Anyways, I am bummed that he’s gone. I really liked his voice. And I liked seeing what he was going to bring week to week. I hope he becomes a big bright star out there in Hollywoodland.

I will agree with Foxydonna about Ruben being the best RNB singer ever on idol. Yep, totally. Just saw a bad video of him working out some of his material for his upcoming cd, and was truly excited because if seems that he is finally going to go in the direction he should have right after idol. Can’t wait.

Maybe Clayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s style of music hasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t fared well since he left, because he filled that niche, and they are pointing us toward other genres?

I don’t think they need to point us to other genres. Don’t we all get distracted by something new and shiny?

Clay’s metamorphosis was so magical that he transcended the commercial limitations of his own genre. Without his unique personal appeal, other pop contestants have not fared as well on AI.

I own all his albums and will continue to be a fan, but I fear that “Measure of a Man” was his high watermark artistically. “Invisible” was his best shot at top 40 radio and I still don’t understand why it failed to chart.

Wow – Are you inside my head??? My experiences are excatly the same.

Do tell!

I think Clay, Ruben, and Kimberley Locke could compete with this seasonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s crop of Idols. Clay had the whole underdog thing going on, Ruben is still the best R&B singer in Idol history, and Kim has a unique voice and powerful delivery that would blow most of this yearà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s women out of the water. Looking back, excluding winners and runners-up, there arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t too many others from the first six seasons that could stand up to todayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s level of competition.

Donna, I am an admirer of your AI commentary and have followed you around the web for years from FoI to your blog and stops in between (I used to blog at Beavers on Idol). Seasons 2 and 5 are still my favorites. For me, Elliott combined the most appealing aspects of Clay and Ruben.

I was not disparaging Clay and Ruben nor dismissing K Lo as performers. My point is that, due to the glut of pop and R&B singers in the first three seasons especially, the audience and even the judges seem eager to embrace capable artists from different genres. Ruben was hailed as the second coming of Luther, but Chikezie was eliminated after a decently performed Vandross song. Times change.

Since I cannot view it, what was the reference to Anthony? Please let me know.

Grammie Kari, in season 4 Anthony Federov tortured the same song and it became an instant “classic,” although not in the way he intended.

One thing I miss on Rewind is the guilty pleasures of their commercials. Season 2 had some of the best. I do believe Clay and Ruben would be relevant today.

ITA and those commercials showcased the camaraderie among the season 2 cast that was “super-speshul.” However, my all-time favorite AI commercial was AI5′s “Young at Heart” rap featuring Elliott with a walker.

The season 7 expectations are so much greater than they were for season 2. If Ruben and Clay were competing today, I think both would seem dated and bland. Clayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s metamorphosis would still have the power to charm, but his style of music has not fared well on the show

Remember during the first 3 seasons — a full band was a special occasion. Now we have Rickey Minor every night and 3 back-up singers, as well as special guitar accompaniment at will.

What did we get for Clay? A harpist once? Or Clay & Ruben – a gospel choir during the finale?

Maybe Clay’s style of music hasn’t fared well since he left, because he filled that niche, and they are pointing us toward other genres?

I think if Clay & Ruben, (sorry, not Kim), had the band like this season, they would have ably filled the stage. Clay has consistently delivered a complete stage show while on tour post-Idol.

Clayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s weekly growth as a performer was thrilling to watch à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  again, like Elliottà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s but not quite as nerve-wracking for his fans.

Watching season 2 on AI Rewind is an illuminating experience that serves to remind how important context and expectations are. That year à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  2003 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  was one of the most challenging of my life. American Idol was a welcome escape into a parallel universe for my husband and me. We became invested in Clayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s triumph over a contest heavily weighted against him

Wow – Are you inside my head??? My experiences are excatly the same.

MJ, why is it super-speshul? The bonus Anthony Federov reference?

Since I cannot view it, what was the reference to Anthony? Please let me know.

Clayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s weekly growth as a performer was thrilling to watch à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  again, like Elliottà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s but not quite as nerve-wracking for his fans.

Terrie, this is the best part of American Idol, and what I look forward to each season. With professional singers, there usually isn’t any growth to witness. This is why I am rooting for Jason Castro and hope he accomplishes the growth and discovery of who he is. You are right, he does has the potential to blossom.

One thing I miss on Rewind is the guilty pleasures of their commercials. Season 2 had some of the best. I do believe Clay and Ruben would be relevant today.

carolina Mar 28th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

I think Chekezie has more personality and more talent than Ruben.

Bring it on!

pj Mar 28th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Rut Roh, Caro, Theyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll be knocking on your door in less than five. Run for cover. I just called both Clay and Ruben boring in another thread, but I live in the Chi, so Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m safe. Heh.

Okay, I’ll bite.

Ruben’s performance of “Superstar” is still a series highlight for me — a revelation on a par with Elliott’s “If You Really Love Me” and “Moody’s Moody for Love.” Unfortunately, he peaked early and seemed to lose his stamina. I agree that Chikezie has an appealing personality and Ruben’s was harder to detect, shall we say.

Clay’s weekly growth as a performer was thrilling to watch — again, like Elliott’s but not quite as nerve-wracking for his fans.

Watching season 2 on AI Rewind is an illuminating experience that serves to remind how important context and expectations are. That year — 2003 — was one of the most challenging of my life. American Idol was a welcome escape into a parallel universe for my husband and me. We became invested in Clay’s triumph over a contest heavily weighted against him. That feeling simply cannot be duplicated in reruns.

The second year of AI was as musically diverse as the first — meaning, not very. It was a little bit country, a whole lotta R&B and pop. On a good night, we could enjoy the catalog of Burt Bacharach or Motown. With ratings success came a more diverse audience ready for new flavors and each ensuing season delivered a more diverse field of contestants to meet the demand.

The season 7 expectations are so much greater than they were for season 2. If Ruben and Clay were competing today, I think both would seem dated and bland. Clay’s metamorphosis would still have the power to charm, but his style of music has not fared well on the show (Patrick Hall, Rudy Cardenas, David Hernandez). Jason Castro has the potential to blossom in a similar way musically as well as personally, but he needs to start STAT.

Thanks to Chris Sligh and Blake Lewis, now it’s not only safe to venture outside of top 40 — it’s a stretch that I think is saving the franchise, but not without human cost. Unfortunately for most of this year’s crop of R&B and pop performers, the audience seems to be saying, “Been there, done that.”

MJ, why is it super-speshul? The bonus Anthony Federov reference?

I was being a little cheeky. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWXJi2uriq0