Around 2,000 children and teenagers auditioned for the show; from these twenty were chosen as contestants. Throughout the season, this number was narrowed down to five through several rounds of voting. Like American Idol, voting was done by the show's viewers via telephone. Unlike Idol, to prevent hurt feelings, the contestants were voted into the group, as opposed to being voted off the show. Idol host Ryan Seacrest repeated this duty for most of the shows. Idol judges did not appear (other than one satellite hookup with Simon Cowell from the second season of Pop Idol); the principal Juniors judges were Gladys Knight (who also hosted when Seacrest was absent), Deborah Gibson, and Justin Guarini (American Idol (Season 1) runner-up). A number of Idol alumni, such as Ruben Studdard and Christina Christian, made guest performances.
The five contestants who remained at the end of the season were formed into a group also named the American Juniors. They were Lucy Hale, Tori Thompson, Taylor Thompson, Chauncey Matthews, and Danielle White.
American Juniors became one of the highest rated televison shows of the summer season, with approximately 11.9 million viewers on June 3, though the numbers dropped 40% toward the end of July. Nonetheless, the producers were satisfied of the strong teen demographic. A second edition had been planned for fall 2003, later postponed to the summer after American Idol (Season 3), then called off. [1]
Seeing children and young adolescents competing gave some viewers a sour taste as the show had many "stage parents" in the wings. [2]
The American Juniors made a brief appearance on the December 2003 American Idol Christmas special, An American Idol Christmas. Their debut album American Juniors was released on October 26, 2004 after a year's delay from its original scheduled date.
The American Juniors group disbanded in 2005. The members seem to be pursuing individual efforts and there is little publicity about them as a group. The show website became inactive in April 2005, but the music website remains intact as an archive. In May 2005 the Thompson sisters' website announced they were now out on their own. [3]
Radio stations that play children's music (e.g, Disney, or digital radio) still occasionally play the music of American Juniors.
Do You Love Me?
American Juniors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Morgan: You didn't even, want me around
Chauncy: But now I'm back, to let you know
(Boys) I can really shake 'um down.
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(Girls): I can do these move.
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(Girls): I guess I do
(Girls): Do ya love me
(All): Now that I can dance(dance, dance)
Watch me now Hey!
Work (Work)
Taylor: Oh work it all baby.
(All): Work(work)
Danielle: Well ya driving me crazy
(All): Work(Work)
Lucy: With just a 'lil bit of soul now
(All): Work
Katelyn: I can Mash -Patato
(All): I can Mash-potato
Tori: I can do the twist
(All): I can do the twist
Jordan: Now tell me baby
(All): Tell me baby
Chantel: Do ya like it like this?
(All): Do ya like it like this?
(Girls): Tell me
(Boys): Tell me
(Girls) Tell me
(Girls): Do ya love me?
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(Girls) Ah do ya love me?
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(Girls) Ah do ya love me?
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(All): Now that I can dance(dance dance)
Watch me now hey!
(Girls): work(work)
(Boys) Oh shake it up, shake it
(Girls): Work(Work)
(Boys): Oh Shake um, shake um down
(Girls): work(work)
(Boys): with just a lil bit of soul now
(Girls): work
(Boys): Do ya love me?
(Girls): do ya love me?
(Boys): Now Do ya love me?
(Girls): do ya love me?
(Boys): Now Do ya love me?
(Girls): do ya love me?
(All): Now that I can dance!
Now that I can dance!
Now that I can dance!
Watch me now, Hey!
The song "Do You Love Me?" by the American Juniors is a song about confidence and empowerment. The song talks about a girl who was once rejected for not being able to dance and was left heartbroken. However, she has now come back and tells her former lover that she can dance and shake her body like no other. The boys are trying to prove themselves to the girls, asking if they love them now that they can dance, while the girls respond with their moves and indicate that they do love them.
The song captures the spirit of youthful exuberance and the exaltation one feels when he or she discovers newfound skills or talents. The lyrics present a message of staying true to oneself and not letting the judgments of others to bring one down. The American Juniors sung this song with high energy, which is evident through their singing style, upbeat music and the call and response pattern, indicative of a party scene where all participants are excited and dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Broke my heart, 'cause I Couldn't Dance
I experienced heartbreak because I couldn't dance
You didn't even, want me around
You didn't want me to be there
But now I'm back, to let you know
I returned to inform you of something
I can really shake 'um down.
I'm capable of performing great dance moves
Do ya love me?
Do you have affection for me?
I can do these move.
I am able to dance skillfully in this way
I guess I do
I suppose I have feelings for you
Ah Do ya love me?
Hey, do you love me?
Do ya love me
Do you feel love for me
Now that I can dance(dance, dance)
Since I am now able to dance
Work (Work)
Put in effort and move your body
Oh work it all baby.
Exert yourself and dance skilfully
Well ya driving me crazy
You are making me lose control of myself
With just a 'lil bit of soul now
By adding a bit of soul to my dance moves
I can Mash -Patato
I can perform the dance move known as the mash potato
I can do the twist
I am able to perform the twist dance move
Now tell me baby
Please let me know
Tell me baby
Please tell me
Do ya like it like this?
Do you enjoy this?
Do ya love me?
Do you feel love for me?
Ah do ya love me?
Hey, do you love me?
Oh shake it up, shake it
Move your body and dance energetically
Oh Shake um, shake um down
Dance with enthusiasm and joy
Do ya love me?
Do you feel love for me?
Now that I can dance!
Since I am now able to dance
Watch me now, Hey!
Observe and enjoy my dance performance
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.