I am so AMAZED!!! 
By A2OO3TG6D8VUIN on 2003-05-14
Well this cd in unbelieveable. I am a American Idol fan but I couldn't wait for the cd. Well here is a list of songs and rated1. What the World Needs Now-(4/5) now the thing in this song is that it is well done but it really wasn't the greatest rendition I have heard but it is definetely good because the different vocals. Kinda cheesy at the end with Julia.
2.Superstar-(4/5) Now I am not a fan of ruben but I must say that his voice is amazing for this song.
3.On the Wings of Love-(5/5) Clay sang this song like no other. He makes any song sound amazing. His vocals are phenomenal.
4.At Last-(2/5) I am not sure but I think Julia was cute but her vocals didn't seem that great on the show and this song was pretty but it doesn't sound like her....vocals are decent.
5.Three Times a Lady-(5/5) This song is awesome for Josh. I can't believe that he sang this song so well. His country tone is heard a little bit but not obvious. This shows that he really can sing. Vocals are good.
6.Let's Stay together-(4/5) Now trenyce has great vocals and I am happy that this song is on there but it is the only upbeat song. Her live version is better. What is Trenyce's last name?
7.Back at One-(4/5) Rickey really surprised me with this song. I can't believe that he pulled off this song so well. His vocals are great his upper register sounded great.
8.Killing me Softly with His Song-(5/5) Now I have to admit that this version of the song is just superb. I can't get over that she sang this song. I have fallen in love with this song and her singing it. Her vocals are ontact. This song shows her upp register very well.
9.Open Arms-(2/5) Corey has a ok voice but it kinda gets on my nerves and I love the song but I didn't like his vocals on this song.
10.How Do I Live (Without You)- (4/5) I think this shows Carmen best singing with her voice. You can her her vibrato a little bit in only certain parts but otherwise she totally got rid of her vibrato.
11.Over the Rainbow-(5/5) Kimberley pulls off this song with ease. I love when she first sang it but better when it was studio recorded.l I can listen to this song over and over again. Her vocals are the best of the girls in the competition and this song proves it.
12. Overjoyed-(4/5) Now I wish Charles went farther in the competition I liked his voice and he makes a great version of this song. Stevie Wonder is hard to pull off and I think he did it well. His vocals are good.
13.God Bless the U.S.A(Proud to be an American)-(3/5) I like them singing the song but it just doens't hit me hard like all of them together but it is a good version vocals are well blended
One thing that I am disappointed with is that Vanessa didn't make it onto the cd because I liked her voice also.
Just a few notes
By A3GMSAML6L37L6 on 2003-05-12
1. What the World Needs Now - American Idol 10 Finalists
I would like to state that this was a great way to start the CD. I was really pleased to hear this on the CD, especially since I missed the version on the show.
2. Superstar - Ruben Studdard
As much as I hate to say it, this was my least favorite song on the entire CD. I thought it was way too slow (And too long!)and had no change in emotion. I didn't feel any of the pain this song sings about. After hearing it the first time, I have skipped this track ever since.
3. On The Wings of Love - Clay Aiken
Really disappointed that Clay didn't sing Open Arms, but I thought this was a nice understated version of the song. Great version, proves why he has made it so far.
4. At Last - Julia DeMato
If I had heard Julia sound like this on TV, I probably would have voted to keep her on the show. This was one of the best tracks on the CD.
5. Three Times A Lady - Joshua Gracin
I don't remember him singing this on the show. I still think his best performance was "I'll Be", but not bad.
6. Let's Stay Together - Trenyce
I liked the TV version much better, Trenyce is a much better performer to watch than to actually listen to. Still a great song.
7. Back at One - Rickey Smith
Wow, this is why I felt Rickey was robbed. What a great rendition.
8. Killing Me Softly With His Song - Kimberly Caldwell
Pretty decent performance, right in her vocal range.
9. Open Arms - Corey Clark
When I first heard this, I had to ask myself which of the women were still left, then I looked at the CD cover and saw Corey's name. Now I understand all of the comments about his upper register. His best performance.
10. How Do I Live - Carmen Rasmusen
Way too low, I could barely hear her, she was ok.
11. Over The Rainbow - Kimberley Locke
Awful, the only other track I skip over.
12. Overjoyed - Charles Grigsby
Excellent rendition. This song shows why Charles was the first person selected to the Top 12.
13. God Bless the USA - American Idol 10 Finalists
Great way to end the CD.
For all that too many of the tracks were a real disappointment. I am so glad I bought this CD, as this is probably the last we will hear from at least half of the singers. I recommend if you love the show, you will really enjoy the CD. Great fun to listen to. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Season was better, but there are winners! 
