Issue Date: June 20, 2004

In this article: The winning song: "Can't Stop Me" Usher on Usher Online bonus Usher interview

And the winner is ...

Pop star and USA WEEKEND contest judge Usher introduces the student who beat out more than 9,000 others in our songwriting contest for teens.

By Frappa Stout

"I just thought about what makes America America -- what brings people together"

On the Hollywood set of NBC's "American Dreams," Usher, the newly minted superstar singer, walks right up to David Choi, shakes his hand and greets him warmly. "Great to meet you," the R&B sensation says genuinely to the high school senior. "That was a great song, man. What do you plan to do now?"

No, this is not a set-up for a Disney World commercial. It is a photo shoot with Usher and Choi, the winner of the 2004 USA WEEKEND-John Lennon Songwriting Contest for Teens. The 18-year-old from Orange County, Calif., wrote "Can't Stop Me," whose catchy, poignant lyrics caught the attention of this year's contest judges, Usher among them, beating out 9,007 other student entries from across the country.

Choi, an Usher fan who has been listening to the singer's new album, "Confessions," non-stop since it came out in March, is nearly speechless. He mutters that he wants to study music industry at the University of Southern California, but first he'll attend a local community college. Usher is quick to put Choi at ease. "My first photo shoot [when he was 14, for the jacket cover of his single, "Call Me a Mack"], man, I was nervous," Usher says with a hand on Choi's shoulder. "But you'll see: Once you get your pose down, the rest is easy."

To fit the theme of this year's contest, "American dreams," the first-generation Korean American wrote about playing baseball, scoring touchdowns, mountain climbing -- a checklist of goals he sees as particularly American.

"I just thought about what makes America America -- what brings people together, what makes them happy and what makes them feel good," Choi says. Music runs in the family. His parents own a music store near their Fountain Valley home, and Choi plays piano, violin and some guitar.

Judges as diverse as Usher and country singer LeAnn Rimes connected to Choi's lyrics.

"I was struck by how broad the song is and how I could relate to it," Usher explains. "I felt like he's actually speaking for race, he's speaking for life, he's speaking for sports, he's speaking for youth, he's speaking for adults. All of that is in here."

Other judges praised the lyrics' subject matter.

"We've disconnected ourselves from the whole patriotic thing," Rimes says. "It's not really what people are singing about. So it's nice that he dug deep to find what he believes in."

Says fellow judge Monica, an R&B singer who released her third album last summer: "David's song especially has a message that differs from the norm. It's not something the first single off a Monica or Beyoncé album would be talking about."

Michelle Branch and the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am also judged this year's entries. (Pink dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.)

For young Choi, whose favorite artists range from Dave Matthews and rock band Switchfoot, to Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole, the song is very personal. "My parents moved here because of the 'American Dream,' to give their kids more opportunity," he says, noting that his grandmother sings, his uncle plays the clarinet, and his father was a yodeler back in South Korea -- but there, music was just a hobby. "My parents probably wouldn't be able to do what they do now if they still lived in Korea."

Usher, who grew up singing in his mom's Chattanooga, Tenn., Baptist church choir, likes the fact that Choi's song has an inspirational tone but is cool enough to appeal to young people. Plus, he says, it has something that many songs on the radio lack: forward momentum. "It clearly gives you an idea of what the motivation was and where it started," he says. "OK, just to pitch a ball, but then, to go all the way to where you win a World Series ring. See what I mean? That's good."

So what should Choi do from here?

"Keep writing," Usher urges.

Choi is doing just that. He devoted all of his free time in high school to composing, singing and recording songs -- enough for a self-titled CD, which he has produced and is now shopping for a label. But it wasn't until he heard about the contest last February that he decided to give lyric-writing a try. Clearly a quick study, Choi already has penned 30 new songs.

"In the future, David may become one of our prolific writers," Usher says. "He has a natural talent, but it's not going to all fall in his lap. He won't become a phenom overnight."

In addition to having his lyrics published here in USA WEEKEND Magazine, Choi wins a trip for two to Los Angeles, where he will appear in an episode of "American Dreams." He also receives a $1,000 U.S. savings bond from Maxell, a 16-track hard disk recorder/CD burner from Yamaha valued at more than $1,200, 100 Maxell CD-R recordable CDs, and his song recorded on board the John Lennon Songwriting Contest's Educational Tour Bus. In addition, his school, Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, Calif., will receive $500 from themusicedge.com and a copy of the interactive biography "Lennon Legend: An Illustrated Life of John Lennon" by James Henke (Chronicle Books, $40).

