ldyjocelyn

Because while I believe that he doesn't like surprises and wouldn't want big changes imposed upon him without his consent, I'm not sure he really would be content with strict routine. His concerts may have had the same general structure, but no two were ever identical, and that was typically because of him. He changed things up. The Christmas shows showed less variation, but even in those, sometimes he'd sing a song one way, sometimes he'd sing them another. You'd never know quite what you'd get.

I think that after a while, Clay gets bored with sameness, and that occasionally, he feels compelled to shake things up a bit. TAR may have been one attempt to shake up his life a bit, at the time. I wouldn't be shocked if we see similar surprises from him in the future.

ITA with you on this. He's told us he doesn't like surprises...but you're right, he seems to "shake things up" in his life from time to time. I actually find that quite an admirable trait in him; so many people aren't willing to do something that would energize them and make their lives richer in some way. He is.

And the beauty part of that? It means he surprises US. It makes being a fan of his all that much more enjoyable, IMO.

BTW, I was talking to my boss about concerts, while we were riding back from a meeting in her car (2 1/2 hour trip). My boss has MoAM (given to her by her daughter); she knew I was a fan via the pictures I have around my office, and my computer wallpaper; and bought ATDW. The WalMart placement that first week worked for her (front rack, by the front door, near the grocery section area). I didn't tell her anything, I swear! Anyway, she LOVES the album, and we put it in the CD player on the way back. I then told her about going to see Clay for the first two shows of the Christmas "tour." Her question was -- "wouldn't it be boring seeing the same show twice?" She really didn't understand how things could change from show to show, so I really had to explain to her how he throws in different banter every night, etc. She then understood. *g*

Man, interesting to look at some places I have not been for a while - one was a bingo!

HUH?!?!? Am I having a blond moment? I don't get it.

Whew! Finally done with my two library orientations this morning...which means I finally have time to post! Yes, this means it won't be QUITE a "nut free zone" here today, because I'M here!

*blows kisses to fellow nut muski*

This is one thing that always makes me wonder about Clay...its not like he is not familiar with the show...he knows the type of challenges they have and how often they travel on water... how much food challenges there are...YET he wanted to go...seriously considering it. That is really amaaaazing to me...either he is delusional or very brave.

Just interjecting here a bit of TAR history. Water challenges have been a mainstay of the show, but the food challenges were a fairly recent addition. I'd say about half the seasons have had food challenges now. Personally, I don't like those -- too "Survivor-ish."

Anymore, I tend to watch TAR with either my husband and I doing to competing (who would take the challenge? Would we yell at each other over directions?), or else Clay and someone (I think it would have either been Kristy or Nick). Honestly -- I think he wanted to do it to get over some of his fears. Why he would do that on national television, I have no idea.

Welcome back Atinal! And this:

I even like "Right Here Waiting" will I get my FCA membership card revoked for that? Anyway, I'll keep trying to check back to see what's goin' on

Nope. Not at all. I think the song is a great start to the album. We'll huddle together and keep each other warm over that one!

So maybe in November it will be time to listen to MCWL??? we can schedule it the last two fridays of the month so its closer to Christmas...what do y'all think? Oh unless thanksgiving may be too busy a time...

I'll look at my calendar, but I would think the Friday after Thanksgiving would be bad. Well, it will be for me, as I'll be with my in-laws in Minnesota. *g* Ansa...we'll talk.

I was posting on another board that I will wait a while and see what happens. Numbers gho up and numbers go down. I thinkthe hardest thing for this album to overcome is the elements of the fandom badmouthing the album. The not just us's can be the only saving grace.

Numbers day is usually a good day to skip the boards entirely. The roller coaster just simply moves too fast, and then it seems everyone throws up at the end, regardless.

Finally...I bring...more pictures! One old (and one that reminds me an awful lot of the picture for the basis of bottlecap's Halloween icon), and one new (love that killer smile...). Again, they're clickable...

Morning all!

I'll try to reply to y'all's smart and sexy posts later this afternoon (when I have more time)...but I need to drop off a present I found at Simply Clay. There's more...and I'll try to post them this evening. I've never seen this one before...

Remember him when...and remember to click on him to make him big...heh.

Welcome JennaZ! I'm so glad to see you here -- I recognize YOUR name as well!

Would you like a drink? Cosmopolitan, maybe?

Anyway, kick off your shoes, settle in...and oh yeah, this guy welcomes you too.

See, he wants you...

Definitely his good friend Quiana. I mean -- Uncle Clay?!?!?! How cute is that?!?!?!

Ok, time to make this game a bit more visually interesting...

GMA 2004

OR

GMA 2005

I know I could have added 2006, but I'm pretty sure (I think!) that everyone would have chosen that model....

YAY!!!!! No more Peter the Jerk! YAY!!!!! I feel badly for Sarah, but I think she appreciated having her eyes open to the real Peter. Bet she didn't want that on national TV, though.

