Tidbits 5/24

• American Idol:
  
  • The New York Times - "Similarly, in 2003, he announced that only 130,000 votes separated the winner, Ruben Studdard, from the runner-up, Clay Aiken."
  • The Morning Call -

    But the matchup between Cook and Archuleta evidently proved irresistible. In fact, the two-hour episode was the third-most-watched ''Idol'' finale, after the 2006 showdown between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee (36.4 million) and the 2003 face-off between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken (38.1 million).
    

  • The Ontarion / University of Guelph -

    Allowing American Idol to have an ideal balance between skill and the element of luck within popularity, argues Amegashie.
    
    When it comes to the issue of winning, Amegashie said it doesn't even matter in American Idol since contestants such as Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson have been able to make careers even though they have fell short of first place.
    

  • New York Post - Popwrap -

    Ruben Studdard couldn't do it, Taylor Hicks couldn't do it, even runner-ups Bo Bice and Clay Aiken have had trouble hitting the highs of their female counterparts (check out Clay's recent sales figures if you don't believe me).

  • eFluxMedia -

    The two-hour show marked the third most watched episode of the competition, after the 2006 battle between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, with 36.4 million viewers, and the 2003 showdown between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, with 38.1 million viewers.

  • CentralOhio.com -

    This is the first time since Ruben Studdard that an “Idol” won that I’d actually been rooting for since the show’s beginning. All I can surmise is that America knew Cook would have a bit more buying power then Mr. Archuleta once their albums dropped. But, hey, this may ultimately end up just like the Aiken/Ruben Showdown of 2003, in which Clay wiped the floor with Ruben in terms of CD sales. Let’s hope things turn out better for the newly crowned rocker.

  • Chattah Box - "It was the third-most-watched American Idol finale behind the 2006 finale between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee, as well as the 2003 finale between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken."
  • The Oklahoman -

    Other contestants find success
    Rocker Chris Daughtry, a fifth-season finalist, was one of last year's top-selling artists. Clay Aiken's fourth album, "On My Way Here,” last week debuted at No. 4, and earlier this year, the second season runner-up joined the Broadway cast of "Spamalot.”

  • Washington Post - "Next in line is '03, when more than 34 million tuned in to see whether Clay Aiken or Ruben Studdard would become Idol 2, following Kelly Clarkson. "
  • Roanoke Times - both Davids are winners on Idol -

    Wednesday night's battle of the Davids may have been the most watched "American Idol" finale since the 2003 showdown between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.
    
    I wasn't a Clay fan, but I just knew he'd be crowned the next Idol. From where I sat all season, he was indisputably the fan favorite ... wasn't he?
    

• Vernon Morning Star - review of OMWH -

  A male Celine Dion. Is that enough, and can I go now, please? Yawn.
  
  All right, this is weird enough that perhaps something can be gained by listening to and reviewing the new disc by Clay Aiken, former Idol finalist. Was he a winner? I don’t remember, or care, but he’s still here, so here we go.
  
  First of all, the previous Dion reference is serious. I’ll stick by it. Aiken can’t rock out, and don’t let any “Claymates” tell you any different.
  
  The very existence of such fans should be evidence of wimpiness, but count for something — at least until they hit puberty.
  
  OK, enough, enough. The guy can sing.
  
  [...]
  
  His vocal is clear, precise and compelling on this song, although he doesn’t exactly draw any lines. Aiken, like Dion, could very well have a career doing Vegas — singing, that is.
  
  Everything is kept light and easy on this album — there’s not even a hint of extremity. Perhaps it’s just as well, because the music is so slack that it’s blander than bland, a whiter shade of pale, indeed! (My apologies to Procol Harum!)
  
  Aiken does rise to the pablum/funk bounce on Everything I Don’t Need and gives it some type of gusto but there’s clearly not enough jam to throw down to.
  
  And so it’s black to strings and schmaltz on the obviously titled The Real Me. This is one of the supposedly inspirational, deep, love ballads that cause the heart to soar. Not!
  
  Aiken, who displays that odd vibrato again, needs better material. If not better, maybe different.