Friday 20 June 2003

Ruben Studdard

American Idol singer Ruben Studdard had better start listening to Vandross' records, or maybe hire a vocal coach. At the annual UJA-Foundation luncheon in New York on Wednesday for record company executives - honoring RCA Group's Charles Goldstuck and Def Jam's Kevin Liles - Studdard wheezed out against a pre-taped track of his hit single, "Flying Without Wings". It should have been called "Singing Without a Voice".

Not only was Studdard unable to sing below a raspy whisper, but also the song itself - first a hit for the U.K. group Westlife - came off as a weird rewrite of "The Greatest Love of All". There's no denying Ruben's a nice guy, but in person he may be suffering from the same thing that has reportedly plagued Kelly Clarkson: no range.

Range, by the way, does not mean being able to do the Yodelympics up and down the scales. It's something Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and maybe Christina Aguilera have, but it is rare. Ruben didn't have it on Wednesday. His inability to hit the notes made a few in the room noticeably wince, including producer Jermaine Dupri.

Mariah, who was guest host emcee, shot him a funny look too, even though she praised the idea of him. Ruben as a concept, you see, is much better than Ruben in reality.

(Fox 411)



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