ldyjocelyn

Grits = something to put a WHOLE lot of butter on. And since I lurve butter (I can eat spoonfuls of butter straight up -- yes, I'm strange, and probably waiting for a heart attack), I lurve grits.

I love the way this conversation has turned. :F_05BL17blowkiss: to lilyshine for posting that salad recipe!!

KAndre, sugar?!?!?! No way. Salt. Lots of it. (See, told you -- heart attack waiting to happen...)

Liver? That's disgusting...

So merrieee, if you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich -- what flavor of jelly do you use?

Lime Jello

Can I get a collective "EWWWWW"?

I have to admit that I can't give Kim a pass on direct quotes, and particularly not Curb for including the "Reunion" Tour in Kim's press release. If it was just some blurbs in an interview, I would be more inclined to say, "Ah, well, misquoted or whatnot." A press release is a different animal - massaged and polished and crafted to deliver a specific message. However, as always, I'm personally more inclined to blame that sort of stuff on incompetence and miscommunication rather than deliberate malice aforethought. YMMV and all that jazz. I certainly don't think it's the place of any fan to ride to Clay's rescue in any big way, and I don't think trashing Kim achieves too much beyond prolonging the angst.

bottlecap, you're a smart woman!

cindilu, you've got me a bit out of context. I was talking to lmf, especially if you add the paragraph previous to what I quoted:

lightmyfire, I really don't think you're alone in your way of thinking in regards to that supposed tour. In my case, though, even with getting the blurbs from Billboard and such, this is my take on the whole thing:

QUOTE(cindilu2 @ Sep 12 2007, 01:00 PM) *

Kim is or isn't 100% responsible? Who really knows? Not me, that's for sure.

You're fine in thinking the way you do, but I just can't make a decision on who was responsible. Just. Can't. Do. It.

Maybe it makes me naive, or uncritical in my thinking....but I personally just hate placing blame on someone when I can't discern the whole story.

Does that help? I should have been clearer about who "you're" is in my statement. Sowwy.

So merrieee, if you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich -- what flavor of jelly do you use?

Geez, I love you people, but you talk an awful lot. Make good sense too...

I totally agree about people being afraid of losing Clay if he's not cool enough. It's very ironic that some people want Clay to be cooler than he is. One of the clear messages I took from Clay's book is how he learned to accept himself, nerdiness and all. And I think he's been consistent in being who he is, without pretending to be someone cooler. I admire that about him so much. I think that's part of what makes him so charismatic. He's genuine, authentic and charming. It's refreshing, and people love it. I think he will have much more success in the long run being himself than pretending to be a cool, hip rock star.

I've always taken that from LTS too -- that acceptance of oneself is a good thing. However, it scares me a bit that I can hear what others will say to that argument in regards to Clay -- "well, he wrote that four years ago. He was younger, and just starting out in the business. He's changed since then. He's traveled more." Sure, Clay has changed in four years -- everyone does. But it's always a gradual thing, and I really don't think he's lost the essence of who he was back then. And, from interviews, he still self-identifies as a geek. Unfortunately, I think he can say that until the cows come home and some will not hear it.

but there is absolutely NO need for a message board to be a part of it, in my opinion. One way communication. He talks, we listen.

For the most part, I agree with you...but then my "librarian gene" kicks in and says "as much as it's distasteful, we live in a country of free speech." The choice is really ignoring it or not. There's also a selfish part of me -- if they DID close the message board, some of these people would just start with an even stronger viewpoint on some other message board. It does make me sad that the OFC message board is the one that Clay most likely reads, though (not on a regular basis).

If it is affecting some of us, who are huge fans of the man, so deeply, I can only imagine how it must look to outsiders. Maybe I've just been blinded to some extent, for all my prior fussing about it, but today it has really hit me hard.

Working off of champion's and couchie's theory of self-examination, I DO wonder about how this all affected me yesterday. One of the things that I noticed about myself -- is that I'm now almost taking sadistic glee at the way some were reacting after the first blog. "Ha, ha, how stupid." Would I truly be like that to someone in RL? I'm not sure. But I've seen so much crap in the past few years that my only reaction anymore is to laugh AT it. Thing is, I'm not sure I like that in me. Does that make sense?