Frappa Stout is an assistant editor at USA WEEKEND.

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Usher on Usher

"I'm young, hot," says Usher with a wink during a break from the photo shoot for this article. "And I'm going to take over the world."

No doubt, the R&B singing sensation has been giving off plenty of heat this steamy season. With three songs (from his multiplatinum CD Confessions) together in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart earlier this month, he joins the lonely ranks of the Bee Gees and the Beatles.

And, yes, he says outrageously arrogant things and means them.

But at 25, Usher Raymond IV isn't ready to take his superstar status -- and the responsibility it can bring -- for granted.

"I'm very, very proud of my accomplishments," he says earnestly. "It's important to me that I look to open doors and opportunities for other people, because that's sort of what made me what I am."

Being a judge for our contest falls in that category. Although pressed for time -- he has an MTV commercial to shoot the same day -- Usher graciously sits down to give advice to our songwriting contest winner, David Choi. Next, he's off to rehearse for a marathon European-U.S. summer tour.

With his crazy schedule, the single-named star would hardly be faulted for diva-like demeanor. But coupled with his undeniable star quality is a Southern hospitality that makes Usher, well, a real sweetheart. He says "please" and "thank you." He carefully considers every word he says, even back-tracking in conversation to clarify his points. With racier lyrics on this latest CD and even harder washboard abs, the singer has gone from cute, talented, young-Michael Jackson lookalike to hot, sexy magazine cover star. His previous albums, such as 1997's "My Way" and 2001's "8701," have sold well, but it took "Confessions" and the rhythmic first single "Yeah!" to elevate him to venerable music heavyweight.

Still, in many ways he's just a big kid. His road manager of four years, Terence Carter, says Usher drags him to silly movies like "Jeepers Creepers," calls Carter and other close crew members for help with the Internet and simple things at home, and likes to party all night long. "He loves a good, hot, sexy, racially mixed club, and he likes to shut it down," Carter says. Usher usually drinks water, but sometimes he indulges in champagne. "We'll be like, 'Usher, it's 2 o'clock, we have a 6 o'clock call in the morning. ... Usher, it's 3 o'clock; let's go.' And he'll say, 'OK, just tell me when the car is out front,' and then the car will wait 20 minutes."

That behavior has intensified now that -- at least at press time -- he's single. Usher is frank when asked about his recent breakup with his girlfriend of more than two years, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of the group TLC. The very public split, which happened shortly before his CD came out, led to speculations that song lyrics about a pregnant mistress may be autobiographical, which Usher has denied. His relationship with Thomas, who is more than seven years his senior, dissipated because they wanted different things, he says now. "I really just want a companion," he says. "That's what that relationship taught me. I don't know if I want to get married."

On the companion front, he's wide open and looking. He wouldn't mind taking Halle Berry on a date, he confesses. But whoever it is, he wants to take things slowly.

"I look to build friendships, man, not just date someone and have a quick, big, fast, in-a-hurry relationship and it's over," he says. "I like to build something with substance, nah'mean?"

-- Frappa Stout

Online bonus: Interview transcript with Usher

"I'm young, hot," says Usher with a wink during a break from the photo shoot for this article. "And I'm going to take over the world."
No doubt, the R&B singing sensation has been giving off plenty of heat this steamy season. With three songs (from his multiplatinum CD Confessions) together in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart earlier this month, he joins the lonely ranks of the Bee Gees and the Beatles.
But at 25, Usher Raymond IV, also a judge for our USA WEEKEND-John Lennon Songwriting Contest for Teens, isn't ready to take his superstar status -- and the responsibility it can bring -- for granted.
Here's our interview:

Q: First, I'm curious to know where you got the name "Usher."
A: My father's name is Usher Raymond the third, and I'm the fourth.

Q: At 25, you've already been around for a while.
A: For a long time, I've been very successful in my career. I'm very, very proud of my accomplishments, and I look to open doors and opportunities for other people, because that's sort of what made me what I am. That's why I wanted to be a part of this [contest].

Q: The winning song has a strong patriotic message. What's your opinion about pop music today? Chris Rock says that to listen to pop music, you'd think everything is fine in the world right now.
A: I agree. I can't say that applies to my situation. The turmoil in my songs allows real emotion to exist as well as gives you a situation or circumstance. People love drama. And that's why we wrote the album that we wrote with Confessions.