By AV3PA7P5P3G4Q on 2003-05-07
This years group of American Idol wannabes is a very talented group. All 11 finalasts have their own unique quality that makes them stand out in their own way. However, there is not one of them that has blown me way like Kelly and Tamayra did last year, except for Clay, but thats besides the point. Heres the lowdown:Superstar-Ruben-Rubens velvet voice is in full effect on this beautiful ballad. Many predict he will win. 9/10
On The Wings of Love-Clay-Clay is the winner in my opinion. His stunning tenor sounds effortless. A cheesy song yes, but Clay makes it his own and he sounds incredible. Its nice to finally have his voice on CD. 10/10
At Last-Julia-What a disappointment. He basically ruins this Etta James classic. She should have done Breathe by Faith Hill and should never ever sing this song again. 1/10
Three Times a Lady-Josh-Josh is a very likeable performer with a nice, rich voice. Perfect song for him, and he sounds great. 8/10
Lets Stay Together-Treynyce-Her sultry powerful pipes are missing on this version. Her live version blew me away, but she still has star quality and I would buy her cd the day it came out. 8/10
Back At One-Ricky-I have to admit I was never a fan of Ricky Smiths, but he sounds wonderful on Brian Mcknights stunning ballad. He basically imitates every note and riff, but thats pretty impressive considering Brian Mcknight is one of todays most gifted vocalists. 8/10
Killing Me Soflty-Kimberly Caldwell-I've always like Kimberly Caldwell. Shes fun and funky with a great voice, but something is not coming across on this recording. Could have done better. 7/10
Open Arms-Corey-Clay sang this for his Top 12 performance and he did it 10 times better. Corey screehces through the whole thing 3/10
How Do I Live-Carmen-Shes sweet and young and got a very likeable quality about her. She may not have the best voice, but we all have to admit shes better than Julia. 7/10
Over The Rainbow-Kimberly Locke-Stunning. Her voice is magnificant when given the right song, and Judy Garland would be proud. 9/10
Overjoyed-Charles-Not Bad. Nothing to exciting. 6/10
God Bless the USA and What the World Needs Now are beautifully sung by the finalists. They dont have the same impact as they did when sung live, but still a great way to end the album.
Can't wait to hear more from (some of) these guys
By A2R9J5LULVKF6T on 2003-05-20
Bought this CD hoping that it wouldn't be a cheaply-produced, put-together-in-5-minutes CD, and I was glad to find it was not.Unsurprisingly, Clay turns in the best performance on the CD, effortlessly bringing a new sound to the classic "On The Wings of Love" .. his voice is just naturally perfect. Good to see he's stopped over-annunciating his words quite a bit.
The surprises on here were the really good quality of performances delivered by Kimberly Caldwell (she sounds great on "Killing Me Softly") and the under-appreciated Charles Grigsby. When he sings "Overjoyed" he actually sounds like he means it - and it sounds great. I hope these two find success outside of the largely-fixed American Idol.
Unimpressive were Julia Damato (she makes the soulful "At Last" sound like a country song sang at a picnic) and the heinous Corey Clark (his vocal cords sound stretched beyond the limit and in danger of snapping through most of "Open Arms"), and Lashundr.....err..... Trenyce sounds OK on "Let's Stay Together" but she DOES have a good voice, and could have chosen a more fitting (though preferably non-Whitney) song to sing.
Kimberly Locke will also put out a great CD, I'm sure, as will Ruben. Overall worth the investment, but skip the cheesy group numbers..
Pretty Good CD
By A2C0XINVEFOLZU on 2003-07-21
1.What the World Needs Now- This was a good song, and the best part was Clay starting the song. I'll give it a 4/5
2.Ruben Studdard-Superstar-This song wasn't all that great, I found it a little boring. 1/5
3.Clay Aiken-On The Wings of Love- This is my favorite song. Clay just can't sound bad. He can hit every note and this is just on of the best songs. Clay can show off what he can do with his unique voice. 5/5
4.Julia Demato-At Last-This was an ok song, it just didn't show off how good of a singer she is, she sounds better on tv. 2/5
5.Joshua Gracin-Three Times a Lady-This is a good song. He sang it well and I liked it. 4/5
6.Trynence-Lets Stay Together. This was ok. Tryence has a good voice but she didnt really show it. 2/5
7.Rickey Smith-Back At One-This is a very well sung song. Rickey sounds just like Brian McNight and he does a good job. 4/5
8.Kimberly Caldwell-Killing Me Softly-Kimberly has a good voice, I enjoyed the song and she sung it well. 4/5
9.Coery Clark-Open Arms- This is the worst song on this album. I couldnt even stand to listen to it. It's just horrible. 0/5
10.Carmen Rasmusen-How Do I Live-Carmen has a good voice, but i dont think it shows in this song. 3/5
11.Kimberley Locke-Over the Rainbow-Kimberley has a good voice and she did well on this song. 3/5
12-Charles Grigsby-Overjoyed-This is a great song. Charles has a very good voice and I enjoyed this song. 4/5
13.God Bless The Usa-This is a good song. Clay should of sang it and than if would be better but everyone who sings in it does a great job. 4/5As you can see my favorite song was On The Wings of Love by the lovely and talented Clay Aiken!