They are now also discussing ways that Team Clay can go about publically denying this information- as if it is really of that much importance to anyone outside of the fandom- and also trying to decide how we, as Clay's fans, can go about getting the information out there that this was a false story.

Oh.

My.

God.

Barf bags, anyone?

I hope I'm not blowtorching puppies by writing this, though...

Are you kidding? Of course not! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I'm generally happy about Clay -- I think the angriest look I ever gave him was when he took the camera in Fort Myers and that didn't last more than a second or two -- but I still also generally happy about Clayland. Call me Anne Frank or something but when I'm tempted to tell someone "it's only a tour" or "it's only 1 note in 1 show" or "it's only an album and besides I kinda like it", I usually end up saying to myself, "it's just another fan" or "it's just another board".

You really are a wise woman, and I think I just learned from you. It really almost HAS to be the way to look at this situation. I know it's unfortunate that the "just another fan" is usually one with the loudest voice, but I guess I should just buy a good set of earplugs.

I watch Food Network all the time (yes, as white noise)...and I've yet to see that commercial. *sigh*

Heh....so I cheated. Foundation for a Better Life advertisement. The other ones are here.

lightmyfire, I really don't think you're alone in your way of thinking in regards to that supposed tour. In my case, though, even with getting the blurbs from Billboard and such, this is my take on the whole thing:

Kim is or isn't 100% responsible? Who really knows? Not me, that's for sure.

You're fine in thinking the way you do, but I just can't make a decision on who was responsible. Just. Can't. Do. It.

Maybe it makes me naive, or uncritical in my thinking....but I personally just hate placing blame on someone when I can't discern the whole story.

Meanwhile, I think it's time for...PRETTY PICTURES!!!

I personally think that we should try to remember this one, from laughn and suggest it in December:

Have Yourself A Smutty Little Christmas has a certain ring to it.

Warning -- LOOOOOOOONG post ahead. The scroll wheel is your friend...

...and I hope I don't mess up the quotes too much....

and here's my favorite KeepingFaith - thank you so much!

Just OH.MY.

I love Clay Aiken

This is my new favorite picture of him, I think. I love the way he's just resting there....so adorable....

I went and read his blog and then a few of the comments. I sure am glad I'm not Clay... some of those comments hurt me and I'm not even him, if you get my drift.

I did the same thing, and was immediately sorry that I did so. Good Lord, if some of these people are that demanding in RL...they'd be LONG out of my life. Would any of these people say these things TO HIS FACE? I truly wonder....and it scares me to think that they might.

Hmm - does anyone think that this fandom must have the messiest hair and the worst makeup in fandom - you know, because people never seem to look in mirrors, especially when assigning guilt.

So true my friend, so true.

I do have to say, I write these long comebacks and them delete them a lot on many boards, maybe I should do it here as well. I do research and then toss it - after a day, nothing is important. This was 9/11 day and I remember standing in the street watching the towers burn, thinking that there but for.... I has a weird feeling in 2000 that my Mom was Ill, she looked fine, drove herself around and sounded fine, but I felt something was off - so when I was offered 2 jobs - One in the WTC for a nice amount of change and one in NJ for a lot less, I chose the one 20 minutes from my Mother's house. She had a stroke 3 weeks after I took the job, so the gut feeling was correct. I had given my work and home numbers to all of the neighbors and one called me in time. I stayed in the lesser paying job after Mom died some months before September. Fate is odd. Still the stench was all over Secaucus for weeks after. Such a stupid time for people to be so upset overa concert.

Thank you for our daily reality check, play. Maybe we should post things like this every day, in order not to take our fandom so damn seriously.

But damn if it didn't shine a brighter light on ugly.

Yep. Damn it.

Just wanted to see this one again....

I realize Clay's not even in this one, but I really like this one -- what a cool shot.

