ldyjocelyn

Don't remind me jmh.

*sob*

IWKWLI. Amazing, as usual. Right now, I can't tell who's doing the duet with him.

I'm also not sure who won the riffing contest.

It was Angela who did the duet tonight.

The music comes through really clear. The banter, not so much.

I've got pretty good reception...

EIH sounds gorgeous. I love this one too. Hell, I love them all.

HYCA starting!

I'll interject here....I'm sorry to CG and muski. I tried for you too!

Major screams for Clay's entrance!

He's doing some good change-ups to this song. God, I love it!

I don't know, but I feel like I'm drowning in salt for some reason....

I suppose it COULD happen....but I won't hold him to it either.

*hopes and crosses fingers*

I'm here!

Is this man GORGEOUS, or what?

Thanks for bringing over the pretty pictures bottlecap. I dearly love that blue shirt/dark blue jacket combo on him. And good-ness yes, "dichotomy" is the best word ever to describe that man. He's "innocent," and yet he's not. Love taht.

Thank you also jmh for bringing over the recaps. That last one is very sweet with the young boy. I think Clay made his night.

If you don't know, there IS a bit of clack from the Atlanta show at this point. luvbenmeg got a good classics medley from that show, and it is hysterical. He really plays us the "I am not cool" thing, totally as a confession, and for me, it works. He's spoofing so much there -- it's very multi-layered, IMO. What a smart man.

Meanwhile, I'll be catching up all day on the clack from last night. I wonder why he changed the intro to the classics medley?

couchie -- have fun in Vegas!!!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Playful Aiken Sizzles for Fans

Playful Aiken sizzles for fans

By Rodney Ho

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 08/17/07

Clay Aiken is well aware of his image: the dorky balladeer, a new-generation Barry Manilow with hordes of obsessive Claymate fans still buzzing around him four years after he came in second on "American Idol."

And he worked hard to both play up and mock that image Wednesday night at a half-full Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Here are a few of the odder moments:

1. This is not Mozart. Feeding Clay's admitted obsession with TV, he and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ran through a medley of theme songs from sitcoms ranging from "WKRP in Cincinnati" to "What's Happening!!' "

2. Almost as good as the real thing. A woman wearing a shirt emblazoned with "Georgia Claymate" was seen kissing a life-size cardboard cutout of Clay, which got its own seat.

3. Gonna make Clay sweat. He made jokes about the sticky-warm Georgia weather. When a fan handed him a freeze pop, he stuck it to his forehead, then looked at the wrapper. "Sugar free?" he noted in the middle of the song "When I See You Smile." "You think I'm getting fat?"

4. Closet? What closet? Alluding to rumors of his sexual orientation, he made a mock announcement: "I want to talk to you for just a minute about something serious. I know you've read this in the papers, probably seen stories in the tabloids or whatnot. Some radio shock jocks talk about it. Some of you have even thought this about me. ... Atlanta, I am ... not cool."

5. Yeah? Yeah! To supposedly amp up his "cool" quotient, he sang a medley of un-Claylike songs including Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back," Usher's "Yeah" and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" with gobs of campy goodness.

6. Who needs a car? Clay noticed a teen who held up a sign that read, "I gave up a car to see Clay Aiken for my birthday." She said her mom gave her a choice: a car or Clay. Clay laughed and said, "Your mom gypped you! Gypped you!"

Well, spill already!

Yeah, please! I wanna go to bed soon, but since I missed the entire thing, I wanna know what happened.

I agree YSRN. I take nothing the man says personally but would hate to get into a razz battle up close and personal. He'd kick my ass. I know that. But when he teases us, the fans, unmercifully? I absolutely love it.Give me more of that. In my dreams. In my nightmares. Hell yeah. I can believe it is partial truth. But I have a thick skin heee.

Oh yeah, ITA. I'd be in tears (NOT from laughter) after about 30 seconds if I was on the true receiving end of his snark. But, taken as a group as fans, I can see the humor in it. And I can see the truth in it as well.

Going to Fifth Grader!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Details, we're gonna want details!!!!!!!

I personally think he's been gently mocking the fans since, oh, about 2004. Seems to be his nature.

And I personally love him for it.

Did the clack kill everyone? Or are those of your who are suffering while waiting to get home from work to watch the clack just decide to snub those of us who sneakily downloaded?

Topic: Good-ness, do I love Clay Aiken.

The Fort Myers Banter/WTLGD via bearcat is incredibly good too. She was almost straight in front of Quiana, so the view point is fabulous. And once again -- Clay Aiken is a little shit. A sweet one, but still a little shit.

*too bad I used bad words there, that could make a good thread title*

Glad the bear trackers got home safely cha cha! And safe travels for all today going to concerts!

All the camera clack from last night is funny as hell. I think my favorite though is still Scarlett's, because of the EXTREME CLOSE UP!!!! Also, love the zoom in at one point on his crotch. I didn't think Scarlett was a smutter. *g*

WOOHOO! Top of the page!

SCARLETT'S CLACK IS UP!!!!!!!!!!

OMG, it's HYSTERICAL!!!!!!

I'll comment more later when I can actually....breathe....

