ldyjocelyn

I'm bringing this quote by laughn over from the main thread, because couchie, Ansa and I were discussing possible topics and something similar to this came up: So....how do you see Clay? How do you think Clay sees himself? Does he have to choose one or the other? Another possible topic: Clay on TV -- what kinds of roles can you see him in? What would you want to see him in? The same topic could also be applied to movie roles as well.

I simply HATE being on the reference desk -- I can read stuff but not post! AAAAGH! keepingfaith, thanks for the Lester Bangs stuff. What a great trip down memory lane, and a good reminder that "cool" is fleeting at best. I hope KAndre and the rest of the eHP make it out of Houston safely! {{{{{{muski}}}}}} I hear ya on the creative thing. For me it's cooking. Kind of unfortunate, actually, as I then tend to EAT as well. *sigh* But whenever I feel down, I find myself in a cooking and baking frenzy, and it feels so good! So yeah....indulge that writer in you. You'll find your muse. I stopped getting my daily Google Blog alerts a few months ago, but I still get a daily Google NEWS alert for Clay. It's usually pretty easy to skim the few sentences that Google provides me to figure out if I want to click the link or not. What troubles me, though, is that many of the NEWS alerts seemingly come from BLOGS now. I don't understand that. I'd love to compile a DVD of nothing but the pre-classics banter, the classics medley, and then the post-classics banter for each different show, all on one (or probably two) DVD's. Watching the progression of that would truly be fascinating. I find that I just can't compare them though -- to me it's like picking a favorite child. Again, that's the "rose colored glasses" thing with me though. *shrug*

There's only one person, according to my FCA attendees list, going to be there from here tonight *waves at claymates3* I've looked at the CH attendees list too, and it's small too.

Oh, is that cool, or what? Or my definition of cool, anyway. *g* Clay! :04: :04: :04:

I have decided that I'm going to just follow Jenna and then put Your entire post was fantastic, but especially this paragraph resonated with me. The different ways that people see Clay is a fascinating subject. I find that man hawt...but it's more from his attitude and snark than his physical being. As jmh suggested, his ability to stand up and do his own thing, in his own way, is a major turn on for me. And, as I think most of you know around here, the silly side of him makes me laugh so much...and yet, it's also something that makes me hawt too. Yes, there are days when I find his hair fall-on-the-floor gorgeous, or can't stand something he wears. But, in my case, it's easily forgiveable because I see so much more to him. jmh, thank you for your recap! I can't wait to read more. I also thank you for your insight about the Cary article almost cannily reflecting the conversation here last night. YSRN, I hope you feel better soon! cha cha trusty -- hope the world travelers come home safe and sound very soon. AND -- happy belated birthday! :F_05BL17blowkiss: That PR for the "Fifth Grader" show sounds EXCELLENT! I certainly hope he does well, and it is great exposure for the BAF as well.

Welcome MzKatie! Hope you enjoy it here! I can't help you with "The Aiken Experience" -- I'm not even sure what you're talking about here, actually! (I suppose I should know, since I'm an admin here...) As far as an avatar goes, go into your control panel and there is a place to upload an avatar. I find it best to upload a certain picture into photobucket first (and you can upload there in avatar size) and then take the URL from there into the control panel. Have I confused you yet? And unfortunately, I've got to run now....

The Knoxville News Sentinel With Personality and Charm, Aiken Holds His Own at Tennessee

The Cary News Image No Problem for Aiken

I like to reread sections of LTS from time to time...and am almost always amazed at how much of that book is still relevant to his life today. While I do think that he's probably changed a few opinions since the publication of the book, it truly was a part of him, and in many ways, still seems to be. JMO. Some nice pictures via Mandler at getclayaiken.com (or actually, her mom!): The entire album is here. A few of my favorites: ETA: The Cary News Image No Problem for Aiken I personally LOVE this review. *eyes my location once again*

