Spotlight
Quotes:
About,
by, and in support of Clay Aiken
~~~
1/7/12
[snip]"....since
Idol, much of the general public has gotten news about Clay in snippets
of gossip shows and other mid-level entertainment media, and they haven't
followed him in the kind of sustained way that, say, we have. So Celebrity
Apprentice will be an opportunity to see Clay himself -- and that may change
some perceptions of him, correct some of the erroneous tabloid-y impressions
of him. It certainly seems that his fellow castmates came in with preconceived
notions, and found them challenged in a big way. They have been quite generous
in admitting that they were wrong, and saying very nice things about him.
And I would guess that many in the general audience will find the same:
a level of respect, even if it's perhaps a reluctant one, for someone who
is very different than the public image that was created by gossip and
innuendo over the past few years. Will everyone instantly and madly love
him? Will some corners of the gossip-driven media still get on his ass
about stuff that seems kind of annoying? Probably not, and sure, respectively.
But most people (including those who have no real stake in the issue, so
can feel however they want, in whatever fleeting way they want to feel
it) will probably find him charming and smart and competitive -- all of
the things that the other cast members have been saying this week. And
that's a giant step forward. That opens doors for people to be receptive
to his music career, and his philanthropic ventures, and just the idea
of Clay himself. So I'm happy to let one annoying review or spin by a critic
to slide -- because, in the grander picture, this is a chance at the kind
of image rehabilitation that Clay's public persona needs, and that can
have positive repercussions in all areas of his career. This week has been
an embarrassment of riches. Seeing the level of respect and affection that
the other cast members have demonstrated has been so lovely to watch. And
seeing how this plays out in the weeks and months ahead is going to be
a blast. A. Total. Blast. I can't wait."
~oldmoviegal
12/18/11
His
voice for me is...
the
curls
the
whirls
the
unexpected turns
the
catch that makes me cry
the
rasp
the
moan
the
cry
the
sound of breathless wonderment
the
measured vibrato
the
sensual caress of words
the
strength
the
gentle strokes
the
story
the
pitch perfect landing
~
adrienne1954
11/21/11
[Clay]
has a wonderful family and great friends who love him. But we [his fans]
are also a part of his life. A large group of steadfast, dependable, enthusiastic
and loving fans who have his back and wish him nothing but the best. When
he has a performance, speaking engagement, or project that we know about
(or discover!), he can count on seeing a group of familiar faces in the
audience, faces filled with love. That must bring him comfort....and joy.
~Brightstar
8/14/11
"I
will have the patience to give Clay as much time as he needs. My heart
went out for him during the video chat, I just wanted to give him a hug.
Whatever the future holds, I'll be here. Whatever path Clay takes, I will
follow. There has never been a performer out there who has touched me the
way that Clay has - on both a cerebral and a visceral level. He as opened
my eyes, opened my heart, brought music, friendship and fun into my life.
Taking into account everything he has given to me, I believe I owe him
this time to take stock, regroup and get his passion back. Kinda gives
new meaning to "right here waiting"'
~SueReu
8/02/11
"If
Clay is the person that I sense him to be, I don't think he's cast in stone.
When he rejunvenates, who knows what will come at us! I think I understand
why he's not comfortable being a rock and roller, or doing Top 40 Pop --
although he's capable of singing any of it with relevance. We know, but
we just can't "know" for him. What I saw last night is a very smart, humble,
and extremely sensitive man, who probably internalized rejection for most
of his life and instinctly avoids rejection situations. He's so protective
of himself and the ones he loves. I know that Idol was a huge kick for
him, the business itself not so much. He's wanted to stay in his lane because
he feels safe there. He knows who he is there. Maybe T&T was a disappointment,
but maybe it also freed him to experiment, and move into other lanes. Maybe
this battery-charging time will infuse him with a new energy to take chances
and please himself in ways he never considered before. Or maybe not. Self-discovery
is a beautiful thing however it goes. "
~KeepingFaith
7/27/11
"Fear
and ignorance go hand in hand. So as shows like 'Drop Dead Diva' and the
future 'Will and Grace's' of the world and folks like Ellen DeGeneres and
Rosie [O'Donnell] and Neil Patrick Harris, and just anybody in the public
eye allow us opportunities to see gays and lesbians having productive families
and lives. Those fears will abate for a lot of people and I think it'll
be easier to change some of those laws."
~Clay
Aiken
7/19/11
"Clay
Aiken has one life and he needs to live it as he sees fit. It's his life.
I have no reason to believe he will live it for me or for you. We are in
no way entitled to it. I spent my time and money freely to be entertained
by him, and I was, over and over again.
Debt
paid in full. Joy is not refundable."
~yaknelle
5/11
"The
teachers at my school made a very generous donation to The National Inclusion
Project in honor of my retirement. I was just "bursting with excitement"
over the whole thing and just so touched by their generosity. Caro blogged
about it and her blog ended up on the National Inclusion Project's site.
Well,
it happened again!!! Some of my RI Clay friends took me out to dinner last
week to celebrate my retirement. That alone would have been enough. They
gave me a card. That alone would have been enough. But, when I read the
inside of the card, I just welled up with tears. They (eight of them) had
made a very generous donation to The National Inclusion Project in honor
of my retirement. I continue to be overwhelmed and amazed at the generosity
of people.
Honestly,
this is what's important. So much good work is being done and it all started
with Clay Aiken. I just could not be any prouder to be a fan of his. He
continues to inspire me even when he's out of sight. And my good RI Clay
friends continue to inspire me as well. Don't let anyone tell you that
Clay Aiken doesn't have the best fans in the world."
~Rhode
Island Fan
7/12/11
"There
is no one who compares to Clay. He is the only one who can make me swoon,
sing, laugh, cry, think, care and take action - often at the same time!!!"
~suereu
6/26/11
"No
matter what is going on in my life, my day, no matter where I am, who I
am with, no matter what the weather is or isn't, no matter if I am happy
or sad, rich or poor at that moment, the minute I hear or see Clay singing
a huge unrelenting, unsurpassed, overwhelming smile comes over my face,
and I cannot hide it, or subdue it. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal,
I mean, it's just a smile, but it doesn't stop in my face, I smile from
way down deep, if possible, my whole body smiles. It has been that way
since the first "take" and I hope it never ends.
I
always wondered why. Now I just know that...it simply is."
~makinaiken1
5/19/11
"Clay
has every right to do whatever he wants to do with [snip] his career.
[snip]
I personally think he had every right to take his space from the fans whenever
he felt like it. It is intense to be the center of attention like he has
been. After all these years, maybe the guy is ready to do something else
or maybe he has something lined up in the near future and isn't ready to
tell us but I believe he has the right to run his own life.
[His
fans] may miss him terribly but he is a human being with much complexity
and he has responsibilities to a family, a child. Maybe he is tired of
the limelight, especially since he is so often put down. There are so many
possibilities that I can not make any judgements about this person. I love
his voice, his heart and his ability to make me laugh. I hope he is happy
but I personally can not know what is happening for him or why it is happening.
I think he is quite capable of managing his own life. A life is much more
than a career in the insane world of entertainment. All human beings go
through changes and need time to regroup and adjust. As other have said,
I will be right here waiting."
~skybar
4/14/11
"Clay
Aiken blew this song out of the water and pretty much locked it down. Thus
putting Jacob at a distinct disadvantage. Although he did some nice things
with the song, it’s just hard when you’re automatically compared to Idol
royalty."
~Melinda
Dolittle re: Jacob Lusk's American Idol 10 performance
of Bridge Over Troubled Water
4/14/11
"If
anyone sings "Solitaire," I hope Neil Sedaka rushes the stage and rips
their tonsils out."
~hossa
3/03/11
Kathy
Twitty Durante - ok......... let me speak for daddy ......... during his
career many many artist covered his songs.......lots and lots of his songs......
he considered it a compliment every single time...... he was a humble man
and very considerate of everyone.... he would have thanked Clay Aiken for
covering is song......I don't beleive he was doing a tribute to dad.....just
singing one of his songs....... he did it his way.... dad did it his way.....
Ronnie McDowell covered the same song and did it his way...... "daddy always
said if we were all alike we wouldn't need each other"..... this world
needs all types of music......variety is the spice of life. There is something
for us all......... I hope Clay Aiken's fan's enjoyed "It's Only Make Beleive"
and his fan's might google Conway Twitty and listen to dad's.... and in
some strange way it introduces them to dad.......like Family Guy does......
that's all...... think about it ....bless it.......release it..........and
listen to whatever it is your heart needs......... Kathy"
~Kathy
Twitty Durante on her Facebook page
2/27/11
"Some
of the inner dialogue that's bubbled up listening is me realizing more
and more that Clay's exquisite voice and interpretation on impossibly romantic,
beautiful songs is connecting to that inside part of me that's also Impossibly
Romantic. "Moon River," "Something About Us," "Misty," "What Kind of Fool,"
"Crying", and even "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" the way he's been doing
it. It's in the beauty in his tone and of his vocal expression. When I
was first gobsmacked seeing him on Idol, the strength of my appeal and
attraction were ultimately somewhat of a mystery (I rarely saw the sexy,
but still felt an obviously strong something). I feel like I partially
get it now, for me. He's dreamy, not for me as in "such a dreamy guy,"
but rather as a fellow dreamer whose smooth singing can evoke the passion
of that inner romance of life."
~waterbaby
2/27/11
"Clay
Aiken’s music has always captivated me, but it is only his calling card,
the tip of the iceberg. Accompanying his song are good will, endearing
humor, and an unassuming, down-to-earth demeanor. Closer observation
of this man reveals deep compassion, a resilience and tenacity that overcomes
all obstacles, common sense coupled with a rare thinking capacity, level-headedness
that keeps him humble, a will to go the extra mile, and inner contentment
with his place on this earth. Clay is both a comfort and a challenge.
He enables adults and children alike to face life positively by developing
their strengths and by modeling how to forgive themselves for their weaknesses.
He brings out the very best in humanity. This is Clay’s true gift."
~Mitzi
Gill
2/25/11
"I
can always count on Clay [in concert] to make me laugh and smile and shed
a tear or two and hug a stranger and love everyone and slap somebody."
~topcat
2/25/11
"There
are many good reasons why I love Clay so much as a singer and entertainer,
and there are some intangibles that exist and I don't know why, but the
one thing that melds the knowns and unknowns are the risks he takes. He
goes for it. He sings difficult to sing songs ... because he can pull it
off.
I
hear singer after singer doing repetitious stuff. They have a thing that
they do, or a bag of vocal gimmicks, and they do those things over and
again until people get tired of them. Then they're done.
Clay,
on the other hand, is an amazing artist pushing the boundaries for a popular
singer in the age of fake music. The fake music requires no talent or skill
and it's the formula du jour. I think TPTB prefer the assembly-line performer
who can be created, exploited and thrown away. Planned obsolescence is
the subtitle of the industry now. Clay Aiken can't be discarded, and the
sun ain't going down on him. He's just begun to shine in his own right
and his own light.
He's
unique. Some people like the singing of Josh Grobin and Andrea Bocelli
with their quasi-operatic styles, and there is a market for that. But there
are music lovers, myself included, who are bored with the trained voice
that only goes certain places, even though it goes there with ease and
expression. For me, it's not enough. A song or two and I'm moving along
to something with more life in it. And I can enjoy a silly song, something
with a big beat and throw away lyrics, but after a couple of those I need
something substantive, something with musical integrity.
Clay,
on the other hand can sing deeply and vibrates everything I've got, and
then goes to the heights without falsetto. He makes very difficult transitions
and varies the dynamics of his singing in an exciting way. He can rephrase
a lyric and give it new meaning. He's only getting better. I don't know
if I can stand it. But he is, and right there on stage before us he's becoming
even more than he ever has been before. And he does this by not playing
it safe. He's plays it for all it's worth. That's why someone like me,
who never has been a fan of pop singers, preferring instead rock bands
and singer-songwriters, beginning with the The Beatles and Dylan, LOVES
Clay Aiken. He's expanded pop music as a category that finally includes
me. Nobody else ever did that.
It
says everything that there were two birthday girls in the audience the
other night, one 13 and the other 94. That's his target audience range.
There's a reason he's doing WSN to every genre that we can think of - rock,
grunge, a capella, opera, etc. etc. His voice can do anything, and he's
determined to prove it."
~keepingfaith
2/24/11
"He’s
like the energizer bunny – dashing about the stage bantering at high speed.
It was exhausting trying to keep your brain pinpointed on his delivery.
Gracious, he’s quick-witted. Loved [that] he made fun of loads of people
and interacted with the whole theatre.
All
night long! He’s remembering all the new bits at each concert and then
adding to them.
[snip]
...he
goes from high octane tunes, to lush, tear-jerking ballads.
[snip]
No
need for pyrotechnics, fancy costumes, flashing lights, and a crowded stage
with insignificant dancers. Just pure Clay music and a great band."
~heartracerclay
2/22/11
"Unchained
Melody was magnificent – seeing this live is always amazing, because it’s
like watching an elaborate magician’s trick and trying to figure out how
exactly they do it. It’s like he’s levitating, or making an elephant disappear,
or walking the high wire without a net. The effect is truly shocking, and
the crowd responded with sincere appreciation. I should also mention that,
when he was introducing the song and talking about the arrangement, the
audience was completely absorbed – and, when he got to the final line,
“And now I have my own version to sing,” people sort of gasped, and a murmur
ran through the crowd. I’ve always thought this was a dramatic and well-crafted
line, a mission statement of sorts. But I realized, when hearing the reaction
of the audience, exactly how potent that line is – and how well it sets
up the amazing performance that follows it.
When
he came out for the encore and explained that he was going to switch up
the songs because his throat was getting sore, and then began to sing Both
Sides Now, I thought I was going to swoon. I said on the cellcert that
it was like finding a unicorn in my backyard, and I really didn’t mean
that as a joke. It truly was like stumbling upon something rare and beautiful
and unexpected. It made an already perfect night – a clear, crisp, windy
night with a perfect full moon – seem even more special and lovely. "
~Oldmoviegal
2/21/11
"If
you ever get a chance-- go see Clay Aiken in concert. He’s not showy, there
is no pretense, he just is who is he is. There is something to be said
for that."
~
Ron:
A Foodie's Life
2/13/11
"...but
when he sang the oldies – as they were meant to be sung, he was really
good. And most of all I appreciated the fact that he didn’t take himself
too seriously."
–
Dana
Barrett
2/12/11
“Having
a family is not something that makes things more complicated; it makes
things more wonderful.”
~Clay
Aiken
2/08/11
"For
that moment, all the trash talk, tabloid crap, and ugly tweets fade away,
and there's just the man, the mic, and the spotlight, center stage. Pure,
exquisite singing from a beautiful man with a beautiful soul. And an audience
that recognizes real talent and beauty and is not ashamed to cheer and
celebrate him.
It's
like the ugly part of the world is far, far away, and the room becomes
a haven that embraces talent and the arts. Wonderful and refreshing."
~Brightstar
-re: Boradway Backwards performance of 'HOME'
2/04/11
"I
didn't choose to be gay. I choose to be out," Aiken, 32, tells The Miami
Herald. "I'm also respectful of people who choose not to be."
~Clay
Aiken
11/15/10
"He
has given me more smiles than I can count, more laughter than I can contain
and more beautiful music moments than I could possibly ever thank him for!"
~cotton
10/25/10
"Gloch
said "The man needs to be heard."
This
is so true, and I've seen it, first hand, in the last few months. My best
friend has always enjoyed Clay's voice and charitable efforts. But, being
a "Grobanite", that's about as far as it went. She went to Spamalot, because
she likes Monty Python. She was quite impressed with Clay's acting, and
when she had her Playbill autographed, she became a bit "fangirly", though
she denied it! I bought her a ticket for the Hammerstein concert, and she
figured she'd need to dust off Clay's CDs, so she'd remember the songs.
I explained that it wouldn't be necessary. Well, she was blown away, to
put it mildly, after seeing Clay "live" and in his element. She declared
that it was the best concert she'd ever attended.
Last
weekend, we were the guests of a friend, at the [National Inclusion Project's]
Gala. VIP tickets! My friend was so impressed with the "talkback" held
by Clay & Diane, on Friday night, as well as the young choir.She has
always had empathy for the disabled, having worked with them while in college.
The next night she was able to see Advocate Clay, Auctioneer Clay and Performer
Clay in action. She was so overwhelmed with the experience, and totally
"gets" this fandom now. One less NJU [One more new fan]."
~robyn428
9/28/10
-
Clay's career is skyrocketing
-
Linda Eder has enough respect for Clay to record with him
-
Oprah likes him, too
-
Everyone is jumping on the Clay bandwaggon (or something to that effect)
-DJ
Joe Satta WHLI 1100 am (Contributed
by Carol Cooke)
RE: Lessons
Clay Aiken Taught Me
September
14, 2010
Good
read. Clay surprises people constantly because they have this media-driven
impression of him that has little to do with the man himself. I do take
issue with one thing in your blog: ” even cause the baby-faced object of
their Clayfection to stay in the closet well beyond the obvious”. I want
to try to say this nicely. I read Mitchell Gold’s book “Crisis” (40 stories
of coming out in America). Check it out on Amazon. There’s no way in hell
that Clay’s fans had anything to do with his personal timing for coming
out. And most of us – hear me – MOST of us – didn’t Give a Damn. But we
RESPECTED his right to his personal life, personal decisions. The question
should never have been asked of him. He should never have had to answer/dodge/address
his sexuality to anyone who wasn’t planning on a date with him! I feel
strongly that his timing has WAY more to do with family. He has/had grandparents,
aunts, uncles, parents, siblings, etc, who have to deal with his celebrity.
Not their choice. He is the “star”. He can take a lot of hits. But if you
affect someone in his family or inner circle he comes out fighting.
I
feel he chose when to come out (and, again, he should have never had to!)
according to his personal time table, the people close to him, the people
who would have to face the looks, comments and condemnation.
I’m
sure he had concerns about the effects on his career. But I think protecting
his family was paramount.
Certainly
not people like me.
As
for me? I love the man. I love his voice. He’s about my son’s age and I
think he’s sexy as hell! Doesn’t matter to me who HE thinks is sexy! LOL!
But
– I deferred to him to choose what part of his personal life to make public.
Nothing
to do with me.
Thanks,
Cotton
8/26/10
"I
think I'm now... being the person I've always been, but wasn't willing
to be."
~Clay
Aiken
8/09/10
"Well,
let me tell you here that meeting Clay in person only enhanced my admiration
for this wonderful entertainer. When he walked into the M&G my
nerves melted away and I felt like I was meeting an old friend. He
made it a point to say all of our names and even wanted to know the background
of his involvement with my son meeting his new wife. (they met through
she and I going to Clay's concerts). When I told him they met because
of him he was very surprised and said "okay, what's the story?" He signed
their wedding picture and then we had pictures taken with him and we each
got a hug. Again, he was very warm, unhurried, personal and ABSOLUTELY,
INCREDIBLY handsome."
~Kathy
8/08/10
"Later,
in a brief lull, I asked the question from the Clack House: "Would you
consider setting up a kissing booth to make money for your charity?" and
he laughed (entertaining question! he liked it..) and the swift retort
was along the lines of, " No, but if you gals set one up, I 'll be there!"
(and he was rather pleased with his joke.) Too cute.
At
the end, as he was preparing to leave and no one was talking, I asked if
I could ask another question and the answer was "Sure."
I
said, " We love you with Jimmy Kimmel. Any chance you'll be there soon?"
The
answer was swift and predictable: "I don't plan these things, they just
happen."
~LizinToronto
(after a Meet & Greet)
8/06/10
"But
what makes the [Timeless Tour] show sparkle is the onstage interplay between
Studdard and Aiken. They approach it like Martin & Lewis, bantering
back and forth, often ad-libbing for maximum comic effect. You can't
fake that kind of chemistry. <snip> "We are opposites," Aiken said.
"I don't know what the bond is. We just like each other's company. He's
funny, pretty laid back and relaxed, which, I guess, balances out my high-strung
uptightness. That's what makes it work."
~DAVE
RICHARDS--- ERIE
TIMES-NEWS
8/06/10
"Studdard
and Aiken work seamlessly together -- both have musical stage acting in
their backgrounds, and it pays off during the banter between songs.
This
is a concept that could easily be translated to the small screen -- maybe
it's time to revive weekly variety television."
~Ted
Shaw, The
Windsor Star
8/03/10
"<snip>
After Clay & Ruben's Idol season, the next time Clay was on my radar
was the AI5 finale when he totally shocked me, and I jumped into the net
and drank a whole pitcher of orange kool-aid before I ever knew what happened.
Everybody's good old days never existed in my world. The good old days
are right now for me. It's exhilarating. He's beautiful, he's out there,
he's OUT, he's a father, he has his own PBS show, he has an incredibly
entertaining tour going on with Ruben, and another tour in early 2011,
he's quick-witted and funny, and he's radiating an overall sense of joy
that's infectious. I'm loving every minute of him. A newbie about my daughter's
age sat next to me in Reno and didn't know a thing about him. Absolutely
nothing. She's never watched any season of Idol and had never heard him
sing, but came with a friend. She sang every song of the set list from
the 60's through the 90's, laughed, cheered, and asked me why the crowd
wasn't dancing! At the end of the show she asked where she could find out
more information about Clay Aiken. He WAS the show for her. Clay doesn't
need help amassing fans, other than the exposure he's getting now. He's
a magnet and live performance is the key. That also seems to be the plan.
I'm sitting back and loving every minute of it, and it's one hell of an
excellent time! I'll never forget this summer. "
~keepingfaith
8/03/10
"Clay's
multi-talented, charismatic, gorgeous, philanthropic, famous and gay. He's
fascinating and people will always be interested in his life, both professional
and personal. Because he is fascinating. And he's one of the still too
few famous out personalities. His "gayness" is now just another part of
the puzzle. I don't think it's going away.
I've
written more than enough about Ben
Wener's review over at CH so I won't bore you with it here. Suffice
it to say that I think Ben's showing signs of evolution. He was charmed
and entertained in spite of himself and couldn't help stating so in black
and white. I'm going to give credit where credit is due. It was a definite
thumbs up review from a guy who usually shakes his fist."
~idlefan
7/28/10
RE:
Clay's singing in Timeless Concert
"Tell
me which male singers out there can sing Boston, Lover All Alone and Mack
the Knife and do it all well, and where it’s just about the music. One
Voice. Live. No spare parts needed.
OK,
I’ve had my taste. And what a taste it was. It was like those breakapart
Tollhouse cookies right out of the oven where you need to keep the milk
handy because you’re eating the cookies while they are too hot. And you
don’t even care about the stomachache that is headed your way or the chocolate
all over your face. This Massachusetts girl is happy."
~Corabeth
7/14/10
"Clay
Aiken co-hosted The View, and they discussed Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I was
a little surprised to hear that Clay's Marine brother was hesitant about
repeal, but at least Clay was honest. I don't think that Elisabeth or Sherri
understands why language matters when discussing the survey, but Whoopi
gets it, and Joy overestimates how far the nation has come. It's a rather
strange conversation where people outside the issue dominate the conversation
when someone living the topic is sitting right there."
~Ed
Kennedy
7/09/10
"Okay,
he's gone now, so I can talk about it. Just got to interview Clay Aiken
for some TV pledge breaks for his new PBS concert. Whoo hoo! He's just
delightful -- very easy to talk to, very knowledgable, and a complete professional.
Makes me proud I voted for him on Idol back in 2003!"
~Employee
0f WKNO Memphis
7/6/10
"What
other artist today could move from a Kyrie to Where the Streets Have No
Name to Rosanna to something like the "classics" medley to a gorgeous acoustic
medley, from the intensity of a song like I Survived You to the lightheartedness
of a "TV medley" or to the haunting expression of his own written word
in Lover All Alone and to the despair of a song like Solitaire and on to
the simple beatdriven Back for More or the incredibly beautiful pop ballad
Tears Run Dry. And then to place his star on broadway and to have such
incredible success...to the more recent choices of Home and Those Magic
Changes in Bringing Broadway Home. I love the magic of the changes he makes.
I hope he never stops. I hope he never restricts his choices beyond recording
songs that he loves. And as always, I hope "anything goes" on tour.
I'll
take a complex personality like Clay's any day. It feeds me. It never bores
me. There will always be a place for an artist of his calibre in the world
of entertainment. Few, if any, can match him. [snip]. He has strength of
character, compassion for others, and he loves what he does."