EEEEEEEEE! for kimiye, who got a M&G last night!!!!!

Here's an interesting excerpt:

The next person, who was so quiet I couldn't hear her, asked something about a quote he made about production, and he claimed not to remember it-- "Maybe I was drunk?" He went on to answer that maybe he was talking about "Touch" which had a lot of electronic effects, and that he meant stuff that was less produced. He mentioned Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word and Lover All Alone, calling them not over-produced, with just a few instruments. Then he said his tastes change all the time and he really didn't know what he meant when he said it. Sorry, I know I suck, but I couldn't hear the two people at the end of the table.

I'm personally liking the "tastes change" comment -- realizing, of course, that my filters apply.

just posting to say my long travel nightmare (of which y'all will hear later) WAS SO FUCKING WORTH IT! The eHP RULEZ! cLACK IS COMING!

EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

:me0:

Watched the available clack already -- and that is so hysterical! His reaction of "horror" at Solo hitting Scarlett is priceless. Also, seeing him with a camera in his hand, taking video, is a bit surreal.

Gotta run. Work beckons. I'll be missing tonight's cellcert -- I had to make a deal with hubby, and this was the night I sacrificed to get to listen to the final two concerts. Of course, Clay will probably be all cute and...but I suppose that's nothing new!

ETA: Candid shots via butterflyshine, post-M&G, pre-show, for Asheville (clickable):

And a clearer scan of the M&G pass:

"I wanna make it easier for you to be Clay Aiken fans, because I wanna be cool."

I still think it's funny how differently this schtick is interpreted by everyone. Clay you will always be cool in my book.

Oh he is cool to me too...by being totally uncool. JMO.

Aarrgghh!! Why am I not there? Oh yeah a husband.

I think husbands are hightly overated!

I'm going to show that quote to my husband right now! Hee.

{{{{{{{{{{merrieeee}}}}}}}

Beat It!!!!!!!!

The crowd is deafening here now. I love it.

Listen by Angela.

I love this introduction to the classics medley anymore....he's such a damn good actor.

"You've read about it in magazines. On the internet. Probably talked about it at work. I am going to confirm a suspicion that many people have about me. I.....I....I am....not cool. At all. I appreciate you all sticking with me, though. I feel though, that I want to feel cool for you."

"I wanna make it easier for you to be Clay Aiken fans, because I wanna be cool."

I missed what he said about Invisible and BOTW!!!!!

"I want some of the coolest music ever....like....I like big butts"

he's on fire tonight... I think he can feel it coming to an end..boy does love his stage

I think that's exactly it. I hate to "think" for Clay, but I truly believe he knows this is what he loves best, being on the stage. (And not just for singing, too....) It's got to make him a bit schmoopie as well.

Sloooooooooow songs banter.

"We found our niche. Johnny Mathis. Andy Williams. Barry Manilow."

He's drawing out the banter....making is slooooooow as well. That's gotta be hard for him, Mr. Motor Mouth.

Asking Quiana is she knows of anyone who writes a fast song for orchesta....but he's asking very slooooooowly.

"I was too busy working on my sloooooow speech to learn the words to this song."

TWYMMF

SSTBTHW

He really takes my breath away with this one....

...and then it just keeps getting taken away again with the songs after it! Amazing.

Wearing a black...no, brown shirt now. Wonder what happened?

ATD...and there's laughter already.

I love "The Clay Aiken Comedy Hour."

This is cute...

"Hey babe, wha'cha doin'?"

ETA:

M&G report from xstgrammy at CV:

Meet and Greet in Knoxville

August 12, 2007

I've never done this before so please bear with me. Please pretend you don't see the grammatical errors and remember that much is paraphrasing.

We had the usual pre-M&G confusion....no passes at the stated 3:00 time...no open box office at 5:00 ...but at 6:00 Jerome came and rescued us. He took us into the mercifully cool theatre and we had to leave our poor friends and family melting in the furnace that was Knoxville. Because of some walking difficulties, I was in a wheelchair which Jerome immediately took over. As he was wheeling me through the theatre he kept telling me what a bad driver he was and how dangerous he was at the wheel. I told him I trusted him with my life. He told me it was funny but he had a skinny white redheaded kid that kept telling him the same thing. Said he just couldn't understand it. I said I guessed I was in good company.

He took us to the "Clay Aiken hospitality room" which in reality was the Green Room, all set up with snacks, bottled water, etc for the gang. Then he left. There were only six of us so we sat and chatted and got acquainted. Clay fans are such nice people. We had a couch, love seat and several chairs in a semi-circle. I wonder if he takes them from venue to venue as he seems to have the same arrangement at each M&G.

Jerome came bouncing into the room in about 15 minutes saying "We have a problem". Immediateley behind him came Clay saying "We have a problem." You know, I never did figure out what the problem was. His presence obliterated all rational thinking. He was wearing a nice pair of tan cargo pants and a light colored 5230 shirt and sandals and that million dollar smile. He shook hands and asked our names. I think he did that then but I really am not sure. That's when the infamous Aiken FOG rolled in and all memory of details vanished.

