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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > July > 16 > Entry
7/17: Ruben interview part III
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the final portion of the Ruben interview I did Saturday at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre:
AJC: As you know, Birmingham is the center of the ‘Idol’ Universe. Did you ever have a chance to meet Taylor [Hicks]?
No. My mom met him. My brother met him.
AJC: Have you seen him on TV?
I saw him twice. I saw him one episode and on the finale. I think he’s a great singer man. I think he’s going to do well. I think people are really attracted to his personality. I think that’s what got me over, that southern charm. I think it’s the same thing that will get Taylor and Bo over. Bo is a rock star. He’s totally different from Taylor and me. Bo is just awesome. He’ll probably be on his Metallica in a couple of years.
AJC: Have you met Bo?
No. My mom has met him. I just like to be in the background. I don’t have to go to the premieres.
AJC: Are you surprised they finally made Birmingham an audition city?
It really shocked me it took me so long. I thought after I won, they’d come directly to them.
AJC: They did Greensboro last year.
The year after Diana DeGarmo, although she lived in Snellville, she was born in Birmingham. Then Bo the next year, still no audtions. Now Taylor won finally and now they get it. They’re going to find some great talent. We don’t play. There are some psychos there.
AJC: Mandisa has been giving some love for you on the tour.
Really? I didn’t know that.
AJC: In New Jersey, she changed the lyrics to one song to mention you.
Awww…
AJC: She hasn’t met you yet?
No. We haven’t met yet.
AJC: She’s a gospel gal. She relates to you.
I didn’t know that. I heard her sing. It was jazz week. She did it with her shoes off. I remember Paris doing this song, Fever.
AJC: Have you met Paris? You haven’t met any of these guys.
I haven’t met anybody. I take that back. I did a show with Ace. He opened up for me in California.
AJC: Are you surprised Idol is still so popular?
I think as long as people want to have a stake in somebody’s career. I think it’s going to get bigger . People keep trying to copy it. There’s only one Idol. Always imitated, never duplicated.
AJC: No regrets about doing anything.
It hasn’t hurt me. You wouldn’t be here writing about me.
AJC: Who are some producers you’ve worked with for your current album?
Scott Storch. Mario Winans, Pooh Bear. You’ll see him on Making the Band. Underdogs. Ne-Yo.
AJC: Any guests?
No guests. All me. I just wanted to do my thing. I wanted it to be about Ruben. That’s it.
AJC: There was a lot less intervention from the record company.
They said do your thing.
AJC: They probably were on your case a lot more the first album.
This time, they’re a lot more chill.
AJC: What’s the promotion going to be like?
It’ll be better promotion because Idol is not in the way. I haven’t had a chance to do a radio tour. I want to go all over. I want to make people sick of seeing me. Whoever calls me, I’ll be there. If a country station wants to talk to me, I’ll talk.
AJC: Were you sick of the media at some point?
No. I like my job, man. This is what I wanted to do. Nobody asked me to audition for Idol or put a gun to my head or ask me to be a professional singer. This is all that comes with it.
AJC: You don’t mind fans coming up to you while you’re at a restaurant.
Except when I have a fork in my mouth! That could be kind of annoying. Other than that, you can get an autograph from me.
AJC: Why don’t people wait until you’re finished eating?
What? What? They love it! (chuckle). But it’s cool. If I saw Janet Jackson in a restaurant, I wouldn’t care if she had a French fry in her mouth. I’d want to speak to her.
AJC: Where do you like to eat around here?
I love Justin’s. [That’s P. Diddy’s restaurant in Buckhead.] Atlanta Fish Market. Trying to think. I’m usually in the studio when I’m here.
AJC: You seem really relaxed. I remember you doing an interview right after “Idol� and you were just tired.
Man. That was an experience. You catch McPhee and Taylor during the tour and see how they feel. Can you do an interview on the bus? I’m sleeping!
AJC: You don’t have that stress on tour, right?