~anncanada
6/28/10
"Clay
is really a funny guy, and is a devoted musician, father, and friend."
~Diana
Levine Photographer
6/28/10
"At
this point in [Clay's] life *when* [he came out] is irrelevant as far as
I'm concerned. He is out. He came out on his own timetable...not on anybody's
else's timetable. It was as it should always be for a gay person. You come
out (if you come out) when you feel comfortable about it and not before.
Anything you might have to say about your sexual orientation before you
are ready to come out is said in order to protect yourself and your family.
Clay handled his situation the way he did in order to protect those members
of his family who would have to deal with the more bigoted in the world
after he came out. We all know from what he has said in more recent times
that he was extremely worried about that...about the effects on his mother
and grandmother, in particular. I totally respect his feelings on that
and have great admiration for the way he handled himself right from the
beginning of his career. He had great strength of character when faced
with those who felt they had a right to publicly ask the questions and
expect an answer before he was ready. Shame on them."
~anncanada
6/23/10
"There's
a new energy all around Clay. New little surprises popping up here and
there (Popeater! Phineas and Ferb!). Twitter, and Fanclub, and Facebook,
oh my! A newly re-energized TC.
And
then there's Clay himself. Here's where I'm going to really find that words
fail me. He seems renewed, inside and out. He's glowy, and loose, and happy,
and relaxed yet energized at the same time. He seems so grounded, but yet
he's taking off. It's a mystery.
And
his voice! Where did that voice come from? All the former power, and control,
and ease is back but with a new freedom to just run around and explore.
It's like the music is INSIDE him in a way that it wasn't before and it's
just busting to get out. "
~suziebird7
6/6/10
"What
I loved the most about this interview, besides the focus on his music,
was how Clay was able to comfortably share his journey of self discovery.
It is so obvious that he feels safe and comfortable in his own skin now.
I think he is going to be a wonderful advocate for all the causes he is
involved with and especially those in the gay community. His awareness
and intelligence are sharp and focused. There is no question where he stands
on things and he seems to know himself so well. What a fascinating human
being he is. The talent and intelligence and his ability to connect with
people openly now gives me the sense we will be hearing a lot more from
him on the many topics he chooses to use his voice for. The music is a
given. He is going be singing for the public for a long time. He loves
it and it shows. "
~skybar
4/19/10
"We
trooped over to the late show for Jersey Boys [in Las Vegas]. This was
the first time I'd seen the show since the OMG [PBS Special taping] concert.
I had had some doubts about Clay's singing 'Can't Take My Eyes Off (Of)
You' after the [Golfing for Inclusion] Gala. Doubts that disappeared in
Raleigh in March. However, it's a signature moment in the musical, so I
listened more intently than usual with comparisons in mind. I've heard
Broadway class singers do this performance ten or twelve times now, so
my standards are very high. The actor did a very good job on Saturday.
Clay
would have blown him off the stage. Made me smile."
~artquest
3/21/10
"Front
and center was Clay’s amazing voice, but coming in a close second was his
big heart. This showed up early on in the night when, after the first five
numbers, Clay came into the audience looking for Sandy Schmidt. Ms. Schmidt
had taken four busses over a 36 hour period from Nebraska, traveling all
by herself just to see Clay again. After receiving word of this from her
friends, Clay personally escorted Sandy to the front row."
Shauna
Moroney- from her article "Clay
Aiken reveals new album in Raleigh concert"
3/21/10
Re
the PBS taping concert:
"Movement,
like the music, just flowed through his body--it seemed completely naturally.
The sways, the knee-bends, the movement of his hands out and to his heart
were enthralling. And his feet--his feet moved and tapped and kicked and
tilted--often. I think he responds to music with his whole self, and that
definitely makes his performances even more appealing and mesmerizing."
~Brightstar
3/18/10
Re:
the back to the audience pose whith which the concert began:
"Hmmm.
. ."the pose". . .It was definitely all about the shoulders -- he was standing
solidly, with one shoulder dipped a little, as I recall. One foot [snip
]was angled a bit, with his hip slightly cocked. [snip] The suit fell gorgeously
from his frame -- shimmery, lush, tailored in the shoulders, looser through
the leg, slightly pegged at the bottom. Matinee-idol hair silhouetted in
the backlighting. The way I'm recalling it, it wasn't the same pose but
it was definitely the same mood as the old photo-shoot shot of him standing
with his head bowed and one hand on the microphone stand. It was retro,
sexy, deliberate, powerful. He didn't seem relaxed, exactly, but there
was nothing tense about the way he was standing there, either. He was standing
like he was born to stand on that stage -- like every moment of his life
had been leading up to that one second. And, again, I don't recall precisely
how it looked, but I have a vivid sense-memory of how it felt. It felt
like success. . .like triumph."
~oldmoviegal
3/18/10
"The
band was great – rocking and swinging. I liked the groovy rockabilly hairdo
on the guy who was playing the standing bass, but I found myself mostly
watching the two saxophone players. They were in the front row, so I had
a clear view, and you could just tell that they loved playing this music
– they kept exchanging smiles and glances, and occasionally low-fiving
each other after a solo or other big moment. One of them was young and
very cute (think Titanic-era Leonardo DiCaprio, with perfect cheekbones
and floppy blond hair), and he didn’t take his eyes off of Clay the whole
night. He stared at him in wonder throughout the concert, often shaking
his head in amazement at a particular note, and I was particularly pleased
to see that the musicians themselves understood that they were playing
for a rare talent. They appreciated great music, thus they appreciated
Clay."
~oldmoviegal
3/06/10
"Clay
articulates an undeniably positive and persuasive presentation; nevertheless,
it is without doubt overshadowed by the influence he possesses purely by
being the man that he is. His example speaks volumes. Prior to coming
out, Clay was intelligent, educated, productive, purposeful, philanthropic,
courageous, wholesome, compassionate, responsible, ethical, and talented.
Following his coming out, Clay retains all of the aforementioned attributes
in an environment of exhilarating freedom and honesty. Clay’s
personal disclosure has to be significantly inspiring to those still struggling
with fear that prevents them from tearing down barriers so stifling to
happiness and to reaping the rewards of reaching their goals in life.
I envision Clay’s being instrumental in fostering major gains that narrow
the gap between the gay and straight communities."
~Mitzi
Gill
2/27/10
The
power of truth and living honestly is very liberating."
"We've
been waiting on the laws to change... the time for waiting has passed."
19th
Amendment that gave women the right to vote: "It was about damned time."
Civil
Rights Legislation: "It was about damned time."
Matthew
Shepherd Act: "It was most certainly about damned time."
"Like
all civil rights movements, our movement is one of fairness, rightousness,
decency. Our time is now, and it's about damned time."
~Clay
Aiken
2/27/10
"I
fell in love with Clay's voice all those years ago. Raised in song, it
has made me swoon, made me smile, made me cry. Raised in speech for those
causes close to his heart, it makes me proud. We so DID pick a winner all
those years ago. One who is absolutely worthy of love and respect. And
that I do!"
~onthebrink03
2/10/10
"On
a personal note, even though I don't "know" him, *g*, I am proud of the
man Clay has become; I was proud of the man he was before he came out...because
he is who he always was....a good man, a decent human being, fallible like
the rest of us, but trying to do what he can to make things a little better,
and I have no doubts that his advocacy will extend into many different
arenas, including the LGBT community."
~boo7
2/03/10
"There
is never one second that [Clay] is singing that I don't understand completely
what is in his mind. He has an incredibly deep . . . acting term coming
up here . . . "inner monologue" going on. It's what makes his phrasing
so special and unique and what I love about his singing so much. It's coming
from an impulse. He's singing these lyrics because "he has to". He can't
not say . . . sing . . . what is inside him. The connection to what he
sings is unbelievable. Many times, people don't understand the truth behind
what he is doing. It's like in a movie - how as an actor you have to do
so much less because your eyes are telling the story - there's thought
behind them and we see that on the screen. In the theater you go bigger
but the "truth" behind what you are singing or saying must still be there.
Watching him sing is amazing. I think the PBS viewers will get to see that
and "get it".
~Nanjeanne
2/03/10
"Clay
stepped up to the podium and said that he welcomed us all and recognized
some faces as being at many events and that he'd met nearly all of the
audience before. My close friend was sitting very near the podium and he
heard her whisper, "Not ME!" so he asked if she'd ever attended an event
before. She's been to many concerts, galas, GFI, and just never seemed
to get that meet and greet or other opportunity to talk to him. Plus she
had worked on this GFI for months now, and figured her luck would be the
same. Well, he told her she was meeting him now, asked her name, and then
came off the podium to shake her hand and then gave her a big tight bear
hug."
~
kbdm3
2/02/10
"This
is the "Hey,I'm still here and I still sing better than 99% of the people
out there!" album. "And oh by the way, I'm funny as hell."'
~Corabeth
1/14/10
Although
"Classic Memories" is a lame "Longines Symphonette" type title, I like
many standard or classic songs. Plus, I enjoy many songs when Clay sings
them even if I hated other people's versions. I love his voice, whatever
he sings (even the horsey song!). I'm pleased to get any CD, a PBS special
repeated numerous times, and most of all, any potential tour after this
long drought.
I'm
also not at all surprised by this direction. Clay gave obvious hints. Clay
said he would sing covers and that he loved ATDW and the JBT way back at
that Talkback at Spamalot and I believed him. He explained it at some length
-- it was not some casual remark. Sitting there at that moment, I thought
he was being forthright about where he was going with the next CD and he
has given no indications to the contrary since then. I think that was the
idea he shopped to potential labels and signed for with Decca. Moon River
was another strong indication of what he plans to do.
Plus
Clay's musical taste has always tended toward ballads and oldies and slow
songs. The demos were mostly slooow ballady songs, and way back on AI we
joked about him singing so many ballads. He has said over and over that
he and his music are not "cool." I think that is who he is and wanting
him to be someone else musically will not change who he really is. I'm
fine with it -- I do not need him to be my all-around-music smorgasbrod.
If I want rock or "cool" music I have thousands of other songs on my numerous
Apple devices! Of couse I think Vivaldi is thrilling, so slow songs with
orchestras is not a big stretch for my ears!
Who
knows what the market is for this CD? It's hard to tell what most of "the
fans" really think from online posts -- one person can say she loves or
hates something on six different boards with six different screen names
over and over again, but that is still really just one person's opinion.
Fans have a variety of different opinions on this and all other topics
and some post only once in a blue moon or not at all. Some fans do not
even read about Clay online. There are also some people who may enjoy Clay
who are not yet fans -- there are people out there who never watched AI!
The fact that ATDW outsold "On My Way Here" may indicate a bigger market
for Clay singing covers than for Clay singing original music.
Bottom
line I'm happy for Clay and for me, because there will be new music and
hopefully some live performances that I can attend. I've realized over
the years that attending live performances is what I really enjoy most
-- hearing that beautiful voice live and the whole concert or theater experience.
I love clack but I do not watch it much -- it's mainly a treasured souvenir
of the real live experience.
I
just want a tour-- any kind of tour, with singing and banter, and me trying
to get tickets on Ticketbastard and yelling expletives at my computer,
and the little electronic noise when they check the tickets at the door,
and the clack gatherers around me, and the overpriced water bottles and
even the annoying fans who scream stupid things while Clay is singing.
I miss it all. I do not care what he sings -- I just want to hear him sing
again!"
~DolcePienza
1/13/10
"Decca
is excited and so are the fans. We've got a new album on the way, a likely
tour and a PBS special. And that's just what we know about so far. We're
here seven years later {Post American Idol 2.] That's a star to me."
~Corabeth
at The
ConClayve
1/13/10
Re
the http://intl-media.com/ blurb:
"Yes, I believe they are a production company Decca works with -- they
produce the shows and pitch them to PBS, who picks them up for national
distribution. I tend not to pay much attention to production companies
because all my info comes from a central database on PBS. I just promoted
Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra during our last pledge drive, and also the
specials from David Garrett, Andre Rieu (extremely popular and a big pledge
draw), Celtic Thunder, and others on that list.
I
can say that if these are the same experienced people who produce Andre
Rieu's specials, the show will probably not have any trouble being picked
up by a lot of stations, given their shows' track record for making money.
So this is wonderful news!
As
for the content...I'm sure that title is probably just a placeholder. And
I would guess, judging from when the other artists on that list generally
debut their shows, that we'd be talking about August or December (this
is the kind of thing they like to run at the holidays but if it's tied
in to the CD release, it could happen much sooner). I'd love to know if
they're in production NOW."
"Just
wanted to say -- sorry if I'm boring anyone with this PBS stuff -- that
today I let it slip to a few of my colleagues that it looked like Clay
had a PBS special in the pipeline being produced by the same folks who
brought them Andre Rieu, David Garrett and Celtic Thunder (all of whom
have shown up live in our studio in the recent past). Generally, they were
quite pleased and impressed, especially at the prospect of the pledge dollars
he could command for us. Certainly I heard nothing negative or derogatory.
In fact...
...one
young girl asked (if Clay were to come to our station) whether I could
get her an autograph. *g* I thought that was pretty cool."
~Pink
Armchair
1/13/10
"[snip]...whatever
this new CD is, I'm looking forward to it, I'll be buying it, and I'll
be supporting him in whatever way I can. I love his voice. It's as simple
as that to me. He's one of very few artists that I will buy without hearing
the music because I know he does an amazing job, whatever the genre of
music he's singing. I have at least nine songs from each of his mainstream
CDs that I will never tire of listening to. And I expect this next CD will
produce the same quality and the same beautiful tone that I love to listen
to. And if the music contains some added-extra deep register Clay, I'll
be in my own kind of heaven."
~anncannada
12/31/09
"I
always see more than a beautiful man in
UNICEF photos of Clay. He shows a natural, authentic and loving facet
of The Real Me, without the entertainer persona, the concern of business,
career, or fan management. Unintentionally he offers a peek of his beautiful
soul, interacting with other very unpretentious and authentic souls, with
whom he is at ease in the "here and now".
~propounder
12/31/09
"2009
we mourn the passing of Daddy. Brett finished his stint in the Marines
1 1/2 years ago. Is in school in Wilmington. Mama just had back surgery.
Hope she will be home B-4 New Year. My grandson is adorable and the apple
of my eye. Clayton. The New Year holds some exciting things for him. Me,
the energizing bunny. I keep going and going. Happy New Year and may your
lives be blessed in every way."
~Faye
Parker on Facebook
12/08/09
"...
It's hard to know who means well and who doesn't. It makes it all the more
important that you stay true to yourself.
For
example, during my first major meeting about my album, Clive Davis and
I talked about the title of the record. He wanted to call it Clay Aiken.
I didn't. I felt that the songs on the album, good as they are, didn't
define me. I didn't choose them; Clive did. And if a record was going to
have my name on the outside, I wanted it to be a project that I had orchestrated.
I told Clive that I preferred the title Measure of a Man, because it was
a reminder of why I'm here and what I said I wanted to do.
Clive
was not pleased. Clive Davis is the emporer of the recording industry in
this country, and I think I had irritated him.
He
swirled around in his chair. He looked out his window onto the streets
of New York City. "I know it must be very intimidating to have me here
in the room with you," he said, smoothing out his black turtleneck. "I
don't want you to feel that way. But you must understand."
My
face began to flush.
While
he was talking, telling me not to be nervous but at the same time trying
to convince me I was wrong, I heard my mother's voice in my head: This
is what you said you wanted to do. Don't you back down on it. Don't you
give in to somebody who is trying to make you into something that you don't
want to be.
So
I didn't.
I
thought of my mother, and how she was never afraid of anybody.
I
thought about her independence.
I
thought about how she is nothing if not hospitable to everybody, even those
people who are trying to change her mind.
And
I said, "Mr. Davis, I respectfully decline to change the title of the album."
And
you know what? He came around."
~Clay
Aiken from his book "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life'
~~~
A
response to the above:
"I
think Clay was naive. And I think he paid the price. Big time.
And
I hope he never ever changes. This is the kind of naivety that comes with
values and standards which few people in this industry exemplify. I still
to this day admire him so much. Not only for all he's been through and
how he's handled it but also for all his faults as well. I love his imperfections
most I think. But how he has remained so positive, sweet and seemingly
happy given all he has had to endure, from childhood through his dealings
with the seedy underside of this business as well as all the manure thrown
at him by the media and even some of his contemporaries, has amazed me
most! Yeah, I still think of him as the true Measure Of A Man.
An
imperfect and incredibly wonderful man.
~treenuts
12/07/09
"It
struck me that, in my opinion, Clay's Broadway experience enabled him to
discover two things: an atmosphere in which being gay held no negative
stigma and a male peer group in which, I believe for the first time, he
found genuine acceptance and even admiration. It took a very long
time for him to find these things and incorporate them into his life.
I cannot help but think that these factors plus Parker have made Clay complete.
I just want to shout with joy over it all!"
~Mitzi
Gill
12/03/09
"Any
comparison of the two [Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken] that the AMA fallout
has induced got me to really appreciate Clay ever more again. He was the
original star runner up from the show and he was about the same age as
Adam at the same point. A nobody suddenly thrust into intense spotlight
and dizzying buzz, he could have easily grown his head to match the attention.
He never did. As much as he was fervently loved by so many ardent fans,
he was never the in vogue type media loved to hype, and he never got much
support from his label. Nevertheless he handed them record breaking sales
numbers, which still didn't win him any love and support. He remained humble,
true to himself and lived a rather simple life. No matter, he stayed in
the spot light, attracting attention. In view of him not providing scandals
and controversies, they were manufactured and spread all over for him.
Now I see Adam, unlike Clay, became the cool darling du jour of the entertainment
media even before AI was over, partly due to the anticipation created by
Clay's success precedence , and his ego got overinflated with all the attention
and hype, but ultimately he squandered the golden opportunities handed
to him on a silver platter. I am now ever more impressed with Clay's groundedness
and shudder to think what would have happened to him if he had actually
behaved otherwise and given real causes for disdain.
Sometimes
it takes a contrast to shine more light on what we already appreciate.
And I'm so happy Clay has put so much behind him and is continuing on his
path. Hatred and obstacles cannot stop a good man and his destiny."
~propounder
11/28/09
"Some
people live responsibly, respectfully, with purpose, with love and consideration,
and with intent to make the world a better place. Others care nothing
about others, look only to gaining fame and wealth to satisfy their pride
and ego, and strive to feed their own desires no matter how it affects
those around them. Herein lies the difference between people whether
or not they are gay."
~Mitzi
Gill
11/10/09
"One
measure of maturity in a man is his ability to accept that which he cannot
change and to not dwell on the negative aspects of his life and to move
forward and not remain mired in anger and hate. I respect Clay's ability
to do that, especially at such an early age."
~ellenpoppy
9/25/09
"As
for recent covers of his hits, he [Neil Sedaka] says he loved Clay Aiken’s
remake of “Solitaire,” which Aiken performed while Sedaka was a guest judge
on American Idol a few years back, and which went on to reach No. 4 on
the Billboard charts.
“Clay
has an emotional, strong, beautiful voice. I loved that,” he said."
~Neil
Sedaka in 'Sedaka brings his songwriting legacy to the IP'
9/17/09
"Rehearsed
at the same studio as Clay Aiken! Very nice to meet him! Cool kid despite
all the drama that surrounded him!"
~From
a Facebook post by singer / songwriter Chaz Langley
9/15/09
Interviewer
asks Tyra Banks: Any behind-the-scenes scoop on the New York awards
ceremony?
Tyra's
Answer: Before the show kicked off, I hung out backstage with my good
friend Clay Aiken, who presented me with the award. He’s such a funny guy,
and he loves making fun of me, so it was great to catch up.
~Woman
on Top
9/03/09
"I'm
not worried about Clay. I'm also not going to be comparing Clay's new CD
sales figures to any of this year's crop of Idol contestants. He's not
coming off of a massive television opportunity with full support of the
show and the label. Clay has done that already (the tv part, not the total
support bit) and he did it very very well. Right now he's not the flavor
of the week or the next new thing. He's a six year veteran of the music
business and celebrity life. He's multi talented and able to support himself
and his family in a fabulos lifestyle. He might not be where many of us
hoped he would be sales-wise, but he's come a long way and his challenges
have remained unique to him. As always, the VOX remains one of a kind.
Who does he sound like? He sounds like Clay."
~drmchaser614
8/12/09
"Clay
makes magic. From the Wildcard round to Jesus is Love duet to singing The
Prayer with Hannah. One moment like that on TV or a major festival and
The Magic Is Back. It's there because that excitement, that cool, that
pop star electricity is there. It's not in the style of music. It's who
Clay is as a performer. It's the way he sings and performs with everything
that's in him. And given the chance, it'll happen."
~austenfan
8/11/09
"Here
we have a man who is finally free of the bonds of having to hide who he
is in every interview; free of the tyranny of an uncaring and apathetic
music label; enjoying a happy and fulfilled personal life with both the
birth of a son he thought he'd never have <snip> and is supported by
a loyal fan base and a multitude of devoted family and friends dating back
to his elementary school years. He's built a solid ground for his career
by displaying professionalism and a strong work ethic in every endeavor
he's ever taken on. He has formed personal relationships with MANY of the
industry's movers and shakers. He has a talent that is so vast and varied
that I don't think to this day, we've seen all that this man is capable
of doing. Add to the mix his charisma (IT factor), his quick wit, his humbleness,
his heart, his caring concern for those who are disenfranchised and his
brains, and I feel anything is possible. PLUS, he's so dang easy on the
eyes."
~ClayIzzaQT
8/01/09
"Clay
has a very special, extremely rare gift. Perhaps it is his ability to connect
with the audience, to pull you in and for that short time to make you live
in the moment and abandon all your cares. For that short time you become
one with the experience. It is a mind- altering experience and when you
walk out that door, you are a happier person."
~lady4clay
7/31/09
"It
is his fluid movements, his sudden flip of a hip, or the guile of a smile,
to really see Clay at his best. He transmits his joy in performance to
his audience more than any other contemporary singer and seems to embrace
all of us with his beautiful voice."
~icame4themusic
7/22/09
"I
knew Clay had chosen
Bridge Over Troubled Water... and I knew what a difficult song this
is to sing... He closed his eyes and sang the first line, and I could actually
feel the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. It was incredible. When
he finished the audience went crazy.... At that moment, I would have bet
my house on Clay Aiken becoming the next American Idol."
~Simon
Cowell
7/05/09
"For
[ those attending a Clay Aiken concert for the first time]: If you were
to take the thrills of the long 16 second note at the end of 'Everlasting
lov'e and the Glory Note from 'To Love Somebody' and the moment Clay's
voice jumps into hyperspace with the falsetto "NEED" from 'Unchained Melody'
and the perfection of the last "Mind" in Bridge Over Troubled Water, add
the smoldering look of his eyes at the end of 'To Love Somebody', the joy
and fun that shows in him while singing 'Build Me Up Buttercup', his amazing
tone when he sang 'I Could Not Ask for More' and wrap it all in a neat
fireworks display that bursts into 10 million shimmering specks of stardust...it
still wouldn't prepare you for this MAN's absolute beauty, presence, power
and beam of love that will transport you to another world."
~Unknown
6/18/09
"While
I cannot wait for a tour and a new CD, I'm completely interested in reading
(and buying) any book [Clay Aiken] writes. I always enjoy reading Clay's
words, hearing him express his thoughts, and learning more about him and
how his mind works. I see each word and each "product" as a small piece
of a delicious and intriguing puzzle.
Hmmm....if
Clay were a book, I think it would be an adventurous, insightful comedy/mystery/romance/fable,
with a bit of Ma and Pa Kettle, a touch of Fatal Attraction and Mr. Smith
Goes to Washington (in book form, of course), and a happily-ever-after
ending. Lots of informative footnotes, of course, and a beautiful CD inside,
with proceeds going to the foundation formerly known as the BAF."
~Brightstar
6/05/09
"How
can you miss someone this much when you don't even know them?"
~merrieee
"I
think it's because there are so many Clays to miss. He's compelling.
There's
American Idol Clay, Concert Clay, Christmas Clay, Recording Artist Clay,
Kenny/Clay, Spamalot Clay, Unicef Clay, Daddy Clay, Humanitarian Clay,
Boy-Next-Door Clay, Perfect Clay, Imperfect Clay, Funny Clay, Smart Clay...
and on and on and on....
I
love them all.
And
there's so much more to know, to learn, to discover, to remember, to angst
over, and to enjoy.