I'm INCREDIBLY grateful the Cho brothers made it to the end in good time. That was so incredibly sweet what they did for the Kentucky couple. I hope the Cho's win the entire thing.

That camel race was a hoot!

I'm loving the different ways they are getting clues this time -- audio, visual, puzzle, the full spectrum of multi-media. Very very cool.

Love this show!

ITA with muski, Claygasm, Ansa, and I think at least a few others here. I think people are CHOOSING to be hurt at the moment. Hurt over what, I'm not quite sure -- but I choose to NOT think like that. I celebrate this album (poking Claygasm while I say that), and I celebrate the man. He makes me happy.

And...this may sound a bit "angel-wingy"...but I take a lot of my cues from Clay. He seems to be pretty happy with what is going on. OK, so I haven't seen him in a few weeks...but from what I heard from the Tyra show, that enthusiam has carried me for over a week now. Anyway, if he's happy, I'm happy.

I actually read someone today that said "he hasn't blogged in 2 months, that must mean something is wrong." *eye roll* Nope...it just means that he's BUSY. And her certainly doesn't have to do anything on my timeframe.

Hey -- I thought of something!

Favorite "guy" schtick from the JBT

Favorite "guest singer" from the NAT

Favorite "dancer" from the NAT

Also...

Would those who have seen Clay live be willing to relive their experiences? How about those who have MET Clay (sadly, not me)?

My sexiest guy was a combination of Clay Aiken (eyes, hair, and arms [because they're fuzzy *g*]), Usher (abs and butt) and Naveen Andrews (everything else). What a multiracial stew I've concocted. Heh. Felt a little like Dr. Frankenstein there creating that perfect man.

anyone know where we can find some chill pills, I think I want to pass them out on certain boards for halloween.

As long as you put it in Ghiardelli chocolate, I think they might even take it willingly!

playbiller, it's nice to finally meet at least one of the dogs in your life, even if she is no longer among us. Pets are the best; I love my kitty cats like there's no tomorrow. I'll have to dig out a picture of them for y'all some time. (BTW, it always did make me sad that Clay admitted to not liking cats.)

Speaking of pets in costumes, Cute Overload is going to kill me. You have to scroll down a bit and check out the guinea pig dressed as a bee and the pug as a crocodile. Too funny.

I LOVE Cute Overload. One of the best sites ever. I finally broke down yesterday and subscribed to their email updates. My other frequently checked site that is non-Clay related (and one he would NEVER visit) is Stuff on My Cat. What people will do to cats...

Ansa, I voted in the poll. I think this will be a fun discussion, and I've started picking all my favorite moments. Just need to try and come up with some more topics...

Thanks bottlecap, found exactly what I needed!

Lawd Jesus, bottlecap is drinking again. Is she the resident lush around here? And don't even get me started on what she's drinking this time. *g*

georgia, we missed you, but we'll be looking forward to your input next weekend. I had a really great time listening to Clay at the same time as my friends. It was also very interesting with the varied opinions about songs.

Topic: I made cheese soup for dinner tonight. Clay would have liked it, I think. Nothing in it that could kill him.

muski, thank you for sharing that about your daughter. It made me tear up as well, even if I don't have kids...but it made me think of ME when I was growing up, and how I felt about myself. Your daughter is a wise one. ITA with Ansa, pull that out every once in a while for her and remind her about that.

Clack help needed: I'm looking for the picture of Jimmy Kimmel and Clay at the Virgin CD signing. I thought I kept it, but I didn't, and I could use it for a project. If anyone has it, could you send it to me please?!?!?! Thanx.

Missed the "Nighline Nerds" clip the first time around. Ansa, Nightline is the ABC latenight news show, and they must have done a thing on nerds being pretty cool (which I so agree!).

I'm pretty positive that there are fans that wish Clay wouldn't be associated with nerds, or geeks, or whatever. Me? Since I was one, and in many ways, still AM one, I love it. It shows to me that nerds are talented, smart, and can make a heck of a lot of money. It's pure image -- but not the image that the "cool kids" think is right. I say...screw them. Be happy in your own skin. It seems to me that Clay is.

Here are some video clips

The Asian through the cell phone Without You courtesy of Becauseyoulive of CB

Wow. I'm actually very pumped by that...a lot. Maybe, just maybe, they're pushing their publicity for the foreign market. I know Ansa has mentioned that SEVERAL times, that he would be a superstar in Asia. Very cool.

In the meantime...I still have ideas about this video that hasn't been seen by us in America, except through an Asian cellphone, and partially through commercials.

1) I'm still believing that the dual disc will show up. It will just show up to re-energize the sales for the album, at least a bit.

2) When will they release this? Two options, IMO: in another few weeks, just in time to capitalize for the Christmas season; or after the first of the year, in time for Valentine's Day.

