Idol Introspective, Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive into iconic reality competition show American Idol. Season 2 was quite possibly the most invested I've ever been in any reality show, and I still remember the thrill of keeping up with it each week. There was some interesting drama, and most importantly some great talent all throughout.

The second season of American Idol ran from January 21st, 2003 to May 21st, 2003 on Fox. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the judges panel included singer and entertainer Paula Abdul, TV personality and businessman Simon Cowell, and record executive and TV presenter Randy Jackson. After auditions in 7 US cities, 234 contestants received their "Golden Ticket" to Hollywood for a chance to be a Top 12 finalist and perform weekly on national television. The contestants were not only judged by Abdul, Cowell, and Jackson, along with occasional guest judges, but also voted on by the public via call-in votes. The winner of Season 2 received a million dollar record deal with RCA Records.

As a reminder for this series, we'll take a look at each of the Top 10 or 12 (depending on the season) contestants and a song of theirs. The songs will be dependent on if they've put out any music that's streaming, or it will be a memorable performance from their time on the show. Let's get started way back at the beginning!

12th Place - Vanessa Olivarez, Atlanta, Georgia

Spotlight Song: The One (composer unknown)

12th Place in Season 2 went to Georgia's Vanessa Olivarez, who was 21 at the time of competition. She auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody. Olivarez was eliminated in Week 1 (MoTown Week) after singing You Keep Me Hangin' On by The Supremes. Now 44, Olivarez is a singer, songwriter and actress focusing on country, country rock, and pop music. She's released two albums with the band Granville Automatic as well as a couple of solo singles that are streaming on Apple Music. She, for whatever reason, was the only op 12 contestant not included on the Season 2 All-Time Classic American Love Songs soundtrack. Her song The One was originally featured on her EP The One - I'm In Love With My Best Friend's Ex. Her voice is alright, not exactly my favorite, but this is pretty spot on for a lot of early '00s pop music.

I know that I'm supposed to be happy for you/I wish that I could wish you well/But I can't stop what my heart is thinking every night/So now I'll have to keep it to myself/What I'm feeling I can't help/A secret I could never tell/Not a day goes by/When I don't think of you/And your angel eyes/That I'm so drawn into/If you say the word/Into your arms, I'd run/Oh, I sure wish that I could be the one

11th Place - Charles Grigsby, Oberlin, Ohio

Spotlight Song: Open Arms (written by C. Grigsby)

11th Place went to Ohio's Charles Grigsby, who was 24 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Detroit, Michigan with the Stevie Wonder song Overjoyed. Grigsby was eliminated in Week 2 (Movie Soundtracks Week) after singing You Can't Win from The Wiz. Now 47, Grigsby is a singer focusing on pop, R&B, and soul music. He's released one studio album back in 2020. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was his audition song, Overjoyed. His song Open Arms was originally featured on his 2020 album Hindsight. His voice isn't the strongest in my opinion, either then or now, but the song is fine albeit a bit bland. I couldn't find a good transcription of the lyrics, but feel free to check it out.

10th Place - Julia DeMato, Brookfield, Connecticut

Spotlight Song: At Last (written by M. Gordon, H. Warren)

10th Place went to Connecticut's Julia DeMato, who was 23 at the time of competition. She auditioned in Detroit, Michigan with the Toni Braxton song Un-Break My Heart. DeMato was eliminated in Week 3 (Country Rock Week) after singing Breathe by Faith Hill. Now 46, DeMato is a cosmetologist and singer. She hasn't ever released a solo studio album so she isn't streaming on Apple Music. Her song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Etta James's At Last, and you can listen to it on YouTube. I absolutely could not stand her on the show, and I maintain that this version of this song is the only thing she ever sounded halfway decent on.