Q: What message were you trying to send with the lyrics?
A: Be honest. When we wrote them, the songs were dealing with very real situations. Insecurity, infidelity; these conversations took place in very intimate settings. I allowed myself to go even further because I wrote songs on this album that didn't necessarily cater to my life, but I could relate to them. So I spoke for my personal experiences, but for the most part, I spoke for the people that were actually going through them.

Q: There was a lot of talk about your song, Confessions Part II, in which you sing that you've been unfaithful and your mistress is pregnant. You've said that it didn't happen to you, but where did the story come from?
A: Confessions is something that a lot of people go through. I've dealt with life's ups and downs as it relates to relationships, but to have an illegitimate child, I never dealt with that. But so many people around me while I made this album were going through it. I had conversations with people, or I read something somewhere, or I saw a TV show where people were going through those issues, and I thought, that would be a great song to write.

Q: When the album came out, you had recently broken up with your girlfriend, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Wasn't it hard dealing with the controversy surrounding the song at that moment?
A: I wouldn't call it a controversy because the drama that's associated with it is so real. Everybody goes through it. These are unfortunate circumstances that I have to go through in front of the entire world, because of my status and who I am. And I have no problem with it, because it's just what it is. I'm going through the same thing that you probably went through. You can't run away from it, unless you just decide not to live.

Q: You were together more than two years. What caused the relationship to end?
A: I don't really talk about it. I haven't run away from it. I've given it all up. Go get [my] album and you'll understand my pattern of thinking and how I view life.

Q: How do you view your life right now? Do you want another relationship?
A: I want a girlfriend. Nah, I don't want a girlfriend; I want a companion, really. That's what that relationship taught me. I really just want a companion. I don't know if I want to get married.

Q: Is it difficult for you to find someone you can trust?
A: No. Of course not.

Q: Don't you question people's intentions?
A: They should question mine too. I'm clear. I'm very honest, and very honest in it. I'm not looking for a relationship. I want a companion. Who knows. it has to naturally build to that, you know? Anyway, that's my personal life.

Q: If you could go on a date with anyone, who would it be?
A: I'd love to take Halle Berry on a date. I'd love to pick her brain; I'd love to know what she's thinking about. I think I could be a good friend to her. I look to build friendships, man, not just date someone and have a quick, big, fast, in-a-hurry relationship and it's over. I like to build something with substance, nah'mean?

Q: Who do you think writes with the most substance?
A: Unfortunately, in this day and time, there are not a lot of great examples unless you go back to the past and listen to Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Michael [Jackson] and other great artists, to get motivation.

Q: Marvin Gaye wrote about a lot of turmoil that was happening at that time. Do you think you'll write about what's happening now?
A: You know, If you're compelled to write about what's going on the world, then so be it. Until we learn how to deal with ourselves, we're not gonna confront any of those issues. Because you're steadily hiding behind a facade, because you don't like who you are. That's deep, isn't it?

Q: How have you changed with the huge success of this album?
A: I think I've just gotten realer. I became a real person who goes through issues. I allow myself to be real in front of my audience, which is very humbling. Most of the artists who were superstars of the past, lived through the facade that they built. I lived through a couple of experiences, got a couple experiences in my life to talk about. But for the most part, I grew because hey man, I fell, and people felt it.

Q: How did people feel it?
A: When you listen to my album. If it's not the music, it's gonna be the lyrics. If it's not the lyrics, it's gonna be the emotion. You're going to find something in it. There's a ride that I take you on in every song on this album.

Q: Have you experienced any FCC crackdowns or any other fallout from the Superbowl halftime debacle?
A: No, it hasn't affected me. It just made things clearer. There's a big blanket over what really happens in the world. Unfortunately, indecent exposure is not right in any sense here in America, because we're very conservative people. But we're really not. Behind closed doors, we're not. So it's like, come on, let's be honest. I don't have a problem with the FCC, whatsoever, but it kills me how conservative we as people conduct ourselves or show ourselves, but we're not.

Q: What offends you that you hear on the radio or in songs?
A: Nothing offends me, because it's all one person's interpretation of what their reality is. That's a piece of who they are. You don't have to love it, but if you respect music, you'll accept it. I've used profanity in the past, but not by choice.

Q: How so?
A: Every time I've done a record, I try to speak through the songs the way I would talk. So, in the past, to sort of tell a story verbatim, the way it is, I've used those words. I'm an artist, but at the same time, see, I'm still a person. And I really, in my own personal space, I curse like a sailor, you know what I mean? But maybe everybody can't understand that.

