing]

I think Reuben is the better 'natural' singer. IMO, Clay is a great performer, but he just seemed to be trying too hard over- selling his songs..