At last, my love has come along/My lonely days are over and life is like a song/Oh, yeah, yeah, at last, the skies above are blue/My heart was wrapped up in clover the night I looked at you/I found a dream that I could speak to/A dream that I could call my own/I found a thrill to press my cheek to/A thrill that I’d never known

9th Place - Corey Clark, San Bernardino, California

Spotlight Song: Masquerade (written by C. Clark, T. Van Musser, M. Barbalato, S. Pimentel, R. Dixon, K. Garcia)

9th Place went to California's Corey Clark, who was 22 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with the Jackson 5 song Never Can Say Goodbye. Clark was disqualified in Week 4 (Disco Week) after details regarding his criminal history were released online, and even more drama arose later when he was accused of having an affair with judge Paula Abdul, though those claims were later proven false. Now 45, Clark is a singer focusing on pop and R&B music. He's released one studio album in 2005 and multiple singles since then. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Journey's Open Arms, which I never thought was the best cover by a long shot. Masquerade was released as a single earlier this year, and it was not my favorite. His voice still isn't super strong and I've just heard way better R&B songs. I couldn't find a good transcription of the lyrics, but feel free to give it a try.

8th Place - Rickey Smith, Keene, Texas

Spotlight Song: Back At One (written by B. McKnight)

8th Place went to Texas's Rickey Smith, who was 23 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with One Last Cry by Brian McKnight. Smith was eliminated in Week 5 (Billboard #1's Week) after singing Endless Love by Lionel Richie & Diana Ross. Smith tragically passed away in 2016 at age 36 in a car accident. He tried for several years to get his music career off and running, but unfortunately never released a studio album. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Brian McKnight's Back At One, which you can listen to on YouTube. I loved Rickey the whole time he was on the show, not only because he was another Texas singer but because he was so funny and genuinely seemed like a nice guy with a decent singing voice. He relied a little too heavily on his falsetto range, but overall I love his cover of this song and was very sorry to hear he'd passed away.

It’s undeniable that we should be together/It’s unbelievable how I used to say that I’d fall never/The basis is need to know if you don’t know just how I feel/Then let me show you now that I’m for real/If all things in time, time will reveal, yeah/One, you’re like a dream come true, two, just wanna be with you/Three, girl, it’s plain to see that you’re the only one for me and/Four, repeat steps one through three, five, make you fall in love with me/If ever I believe my work is done, then I’ll start back at one

7th Place - Kimberly Caldwell, Katy, Texas

Spotlight Song: Desperate Girls & Stupid Boys (written by T. Henriksen, B. Carlson, Z. Maloy)

7th Place went to Texas's Kimberly Caldwell, who was 20 the time of competition. She auditioned in Austin, Texas with the Stevie Wonder song Superstition. Caldwell was eliminated in Week 6 (Billy Joel Week) after singing It's Still Rock and Roll to Me by Billy Joel. Now 43, Caldwell is a singer, actress, and television hostess. She has released 1 sttudio album since 2011. Her song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly With His Song. Desperate Girls & Stupid Boys was featured on her 2011 album Without Regret. Caldwell was my third favorite this season, and I was super bummed when she was eliminated as early as she was. Similar to Nikki McKibbin in Season 1, I just don't think Idol fans were ready for this type of a rock voice, which is a shame. This isn't the greatest song I've ever heard, but I still enjoy her vocals.

Drive, meet me at the corner of hope and hopeless/Try to follow me, I know a way out/It’s your life, so try not to get stuck in this crazy circus/Misery loves company, so let’s dance until we die/Kiss, kiss, kiss tomorrow goodbye/This is gonna be a late night/Get, get up and let it go/We’ve got the right to/Take this party over, changing up the sound/Check your ego, it’s all a blur, desperate boys and stupid girls/Same old destination, we’re all falling down/Like broken plastic wind up toys, desperate girls and stupid boys

6th Place - Carmen Rasmusen, Bountiful, Utah

Spotlight Song: Nothin' Like the Summer (written by C. Herbert, J. Deere, V. Shaw)

6th Place went to Utah's Carmen Rasmusen, who was 17 at the time of competition. She auditioned in Los Angeles, California with Patsy Montana's I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart and LeAnn Rimes's Blue and was Season 2's youngest finalist. Rasmusen was eliminated in Week 7 (Diane Warren Week) after singing Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne. Now 40, Rasmusen has been married to Bradley Herbert since 2005 and they have two children together. She is a singer, songwriter, actress, and writer who focuses primarily on country music and has released one studio album since 2007.Her song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was LeAnn Rimes's How Do I Live. Nothin' Like the Summer was originally featured on her 2007 album of the same name. Rarely have I disliked an Idol contestant as much as I did Carmen Rasmusen, and I celebrated heartily when she was voted off because I couuld not stand her or her voice. This song is fine, fairly bland as far as country songs go, but I'm still not crazy about her voice even after all these years.