And a few more:

ohhhh, mischief in those eyes!

beautiful good night, one to dream on

Simply LOVE both of these as well. Thank you AAIT!

I wish for those who were truly sad about this whole thing to feel better now. I wish for those who thought this collaboration could have been a rather interesting experience, some R&B and some blue eyed soul down the road somewhere, and I wish that all the people in Clay Nation who want to run Clay's life and are sure they know what's best for the man to shut the hell up now.

It's kind of a "Kum Ba Ya" moment, isn't it? Except the "run Clay's life" people would want to sing "OPP" instead, wouldn't they? But yeah, I want that too....

Someone accidentally linked this article to me today in an e-mail, http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/clay-ai...d-wins-1836.php. There are a lot of quotes from the Time article, and some fannish sounding stuff, but also some thoughts I found really interesting, like the Aretha comments. I was surprised how different the Time quotes sound to me now. When I think about this and the Classics banter, "So that's how you get on the radio, you sing about butts," when I compare the MTV show the other night with Clay's shows, then I see that it's really the same dilemma and there was nothing veiled about it then. Clay won. "Put some balls into it," says Clive. I can just see him saying it. And not recognizing that there's somewhere between "balls" and Manilow. This time Clay didn't win, but he still put himself into both the album and the tour, and I was impressed. I would never doubt for a minute that he could sell 100% Velveeta and enjoy doing it, but I think he also likes a challenge and likes to learn. He may not be introspective, but he is complex and a mature thinker. I don't think anyone needs to worry about him sacrificing art.

But the man loves his friends and he really doesn't want to be as big a star as some of his fans want him to be, and he does love him some cheese and glory noting and some more cheese. He was discovered on American Idol, Hometown Connection was his baby, he wrote (and I loved) the JNT05 story--this is who he is. I wish people would stop being afraid that he is who he is, and the kind of art he relates to, but give him a little credit too. I wish people would realize he is smarter and more knowledgeable about his own career than 99.5% of his fans, and just relax, get out of the management biz and settle down for a long and varied and entertaining decades long career. Sure it's fine to speculate about things, but it isn't fine to have a fricken collective existential meltdown over a piece of unverified, and, it turns out, false information.

And it isn't fine to then turn around and malign Kim Locke. No one knows what role she had in this either.

I agree with this except:

I don't really know if he wants to be a big star but I do think he won't sacrifice his principles for it and I really dislike cheese as a description of his music since I also like James Taylor and Johnnie Mathis who might also be described as such. However I never really liked Lawrence Welk and his show so maybe I'm not as sappy as I thought.

jmh, thank you for your post, and it is truly interesting to reread that article after a few years time has past.

Fear -- I think the main point in jmh's post is that there seems to be a very large disconnect between the level of stardom Clay wants vs. what several of his fans want. I do think he's ambitious -- but as you said, I don't think he'll sell his soul to the Devil to get to a fairly high level of stardom. I get the feeling that more than a few people would be totally thrilled for him to actually sing something like "I Like Big Butts" just so he could get on Top 40 radio.

And I embrace cheese. I don't care if that's what others call it -- I like the music I like, whether it be Clay, Michael Buble, Huey Lewis, U2, or Bobby McFerrin (with one of the cheesiest songs I know, "Don't Worry, Be Happy").

I've often thought that Clay just isn't cool enough for some of his fans and that it bugs the crap out of them.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yesssssssssss! *said in best "When Harry Met Sally" voice*

I've almost ALWAYS gotten that feeling from certain members of this fandom. That's why, IMO, so many want the top 40 accolades, the young chicks in the front row, the guys attending the shows...shall I go on? The need for "cool" is so prevalent in our society, and it really does make me kind of ill. Anyway -- is it because the media doesn't think he's cool either, and they feel the need to change that perception? Probably. But I also think that it could be really personal -- that we as a fandom are getting older, losing our youth a bit, while the rest of society values the young crowd. Hanging on to "lost youth." Another thing that makes me P.O.'d. Also, I do wonder if those that really want him to be "cool" are those that get picked on by those in their lives for liking Clay in the first place.