Clay's
an interesting, talented guy...how can you not miss him??? I can't imagine
not being a fan."
~imsnoqueen
6/02/09
"I
don't get how anyone can compare the whole Aiken & Lambert closet situations:
Aiken-
raised by conservative Southern Baptists, dad neglected him probably because
he feared he might be gay (treated his daughter fine), step-dad psychologically
abused him probably because he feared he was gay (treated his other kids
fine), devout Christian, whole family entrenched in conservative Christian
community, was not out to ANYONE in his life when he went on IDOL, told
his family, friends & coworkers over a period of time <snip>), happily
raising a child as the most prominent single gay dad in show business.
Lambert
- raised by liberal, loving parents in southern California, already out
when he auditioned for IDOL, but for all intents & purposes went back
in [the closet] for the course of the show. Official coming out part of
a marketing plan by his team.
The
difference in their life stories, when they were on IDOL (2003 versus 2009)
& their entire familial/social structures are at polar opposites. TPTB
at 19E/R/M knew Aiken being gay would not appeal to his fanbase & musical
genre. They also know that Lambert being gay will probably serve his image
in the industry as a positive. Again - polar opposites. It's a lot easier
to say you're gay & an entertainer in America in 2009 than it was to
do so in 2003 - 6 yrs is a long time in the social conciousness.
From
what I have heard, Aiken was wanting to come out for a long time, but his
contract held him back. As soon as he was free of RCA & 19R, he did
it. I'd like to see Lambert walk in Aiken's shoes, live his life &
see just how "honest" he would be. We all have different journeys &
shouldn't bash each other for not coming out on someone else's timeline.
Aiken is out & proud now & that's all that matters. He also just
wrote a very eloquent opinion on Prop 8, but that's not as important to
the entertainment sites as his opinion on one song of Lambert's that he
didn't care for. Sad."
~From
a message board post
5/28/09
(In
reference to Adam Lambert saying, " If he [Clay] wants to ride my
coattails...")
"Actually...if
anyone is riding coattails, it might be Adam, thanks to all those other
celebrities (including Clay Aiken) who have (painfully) paved the way for
him [Adam] to 'be himself' sexually and otherwise. I think at the heart
of the current media indulgence of Adam's deliberate ambiguity is his perceived
'coolness' compared to Clay. If this relative 'tolerance' (in
articles such as this one: Adam Lambert says, "keep speculating" )
signifies real progress, great...but this media treatment (so far) does
feel monstrously unfair to the besieged, private young man Clay Aiken once
was. And, whether the media or Adam or Clay himself agrees with me, I think
he jammed his size 13s in that American Idol door, to the benefit of those
following, whether he himself shares those benefits (yet or ever) or not."
~00lsee
5/25/09
"Late
this afternoon I fell into an enormous pothole while making a turn off
one of the local highways. Unfortunately it blew out my front tire. As
I slowly inched the car onto the shoulder with my emergency signals on,
another car was following me slowly. It pulled in front of me once I stopped,
then got back on the road, drove to a spot it could turn around and came
back. We didn't pay much attention and just got on the phone to AAA. To
my surprise the car drove up next to us and down came it's window. The
driver asked if we were okay and if we needed help. I told him what happened,
saying we were already on the phone with AAA, and thanked him for stopping.
He looked and sounded familiar and when I took off my sunglasses to get
a better look I was pretty sure who I was talking to. I said, "Aren't you
Clay?" He replied "yes" with a bit of a sigh in his voice. I thanked him
again, telling him how nice it was of him to stop to see if we needed help.
Yep, it was Clay Aiken folks!
When
the tow truck guy came we were telling him the story and at first he thought
we were pulling his leg, but then got really excited and said how cool
it was. I'm still bummed about the tire and what the repair is going to
cost, especially if I find out there's any damage to the rim or axle, but
refreshed by the kindness of this local celebrity! Pretty nice of Clay
to offer his help when most ordinary people would just drive on by, wouldn't
you say?
Thanks,
Clay, for being such a good guy!"
~From
a non-Clay ,Raleigh message board
5/24/09
"So,
I'm sitting on a bench outside Macy's waiting for Mr AH and this man comes
and sits next to me. Middle-aged guy, looks like a trucker (trying to give
you a mental image) Plaid shirt, white socks, black shoes, crew cut. We
exchange comments about the beautiful weather and he says "You watch American
Idol?" This is the last thing I expect from this guy. I say yes and he
says "Did you like the results?" WTF? OK. I tell him I thought Adam was
better but I was happy with the results. He loved Adam, couldn't understand
how he could lose, etc. Told him it's all a matter of taste. Yep. he agrees,
plus Adam will have a great career. Just look at Clay Aiken.
Now
I feel like you guys are setting me up and I look around for a camera.
Yes,
I say, he wound up doing great. Guy says to me he couldn't believe it when
Clay lost, either. Says Clay should give Adam a call, cheer him up. Things
are obviously very simple in this guys world. heh
I
take deep breath and say, well, Clay is not exactly a fan. In fact, he
jokingly said Adam made his ears bleed. Guy laughed. Oh well, he says.,
a lot of his buddies don't understand why he likes Clay's music. Says it's
the only Christmas album he plays. Each to their own, he says.
Yes,
I agree. Makes the world go 'round and all.
Mr
AH pulls up just then and I wish the man a happy weekend. Mr AH says "what
were you and that guy talking about?" I tell him, AI. He laughs. Yeah right.
No, really, I say, he's an Adam fan. No way, Mr AH says. Yep, and a Clay
fan, too.
Mr
AH laughs, shakes his head. Only you, he says. I wave at the guy, he waves
back. I think of how perspective is a wonderful thing. "
:)
~AgingHippie
5/24/09
"I
went to a wedding in Cleveland, Ohio, a few hours from where I live. I
was seated with some interesting people. The man seated next to me is an
electrical contractor our company uses, but I've never met him, since he's
the owner, and not usually onsite. I'd say he's in his mid to late forties.
There was also a middle aged couple (I'll call them "Husband" and "Wife"),
who I didn't know.
The
conversation was lively, and we started talking about American Idol. Everyone
at the table likes Adam. So, here's how the conversation went:
Electrical
Contractor: I was so mad when Adam lost, I wanted to throw something at
my TV. The only thing that made me madder was when Clay Aiken lost.
Me:
I'm in disbelief and speechless.
Husband:
Did you know that Clay Aiken said that Adam did not deserve to be on American
Idol because he is a terrible singer and performer?
Me:
That's not really what he said. I read his exact quotes.
Husband:
But it was in the New York Times.
Me:
Sometimes they don't get it exactly right.
Husband:
Repeats: But it was in the New York Times.
Wife:
I love Clay Aiken. His voice is unbelievable.
Me:
I like Adam, but Clay's my man.
Electrical
Contractor: I went to his concert here.
Me:
Which one?
Electrical
Contractor: The one where the stairs rose up, and he appeared, singing
"Where the Streets Have No Name". I love that song. Blew me away. Do you
know how many men were there?
Me:
How many?
Electrical
Contractor: Ten!
We
both laugh.
Electrical
Contractor: Then we went to the Christmas concert. The one with the Perry
Como story(??? lol). I didn't like that one so well.
Me:
I wish you could have seen him on Broadway. He was in Spamalot.
Electrical
Contractor: I know! My son lives in Manhattan. We went 3 times, just to
see Clay. He was fantastic. What a performer.
Electrical
Contractor: Leans over, and quietly tells me: I have 4 Clay Aiken CD's
in my car.
Me:
I'll bet you never thought you'd be telling anyone that tonight.
Electrical
Contractor: I can't wait to tell my wife about this. We're both big fans.
You
never know where you're going to run into a Clay Aiken fan. I'm still smiling
about that conversation. :o) "
~imsnoqueen
5/22/09
"Clay
never dissed Adam [Lambert], the man. He only stated that because American
Idol had changed and that it seemed that Adam had very early on been declared
the winner, that the over pimping [by the judges] may have contributed
to public perceptions of Adam being arrogant, etc. He then qualified it
with "may or may not be true." He then stated that since Kris was such
the underdog, that view may be attributed to Kris being a nice guy. Again,
he then qualified that it "may or may not be true". If Clay was dissing
Adam there, then it follows he was dissing Kris too, <snip>. For me,
however, I inferred NO diss, since he was only refering to how American
Idol's and the media's manipulations were influencing public perception."
~
Remedial
4/24/09
"As
someone whose brother works at Idol I can tell you in no uncertain terms
that there is no truth to this story. [Referencing tabloid reports that
Clay was rebuffed when we went to visit the set of American Idol] Clay
came by to show his infant son off to his friends at the studio. That is
all. He has a lot of friends there, including my brother. The contestants
weren't even in the building and Clay admitted he hadn't been watching
the show this season. Never trust the National Enquirer as your source."
~Message
board
4/14/09
"Wow.
Just: WOW. I totally would have thought it was a fun evening if he had
stayed online for 20 minutes and answered a handful of questions. That
it went on for hours and hours -- and that his answers ran the gamut from
playful and funny to serious and thoughtful -- was an enormous bonus. Some
of the things he said surprised me, in a really really good way, because
they seemed to reveal so many sides of his personality. Then the blog --
the blog, and the gift of a gorgeous song! I'm stunned. Never in my wildest
dreams would I have thought to ask so much of him, or expect him to give
it. That he chose to do all of this is just amazing."
~Oldmoviegal
4/22/09
"I
have to applaud Clay Aiken for his decision to raise his son Parker away
from the prying of those whose enquiring minds need to know and from those
in the media looking for a boost in ratings or readership. Being
a father does not warrant publicity or scrutiny, and Clay has had an inordinate
share of both.
Raising
a child is one of the few portions, perhaps the only portion, of Clay’s
life that he can enjoy out of the spotlight. I can think of no viable
reason he should do otherwise. There really are limits even in these
days of the paparazzi."
~Mitzi
Gill
4/21/09
“I
spend my entire life in the media eye and have everybody poke into my life,
so I’m going to leave him out of it.”
~Clay
Aiken, on spending time with his son this summer
4/22/09
"I
remember when I first heard Clay and was blown away. I called everyone
I knew and told them they had to watch the show. There was this guy, this
wonderful guy, who sang like nobody else I had ever heard. I was captivated
beyond reason. I have loved many singers in my life but none touched me
as he did. No voice captured my heart the way his did.
And
then came the introduction to his wit, his wisdom, his commitment to making
change where he saw disparity and his great love for children. All again
just mesmerized me and gave me such joy.
But
it's the voice that drew me here and it's the voice that has me stay. For
me, there is no question that [his is] still the most distinctive, the
most moving and the most captivating I have ever heard."
~onthebrink03
4/06/09
Aiken,
who was famously remade during his time on "Idol," said he was out of his
element for the fashion part of "American's Next Top Model." "I'm wearing
a UNICEF T-shirt and University of Tennessee pajama pants," he said. "I
can't judge that."
Aiken's
recording contract with RCA has ended, and he said he's considering other
labels, while also looking at stage and television offers.
"All
three look enticing, and I'm in the luxurious position of letting them
sit down and come to me," he said.
Washington
Post AP article
***
4/06/09
Comment
on above AP Article:
"Of
course Clay has offers and choices. Consider:
1)
Name recognition. In fact, one-name recognition.
2)
Loyal and supportive fan base.
3)
Multiple talents, some recently discovered and proven.
4)
Work ethics.
5)
Congenialness and charm.
6)
The IT factor that gets people intensely interested. From the time he came
to public attention, such interest never wanes.
I'm
not surprised. But very glad to hear him acknowledge his luxurious position.
I
don't think Clay had split personality. Most of the time "we" refers to
the team involved in his singing career. But now it is himself that's getting
offers and is considering and choosing, especially in regards to non-singing,
non-label stage and TV offers. It also indicates his new freedom, with
few others involved in his decision making.
Free
at last, indeed."
~propounder
4/01/09
"POP/CLAY
AIKEN: DAVID FOSTER TALKS ABOUT SISTER MAKING BABY FOR "IDOL" STAR WASHINGTON
(AP) You may have thought it odd. But music producer David Foster says
he has no problem with the fact that his sister gave birth to Clay Aiken's
son. Foster says the deal "made a lot of sense on a lot of levels," since
Aiken is gay and his sister, who had been married for more than two decades,
had always wanted to have a baby. The only question in his mind was whether
his sister Jaymes, who was closing in on 50, would be able to get pregnant.
As for Aiken, Foster says he knew he was gay before the media caught on,
but it's no biggie as far as the arrangements with his sister go. Just
what are those "arrangements?" Foster himself isn't even sure. He says
Aiken, his partner and his sister are "working it out" though he calls
it "a beautiful way to have a family." Aiken's son, Parker, was born last
August."
~David
Foster
3/29/09
"It
is his community and that's why these events are so important and why this
was such a great thing for him to do. Being famous doesn't protect him
from the same discrimination that GLBT people face every day and for him
to be such a positive role model of a young out gay dad as well as someone
who's had to come to terms with coming out in the glare of the public spotlight,
he's in a great position to be a positive influence for tolerance and acceptance.
My favorite thing he'd ever worn used to be that black leather jacket from
AI and just after, but I'm thinking that white ribbon on his lapel has
surpassed that."
~zara
one
3/15/09
"He's
had a tough life, our Clay. And it began from the time he was very, very
young. But "On My Way Here", to me, is about overcoming most of that and
standing past all the trials and tribulations to move forward with his
life. When I think of him singing Ashes on some major television program
and he sings "Turn around and see what love's done for me", I picture the
fandom, his friends, his family, his loved ones all there as the support
system who helped him walk through the fire."
~Corabeth
2/12/09
"I
think the sweet momma's boy persona is one side of his 'real self'. So
is the bawdy side. So is the sexual side. The philanthropic side. The daddy
side. The recording artist side. The serious side. The smart side. Of course,
I want to see more and more of his authentic self...but it seems to me
his many sides are 'who he really is', too. Heck, that man's got so many
facets, I think he's a diamond."
~00Isee
1/11/09
RE: January 11th final performance
of SPAMALOT which Clay attended with his friend, dancer
and model Reed Kelly:
"It makes me happy that Clay
is there tonight with so many of the other stars of "Spamalot" as the curtain
falls for the final time. It will be great if Mike Nichols and Eric Idle
are there, too. I like thinking of all of them on stage, taking that final
bow. What a wonderful family they have been, for each other and for Clay
in a pivotal year of his life.
And... Oh, wow. For the very
first time, Clay is out with Reed, knowing without doubt they'd be seen
by fans, the press, God and everybody. *grin* It should be a small thing,
but in this society, this world, it took courage to be his authentic
self.
He's free, y'all.
I can only hope that 2009 is
as transformative, liberating and rewarding for Clay's professional life
as 2008 was for his personal life.
Damn, but I love that man."
~berkeley
1/04/09
"Though
I was there just two days in March, I wouldn't have missed this for the
world.
Thanks
to everyone who brought "Spamalot" to the boards, in videos, photos, recaps
and cellcerts, for almost a year.
Thanks
to Mike Nichols and Eric Idle, to Jonathan and Hannah and David and Rick
and Chris and Tom and Brad and Bradley and Michael and Merle and Wally
and all of the Spamalot family.
Thank
you to the Broadway community for all of the love, support and respect
you showed a talented newcomer who is now a seasoned actor with a caricature
on Sardi's wall.
Thanks,
Clay, for a knight to remember.
On
to tomorrow."
~berkeley
1/04/09
"It's
here---Jan 4. Clay's final finale [in Spamalot.] ;-)
A
happy/sad, delightful/poignant, hilarious/schmoopie, wonderfully meaningful
day, for sure.
To
all who are there--enjoy every second, every word, every move, every funny
expression, every scripted line, every ad lib. Cherish each laugh and giggle,
the cast's reactions, the thunderous applause, the bows, the glances between
cast members, the props they'll give Clay today, the feeling of love and
appreciation that will fill the theatre. Hold tight to the memories, the
smiles, the tears, the incredible awe of being right there to experience
such a time.
Then
bring it back to us---share the special moments. And know we're really
there too. Our support, love, laughter, and tears are going out in waves.
I know you will feel us there, and I hope Clay will as well.
From
the historian's first words to Clay's final salute, I know it will be magical.
And
that's no surprise, really, because we can always count on Clay to bring
the magic.
How
lucky we are to "get" him--to see and experience the magic and joy he brings.
I'm
not even there in NY, but I feel like the luckiest person in the world."
~Brightstar
12/21/08
"There
are souls in the world who have the gift of finding joy
everywhere,
and leaving it behind them when they go. Their
influence
is an inevitable gladdening of the heart. They
give
light without meaning to shine."
~William
Frederick Faber (1814-1863) [ He was a hymn writer. These words
were penned centuries ago, but easily could be spoken of Clay Aiken.]
12/12/08
"I
was a bit worried about the E show, but you know, I've come to the conclusion
that there is no need to worry about Clay anymore. No need to worry about
his career, no need to defend him, no need to respond to every idiot who
mocks him. Clay has come out of the closet, he's had a baby with his 50
year-old manager, he's been the target of late night comedians and asshat
bloggers for quite a while... <snip> And guess what? Clay is still a
star, he's acting on Broadway to great reviews, he's acknowledged for his
amazing voice, and he's considered to be a good man and a here-to-stay
entertainer/star -- by E (of all people!).
Despite
ridicule and mockery, despite lies and twists of the truth from those who
would like to bring him down, he's still here. A spotlight magnet. A huge
and growing talent. A solid, down-to-earth man with a good heart and a
powerful work ethic. He's lasted five years in an erratic, uncertain industry
despite the best efforts of some idiots and haters and the ineptness and
short-sightedness of his label. Why?-- because he has the goods. Talent,
charisma, wit, intelligence, and determination, just to name a few.
He
can be careful, and a risk-taker--and sometimes both at once. He's experienced
the highs and lows of fame, yet through it all, he's managed to keep his
uniqueness, his Southern charm, his love of family and hometown, his desire
to make a difference, and his love of singing. He's not only still a star,
I think he's on the road to being more. And best of all, perhaps, he's
found a new degree of personal happiness as a dad and seems to have much
love in his life.
He'll
always need fans' support, but their worry? Not so much. I think he's finding
his way just fine."
~Brightstar
12/09/08
"Random
observations:
A
friend of mine told me that you don't just come out once, it is an ongoing,
forever process, and you come out again and again every day.
Being
gay is still such an issue. It's getting better, but it is still one of
the most despicable things about our society...that even though all men
are created equal, our laws and our religions still don't really mean it...not
yet. Not ALL men are equal. Not yet. Despite the fact that men and women
and sons and daughters and mothers and fathers and priests and doctors
and teachers and football players and ballerinas and hardware store workers
and neighbors are gay...they are still not treated as equal. Not yet.
[A
friend] mentioned that she is in her 10th year of coming out <snip>
and still hasn't told everyone.
Clay
Aiken may have been out in his private life, but didn't get the chance
to come out on his own terms, at his own pace, to the rest of the world.
I can't imagine the gaping hole that tore in his life, his being.
Ellen
DeGeneres is out and married to Portia and open and talking to millions
of people every day. She delivers messages with humor and candor and shows
the world that she is just a regular girl in love. She is reaching and
teaching, and is a source of great hope for me.
Denny
Crane and Alan Shore got married on the finale of Boston Legal last night.
Humorous, but beautiful, with amazing, thought provoking discussions during
the show.
The
man who won on Wheel of Fortune last night introduced his "partner of 4
and a half years," when asked who was in the audience for him, and nobody
in the audience even gasped. They hugged and stood on the stage together
and it was beautiful!
Kevin
and Scotty on B&S are being portrayed as a married couple with the
same issues of family and finances and careers and health and they just
happen to be gay. (and hot).
Luke
and Noah on ATWT are one of daytime TV's most popular couples.
Everywhere,
there are little signs that we as people, are getting it, that people are
people and that you love who you love, and yeah, maybe some are TV characters,
but they are in our homes every week...as they should be...reaching and
teaching.
The
cover of a magazine seems to be the way to go for many celebrities these
days. I wish, for those celebrities, that it wasn't the way to go, but
for the rest of the world? It's cool, because to me, it means they are
reaching and teaching millions of people who wouldn't have even uttered
the word "gay" in their homes just a short time ago.
All
these things are little signs to me, that we ARE moving forward. We're
not there yet. But we are getting there.
Clay
didn't get his quiet, self-paced, own-terms coming out, and for that I
am sorry. Sorry to be part of the society that didn't allow him that simple
right. Sorry to be part of the society that still forces it to be an issue
that requires a process, or explanation.
But
we ARE moving forward, and I can't wait for the day when there won't have
to be lies or perceived lies or self-preservation or hiding or closets
or hate or inequality."
~institches
11/29/08
"If
there's one thing I've learned to do in this fandom, it's roll with the
punches. So many times the things I was convinced were going to suck turned
out to be amazing and things I was most excited about turned out to be
kind of meh, that I've gotten to the point where I try not to sweat (too
much) the process of getting to the next "there."
I
could never have predicted Spamalot or how well it would work out. If you'd
played me "Falling" or "Everything I Don't Need" a year ago, I'd have sworn
to you they'd be big hits. So what do I know?
I
want him to keep singing to me.
I
want him to be happy.
All
the rest is just the stuff along the way.
He's
still the most fascinating book I've ever read."
~GBB
11/04/08
"In my experience online for
the past 5-6 years, the VAST majority of Clay's fans, young and old, are
exceptionally friendly, compassionate, generous, thoughtful and faithful.
I do think they are more so than the fans of other artists. I love how
Clay loves us, and I love how we love him and support him and all his "causes"
as well. In the long run, Clay and his fans are a blessing on this world.
People who were friendless, now have friends. People who were excluded,
now are included. People who lacked basic education, have been given education.
People who are ill or facing difficulties have been reached out to, supported
and prayed for. People who had lost a joie de vive have found it again.
<snip>. This is a remarkable love affair we are having."
~pax
10/21/08
"It's
not about age. It's not about sexual orientation. It never was. It's the
power of his voice, the power of his personality, and the power of his
heart that keeps me a fan."
~MsCrabtree
10/18/08
US
Magazine from AI2 final 3: " A teacher from NC who watched [Clay] teach
is quoted as saying "I get goose bumps watching him work with children."
then later "one time when a little girl skinned her knee, Clay brought
her into the health office. He sang her a sweet, soothing song."
~Posted
by Corabeth
10/17/08
"I
always love Clay's clothes. They either make him look great or provide
me with a much-needed laugh."
~berkeley
10/03/08
"It's
never acceptable for anyone to make such a decision for anyone else nor
to coerce someone to take such a significant step before they are ready.
Not a friend, not a stranger, not the media. So, I waited until the time
was right for me."
~Clay
Aiken
10/09/08
"I
read the People Magazine article and watched the Good Morning America interview.
I saw an extremely courageous man make a difficult decision for the sake
of his child. I felt for an entire family, people I don't even know, when
Clay decided it was time to open up about the most private part of his
life. I saw and heard the words "I'm gay" but you know what? I just saw
Clay - the same man I fell in love with on American Idol, the same man
I've listened to, learned from and enjoyed for over five years. I still
don't see straight or gay - I just see Clay."
~suereu
10/07/08
"We
are slowly starting to respect this man-child more and more for the things
he has to say on the gay issue — his thoughts are eloquent and moving.
There's few people who can speak to those who absolutely believe all homosexuals
are going to hell without causing some sort of riot, and Clay is one of
them. Bravo."
~From
the entertainment blog 'Mollywood"
10/04/08
"What
a blog! What a man!
I
loved reading his words. The blog was beautiful, sincere, understanding,
accepting, and honest. I also love the way he put things into perspective.
Look at all that's happened in the last week or two!
He
explained and took us into his journey for just a bit. He made it clear
that he was always mindful of his fans. But best of all, to me, is that
he is proud of himself. He is comfortable in his skin. He is happy. I couldn't
wish anything more for him.
I
had a crush on Clay in 2003
I
was enamored with him in 2004
I
loved him in 2005
I
treasured him in 2006, and worried a little
I
adored him in 2007
I
cherish him in 2008, and I am worry-free
This
week didn't change who Clay is. The man is the same. But the love is still
growing."
~Brightstar
10/04/08
RE:
Clay's 10/04/08
"I
love how self assured he sounds. I love how he expresses his feelings for
those who are feeling mislead but also how he says that (paraphrasing here)
he never meant for them to feel that way but it's his private life, one
he tried to keep private as best he could and since he was not able to
do that he chose his own time and place to divulge what he felt was nobody's
business."