3) If they do decide the "before Christmas" timeframe -- I'm thinking it would make sense to have that be something offered during the rumored QVC appearance. Can you imagine? QVC's membership would increase 10-fold in a single hour. *g*

Now...where DID I put that QVC card? Yes, I did have one a long time ago, and actually bought one thing, a Star Trek collectible plaque. I would venture a guess that my account is gone though. OTOH...my sister in Florida is a QVC junkie. I may have to have her watch that night, if it does happen.

The things that make you go...hmmm....

I think LAA is one of those rare moments where everything just comes together beautifully.

Yes siree bob. As I said, the lyrics are usually the very last thing that gets me. (As an example -- there are still lyrics to songs that I LOVE that I don't know, even when I'm singing along.) But with LAA, the melody and production got me after 2 listens; and by the fourth listen, I had the lyrics down cold. The combination of all the elements make it a heartfelt winner for all involved -- Clay, David Foster, Eman. Wow.

I woke up this morning dreaming I was still running the Listening party. Somehow, you guys went on to the next part of the album without me. I was not a happy camper. Heh. But I'm glad everyone had a good time, and I'm looking forward to next week.

And yes, I think we should do this for MCWL, MoAM, and the demos. I'll try to figure out a way to do one of the concerts as well.

Foster wrote a beautiful melody and Clay found its heart. Or gave it his.

Amen. And Amen again.

Thanks for the lyrics answers guys. ITA with strummer that the fusion of lyrics and melody seem to play a great deal...and when LYRICS get me in the gut, I'm right there. That's LAA. Not many songs do that for me anymore, but Clay and Foster managed it.

Good night sweet prince.

*choke* *sputter*

OTOH, Ansa's post made me cry.

strummer, interesting analysis. One that I'm not sure I totally agree with.

LAA is honest, almost painfully so. I'll agree to that. But WY is an emotional tour de force for me as well...it's just a different set of feelings. I see it more as raw anguish (with glory notes *g*), while LAA is a simple heartfelt cry. For me, it's hard to separate the emotions out like that.

And I think in concert, both songs will slay me dead.

Claygasm, don't let that glimmer die. I thought it had died in me...and then it was alive. It happens.

I find it very interesting about people that are lyrics people vs. those who are music people. I think in my case it was simply training -- I've had music lessons since I was 6, and been an amateur musician all my life. Iw as trained to listen for a good melody, one that had a hook. Also, my listening to the radio added to that. What makes people lyrics people?

*sigh* This song is wonderful. The matching of the cello and his voice...perfection.

Well, technically...tonight, we're done! I'm probably going to bed here soon...long day ahead tomorrow.

Thanks SilverAngel, and thanks to all her came and commented. It truly was fun!

and when he semi-wails near the end, rather than sing the high parts softly...so interpretive....he's trying to understand....

love this...it's gorgeous and when i had it playing in my car one night and my husband got in the car, i didnt' say anything about the song and he actually just turned it up1 and we silently listened to it on the way home. when we got htere and the song eneded. i just said, clay wrote that.

my hubby said, 'it's really, really good.'

yep

I love your hubby. He's a keeper.

The other thing that gets me about this song -- the range. He goes from the lowest low to the highest high in the same damn song, and it freaks me out how good he is at that.

As far as this being on ATDW or not...

I'm thinking a situation just like SoliMoAM. Remember that? Got me to buy another copy of MoAM. I wouldn't be surprised if they do that again in the new year with LAA and ATDW.

I also am delusional enough though to believe we'll also get a dual disc version of ATDW at the beginning of the year.

OK, one more time of LAA. That's about all I can handle in one sitting. Too emotional.

Death of me lyrics --

Makes me wonder

If I only build it all ... to watch it fall ...

OMG

No freakin' kidding. The heartbreak there is palpable.

I just want to give him a big hug after this song. I wonder how hard (or easy) this song was for him to record.

First of all...claygasm, I'm just teasing. Got it?

Secondly...this song is going to kill us all dead live in concert. The heartbreak in his voice at the very end...

God, now I've got tears in my eyes.

I'm proud of Clay for laying himself on the line with this song. My reasoning for this not being on the album is actually very simple -- he didn't want to be criticized for it, and was very unsure of his writing. (He basically admitted that on the Yahoo interview with LNM). This is a "bare your soul" song, and I don't think Clay was quite ready for that yet, especially for the critics. But for the fans...it's a gift.

On first listen on September 19 -- it was 2:30 a.m., and I just didn't get it. Period. This song was nice. Just nice.

Second, third, and fourth listens, after getting some sleep. Gah. I get it now.

This song is ME 10 years ago...wondering when the hell love was going to find me. Soon afterwards, I gave up looking for love...and found my husband.

Anyways...this song is beautiful. The simplicity is what gets me. His vocals are stunning.

Let the groaning, and the sighing, and the kleenex, commence....