Flying Without Wings/Superstar [Single, Enhanced]

Ruben Studdard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single, Enhanced
• Label: Rca
• ASIN: B00009PRZE
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (631 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,178 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Flying Without Wings

2. Superstar

Editorial Reviews

2003 single from American Idol winner, the tile track is backed with 'Superstar'. RCA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ruuu-ben!, June 11, 2003

By 

Steven Bailey "Cinemaven" (Jacksonville Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Without Wings/Superstar (Audio CD)

So I'm driving to work on Tuesday, bawling my eyes out after hearing Ruben Studdard's "Flying Without Wings" and Clay Aiken's cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on the radio. And the DJ's are knocking these songs like crazy. Then the DJs take listeners' calls, and the listeners are knocking these songs like crazy.

And I'm wondering what kind of alternate universe I live in these days. Because when Studdard and Aiken were singing these songs on the last week of "American Idol 2," America was having the biggest TV lovefest since the glory days of the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Clive Davis, a record mogul who once launched some guy named Springsteen, came on the show and practically said he'd release these two guys' singles that night if he could. And here it is, only about a month after series' end, and the singles (both by RCA) are out this week--right along with the debut CD of Justin Guarini, who obviously didn't make friends with Davis at the end of "American Idol 1."

And, tragically unhip person that I am, I think the songs are beautiful. When Studdard (dubbed "the velvet teddy bear" by "AI" guest judge Gladys Knight) first sang "Flying Without Wings" on "AI," I could hardly believe my good luck. An old-fashioned, unashamedly sentimental song! With lyrics that make sense all the way through! Sung by a voice that seemed born to sing it! I didn't think music like this was allowed by law anymore!

As for Aiken's single, I don't know if Paul Simon approves of it, but it works just fine for me. The DJ who played this song accused it of bombast. No argument there--Aiken hits a CD-shattering note at song's end as though his career depended on it, and the harp player follows right behind him. And for some strange, maybe kitschy reason, it all fits together perfectly. (I also get juiced up when I hear the harp at the end of The Beatles' "Long and Winding Road," so I guess I'm not what you'd call a purist.)

These days, most music makes you feel out of it if you're not women-bashing with your homies at the local nightclub. I'll take the sentimental guys any day.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I thought he was capable of more..., June 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Flying Without Wings/Superstar (Audio CD)

I was also quite disappointed by this CD... I was looking forward to hearing it but it just seems to be lacking that something that made him special on American Idol. It's too bad!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Superstar again? Flying without Wings okay., June 23, 2003

By 

"proudtexan1" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flying Without Wings/Superstar (Audio CD)

I truly enjoyed listening to Ruben during the AI2 season. My first complaint about this single cd is this, how many times do we have to listen to Superstar? I truly only purchased this cd because of Flying without Wings. The powers that be should have chosen another song for Ruben's single.

Flying without Wings: Well I was really looking forward to owning this song after hearing it on the final show. I wish they had used that live version.

I hope that whoever is producing Ruben's full album chooses songs and renditions of those songs wisely.