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We answer burning questions about ''American Idol'' | aug92002_666_lg
American Idol Cover Story, August 9 2002

All About

American Idol
By Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger
Dave Karger, a senior writer at EW, also reports on box office and other movie- related matters on NBC's ''Today''

How do the contestants choose what songs they're going to sing?

It's a collaborative process between the singers, musical directors, and Fox lawyers. For each show, ''we listen to CDs for about four hours,'' says Tamyra Gray. ''Then we write lists of what we're interested in. And they see what they can get cleared.'' When R.J. Helton injured himself after one recent performance (he fell off the stage while giving an interview), however, choosing his next number wasn't exactly a group decision. ''They called me in the hospital and said, 'Do you know ''Under the Boardwalk?''''' he recalls. ''I was like, 'Yeah, I like that song.'''


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