ldyjocelyn

just yum.

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

Wow.

I'm not a HUGE football fan, because I don't clear my schedule to watch the games every week. However, I do root for the Vikings, thanks to my husband (who is from Minnesota). Also, my former pastor at church was a HUGE Vikings fans -- so much so that if they had a noon kickoff, you could be sure that the service would be over at 11:45. *g*

I'm also NOT a Bears fan. They were cool in 1985, but I've lost a lot of admiration for them.

But...and I'm sure I'm going to get killed for saying this....my most hated team is the Cowboys. I think for me it's simply that it was forced down my throat that they were "America's Team." Well, thanks to the media for making that decision for me -- only NOT.

jmh, I personally would go with either "Clay on the Rocks" or "Uncle Clay." But thank you for posting all those pictures.

Shady, I don't follow your reluctance for the word "uptempo." May I ask why?

I want to see where HE wants to go and I want to be along for the journey. I can't wait to be surprised.

Oh yes, that's exactly the way I feel too. As much as I'm curious about things behind the scenes in Clay's life, and would love to know what goes through his head at certain times too, I'm finding I enjoy it just as much when I DON'T know. Maybe more so....because of the surprise factor. I also think that sometimes finding out one piece of the puzzle makes people want so much more, and more quickly...and frequently Clay can't say more than that one piece. And then, IMO....stresses in the fandom start again.

I think all Clay needs is some good music.

But, as we know from reading Clay boards, is that no one can agree on what is good music! It's so subjective. I'm the opposite of CG in the fact that I liked most of the covers from ATDW...even BEFORE Clay gave them his stamp. In many cases, there were lots of others who did too, or else the originals wouldn't have topped music charts (including radio play). I really think the key is what CLAY thinks is good music. Will I agree with him? Dunno. but I'm willing to find out in a year or so (meaning maybe less, maybe more....).

I actually am very optimistic about Clay's future...I think things are looking up for him after the dismal year that he just had in 2006.

Wow. Dismal? I don't know....I think Clay had a pretty darn good 2006 -- TV appearances; an album that, when released, sold almost 300,000 in the first week; and a Christmas tour. Sure, there were some major gnats he had to deal with, but he showed me that he could deal with them with class. And I had a blast following him every step of the way.

His next album? I don't have a clue in this world what the sound will be like. I suspect we'll have more of a variety of tempos. I would be willing to bet there will be several ballads on it. Other than that, I have no clue. I doubt even Clay knows for sure. We'll know when its released, which will be when its ready. Remember, perfection takes time honey! (tm CHA). I do know this. There will be some compromise involved in the final track selection. There always is. Just as long as Clay is happy and proud of it when its done, then that's ok with me. Now, whether or not I love it, we'll see. Clay is my musical anomoly but somehow even when I don't like an album, he keeps drawing me in.

As I said earlier, CG and I don't see eye to eye on much of Clay's music. I simply adore ATDW, and some of my favorites are one she doesn't like and vice versa. Same with MOAM -- Touch is my least favorite.

But I totally agree with her on what the next album will be -- ie., we just don't know. And that's FINE by me [tm Clay in Baltimore, 2006]. I'm patient, I'll wait, I may not like it....but I probably will because he's my "easy."

Clack? I download lots, watch little. I always think I will watch it, but just don't seem to ever get around to it. I don't even listen to Clay that much. I don't have an iPod, don't really have time when I'm home and the car I am driving right now doesn't have a CD player, so I can't on my commute. Plus, quite honestly, I get tired of the same old same old. Maybe if I ever get an iPod I can download tons of stuff and put it on shuffle with other artists and listen to him that way.

I do that too. Download a bunch of stuff, and right now it's just sitting on my computer. *shrug* My commute is so short, I don't have time to listen to Clay during that period. And I love to listen to Clay, but I need variety too.

OTOH -- my hubby is getting me a new 8 gig iPod nano!!! EEEEEEEEEEE!!! Can't wait to start figuring out how to rip my CD's and download all kinds of music onto it!

I just remember at the time not understanding why people were so annoyed.

