Ruben Studdard Album Update

Ruben Studdard has just released a cover of Bobby Brown's "Rock Wit'cha", which is rumored to feature K. Michelle & serves as the lead single from his upcoming fifth album Letters From Birmingham (March 11th).

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Ruben Studdard Files For Divorce

Irreconcilable differences... what else is there to say? It's too bad.

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Keke Wyatt ft. Ruben Studdard "Saturday Love" Video Premiere

"Saturday Love", featuring Ruben Studdard, is the first single off Keke Wyatt's forthcoming album Unbelievable (June 14th). This is such a great pairing! I think the execution could've been a tad better, but Keke is so talented & I love Ruben.

Skate For The Heart Performance Highlights

David Archuleta "Something 'Bout Love"



David Archuleta "My Kind Of Perfect"



Ruben Studdard "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More"



Ruben Studdard "Flying Without Wings"
Seasons 2 & 7 of American Idol merged during the Skate For The Heart special, where Ruben Studdard & David Archuleta (because where there's skating, there's David lol), respectively, both performed while skaters glided around the ice. It's been a while since we've heard "Flying Without Wings" from Ruben... & I'm sure it's only me, but that song will forever be a Westlife song..!

New American Idol Season 10 Promo

All nine winners (so far) of American Idol are again featured in this new TV spot for the show's tenth season. Kelly! Ruben! Fantasia! Carrie! Jordin! Kris!

American Idol Season 10 Promo

Lately, American Idol has been hunting down all of its winners to shoot the above promo for the show's tenth season. They're all there, including Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, & Kris Allen. I love it!

American Idol Finale Performance Highlights

Christina Aguilera "You Lost Me"



Janet Jackson & Finalists - Medley



Idols Tribute Simon Cowell

Carrie Underwood "Undo It"
Kris Allen "The Truth"
Christina Aguilera & Top 6 Girls - Medley
Paula Abdul Roasts Simon Cowell
General Larry Platt & William Hung "Pants On The Ground"

Christina Aguilera & tributes to Simon made the finale of American Idol this year's best episode, sad as it may be. Christina rocked the house with one of my favorite songs off her new album, reminding America what singing actually sounds like in the process. While I enjoyed Janet Jackson's performance (& I hate to be a party pooper)... 1) I wish she hadn't lipsynched "Nothing", 2) she could've actually danced during "Nasty", & 3) her hair looked better when it wasn't stuck to her head. Now that I have that off my chest, I'm fully aware that Janet simply being on that stage is more entertaining that anything any contestant did this season. And Siobhan, don't try to sing "Again". The Simon tribute was cool, as all the previous winners (except David Cook) & several other former finalists shared the stage together. Kelly, Fantasia, & Jordin sure did their thing too! As for Old Yeller 2.0 winning... I don't reeeally care, but considering he's a poor man's David Cook, it would've been a decent change of pace to have a girl win. I mean, I was so used to hearing such awful singing that when Crystal sang with Alanis, it actually sounded OK..! (Heck, I thought Katie & even Michael almost sounded talented during the finale.) Mainly, I just wish people would realize how pathetic & detrimental to the show it is that they vote for the winner like it's a popularity contest rather than a singing competition. If you continue to change your minds about who should win in the last few weeks of the competition & instead of picking the contestant who deserves it, you pick the one whose personality you like best, the winners are going to continue painting a bad picture of the show by not selling anything & it will spell the end of Idol. I guess it doesn't matter much though, since this show has apparently lost its ability to find people who can actually sing anyway. But speaking of people who can actually sing, check out Vonzell singing part of her single "Dirt Bag" on this week's episode of The BabyV Show:

Idol Review: Top 10

Dirty Money "Hello Good Morning"



Usher ft. will.i.am "OMG"



Ruben Studdard "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More"

R&B week on American Idol meant one thing for sure: A good (results) show! The contestants may have sucked it up as usual, but Wednesday night's three performers, like the week's mentor Usher (even though Dirty Money showed him up), did great. As for the terrible ten, the judges actually heard Siobhan's horrible voice for once & Casey continued on mumbling. After mutilating a poor, undeserving India.Arie song the night before, Michael got to sit through a performance from the man he so desperately wants to, but will never, EVER, be (Ruben! Oh yeah!!). Back to Tuesday, Tim just stared into the camera threateningly, but Andrew actually pulled off a decent performance for once. (Grading on a curve here!) Katie was kidding herself & Old Yeller 2.0 was *drumroll* awful. As for the last two, via my live tweets, "Crystal, blegh. Aaron, no. #thatisall Phew!!" Poor Didi left... I didn't care for her singing, but I liked her personality. *crickets* And now, for this week's episode of The BabyV Show:

Ruben Studdard On Wendy Williams

"Don't Make 'Em Like U No More"

Interview

Ruben Studdard performed the *second* single "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More" off his fourth album Love IS & sat down for an interview in a rare appearance on The Wendy Williams Show. Ruben looks amazing & seems to feel that way too! I'll tell ya, if you're watching the current season of American Idol too, this will really make you both appreciate & miss the good ol' days on the show when there was actual talent.

Ruben Studdard ft. Rick Ross "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More" Song Premiere

For the second single off his fourth album Love IS, Ruben Studdard (thankfully, for exposure's sake) gets a little help from Rick Ross on the single version of "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More." I must say, although I'm not a Rick Ross fan, it did make me take notice of the song! You can purchase it (as well as a remix) right HERE.

Ruben Studdard "Christmas In Your Arms" Song Premiere

LISTEN

Ruben Studdard spreads holiday cheer of his very own with "Christmas In Your Arms," which is available now to download HERE. His warm, soulful voice fits this time of year like a glove. If you like what you hear, Ruben's latest album Love IS is in stores now!