- One of my favorite CDs
By on 2003-10-19
I love this CD, almost all the kids sound great. It could have been better by eliminating What the World Needs Now and letting Vanessa Oliveraz have a song (and why is she NOT on here? the hell?), but its great. Each performer really plays to their strengths. 1. What the World Needs Now-The kids sound great, but I HATE THIS #&^(*^#( SONG! What a sappy piece of junk. The melody is simplistic, the lyrics banal and trite. Pavoratti couldn't sell this one, and neither can the Idols, though they sure try. No stars.
2. Superstar-Rueben. Nice. Very Nice. It's a little too long, but it really shows off Ruben's soulful voice. One thing that annoys me-why does he always say "And your guitar...And you sound so sweet and clear" its "And your guitar-it sounds so sweet and clear." Annoys me every time. I'm petty I know. 4.5 stars.
3. On the Wings of Love-Clay. Outstanding. Perfect or close to it. He hits every note and really shows off that incredible range. 5 stars.
4. At Last-Julia. Hmm, where was this girl on the show? Julia proves she does have a great voice. Anyway who could sing this and not pale in comparison to Etta James would be doing good. Julia does that and more. Impressive. 4.5 stars.
5. 3 Times a Lady-Josh. Another surprising performance-Josh does really well here. No pitch problems, and none of that fake twang he sported on the show. Just pure emotion. Confused by the reviewers who say he's singing for his wife-listen to the words, this is a breakup song-but a great interpretation. 4 stars.
6. Let's Stay Together-Trenyce. Trenyce does something I thought would be impossible, she makes me like this song. Tina Turner, one of my favorite singers, couldn't do that. But Trenyce's interpertation is really great and totally original. On the show, though I loved her voice, I often thought she was just imitating. Here, she makes the song her own, and really shows some style. 4 stars.
7. Back At One-Rickey. Not my favorite song, and not my favorite singer, but its not bad. He has a better voice than I gave him credit for, but this still isn't one of my favorites. 3 stars.
8. Killing Me Softly-Kim C. WOW! Kim C's interpretation is really original and very, very good. If you could imagine a hybrid of Melissa Etheridge's grit and Roberta Flack's soul, that might be what Kim does here. It sounds great and it really shows some unique style. Excellent. 4.5 stars.
9. Open Arms-Corey. ARGH! Hated him on the show. Hate him here. Hate him. He uses that horrible falsetto in full force here, and sounds every minute as if he's just tottering on the edge of a voice crack. Horrid. 1 star.
10. How Do I Live-Carmen. Another great job of playing to her strengths. She's not LeAnn or Trisha and she wisely doesn't try to be. Instead, she just sings the song sweetly and sincerely and its very enjoyable. Totally unique and refreshing. 3.5 stars.
11. Over the Rainbow-Kim L. I love her, and her voice is impressive, no question. I never liked the way she sang this song. She oversings. This is a lullaby-not the showstopper of a Broadway production. Again, sounds great, but just totally inappropriate material. 5 stars for her singing, 1 star for vocal interpertation.
12. Overjoyed-Charles. Not bad, but nothing memorable either. He's got a good voice, but the song is just bland. 2 stars.
13. God Bless the USA-All. Not my favorite song either, but the kids do a great job with it. Good closer. 3 stars.
- Gracin-not a good singer
By A2MJP0KSA76AOR on 2003-05-02
Why does being a marine make Josh Gracin an idol? He can't sing. He is definitely the worst one on the show. Reuben and Clay definitely have the best voices-which this cd reveals and one of them should win.
- Surprising Talent Shines Through!
By A6SDMAWPGK4TB on 2003-06-12
This CD shows that many of the singers (even the weaker ones in the competition) could have singing careers and decent albums.1. What The World Needs Now- Very nicely done, although it gets boring after awhile. Clay has a strong first verse. Whats up with Julia's one note solo? Very random. (4/5).
2. Superstar- Ruben Studdard: Yes, he can sing. Yes, he has a very talented voice. But he just doesnt always do it for me. He sounds like he's singing the same thing that he always sings. I just get bored with him.(3.5/5).
3. On The Wings Of Love-Clay Aiken: The song is a bit cheesy. But Clay can sing anything and make it sound amazing. He could sing the phone book, and I'd still listen. He really shines on this song. I think he should have won American Idol 2. He's been my favorite since the first episode I saw. (5/5).
4. At Last-Julia Demato: Wow! Why didn't Julia sing this way on the show? I think her rendition is beautiful. My one complaint is that maybe it was the studio making her sound this amazing- if not though, awesome. (4.5/5.)
5. Three Times A Lady- Josh Gracin: This song is helping me block out some downright painful performances of his on the show such as "Celebration", "Bad Blood", and "Jive Talking". He sounds good on the song, but he should lose the twang sometimes. (3/5.).
6. Lets Stay Together- Trenyce: I really like the song, its fun and catchy. Trenyce really does a great job, and her voice is well showcased. She deserved a spot in the final four for sure. (5/5).
7. Back At One- Rickey Smith: Poor Rickey in the fact that he only placed in the top eight. He does a decent rendition of the song and it proves he should have gone further then he did. Very solid singing, just not one of my favorites. (4/5).