I love a woman who can quote LTS by page number. Heh. I'm totally with couchie and jamar on this. The first time I saw the classics medley in Houston (my first real experience with it), I said to myself "the man has no fear." He seems to be a person who is not afraid of who he is -- and what people think of him is of no real consequence to him either. And if that means that he goes OTT (and I do agree with you muski that the performance has teetered over the edge a bit for my tastes as well), well, so be it. If he loses fans because of that...he'll deal. And so will I. I am one who loves the entire show he's doing now, but for different reasons. I love the ATDW songs and MOAM, because he simply sings the shiznit out of them. That voice cannot be denied. The medleys, though, are a totally different animal. I love them because they show me what I see as his goofy personality...and I honestly think that many people see that as well. And there are going to be some people that don't like a goofy personality. Their loss, IMO. I think much of the problem with this Insider piece is that it does what the media frequently loves to do -- take something out of context. And also unfortunately, our society today takes only the visual media part of this type of piece, and ignores the story that went with it. It's sad, but it's true....and I'm not sure what can be done about that.

muski, I can understand, and maybe even sympathize a bit. But, my question for you is this: why do you care what the NJU fans think? And I'm asking that as a serious question. I just feel like I need a little more insight on why. Again, I don't mean this as a denegration.

Pssst...that's really Chicago... couchie, I'd fly into either O'Hare or Midway.

Pssst...KAndre...Merrillville....

lickiest1, with the list you just provided....I would venture a guess that he'll take December 1 off. If he does play that date, that would be the fourth of seven shows in a row (assuming that the December 3 date is true). So...come to Waukegan! Hee... I think the big question mark is the dates between December 13 and 19. That's a good chunk of change there, and there's got to be more than a few dates in that time frame. And yes couchie, come to Merrillville....you know you want to.... jmh -- thanks for the pictures. Guh.

Oh, I don't know -- remember the time when the fans thought Clay might have a walk-on part on ER one week? That was actually entertaining for a few days. (And it truly DID last a few days too. Heh.) *does librarian happy dance* I like speculating....but generally when I've gotten a few more facts lined up. I don't need to know everything, but I like a few of the details set first, and then I'll fill in the blanks with what I'd love to see. Right now, this whole thing doesn't have enough for me to even begin to speculate. *joins KAndre in the worship of Tony Orlando and his tight pants and hopes that Clay follows suit*

The "summer variety show" came from an amalgam of Clay saying in a M&G that he has some things in development, that something in development may preclude a tour next summer, and the Houston Chronicle interview where he mentioned being interested in doing a variety show, among other things, ... put it all together and, voila, fan speculation turns to summer variety show. Which, of course, now has to be true. I mean, really....if it's what WE'RE talking about, it's a fact, right? [/the way things always seem to turn out in this fandom for some reason]

Thanks for the link jmh! It seems that the professional photographers are doing a pretty darn good job this tour capturing him. For a while there, it seemed only the fans could do it. Heh. thread title? So....why isn't this in the thread title suggestion thread yet? I would think that as an ADMIN you would know to do that... :eusa_whistle: OMG! This I have GOT to see!!! The one I've seen so far is 070810_Cary_Banter_Imcool_toni7babe. It's pretty funny. He does "gangsta" darn good. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE for merrieeeeeeee and "the stars alligned" concert. I'm so glad it happened for you. And lickiest1 and friends -- EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE for you as well. I'm glad your home safe and sound, and had a fantastic time. Man, is this so true. Here's to good friends, tonight is kind of special....with Clay Aiken singing to you, what else could you ask for? Amen, Sister couchie! Preach it, sister couchie! But then, I think you're mostly preaching to the choir here. I've just always had this feeling that Clay loves stuff that is considered "uncool," "cheesy," what have you. And that's OK with me. My twin!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEE! They say that "everything that goes around, comes around." It may be time for that format to come back, and I can see Clay Aiken leading the charge. Yes, that's it! First of all, you gotta remember that I liked much of ACAC -- and my mother thought it was "off the chain." (My words, not hers...) I think though that a few years of experience under his belt has given him some more insight on what works and what doesn't for him personally as an entertainer. If nothing else, his shows lately have proven to me that when he finds something that makes people laugh, he'll refine it; it something doesn't, it gets dropped the next show. The only problem I see of giving him unscripted stuff is that the show would be 5 hours long, because the man can TALK. (I'd also probably have to have closed captioning on, because he also talks FAST!) I was thinking about this tonight. Didn't he say something early on in the tour (after it was discovered that he shaved his arms and legs) that there would be some sort of announcement, probably toward the end of the tour? For some reason, these unnamed projects lead me back to the shaving and the spray tan and such. Anyway....I'm just looking forward to it, whatever it is. I'm just way too easy for the man. (That Knoxville reviewer would just LOVE me....) That's pretty much my take too. Was thrown by the hair for a bit, but the difference between him and Sandecki was so marked, that it soooooooo totally worked. Man, I need to watch that clip again.... 'night all.