I was the same way canuck, and I thought at the time that it was because of something we talked about earlier today -- expectations. People were primed that this was the "hawt" moment of the show...and then it didn't happen. Now, obviously, leeana's experience was different because this was her first show, and I can understand her feeling about it being an inside joke that didn't translate...but IMO the angst was OTT.

laughn, loved your remembrance of Wolf Trap.

And I totally agree that Clay's level of comfort with the fans has grown. It will be interesting to see how this develops.

I'm one that believes that seeing "something" in Clay is truly in the eyes of the beholder. For every person who saw Clay bored with the songs of ATDW during this tour, I'm sure there are just as many who thought he looked perfectly happy. I think that for those who felt that his comments about the classics medley were his way of saying "there's going to be a new me soon," there are those who saw it as his commentary that being a radio star almost means selling your soul to the devil. It's incredibly difficult for me to "see" Clay sometimes, because I read into him what I want for him.

I also truly feel that Clay is a very complex man, so much so that no one in the fandom will ever KNOW what he likes to sing, or what he wants to do for a career (focus totally on music? If so, what kind? Maybe TV? Maybe stand-up comedy?). Clay singing uptempo songs truly rock -- but so does singing slooooooow songs (because IMO he's fantastic at it).

One other thing -- I almost always give him the ability to change his mind. He may have said that he thinks he's good at the ballads at one point -- but that doesn't mean that tomorrow he may say "nah, gonna rock out for a while." The converse is also true -- even though he's said he likes uptempo stuff, he may change his mind and not go in that direction at this point in time. (Doesn't mean he might not change his mind again later, though....that's being human, donchaknow?)

Do I want Clay's ticket sales to be good? Why, sure. Do I want Clay on the radio? Why, sure -- if he wants it. But in either case, I think Clay Aiken will be fine if they don't happen.

jmh -- all good points. I actually think we're agreeing, just in my case, I'm not doing a good job of it!

:F_05BL17blowkiss:

I've got to throw this one into the mix, before anyone else does (although I won't mind if it gets posted again, and again, and again....)

This picture STILL takes my breath away, even after a year. The combination of his smile, that great hair, and his body language ("hey darlin', come join me....") makes me weak in the knees.

I used to keep a copy of my People magazine next to my bed, and would pull it out every night to stare at it before going to bed. I think I did that for 4 months. Is that so wrong?

Other two....let me think a bit.....

Good Morning all!

Interesting convo this morning.

The medleys - I loved them. Period.

The banter - my favourite stuff.

The serious songs - great

BYLM - kills me every time.

I think the medleys were so important to inject the kind of upbeat fun that Clay wants and feels that he needs to go along with a concert of s.......l............o..........w songs! I do think that fans get tired of them from overexposure much as they got tired of WDC in the JBT. I think these should all be reviewed from the first cellcert and clack to get a true feeling for them. I loved watching how they evolved from the beginning to the end of the tour. I would love to have heard LNM and BW but I would rather he changed up with other serious songs than eliminate either of those medleys. And from what I experienced, these medleys were a favourite part of the concert for men and NJU folks.

OMG!!!! I'm canuck! I think I like it. *g*

Totally agree with all this, especially the "overexposure" part for the intense fans. Clack is fantastic, and I'm so glad for it. But I do think there is a downside....one that makes some fans extremely picky over a particular performance after seeing it more than a few times via clack. I know it's hard, but when I attend shows later in each tour, I try to watch each show with "fresh eyes." Each show has it's own charm/quirks/outstanding vocal performances, and I try not to let my expectations for each part of a show color my viewpoint of the actual show. I do believe that some fans will not (or cannot) try to do that.

Fortunately, with the upcoming tour (and barring any major snowstorms, *sigh*), I'll get to see a show fairly early in the tour and then at the end of the tour. It will be interesting for me to watch the progression of his performances live.

Hopefully, he was out having fun or buying more new jeans, writing some new kick-ass songs, recording some kick-ass songs, having some kick-ass super-sex.

