American Idol Finals - Live Thread!!

Fox ^ | May 21, 2003 | all of us

[cincinnati65]

NOT Michael Jackson's brother. NOT Jackson 5. Look it up.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

He can do mellow and some rifts but he's never nailed a phrase or hit a high note.

You mean riffs. ; )

[packman]

I have been addicted to this show. Until three weeks ago, I wasn't sure who I liked better. However, in the last three weeks, Clay has been much more versatile than Reuben. He has been outstanding, and Reuben has actually gotten worse. His voice has sounded strained.

I have been looking at polls also, and tonights vote was not reflective of what I have been reading. Clay should have won. I couldn't believe when Simon was calling Reubens performances last night fantastic, when he sounded so off key. I do feel there was a push for Reuben. Maybe, judges shouldn't make any comments and let the public decide for themselves. I think the judges do have impact on the vote, and Simon realized that.

Also, I find it interesting that they didn't sing the same songs like they did in the finals last year. I think that if Reuben and Clay sang the exact same songs, it would have been obvious who had the better voice. Just my opinion.

[Timesink]

Everyone is going on about Ruben being the next this guy or that guy, meanwhile, the guy who came in second place is a complete original. Ruben will forever struggle to fill in someone else's shoes, he will always be compared to Barry White, or Luther, or who knows. Clay however, will leave shoes behind to be filled by someone else.

They did the exact same thing to Clay. The only difference is instead of comparing Clay to specific persons, they all said "he's the next Broadway musical star."

[LWalk18]

I called Ruben's number for an hour last night and did not get through ONCE. Two weeks ago, I called for two hours and could not get through once to either Clay and Reuben, only got through Kimberly after a hour of dialing, and got through to Josh on the first try. Now, based on your theory there must have been some conspiracy to help Josh into the next round by blocking calls.

The reality is that the more popular a singer is, the harder it is to call them. No conspiracy needed.

[justshe]

Now isn't THAT interesting about getting a voice on the phone? And YOU know WHY *I* say that.

You are correct....the fix was in. And Florida went for Reuben.

[FreeReign]

Whereas I think that other guys has a greater vocal range, more control and lacks a certain 'fuzziness' in his voice that the big guy has - a fuzzines that reminds be of tape hiss on an old reel to reel analog tape recorder ...

Reuben seemed to put on more weight and he seemed to sound more fuzzy has the competition went on. Maybe the old reel to reel tape hiss sound was just Reuben putting on fat around his vocal cords.

Clay was the better singing.

[Hazzardgate]

Reuben extends his left hand -- then he extends his right hand.

Clearly you don't understand soul music.

[justshe]

I think you are incorrect. I live in Oregon. And without saying how many times I got thru for Clay.....it was MORE than Reuben's Mom got thru for him.

During the last hour and fifteen minutes....I had a clear line EVERY SINGLE TIME I called. My vote was tallied.

I NEVER received a message that I had voted too many times. This difference, geographically, is NOT right.

And something stinks.

[Scothia]

What was this "Ruben took Florida, Clay took Ohio" stuff? I was looking around for Tom Brokaw...

[cincinnati65]

HUMOR BREAK (we need one): FOX NEWS ALERT -- American Idol results in question -- 5000 Florida Voters claim to have voted for option "03" last night, claiming their preprinted Clay voting instructions contained a typo -- Terry McAuliffe reports that the Democratic National Committee will be sending 15,000 vote "certifiers" to insure every Clay vote is counted -- Florida Supreme Court rules that recounts can continue in heavy Clay counties, and that all efforts to be made to insure voter "intent" is registered.

[MistrX]

I don't care.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I think you're dead wrong on the issue, but what you're claiming is nowhere near the overt "why'd the fat black pig win" quotes I've seen all over this thread.

Well, I'm going to do something very unique and agree with both of you.

I am a professional R&B singer, and I have been for more than twenty years. Howlin is absolutely correct, imo, about who was the better singer, and the pitch problem the winner has.

I also agree with you, Timesink, that the "why'd the fat black pig win" stuff is most definitely cringe-worthy (and I haven't seen any of that from Howlin, either).

If the thing was rigged in some way, it wasn't the winner's fault. He's just there, competing - I wish people could discuss it without being cruel to him.

[floriduh voter]

I bet Fox gave Ruben's mom a text messaging phone.

[Pokey78]

What about Clay's mom. Did they make her climb the telephone poll like Eb on Green Acres?

There WAS NO CONSPIRACY!

[herkbird]

I really don't think it really matters which one got the Idol title. In fact second place in this game has a whole lot less demands and a life. Rueben will be so busy for the next 2-3 years he may wish he never won, ask Kelly.

Ruben and Clay's albums will both be released in the same week, so it will be interesting to see who hits a gold album first. My money's on Clay when it comes to sales. Clay kind of reminds me of a young Wayne Newton, whom I'll never forget seeing on the Ted Mack Talent Hour back in the early sixties.

I must say that I'm a little disgusted to hear all the remarks about race baiting and sexuality. With Clay's new found fame, I believe a lot of people are just jealous that Clay will have more women throwing themselves at him while those who say he's gay only have their hands to use for sexual relief. Unless Clay confesses like Elton John did, he's straight in my book no matter that he looks like a geek.

No matter what tonights results are, they will both still be filthy rich in just a matter of time.

[fatima]

Timesink,Anytime you put yourself before the public eye expect to get handclaps and putdowns.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

With Clay's new found fame, I believe a lot of people are just jealous that Clay will have more women throwing themselves at him while those who say he's gay only have their hands to use for sexual relief.

You've just upped the "weird ante" on this thread, imo. LOL

[LWalk18]

Did you try the other number? Or it is just sour grapes? It is illegal to rig a game show/contest, and any evidence of such a thing is a serious matter. I have received weird messages in the past as well. I just am a bit upset with the implications that since a black guy won it must have rigged, especially it always seemed that it could have gone either way to me. I think Simon's boosting of Ruben turned off more people than it turned on, although I agree with him that Ruben is more marketable (guaranteed R&B market) than Clay, who seemed not to really have a pop voice to me. I would argue that Josh was more marketable (country) than Clay- though I believe he has a great career in store for him.

[Timesink]

Timesink,Anytime you put yourself before the public eye expect to get handclaps and putdowns.

The fact that you should expect it does not make it less abhorrent. I expect people to drink and drive and have head-on collisions with other innocent drivers; that doesn't make it right.