8. Killing Me Softly With His Song- Kimberly Caldwell: This is my third favorite song on the CD. She sounds beautiful. I liked her voice on the show just okay, but if she does ever get a contract, I'll think about buying her CD. Because she does an awesome job on this song. (5/5.)
9. Open Arms- Corey Clark: The worst song on the CD. Corey can NOT sing. I hate his voice and his skanky "bad boy" personality. He sounds like an off pitch girl on this song. Clay outsang by so far on the show. Painful. Just painful (As Simon would say, just not good enough. I just try to replace his version with Clay's in my head (0/5).
10. How Do I Live Without You- Carmen: *shrug* I like the song because its how I feel about Clay Aiken ;). Carmen does a good job with it, she sounds nice. Like Josh, it helps me forget some of her painful perfomances. I like it, what can I say. (4.5/5).
11. Overjoyed- Charles Grigsby: I just don't like the song. Charles sings it well enough though. (3.5/5).
12. Somewhere Over The Rainbow- Kimberley Locke: I adore Kim's voice, she is my second favorite Idol. But the song bores me to tears, she could have picked a better one. But she sounds good. (4/5).
13. God Bless The U.S.A- They sound great and I can see why this has been the number one single for weeks in the country. I love it, and this song got me obsessed with the whole show.(5/5)
- Must-buy for fans of the show
By A27YUZ4HZHPWUU on 2003-06-15
If you watched the second season of American Idol with even a remote interest, you will enjoy this CD. There are a few duds, but overall some great music by some promising singers.The group does a good job on "What the World Needs Now." Ruben Studdard's rendition of "Superstar" actually makes me want to puke every time I listen to it so I just skip over it. He seems to have an obsession with the song for some reason. I loved Clay's "On the Wings of Love." Julia Demato does a decent job on "At Last." One of my favorites is "Three Times A Lady," sung by Josh Gracin. Trenyce does a great job on "Let's Stay Together," as does Rickey Smith on "Back At One." Kimberly Caldwell, Corey Clark and Charles Grigsby all have pretty good songs. Carmen Rasmusen's song, "How Do I Live," is decent considering that I hated her voice. Kimberley Locke sings "Over the Rainbow" and it is not the best I have heard her sing, but still better than some of the other songs. And the group's rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A." sounded great, but will sound out of place once America grows out of its already dwindling patriotic phase and goes back to business as usual.
Overall, a good listening experience. If Josh, Clay, Kimberley, and maybe even Rickey ever put out their own CD's, I will buy them in a second. Everyone else, I would have to pass on.
- The American Idols (some of them, anyway) Go For The Gold!
By A1KALHQD4LWAKO on 2003-07-15
I was surprised by the quality of this cd. I thought it might have been a bit "cheesy", but it is not. The highlights are: "What the World Needs Now", "Over The Rainbow", and "On The Wings of Love". While none of the vocalists ventures onto new ground, the overall sound and feel of the cd is pleasing nonetheless.The WORST: Reuben Studdard's rendition of "Superstar". If you like songs WAY oversung with simple words turned into 20 second excercises in "special vocal stylings", then Reuben is your man (e.g., "radio-ye-yo-ye-yo-ya-ya" and "again-ya-yen-ya-yen"). This song is a complete misfire, with Reuben at the helm murdering its simple and passionate plea. Yuch! I can't BELIEVE he won the title, "American Idol".
The BEST: Clay Aiken has much respect for the original recording of "On The Wings of Love", yet makes it his own with refreshing subtlelty. He makes it sound effortless.
- Clay, Julia, Trenyce, and Kim C shine
By on 2003-06-10
Ruben Studdard "Superstar" This song must be one of the most boring songs ever and I'm nearly asleep by the time the intro is done, however Ruben's vocals are fine, somwhat restrained but still good. 4/5 for Ruben's performance but the song gets a 1/5Clay Aiken "On the Wings of Love" This song is pretty cheesy however Clay's voice alone makes it great. He can turn any song he sings into a classic. Outstanding! 5/5
Josh Gracin" Three Times a Lady" His performances always tug at my heart because they are so sincere. Although I think they should have put "I'll Be", or "Amazed" on here instead his voice is still great and strong with a nice country twang.
Julia Dematto "At Last" I was a fan of Julia from day 1 until she got into the top 12, and came down with serious stage fright. This song proves that I was right about the fact that Julia is capable of much better. 4.5/5
Kim Caldwell "Killing me Softly" Beautiful!! I never liked Kim Caldwell however this song made me change my mind. She should have sang like this on the show 5/5
Rickey- I thought that he was cheated, and that Carmen or Kim C should have gone instead. This is one os his best performances and it really pulls at your heart 4/5 He rivals Brian McKnight
Kim Locke "Over the Rainbow" KIm's singing is amazing but the song is horrible and I always skip it 4/5
Charles "Overjoyed" If he had sung like this on the show he definetly would have had my vote. He really suprised me with this one.