A firefly glowing on my left thand/Used to pretend it was a wedding band/A tall cool glass of Mama’s lemonade/Sold from a stand that me and my sister made/We’d count our quarters in the shade/Underneath a tree/The boys in the clubhouse are right next door/Playing cops and robbers and the Civil War/We’d all meet up at the swimming hole/With marshmallow sticks and our homemade fishing poles/And the stars would guide us home/Oh, those sweet memories/Oh, I love those summer days, drifting on by like a slow parade/And everything feels fine in the warm sunshine when your world unwinds/And you kick back in your flip flops, and you don’t care about the tick tock/And the world is full of music, dreams, and lovers, there ain’t nothing like the summer/There ain’t nothing like the summer

5th Place - Trenyce, Bartlett, Tennessee

Spotlight Song: The Very Thought of You (composer unknown)

5th Place went to Tennessee's Lashundra Cobbins, who adopted her middle name Trenyce as her stage name and was 21 at the time of competition. She auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with the Whitney Houston song I Learned From the Best. Trenyce was eliminated in Week 8 (Music from the 1960s & Neil Sedaka Week) after singing Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Love Will Keep Us Together by Neil Sedaka. Now 45, Trenyce is a singer and actress focusing on musical theatre and has appeared in multiple Broadway productions. She released a solo EP in 2017. Her song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Al Green's Let's Stay Together. The Very Thought of You was featured on her 2017 EP I'll Be Around. I liked Trenyce well enough on the show, but I don't think she should've gotten quite as far as she did. She does have a lovely voice though that's matured very nicely, and this song is pretty good. I couldn't find a good transcription of the lyrics, but if you enjoy traditional pop you'll probably like it.

4th Place - Joshua Gracin, Oceanside, California

Spotlight Song: Nothin' to Lose (written by M. Chagnon, K. Savigar)

4th Place went to California's Josh Gracin, who was 22 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Los Angeles, California with the O-Town song All or Nothing and was actually an active member of the US Marine Corps during the show. Gracin was eliminated in Week 9 (Bee Gee's Week) after singing Jive Talkin' and To Love Somebody by the Bee Gees. Now 44, Gracin is a singer focusing on country music. He's released three studio albums since 2004. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was the Commodores's Three Times a Lady. Nothin' to Lose was featured on his 2004 self-titled album and peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. I own this album personally and still love this song. While I wasn't hardcore Team Josh, I did like him and his voice and was glad he did well on the radio after the show.

It was noon time, down time, break time, summertime/Miller time, anytime, she was looking pretty fine/A red light, green light, go/All fired up, upside, downtown, she was shaking me all around/I was tuned in, going nowhere, second wind/Jonesing, drooling, feeling good if you would/Oh, yeah, by the way she moves/She’s got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt, breaker, breaker, one-nine, she’s a big ol’ flirt/By now, she’s got me pretty tied up/Tied down, anyway I choose, I got nothing to lose

3rd Place - Kimberley Locke, Nashville, Tennessee

Spotlight Song: 8th World Wonder (written by S. Shankel, K. Jacobs, J. Parkes)

3rd Place went to Tennessee's Kimberley Locke, who was 25 at the time of competition. She auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with the Judy Garland song Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Locke was eliminated in Week 11 (Top 3 Week) after singing Band of Gold by Freda Payne, Anyone Who Had a Heart by Dionne Warwick, and Inseparable by Natalie Cole. Now 47, Locke is a singer and television personality focusing on R&B, pop, and dance music. She's released six studio albums since 2004. Her song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Garland's Over the Rainbow. 8th World Wonder was featured on her 2004 album One Love and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #49. Locke had an incredible voice then and still does today, and while I preferred Kimberly Caldwell I was happy that she placed high on the show. I thought this song was great when it released, and it still get stuck in my head all these years later.