Q: I think people would be surprised, because you don't use that language very much in your songs.
A: Yeah, how contradictory is that? But I guess there has to be some structure in life. Imagine if you could turn on the radio and hear all these bad words. It would be anarchy era . . . ooh, I like that.

Q: You grew up singing in your mother's Baptist church choir. Are you religious?
A: No, not at all. Religion is not as important as the favor of God. I'm a God-fearing man. I love God. I was raised as a Baptist, and I love the Lord. I thank him for every bit of what has happened to my life. Religion is a study; it's a method. But faith is what compels me. My godfather's a pastor. Please don't misconstrue what I said.

Q: What are you listening to these days?
A: I've been listening to Brandy's new single, "Talk About Our Love." I like the song. I've always been a Brandy fan. Always hip-hop. Always old R&B. I listened to Prince's Musicology, and it wasn't an album that was what I expected. But lyrically, he's really deep. He's really saying exactly what needs to be said. I can totally respect him for the lyrics on the album.

Q: What do you say to recent articles comparing you to Justin Timberlake?
A: Who compares me to Justin? Do the fans compare me to Justin? There is no comparison, other than the fact that we both sing.

Q: You're touring in August with rapper Kanye West. Who else are you dying to perform with?
A: I had a conversation with Jay-Z about us possibly touring together. That probably won't happen right away. It was a one-night-only type tour, where me and him rock the mic. The idea I had was called "Rock with Us." It will probably happen in the future. I respect him as a lyricist and as an artist. He's much different than anybody else. He's one of the greatest.

Q: He's also very successful. His clothing line, Roc-A-Wear, also does really well. Do you want to "cross over" into any other areas, like fashion?
A: You can't tell? I'm very fashionable. I'd like to get into fashion, cosmetics, jewelry, cars, electronics. There's this guy Niho who was a big designer out of Tokyo. He owns the line called Bathe an Ape. He's been very motivating to me. He's the one person that I've watched. Although there are a lot of great entrepreneurs here in America, like Puffy, Russell Simmons and other black artists and executives who were able to take their experience in the business and turn it into something, maybe a clothing line, because they understand it.

Q: What's special about him?
A: He's taken a totally different approach. He does everything, all the way down to action figures. I will probably go into cosmetics first. I want to take a different approach, to do something with women. Maybe a clothing line, a lingerie line, something simple.

Q: What else would you be doing, if not music?
A: I wanted to become a dessert chef. For the presentation. Something specifically for the kids. I've always been fascinated with it, especially when I go to France. The way they make their desserts -- they take such pride in it.

Q: Wow, really? What else?
A: Either that or I'd be a gardener. I love the beauty of the flower. I really like the end result. I would not like to be out there and be dirty. I would have to hire someone to take care of the planting or whatever. I'm actually in the process of building a greenhouse at my house right now.

Q: Well then, you must give flowers to women . . . what's your trademark?
A: All kinds. It's the gesture. I wrote a song on my album about that, called "Simple Things."

Q: How do you spend your down time?
A: Spending time with my family. I have fun when we just conversate, laugh, make jokes with each other, have fun with each other. We'll always dare each other to do different things. For instance, Keith [Thomas], my best friend and assistant, he doesn't eat vegetables. I dared him to eat one of these [roasted zucchinis off a caterer's tray] -- he did it, but I have to give him something for it. I said, "I'll give you $100 if you eat one of these."

Q: What's your favorite food?
A: I like to go out to dinner, sit around with lots of people. Italian, Japanese, Sushi -- I eat everything.
Soul food. Mediterranean. Anything using a lot of spices.

Q: What do you hope people will get out of your album, besides great songs?
A: I just want to teach people that it's OK to know you and deal with you. Know yourselves! Maybe I'm helping them get to that through this music. Because it was a coming of age experience for me. This album was my attempt at getting to know me, dealing with me, as well as helping people deal with themselves. As I said, everything I talked about on the album, I didn't go through. But I wanted to go on this journey with people.

Photograph by Robert Sebree for USA WEEKEND
Hair: Keith Thomas; make-up: Nicole Patterson; stylist: Tameka Foster Glover
Usher's clothing credits: On cover: Blazer by Ralph Lauren; T-shirt by 2xist; button-down shirt by Etro; jeans by Paper Denim & Cloth.