American Idol Finals - Live Thread!!

Fox ^ | May 21, 2003 | all of us

[JustPiper]

The Bachelor, After the Finale!!!!!

WE loved Bob so much and wait for the time he is on Oprah, which has been often ;) Trying to draft my niece to apply for one of the 25 bachelorettes, but what she stand a chance being she is a size 14?

[Howlin]

I wish Clay would go with somebody else besides Simon. I'm really turned off to him now!

[ewing]

I think both are so talented there really are no 'losers..' Reuben may not have exceptional range but he uses his talents to the best of his abiliites.

[HHFi]

I dialed a zillion times for Clay last night and I never once got through.

Ditto that from me. I don't buy the argument that "the system was overloaded." The producers knew how many calls to expect, and they should have been prepared for it if they didn't want to face accusations that the show is rigged. Ruben was obviously anointed to win from day one, and it didn't matter that Clay has about 100 times more talent.

My wife is a professional singer with perfect pitch, and Ruben made her squint with pain, he went off-key so often. Even during his victory song, he was so far off, he would have needed a pack of bloodhounds to find his way back. I would have been willing to cut him some slack due to the emotion of the moment, except he'd sung it off-key the night before, too. It reminded me of last year, when Kelly Clarkson got too choked up to sing and Nicky McKibben "helpfully" stepped in and sang a few lines. Sounded like someone strangling a cockatoo.

[Howlin]

Sad that this is the case whereever you come from.

It happens in virtually ever single high school homecoming in the South.

[fightinJAG]

The knock on JOurney was that they were "corporate rock." But their original lead singer could wail, come to think of it.

Sorta like Clay. Yeah, that's what he needs: a bunch of electric guitars and guys with big hair behind him.

[JustPiper]

Actually I figured all the white rednecks from around the world would have been dialing in mass to make sure the black guy wouldn't win. Good for Reuben.

I'm white and Ruben was my choice, now what?

[Pokey78]

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."

[DLfromthedesert]

That is a lame response and you know it.

[Fledermaus]

I picked Clay when he sang "Solitare" on Sedaka night. He was great.

I though Reuben hit a peak and just stayed there and became too predictable. He did well last night though.

I congratulate them both, they both will make more money in a year than I will in ten.

[fightinJAG]

Ah, Nikki. Now THAT puts things in perspective.

My goodness we were lucky this year.

[ewing]

Randy Jackson played bass guitar for the rock band 'Journey?? ' -that explains a lot!

[JustPiper]

I was watching as the tension built and Ruben was sweating like a democrat at election time, so at least I think he was surprised by the announcement.

Odd I was thinking the last few days that it seems like many Dems have infiltarted FR.

[Carolinamom]

I knew when I wrote that that I would be construed a racist, but I honestly thought Clay had the better voice w/far more range than Rubin had. Sorry, but I did detect favortism in the outcome.

[Howlin]

I am saying that between the two of him, he should have lost, but he won because he's been pushed from the very beginning.

After the uproar in the begining when blacks got voted off was like firing a warning shot across the bow of the producers.

Live with it.

[Fledermaus]

I got through 6 times for Clay. And I only tried for 20 minutes. My wife tried but kept putting the phone down to watch soaps.

[Howlin]

Me, too!

[fightinJAG]

And he had big hair then, too.

[samantha]

Thanks.. I don't know about anyone else,but Ruben has this look sometimes like he is so scared he will be eliminated and let down everyone,and that may have been part of the charm. We all wanted to make Ruben a winner,so he could relax. Clay seemed so happy go lucky. He was so humble,you know he was comfortable with himself,and just honored to be in the final two. Kimberly should have been with Clay tonight, her voice is wonderful,and she does not scream like our last year's winner.

[cincinnati65]

But Rueben won......Live with it yourself.