Artist: Ruben Studdard
Song: Flying Without Wings

[Verse 1]
Everybody's looking for that something
One thing that makes it all complete
You'll find it in the strangest places
Places you never knew it could be
Some find it in the faces of their children
Some find it in their lovers eyes
Who can deny the joy it brings
When you find that special thing
You're flying without wings

[Verse 2]
Some find it sharing in every morning
Some in their solitary lives
You'll find it in the works of others
A simple line can make you laugh or cry
You'll find it in the deepest friendships
The kind you cherish all your lives
And when you know how much that means
You have found that special thing
You're flying without wings

[Bridge]
So impossible as they may seem
You've got to fight for every dream
'Cuz who's to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete

[Verse 3]
But for me it's waking up beside you
To watch the sun rise on your face
To know that I can say I love you
At any given time or place
It's the little things that only I know
Those are the things that make you mine, all mine
And it's the flying without wings
'Cuz you're my special thing
I'm flying without wings
You're the place my life begins
And you'll be where it ends
I'm flying without wings
And that's the joy it brings
I'm flying without wings

2003年5月21日，在第二季的美国偶像大赛(American Idol)决赛上，一个身材巨肥硕的黑小伙，被评委称为"天鹅绒般的泰迪熊(Velvet Teddy Bear)"的R&B歌手Ruben Studdard在观众最终的2400万张选票中，以极其微弱的优势压倒了被普遍看好的另一名决赛选手Clay Aiken成为了第一个美国偶像大赛的黑人歌手，从而也一举登上了著名的《滚石》杂志的封面，成为了最炙手可热的偶像明星。

Ruben Studdard憨厚的笑容和成熟的嗓音，以及一身运动衫的打扮，打破了美国偶像大赛一直以来以青少年流行偶像占统治性地位的局面，这项大赛此前的冠军和亚军得主，Kelly Clarkson和Justin Guarini都是青少年流行音乐为主，包括赛前非常被看好的Clay Aiken也是这种风格，Ruben Studdard的出现，既证明了自己的演唱实力，也显示出了黑人音乐的强大魅力。作为偶像大赛的获胜者，Ruben Studdard拿到了最重要的战利品--和J-Records唱片公司签约，并且在比赛结束一个月之后，和大赛榜眼Clay Aiken一起发行了首支单曲，偶像大赛的激烈竞争仍然在延续，但是这次的获胜者是Clay Aiken，在单曲榜上，Ruben Studdard的单曲《Flying Without Wings》屈居其后。

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