He told us he had an ear infection and wasn't sure how well he would sing. Like that has ever been a problem. LOL. He said he put something in his right ear and it came out his left ear with a little bit of brain with it. Eeeww...but that's what he said. He then told us about an incident when he was 4 or 5 when his mother had to take him to the doctor because he stuck a bean up his nose, ".. a hard raw bean."

The rest of this is random as I don't remember the sequence....think Aiken FOG again.

He was asked something about Chamberlain. He said he had made it a policy to never discuss Chamberlain as he was Quiana's child and he felt that only she should talk about him as she saw fit. He said Chamberlain never asked to be a celebrity and deserved his privacy. Yeah Clay !!! The person who asked the question was perfectly fine with that and asked if he would tell Quiana that he was a beautiful child and Clay said thank you and I will tell her.

At the request of Morgan Rowan, one of the four fans who gifted him with that beautiful ring he has been wearing , I asked if he had translated the inner inscription yet. He was not wearing the ring but had been wearing it in Asheville. He immediately asked Jamie, who was sitting quietly on the other side of the room, if she had the ring. She said she had it and he seemed relieved. He said he had never taken it off until the previous night (Asheville) and forgot there was an inner inscription. He implied that someone would eventually translate it for him if he couldn't. (I hear he was wearing it again last night in Atlanta)

It was sort of funny because I had prefaced the question with "I have a question from someone else". He laughed and said that's what they all say. They always say it is someone else's question so if it bombs they dont have to take responsibility for it. But mine really was. Honest!!

Apparently, at some time in the past in his blog, Clay made reference to a strange event happening at a McDonalds. He was asked to explain that. He said his tour bus pulled into a McD's and was too high to fit at the drive-through window. He and Jamie took the orders and walked to the window to get the food. The window clerk absolutely refused to serve them because they were on foot. Clay said "He was just MEAN!" It ended with them getting into a strangers car and were taken back to the window to get their food.

He checked with everyone as to the distance they traveled to get to the concert. The gal from St. Louis won with an 8 hour drive although there were several 7 hour trips there.

He was asked about the music for the ice show and who would pick the music he would perform. He said they sent a copy of MCWL to them and the ice show people selected the songs they wanted.....the music is all Clay's, Hoooorah!!!

He was asked if he had seen any of the Climmel skits from the Clackhouse. He was confused about what they were, thinking they were video skits. After getting him straightened out about the Climmel, he said he couldn't get into the CH but he had Quiana's password to view the videos which he did sometimes but he couldn't read the board. Who knows what he was talking about. Someone told him he could read the CH without a password but not sure that it sunk in.

That was about the end of the questions as I remember them. I apologize to all the CV people who sent me wonderful questions to ask but it just wasn't possible to fit much into the short time we had, especially as the Aiken fog just kept getting thicker and thicker.

He then started to sign items. I had one of the beautiful Linda Huber drawings to be signed. For those familiar with them, it was the one from the People centerfold in the light brown sweater. He spent quite a long time examining it as he hadn't seen that one before, although mentioned he had seen others. He was totally amazed by the drawing. "Look, she even has the tiny lights in my eyes in the right places." He said if she wasn't doing that professionally then she should be. I told him she was. LOL

He then stood and we walked over to him to have our individual pictures taken by Jamie and....it was over.

During the M&G, he had been fretting about the lady who broke her wrist the night before on her way to her M&G. She had been given an invitation to our M&G but hadn't arrived and he was concerned about where she was. Just as we were filing out the door, she appeared and he talked with her for a few minutes out in the hall. They may have even gone into a small room there briefly. He is just such a kind thoughtful person. Then he was gone.

I am sure I have forgotten a zillion things....again the FOG. Sitting and talking with him in that 'hospitality room" was like talking to an old friend. Absolutely unpretentious and friendly and certainly hospitable. This was an experience I will NEVER forget. If anyone wants to carry this to any of the other boards, that is fine with me.

The bolded parts make me all schmoopie. The italic part cracks me up!!!

Clay ended up taking Scarlett's camera, and started taking his own clack. So, scarlett pulls out another camera and is taking clack of him taking clack.

He asked her who she was with, and then said "solo," which caused solo to slap Scarlett. Clay noticed. Hee.

During WISYS, during the "hands" line, he mimiced the hitting motion.

Clay glared at PerusingOne for sitting down during the TV medley.

Totally playing up for the camera.

Clack is being gathered easily, unless you are using a flash.

When Scarlett pulled out the second camera, he's like "what do you have in there -- Radio Shack? Best Buy? Circuit City?"

by the sounds of those screams I think it should have been the jeans.

OK, the big question: is there clack of this?

Clay, next tour -- bring your own lighting person too.

Hee. I guess Floridians watch a lot of TV!

Of course they do -- lots of old retirees.

*don't hit me*

Man the screams are LOUD!!! Almost too much for me to take....

I'm going to guess he took off the jacket. heh.

This is probably what Clay was dreaming of when he thought of doing this medley... a big singalong. Hee.

Yep. He just picked some themes that were a bit TOO obscure. Heh.

Yes, the entire crowd is getting into this section. Of course, by now, everyone knows this medley because we've all heard it more than a few times!