Ruben Studdard "I'm A Fighter" Song Premiere

Ruben Studdard has co-written & recorded "I'm A Fighter" as the new spokesman for Be Sickle Smart. You can stream it HERE. Ruben's soulful voice is a perfect fit for the track. If you like what you hear & want more Ruben, his latest album Love IS is out now.

Album Review: Ruben Studdard "Love IS"

Ruben Studdard has had his ups & downs ever since winning the second season of American Idol. After a rather successful debut, Ruben hasn’t been able to maintain his initial level of success & failed to make a ‘return’ a few years ago. Back with a new label, Ruben has recorded his fourth studio album Love IS, a project devoted to simply singing & reminding the public why he won them over in the first place, but does he succeed in what he’s aiming for?

Love IS kicks off with its first single “Together,” a proper lead offering, though radio isn’t much into playing “singers” these days. A nice cover of “More Than Words” is then followed by “Song For Her,” a special dedication to his fiancé that reflects (& explains) the overall mood of the album. A bit of desperately needed life is pumped into Love IS with “How You Make Me Feel,” though it is at this point that you realize that everything on the album is going to sound basically the same.

“Don’t Make ‘Em Like U No More” is a pleasant midtempo—surprisingly, I know, though you can’t deny (& neither can America) Ruben’s smooth vocals on it or the following track “I Can’t Help It.” However, while trying to get past the halfway point, a song like “Just Because,” though not bad, becomes difficult to sit through. Thankfully though, one of the album’s highlights, the ballad “My Love Is A Rock,” follows & brings back memories of Ruben’s past Idol glory.

Now, while Ruben’s cover of “The Long & Winding Road” is very good, it has nothing on David Archuleta’s performance of the song on the Idol stage a little over a year ago. Ruben shows off his vocal ability much better on the retro “For The Good Times.” As Love IS winds down, Ruben continues to sing nicely on some more ballads: the big, inspirational “We Got Love (That’s Enough)” & “Footprints In The Sand.”

I get what Love IS is supposed to be & I’m not trying to belittle it for that, but I actually preferred the variation Ruben offered on his third album The Return. I think the choice to include some covers was smart because it will encourage people to embrace the man who does justice to their favorite tunes as they once did… should they give this album a listen. In fact, as always, I have to encourage you to enjoy the soul of Ruben Studdard once again when you’re in the mood for some good music.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart

This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Eminem debuts atop this week's Billboard 200 album chart with Relapse, while Busta Rhymes' Back On My B.S. came in at #5 with 59,000 copies sold & Ruben Studdard's Love IS starts off at #36. (LaKisha Jones' So Glad I'm Me was unable to chart.) Also debuting this week are the Season 8 Favorite Performances albums from Adam Lambert & Kris Allen. Adam's sold 16,000 copies, which was good enough for #33, & Kris' sold 10,000 copies, good enough for #50. The Black-Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" stays on top of the Hot 100 singles chart this week, but Adam & Kris have quite a few debuts there too & you can check them out below:

Kris Allen "No Boundaries" #11 (134,000)

Kris Allen "Heartless" #16

Adam Lambert "Mad World" #19 (115,000)

Kris Allen "Ain't No Sunshine" #37

Adam Lambert "A Change Is Gonna Come" #56

Kris Allen "Apologize" #66

Adam Lambert "No Boundaries" #72

Adam Lambert "One" #82

Kris Allen "Falling Slowly" #94

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Ruben Studdard On Idol Confessions

Ruben Studdard also promoted his recently released album Love IS by stopping by Idol Confessions. I like these things. He sang a bit of "The Long & Winding Road," which was good, but only reminded me of David Archuleta's far superior version. I am only just realizing that I didn't post the album reviews I was supposed to last week, but I'll try to get to them soon.

New Music Tuesday

^Click To Purchase^

It's no secret what new releases are coming out today. LaKisha Jones' debut album So Glad I'm Me drops & features the video-less lead single "Let's Go Celebrate." Also available is Ruben Studdard's fourth effort Love IS, which includes first single "Together." Positive reviews for the pair of Idol alumni should be up this week. FYI, you can get two bonus tracks on each CD when you buy them at Target!

Listen To New Albums From LaKisha Jones & Ruben Studdard!

On May 19th, LaKisha Jones will release her debut album So Glad I'm Me & Ruben Studdard is set to drop his fourth album Love IS. You can listen to both in full HERE. I'd have to give the edge to LaKisha, but both albums are worth a listen!

Preview Ruben Studdard's "Love IS"

Click HERE to listen to a clip of each song on Ruben Studdard's upcoming fourth album Love IS (May 19th). The album features a few covers, but still manages to sound pretty much the same throughout... not that it's a bad sound, considering it did win him American Idol after all.

New Ruben Studdard Promo Pics

Ruben Studdard is getting all dressed up in anticipation of the release of his fourth album Love IS on May 19th. I like the above promotional photo, but I'm not too big on the others. They used the same concept with the ladies for his last album The Return & they make him look escort-ish... if you catch my drift. I'm still checking for the music though.

Ruben Studdard "Love IS" Tracklisting

The tracklisting for Ruben Studdard's upcoming fourth album Love IS (May 19th) has been revealed & it has some interesting titles indeed:

1. Together
2. More Than Words
3. Song For Her
4. How You Make Me Feel
5. Don't Make 'Em Like U No More
6. I Can't Help It
7. Just Because
8. My Love Is A Rock
9. The Long & Winding Road
10. For The Good Times
11. We Got Love (That's Enough)
12. Footprints In The Sand
13. Wet Pillows (Bonus Track)

"Footprints In The Sand?" "The Long & Winding Road?" Then, of course, there's that bonus track... I'm definitely interested in how the album will turn out.

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