When he started adding the "I'm not cool" banter to his show, I really did take that as snark toward the fans who need for him to be cool. I'm sure it probably went over their heads, though. In my opinion, Clay Aiken IS cool, even if he is a total dork. I love cool dorks.

One of the things I admire about Clay is his ability to keep on doing the backstroke while everyone else is in the 500m Freestyle.* Somehow I think he knows all about the sacrifices you make when you try to be someone that your not.

*yes I know...swimming analogy/Clay ... bad. I still like it.

jamar, I love you. And yes, definite thread title material there.

Now, let's see what I need to catch up on while I've been composing this massive tome....

Safe travels Karen Eh?! And I like your taste in pictures. *g*

At one time I was proud of the power that I perceived that Clay's fans had and that they wanted to use it to support him. Now I'm disappointed in the power they think they have and that they seem to want to use it to control him. I know this is a small percentage of his fans, but man they are so vocal. I'm glad that Clay is a strong man.

Bolding mine. That's what I have to keep telling myself, over and over again....in order not to let some of these people get to me. He IS a strong man -- not a boy, a man. He's pushing 30 (*swoon*), which means IMO that HE gets to make decisions. Anyway, my point is that I'm sure he probably does a better job at dealing with a few very vocal, controlling fans than I do.

Gibby, I totally agree on the litigious society we live in today.

And CG, this....

I think its ok to be disappointed in choices Clay has and will make. I know I have been in the past, and am sure I will be again in the future. I think the difference lies in recognizing the fact that they are HIS choices to make - like them or not. It is HIS life and HIS career and he has to make choices based on what HE thinks is best for both. Not what I think is best - or what any other fan thinks is best. He has people in both his professional and personal life that he trusts and whose opinions he values. If he wants advise and feedback, he can go to them.

...is beautifully said. Bravo.

CG also makes a good point about the exposure of this story. I know it came in my Google News alert (I dropped the blog alerts a LONG time ago, but still keep the news alerts), and I seem to remember reading that Ken Tucker from USA Today mentioned it in his music blog. Past that -- I'd say "nada." I'm sure most AI fans aren't even aware of this story. I think you're totally right in that this was truly a blip in the radar, except to the die-hard connected fans. And I don't think it affects KLo's sales at all. Piffle.

couchie, you don't realize how sad that makes me.

Will someone please rescue me from the top of the page?!?!?!?! Heeeeeeeeeeelp....

Fuzzy Treasure Trails (originally created by Ansa): Peach Schnapps; Tequila; Orange Juice; and Sprite.

I wrote that one down and keep it by my computer.

What?

See, I think what gets me is that there's a NEED out there to blame someone for the tour announcement. Some are going to blame KLo; some will blame her manager or publicist; and heck, somehow Clay will probably get some blame too. (How did Ruben escape unscathed?) I just can't place blame on any one person though, for one big reason -- I just don't know how this all transpired. There are many reasonable possibilities, many of them already suggested on this board. And yeah, it could be KLo overstepped her boundaries. But unless I get to actually talk to either KLo or Clay in the next few years about this, I'll never know what happened. Therefore, no blame will come from me.

Instead, I choose once again to rejoice in Clay Aiken. He's such a fun boyfriend -- and he runs a good roller coaster.

Please, Please, Please, if I should ever post that I'm disappointed in some choice he's made - just hit me over the head and send for the men in the white jackets.

You want a dairy delivery guy to take you away?!?!?! *g* :F_05BL17blowkiss:

And :F_05BL17blowkiss: to both jmh and luckiest1, just 'cause.

Shit damn fuck hooray! Top of the page!

But hey! Look who added a cool Christmas emoticon to the clickables list!!! *dusts fingernails*

Geez. I go off to teach a late afternoon class....and all hell breaks loose again. Heh. I really do love his sense of humor...and his timing....

In the course of that search, I came across this pic. I'm not sure what it means, but it made me laugh. "Make it so, Fluffy."

