Did losing 'American Idol' help Clay's career?
Definitely: He's a household name. 88%
Not At All: The 'American Idol' title sells more records. 12%



the survey says...........YES.

I don't think his 2nd place finish had anything to do with him being more famous than if he'd finish first. The outcome (his success) would have been the same either way.

what is the big deal about second place or not? There are albums that lose the Grammy to albums that sold less. There are many times movies that are the higher grossing lose the Oscar to another film. Eminem's 8 million selling album lost the Grammy to Steely Dan's 600k selling album. Why should an AI loser doing better than a winner be different?

And honestly, shoot me now for admitting it, but I actually did think Invincible was actually pretty good in the Diane Warren style of music (it kinda had that "this almost embarassingly rocks" feel to it that Michael Bolton's How Can We Be Lovers had), Sorry 2004 was just a boring song all around. I personally also felt Tamyra, Kimberly Locke and Kelly Clarkson's music were better than Ruben's from the songs I've heard too.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
what is the big deal about second place or not? There are albums that lose the Grammy to albums that sold less. There are many times movies that are the higher grossing lose the Oscar to another film. Eminem's 8 million selling album lost the Grammy to Steely Dan's 600k selling album. Why should an AI loser doing better than a winner be different?

And honestly, shoot me now for admitting it, but I actually did think Invincible was actually pretty good in the Diane Warren style of music (it kinda had that "this almost embarassingly rocks" feel to it that Michael Bolton's How Can We Be Lovers had), Sorry 2004 was just a boring song all around. I personally also felt Tamyra, Kimberly Locke and Kelly Clarkson's music were better than Ruben's from the songs I've heard too.

THE SURVEY SAYS...........(richard dawson)

Originally posted by vashti1999
I don't think his 2nd place finish had anything to do with him being more famous than if he'd finish first. The outcome (his success) would have been the same either way.
he would be as famous as the marine from AI...the guy who we don't even discuss anymore.

Originally posted by jekouptown
he would be as famous as the marine from AI...the guy who we don't even discuss anymore.

the marine has actually had reasonable success in the country market, one of my friends who is into country loves him

Clay's popularity, pure and simple, comes from the fact that it'd been a good decade since there'd been a big male AC superstar, I don't really count Josh Grobin because he is more opera than pop.

I also think Ruben hurt his chances when he came out with Sorry, it was not the type of song the world was anticipating.

Oh well, the American Idol franchise is just about dead anyways (thank god!! who is Paula Abdul to judge other peoples singing talents?), but Clay is far from the only "loser" whose come out the winner at the end. Justin Timberlake, Destiny's Child (well, Beyonce and Kelly under a different name), Alanis Morissette, Britney Spears amongst others wound up losing on Star Search back in the day, and look at them now compared to the person that was supposedly "better" than them?

such a shame. How this conversation turned into a RUBEN hurt or anything about RUBEN is beyond me. :lol: :lol:

Originally posted by jekouptown
such a shame. How this conversation turned into a RUBEN hurt or anything about RUBEN is beyond me. :lol: :lol:

It wasn't much of a conversation to start with. I don't see any points being made to back up the idea that Clay Aiken is more famous than he would've been if he'd "won" or that his career was helped by him losing.

It's because everyone knows he should've won....

I think Clay is more famous because he is the runner up. I think his success wouldve been about the same, but the tension between the whole Ruben vs. Clay thing was really strong- especially when it came to their first singles coming out. We more or less had to 'prove' who the real winner is, and had he of won, we wouldnt of had to have done so that much.

Originally posted by ¤I Love Clay Aiken¤
I think Clay is more famous because he is the runner up. I think his success wouldve been about the same, but the tension between the whole Ruben vs. Clay thing was really strong- especially when it came to their first singles coming out. We more or less had to 'prove' who the real winner is, and had he of won, we wouldnt of had to have done so that much.
Your right..."HAD HE WON" there would be no need to prove anything. Especially after the contest is over.

Originally posted by vashti1999
It wasn't much of a conversation to start with. I don't see any points being made to back up the idea that Clay Aiken is more famous than he would've been if he'd "won" or that his career was helped by him losing.

If you didn't think it was a conversation why comment.?
I don't have to make any points its a survey conducted by Netscape.
LIVE WITH IT MACK...LIVE WITH IT.
He will forever be known as the most famous runner-up.
In the words of SITCOMANALYZER.Period..end of story.

Originally posted by jekouptown
If you didn't think it was a conversation why comment.?
I don't have to make any points its a survey conducted by Netscape.
LIVE WITH IT MACK...LIVE WITH IT.
He will forever be known as the most famous runner-up.
In the words of SITCOMANALYZER.Period..end of story.


If it was a survey conducted by Netscape, maybe you should have said that in your initial post. Posting that the way you did, obviously someone can assume that's just you posting your thoughts. Regardless of whether "He will forever be known as the most famous runner-up" I'm saying I don't agree that it helped his career. Notice I said it wasn't much of a conversation to start with, i.e. your first post. It's not that serious one way or the other to me, so while I can "live with it" as you suggest, I can also live without it, MACK. Period..end of story. Unless, of course, you keep it going.

DO I DARE START A FANTASIA THREAD NEXT..............

Originally posted by AllIWantIsYourClutch
It's because everyone knows he should've won....

Clay being "better" is all objective. People who prefer adult contemporary and pop music are going to like Clay, People who like soul and r&b music are going to prefer Ruben.