I think there's got to be a way to make this into a thread title....somehow.

BTW, count me in as another Foster gala UM lover!

jmh, I mostly agree with you about the "seriously done" songs. I think the one I might disagree with you is IWKWLI, mainly because that was the song where Clay didn't really know who he was going to sing with that night. And I also think that a lot of the songs you mentioned had Clay giving "goofy" looks every once in a while during a particular performance. Therefore, I wonder when those of us listening for the "best of" compilation will notice those things IF we take out the visuals. I know I'm more of a "visual" person (one of the reasons I simply can't watch Hometown Clay -- sorry to those who love that stuff), but taking away watching Clay, the voice shows through a lot more. JMO and that stuff.

FYI -- I started a thread in the photo/emoticon section for Goofy/Smiley Clay, and I look forward to seeing what other threads appear there. (Since I'm such an "organizer," I like the idea for "best clothes," "best hair," "breathtaking" and "Good Lord that thing's huge!" *g*)

BUT...I personally would love for FCA members to continue to post pictures on the main thread too. I'd consider the Photo thread more of an Archive thing, actually....

OK, off I go to start my day....

While we still encourage pictures posted on the main thread, this is also a good place to put pictures of goofy/smiley Clay for posterities sake.

And of course, I HAD to start this particular thread....

I'm not couchie, but if you want to start a "breathtaking Clay pictures" thread, you're more than welcome.

And I might just start a "he's so goofy, I love him and his smile" thread later today myself....

*g*

I appreciate that we all love different things. And while I love it when Clay is singing his heart out in concert, I also love the "live" stuff, the little imperfections or jokes or random lyrics or whatever else he decides to throw in there. They are what makes each concert unique, to me. I can always queue up ATDW or MOAM (which I do often) if I am in the mood to hear some serious singing.

Bolding mine. That really is the key to me as well, although I know it's not the same for everyone. ( :F_05BL17blowkiss: Clayzor) His spontaneity in his shows is what makes me come back again and again. I dearly love the voice, don't get me wrong -- but the memorable moments for me in his shows are almost always banter sections.

BTW, someone mentioned Sterling Heights as some of the best banter from this tour, along with Fort Myers and Pala. My personal pick? Newark. I still watch his "screw it" clip over and over.

ETA: Like ldyj, I am a smile lover. Wheeeeee, how d'ya like my new avatar?

Damn you for stealing that. :F_05BL17blowkiss: I'll find another one, although I hate giving up my current one too....

Good evening everyone!

I'm back from a looooooooooong day of outlet shopping, followed by dinner at a Japanese tapinyaki place (along with two Japanese beers...*hic*). I found LOTS of good things. The surreal moment of the day though was in the Bali outlet....shopping for unmentionables....when I hear the strains of "Invisible." Good Lord, that was weird.

Let's see, topics of the day....Buble. I like him, and would really like to see him in concert, but won't go out of my way to travel to see him. I really like the song "Home" in particular (heard that on my last day in Ireland last year, and so it has sentimental value for me), but I've liked his cover stuff too. I love music from that era in time, though...and he's reworked some 70's pop classics too that are really cool.

AI performance that shook me to the bone? Easy -- BMUB *waves at playbiller*. God, he strode upon that stage and made me fall off the couch. That to me was THE performance from him -- it was fun, he was relaxed, and he sang it fantastic. I did love his UM performance, especially when he hit "the note," but that song will always be a Righteous Brothers song to me.

I do think that Clay and AI will always be linked, and I'm really OK with that. I think that for the people who remember him only from AI and think of him as weird/geeky/fill in negative stereotype here, there are just as many who remember him as that guy who could sang. I also believe that even if Clay has stopped watching the show and hasn't said as many kind things about it lately, he does realize that it is the way he got to where he is today. Without the show, he very likely would be teaching in NC, and he would not be able to do things for the BAF and UNICEF, go on tour, and just SING.

Epipens don't move like that. Sorry.

From the Clayboard

Apparently Jesse Vargas has this picture on his myspace with the heading : "On stage with a singin' fool!"

