Idol-ing

Written by Eric Olsen
Published February 13, 2003
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Here are the lyrics:

    Long ago, and, oh, so far away
    I fell in love with you before the second show.
    Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear, but you're not really here.
    It's just the radio.

    Don't you remember you told me you loved me baby?
    You said you'd be coming back this way again baby.
    Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, baby.
    I love you, I really do.

    Loneliness is such a sad affair, and I can hardly wait to be with you again.
    What to say, to make you come again?
    Come back to me again, and play your sad guitar.

It's a groupie's lament and a commentary on the weirdness of fame and mass media: "I hear your voice!! But it's just the radio and it's not for me but for everyone. Not only doesn't the "groupie" own the singer, but the singer doesn't even own the singer anymore, yet a this projection of a persona into the public sphere is what the show celebrates and traffics in. i wonder if Reuben thought about any of this or if he just likes the song.

I was beginning to wonder about all of this "maturity" and even "sophistication" - is this the direction Idol wants to head in? In the nick of time the show's tawdry image was saved: the single contestant with the most talent, Frenchie Davis, the woman with the Aretha Franklin girth and voice, was booted off the show - no trace of her on the website - for posing nude (argh) for a kiddie-porn site to fund her return to Howard University. She was 18 at the time (23 now) so nothing was illegal, but Fox apparently didn't like the connotations and said hasta la vista missy:

    From the moment the larger-than-life singer and her set of serious pipes appeared on Idol Davis had been a critical and fan favorite.

    Entertainment Weekly already had Davis pegged as one of their picks, saying, "Davis is an Idol worth our worship." The magazine noted that from the second that "bodacious beauties" Davis and costar Kimberly Locke "strutted their stuff on stage, all those navel-baring lightweights should have headed home."

    The women also attracted the attention of plus-size clothing manufacturer Just My Size, which offered to create outfits just for them, according to the New York Post.

    Despite her dismissal and judge Simon Cowell's cracks about her weight, 19 Entertainment, Simon's management company that coproduces the show, told USA Today it would "endeavor to do all in its power to help Frenchie further her music career."

That's nice of them - at least they know talent when they hear it. She absolutely smokes. Good luck Frenchie.

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Career media professional Eric Olsen is honored to be the founder and publisher of Blogcritics.org, which, quite frankly, rules - as do his wife and four children.
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Idol-ing
Published: February 13, 2003
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Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Television, Video: News, Video: Music, Music: Pop, Music: News
Writer: Eric Olsen
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Comments

#1 — February 23, 2003 @ 00:21AM — Tish

I'm speechless...

#2 — March 23, 2003 @ 17:12PM — AmericanIdolFan247

Man, ur comments suck hard! You should not be downing all these extremely talented people! I believe that any of the contestants left except for Julia DeMato, Trenyce, & Kimberly Locke
have awsome talents and deserve to be where they are. Ruben has a georgous voice and his size doesn't matter. Kimberly is no where near chunky and has, in my opinion, the best voice of all the females left in this competition. Clay amazes me every time he sings, I wanna know where that awsome voice is coming from. He's so cute and he'z already seduced every one on the show and everyone in America, just look at how far he'z gotten. Joshua Gracin has been my personal favorite though, aside from Clay. Joshua is a Marine, I love his dedication to his country, his vocal talents, and he's pretty damn cute if I do say so myself. Not only that he can challenge Simon to pushups! What else can you want in one man!

#3 — March 24, 2003 @ 16:48PM — Elspeth

GET OFF CLAY! Image shouldn't be what matters, the contestants on this show are all more talented then anyone from the previous and Clay the best of them!

#4 — March 24, 2003 @ 17:34PM — Eric Olsen

He may well be - I am a fan.

#5 — March 25, 2003 @ 08:14AM — 40cent

What corey clark is doing in there, i have no idea. Damato is pathetic and needs a tomatoe thrown at her. Studdard and Clay are so far ahead of the game that the rest seem to be clutching on straws.

#6 — March 25, 2003 @ 13:41PM — LoveClayAiken

Why are you so mean posting such bad comments about the contestants!! Ruben may be big, but thats no reason to call him refrigerator sized. Kimberly Locke may be big too, but that's okay. And Clay may be skinny but thats alright too. People have feelings you know! They read that, their feelings will be hurt. They can't help the way they look. So, you need to shut up and stop posting such bad comments. You suck really bad. And appearance doesn't matter!!!!

#7 — March 25, 2003 @ 13:47PM — LoveClayAiken

Sorry about the four comments i posted all at the same time. By the way, Clay is not a geek!!!!!!! Kimberly is not snotty!!!! Ruben is a great singer. You are just jelaous that they are on TV and you aren't!!!!!!!!