Carmen- "How Do I live"- She didn't make it into the top 32 and it should have stayed that way. Her voice is and still is unpleasant. There is no way Kim C, Rickey, Vannessa,Julia, and Charles should have gone before her. 1/5 They took away her yodel
Corey "Open Arms" It's ok Clay's version is superior to his but he sounds nice. 3/5
- pretty good cd
By on 2003-06-11
1. "what the world needs now" - top 10 - 3/5 ehh okay song. pretty boring. not much to say.
2. "superstar" - ruben studdard - 4/5 pretty good. the song is kinda wayyy to slow. he doesn't even start singing like 40 seconds into the song. the vocals are good, and it's pretty much what you would expect from ruben.
3. "on the wings of love" - clay aiken - 4/5 good song. i'm normally not a clay fan, but song really shows off what he can do. i agree with what simon said, "i prefer you with my eyes closed". you can really feel the song without seeing his funny mannerisms.
4. "at last" - julia demato - 5/5 i loveeee it. this is definitely the BEST i've heard of her. it's one of my favorite songs on the CD. her nerves probably got the best of her when she performed on tv, but she has a great recording voice.
5. "three times a lady" - josh gracin - 2/5 blah. i usually skip this song. nothing special about it to me, but that is probably because i'm not at all a fan of country music.
6. "lets stay together" - trenyce - 4/5 good song. i'm glad she did this song on the show and on the cd. this is a great song for her voice.
7. "back at one" - rickey smith - 4.5/5 great song. he sounds EXACTLY like brian mcknight. this song shows that he definitely should've gone further in the competition, and it shows how much control he has over his voice.
8. "killing me softly with his song" - kimberly caldwell - 4/5 i like it. i wasn't really a fan of her on the show, but this song is one of my favorites on the cd. this song fits her voice really well.
9. "open arms" - corey clark - 3/5 bleehhhh. i don't like corey much, but whatever. it's such a blah song. he also has good control over his voice, but i'm just not feeling it at all. sounds like a girl at the beginning.
10. "how do i live" - carmen rasmusen - 3.5/5 okay song. i normally skip over it. again i don't really like country.
11. "somewhere over the rainbow - kimberly locke - 1.5/5 baddd song. probably the worst song on the cd IMO. i was a fan of klo's on the show, but i don't know what happened on this song. i guess it sounds better live? she sounds like a man.
12. "overjoyed" - charles grigsby - 5/5 my favorite song. i lovee this song. his voice is so smooth, and it shows that he should've gone further in the show. he has a great recording voice, and it sounds like means what he sings (if that makes any sense). i really hope he gets a record deal so he can put a CD out.
13. "god bless the USA" - top 10 - 2/5 usually skip it
- Some Good, Some Bad.
By A3BJBVYA4N82AH on 2004-06-29
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE - ALL:
Good song, again...great solos, but the one that stood out the most in that song was Trenyce. Overall...9/10SUPERSTAR - RUBEN STUDDARD:
The is a fantasic song, but the way Ruben does it is kind of annoying. I was never crazy about his arrangment. 7/10
ON THE WINGS OF LOVE - CLAY AIKEN:
Without a doubt, the best song on the CD. Clay should have taken the title of AI2. He is an amazing talent. His vocals and song choice were spot on! 10/10
AT LAST - JULIA DEMATO:
I am suprised that Julia didn't get further in the competition. She accually has a very good voice, and I would have liked to see her perform this song on American Idol. I've heard about her new single. But I want to hear more! IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHERE TO LOOK FOR HER SINGLE..... e-mail me at AJR1800PREP@CHARTER.NET SONG...9/10
THREE TIMES A LADY - JOSH GRACIN:
Nah! This guy was born to do country! This style isn't for him. I'd say one of his worst songs on the CD. Honestly. 6/10
LET'S STAY TOGETHER - TRENYCE:
Yes, Yes, Yes! The right song for the right person! I think that Trenyce needs a recording contract badly! She is one of the best singers I've heard in American Idol Seasons 1, 2, and 3! Top 3 on the CD. 9/10
BACK AT ONE- RICKY SMITH:
He sure can sing, but at parts of this song, I cringed, and wished he hadn't have tried to hit the high notes. After I listened to Ricky's arrangment, I went and switched it over to Brian McKnight and got chills. This rendition...7/10
KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG - KIMBERLY CALDWELL:
No questions asked, the worst on the CD. I am a fan of Kim, but her song choice is 2/10. Literally! And her vocals are 7/10.
OPEN ARMS - COREY CLARK:
One of the best song choices on the entire thing! His voice is a little too high. But he nailed this song! Props up the wall!
9/10
HOW DO I LIVE (WITHOUT YOU) - CARMEN RASMUSEN:
I happen to find Carmen to be a little bit nasal. She sings out of her nose mostly through this song. Great song choice, but I don't think Carmen is a country girl.
VOCALS: 6/10
SONG CHOICE: 10/10
OVER THE RAINBOW - KIMBERLEY LOCKE:
I voted fo Kimberley throughout the entire competion, but this didn't do it for me. It was sweet and text book. But I think that she could make a living off of her voice. It's unique!