10/01/08
"Being
gay is an aspect of who he is, and important as it is, it is not his sum
total. So he is still the best voice of his generation, a charismatic and
engaging entertainer, a passionate humanitarian and children's advocate,
a snarky sexy dorky singerman, a Southern Baptist from North Carolina,
a brother, a son, a father, and a man who is gay. I see it as the People
First language of who he is.
9/28/08
"His
talent hasn't changed
His
amazing voice can still excite, soothe, and bring joy
He
still wants to help others and make a difference
He
is still charismatic and funny
He
still cares greatly about his fans
He
is the same man he was a week, month, or year ago.
He
just opened up and let us know him better"
~Brightstar
9/28/08
"I
have known for a long time, through conversations with many of my gay friends,
that the process of coming out is intensely personal, that it can be a
major paradigm shift not just for the person who is being told, but for
the person who is coming out himself or herself. For those who are in the
process, making statements or behaving as if they are straight is not a
lie, it is absolute self-preservation."
~berkeley
9/25/08
"We
love each other dearly and deeply as friends, but I think as parents now,
there's an even greater bond, certainly for me. Our job is to remain best
friends for the rest of our lives and that's the most important thing for
Parker."
~Jaymes
Foster
9/24/08
"For
me, all I've ever wanted for Clay was for him to be happy. Life can be
so difficult...but I know from experience the added burden of carrying
a secret in my heart. There have been times I have said, "They wouldn't
love me if they only knew..." and yet, as much as I feared losing people's
love, I also felt they COULDN'T love ME...because I had never let them
know the real me. As long as I lived behind a mask, they could only love
my mask, not me.
Having
the courage to lower that mask and discovering you, the authentic you,
are loved anyway is a feeling like flying, like being reborn. Like a new
'once upon a time'.
I'm
grateful for the opportunity to witness his courage. Clay...inspires me."
~00Isee
9/24/08
"While
I would never demand that Clay provide an explanation of his personal life
to me or anyone, the fact that he is in control of this message -- that
his announcement is as deliberate and carefully-considered an act as having
a child was -- has hooked me. He is telling this story; it's not a forced
admission, but something he chose to do, on his own timetable, for his
own good reasons. And I am fascinated, and proud of his strength, and eager
to hear what he has to say."
~Oldmoviegal
9/24/08
"Now
I feel a lump in my throat knowing that he had to live with this for four
years. I hope today is a freeing day for Clay. I can't imagine having to
live with a secret for that long.
I
hope Parker will be brought up in a world where we are more tolerant of
others differences, whether it be race, religion, sexual orientation or
having a disability.
I
believe that Clay will help make inroads in teaching this lesson to others."
~FearofH2O
9/22/08
"That
Aiken has chosen to come to Broadway and return to Broadway in this comedy
says a great deal for his willingness not to take himself too seriously.
His fans' enthusiasm and joy in his performance suggest that Broadway should
enjoy taking Clay Aiken very seriously indeed. Like Fantasia igniting The
Color Purple, or Reba transforming Annie Get Your Gun!, Clay fits Sir Robin
and Spamalot like a glove."
~Edith
Haight, Broadway Magazine
9/22/08
The
current radiance that Clay shows in his stage door appearances are reminiscent
of AI2 when he was wide-eyed with wonder of the new love lavished on him
by his fans as well as the possibilities of what would become his new life.
It would seem that Clay finds his self-worth in loving and being loved
rather than in his success, recognition, wealth, or possessions.
Perhaps there has never been a time in Clay’s life when he has experienced
so much love simultaneously from family, friends, fans, fellow Spamalot
artists, and, probably most significantly, from becoming a father.
~Mitzi
Gill
9/16/08
"When
you see him it's never enough. Seeing him makes you want more after you
just saw him! I think that's because when he is in a room with you his
aura shines so brightly...that IT he has...it washes over you...and when
he is gone it's like a light has left the room...like someone blew out
the only candle in a room with no other light in it. You can feel it.
Once
is never enough."
~dancermom2
9/10/08
"Best
of all was the blog's ending, the simple statement, "I miss you folks.
" Those few words jumped right into my heart."
~berkeley
9/09/08
"I
still marvel at the man, his seemingly endless, not fully tapped talent,
his wit, his compassion, his silliness, his wisdom, and his unmatched,
versatile, touch-my-heart voice. Sure I'd like more news, more appearances,
and more knowledge of what is to come, but I feel sure that what does come
will be very worth the wait. In more ways than one, no other entertainer
can fill his shoes--or grab--and keep--my heart."
~Brightstar
9/05/08
"One
thing I continue to admire about Clay is he makes friends for LIFE and
creates family wherever he goes. That is a rare gift indeed..and somehow
he knows how to reach and grab the core of a person. In a world where the
superficial seems to rule he is genuine and true to himself."
~luvhisvox
8/27/08
"I
think Clay learned long ago that the way to find personal happiness was
to do what he decides is best for himself and those he cares for, regardless
of what "others" may say. Any others, fans included. Besides, he could
live a life of complete perfection, show the world the most beautiful and
"proper" of scenarios, and the nasties in this world would twist perfection
and make it seem ugly. He can't "win" that war. He can only make his own
life and refuse to participate in senseless battles, games, and other nonsense."
~Brightstar
8/26/08
"He
[Clay] has said how much he wants children, and he now has a beautiful
son in a somewhat untraditional-looking family unit. In some ways, I see
it as the family that love and strength and courage (and much blessing)
built.
I
see Clay as one who is trying hard to have a regular, normal, happy life
within the crazy whirlwind that his entertainer/star life can be. And if
some aspects of that life don't always look "typical" to others, I don't
think that matters to him. He'll make it beautiful, and he'll make it work.
I don't doubt it for a minute."
~Brightstar
8/12/08
"Since
leaving Spamlot in May, jokes have just not been funny," Aiken said in
a statement. "Food has lost its taste. The grass is no longer green—the
sky no longer blue. And babies WON'T stop crying!! I'm so excited about
coming back to the funniest show in the world!"
~Clay
Aiken
8/12/08
"In
live, taped and print interviews, as well as in his book, I've heard Clay
talk about so many aspects of his life, for so many years. I do not and
can not know his full nature, and I sure as hell cannot predict every choice
he'll make, but I do believe I know his heart. This is a good man, devoted
to children, and now he has a child of his own. That is a good thing. Since
I am human, I may be curious about some things and I wonder a bit about
Clay's future, but I believe this child will bless his life.
~berkeley
8/10/08
"
Parker will have something that Clay once wished for: a father who will
say "I love you" and mean it. "
~berkeley
8/09/08
"Sometimes
all of the planets just line up, and everything seems like it is just as
it should be. Today is one of those days. Years ago, an international consortium
of organizers and leaders chose this day – this special day, with its rare
and lucky and symbolic row of eights – to be the start of the Olympic games.
The date, that very cool-looking 08.08.08, has been imprinted in the corner
of all NBC programming for well over a year. There have been online countdown
clocks leading up to this date for just as long.
And
it wasn’t just the day. To strengthen the symbolism, the Olympic opening
ceremonies were scheduled to begin precisely at 8:08 p.m., Beijing time.
That one minute – that one magical minute – was marked as special. So,
for years, millions of people have been waiting for this moment to arrive.
And,
at 8:08 a.m. EST – at precisely the same minute that, half a world away,
the first Olympic athletes were marching into the stadium – a dark-haired
baby boy was born in North Carolina. That special day, that special minute,
just became even more unbelievably important. To the baby’s parents, to
their extended families and friends, to the larger communities who have
also marked this arrival as a special day.
What
an amazing turn of events, and what a joyous one. I was already looking
forward to this day, to the minute when the world comes together in a symbolic
way to put aside their differences and celebrate. Now, I feel like I have
something even bigger to celebrate. Welcome, Parker Foster Aiken. In the
spirit of the day of your birth, I hope you always remember the motto of
the games that begin today: The most important thing is not to win, but
to take part. Welcome to the world."
~Oldmoviegal
8/05/08
"This
is what I love to do, I love to sing and to be able to perform in front
of an audience," he said. "It does not happen often where someone can do
what they truly love for a living, so I feel fortunate to be able to have
my dream of singing come true. Music is such an important part of my life.
The best thing of course are the fans. Being on stage and seeing their
smiles and knowing they are enjoying the music is a great feeling."
~
Clay Aiken, December 13, 2007
7/30/08
"[Clay]
is gifted enough in myriad areas that he can have a career in entertainment
for as long as he desires, though it might be at a moderate level instead
of at the superstar heights that some desire. That's fine with me, as if
I had a vote --- I believe Clay wants to be broadly successful, but I don't
think that he has any taste for being the Biggest Thing Ever. The air is
too thin up there, and I think he'd rather breathe life in deeply and richly."
~berekley
7/30/08
"Underneath
all the silence, mystery and waiting is a hard-working, talented beyond
measure, competitive artist. I don't have a doubt in the world, that Clay
is planning and working on his career. IMO, he is a brilliant young artist
and his resiliency not to mention his versatility will become legend."
~yaknelle
7/19/08
"I
love the uniqueness of Clay Aiken. He's one of a kind, he's not "manufactured"
for success. He just "IS." I don't compare him with anyone else, so long
as he sings and entertains, I will be there. If he talks, I will listen.
I love his mind, his heart and his soul. I've never had "dreams" for him
other than his happiness, and never wanted to know his personal business
...<snip>
I
love his charity work and support that totally because it is meaningful
to me, perhaps more than any placement on a Top40 or A/C music chart could
ever be. More than anything, he wanted to "make a difference." I believed
him when he first said it five years ago, and I believe it even more today.
The smiles we've seen in the UNICEF photos are not staged, he and those
children appear to be totally enjoying themselves and it is wonderful to
see.
Only
Clay knows what he has had to contend with behind the scenes all this time.
He's a man who values being true to HIMSELF more than bowing to the whims
of the current music marketplace, including those who profit from it. He's
not the boy he was on a TV reality show several years ago, but an adult
male with a mind of his own. I love that about him. And he's had the strength
to endure all this time, picking his battles as best he could. I think
he told his fans as much as he could in his last blog, yet many have chosen
not to listen.
I
miss the hell out of the guy, but will be here when he decides to return.
<snip> This is a very complex individual who seems to have a simple
message: love and serve your fellow man. He has given me more joy over
the last few years than I could have ever hoped for: beautiful music; hysterical
laughter; dancing (not choreography, Clay); friends; and, a focus on the
joy of giving. And, then there's the PANTS......"
~clayzedover
7/19/08
"He's like no one I've ever
known. Mad talented, determined, stubborn, highly intelligent, caring,
hilariously funny, deep, strong, and kind. And ambitious as hell, I think.
He's one of a kind, and his career will be one of a kind."
~Brightstar
7/09/08
"No
wonder he [Clay Aiken] ignores the tabloid-mentality individuals. He has
seen with his own eyes and experienced first hand what is truly important
and worthy of his attention and time. How can he waste his life worrying
about what low-lives think of him when there is real suffering in the world
that needs to be addressed? I admire him more than I can say. He's by no
means perfect, but so often he's a model for having one's priorities straight.
He essentially says "Don't look at me, look at all those in need. Worry
about them, give for them." And then he lives it. He puts his life and
his heart on the line on regular basis."
~Brightstar
7/06/08
"It
makes me thankful for my life," says Aiken of all his work abroad and with
children in need. "These kids, many of them struggle with unimaginable
hardships and yet they have positive attitudes. They don't feel sorry for
themselves. Kids who suffer the most never do. You see that, and it keeps
all your own nonsense in perspective."
~Clay
Aiken
6/27/08
"While
they toss Grammys to Winehouse, with good aim so as to not break the crack
pipe in her pocket, Clay Aiken is walking the walk, and talking the talk.
Reaching down and extending a helping hand, to people who only know him
as a real nice famous American guy who wants to help us."
~Matt
6/26/08
"...though
I do not know this man, I can only observe he is just human. With flaws
and foibles, sure. But he is also a young man with a heart & soul like
so many others. And a voice unlike so many others. But he uses these in
a very distinctly different way than most. I can only surmise that he is
trying his best to do what he thinks is right. I recall he said this was
what he wanted to use his "celebrity" for way back before it had all but
began.
So
I am going to give him props for getting off his ass and continually working
to meet his original goal. And in a not so common, comfortable or risk
free manner. His environment seems to be continually changing and at his
own hand. He says he wants to be back home where he is comfortable. Yet
he is always off somehwere else working, giving, growing, speaking for
others as well as himself. He is living life and living it large."
~treenuts
6/26/08
"Just
speaking for myself, but when I first heard the news of this trip, [Clay's
UNICEF trip to Somalia] all I could think of were those horrible images
of "Black Hawk Down." Today, new pictures of mothers losing children to
starvation and dehydration are going into my memory bank. One set won't
replace the other, but maybe I can choose to focus on the one that asks
for and desperately needs help over those that rejected it ...I'm working
on it."
~Imtx
6/25/08
"Ah...
{UNICEF] Ambassador Aiken puts it all in perspective again! While fans
are angsting over whom Clay REALLY loves and HOW he loves her/them and
WHAT he's going to do/say or not do/say about this or that....
He's
actually DOING
and SAYING something about "this or that's" that really matter....
"
~muskifest
6/24/08
"If
I were limited to owning only one CD for the remainder of my life, I would
select Clay Aiken’s “On My Way Here”. Within its melodies are all
the elements that deal with our journey through life and how we cope with
its inevitable trials and tragedies.
There
are expressions of the agony that is ours when life insists on our choosing
between those things that are comfortable and the unknown. The album contains
lyrical discussions of perfect love, insecure love, and love gone wrong.
Other songs center upon humanitarianism and our relationship to God and
our fellow men. Fear, worry, and disappointment are juxtaposed with
joy, encouragement, and faith.
“On
My Way Here” is truly a universal, mini-commentary on human experiences
as well as a revelation of the heart of its vocalist. It is as profound
as it is musically satisfying."
~Mitzi
Gill
6/18/08
"When
an entertainer has a life-long career, there will be times when it's hot,
and times when it's not. What he/she will never have is non-stop success
and non-stop visibility, I don't care who he/she is. I wish folks would
learn to be more confident and more able to take the times when nothing
is going on, and not get all in a panic or all glum about it. A fandom
shouldn't be something to torture yourself with and live in misery over--it
should be fun!! I think [the fan's] expectations can be unreasonable at
times. As for the lack of appearances, this is exactly how he told us it
would be--some promo, then a vacation, and a UNICEF trip. Hopefully there
will be another round of promo down the road a bit. A tour is a good possibility.
And there may be news of another sort--TV, a movie, whatever. Clay isn't
a quitter or a whiner. He's a strong, vibrant, talented man. He's going
to be around a long time."
~Claymaniac
in PA
6/15/08
"Right
now, I have a CD that I absolutely LOVE...one that shows growth as an artist....by
a humble man whose voice I fell in love with five years ago. THAT has not
changed for me. But there are many more layers to the man that I could
never have foreseen. He's always interesting and surprising, and that is
what keeps me here. The new
biographyreminded me that he's done more in five years with his celebrity
than I could have ever dreamed. It made me proud to read it."
~clayzedover
6/13/08
"It
is not always about performance art, but about receiving positive energy
from people with positive spirits," he said. "Sometimes we can see someone's
spirit, and those are the people with great energy. Those are the people
that get me through the day, especially on Broadway."
~Clay
Aiken
6/13/08
"A
little over 5 years ago Clay was a dorky guy from Raleigh , NC who set
his sights on winning a singing competition. Even though he didn't win,
he has parlayed his 2nd place finish into a lucrative and exciting career.
Here he is, a successful entertainer, who has attracted into his life a
major music producer and his not so famous sister along with his recent
success on Broadway in a major production directed by the very successful
Mike Nichols. <snip>
This
is the journey movies are made from and what an interesting movie it will
make someday, all of it.
There
really isn't anything odd about Clay's life except for those who want to
make it a strange story. I think it is a wonderful story and if the baby
news is true it is about to get even more wonderful. Clay is successful
and rich. He is a man who transformed his life, by hard work and some lucky
breaks, from the average and ho hum into the extraordinary. Talent has
been his ticket to all of it but I don't see him sitting around wishing
he hadn't traveled this road. He is well loved and cared about and he looks
happy. He is supported by those who matter to him. He may lose some of
the fans who can't accept his non traditional life but that will make room
for others who will see him as worthy of their attention. Life has a way
of teaching us what we need to learn and God has a way of presenting us
with who and what we need to learn those lessons."
~skybar
6/10/08
"Clay
is one-of-a-kind. He will always be on the side of sanity, good judgement,
and morality. As long as he chooses this road, he is going to have
an uphill battle. He has traveled this road all of his life and seems
to be made of something most of us are not. He is not fearful.
He is not discouraged. He does not pity himself. There in the
midst of it all, Clay can be found calm, smiling, eyes filled with
joy, and his sense of humor in tact. He simply perseveres.
He
possesses a true gift that allows him to take the worst of circumstances
and learn from them rather than being intimidated, joining the crowd, or
lowering his standards. He is far beyond fortitude and appears destined
for something that will reward him for all of the obstacles he has faced
and overcome. I think Gladys Knight made a prophetic statement on
AI2 when she told Clay he was "magical"and "pure", that she knew something
extraordinary was going to happen to him in this world. I believe
he is On His Way There!"
~Mitzi
Gill
6/07/08
“That’s
what’s so great about America,” he said, laughing. “One of our valuable
amendments to the Constitution — freedom of the press — is also one of
the crappiest. You can write anything you want. You don’t need to have
any proof or any truth to what you write.”
~Clay
Aiken in a May 29th interview
6/06/08
"You
know what I think Clay's trouble is?
I
think he's too damned progressive.
He
has a broader view of the world. How is that possible for a lowly North
Carolina guy? An ordinary guy who was going to college and decided to enter
reality show/talent contest?
But
he is. Progressive. Religious, yet open to a variety of religious views.
Very
aware of current events. Opinionated, yet accepting of a variety of opinions
from others. Doesn't seem to be judgmental, yet has high expectations of
people. Patient with people with learning differences. Impatient with laziness
and unprofessionalism and intolerance. Injustice.
He's
intelligent. He's a character. He has a wild sense of humor that sometimes
doesn't translate in print.
And
- then - he sings "off the chain"!
People
are just used to celebrities who are less substance. More shallow.
Especially
as young as he is.
It
throws people.
And
some people just don't see the intelligence and the snark. Some people
don't recognize sincerity.
So
- I guess they are right. He's odd.
And
some people are just greedy bastards who want to sell magazines and papers
and they aren't even aware enough of the world to see consequences. Others
just don't give a damn."
~Cotton
6/03/08
"I
remember Clay was recently asked why people hate him so much and he gave
a beautiful answer. He said he didn't know in the same way he didn't know
why people love him so much. He said that he represents the guy they picked
on in high school who is now successful and has women screaming for him.
And they can't stand that because it will never be them."
~Corabeth
6/03/08
"I
can't figure out why Clay has been such a target for vitriol over the last
years. I get angry when people who have been given a lot squander
their gifts and opportunities. But it is just the opposite with Clay, who
has never done anything but work hard and do right. For the life of me,
I can't understand it."
~rubychambers
6/03/08
"When
a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that
the dunces are all in confederacy against him." --- Jonathan Swift
"Clay
will have a good life, will do good works, will sleep soundly at night,
will be loved.
The
confederacy of dunces have sold their souls for a short-term gain. In the
end, they will get away with nothing.
If
you had to explain to your children what you did for a living, who would
you rather be?"
~berkeley
6/02/08
"Adversity
has made him a strong man...and his shoulders are broad."
~propounder
5/31/08
"Clay
is a very unique, exceptionally talented, decent man who knows who he is
and where he is going. He will not compromise his faith, nor does
his behavior bend to fit the world view or to appease his critics. Sometimes
he seems to be like a ship sailing into the storm."
~Mitzi
Gill
5/30/08
"Clay
has been the celebrated catalyst to many wonderful experiences, and for
that alone I will always be in his debt. But more importantly, my respect
for him as he has made his very human courageous journey in the unrelenting
public eye has remained intact."
"And
though I wish him happiness with all my heart in all areas of his life,
it
is his happiness and has nothing to do with me."
~zena
5/29/08
"I
think that Clay is looking forward, and transitioning from The Singer to
The Entertainer. His talent is broad and diverse. Singing will become part
of who he is, not the sum total of his professional face. Not surprising,
really, from the man who has been on the Billboard charts and the New York
Times Best Sellers List, a singer who is also a member of SAG and Actors
Equity.
I
think Clay is one of the most extraordinarily gifted singers I've heard
in my lifetime. Most of all, I love it when he sings. But I was blessed
to see him in Spamalot --- there's just so much that he can do, and he's
clearly smart enough and hard working enough to broaden the scope of his
marketability.
That's
one very good way to build a lifelong career.
Regardless
of where Clay goes, I will be there. He's always been worth it to me. "
~berkeley
5/18/08
"Jimmy
[Kimmel] gave the goodnight, and Clay launched into “Ashes.” Now that is
a song and a sound that gets to me. I wish that everyone who loved “Invisible”-era
Clay Aiken could see him perform this song: informed by his history and
experience, he has moved far beyond that never-the-less captivating performer
of five years ago.
The
energy in the room ratcheted up really high. Clay started to groove and,
hitting his stride, began to wail. He closed his eyes, threw back his head,
hair flying, and sang, “Try and remind me now.” That was the sound of freedom.
Damnation,
this song rocks! There were voices everywhere singing along, but rather
than disliking that as I sometimes do, it was almost like a part of the
performance, a chorus of approval, acceptance and affection for the man
on the stage, his voice rising above all. It was one of the strongest performances
I have ever seen Clay give and I grabbed every note and held on tight.
I
was so thrilled to be there to hear this. I knew that, somewhere in the
first few seconds, a jackass had brayed and put an end to it for all but
the few who were there. I hope I’ve captured a little bit of it for everyone.
Heading
out into the warm evening, I called in my final report and headed for the
subway. I was smiling then, and I am still smiling now.
I
don’t know what Clay Aiken is doing today. I don’t know where he is. I
don’t know when fans will hear from him again. I don’t know how this kickass,
magnificent album of his will do over time.
But
I’m okay. My life has its challenges, but it’s pretty good. I know that
Clay will be around for as long as he chooses to be and, one way or another,
sometimes he will sing to me. I will always get that instant smile in response
to his, I’ll laugh when I hear his goofy guffaw and I will go on delighting
at how well he has grown and how content he seems.
I
will forever be in awe of his extraordinary, blue moon talent.
Maybe
one day he’ll have a worldwide #1. Maybe he’ll settle into a groove that
makes him the most comfortable. Maybe he’ll excel in another area of his
prodigious talent. I just know that he is not going anywhere --- except
for back home for a while.
So
--- godspeed you home, Clay. Sit on your back porch, play with your dogs,
drink some sweet tea, enjoy the company of your family and friends, feel
the love of someone who knows the real you. Rest, relax, and come back
when you’re ready.
I’ll
be here.
Even
when you are in your quiet time, you never feel far away from me. After
five years of sharing your journey with me, how could you?
You
have your own world, your own dreams, your own plans…
But
you’ve left some of your music here, part of the you who is always with
me.
So
thank you for letting me share a little bit of love with you.
And
--- just an aside --- thanks for wearing those trousers so well. "
~berkeley
5/06/08
Re: 'On My Way Here'
"The
sounds, the lyrics, the unique use of his exceptional voice will surprise
you. This ain’t American Idol Clay Aiken, it’s the mature, successful yet
seasoned Clay Aiken, with just a little bit of cyniscm thrown in. This
album has funky R&B, unexpected techno in the middle of a song that
starts off slow, driving pop/rock and a jazzy love song that sounds like
warm maple syrup poured over cinnamon pancakes. I’ve read “professional”
reviews who call this an album of ballads and wonder if they hit the wrong
button on their ipod. Or if they had written the review even before they
started. It’s congitive dissonance. They expected ballad boy, they didn’t
get it. They might have even sorta/kinda liked it. And they didn’t know
what to make of it so the reviews become more of a review of Clay’s celebrity
or Clay’s fans. Anyone who writs that this is an all ballad album with
trite or schmaltzy lyrics, simply.didn’t.listen."
~The
ConClayve
5/05/08
Re:
Clay's final performance in Spamalot:
"I
can't help but think tonight about the people of Spamalot.