I like this one.... And this one is kind of lame actually, but look at the size of that THUMB!!! I've gotten schmoopie at concerts. I got schmoopie watching the Cary BYLM. (BTW, I think schmoopie is "getting very emotional about something you think may be happening in Clay's life, whether we really know it or not.") At the same time, though....I'm glad y'all are talking about this, because I read a few recaps and was like -- "isn't that romanticizing the whole thing just a tad too much?" I personally feel that Clay knew what was going on, knew enough to keep himself out of trouble, and other than that, pretty much trusted his instincts (as well as Jerome's). While I do think there was a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes, and yes, I do think there was probably an extra special prayer that night -- that could be part of his "let go and let God" philosophy that he seems to have. He thought about it for a bit, and then let it go....while giving a great show in the process. Or, I could have just let CG say this marvelously in a few sentences (while I was watching the internet go down AGAIN here at work....) KAndre, I love all your recaps!

My internet at work has been down all morning. I was getting the DT's there for a while. To quote Clay -- "Good Ness." Um. Wow. More please?!?!?!? That review and blog? Eh. I can deal. I was actually a bit pissed at her....because once again, she's a reviewer who seems to think "too cool for school." Meanwhile, I'm one who loves cheesy radio hits, so when I review like that, I do tend to get my back up a bit. But then, I think it's not worth my time. As far as the blog comments...ITA with Jenna and couchie. And I truly love this: Good Lord, yes. The man has so much talent....but it's a VARIED set of talents. He can sing, he can make jokes, he can dance (oh yes he can!), and so much more. And yet, in this day and age, this seems to be a BAD thing. People who can put on a fantastic show that makes someone laugh and sing along and engage the audience -- and it's almost derided. I hate that. IMO, entertainment should make someone feel good, and that's what Clay does for me. I certainly wish critics would realize that. I guess part of it must be that if you like that kind of stuff, you’re 1) not real smart; and 2) probably a conservative Christian. Well, heck….if I do say so myself….I’m smart and I’m a liberal Christian (yes, there are such animals). But “too cool for school” seems to sell papers I guess. *shrug* Meanwhile, I’ll just continue to live in Uncoolville. I like it here. Yes, yes, yessssssssss! *hurries to post this before the internet goes down again, which it did while trying to compose this*

OK, that gives me a bit more of a hint -- but it's not the 2005 (I have those pictures here), but the 2004 book. I guess I never thought per se about him being in a woodshed for some of those pictures. Passed me in both lanes. Thanks pax (and atinal too)!

Fear, that second picture is really great -- the composition of it especially, IMO. Helps that you've got a really nice subject doesn't it though? Either that or the pants will fall down (which is what I think Clayzor has been praying for the past week or so.... No matter...I'll take either.

OK, possible dumb question on my part: WHAT picture of Clay in the woodshed? I have NO idea what this is talking about. OTOH, why am I suddenly singing the theme to "Raiders of the Lost Ark?"

MOAM just keeps changing and getting better. He keeps topping himself. Wow, this is sounding freakin' fantastic. Yes, I said I wasn't going to be here. I lied.

Yeah, I lost CH too. Serves me right, for I was watching clack from last night instead. Heh. I think I might just skip the cellcert tonight and watch clack instead.

Freudian slip? I can't follow a lot of the banter, the singing sounded good.