That’s one thing I learned about being on tour with Idol. It’s not like being on television. If you mess up and the judges don’t catch it. But your fans will pay attention. If I can give them advice, it’s always do your best on stage even if you’re sick. I remember one concert I was asleep right through the concert until Clay was on. I woke up and couldn’t sing. I didn’t see bad press but that was an awful situation that day.
AJC: Have you heard from Clay lately?
We just kicked with him two weeks ago. We went to Kelly Clarkson’s show in Carolina. I love her show. She come to Atlanta you have to come see her.
AJC: She’s not coming to Atlanta. I saw her at the Fox Theatre last year.
I think this tour is better. You’ve got the staging. If she’s coming anywhere close, you’ve got to see it.
AJC: Did you get a chance to see her?
We kicked it! We’re familiy man!
AJC: How are things with Fantasia?
She had a birthday party she call me about. But I had to go home and handle something with my mama.
AJC: She’s got that movie coming out about herself.
Everyone that’s ever been on the show who wanted to do something for herself is doing it.
AJC: Diana DeGarmo is doing Broadway.
That’s what I’m saying. Work!
AJC: I haven’t heard much from Justin
He’s got a jazz album that came out. And Josh [Gracin] is doing great on country. And Kim Locke is doing it on the pop charts. We don’t play. George Huff has a great gospel record. You got to open your eyes. I think Paris will be heard, too. And Chris Daughtry. I really think people should take us seriously henceforth and forever more.
AJC: I think people do.
We don’t play around. And we sell records. They come off the shelves, even before we leave the show.
AJC: I think people respect Idol a lot more now than when you were on.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By cj
July 17, 2006 8:24 AM | Link to this
What a great interview! I am glad to hear that Ru is thinking about his health and am glad the ‘The Return’ cd will be out soon. He sounds happy, and I hope to see him in concert in my area very soon.
By emach1300
July 17, 2006 2:40 PM | Link to this
Great interview. Thorough and very detailed. Loved it. Great to hear Ruben is taking care of his health. We’ll be praying for you RU, we know it must be tough, but you can do it! Looking forward to your CD!!!
By Sheila Joyce
July 17, 2006 3:03 PM | Link to this
I loved the interview with Ruben. I didn’t hear him say or you ask about a fan base or a way to send him e-mails. I would love to send him shouts every now and then.
By BH
July 17, 2006 7:19 PM | Link to this
Congrats, Ro, on getting this interview and thanks for writing here about it. Keep up the great work you do. I think Rooooobe is an awesome singer and now I think he’s even a bigger person because of how he thinks, you know, forgivesness and all that. I did feel like some of his answers came across as kind of cocky more than as coming from self asurance and he should guard against coming across as conceited, etc. He should always remember those 18 months where things were not happening. No matter how much money you make, stay off them drugs, too much booze, and broad jumping, bro. Hope to read nothing but good things about him. Thanks, again, Ro, for bringing it to us.
By Callie
July 17, 2006 10:30 PM | Link to this
Man, this boy knows how to make me smile!!
By Callie
July 17, 2006 10:34 PM | Link to this
Also, if Ruben ever reads this, I think that I would be ten times better than Mandisa ;)
By karenforclay-kfc
July 18, 2006 2:18 PM | Link to this
Thank you for the great interview with Ruben…am really happy that he’s doing well and that his new CD is coming soon; look forward to seeing and reading much more about him. Would be great to see a reunion performance with him and Clay; the AI2 finale was such a class performance on both their parts.
Congrats, Ruben, the world’s your stage!
Red Deer Alberta Canada
By Sandy
July 24, 2006 9:48 PM | Link to this
Great interview!
All of a sudden, I’m really curious to check out this upcoming album. I’m impressed that he worked with the likes of Neyo, Scott Storch and Pooh Bear.
It’s great that he sees the Idol experience in a positive light. By the way, he’s right about George Huff’s gospel record. It is great!