Jonathan
Hadary, Tom Deckman, Rick Holmes, David Hibbard, all the knights and the
dancing girls. Last fall when they heard that Clay Aiken would be taking
over the role of Sir Robin, what did they think? They can be forgiven if
they paused and wondered what Mike Nichols was up to. I mean, this guy
was from a reality show. And Hannah Waddingham and Chris Sieber, what did
they think? Hannah, already a success in London's West End, Chris returning
to the role he originated so Hannah wouldn't have to come in alone. How
did they feel when they heard some guy from American Idol would be joining
the cast with them?
However
they felt, whatever their qualms, these were good people and fair. They
welcomed Clay as they would want to be welcomed. But did they have any
idea what next four months would be like? How hard he would work? How good
he would be? How the fans would descend like a hoard and embrace Clay's
Spamalot "family" just as they did Clay? The stage door crowds that didn't
fade in a few days but continued to grow? Raising over $250,000 (the first
time Spamalot had broken $100k), due in no small measure to the work of
Clay and his fans? This last weekend when fans simply took over the Shubert
and shook the rafters with cheers and laughter, spilling out into the alley
by the hundreds when it was over, cheering as Clay greated the throngs
from the roof?
Do
you think they'll take a moment to look at each other tonight as the madness
dies down and say, "What just happened here?" "
~GBB
5/02/08
Q:
Why do so many people hate you?
A:
I have no idea why they hate me, and I sure don't have any idea why they
love me. I'm completely clueless all the way around. In some ways, I'm
sure, to a lot of people I represent that dorky kid in high school and
middle school that everybody thought was a loser. And now there are plenty
of people in the world who are bitter because that dorky kid became successful
and they did not. It's kind of threatening when that nerdy guy you've been
making fun of for all those years has somehow become famous.
Q:
You've obviously given this some thought.
A:
I've been thinking about it for a long time.
Q:
Does it make you sad?
A:
Ah, I don't care. Whatever. I've been around people who are too cool for
me for almost 30 years now. I don't know. I don't think I'm very threatening,
but I do threaten the notion that you must be good-looking and athletic
and cool in order to be successful. I kind of screwed that up for some
people who thought they were going to fly by.
~Clay
Aiken in an
interview
5/02/08
"And
let me just say that I absolutely flove the answers Clay gave to Aidin
Vaziri, the genius who writes the
Chron's Pop Quiz. (I've shared my opinion about him before. This is
the guy who famously asked legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker, "So what's
the best cure for the blues?")
How
much do I love that Clay has this guy's number?
"I
don't take crap as much as I used to."
No,
he doesn't. From what I've read, Jesus showed that there was a time to
turn the other cheek and a time to turn over some tables.
"And
now there are plenty of people who are bitter because that dorky kid became
successful and they did not."
Yup,
has to gall them that this AIloserwannabefifteenminutesuntilhe'sgone has
accomplished everything that Aidin (to his credit, I'll admit) lists in
the first paragraph of the article.
"Ah,
I don't care. Whatever. I've been around people who were too cool for me
for almost thirty years now... I do threaten the notion that you must be
good-looking and athletic and cool in order to be successful"
Yup,
except for one point. Er, um, Clay? You're quirky, you're distinctive,
and you're not some cookie cutter Joe College Football Captain, but you
are good-looking. But you don't have to see that. I do.
And
then the people who have the image of this guy with the big ears whop was
built like a lamppost get directed to Clay's MySpace... I would love to
hear the reactions of some of the people who haven't seen him in a while.
I
feel happy.
There's
no better revenge than success.
RE:
The Billboard Review: No, that review isn't bad at all. Read it again
without the word "housewife" (ugh --- as if there are any women who are
married to a house.) Yes, there are definitely songs that could break hearts.
Then eliminate that inane fan term and, while the reviewer doesn't think
the CD is groundbreaking, Kerri does think it is a solid work for people
who've liked Clay's music before.
Nothing
in that review that would make someone who was inclined to like Clay pass
on it, and a few words of praise that might be enough for fence-sitters
to listen to the snippets.
In
a world where I rarely expect Clay to get the credit that he deserves,
at least it appears to me this reviewer listened to the album. After some
recent exposes of other artists being "pre-reviewed," that's more than
I expect from some!"
~berkeley
5/02/08
I
can imagine Clay just plugging along, year after year, getting better and
better--getting some, but not necessarily loads, of widespread praise and
official recognition, but putting out quality CDs and giving superior performances,
time and again. Maybe he'll still get disses and jokes and crap thrown
at him off and on, but he'll just stay confident, do his thing, and gradually
win over more individuals and lots of knowledgable folks in the industry
as he goes along.
Then
one day, years and years from now, people will realize that he has become
an icon, a beloved and multitalented entertainer who has built a virtual
library of beautiful music and performances. And even though he may still
have detracters, most of the jokes may be told with affection, and he will
finallly be seen as the treasure he is.
It's
possible. And even though I have dreams of the "magnificent, hawt, superstar
who rocks the world," I don't think that's in the cards--and it's not really
the best outcome for Clay, the man who likes both feet on the ground, either.
The other scenario can happen though, and it would be the better one in
the long run.
Perhaps
he can go for forty years without breaking a sweat. :)
~Brightstar
5/02/08
"Aiken,
who debuted on the Great White Way this year in "Spamalot," sings like
a theater veteran: almost too perfect, with a self-aware showmanship. But
that doesn't make pop-rock nuggets like "Ashes" any less catchy, or the
ballads—on which Aiken's breathy tenor could break housewife hearts—ring
any less true."
~Billbooard
Magazine
4/05/08
[The
name "Clay Aiken was mentioned at a gathering in Memphis: Someone asked
"Who's Clay Aiken?"]
"Before
I could answer, an older gentleman sitting with us smiled at me and said
"I know who he is". He then said, "Let me tell y'all a story".
He
proceeded to tell about when he was a young man and was trying to get a
group to go with him to hear a young singer he was crazy about. When they
wanted to know who and he told them his name...everyone's response was,
"Who's Elvis Presley?"
He
patted my hand and said for me not to worry...I won't have to answer that
question much longer. He said Clay Aiken has the same charisma and great
talent as a young Elvis Presley. He said hold on...you're going on a great
and long ride."
~DeepSouthGurrl
4/01/08
"Clay
has had to reinvent that little-known special ed teacher enjoying a rather
sheltered life in Raleigh to become the magnificent entertainer that he
is, all the while holding onto his beliefs and his purposes and remaining
what he calls "a decent human being". It just may be that if we read
between the lines of the lyrics on OMWH, we may catch a glimpse of
his journey - both the triumphs and the trials. The CD could be the
sequel to "Learning to Sing"!"
~Mitzi
Gill
3/29/08
"Since
I got into this business, I've learned so much about myself and about life
and the world. I'm nowhere near an expert, but this album has taken on
the form of addressing how far I've come in those five years and how I
feel like I've found myself."
~Clay
Aiken
3/27/08
"I
honestly have heard very little of Clay- other than the tabloids..then
I actually met him.
He
made a point of meetin' us all..right down to the ticket takers...he blew
me away. He was nothing like what I had read.. He truly is a great guy..
and he is just an average guy that has been blessed with a great talent..
he really impressed me.. and I have already ordered on Amazon.. lol.. this
guy is truly going places.. and we are all so grateful he is here at Spamalot."
~Schubert
Theater Employee
3/27/08
"One
of the great things about this engagement for Clay has been his treatment
by those producing the show. [Broadway's Spamalot] From the very first
report of his involvement, he has been treated with respect and enthusiasm.
He has been presented as the desirable star that he is. The promotion,
marketing and advertising for his Spamalot gig has been first rate. He
has stepped up to the plate with professional precision and is shining
in this role. <snip> Clay is shown such genuine respect and admiration
for his talent and work ethic."
~Barnett2
3/21/08
"I
definitely see in the new [picture]
the very, very beginning of a smile playing on the edges of Clay's lips.
He is comtemplative there, but when I look at his expression, I see a quiet
satisfaction with where his road has taken him and a recognition of good
things to come. And his glow. I've never know someone with such a glow.
I definitely saw it at the stage door last week.
Berk
said she and her sis can picture the smile that is on the way. I can too.
In fact, I picture him starting to smile as he stands up and steps into
that light. It grows brighter, turns into a spotlight, and he flashes a
killer smile as he grabs the mic and steps into the light to deafening
cheers. "
~Brightstar
3/18/08
"The
word that comes to mind most strongly when thinking about Clay's [Spamalot]
performance is "natural." He is totally natural in this role. It seems
as if he's played on Broadway forever-- singing and dancing almost effortlessly
(and at the same time!), delivering comedic lines with perfect timing,
playing several very different roles and making each one unique and memorable,
speaking with an English accent (several different ones, in fact), and
fitting seamlessly into an ongoing ensemble of seasoned and skilled stage
actors. What a great--and gifted-- performer! I swear the man is so brimming
with talent, someone probably has to sweep up what must spill over every
night.
I
loved his portrayal of the suprisingly intellectual, and somewhat bored,
tower guard. His wedding guard is pee-in-your-pants hilarious (how on earth
does he manage to keep a straight face?), and Brother Maynard is completely
unexpected and priceless. And what more can be said about Sir Robin? I've
heard several people who saw him during the opening weekend say his current
Robin is not as naive or innocent and that may be true, but I thought there
was a lot of innocence in his portrayal, as well as sweetness, fearfulness,
and an endearing hopefulness. I guess I'd say his Robin was sure of himself
when doing things he already knew. But when he was faced with a new experience,
depending on the nature of it, he might be at some times eager and amazed,
and at other times unsure, even fearful.
I
was impressed at Clay's ability to stay completely in character, attentive
at all times to the words and actions of others while adding nuances to
his actions while not center stage. For instance he sometimes bites his
fingernails nervously when fearful and looks awestruck and gleefully amazed
while watching the goings-on in Camelot. He shares a lot of remarks with
other actors-- as part of his acting and reacting-- but I couldn't hear
or figure out most of them. I did hear (and see) him say "Can I touch it?"
when standing close to one of the Camelot girls. He just seems to live
the role, and that is probably one of the best things that can be said
about an actor."
~Brightstar
3/01/08
"As
I'm signing autographs, a very petite, pretty girl walks up to me and says,
"Your 'Invisible' video made such an impact on my life." I didn't want
to argue with her, but I thought she must have gotten that confused with
some other video I'd done. "
"I
thought it couldn't have been 'Invisible.' That was just a self-congratulatory
video of me singing on the stage in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard with
a bunch of people cheering. There was no story line; there was nothing
inspirational about it. How in the world could that video have impacted
anybody?" "Are you sure you don't mean some other video?" I asked.
""No,
I'm sure it was 'Invisible," she said. I asked her to please explain, and
she did. "Well, Clay, I used to weigh about 200 pounds." She paused. "You
look great, but what does that have to do with 'Invisible'?" "When I saw
the girl on the stage with you in that video and you put your arm around
her, it made me feel so much better about myself, because you had an overweight
girl in your video, and you accepted her. "
"Because
of that, I was finally able to accept myself. After that, my whole life
changed, and I lost 90 pounds." Then it dawned on me what she was referring
to. While we were making the video, the music director had pulled someone
out of the audience and put her on the stage with me. She wasn't hugely
overweight; she was just a healthy-looking girl, but I guess she didn't
exactly fit the image of what people usually see on music videos. "
"She
wasn't stick-thin or model-gorgeous, but I never thought anything of it.
" "Thank you so much for sharing that with me," I said, but a simple thank
you was hardly adequate for the gift that young lady had given me. Her
words led me to the realization that you never know the one thing you do
that is going to impact someone's life. I try to set the right example,
but that day I realized that even things I would never think would make
an impact do. "
"I
never would have thought that video would have affected anybody in any
kind of positive way, and lo and behold, it did. The person it affected
most was me. I realized that from then on, I was going to have normal,
average, everyday-looking people in all my videos. I literally had to fight
with the people from my record label. They were not going to let me do
it. "
"They
said that the video wouldn't sell, but I wouldn't budge. When we made the
video I told them I didn't want any anorexic-looking girls or model-perfect
guys. If we did have beautiful people, I wanted the beautiful girl to be
with the overweight guy, and the average-looking girl with the model guy.
I wanted people to know it doesn't matter what you look like, that everyone
is good enough. "
"I
realized that's why "Idol" has the impact it does. You never see a contestant
with that music-video look. It's about real people, and I think the reason
why Season Two was so exciting is because not only were Ruben, Kimberly,
and I all from out in the middle of nowhere, Podunk, but we were all extremely
normal, average-looking people. We would have never gotten record contracts
if it weren't for that show: Ruben being such a big guy; Kimberly, who
was gorgeous, but a plus-size woman; and me. I was a dork, and I still
am a dork. "
"We're
all just normal people from down the street and around the block. The final
realization I had that day in Atlanta is that it's not just people who
are in the public eye who have an impact on others. You don't have to make
a music video to make a difference in someone's life. You can be a bagger
at a grocery store or a teller at a bank. You never know when something
you do is going to impact someone's life without you even knowing it. "
~
Clay Aiken in Chicken soup for the American Idol Soul
2/25/08
"I'm
glad that he got
another great review and I think my favorite line is the "this is not
a debut for cowards" because that is spot on. If he had taken a role with
a big voice, big song "that goes like this" in Phantom or a similar vehicle,
his reviews would have been "he sang well, as expected". This role stretches
him, smashes stereotypes, opens up people's eyes to his comedic talents
and establishes him as an actor and singer, not just a singer who can act
a little.
I
laughed at the aging cherub line. Earth to the rest of the world, he's
almost 30. If everyone would stop using pictures from 2003 where he looked
younger than he was, it wouldn't be such a surprise."
~Corabeth
2/22/08
"I
have always wondered, and been exasperated by, the fact that many never
seem to see/respect/acknowledge publically (shock!) just how incredibly
hard Clay has worked, how concrete his work ethic is, his commitment to,
well, his commitments. Heh. All the dues paying spouting and whatnot that
goes on....his dues? I think he's earned it, and not in an easy way. He
might have started with a lot more exposure than some but he frickin' ran
with it, didn't hesitate to put in the time, the effort, jump on the learning
curve and soak it up, and he is gracious about sharing his face time with
other artists. I'm so happy to see him get a bit of respect from some who
it really counts coming from. I do think it's overdue, yet, all things
progress in their time, as they say. It's his time."
~boo7
2/21/08
"Dishing With
Clay Aiken"
In PEOPLE MAGAZINE
The
Idol singer, 29, is starring on Broadway in Monty Python's Spamalot. He
chatted with Scoop about:
SPAMALOT:
It's smart, intelligent and almost highbrow humor. The punch lines don't
slap you in the face. But for someone who's not a dancer, it's kicking
my rear end!
HIS
NEW CD: We're hoping [to release it] May 6. In the past five years, I've
learned a lot about life. I would like to wrap a lot of the music around
that theme.
A
NEW IMAGE: Last time I came out with dark crazy hair. We don't have any
plans this time. But I've got the red wig...
AMERICAN
IDOL: It's something I wouldn't be here without. But I haven't watched
it in three years. I've got other things to do!"
2/19/08
One
of those woolly-tighted knights is being played through May 4 by Clay Aiken,
the runner-up in 2003's "American Idol," whose various parts include the
neurotic and cowardly Sir Robin. Aiken has drawn his own largely female
fans - the "Claymates" - who are besotted by whatever he does onstage at
the Shubert.
"It's
hilarious," said Waddingham. "He's so sweet about them backstage. He says,
'Ah'm sorry, they're embarrassing me, y'all.'" She went on to add, "He's
taller than I thought he was and he's also quite strapping. I expected
him to be 5' 6" and quite puny."
~Hannah
Waddingham
2/15/08
"With
an artist like Clay it is hard to tell whether RCA is keeping information
[about the upcoming CD] tight to the vest because they may be hedging their
bets on the release date, or if they are creating a sense of drama and
mystery. They have to know by now that Clay has a very dedicated fan base
that will sniff out every detail and morsel of information regarding an
upcoming release. The only information we have about the upcoming CD has
come from Clay himself. We know that he wants it released, hopefully in
May, and that the material will be original songs. He has hinted that the
sole executive producer is a well-known, highly regarded person, likely
male, and possibly British. Clay has said he is going for personal expression
over radio friendly material. Intriguing and mysterious. "
~Barnett2
2/12/08
In
'The
Singer, The Albatross and the Promise of the Future [first posted
in January of 2005 ], berkeley wrote:
"I
fervently hope, with all the ports you will stop in and all who you will
meet along the way, that you will find the songs that speak to your soul.
And
may the day soon come when what you have created is a true reflection of
the self you are trying to reveal, in sound and in message. Then you will
have built the vessel of your own creation, one that will carry you safely
and confidently to the destinations of your choosing. It will be a ship
of surpassing beauty and elegance, with a nimble touch as it moves through
the waves. It will be built with your own hand, with the willing assistance
of this band of crewmates who are happy and eager to travel with you.
And
when you are ready to name it, there will be just one name that comes to
mind. It will not be a compromise or a promise for the future. That name
will no longer limit you, no longer be a minuscule part of who you are
and what you will become. It will be, through toil and struggle and sacrifice,
through vision and courage and artistry, the ship that deserves to be called,
quite simply ---
“Clay
Aiken.”
There
is a lamp in my window, and I wait for your return. Enjoy your journeys,
and Godspeed."
~berkeley-
first posted in January of 2005
***
"Right
now, I am loving what I see on the horizon."
~berkeley-
posted February 12, 2008
2/11/08
"The
truth is, Clay is a smart guy who knows what works for him, and he was
shrewd enough to realize that Spamalot, in its own nutty way, would be
a good match for his talents and his sunny sensibility."
~Kathy
Henderson
2/11/08
"Everybody
knows that Clay Aiken can sing, but—surprise!—he can also hold his own
on a Broadway stage. To be more precise, he can hula, ogle scantily clad
girls, discuss flying coconuts in a British accent, pretend to poop in
his tunic, do a Cossack-style line dance and perform a lightning-fast patter
song ("You won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews") without
dropping a syllable. "
~Broadway.com
2/11/08
If
I ever hear Simon Cowell insult someone on the show by using "You belong
on Broadway" as a put-down, he can kiss my butt for that!"
<snip>
"People
on Broadway are, without question, the most talented people in the country
because they're doing seven things at once! They're dancing and they're
singing and they're acting and they're speaking in tongues and they're
playing piano and tapping. I mean, if Simon uses that as an insult again,
he can kiss it! If you think about the people who are most well known for
being phenomenal at their craft—Glenn Close as a prime example—the reason
they're so good is because they started on stage. If you can do this Broadway
thing, you can do anything. I'm considering running for President! [Laughs.]
"
~Clay
Aiken in interview on Broadway.com
2/07/08
****************URGENT
PRESS RELEASE*********URGENT PRESS RELEASE*************
NEW
YORK--Singer/actor/philanthropist Clay Aiken revealed last night that a
red-haired woman code-named “Shannon” removes his clothes, specifically
his trousers, several times a week and twice on Saturdays and Sundays.
Aiken made this announcement at the Shubert Stage Door to thousands of
his adoring fans (widely known as “Attractive Independent-Thinking Enthusiastic
Women and Men of Above-Average Intelligence and Discerning Musical Tastes")
with his arm around the shoulders of the beautiful and petite “Shannon”.
Shannon The Clay Stripper had no comment, but she did have a big ol’ smile
on her face.
*****END
OF URGENT PRESS RELEASE*******
~Jemock
(Who else?)
1/30/08
"After
reading, "The Happy Hickster"
I was moved to add my own comment, and I quote " this is one of the best
article/interviews I have read about Clay Aiken". You can read it there
if you like. And then I went on to read the other comments and could not
believe the storm of controversey that had been unleashed by this article,
and I mean on both sides....our own Claymates and the Clay-haters. What
really impressed me about the writer's perspective was that she was bright,
insightful and well-versed on the Aiken background since the AI days, and
even before, and had tried to approach this unique personality with some
measure of New York sass, coupled with her own sense of his enormous talent
and studied self-promotion. (Now I know that description will alienate
some fans, but ALL entertainers worth their salt are constantly exercising
self-promotion whether consciously or unconsciously.) Ariel Levy, the writer,
seemed to maintain a kind of tongue-in-cheek attitude with Clay, pointing
out his foibles and then balancing that with kudos for his obvious talent.
I have a feeling that Clay was aware that he was talking to a well-versed
New York writer and responded to that.
I
loved the challenge she presented him with open and honest questions, and
Clay's quirky and sometimes hilarious responses. If she jabbed at him a
bit, he seemed to take no offense, so it felt a bit like they were sparring
partners, a jab here, a jab there, and then a hug. Not once did I feel
this interview was a set-up, or pre-arranged, or conceivd with malice in
mind. I think the genius here was that she got Clay interested in talking
to her, and that is one great accomplishment. If there is anything that
Clay responds to it's intelligence.
She
may have probed a little more deeply than most of his fans would like,
but that is always what makes a great and interesting interview.
I
was more than delighted to read <snip> that quite a few fans felt as
I did, and welcomed the freshness of a brilliantly written piece about
Clay after all the drivel we have been forced to read, and Clay's funny,
surprising, sometimes heart-breaking, and snarky, but never defensive,
responses. A very well-matched team."
~icame4themusic
1/28/08
"I
found the article to
be hit-and-miss, positive and negative, with the typical New York tone
actually dialed down a bit. I also think there were a couple of errors
of fact and a couple too-convenient juxtapositions of quotes, but with
a bit of grudging respect for Clay's talent.
The
second I read the line about voting for Jesse Helms, I thought that was
probably impossible due to how long ago he last ran. (I see others saved
me the Google, so thanks.) Some people, though, vote the way their families
do, or vote for the old lions. But that might well be an error, because
Levy writes that Clay is "now" a Democrat when I believe his voting records
show that he has always been. He's spoken well much more recently than
1996 of Jimmy Carter and Tom Harkin, both very different politically from
Helms.
There
are plenty of people who are determined to paint Clay as some dumb hick.
(Raleigh is about as "country" as Seattle, in terms of population, dominant
professions and people holding advanced degrees.) I like that she saw through
Clay's schtick and other people's misperceptions and wrote that he is an
intelligent and thoughtful person.
There
are people who think Clay is ugly (or, alternately, fat or scrawny.) I
like that she wrote that he isn't, that he is instead perfectly normal
looking and of average weight.
The
"quite the little activist" comment was patronizing (matronizing? *g*)
and the term "special needs cases" was stunningly rude and dismissive.
For
a woman who professes to be a feminist to write glib, insulting generalizations
about an entire generation of women is a disgrace.
Everybody
has an accent. Levy must not be able to hear her own accent, but I bet
Clay could mimic it better than she can his.
I
think stereotyping is thoughtless and lazy --- but what do I know, I'm
just a shallow, headline-seeking, soul-ignoring denizen of Los Angeles.
Basically,
I think Levy couldn't find her "hook" and couldn't draw it out of him.
She had a couple of interesting insights, but her lack of time or ability
to penetrate her subject showed in the extensive quotes from LTS. Four
year old quotes in a current article should only be used as a jumping-off
point, not as the gospel of Clay's thoughts and life today.
I
don't think Clay discusses details of his private life with anyone outside
of his own circle, and I think he answers those questions in whatever way
the mood strikes him that day. She carried in some preconceived notions
she wasn't able to put down, though she did qualify them. That tells me
about her world view, not his.
I
am glad that she saw that Clay fit well on Broadway rather than not being
able to handle the weight of New York, even though she threw in a little
aside about Broadway being a little piece of "Regular America."
She
must not be a theater fan. Anybody who thinks that modern theater is devoid
of eroticism must not have seen anything more edgy than "You're A Good
Man, Charlie Brown."
I'd
say that Clay is a guarded person, that self-deprecation is a shield and
that he probably doesn't even hear the "us" and "we." It isn't impossible
to get him to open up, though I imagine that, with all the crap flung at
him before and after fame, it can be difficult. Levy failed to do it, and
that tells me as much about the writer as it does the subject.
For
Elle, Alison Glock succeeded in presenting a fuller picture of who Clay
Aiken is, as did Matt Ehlers in his "New Measure of A Man" N&O piece
(a balanced one for that publication for a change.) Considering that New
York has made a couple of snide swipes just in the last few weeks, that
this article is not relentlessly negative is the best that I can expect.