This Trekker and cat person loves you for posting that.... :F_05BL17blowkiss:

OK, now maybe things will get back to the normal level of angst, supposition, extrapolation. But god forbid Clay ever make s choice his fans don't like. And god forbid his album isn't what they are expecting it to be. That was ugly.

Ditto from me...

I can totally see how this whole thing got blown out of proportion. It's exactly as bottlecap says here....

Don't know. Maybe Kim also has one of those record-company-assigned publicists who is not-so-secretly working behind the scenes to DESTROY HER CAREER.

BWAH!!!!!

Well, wait....maybe it was one of CLAY'S publicists who told her to say that in order to wreck HIS career. *eyeroll*

{{{{{KLo}}}}

I don't think Clay stays intuned to the fandom or spends his day scanning websites but I sure think he knows about this through his family, or hell he's with Quiana.I bet she knows more about the fandom than he does. Anyway, I'll pretend to be right for awhile cuz it's fun to think he's a bit evil. And it's the freakin' entitlement that bothers me not that people have various and sundry opinions about a tour.

I just skimmed my old haunt, and I've seen enough of and and to last me for a few months.....

OMG Don't venture beyond these four walls. It's not pretty out there!

I was going to offer some and some for those who venture out....

LOL! Snort. I probably shouldn't be laughing, but the guy is a guy through and through...

I find it completely adorable. And I want to hit him. And then make up. Heh.

Hee.

I do too. Can we take turns on the "making up" part with him?

Still love him like crazy. I love it -- some fans demand he blog, he does so. Just not on the topic the fans wanted....heh.

Anyone want to bet on what the reaction will be???

I wouldn't take that bet if I had to....

I trust that some kind soul will identify the show and song in which this likely-fleeting moment took place:

Philadelphia -- classics medley -- very last bit of "Yeah Yeah," approximately 4:20 to 4:26 in SLC's clip.

Man that was some hard research. Maybe I should do some more like that....

I'm not at all surprised as I do not expect to hear positive comments from the media about this.

I'm not either -- but piffle on them. They don't tell me what to like, only I decide that. If they want to make their snide comments...well, if it's out of my listening area, I ignore like the plague. If my local DJ's make comments about it of the snide variety, they might get an email from me.

Geez I posted semi-sensibly in a slew of trashy smartly dressed women....

*pets crease between leg and stomach*

As for polls (in general)...answers are skewed totally by how the questions are worded. Just sayin'.

Interrupting all the pretty pictures with a satire article that made me think of Clay and his beloved TV medley...

Nation Suddenlyl Feels Old After Seeing "Nick at Night" Lineup

I so dearly love "The Onion"....

Gibby (and everyone else too!), see this post by couchie about the chat and topics. It even gives a link to suggest other topics (deadline is TODAY!!!). It looks as if we might have to narrow the number of topics down a bit, though....

djs, I do believe there is a "collective fandom" -- it's just that there are lots of opinions IN that fandom, and it's really just in name only. However, I do know that when someone tells me more than a few times that I SHOULD do something, I'm the type that will, on occasion, do the total opposite just for spite. So yes, I have wondered if Clay, from time to time, has tried to mess with the "collective fandom's heads," just to watch the fireworks. JMO, of course.

Well, when I read in other places that maybe he just doesn't want what "we" want for him, or that he is being stubborn in not listening to "us" - then I have to say I bow out of the collective fandom, and let it go at that. Maybe if every time someone spouted directives about his life, friends, family, and career, and typed "we" - and got a severe electric shock - that would make me feel better!

I am more embarrassed by some of those types of comments than I could ever ever be about enthusiastic blinky ladies.

Well, now THAT I totally agree with. I don't think anyone should speak for the ENTIRE fandom at all -- too many different voices. Just to clarify, with my post, I think I'm looking at it from Clay's angle -- that for him it could be easier to deal with "us" as a collective entity -- and yet, knowing full well that there many different opinions within the fandom.