VOCALS: 9/10
SONG CHOICE: 7/10
OVERJOYED - ALL:
Great song and great vocals! Done very well. 9/10
Whole CD - 9/10
I totaly recomend it!
- American Idol Fans will be satisfied with this CD!
By A3S6LLMD0FAH1R on 2003-04-30
I admit it...I'm a diehard AI2 fan, so my opinion of this CD may be a bit biased. While it's probably not a CD that will be around in 10 years, AI fans will definitely enjoy it. My only real problem is the sometimes tacky musical arrangement -- sounds too much like Muzak in places. The singing is great and I liked the inclusion of songs that haven't been performed on the show (i.e. Kimberly Caldwell's "Killing Me Softly.") Oh, and for Charles Grigsby fans, contrary to Amazon.com's track list, he DOES have a solo song on the CD: "Overjoyed." All in all, I'm very happy with the CD and think all AI fans will find it's definitely worth the money.
- Surprisingly well done compilation.
By A1HTJB139EUKOQ on 2003-05-01
When I heard this CD was coming out, I questioned whether I'd even buy it, although I'm a big fan of the show American Idol. I then had a chance to hear the CD, and knew I had to have it. These are studio recordings, not live on-the-show performances, and they sound great. There are no songs that are just awful, and most are quite surprising. I think I was most impressed with Kimberly Caldwell's "Killing Me Softly," but I have several favorites. I'm very impressed. It should be noted that "Overjoyed" is sung by Charles, not the whole group; and incidentally, Charles did a great job with that track. A must have if you like a lot of the American Idol Season 2 finalists. The only disappointment is that Vanessa isn't featured on the CD.
- Music to Remember Them By
By on 2003-05-28
This compilation of 'Idol' love songs includes some nicely-done hits as well as a couple misses. Among the highlights are Ruben Studdard's soulful cover of "Superstar," Clay Aiken's easy-listening rendition of "On the Wings of Love," Charles Grigsby's smooth "Overjoyed," and Rickey Smith's very well done "Back at One." Kimberley Locke ("Over the Rainbow"), Trenyce ("Let's Stay Together") and Julia DeMato ("At Last") all turn in good performances, and Kimberly Caldwell surprisingly mellows out with "Killing Me Softly." Among the lowlights are Carmen Rasmussen's lifeless "How Do I Live?" and Corey Clark's "Open Arms." Joshua Gracin does a fair (at best) "Three Times a Lady." Rounding out this selection are the group's two now-popular songs, "What the World Needs Now" and "Godbless the USA."All in all, an enjoyable CD and a definite must-have for any American Idol fan!
- An Amazing CD Full of Talent
By on 2003-06-02
Even though I didn't even see American Idol last season, this season's show was full of talent and the CD showed it. My favorite tracks were Superstar by Ruben, Lets Stay Together by Treynyce, and definately On the Wings of Love by Clay. Clay should have won American Idol hands down. He had an incredible voice along with the talent. I cannot wait to buy his single and his CD.
- A great collection
By A2QEHGH3915LQ2 on 2003-05-05
I've listened to this fantastic collection close to a dozen times since I bought it last week. I never REALLY got into American Idol until the top six or seven of last season, but have watched and listened faithfully for Season 2. Thankfully, I find this year's Top 10 actually blend pretty nicely together, as is evident by the first and last tracks on this CD. These recordings showcase the Top 11 finalists at their best.Also, this CD is proof positive that you can make ANYONE sound good in a mix (especially Josh Gracin and Corey Clark, who sound much worse live). Ruben's Superstar is about as good as Ruben gets, but still a little slow and bland at times. Clay Aiken's On the Wings of Love is further proof that Clay can sing ANYTHING and make it a hit. Julia's cut of At Last is actually quite good, better than she ever sounded on the show. Josh's Three Times a Lady, like I said, is deceptive in how good it makes him sound. Trenyce's Let's Stay Together is an okay bluesy ballad, not her best, but a good enough recording, proof that she should have beat out Josh to the Final Four. Rickey's sometimes whiny, all in all okay Back at One (despite just a dumb song) is bearable. While I was never a big fan of Kimberly Caldwell, I find her Killing Me Softly with His Song hypnotic and enchanting... I find myself going back to it again and again. Again, Corey Clark's Open Arms is actually quite good, despite his seemingly weekly struggle to sing in tune live. I've always loved Carmen, and I found her How Do I Live pleasant enough, even if they Technoed up her voice a little. Kimberley Locke's Over the Rainbow is good, but is it really a love song? Charles Grigsby's bland Overjoyed is okay, but what really gets me is why did they exclude Vanessa Olivarez??? Who knows.
All in all, it's a GREAT recording and a must-have for any fan of any of these songs, singers or series.
- No stars if I could!