So
glad to hear that Clay continues to grow in the part(s), that general audiences
are enjoying his performance and that his cast mates seem to like and appreciate
him."
~berkeley
1/28/08
"I
rather enjoyed the second page of the New York article; I especially liked
that Ariel Levy acknowledged that Clay is smart and well-informed. I thought
the wardrobe discussion at the beginning went on too long, but the scene-setting
in the studio was entertaining. The last third of the article was kind
of mixed for me...I really enjoyed reading Levy's reaction to Clay in Spamalot,
but egads, I find discussion of Clay's sexuality approximately as interesting
as I would his opinion on rutabagas versus other turnips. Dullsville USA.
I
think Clay came off as unnecessarily high-strung, but no biggie there.
For the most part, I don't think Levy was sneering at him. I also didn't
get contempt, regionally based or otherwise. She came off as just wanting
him to relax, which is fair enough. The "promosexual" bit made me giggle,
actually. I think Levy's point might be that Clay has come to believe his
own schtick about himself, so the schtick is actually genuine but, in her
view, it masks that there's more to this guy and she's wondering if he'll
ever relax enough to let it through. I think she has an idea of what Clay
would be like if he would relax, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't agree with
her idea, but whatever. I will concede that there's no warmth to her writing,
but I guess I wasn't expecting that from this particular magazine, anyway.
I
don't know...I'm not really bothered by the tone of the article. I'm not
enamored of the article, but I don't think it's bad. And I'm not saying
that it's not bad in an "it could have been worse" way. I really don't
think it's bad. I'm not even going to try to predict the fallout, though,
as I can only imagine what the comment section is going to become."
~43dudleyvillas
re: The article
in the New York Magazine
1/28//08
"So
what is the article
telling this audience?:
-That
Clay is a successful artist that has sold over 6 million records
-That
his success extends beyond the recording industry and he has even had a
best-selling book.
-That
he is a UNICEF ambassador.
-That
he established his own charitable foundation.
-That
he performs quite well in his Spamalot role (and if this author could have
attacked his performance in any way, I've no doubt that she would have)
-That
his appearance in Spamalot is attracting a lot of his fans to the show
-And
(IMO) most importantly for this particular audience - that the "dorky"
and "geeky" is just part of a self-deprecating image, but that people shouldn't
buy into that description because Clay is in reality a very successful
artist, is considered a sex symbol by many (including People Magazine),
and is no ignorant hick but rather a rather shrewd artist who is very aware
of his career and his publicity and promo.
I
agree that the article didn't present any of Clay's warmth or humor, and
it's not the type of article that will cause people to go "oh, he's so
funny," "he's such a nice guy," "he's so cute and lovable" or even "he's
so talented." It's not the type of article that will make people fall in
love with his personality or his talent, simply because the author never
really presented either. However, it's the type of article that may cause
those who look down on Clay as too cheesy/geeky/dorky/uncool (take your
pick) to look at him with new eyes and see a very successful artist, and
if there is one thing that can earn people's respect among the more snooty
and snobbish crowd, it's success. The article may not earn Clay tons of
friends, but it may earn him another look and some respect from those who
thought of him as a hick or those who thought he had disappeared after
idol and his 15 min were long over."
~kellykellyk
1/27/08
"His
accents, his faces, his background chatter ( rhubarb,rhubarb,Hail Caesar!),
his interactions with everyone and that FACE! Oy! And he said "goyim"!
He IS a dancer- a natural- it just had to be brought out properly , given
permission, coaxed. And can he shimmy and shake! "
"He
does not disappoint. Again, he is in brilliant company who lift him higher"
~Divayenta,
after seeing Clay in SPAMALOT
1/25/08
"I asked him if he's met Clay
and he said he did and that Clay actually manned the ticket booth for them
once and they all had a break! The ticket guy said that no one's ever done
that since James Earl Jones! He also said that Clay's such a nice guy."
~zippy888
1/25/08
"Clay
Aiken bristles at questions from newsmagazine reporter".
"It's
almost as if they weren't interested in his position on Kenyan political
unrest."
"Funny
thing is, he probably HAS a position on Kenyan political unrest *g* "
"And
would compare and contrast it with the Darfur situation with specific references
to his UNICEF trip."
~From
a message board discussion
1/22/08
"Associate
director of broadway's SPAMALOT Peter Lawrence says Aiken has been no idle
diva; the singer asked to be treated like any other company member and
has been surprisingly fearless."
"Clay
really surprised me. When you meet him, he's this sweet kid from North
Carolina with an accent. And you think there's no way he can do Cambridge
material. And then he does," says Lawrence.
"It's
been a total delight and a surprise for me and everyone in the company
to work with Clay because he can do things you'd never imagine he could
do."
~Associate
director Peter Lawrence re: Clay Aiken and his role in Spamalot
1/21/08
"The
Broadwayworld website itself is very useful for photos, interviews and
general news. Broadway.com is advertiser driven, but it has a lot of the
same features. Playbill is considered the elite among the bunch, going
back more than a hundred years. It's pretty wonderful to see Clay being
featured on all of them.
These
places are part of Clay's world now. It appears that he has proven himself
to Mike Nichols, Eric Idle, and the "Spamalot" cast and crew, and it can
be expected that they will speak well of him. Clay will, as time permits,
be part of theater-related events from now on, from shows to benefits to
panel discussions. I haven't seen him in "Spamalot" yet, and my mind is
already drifting to when he might be asked to originate a role!
His
life will get increasingly busy, between recording, pop and Christmas tours,
BAF and UNICEF activism and now acting roles. (Something in film will come
up, too, I have no doubt.) I just don't have time for the buzzing of gnats,
when the real buzz about Clay just gets louder and louder!"
~berkeley
1/20/08
"Clay
appeared to me to be totally and completely committed to this production.
He was an actor amongst actors; he was not Clay Aiken, American Idol runner-up
playing a role. He is Clay Aiken, actor, and has assumed the role(s) of
a character in a Broadway show that was certainly not created with a 'wannabe'
in mind. "
~STPteach
1/19/08
Re:
Clay Aiken's January 18th Broadway debut:
"The
word on the street in NYC among the NJUs [People who weren't already fans
of Clay Aiken] is that Clay was GREAT."
~jojoct
1/11/08
"I
think the thing that attracted me to this show is how different it was
and anti-Broadway it is. I barely sing. They've written some new parts
for me to sing a little. But it gives me the opportunity to try different
things. "
~Clay
Aiken about SPAMALOT
1/11/08
"
I treasure the moments that he makes people feel .... transports them,
even if for moments, to somewhere beyond the hassles and obstacles often
encountered in daily living."
"...the
beauty of the dance of love and laughter and joy in the exaltation of life
and the vibration of the music and being of a man who aids in transporting
you there is a hard attraction to resist, especially when it may also be
savoured in the camaraderie of other seekers journeying in to participate
in moments of time suspended in joy and a mysterious love."
~DancesOfSpirit
12/27/07
"We
had a nice Christmas at my sister-in-law’s house. Just the five of us listening
to some CDs and talking away. Then after our dinner we all went to bed
early. On the way to her house, I heard a song on the car radio that captivated
me? Mary Did You Know? It was a haunting rendition of a song that has been
done many times since it was written in 1984. This voice was dark and mysterious,
something like Alison Moyet in her prime. I searched through different
versions of the song and discovered it was actually sung by a man called
Clay Aiken. What a haunting voice and a delight to listen to! He was a
finalist on American Idol in 2003. As I don’t watch these TV shows, I really
missed out on something there."
~Echos
Across Time
12/21/07
"For
me this is a shining example of Clay's humor, he said it so casually. I
didn't laugh until I was driving home and was remembering my M&G and
I remember this: For our pictures Jamie assigns us a number and we get
in line for our picture. Clay talks through all the pictures. After we
were all done with our pictures Clay said "All done and all six of you
smelled nice! "
~GodBlessedClay
12/13/07
"This
is what I love to do, I love to sing and to be able to perform in front
of an audience," he said. "It does not happen often where someone can do
what they truly love for a living, so I feel fortunate to be able to have
my dream of singing come true. Music is such an important part of my life.
The best thing of course are the fans. Being on stage and seeing their
smiles and knowing they are enjoying the music is a great feeling."
~Clay
Aiken
12/09/07
"Perfection
is for God, not for people.
Ever
look at the tags on a fine tussah silk blouse? like when it says that the
imperfections are proof of its weaving authenticity? If you don't want
imperfections, you should buy a synthetic blouse... but if your taste is
for the genuine, and for the real-deal, expect imperfections. The lack
of them is a sign of homogenized anaesthesia.
Same
goes for live concerts".
~likesclayspriorteeth
12/06/07
"
Simon Cowell interviewed. Interviewer threw out names for him to comment
on. Clay: " A classic example of somebody who was incredibly aware of the
process; what you say, how you act. He was on the internet, I think, just
about every hour, on every kind of poll available, knowing he was doing
well. During the results show, they'd come to him, he'd put his hands together
and look up and ask heaven, knowing full well he's going to sail through".
~December
GQ magazine (Bill Clinton on front)
12/06/07
"Honestly,
the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes,
he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses
with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those
drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing,
safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly
trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those
eyes. And then...he smiles."
~00Isee
11/30/07
Review
of the Waukegan Concert:
"Clay
Aiken gave a grown up Christmas concert at Waukegan last night, and I was
amazed at the virtuoso performance. Clay is a musical instrument in this
performance as surely as the violins are. The physical positioning of Clay
on the platform allows the music to rise up, to swirl around him and to
join with his voice and float out to the audience and wrap it in the sound.
I
witnessed the physical beauty of Clay's hands literally move with the music.
The passion flowed out of his fingers. There were times when he used these
hands to pull the music up to him, and to pass it out to us. There were
times when I noticed his feet move to the rhythm and literally move the
music through his body.
Then
there was the face. The light that comes out of that face, the joy, the
pleasure was overwhelming. He lost himself in the music, but never lost
control.
There
was such an artistic connection between Clay and Jesse and the music. There
was non-stop music. It was holy and secular. It was majestic and fun. It
was melancholy and joyous. It moved at such a rapid pace, that surrender
to it is the only way to enjoy it.
Quiana
and Angela gave beautiful performances. They too, were caught in the moment.
The ending of "O Holy Night," stunning, just stunning.
If
you were blind, you could hear the beauty. If you were deaf you could feel
the vibrations. This concert is a physical, visceral experience. It foretells
what we will see from Clay, and it reflects his immense growth as an artist
in charge of his own career. God, I'm glad, I'm along for the ride."
~yaknelle
11/27/07
"I
love that Clay is always thinking, always coming up with new and different
ideas, continually showing us his heart and his artistry. I love that he
knows his fans are diverse and will love/hate/like/dislike/be enraptured
with/be turned off by/feel meh about/adore, adore, adore his shows. Some
may feel all those ways at the same time! And that's okay with him, he
seems to say. It always has been and may always be that way.
The
quirky, beautiful, mega-talented man loves us-- his sometimes quirky, almost
always interesting and devoted fans. He keeps telling us that. I love that
he wants to put together a special show each holiday season and entertain
us --working hard on each one until he is happy with it, until he thinks
it is just right. Then he presents us with his gift, every year a different
one, each one uniquely his.
He
knows reactions will vary, and that's okay. He is proud and happy with
his gift regardless.
Those
who aren't enraptured this year may love the show in 2008. It's bound to
be different. He's told us his childhood stories. Does anyone really expect
him to present the same gift to us two years in a row? *g*
He's
endlessly fascinating to me. Such a unique and talented man.
~Brightstar
11/27/07
"Someone
said anyone can just stand up there and sing. I beg to differ. No one stands
up there and sings like my BF. No one. Each time I think he can't possibly
sing that song any better or make me feel it any more than I already do
he proves me wrong. I expect that to happen this tour as well. "
~beagle3
"I
was thinking something like that...That he's not "just standing there"
even if he appears to be still and in one place. He is energy, he is emotion,
he is blood, he is oxygen, he is light, he is sound...flowing in, and out,
and through...pouring, illuminating, swirling, sparkling, tugging, persuading,
convincing, touching, triumphing. It's a mysterious thing he does, really.
Seeming to stand still and "just" sing...and all the while doing, and being,
so much more. "
~00Isee
11/26/07
"Remember
when you were a kid and the girl next door had a crush on Bobby Sherman
or Shaun Cassidy? It's like that, only now we have credit cards."
~
Karen Bellows as quoted in an interview in the
Kalamazoo Gazette article
11/26/07
"When
I spoke to Clay, he seemed like such a good, warm-hearted person. I really
got the feeling that he did philanthropic things because he wanted to,
not because someone forced him to seem passionate about a cause. It made
me like him even more!"
"Clay
DOES talk quickly. I do too, but most people who are being interviewed
tend to speak slower because they know the reporter is jotting things down.
Not Clay. Not always at least.
I
did have to leave some things out for size and relevance. At the very beginning
of the conversation, I asked how he was, and he said well. And I complimented
his grammar, and we talked about how he's a stickler for grammar and sometimes
corrects people. We talked about the causes he is a part of, and they're
all things that he personally chose. He said you can't force people to
be passionate about things. So if he was working with organizations that
he wasn't passionate about, you'd know. Going along with that, he said
he used to work with his church, but he's able to volunteer on a greater
scale now than he was then. We talked about how his job is getting easier,
how after five years he's gotten used to the different aspects of his job.
Those
were the things I had to leave out. It was a really nice conversation,
and he was very genuine. He didn't just spit out stock quotes like some
artists can be known to do. It wasn't rehearsed, and, as a writer, I appreciate
that."
~Lisa
Sokolowski in reference to the article she wrote: Christmas
in the Heartland
11/21/07
"This
will be new music, new songs that will become signature songs. They'll
stand up against some of the mess in the market nowadays. "
~Clay
Aiken about his upcoming NEW album
11/20/07
"You
of course, have a beautful voice and I think the fact that you do so much
with children and so much with various charities, I think that puts you
above some of the other singers and actors and performers, because you
want to spend time.. and you want to do whatever YOU can to give back to
the community whether it's here in the states or in Africa or South America-
that's very commendable that you spend so much time helping less fortunate."
~Maureen
from WASHFM Radio to Clay in an interview
11/13/07
"I
haven't come through the front door of a building in 5 years."
[Words
spoken by Clay at a November 12th Special Education Concerence as he was
trying to tell the thousands of educators in the audiance where to find
The Bubel/Aiken Booth.]
"This
line goes right along with a memorable spot in the AI Rewind Hollywood
segment. At the end of the show Simon [Cowel] is chastising the entire
group of guys, telling them how badly they blew that day's audition. He
says something like, "you are going to be in limos, you are going to be
in fancy hotels, you're going to be famous" just as they show the entire
group of guys just standing there on stage listening to him.
It
is amazing to watch that piece and realize that the guy on that stage for
whom that all becomes a reality is that skinny dude on the end!"
~sugrbugr
***
"Not
only that but it's amazing to think that those big old feet of his that
haven't been able to walk in a front door for five years now have trod
stages coast-to-coast during his multiple headlining tours,been in recording
studios all over the world,the sets of how many television shows (including
his own special),onto the ice with Olympic skaters,and will soon take him
to Broadway.
They've
also taken him to how many events to help the world's children including
those of his own foundation, to testify before Congress on their behalf,
and to Presidential committee meetings that he has been appointed to.
They've
walked the devastated ground in Banda Ache after the tsunami, the war-torn
fields of Uganda,and the dangerous mountain slopes of Afghanistan.
They've
"walked the line" for how many miles, night after night, just to touch
our hands and thank us because we love him and have followed those footsteps.
He
may have stopped walking in front doors five years ago but OH, the places
he has walked instead. "
~Rocky's
Mom
11/11/07
Comments
about the newly- seen footage of Clay from American Idol 2 Rewind:
"Amazing
how it takes only a second for Clay's voice to engage one in the most lovely,
transcendant aural trance. That Superstar clip is four lines, but it is
so rich with that "essence of Clay," similar to that old clip of his part
in "Hello" (about the same length). It's an effort to tear oneself away
even after multiple on multiple viewings. As for what he was like then,
all that comes to mind between the beautiful hazel eyes, the lashes, the
lanky body, the sincerity, and the unique vocal tone and timbre, is that
he was a totally dreamy guy.
Paula
and Randy are rocking back and forth to the rhythm of the music, entranced
by Clay's voice; Simon is rocking a bit faster, with an edge of agitation
seemingly. I think not only is he thinking how the hell can it still be
any kind of a competition with this voice in the mix, but Clay's just so
incredibly good and so polished already vocally that a part of Simon must
have sensed that his own dominance on the show was challenged. Clay had
the ability to do nothing but be polite, thoughtful and sing, and in the
process naturally soak up every drop of attention in the room. Simon was
confronted with someone that maybe he sensed was intrinsically more than
him, more conscious, more intelligent, more passionate, more compassionate,
and way more talented. And Clay's standing there, probably only part of
him really knowing how much talent he already had. What an interesting
dynamic and drama between the two of them that had begun. And it will end
with Simon's near-irrelevance, just another man with a lot of money, while
Clay still has all the real goods that make for a fascinating person with
a multitude of ways to entertain, thrill, soothe, and influence people."
~waterbaby
11/10/07
"I
love watching these old clips. [video from American Ido 2] Not really old,
just 5 years, but it seems longer. I fell in love with that skinny, geeky-looking
kid on the American Idol stage with this huge, unique voice who sang with
so much love and passion that you forgot anything else. Now the voice and
the body match. The contrast is so great watching America Idol Rewind that
I am blown away. It is like the Sandecki [American Idol 5] Finale night
being replayed over and over. What a transformation, but my love for that
skinny kid is still there too. I do miss the confident, yet innocent expression
of sparkly anticipation that used to be in Clay's eyes, which has been
replaced by a more knowing and experienced wariness. He is one truly amazing
man, as fascinating and mysterious as ever."
~Barnett2
~~~~~~~
"One
part that I love is about 30 seconds into [the] Superstar [video] when
they had just finished singing. For just a second, he looked unsure. It
was a rare hole in his confidence and I wanted to hug him and tell him
five years later it was going to be OK. That he would be a millionaire
with a devoted fanbase and tremendous opportunities on the horizon. That
he would have the opportunity to tour the world and feed both his creative
soul and his devotion to children."
~Corabeth
11/03/07
"...this
week, I am exceptionally proud of my association with Clay. I am particularly
honored by the way he chooses to put his strong convictions in the forefront
of his life."
~makenaiken1
11/02/07
"You
are a quality human being and a man of character."
~Jeff
Foxworthy to Clay Aiken as they shook hands after Clay won 300,000 dollars
for his
Buble/Aiken
Foundation on 'Are You Smarter Than a Fifth grader'
10/29/07
Unsent
letter to critic who wrote an ill-informed and erroneous report about
Clay's appearance at The Neil Sedaka Tribute -neglecting to even
mention Clay's spectacular performance:
[Webmaster
note: Chances are good that the critic wrote it to intentionally incite
angry responses from Clay's fans. The writer of the letter below
didn't send it because she believed that the critic did not derserve that
satisfaction.]
"Yes,
<snip> (or insert a variety of names here), it's true. Clay is taller
than you. And much more good looking. And so much smarter. And mega talented.
Did I mention well known? He turns heads. Oh, yes, and much more successful.
And respected-- by those who matter. He has a much nicer physique too.
Trim in the right spots and large where it counts. Yes, he has a huge heart.
And huge other wonderful things. Heh. I suspect that he's also much, much,
much richer than you are. And loved. Oh boy, is he loved! Ticks you off,
doesn't it?
How
much money did you raise the last time you signed and sold one of your
shirts? No? Why not? I see, no takers. Well the last time Clay did that,
he made thousands and thousands of dollars. Not for himself, mind you (did
I say he was rich?), but for his charity. What’s the name of your foundation?
Oh, you don’t have one. Too bad. Giving, helping others, encouraging, praising,
and celebrating accomplishments can be so rewarding. You should try it
sometime.
Well,
I could say more, but I must go buy some tickets to Clay's skating show.
And his Christmas concerts. And of course Spamalot. Can't wait to buy his
new CD! Of course he's still selling his first three. And his book. And
the audiobook. I hear he has a speaking engagement soon, sharing what he's
learned about Afghanistan--you should check it out. Maybe he'll share a
bit about his travels to Uganda and Indonesia, etc. too. Don't be surprised
if he's hard to reach for comment, though. He may be busy on the phone
with someone from UNICEF. Or his Presidential committee. Or Tyra Banks.
:) Maybe he'll give you a wave. Nah, I doubt it. He's learned to ignore
a-holes.
Must
suck to be you."
~Brightstar
10/28/07
"Looking
at pictures of David Foster with his arm around Clay reminds me of the
story about the Rockefeller: When someone asked to borrow $30K from him,
he said, "I'll do better than lending you $30K. I'll walk for 15 minutes
on the floor of the stock exchange with my arm around you. Then you can
borrow any amount of money from anybody." With association with and respect
from the likes of Foster and Sedaka, all the gnats are not even worth noticing."
~propounder
10/27/07
"I
hear nothing tentative about the beginning; I hear Clay taking the excited
energy in the room and softly and tenderly calming the audience down and
drawing them into the beautiful poignancy of the song. The tone on the
first high "Solitaire" note - gah! And the purity of the high notes mixed
with the deep, full richness of the low notes, with Clay moving so fluidly
in between the two; Clay has the consciousness of everyone listening suspended
in time with him as he moves them along on the song's journey. His eyes
and lips give even more depth and color to the tenderness in his tone,
then his hands begin to also reflect the anguish in the message of the
song. I wonder if he could sense all the hearts pounding with him on the
climax glory note and final notes.
I
think Clay celebrated before the high five with David, as he broke character
and did the fist pump and cute bounce on the final note. He knew he'd done
an amazing job, and I loved watching him celebrate it.
So
we have a version of Solitaire now that is an exquisite work of art, both
vocally and visually. What is more amazing is that we have the equivalent
work of art for many other songs as well that Clay has blown out of the
park over the years.
~waterbaby
10/27/07
"Clay
was born to perform. Period. He was born to be where he is now. He has
the talent, of course, but he also has the intellect, the character, the
heart, the passion, the perspective, and the wisdom to do this. No matter
what opposition he faces, no matter how loud the haters and the clueless
can be, he is destined for greatness, I believe. Maybe not as a pop star,
but greatness none the less. And I don't think he has even begun to plumb
the depths of his abilities. It's almost scary how talented he is.
I
just feel so lucky to be here now, following and appreciating him. I hope
I'm "frightened" and enthralled for decades to come. He's no angel, thank
goodness, yet he's a delicious bit of heaven on earth."
~Brightstar
10/26/07
"Being
a Clay fan is just the most fun in the world! --listening to a muffled
CV cellstream and sharing gahs and giggles and sighs and sobs with fans
literally across the world, brought together by love and appreciation for
an amazing man with an indescribably beautiful voice.
Thank
God for modern technology. Yes, it provides a place for gnats and crazies
to spout their garbage, but it can also allow a huge group of really good
people to come together, take a cyber trip to NY, and hear (in real time
or just a bit later) a really good man, standing in the midst of established
celebrities and superstars, blow the roof off the place.
There
are so many troubles in the world these days, far away and close to home,
but tonight I'm just all smiles and gahs and goosebumps and giddiness.
"
~Brightstar
10/26/07
"Clay
Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice. Turns out he is an excellent
comic actor and a master of character. People will be surprised by his
wide ranging talent, since the first impression is of great country charm
and a singer to remember. This guy is not only a star, he is a lot more.
We are lucky to get him for SPAMALOT."
~Director
Mike Nichols
10/13/07
(In
reference to 10/13/03):
"Four
years ago I took my first trip to NYC, and I went alone. Clay empowers,
y'all.
I
slept with my first Clay fan (woohoo). I saw my first nekkid singing cowboy.
I stood in line at 3 a.m. for a wave and a "hey guys!" from the most beautiful
creature I had ever laid eyes on. I ran all the way back from Virgin Records
to the hotel, trailing the pull-out poster of Clay like a banner, to watch
the most incredible performance of Invisible I've ever seen.
Gosh,
that was a really great night. So full of hope and promise, and bittersweet
vindication and fulfillment."
~Jemock
10/10/07
"[Clay]
is a grown man.
I
respect him enough to stand back while he handles his own professional
life, private life and especially his security.
I'll
use my voice to natter on about how much fun this choice or that one would
be, and I'll ignore the issues that affect his life -- as per his specific
request.