Another thought I had. It occurs to me that some fans don't know how to enjoy their fandom any more. A minor annoyance, like a tour they are not crazy about becomes a MAJOR CATASTROPHE. A CD with sales they find disappointing is THE END OF CLAY'S CAREER AND IT'S OBVIOUS THE WORLD IS OUT TO GET HIM. We've always been a drama-filled fandom, but what has happened, I think, is that so many of the fans who were more balanced and level-headed have moved on and the balance has tipped more towards the panicking, angsting drama queens. So many of my "sane" fandom friends from the beginning have left the fandom- many because they couldn't deal with the drama any more. That's why I LOVE this place. It's my little spot of sanity.

I know I spend an awful lot of time on FCA (and before that, my previous home board). It's a fun way to share my love of Clay Aiken, and just jibberjabber about him. However -- I also realize that there is more to life than that. I love my husband dearly, and love to watch movies with him, play games on our Wii console with him, cook for him, stuff like that. I take walks when I feel the need to get outside, and go to the gym on a regular basis. To me, it's all about the balance in life. Clay makes me incredibly happy, but he's not my life. I bring this up because I've always wondered if some people have lost sight of that. They seem to me to be so deeply ingrained in Clay, his life, and the fandom in general that if there is nothing going on, or something happens with Clay that they don't particularly like, that they don't know how to cope. The angst that I see may be their way of trying to cope -- but instead it just creates a vicious circle of more angst, and many of us have decided "enough is enough" and went back to other joys in our lives, or figured out a way to balance everything.

Or what cindilu said above me. And I'll doubly add that I'm not trying to minimize feelings -- you own them, they are yours. But some of us have different feelings too -- as long as this fandom can realize that, we can be OK!

djs, I do believe there is a "collective fandom" -- it's just that there are lots of opinions IN that fandom, and it's really just in name only. However, I do know that when someone tells me more than a few times that I SHOULD do something, I'm the type that will, on occasion, do the total opposite just for spite. So yes, I have wondered if Clay, from time to time, has tried to mess with the "collective fandom's heads," just to watch the fireworks. JMO, of course.

OMG..OMG...OMG!!!! I KNOW I shouldn't go out and look around but...there is this big "We need to show Clay some TOUGH LOVE" out there now. WTH? He's almost 30 years old...give me a FREAKING break!!! Should we send him to his room without supper, too?

Oh for freak's sake.

Morning FCA!!!

Man, I must be way toooooooo easy (as if most of you didn't know that, HA!). I really, really, really like that People photoshoot, and honestly can't see anything "wrong" with those pictures. I think the hair is great, and while it's not my normal smile pictures that I go ga-ga over, he still looks fantastic to me. *shrug*

luckiest1 -- WORD. I do believe that for all the whining about this supposed tour, the same whiners will be in the front rows. And then, they'll still whine when KLo and Ruben are on stage -- possibly loudly enough that they can hear. That's just not right, IMO -- disrespect like that is incredibly distasteful to me.

I don't normally ask for blogs either, but in this case, I want one too. Then people can decide to go or not without as much handwringing -- and how many can decide to burn that OFC card. *g*

ok, someone clue in the clueless. What does that FOUR lights siggy mean?

It's a Star Trek (specifically Next Generation) thing. There was an episode where Captain Picard was captured and tortured by some nasty aliens (Cardassians, specifically). They stripped him (that's why Shady likes this....some nice butt shots of Patrick Stewart, yum) and forced him to stare into 4 lights -- except that they kept saying there were 5 lights and he needed to admit that. But the torture did nothing -- "There. Are. Four. Lights."

It's really a powerful episode, and Amnesty International gave it some recognition, if I remember correctly.

OK, out of geek mode and off to bed.

ETA:

Just watched Britney's performance from last night. Oh dear Jesus, thank you for Clay Aiken! What is there to angst about again? Huh? Something about a tour?

Saw some of that on Keith Olbermann's show tonight. Good God, she was out of it. Clay Aiken has more talent in one hair on his head that she does. (Apologies to any Britney fans out there...all two of you....)