Woke up early this morning/Made my coffee like I always do/And then it hit me from nowhere/Everything I feel about me and you/The way you kiss me crazy/Baby, you’re so amazing/Seven days and seven nights of thunder/The water’s rising and I’m slipping under/I think I fell in love with the eighth world wonder/Yeah, yeah, yeah

2nd Place - Clay Aiken, Raleigh, North Carolina

Spotlight Song: Invisible (written by D. Child, A. Carlsson, C. Braide)

2nd Place went to North Carolina's Clay Aiken, who was 24 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Atlanta, Georgia with the Heatwave song Always and Forever in one of the show's most iconic auditions to date. Aiken was named Runner-Up in Week 12 (the Finals) after singing Idol original This Is the Night, Here, There and Everywhere by The Beatles, and Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel. Now 46, he is a singer, songwriter, politician, actor, and author host who focuses on pop, soft rock, and R&B music. He has released seven studio albums since 2003, three of which are sitting in my personal CD collection. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was Jeffrey Osborne's On the Wings of Love. Invisible was featured on his 2003 album Measure of a Man, peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #37, and is certified Gold by the RIAA. I was an absolutely rabid Clay fan from the minute he walked into the audition room looking like a stereotypical 80s nerd, and I was WAY too devastated when he was awarded 2nd place (seriously, my mom told me if I didn't calm down I was never allowed to watch the show again, it was absurd). I still maintain that he has one of the best voices the show has ever seen, and even if Invisible is kind of a dumb song, he sounds great singing it.

What you doing tonight/I wish I could be a fly on your wall/Are you really alone/Who’s stealing your dreams/Why can’t I breathe you into my life/So tell me what would it take to make you see that I’m alive/If I was invisible, then I could just watch you in your room/If I was invincible, I’d make you mine tonight/If hearts were unbreakable, then I could just tell you where I stand/I would be the smartest man if I was invisible, wait, I already am

1st Place - Ruben Studdard, Birmingham, Alabama

Spotlight Song: Sorry 2004 (written by H. Mason, D. Thomas, R. Jackson, T. Dixon, E. Dawkins)

The second title of American Idol went to Alabama's Ruben Studdard, who was 24 at the time of competition. He auditioned in Nashville, Tennessee with the Stevie Wonder song Ribbon in the Sky. Studdard was crowned winner in Week 12 (the Finals) after singing A House Is Not a Home by Dionne Warwick, Imagine by John Lennon, and Idol original Flying Without Wings. Now 47, he is a singer and actor focusing on R&B, pop, and gospel music. He has two children with his wife Kristen Moore, has been nominated for a Grammy, and has released eight studio albums since 2004. His song that was recorded for the All-Time Classic American Love Songs compilation album was The Carpenters's Superstar. Sorry 2004 was featured on his 2004 album Soulful and is currently his most popular song on Apple Music. Here's the thing: I loved Ruben and was hardcore rooting for him as my #2...until it became clear that it would be a choice between him and Clay and I just had to be Team Clay all the way. He does have a nice voice, I just prefer Clay by a long shot, and this song just isn't my favorite (but if you've been around a while you know R&B is a weird genre for me).

It’s like I missed a shot/It’s like I dropped the ball/It’s like I’m on sage and I forgot the words/It’s like building a new house with no roof and no doors/It’s like trying to propose and I ain’t got the ring/But girl, I’ve apologized a million times before/So are it comes again for all the wrong I’ve done/Here’s one million one/Girl, this is my sorry for 2004/And I ain’t gonna mess up no more this year/I’ma take this one chance, and make it real clear/I’m sorry for May and I’m sorry for June/Sorry for July in case I don’t tell you/August, September, October, November/’Til December, I’m sorry, I’m sorry 2004

I hope you enjoyed revisiting this excellent chapter of history for the show, I know I did. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!