By AEEAEQ9AFYQHP on 2003-05-22
This is absolutely the worst excuse for music I have heard in my entire life. If I went to a kareoke bar, I would hear better singing than this. That is basically all this is. It isn't like any of these poor kids wrote any of their own songs or are singing these songs from the heart. It is all driven by the desire for money, power, and status. That is why this album makes me sick and what is wrong with America today. Shameful!
- AMERICAN IDOL IS No. 1
By A32002NLFHS4NE on 2003-04-29
American Idol is the search for the best and that's exactly what these people are. I'm a big fan of Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson but I love all of the American Idol finalists.
My favorite Joshua Gracin is a great voice. I hope that he wins! He deserves to win because I mean look the guy is a marine. He really is an American Idol. American Idol truly rips all of the other competiton by far!!!
- Cute idea! It's a good album...
By A2CBUSPMXYB9H0 on 2003-04-30
Here is a track-by-track review of this American Idol CD. WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE (Top 10) - Good track, good idea to release for charity. The vocals are tight, and all blend well together, and I love it! (4/5)
SUPERSTAR Ruben Studdard - Ruben sang it, so of course it's good!! Very good vocals, another consistent song from our favorite Ruuuuben! My only problem is the intro is way too long... let's just get right to Ruben. (5/5)
ON THE WINGS OF LOVE Clay Aiken - Clay sang it, so of course it's good! He has a good voice, no doubt about it. This song is no exception > very good performance! (5/5)
AT LAST Julia DeMato - When I first heard this I was like "WHO IS THIS?!! JULIA?!?! NO WAY!!" It sounds nothing like her! On the show, I wasn't a big fan of hers (I was until the show was live) she didn't seem to pull off the songs well. But this song is actually not bad!! I love her vocals! She'd be a good recording artist! (4/5)
THREE TIMES A LADY Joshua Gracin - Good song. Doesn't really use his "country-style" vocals on this one. Shows his skills! (4/5)
LET'S STAY TOGETHER Trenyce - I wish she would have picked another song more suited for her voice. She did a good rendition of this one, but not as good as some of her other ones. (4/5)
BACK AT ONE Rickey Smith - Not as good as I would have thought. Vocals are okay, but not as captivating like on the show (3/5)
KILLING ME SOFTLY Kimberly Caldwell - Not being biased because Kim was my personal favorite, but she did really well. It displayed more of the upper-octave range in her voice. Good choice for her! (5/5)
OPEN ARMS Corey Clark - TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY!! He sang this one REALLY good! I wasn't really a fan of his on the show, but this song proves he can sure sing! (5/5)
HOW DO I LIVE Carmen Rasmusen - TERRIBLE! She doesn't have a good recording voice at all. Sounds much better live. The only good thing is on this song her out of control vibrato is removed. (1/5)
OVER THE RAINBOW Kimberley Locke - Totally disappointed. Her live version was MUCH better. PS Is this a love song? (2/5)
OVERJOYED Charles Grigsby - Definetly shows he was one of the best voices out of the group! (4/5)
GOD BLESS THE USA (Top 10) - Not as powerful and captivating as I thought. Very plain. (2/5)
Overall - 5/5
Must have for any American Idol fan.
PS
WHERE'S VANESSA?!?!?!?!?
- Where's Vanessa Olivarez?
By on 2003-04-30
Where's Vanessa Olivarez?...how cheesy not to have included her. Top 11? Makes no sense.
- Greater than last season's!
By on 2003-04-30
Wow, I am impressed! This album was by far the most impressive thing I have listened to! These people can sing! These are not the songs you have heard on the show, but new ones that that are new to most of the contestants. It also includes the american idol single that was released, "God Bless the U.S.A.". It is a very good album and the voices you hear are not like what you heard on the television show, they're much much better. Everyone sounds like the American Idol on this album.
- If you like the show, you'll LOVE the cd!
By on 2003-05-07
I have to admit that I was rather skeptical about buying this . . . though I am a huge fan of American Idol, I know that I was disappointed with last year's "Greatest Moments" cd . . . I've only listened to it a handful of times and even when I do, I find myself skipping certain performances. However, I took the plunge and bought this one the day after it came out and I am not disappointed at all!!! First, all of these songs were recorded in the studio and I have to say that the studio really did alot of these kids good. Even the contestants I didn't particularly like live on tv sound great on the cd. In all honesty, the only performance that sounds "worse" is Kimberly Locke's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It's missing that same spine-tingling quality that it has when she performs it live. Still a great, jazzy rendition nonetheless. Other notable performances include Rickey Smith's "Back at One" (for a minute I thought I was actually listening to Brian McKnight!) and, of course, Ruben's "Superstar." Close your eyes and you'll swear you're listening to Luther Vandross . . . Ruben is, indeed, a superstar and, win or lose, I will be the first in line to buy his solo album....
- Showcases that Talent!
By A13KXWTN0DT878 on 2003-05-10
Season 2 of American Idol has been and is still quite a ride, and the talent showcased on the show has varied. It's obvious by the performances presented on this cd. Why the theme "America's All-time Classic Love Songs" was chosen, I have no idea. But the result is a great listen.