BWAH!!! Love me some Jesse!

I know y'all are looking at the package in that avi, but I'm enthralled with the hair and glasses (sorry, CG, but I think you knew that about me....). I sometimes think I'm not programmed to smut very often....

OTOH....

I've only had two Clay dreams. The first was when Clay and Jerome pulled up in front of my house, got out of the car and Jerome says to me, "Clay wants to see your bushes".

That's just dirrrrrrrrrrrty.....

I'm off to a daylong shopping trip today....be good ya'll! Don't smut...too much. And don't post too many pretty pictures either. *g*

Oh, ding dang it! I just KNOW I'm gonna end up going to Omaha or Merrillville or Minneapolis or...

:xmas07a:

Couchie, it's all your fault.

When you decide, just let me know, 'k?

Come to Merrillville, you know you want to...

scruffy has a whole slew of montages here via Clack Unlimited. She's done these for every tour, and then for every show for each tour. In other words, there's LOTS to download here. I'm getting ALL of these from the DCAT and then will burn to DVD!

You might also be thinking of this series from sorkid.

Yes, I'm down with cindilu's fantasy too. Wasn't there something about Alison Glock slow dancing with Clay? I remember reading that and thinking "um, yeah. I could do that."

YSRN come to the heartland with couchie! I wanna meet you!

I feel like I kinda killed the dream discussion with my silly little picture....

Paraphrasing something I read at getclayaiken.com, from ralieghlady at CV (and I'm gunshy about bringing CV posts over without permission): I guess Jeanne Holleman's (unauthorized biography lady) case has been dismissed, basically because "she has no case." It's my understanding though that she is filing an appeal. As I said, I'm just paraphrasing right now, because I'd sure like to get a source (such as a news report). In the meantime....

Good morning ya'll!!

Clay dreams? I can only remember one, and it was about two years ago, during the JBT. Clay was playing in my area of the country, which is next to a river. Well, this was a year that the river was flooding on a regular basis. And yet, the JBT was going on, at a stage near the river -- with the flood waters rising with every song. So much so, that the audience (including ME!) had to be evacuated. Clay kept right on singing though, and that damn jukebox was there the entire time.

Funny thing is, my husband has had a few Clay dreams....more than I have! *sigh* How does he get all the luck?

Karen Eh?, your dream is hysterical. Did you offer him some Polygrip?

I can't believe Aspiegirl smutted!

TGIF!!!!!!!

{{{{{{{Karen Eh?}}}}}}}}

Wow. What a move. What a culture shock. But I'm sure you'll be a one person Clayversion team over there. I'm glad I got to meet you this past summer, and will really look forward to seeing you in Waukegan in December!!!

Aspiegirl -- great montage!

:F_05BL17blowkiss: to Claygasm, just 'cause.

YAY!! couchie's coming to Merrillville!!!!

Never seen a Godfather movie. Don't care to either. I don't like mobster movies.

My guilty one that I can say I've never seen is Forrest Gump. Again, I think it was oversold to me, so I will probably never see it.

Woohoo!!!! couchie's coming to Merrillville!!! I'm gonna see couchie again! And she can meet my hubby!!!!!

Oh yeah, and she'll be seeing that Clay guy too!

If I hear of anything, I'll keep you in mind couchie. I'm planning on trying to do upgrade tango for this show....

Oldies but goodies from clayaikenpix.com (clickable)...

I think this also proves Clayzor's point a bit about how YOUNG he looked there for a while....

Speaking of ABC and Diane..I would love to have the editing room floor video of every interview Clay has ever done with them.

Amen, Couchie! AND I'm oh-so-envious of those who got to see THE WHOLE THING when Clay was 'on' Tyra.

Amen to both of your ladies!

Oh, and yeah right, ldyjocelyn....whenever I think of you, "BITCH" is the first word that comes to mind.

Thanks muski, I needed a good laugh today.....

Remembered another good tearjerker for me...."Philadelphia" with Tom Hanks....

"It's a Wonderful Life?" Oh God, Kleenex piled on the floor next to me.