Christmas Crooner's CD

I just sent the link to my husband...he's always looking for stocking stuffer ideas for me for Christmas. I also told him that I wanted it early....

Oh good God. I love those shoulders. That shirt should be illegal too.

I need to go do some research, see you when I am done. I need to go look up the angst for each and every thing Clay did - well, maybe I will take some breaks, this can take a while.

Don't do it playbiller! If you do this, the next time we'll see you is in 2010! Even with minimal food and bathroom breaks!

:F_05BL17blowkiss: couchie and CG....and to Clayzor too.....

Do I get an extra special spanking gift from Clay since I'm at the top of page 80?

Whoops....didn't notice it...sorry....

I'm gonna grab that Jefferson's dance one then....if no one else grabs it first!

HANDS OFF PEOPLE!!!

Whew...made that change....

I think we may need this emoticon today a LOT....

muski, thank you for my new avatar. I do need to know also where it came from, though, if anyone can answer that burning question.

KAndre, you have been making me :lmaosmiley-1: all morning!

One thing I never really understood in this fandom was the need for Clay to be the biggest star ever. Not only that but he had to be a rock star too. How mqny employees of a company get ot be the CEO? And of those how many have traded having a family life for this to occur?

How many of the fans who are upset at Clay "Taking a step Backwards" would sacrifice some of their time to be top cat or dog (whatever your preference). I think Clay loves performing in front of an audience and the challange of keeping people interested in his banter is an intellectual one. Undoubtedly why he would like a talk show about current events and probably one of the most difficult type of tv shows in which to participate. Maybe he really does start thinking about Krispie Kremes after more than three songs in a row.

Being famous now a days appears to be more about scandal, gossip and shock value. Yet some of Clay's fans want him to be a star and virtuous. I'm not sure that is at all possible. Some were shocked at his language on this tour. Did I miss something?

IMO, Fear is a wise, wise woman. I personally believe that Clay Aiken is one of the biggest stars on the planet -- but I know that only works for ME. There are others who won't/can't see it, and that's fine. And it IS Clay's career...he can run it as he sees fit.

And I totally agree that much of this could simply be him saying "I like touring. Hey kids, let's put on a show!!!"

But I'll wait until we know details and such before dyeing my hair black and wearing black clothes and getting my tongue pierced in protest. Oh wait, that only affects me. Sorry -- I'll have to stop buying everything Clay Aiken related in order to teach him a lesson. [/jk]

Maybe it's time to revive the "it's hard to get your panties off when they're in a bunch" thread title?

Sure didn't see that one coming. LOL.

That was my first reaction as well.

aikim, I respect your opinion about just not liking KLo and Ruben, that's fine. But those that think by boycotting the show, they will teach Clay a lesson...sigh. Burns my butt.

When situations like this one that MAY happen....for some reason, I end up playing Devil's Advocate. For example, taking off from Scarlett's post: would reactions really be all that different if this news came from the last M&G? Would the tide turn a bit because it may sound like it's HIS idea rather than KLo's?

Or -- let's say he wouldn't be touring with KLo and Ruben, but Josh Groban and Michael Buble. Or maybe John Mayer and James Blunt (two very hot people in radio)? What would the reactions be? Would they be as vocal?

Would I travel for this show? Probably not. But I'd definitely drive to see it within a 5 hour radius, and I'd devour the clack -- even the Kack and the Rack!

The other thing I keep thinking about is that IF this whole thing comes true...TC is going to take a drubbing. However, I can see Clay wanting to do this -- "tour with my friends? Bring it on!" Business wise it may not make a lot of sense, and I don't think he would see it as "coattails" so much as working with people he likes an awful lot.

Heck, I'd add Josh Gracin to the mix too.

*ducks*

With Clay as a headliner with special guests might work but I would not like 1/3 of a concert.

But I liked Clay in 1/8th of a concert, known as the AI tour, and I actually enjoyed most of the rest of the show too.

I'll wait until we get more information too, though, but I think I'll pick up some Kevlar armor tomorrow just in case.

just yum.

Oh my. I think I've got a case of the vapors.

Wow.