1. What the World Needs Now Is Love - Performed by the final 10 contestants, this collaboration led by Burt Bacharach is wonderful and heartfelt. The voices of the 10 combine soothingly. 2. Ruben . "Superstar" - This is exact proof why Ruben deserves to be where he is today. His vocal talents are superior, and from the first notes of his voice, the song is wonderful.
3. Clay . "Wings of Love" - I really wish Clay would have performed a different song. This one really doesn't show off the vocals heard on the show. But still, a great performance.
4. Julia . "At Last" - When I first heard this song, I wasn't aware of who was singing it. After listening, I exclaimed "JULIA?!" Her rendition of At Last is great! Probably my 2nd favorite on the cd. Why wasn't she this good during the competition? A good track.
5. Josh . "3 Times A Lady" - Josh's full potential is shown here in this song, I believe. As one of the judges may say, this song was perfect for him. A great cover.
6. Trenyce . "Let's Stay Together" - We've seen Trenyce perform this on the show, and she's even better here on the cd. She's got diva in her voice. Awesome performance.
7. Rickey . "Back At One" - I believe Rickey has also performed this song on the show. Albeit, one of his best performances on the show. Thus making this an excellent choice for this cd.
8. Kim C . "Killing Me Softly" - Kimberly Caldwell's unique voice covers this song in a most awesome way. She has a great voice.
9. Corey . "Open Arms" - Great song choice! Corey has true talent. I like it.
10. Carmen . "How Do I Live" - I really liked how Carmen's "sheep" thing is hardly noticeable during this song. She was my favorite on the competition, and this proves she can sing.
11. Kimberley L . "Over the Rainbow" - This is Kimberley L's song. She has performed it on the show, and it shows her vocal range. I agree with Paula, this girl is sultry. And it works. She's wonderful.
12. Charles . "Overjoyed" - This is the best I've ever heard Charles sing.
13. God Bless the USA - The final 10 collaborate again here. This recently went to be the #1 single in America. No doubt that it was for it is beautifully sung by the contestants.
Although I'm disappointed Vanessa Oliveraz wasn't able to have a track on this compilation, the cd is still one for the fans. And to show off your favorite contestant to your friends. Unless your favorite was Vanessa. Then well, show them a possible recorded tv clip.
- Where the hell is Vanessa in this CD?
By on 2003-05-14
It's just not good enough!
- OK
By on 2003-05-19
A good CD, but it is much better to watch the songs performed on TV.
- 5 stars for Clay Aiken
By on 2003-06-05
On the Wings of Love is such a pretty song! Clay Aiken did an amazing job as always. And I LOVE the song. Nice to have him on a CD. Can't wait for more the others are okay but Clay's song was the best.
- Mixed bag
By A1MJSWI87ZME83 on 2003-06-14
This is an interesting mix of songs from the season 2 American Idol finalists. They range from very good to very, very bad. Some high/lowlights:Clay Aiken, On the Wings of Love: Far and away the best song on the album, showcasing Clay's strong, clear vocals.
Josh Gracin, Three Times a Lady: I was not a Josh fan, so I was surprised how good this song is. Excellent version.
Corey Clark, Open Arms: The question isn't why he was disqualified, it's why he was there in the first place. Truly awful.
Kim Locke, Over the Rainbow: She sang this twice on the show so it's no surprise it's on the album, but I wish she'd chosen another song. She has a fabulous voice, though.
Carmen Rasmusen, How do I live: Carmen reaches her usual low standard, sounding rather like a cat being strangled.
Trenyce, Let's Stay Together: Trenyce always impressed me with her versatility and ability to sing any genre well. Good, solid song.
Conclusion: worth buying whether you're an American Idol fan or not, just know where the "next track" button is.
- AI Season 2 Rules!
By A2GL4DQ2HGN698 on 2003-07-12
I love the CD & I think the season 2 finalists were much better than season 1 (Kelly was the only one who really had it in season 1). Some things suprised me on this CD and some were simply awesome as expected.Here's some highlights according to me...
As expected...Clay is awesome & should've won the competition! It doesn't matter anyhow cuz he's so universally talented & loved among all ages! He'll succeed no doubt!
My favorite song by Ruben on AI was Superstar...I was singing it practially everyday since I first heard him sing it, but this version is much slower. I like the show version better.
Julia DeMato sounds GREAT on this CD! I always liked her best of the gals, but she would've made it further along if she sang all of her other performances like this!
Josh, perfection as expected!
Trenyce, beautiful as expected!
Rickey was never one of my favorites, but I really love his version of the song on this CD!
Couldn't wait for Kimberly Caldwell to be voted off the show, but this is the only time I thought she sounded REALLY GREAT! Possibly my favorite on the CD (aside from Clay since I'm biased & he's the best ever...he's my all time favorite!), but definitely top 2.
Corey & Carmen...I never knew how they made it that far in the competition, and the CD songs didn't make me feel any different.
Kimberley Locke, beautiful as always!
Charles Grigsby, sweet and adorable as always!