#8 — April 2, 2003 @ 12:39PM — tricia

i just think this is some wet behind the ears, snotty nose punk, who has nothing better to do but put some bull shit website up about awesome talent. reuben, REUBEN, REUBEN, HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT HIM BUT THAT HE IS A REFRIGERATOR SIZED man, but ohh so talented. ohh just look at him on that stage, he lights it up with his smile and his voice and the words, he done the beautiful. u are probably just some red face, redneck, pimple head, ugly braced faced geek that has no life. this makes you feel good. but you know, whatever happens on that show, these people came far....further then u will ever go with ur lil bullshit site. so get a life..loser boy or chick

#9 — April 3, 2003 @ 19:10PM — Natasha Woodley

I think America has really stepped up as far as the final contestants go in America Idol. I really hope Reuben wins because I think he is the best from his personality all the way to the smooth tunes he lets out. I think he is absolutely great. He seems like that laid back kind of brother. I also like Kim Locke. She's really good she has one of the most powerful voices I have ever heard. These two in my eyes should be the last two standing but let's see what America thinks.

#10 — April 3, 2003 @ 19:22PM — Natasha Woodley

I don't care what anybody says about Reuben and Kimberly. They are great performers. I think they both have the most amazing voices and they are two of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. Tricia says it right when she mentioned how Reuben's smile just lights up the stage. He seems so cool, calm, and collective. Kim L. is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen and I don't think she's that big. And who cares what this jerk feels about the way these contestants look because it has nothing to do with that they are two totally amazing people and I am probably their biggest fan. As far as making comments about Clay that jerk probably wishes he was Clay.

#11 — April 5, 2003 @ 14:08PM — Pangfoua Xiong

clay and ruben are, by far, the best in this competition. I also like trenyce. she has such a powerful voice! Clay aiken is my personal favorite....and is it just me, or is anybody else tired of hearing that clay does not fit the "popstar" profile??? uh, how about the boy can SING and that's all there is to it!! if clay's looks were such an issue...uh how about ruben? and kimberly locke? and frenchie davis???? defenitely not your "popstar" profile - BUT talented indeed! so let's open our eyes and look a the big picture. A great voice and a great personality, make a GREAT american idol.

#12 — April 5, 2003 @ 14:10PM — Pangfoua Xiong

clay and ruben are, by far, the best in this competition. I also like trenyce. she has such a powerful voice! Clay aiken is my personal favorite....and is it just me, or is anybody else tired of hearing that clay does not fit the "popstar" profile??? uh, how about the boy can SING and that's all there is to it!! if clay's looks were such an issue...uh how about ruben? and kimberly locke? and frenchie davis???? defenitely not your "popstar" profile - BUT talented indeed! so let's open our eyes and look a the big picture. A great voice and a great personality, make a GREAT american idol.

#13 — April 8, 2003 @ 21:09PM — Sirene [URL]

Funny that you "blogcritics" should call yourselves superior, when this blog entry is by far disgustingly immature. I suppose that your looks and voice are both amazing--- and if they aren't, then you should not judge Ruben Studdard, Kimberly Locke, and Clay Aiken (who happen to be my three favorite finalists) the way you have done. Ruben Studdard has stage presence, voice, personality...he simply owns the crowd--- I'd like to see YOU try to do better. Kimberly Locke is graceful, ladylike, and has not only the refined talent, but the personality, and the modesty. And perhaps she doesn't have Kimberly Caldwell's body, but I think she's much prettier. All right, and Clay Aiken (you know, the "skinny white geek")--- dare I say you're jealous of him? If I were a guy, I certainly would be. He is the one that has it ALL. He has the voice of an angel--- can you sing like that? He has the style, the charisma, the personality, the gentlemanly manner, the fans, the fame, the intelligence...and not to mention, he has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. Clay is hot. You know why he doesn't "fit the popstar profile?" Because he's too good for it. He's too good for American Idol, but I'm glad he's on that show. You, my friend, are probably just jealous out of your mind that you aren't Clay Aiken.

#14 — May 6, 2003 @ 14:34PM — Kelli

Why don't you guys quit talkin trash......and corey is the bomb-sex-ay fella!!!! holla'!

#15 — June 22, 2003 @ 03:41AM — Casidy

I was hoping Reuben would win after he is from Alabama, like me. Anyways I saw where you put that Clay is a skinny white geek....ummm no actually he is cool, you are just jealous. You have no right to call Rueben "refrigerator sized" that is really rude. You are mean and you said that Kimberly is snotty, I thought she was sweet! Besides you just wish you could sing and had talent like them! YOU ARE SO JEALOUS!!!!!!! You are mean and so RUDE!!!!!!! YOU NEED JESUS and dont say you have him cause you don't. JESUS SAYS DONT HATE!!! GO TO CHURCH!!! And nobody is perfect! You ain't even up there singing so therefore you have no room to talk!!!

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