I'll
deal with the larger issues of racism, sexism, homophobia and religious
intolerance as I see fit, but I won't use him as a poster boy for anything.
"
~berkeley
10/01/07
Re:
Clay's Narration of American Idol Rewind: Season 2
"I've
written narration for documentaries, commercials and lifestyle projects,
editing and rearranging the words to better support the pictures. The narrator
can be directed to say the words in a certain rhythm to coordinate with
the action on the screen or with the cuts (edits), use tone of voice to
help create a mood, foreshadow upcoming action, summarize the theme of
the piece and sometimes suppy in words what is missing in pictures. Because
the narrator is (or can be) an additional "character" in a production,
it is essential that the narrator vary his delivery, from rhythm to pitch
to speed to intensity, and suggest a mood as well. He should be clear without
overenunciating, which is at least as distracting as the viewer having
to ask, "What did he say?"
I
try to be objective about Clay's professional accomplishments --- there's
no point in me thinking that everything he does is perfect, because he's
human and it just isn't always so. As a narrator, though, I would rate
him at least a strong A-. He really did a superb job with all of the above
factors."
~berkeley
10/01/07
"The
way for Clay to genuinely make an impact with new music does -not- begin
with radio penetration. It will begin with songs like [Measure of a Man]
and "Lover All Alone" that people genuinely believe reflect his persona
and personality. Those songs will show up on his myspace page, on AOL Music,
YouTube, etc., maybe on a TV show, and Clay will perform at least one of
those songs on a TV show or three. If his music is connecting, we'll start
to see positive word of mouth, and a measurable impact via consistent digital
downloads performance (leading up to or accompanying decent album sales).
I'm not talking about flashy initial or weekly numbers, but steady and
growing numbers on a week to week basis. If that keeps up, radio may very
well follow. The way that pop radio is these days, I don't think it's the
logical starting point, whether you're the artist, record label or management.
The management in particular would, I would hope, be looking for creative
ways to generate positive word of mouth."
~43dudleyvillas
9/28/07
"
My husband and I agree that there is the special something about Clay-
his voice and his persona- that just makes people happy. I feel a
sadness for those who "don't get it" because they are missing out on this
wonderful feeling of -
as a4a beautifully described
it-- "the link to hope". In other cases it is
like a re-awakening that just makes people happier, and in turn their happiness
spills over to the people around them. Sometimes, all it takes is
that voice to touch something inside us which blooms and brings a smile
to our faces or a thrill that is indefinable. Many people will never
get it. But those of us who do are the lucky ones."
~Janwhatever
(posted
after several e-mailed requests)
9/26/07
"Yep,
he's just a singer. And just a humanitarian. And just a comedian, just
a witty, snarky, bawdy man, just an entertainer. Just a teacher, a writer,
a presidential committee member. Oh, and just a dorkie/hawt/humble/deliciously
sexy guy.
That's
all.
No
biggie."
~Brightstar
9/26/07
"
As the House Manager of the Community Arts Center, I am so pleased to welcome
Clay Aiken and his fans back to our beautiful venue. The entire staff of
the CAC had such a wonderful experience with not only Mr. Aiken, but with
his wonderful Claymates and Claymaniacs last year. I believe that myself
and the rest of the staff were moved not only by his talent, but his kind
and loving nature. Not only is he an very talented artist, but a gentleman
as well!"
~Lara
Collins Breon
Williamsport
Community Arts Center
"Count
me in as one who thinks Clay wouldn't flaunt his success among his high
school friends. He was a popular, well-liked student, and wouldn't have
anything to prove by showing off how much money he has, or by name-dropping
or by thumbing his nose at anybody. I think he, probably more than most
people, knows that there are things much more valuable than riches.
But
I do hope he looked hawt."
~Jemock
"Clay's
first blog yesterday about Fantasia while everyone was expecting a comment
about the tour rumor was the cyber-equivalent of leaving the toilet seat
up in the middle of the night."
~Rocky's
Mom
9/11/07
"Clay
has a terrific voice and he uses it well. But he's always been an entertainer.
Take another look at the much maligned Hometown Connection stuff. Singing
is just one part of who he is as a performer. What he does requires a complicated
skill set and singing is just one tool in his arsenal, albeit a powerful
one. He's also a storyteller, and a comedian, and a teacher, and a commentator,
and a promoter, and a producer. Lots of characters up there on that stage
every time he picks up a mic. "
~idlefan4ca
8/30/07
"He
came across not just as smart. He was not the memorized facts and figures
and book smart stuff. Yes, he was smart and confident. But more than that,
he clearly was well informed and very knowledgeable. He came across as
experienced, even worldly. It was obvious he was well rounded and grounded
and very much a man worthy of respect. He was the kind of man you’d solicit
and value his opinion if you were looking for someone who really “gets
it,” someone to believe and trust and put your faith in. He came across
as the kind of many that you’d sit up and notice. His responses were reasoned,
well thought out and were based on what he knows; not guesses. No ego;
he was focused, fully responsible and there to do a good job for his children.
And that he did!
He
was real, totally authentic and congruent and very much in the moment.
I was talking to xxx4clay afterward in the car on the way home. She said
she would love the world to see Clay as he really is, the way we see him.
I think yesterday was all that and a bag of chips! This is the closest
he’s ever come to that, certainly on television. You get to see ALL sides!
ALL! Really, really, “REAL and CLASSIC” Clay in the best possible way.
This
appearance will serve Clay extremely well. The people who already loved
him going in will be absolutely thrilled and love him more. The people
who liked him will really have their eyes opened and find a new level of
respect and admiration. The people who don’t “know” him will be really
impressed. They will see a multi-faced, multi-dimensional MAN. And the
people who are neutral will be nudged into really thinking he is pretty
damn OK--a grown man who handled himself very, very well. Some will quite
frankly be shocked—certainly out of their preconceived notions about that
Clay Aiken guy. The people who didn’t like him going in will be quite surprised
and the LEAST they could walk away with is, he’s really, really smart.
"
~gareem-
(after watching the ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER taping)
8/29//07
"Four
years later, this fan has borne witness to the evolution of a man…a man
in possession of a voice unique, unmatched by any of his generation. However,
this man is so much more than a participant within the musical landscape
of today. No, he has emerged from his boyhood into a man of complexity,
inner depth, and contradictory traits awash in unabashed courage. At once,
seemingly naïve and yet knowingly sexy, sensitive and impatient, funny
and wise, Clay’s persona is revealed. From an unsubstantial youthful build,
he has grown into broad shouldered, narrow hipped young man ideally suited
for designer attire and fashion forward hair cuts…handsome and desirable.
Initially tentative, he confidently commands the stage, poised to banter
with any and all who evoke his mirth."
~Clayharmony
8/20/07
"I
love dangerous comedy that really kind of skewers people and situations,
and what's amazed me this tour (and last Christmas tour) is that Clay really
has that same ability that Jimmy Kimmel has, to be able to sluice people
with rapier sharp wit, but due to their overall demeanors being so warm
and affable, it doesn't come across as at all mean, even when it's quite
a cutting observation. For instance, picture someone like Dennis Miller
saying one of my favorite Clay lines from last night: "They may not know
how to punch a hanging chad, but they can sing a TV theme song." Out of
Miller's mouth, it's funny in a confrontational way that attacks the intelligence
of Floridians; but with Clay it's even funnier because it retains all of
its connotations, but with him delivering the line with that sunny smile
and modest demeanor, it becomes more of a gentle observation of human nature
that even Floridians can laugh at, with layers beneath that available if
you wish to enjoy them."
~waterbaby
8/20/07
"The
fifty2thirty family has finished another successful journey down this street.
And I thank you for Philadelphia, Meadowbrook, Newark and most especially,
Asheville. Memories of the faux catwalk, the jumbotrons, cussin Clay, incredible
M&G reports, the duet with the cello in "Lover All Alone", bats and
bugs and rolling laughter. And voices in song....Oh, such voices. No one
compares. No.One.
Rest
well, Clay. Hug your two sisters tight, they have reached new heights in
their showmanship. Stop teasing Jesse for a day. He is a master for someone
so young. Give Jerome a slap on the back. So tough when he needs to be
and then 10 minutes later leads a kindergarten line of adults in a circle.
Never leave him, Jerome.
Search
far and wide, Jaymes. This man deserves the best that is out there. Well,
he wrote the best that is out there. Please honor it and find more."
~Corabeth
8/19/07
Clay
Aiken is a funny guy. Whether leading the crowd through a medley of television
theme songs, including Diff'rent Strokes and Growing Pains, or mocking
his uncoolness with OPP or SexyBack (yeah, you read that right), the boy's
got a comedian's timing and deft touch with a zinger.
~Leslie
Gray Streeter
"Hi
friends...I just came back from watching my first "Clay Aiken" concert
here in West Palm Beach...The boy can sing...And he has a sense of humor...He
should advertise his concert as more of a "variety" show...I truly think
the guy can sing, dance, tell jokes, rap, and actually act cool...I went
to the concert expecting to leave bored; however, I was highly impressed...I
give it 4 out of 5 stars..."
~From
a blog by a 38 year old man
8/18/07
"And
in the past, he [Clay} had indicated that he wanted a talk show, not a
variety show, not anything else. But I see now that he’s open to other
types of shows… I think he wants the opportunity to be on TV because he’s
an entertainer, period. A talk/variety show that is a hybrid, that would
allow him to sing, to entertain, as well as have conversations with people
of interest to him (I don’t think he’s interested in talking with too many
“useless celebrities”) would be what he wants, I imagine. I can’t help
but think that Team Clay must put together its own audition tape from our
clack [fan videos taken at his concerts] … there are so many wonderful
moments that the clack-gatherers of this fandom have captured that would
serve Clay well in meetings around town. His voice is a given… he needs
to prove that he has the magic, the personality, to carry his own show.
The shows could be taped on a 3-day a week basis, leaving him time for
his singing career; I don’t think he wants to give that up. I’m thinking
now that if the show comes first, he would have the opportunity to bring
the singing back to the forefront with the public (that singing that—for
some reason—we haven’t seen in primetime TV for years) and thereby get
the publicity for the NEXT CD that he sure as hell didn’t get for the last
one."
~ellenpoppy
8/13/07
Re:
The Asheville Biltmore Hotel busline to touch Clay's hand:
"I
wonder if Biltmore people realized they were going to have 2000 people
in the lawn. (My guess is the lawn is about the length of a football field
but a little wider. We completely filled the perimeter and then Jerome
came out. I think I said to Karma4clay that Jerome [Clay's bodyguard] must
sit in the bus with graph paper and figure out the best way to make the
line work. Jerome came out and walked the perimeter and then grabbed someone's
hand and we did the kindergarten walk so that there was an additional line
the full length of the lawn! As I walked hand in hand with Invisible926
and a lady I never met but who had watched him sing as Clayton Grissom
years ago, I passed security guards. One was saying "Red Rover, Red Rover".
I said, "I bet you do this for all the shows" and he shook his head in
amazement "No, we don't."
Even
walking hand in hand like that which under normal circumstances might seem
very silly, just felt good. It felt like a combination of grade school
recess and peace march. It was an amazing site, nearly 2000 people standing
there in the pitch dark for over an hour on the lawn with the amazing backdrop
of the house."
~Corabeth
8/11/07
"Thanks
to everyone who made last night possible -- in real time, and now in retrospect,
too. To those who have brought still and moving and word pictures to round
out the experience, thank you in a thousand different ways. To Jerome,
for earning his paycheck and a big fat bonus last night. To Mary, for writing
the blog and not dancing around the reason for it. To Quiana and Angela,
for providing multiple levels of back-up and support. To everyone who waved
a glowstick, although I'm not typically pro-glowstick.
And
to Clay. For being class and dignity and fortitude personified. For shining
a spotlight on truth, and leaving the lies in shadow, where they belong.
For doing something that I imagine had to be very, very hard, and making
it look easy. Last night was the perfect metaphor for the past year and
a half: the heat was cranked up, but Clay came out of it cool -- off the
chain, in fact.
Wish
I'd been there. Thanks to everyone who fleshed out the experience for me,
so I feel like I was.
~OldMovieGal
"A
young African-American serviceman in front of me was loving the show. At
intermission he said (paraphrased), "It's like a symphony show, and a stand-up
comic, and a REALLY GOOD concert all together."
Why
yes it was."
~suziebird7
"Someone
recently reported (and I am paraphrasing) they were told that Clay loves
meeting fans but does not like it so much when fans are, for lack of a
better term, "gaga" over him. He doesn't "get" that degree of emotion or
the extreme attraction factor. So I think this meet &greet format helps
fans see Clay as a person rather than just a star, while it also lets Clay
see fans as thinking, caring, smart, funny, not-scary individuals (well,
most of them *g*). I would say it helps break down the barriers, assuming
there are barriers, on both sides. Brilliant.
I
love the sense of "equality" there. Clay sits with the fans, interacts
with them, answers all types of questions, and is not behind a desk or
table "receiving his subjects" and just saying hi and signing something.
It sounds as if these m&gs may lessen the "starstruck" factor, while,
ironically in a way, (possibly) intensifying the love and caring and connection.
They sound very "real" and very Clay.
Add
to all that the opportunity to hear Clay answer at least some burning questions,
to deflect myths and conspiracy theories, and to have his words posted
online for all to read, and I find myself looking for an adjective bigger
than brilliant.
He's
a big man, but his brain and savvy are just all out of proportion huge."
~Brightstar
"Clay
Aiken is a riot. There's something genuinely comedic about the singer,
care-free and, well, likable."
~
DAVID GRAVES
The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"And
yet, let me tell you …..he can sing like a son of a gun. When he isn’t
sounding like God’s most precious choirboy, he approaches Luther Vandrossian
levels of soul pop."
"But
our boy Clay was singing from the fist-sized organ in his chest. He’s no
dummy. In fact, I figure him to be quite shrewd. The placing and pacing
of “Arms” woke me up and won me over."
"Aiken
sang those soul-numbing lyrics with every ounce of focused emotional force
he could conjure. Every hurt, every slight, every deep yearning to be loved
when he wasn’t came out in that song. And let me tell you, we’re talking
utterly convincing. I would’ve dabbed his eyes myself if he’d been teary.
"
~John
Petric
Ohio
Press
"If
Clay can keep touring and bringing in new people, he is going to continue
to win them over, many of them, one by one. He has a knack for finding
a balance, a well chosen variety in his set. Viewers can only hold out
for so long before he delivers a moment that delights them, in spite of
any preconceived notions. And once he's found their "soft spot," he'll
reel them in and and have his way with them. Heh. He's popping the bubbles
of scorn then blowing their minds."
~Brightstar
"His
mother couldn’t have known it…but the name she chose for her baby boy suits
him so well. Clay is a substance that is firm but pliable. It can be molded
to take new shapes. Clay takes new shapes every day, every night when he
steps on stage. He is forever a work in progress. He takes ad lib to new
levels. Onstage and in life.
Listening
to him, watching him, is like watching an artist with a brush. Dabbing
at colors. Mixing them. Adding texture. Building a picture. Creating a
masterpiece. Some abstract. Some clean and classic. But all are variations
of the original. A push here, a push there. But always a new shape.
While
he holds the line wherever he is at a given point of time, he manages to
create a new arc. He plays to his strengths. One of his biggest is…us.
He is delighting in that now. He has always known. Sometimes he has been
a little in denial. But he has always known. And now we are one of his
Aces in the hole. He massages that strength. He knows what he can do with
it.
His
voice, his presence, his personality all find their niche. But the clay
is a work in progress. He works it, but so do we. His strength, his muse.
His life is evolving, his brushes are changing. But we are his constant,
his canvas. And he loves the color.
It’s
a beautiful creation. The man. The voice. The sculpture that is all of
it. And we are part of the compound that is…
Clay."
~callieK
"I
think people like to put performers in a box and categorize them somehow-this
person is a comedian. This person is an actor. This person is a singer."
Aiken explains. "It is very rare that you'll find someone who is known
for more than one thing."
"So
right now, people see what I do as singing." I'd love to change that a
bit and kind of branch out and be known as other things."
~Clay
Aiken
"Aiken's
strongest moment was his performance of Lover All Alone, for which he wrote
the lyrics. In spite of jarring intonation problems from his guitarist,
he loosened his grip on the polished, practiced stage manner and truly
connected with his own soul.
And
for those few minutes, the squealing fans, the strong-willed women, the
devoted husbands and the rest of the audience fell absolutely silent in
appreciation."
~Lynn
Green with the Columbus Dispatch
"'Lover
All Alone' was fantastic. I read all the reports that said you could hear
a pin drop while he performed this song, but I guess I didn't really believe
it. Before the song started, I was still half-expecting someone to yell
out something during the song. Was I ever wrong. There was no shouting,
there was no talking, there was hardly any whispering. Over ten thousand
people, that engrossed in a song... it was unbelievable."
~va_1587
"Regarding
the Soft Rock in a Hard Place Tour, Clay has definitely brought “sexy”
back. At last sexuality has been lifted from the manufactured and
marketed, suggestive, lewd, and pornographic to a level that can be celebrated
and enjoyed wholesomely and, at times, with marvelous humor."
~Mitzi
Gill
"He
[Clay] has been warm, funny and sincere. This recent interview was
particularly entertaining. I often laughed out loud, as did he."
~Joey
Guerra of The Houston Chronicle about his
interview with Clay
On
Idol: The Musical:
"I
just heard about it not too long ago. I don't know what to think about
it. I think it's kind of flattering, a little bit. Someone put some money
into it. They think people are going to show up. I kind of want to see
it. That way if they do make fun of me, they'll have to deal with me sitting
right there. And then I will boo them loudly."(spoken with a laugh)
~Clay
Aiken
"If
I were the desperate and threatened children of northern Uganda, who also
have gotten almost no attention from the press (again, with the same exception
of ET), I would be upset and dismayed that a stupid celebrity non-story
is the top story on most news sites today.
Then
again, as much as the media seems to screw up the actual facts in a situation,
maybe they're better off anyway."
~Clay
Aiken
"I've
come to expect the extremes of love and hate [for Clay Aiken]. What I find
amusing is that the media seems just as fascinated by him as the fans and
the haters are. He's an unexpected twenty-first century pied piper--his
fans know why they're following him (figuratively and sometimes literally
[snip]: the others I picture trailing behind him, confused and not
pleased to be there, but helpless to leave. Maybe that's why they sound
so cranky."
~Brightstar
"I
think what makes many people truly admire and "love" Clay Aiken is this
very real, human quality he has. I think he is absolutely sensational
as a singer--I could go into all sorts of high minded music major talk
about the timbre of his voice, it's color, where his breaks are, etc.
But he has a great natural sound, no bad habits or affectations, and he
sings the music, not messes up with vocal gymnastics. You can relax
and enjoy the emotion you feel when Clay sings.
But
just as much, he has this wonderful quality of basic goodness, decency
and warmth to his personality. He's kind of a boy next door with
a great personality and lots of talent and his decency is what makes you
want good things for him.
He
is really a special talent."
~A
Music Major
"As
I was listening to the show unfold last night, it occurred to me that,
except for when he's singing to the Lord, Clay is probably always going
to be more about being an entertainer (and a teacher, and a philanthropist,
etc.) than purely a singer. I get the feeling that he isn't content just
to have a singularly gorgeous, distinctive, pitch-perfect voice that is
so facile that he can switch from singing a serious ballad to snarking
on schlocky TV themes to belting out a patriotic anthem without missing
a beat. The kind of addictive voice that makes anyone hearing it live eagerly
anticipate their next fix. Having a voice like that would be plenty for
some people, but not Clay. He's got to draw you in, make you laugh, win
you over. It's who he is. And even at his young age, he knows himself and
isn't afraid to let us know him, too, with all his foibles."
~Pink
Armchair
Question:
"What one record would people be surprised to find in your collection?"
Answer:
"My brother's a Marine, and he's into this group called Breaking Benjamin.
I don't know much about them, but I own that. I wanted to kind of see what
he was listening to. There's a song called Diary of Jane that I think is
pretty good. . . . Breaking Benjamin is going to kill themselves because
they got mentioned in the same article (as) Clay Aiken. There goes the
rep."
~Clay
Aiken
RE:
The unusual spong choices for the Frisco Concert:
"So
these choices are not conservative ones. He is taking a chance. However,
if he perfects the show, it is conceivable that the payoff could be huge.
Many of us have often commented that he's an entertainer, and not just
a singer. If he can prove himself not just amusing but screamingly funny,
it could help open doors in other media. If 'Lover All Alone'
starts to get noticed, not just by fans, but by others, it could help raise
his credibility as an artist.
Clay
took a risk when he tried out for American Idol. He could have been rejected
and sent home on national television. It would have been easier to stay
home and do his little Hometown Connection show, pick up his regular paycheck
at the school district, and go to bed at night knowing that at least some
people liked his music. However, he took a shot, and it paid off big."
~JennaZ
"Lover
All Alone" has changed the dynamics forever. No matter how great the cover
song or how well Clay sings it, we have been exposed to something else.
We now have a real, honest, Clay-written song, that is glorious, personal
and showcases his fabulous vocal range. It was a major achievement and
changed Clay forever, whether he realizes it or not. We are hungry for
more. Clay can't go back doing what worked before. Clay has to go forward.
He must continue writing and exploring that side of his talent.
Clay,
you are no longer solely a singer. You are a writer of songs. Your songs."
~Barnett2
"My
guess is that it is most people's hope that Clay writes more songs that
mean something to him and that he doesn't write songs just for the hell
of it. He may, he may not write for the next CD. He may have a slew of
stuff in a journal somewhere just waiting to be put to music. He may not.
None of us know. But considering what he has said in the past, I would
think he will never just write songs because a fan, or fans, want him to.
That doesn't change, for me, the gift of "Lover All Alone" and it's just
my humble opinion, but I don't think it's the only song Clay has in him.
The simplicity of the words is an art. It's very difficult to strip away
artiface. That's a sophisticated and complex song disguised in simplicity.
So it has changed the dynamic for me as before this song, I didn't know
Clay could do that. Now I do. From what Jaymes said about Clay being an
awesome lyricist - I would think that she and, hopefully, David and Eman
and anyone else that has worked with him on songs in the past, would be
encouraging him to stretch himself in that direction. I love hearing that
part of Clay that is his to share with us."
~Nanjeanne
I
am more convinced than ever that Clay Aiken, is the bravest, most self-aware
man in show business.
He totally does what he wants,
how he wants to do it, and says a pointed, ___ you to all who would mock,
insult and demean him.
He's really, truly my hero.
~cindilu2
Re:
Clay's iPhone blogs
"iLaughed!
He
is the biggest dork who ever dorked, and I love him."
~berkeley
"I
think about how hard people have worked through the years to design a musical
instrument, any instrument-- to make it play just so and bring forth a
beautiful note. Then I think how amazing it is that Clay was just born
with his voice, as beautiful as any instrument, to me at least. In fact,
I think Clay’s voice is like a hundred instruments, all beautiful, and
I don’t even think we’ve heard them all yet. Yes, he can practice, learn
more, and improve his technique, but the natural gift, even miracle, of
his voice was there at the beginning. It’s no wonder his voice can blend
with the cello and other instruments. It’s one of them, only better. Like
the best instrument, played by the most accomplished musician, his voice
can inspire feelings of love, peace, excitement, haunting sadness, calm,
and most of all, joy. It is a voice which should, IMO, be recognized, acknowledged,
respected, and celebrated-- and by many more than "just us."
~Brightstar
6/09/07
"Let
them say it. It doesn't make it true."
~Clay
Aiken
6/04/07
"I
must say that if somebody in Canada hadn't heard of Clay before this past
week, they certainly have now. It was almost as if he was on a press junket
the last few days.
I
don't think that National Post article is a dig at Clay at all. The writer
is doing a comparison of Clay to the new wing. The new ROM wing is very
controversial. You love it or hate it. But you have to have some kind of
feeling about it. Which means it is not boring. And that is like Clay.
There is nothing worse for an entertainer than to be boring. The writer
certainly gave Clay a lot of press space."
~Jank
"I
loved the Post article. It's all true - not everyone loves Clay Aiken.
Personally I'd be very upset if he was so boring that he didn't inspire
intense feelings. Not to say I appreciate the truly insane ones - but having
a strong enough character to not please everyone is one of the things I
adore about Clay. And daring and not-ordinary are great ways to think of
Clay. I thought this was a great mention. Love the new wing or hate the
new wing - it's something that is being written about and talked about.
