By Goldenhead (151.197.170.60) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

Does anyone have an opinion of American Idol winner Ruben Studdard or runner up Clay Aiken?

By Mike Sku (64.9.11.62) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

I am glad the competition ended in what was virtually a tie. Both singers have good qualities. I would buy music by both Clay and Ruben. I am just hoping the record company does right by Ruben and doesn't force any rap on his CD. I can see him handling songs of the type sung by Luther Vandross, real old-fashioned R&B. Clay has a more pop-oriented voice. Yet, his version of Bridge Over Troubled Water blew me away. I feel Clay is very versatile. I look forward to following both careers.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 02:17 pm:

Ruben has SOUL there not much else to say.
I see Clay as more of a Broadway show singer, he has that type of voice in my humble opinion. The right guy won as far as natural voice goes, he interperts the lyric very nicely. A House Is Not A Home & Smile was moving. Enough said.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

Yes, I do think Clay did a great job on Bridge Over Troubled Water.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 06:32 pm:

Well...Ruben is signed to "J Records"...and we know Clive is one of the greats in terms of matching artist and material.

By Rhythm and Blues Showcase (151.204.38.119) on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 06:57 pm:

Ruben and Clay are both winners. I am happy that America has embraced Studdard as their new American Idol. His image is different than the traditional pop singer of today and he opens up the door for the big guys. Since both singers already have the national TV exposure their albums should do quite well.

Ruben will probably be marketed as both RnB and Pop. Clay Aiken is actually the more versatile of the two and has a more polished sound .

By medusa9e (66.73.5.230) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 08:08 am:

They both R very good vocalists,N fact a lot of the previous contestants were also. However, Rueben is a natural born singer/vocalist. What I mean by that is, his lyrics N song seems 2 flow from his vocal cords, and release this almost (unknown)flowing like a river, instrumental sound. I believe that contributed 2 his winning...Do I think he should've won???
Y but of course!!!!

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 10:15 am:

Medusa; Right on! Ruben's flow was effotless where as Clay at times overworked a song.
S.S.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

I think they both have a good chance of being around a long time and I hope that they dont get marketed in such a way that they are behind drum
machines they are too good for that!!!! I think Clay will do well in theatre or broadway and pop (only because of the American Idol hype right now)

Ruben has a more radio friendly voice but I hope the both of them branch out into other arenas..nothing against Kelly Clarkson but I think these two have it over her.

I can see they are trying to make a hoochie mama out of Kelly now and it was her being wholesome in my opinion that made her appealing. I sincerely dont want to see any of these kids get caught up in getting marketed the wrong way or getting ripped off. If they are in the business long enough unfortunately its going to happen. Im so glad that Frenchy got a part in the broadway show RENT!!!! When they got rid of her I knew the show was going to get bad press. I think Tamyra Grey from last season who is now on Boston Public has a wonderful career ahead of her she is pretty and she can sing and act....right now I bet the ranch that Clay and Ruben depending on who is going to manage their careers will both be at the top of their game. The proof in the pudding will be once the American Idol hype is over who will last on sheer talent and longevity. If I were the people managing their careers I would get Ruben in clubs immediately and get Clay on the broadway stage after the American Idol tour is over. People want them NOW because of the publicity but when American Idol is off of the air that will be the true test..
Stephanie

By Eli (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 04:04 pm:

In this biz, sometimes those who do not pay their dues cannot handle the immediate "stardom.
I have read several articles whereby "Ruben"
1 Snubbed the press
2 Was rude to restaurant employees
3 While watching Fox news the other day, a Philly news reporter, Janet Zupalla went to LA for the facilities and when she tried to talk to Ruben he waved her away!!

This is not a good beginning .

Clay on the other hand come soff humble and professional.

Thety are both very talented, although I think that Clay is more versatile.

Nuff said..just an observation.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 06:53 pm:

OOOOOOO sorry to hear Rubin is not as sweet publicly as on t.v. that will hurt him in the long run. Its sad so many newcomers are lost.
Bobby is so right on them not being able to handle the fame!

By motown01 (216.208.81.22) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 08:00 pm:

Personally I don't care for the way Clay sings, there is no feeling in it and every note seems to have some kind of vibrato on it.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 09:00 pm:

motown01;
I thought the same thing about the vibrato.
Glad to know it wasn't just me!
S.S.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.218) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 09:08 pm:

I hope Ruben addresses his health. He is grossly overweight! Luther Vandross and Barry White are fighting for their lives now with strokes because of obesity and HBP. If that ain't a wake-up call I don't know what is!

I wish Ruben longevity. Show biz can chew you up and spit you out. We've all seen it happen too many times and we can recite the horror stories...

By Eli (152.163.252.68) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 09:45 pm:

Al I can say is get it while you can, put your money to good use and make it work for you.
Forget the "bling bling" You meet the same people on the up as you do on the way down.
Rewmember who your true friends are and where you came from.
I have witnessed so many souls get trapped in the whirlwind of fame and hyper ego.
We are al human beings and we all bleed the same and we all go to the toilet the same and the so called stars are not excluded from those functions.
Here are the four stages of an "artists" career and I will use Ruben as an example.

1. Who is Ruben Studdard
2. Get me Ruben Studdard
3. Get me a young Ruben Studdard
4. Who is Ruben Studdard

Nuff Said..I rest my case!!

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 10:37 pm:

Its sad isn't it Bobby?

By Eli (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 06:54 am:

I just hope that they dont get trapped.
Also somethig doesnt rub me right about American Idol. I have a gut feeling that someone is going to come forth with a scandal of some king.
It reeks of early sixties game show fixing.

Also all of the vocals are prerecorded and the singers are lip synching and on those segments where the contestants are singing together as in a chorus, as in God Bless the USA, it is all done by professional backing singers.
I know this stuff because I am in the game.
My My the public is fickle arent they??

By stranger56 (24.47.50.195) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 09:47 am:

Eli, I respectfully disagree with you. The vocals are live, as proven a couple of weeks ago when Clay lost his place during his performance of Vincent (Starry Starry Night).
I think what they do is to record the dress rehearsals, and when they do the recap at the end of the shows, it's the dress rehearsals they're showing, because I've noticed that there are differences in what I had just seen.
But, I believe the actual vocals to be live.

stranger56

By Eli (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 11:26 am:

I am an engineer among other musical duties and I have an ear and eye for those things so trust me on it.
There may have been an instance or two where that did not apply,but not many.
Its kind of like how they pre record the Thanksgiving parade musc.
I have played on many of those sessions in the studio in the Radio City Building.

Thank you...respectfully.

By Diego (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Bobby, re: engineer, I used to read the production info on all my Philly records for the name Joe Tarsia. Can you offer any info? Thanks. Loved your Blue Magic tunes, BTW.

By stranger56 (24.47.50.195) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 11:58 am:

Well, if that's the case, then these kids have a talent for lipsync that far exceeds any professional I've ever seen. I've watched this show for two seasons now and have never seen one contestant "blow" the lipsync. I mean, I've seen them forget lyrics or lose their place, but that must have been the rare instance you spoke about where they weren't lipsyncing, because I didn't hear the tape playing while they were forgetting the words.
Believe me, I don't have the talent or experience that you do, so I absolutely defer to you. If you say they're lipsyncing on all those performances, except coincidentally, on the ones where they forget lyrics, then I'll go with that.
I'm sure you have a far better ear for that than I do.

stranger56

By RD (63.188.33.7) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 12:07 pm:

Ruben Studdard once knocked his older half brother Kevin cold as Kev reached for a turkey sandwich in the fridge.

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