And I agree with the writer, human architecture is fascinating. And Clay's
is complex, stunning, with great bones and a solid foundation."
~
Nanjeanne
"CLAY
AIKEN, the American Idol super-graduate, stole the show by singing at Arnold
Schwarzenegger's appearance at the Stanley Park Pavilion Thursday."
~The
Vancouver Sun
"My
God, he looks good in these
press mentions, so happy and glowing. I love the patronly look on Foster's
face and the friendly hand on the shoulder. Clay is sure hobnobbing with
the elite. He works with a President's committee, meets a Premier, and
performs before a governor. Clay is class personified. I couldn't be prouder
to be a fan."
~Barnett2
"It's
been a good day. We got a mussed up, packed-in, wide shouldered, jean-clad
hipped, gorgeous faced, arm furred, blog-writing
Clay. I'm happy."
~EmeraldEyes
"You
know, I keep tryin' to work up some fear and trepidation about this tour,
and I just can't. The only thing I've learned to expect from Clay Aiken
is.....the unexpected. I learned my lesson back in 2005 with the JBT. God
knows I pissed and moaned to my friends once we learned that Clay was going
to be including selections from every decade, including the dreaded Fifties.
"No, no, NO! I HATE the music from the Fifties. AND I don't LIKE Elvis
music," I whined. Well, many of us who attended those concerts know how
THAT turned out. Yeah, I loved it. A lot. Times seven.
I'll
never doubt his choices again. How will he make his entrance? Whether he
uncoils himself from the tympani or merely strolls in, I know that, either
way, my eyeballs will suck him into view and my pulse will do that little
stutter-step. Nah, I don't expect pure Symphony Boi. Make no mistake, there
WILL be a symphony orchestra behind him, with all that connotes. (I'm trying
to PleezeBabyJeezus a stool, a spotlight, an open-throated shirt and Lover
All Alone into existence.) But really, those musicians can play ANYthing.
It must be amazing to have that full, rich sound behind you. And our Boyfriend
can sing anything...and he LIKES to surprise us.
I've
seen orchestras break out of that "Symphony #11 by so-and-so" mold, haven't
you? I love when an orchestra "pops." They seem to love it. It's like they
simultaneously turned the page on their music stands and there was......pure
pron. They play for their lives....am I imagining that their eyes are just
a little brighter and they're leanin' in just a little closer? They finish,
and seem to smirk sidelong at each other and there's a little smug "Well,
how do you like THAT?" in the air.
And,
as for Clay, I expect the usual. I expect him to seat me, heat me, and
street me...several times. I imagine he might just grab us by the eardrums,
have his way with us...and then we'll suddenly find ourselves on the now-dark
sidewalk.
Those
orchestras and Clay? I think with at least SOME of the songs, it'll be
like............well............
............like
layin' rubber with a Rolls Royce."
~Whatever
"I
printed out the criteria for UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors & found the
following attributes...sure fits Clay to a T!
1.
Widely recognized talent in their public field;
2.
Integrity, strong desire to mobilize public interest re: UN programs, etc.;
3.
Personality & dignity to be a good representative;
4.
Influential beyond own national borders;
5.
Knowledgeable about UN goals & activities;
6.
Good judgement, discretion, respect the UN, refrain from incompatible activities;
7.
Good citizenship, reputation, prestige, talent, presence;
8.
Passionate, courageous, inspiring, caring, principled, credible, capable,
influential,committed;
9.
Leadership, willingness to use professional prestige & networks to
promote the cause of children;
10.
Positive role model, compelling, eloquent;
11.
Articulate, genuinely interested, willing to learn;
12.
Ability to reach specific audiences & to touch people's hearts.
UNICEF
is VERY SELECTIVE in making their choices. There are only about 200 Goodwill
Ambassadors in the world! "
~dardar1126
"I
teach in a preschool (4's) and most days at lunch I play Clay.They love
the All Is Well CD. The kids calm down and they even say to each other
"shush, the big note is coming." The best part is that it is a Jewish preschool,
and pretty religious, so they call Emmanuel "The Israel Song." If I don't
put it on then they request it, saying "Can you please play the Israel
song? How can I say no? "
~clayamour
"Not
too long ago a young man full of hopes and dreams and heart , auditioned
in South Carolina singing "Over The Rainbow". He was a little shaky and
looked mildly geeky. He had suffered for years as a child who was not "macho"
or "athletic". He felt like an outsider in his own family at times..
Jump
to almost five years(?) later and we see after almost winning a talent
show and a makeover of sorts, this same heartfelt and intelligent soul
out and aout , making a huge difference with UNICEF, his own foundation
and his glorious voice and gifts as an entertainer. He has millions of
devoted fans. He meets lovely women like Tyra Banks for dinner! The "makeover"
was immaterial- if the substance wasn't there, the heart, the talent, this
amazing story would not have taken place.
He
is an uplift and inspiration to many of us who have felt rejected, undecided,
like "outsiders", unattractive according to current standards. He IS "Cinderfella".
But there was no fairy godmother here- there was character and the expression
and sharing of his many gifts."
~Divayenta
"UNICEF
has 60 years of experience dealing with children's issues.
The
President's Commitee for People with Intellectual Disabilities was founded
46 years ago.
The
National Center for Learning Disabilties is celebrating their 30th anniversary.
All
three organizations deem Clay Aiken to be an exemplary advocate for children,
worthy of recognition for his work --- at the age of 28. There simply is
no disputing that.
It
is deeply satisfying to me that, on Wednesday of all nights, Clay was quietly
being recognized for his years of giving back."
~berkeley
Re:
theWNCY
Interview:
"This
was a fantastic opportunity for Clay to be introduced to the NPR audience,
speaking with knowledge, empathy, humor and charm about a humanitarian
issue that is likely to be of great interest to WNYC's core audience. It
is exactly the kind of thing likely to demonstrate Clay's intelligence
and gravitas to an audience that includes members disdainful of broadcast
TV and reality shows."
~berkeley
"Clay
has been to places where 35,000 people were hastily buried, and he did
not complain of the smell. He talked about resilience and hope.
Clay
has been to places where there are no sanitary facilities, where tens of
thousand of people are herded together like cattle, and he spoke of the
need to end the war and get children back home and back to school.
Clay
has been to places where many people do not know the fundamentals of hygiene,
and he spoke of how warmly he was welcomed and how the people he had met
were the country's greatest resource.
Africa
is so much more than tinpot dictators, starving babies and the AIDS pandemic.
Unless one sees the people first, what hope is there to solve the problems?
There
is much healing to be done across that great continent, true, but I am
so grateful for people like Clay who are able to look beyond the crises
and see the beauty."
~berkeley
"Sometime
during the month of April (forgive me that I do not recall precise dates),
I noticed an advertisement on tv about the Oprah Show and Sidney Poitier
going to be on it the next day. As a long time admirer of Mr. Poitier,
and because normally I am working when Oprah’s show is on, I set my dvr
to record it. Finally, last week, my husband and I sat and watched the
recording. When I listen to Mr. Poitier, I feel as though I am listening
to a very special presence, a classy, elegantly eloquent human being, not
unlike what I have occasion to feel about Clay and see in him from time
to time, though it be perhaps in a somewhat more fledgling state, and expect
to feel more often about him as he ages and grows even wiser.
During
the show, Mr. Poitier conversed with Oprah and others in attendance during
an Oprah Book Club Dinner discussion honoring his book, “The Measure of
a Man.” At one point their discussion went back to the time in 1964 when
he won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the movie “Lillies of the
Field,” and how, in spite of this acknowledgment represented by the Oscar,
he knew he still remained an “outsider,” for he knew that he was the first,
but still the only African American to have been honored thusly, and that
there was still work to be done and, indeed, not all had been overcome.
One of the participants at the dinner spoke, “You mentioned in your book
that you felt you were an outsider back then ....” And, so, he reflected:
Quote:
“Well,
I am an outsider by instinct. I have always had a sense of myself as the
observer, but I don’t mind it. An outsider, to me, is the person who, by
instinct, prefers to walk on the edge. So, I’ve done it and I didn’t fall
off. I survived fairly ok. I am who I am and whenever I am treated in a
way that I feel that is contrary to how I hold myself, I will defend myself
by improving myself. The more I improve myself, the more of a man I become,
the more of a humane person I become.”
I
cannot speak for others, of course, but when I heard him speak these words,
I thought of our Clay and how my very subjective observation sees him reacting
and using adversity and challenges in his life as places from which to
grow and improve and, indeed, become a more “humane person.” I am so very
proud of him for every occasion upon which he is able to make this choice.
May he never fall off the edge, the precipice upon which he walks, and
may he always be, at the very least, “fairly ok” (for if he remains as
“fairly ok” as Mr. Poitier has been able to do, he will indeed have been
blessed in his journey at the edge) and able to remain true to himself.
Human
beings who strive to walk their paths in truth and honor, even though the
rockiness and stones strewn upon it may make it difficult not to stumble
and fall off the edge, give me cause to reflect upon what is good in life,
what is good in people, and upon what potential we all have when we choose
to improve and grow from our experiences. "
~
DancesOfSpirit
RE: the videos
of Clay Aiken working for Unicef in Afghanistan:
"Along
with the classroom shots, the singing and sitting with the children, being
on their level, putting them at ease, it truly exhibited why he was chosen
for this work, the attention to respecting another's culture and customs,
the very much in evidence compassion for his fellow man, the joy he radiates
with children, his honest attempts at truly making a change. No wonder
those that count respect him. I recognize that he's not perfect, has his
faults like we all do, but he sure does make a concerted effort to walk
the walk, and that's certainly commendable in my mind."
~boo7
"When
Clay came through the gate, wearing the garb of a distinguished Afghan
man, I just sat back stunned. There was the teacher, in his bigger classroom.
He
made himself familiar to these children, he showed respect for their culture
and, when he spoke, he demonstrated a deep understanding and a profound
respect for the people and the issues they face.
There
is a reason that Clay Aiken is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and another,
who isn't a fraction of the man Clay is, is wasting his precious time on
earth mocking this good man, his mission and the culture of the people
he has gone to serve.Which man is making a difference in this world?
Both.
But
one is making a difference that brings a bit of the sublime into this world,
while the other tries to drag clouds of contempt over a sun of hope.
In
the end, the sun always breaks through.
Thank
you, Mr. Ambassador."
~berkeley
"One
young man who brought tragedy and death.
One
young man who embraces and upholds life.
More
and more reason to nurture the loving part of all of us."
~berkeley
Yes,
a welcome and needed (to me) reminder. Like so many others, I am struck
by the contrast of two men. One was apparently without hope, without perspective,
without courage, with a desire to do harm to as many as possible. At the
opposite end of the scale is a man with a strong desire to help others,
an immensely courageous man who often chooses to look beyond the negatives
he sees and experiences in his attempt to stay true to his goals, a man
who sees possibilities where some may see problems. Clay seems to look
at a desperate situation and find the hope, the potential, and the sparkle
of the strength of the human spirit amidst the rubble of war, tragedy,
and devastation.
The
sparkle of his spirit is, to me, a beacon of hope.
~Brightstar
"I
have been feeling so blessed that I have this man "in my life." I've been
alternating between being impressed by his soul-deep compassion --- and
his mature good looks. *g* There is something about his bearing, a combination
of humility and strength, that I find both touching and reassuring.
Clay
is the epitome of the servant leader. When I saw him among the children,
touching his heart as he bowed his head in the Afghani tradition , I thought
of how much it means to him to serve.
And
through his dignity, his giving, and his all-encompassing love, I heard
a simple phrase:
"For
you, a thousand times over."
~berkeley
"And
as we were approaching Bamiyan on the plane I was told of the promise of
the grass and the promise of green. When the summer comes there would be
grass over the hills and that it is so beautiful and lush in the summer
yet I didn't see that and some were skeptical that any grass grew in Bamiyan.
When we flew out today and I looked out of the window and I saw a little
grass peeking through. And I think that has been a kind of capstone experience
for me here in Afghanistan that there is so much promise and it has been
a long winter for Afghanistan and it is spring time finally."
~Clay
Aiken
"
Clay is not "a singer who used to be a teacher". He has taken his role
as educator very seriously, and refused to accept that he had to choose
one career over the other.
I
love that he isn't just showcasing a one-time "Giving Back" campaign, but
that he takes his work with BAF, Unicef, and the president's commission,
seriously. Not just supporting the people who do the work, but actually
doing it himself."
~Judy
RE:
American Idol 6:
"Watching
all these performers, I realized how hard they work to map out every footstep.
They go up the stairs, down the stairs, on the "catwalk" behind the judges,
all around the stage in every corner, and you can tell for many of them,
it's rehearsed from step 1 to the end. Literally.
It's
comical someimtes, especially when you think about how freakin' AWESOME
Clay and Ruben were. Just standing there. Singing.
You
know what? I bet neither one of them would even be put through by the judges
these days. They weren't gimmicky enough, nor were they "commercial" ....
we know Clay got there because WE voted him in on Wild Card, but I really
think that they'd both have a hard time making the cut these days, and
what a SHAME that would be. Two of the most beautiful voices EVER on that
show."
~
Erin
"A
few thoughts:
First
of all, in The
Fellowship of the Spitty Ring video, you can actually SEE Clay's brain
shift gears when everybody starts squealing over the lip/tongue action.
That glint in his eye is him realizing he was wrong way back then when
he stated: "they just want to tuck me in." I think he finally bought a
rhyming dictionary.
Secondly,
I think he has never looked better. On the Jemock Sliding Scale of Droolage
(tm), I give Auction!Pimpin' for the Chirren!Clay! five out of five buckets,
PLUS a bonus drop cloth. If he gets any handsomer, he's going to become
a pure beam of light. *cue magical unicorn music*
His
hair is CAP-approved perfection, his smile is mega-gigawatt brilliant,
he looks happy, his nails aren't bitten, and the eyebrows are absolutely
beautiful. His supraorbital ridge is to die for.
Sa-WOOOOON!!"
~Jemock
"Through
the internet I reconnected with an old friend who lives out in the general
Pala area. I've thought he'd like Clay (his hero is Mr. Rogers) and he's
come up a few times but he really doesn't know much about him. Out of the
blue about a month or so ago, he asked if Clay had any live CDs, because
you can get the personality better than on a studio CD. Ah HA! My chance!
I burned him a video disk of clack from 2003-last Christmas and sent it
off. Today I got a message that he had just watched it. He said Clay is
"Damn good!" and that "Bridge Over Troubled Water was unbelievable." Then
he asked about Pala tickets.
Clack
sells tickets."
~poshpenny
"...
Find something that you are passionate about that gives back to your community.
I think there's a misconception that really upsets me when people say,
"If you're in the public eye you have an obligation to let me know when
you're gettin' married, who you're gettin' married to and who you're dating."
That's bull. But you do have an obligation to be a role model. From the
beginning, I realize I got this only because God wanted me to be here.
I think anybody who has any microphone to use who doesn't use it for the
benefit of those around him is remiss. "
~Clay
Aiken- March 31, 2007
"I
despise the intrusion into the private lives of celebrities. I cannot stand
that there are people, including some in the media, who cannot distinguish
between being brutally honest and being outright rude. I think "brutal
honesty" is often about brutality, not honesty. I think it harms society
not to respect a person's right to privacy, whether or not they are in
the public eye. I'm an honest person, but there's no freaking way I am
going to tell all and sundry everything about my life --- spiritual, medical,
financial, sexual issues are my business, and I share them only with those
I love and trust. Many people in the public eye, from George Clooney to
Clay Aiken, are saying enough. Is it criminal? That's public business.
Is it a hypocritical action by someone who affects public policy? That
might be the public's business. But why does a person's sex life or sexual
orientation have anything to do with whether or not they can act, sing,
write, dance, bank, teach, defend, build, treat, preserve, etc?
When
one sees what happens to the relationships of some of the people who have
dated in the public eye, I wouldn't blame anyone for keeping this to themselves.
Even if Clay is one day photographed walking down the street holding a
woman's hand, both wearing rings that look like wedding bands, pushing
a stroller with red-headed, floppy-footed, wonky-eyed, singing twins, I
still don't understand why he should have to talk about it to me.
I
think the fictional private life that was invented to try to harm Clay
(and I am talking about the lies about abusive, irresponsible behavior)
simply made him decide that he will not waaste his life trying to wrestle
a shadow and he will not expose the people in his real private life to
scrutiny just to "prove" his truth.
In
his younger and more naive days, Clay told the truth about one aspect of
his private life: his sexual orientation. Back in 2003, he told Rolling
Stone and he told Diane Sawyer on PrimeTime Live. Several times in other
interviews, he mentioned getting married one day, what kind of woman he
was looking for and wanting to have children.
Some
believed him, some did not, and some provided him with an imaginary life
filled with tawdry details.
"People
are going to believe what they want to believe." --- and invent what they
want to invent.
The
more I think about it, the more I believe that saying "ENOUGH" is the smartest
thing he could have ever done.
Clay
knows the truth, the person he loves will or does know the truth, and I
absolutely believe that Clay is always very, very aware that God knows
the truth."
~berkeley
"He
mentioned “family” toward the beginning, referring to all of us there.
[At the Bubel/Aiken Gala] I truly think he does think of his fans fondly
now, as an extended family perhaps. Some are quiet and sweet, some get
a little hyper at times, and some may be considered his “crazy Aunt Bernice”
or something. But he is so free now with what he will say to us, and joke
about with us, imply with us, and even scold us about. There is a lovely
close feeling there, at the best times at least, and that bond, that flow
of love and caring, from us to him and back again, is one of the very best
things, to me, about this fandom."
"And
yes, sitting so close to him was powerful and awesome, but he was also
very real---a happy, beautiful, charismatic man, but also just Clay, the
Raleigh man who made good, with an incredible talent but a down-to-earth,
down-home demeanor—the jokester, the teacher, the boy next door, the caring,
earnest man with a heart as big as the room. How anyone can not love him
is beyond me. He has me for life."
~
Brightstar
"When
I was in line for "coffee" (I don't drink the stuff) at the coffee bar
right by Clay's table, a general announcement was made about the rest of
the evenings events. And the Claytinis were mentioned. So, Linda Loveland
turned to Clay and "What's a Claytini?"
Clay
replied, "It's a martini with a little bit of me in it. It's a little bitter."
OMG!
How funny is he? "
~scrpkym
"You
must be the change you want to see in the world."
That
is what Diane [Bubel] and Clay have done. I hope that I can be the tiniest
part of the change that will make this a more loving world. "
~berkeley
"Think
of it Clay Aiken singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” backed by a full
orchestra - what a spectacle.
Before
you ask why the Houston Symphony Orchestra is so quick to pimp themselves
out as the biggest (and most well educated) back -up band in the universe,
we already did. Here’s what a symphony spokesman told us:
Quote:
“We
consider ourselves to be Houston’s orchestra, and that means across the
entire breadth of music. We’re proud on an artistic level to be able to
present a wide spectrum of repertoire thereby making the Houston Symphony
approachable to a broad and diverse audience.
“(You
can hardly be a “back-up band” for an artist like Elvis Costello or Ben
Folds or k.d. lang, all of who have written specifically for the power
of a full orchestra.) And, by the way, all the artists who appear with
us have invested substantially large sums of money to have symphony arrangements
of their material written so they can perform their shows with symphony
orchestras all across the country.” '
~Houstonpress.com
"The
Houston Symphony's phone lines were jammed Monday with calls inquiring
about tickets for American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken's July 6 appearance
with the orchestra.
The
symphony sent e-mails to its subscribers and to Aiken fan clubs, prompting
the onslaught.
"We've
never seen response like this," symphony spokesman Art Kent said. "Not
that we're unhappy about it. The response has been great. But I haven't
even put out the press release."
~Symphony
spokesman Art Kent
"Today
a rep from Creative Artist addressed the group about bookings, etc. One
of the questions afterwards about the talent/performers was why they would
never schedule two shows....afternoon and evening. The reply was that most
of them don't have enough material. He said that for instance they handled
some of the American Idols and most of them can't do more than five songs...let
alone two shows....with the exception of Clay Aiken who could probably
give you three hours without breaking a sweat."
~DeepSouthGurrl
"Starbucks
sells music that skews to a somewhat older audience, lots of buyers who
consider themselves intelligent, educated, discerning, interested in social
activism and definitely supportive of artists who aren't just fluffy pop.
This is one reason I would love to know what Clay is going to do next.
To so many in the music world, Clay is neither fish nor fowl, so they don't
know what to do with him. He's described as a teen pop singer in one article
and as an artist for boomers in the next. Some think he's disposable, some
marginalize him and a few see him for the extraordinary song stylist that
he is. Fortunately for Clay, the people whose opinion of him is the highest
are the ones who know what they are talking about, from Gladys Knight to
David Foster. They respect Clay, even if --- or especially because ---
he defies description.
No,
neither fish nor fowl. I'd say he's more of a
rara avis. "
~berkeley
"I
hate to brag, but I would say that I am quite musically trained. I have
a pretty strong background in music. And in all my years as a musician,
I have NEVER heard a vocalist more brilliant than Clay Aiken.
I
admit, I'm not a fan of American Idol. But I will not deny that it is a
great part of American culture and can actually wring out stunning singers.
And, I believe, that Mr. Aiken is the best singer ever to emerge from the
show and will likely continue to be the benchmark for techinical perfection
in the coming seasons.
This
kid -- he's talented beyond compare. Amazing range. Pitch-perfect vocals.
Stunning lung power. This all sums up to a jaw-dropping vocal prowess.
And
what sets him apart from other singers is that he can convey emotion through
his voice and can change his sound to suit the feeling.
In
this case, it is heart-felt reverence. Clay Aiken brought tears to my eyes
when he sang the US National Anthem -- and this, coming from a non-American,
is a feat all in itself.
Basically,
all I'm trying to say, is that this man is an absolutely phenomenal vocalist.
You should get used to Clay. He's going to be around for decades to come,
making his mark in the music world."
~Mike
"I've
never been one to say, "If Clay sings it, it is perfect." I always try
to be objective and listen with an open mind. For example, while I know
many of you have loved A Thousand Days from the first time you heard it,
as I have said before, I haven't been a big fan of the song. It has grown
on me, especially the video perfomance and the ATDW track, which brings
me to the subject of the entire CD. I enjoy it each time I listen to it,
which is every day. And depending on my mood, my favorite track changes
constantly. One day it's Because You Loved Me and the next it's Here You
Come Again. On another day, it could be When I See You Smile. Clay's voice
sounds great, the production quality is excellent and the orchestrations
are wonderful. Sometimes I agree with critics (and even Idol judges i.e
last night's results) and sometimes I don't. In the case of ATDW, as I
listen to it, I truthfully don't understand those critics who have slammed
it. I think it has nothing to do with the music but rather with the cultural
phenomenon that is American Idol. I think some critics just absolutely
refuse to give Clay his due because he is an AI alum. Their opinions won't
stop me in the least from enjoying this beautiful album."
~OLMass
"I'll
clear up a misconception people have. When I watched the show last year,
[I've heard it said] I said to myself, "I'd much rather be the second-place
winner because the first-place person is tied into the contract and the
second-place person can go and shop their own." Well, that's not the case.
I signed with RCA—there was a right of first refusal with RCA so I signed
with RCA automatically at the end of the show. But there's definitely not
a downside to that at all. I'm happy with that. Every person who's been
on the show at some point wants to distance themselves a little bit, but
no matter what, I came from there. I'm only here because of that show and
so I can't help but be appreciative of that. Any time that they want me
to come back, I'll be happy to. [Working with Simon Fuller] has turned
into a really great relationship. I mean, he's really exactly what anybody
would want in a record label head. We auditioned for the show because it
looked like fun. I think every year after that, the fourth and fifth [season]
especially, you found people who got into the show because they knew something
big was going to come out of it. I kind of liked seeing contestants come
up out of obscurity. It's lost a little bit of its innocence and so it's
not as much fun for me anymore."
~Clay
Aiken- from an Interview with Billboard Magazine, January, 2007
"I
think what he's doing <snip> is he's raising money for his foundation
and working on its programs, he's getting ready to go on a trip for UNICEF
and reflecting on the success of the big internet campaign he launched
for them, and he's planning a tour. He's working on his career in ways
we never see or hear about. He has a personal life, which he intentionally
keeps very private. He's also watching CNN and reading good books about
genuinely important issues in this world we live in."
~Annonymous
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