keepingfaith

I'll be there, and will be bringing my sister along. I may have two more but can't confirm yet since I don't know what time they will be getting here from Marble Falls. I'm easy to please on the menu. Regarding hors d'oeuvres, the stuffed mushrooms at Birraporetti's are to die for. Actually, I may be too excited to eat anything other than a Xanax!

I just googled and got my info from the Recording Artists Coalition. And it very well could be dated information. Me? I know nothing. http://www.recordingartistscoalition.com/i...ngcontracts.php

What I don't understand are the assumptions that Clay has a 3-album contract and that he's in a position to leave RCA. I've been reading that a 7-album deal has long been standard in the industry, but that California a few years ago passed a law limiting recording contracts to a 7-year maximum. The 7-album contract usually extended from 10-15 years and was considered an unfair labor practice. I'm assuming that since Clay signed with RCA and 19 in California, that they signed him for 7 years. They don't have to release records, but they can make sure the artist doesn't record elsewhere.

Reading that this subject was in full turdblossom at the CH I went over there. CH is not one of the sites I usually check out unless there's a reference to something there, such as today. Holy Crap, there are a couple of serious babywhippers over there, just whipping the baby to hear him cry. That's just crazy. And, of course, they are self-described experts, probably geniuses, I don't know ... but they don't know jackshit about doing the best thing for Clay Aiken. I read enough Roger hate to make me sympathetic to him ... and I know nothing about him -- other than Quiana has a picture with him on her MySpace and calls him "Fabulous". Maybe if someone did hear Roger say something about Clay "going down" the actual words he said could have easily related to the expectation that his sales numbers would be "going down" and that bit of knowledge wouldn't take a mind reader because that was and is happening to every artist in the business. I can tell you this ... I'm up and excited and positive and tickled about seeing Clay this summer in concert. I'm in heaven. Why anyone wants to muddy up the fandom with this bullshit again, within weeks of his summer tour, makes me go hmmmmmmm.

When I came on the boards last year and read the RCA/Clive/Roger hate frenzy, my first thought was .... these people are idiots. They don't realize that they are disease carriers. That was my immediate reaction, and it has only intensified with time. I love to debate, but not with sick minds or sycophants ... so I'm HERE where I see evidence of neither. I have no idea if the poddies are haters in thin disguise, paranoic prima donnas (to quote John Lennon), or just a bunch of circle jerkers, but I've decided it doesn't matter because the bottom line is the same ... this crap hurts Clay Aiken. Yeah, I've read the stuff about how some of these people are learned professionals -- lawyers, doctors, rocket scientists, and business and media experts ... but accepting that as a given does not preclude that they are still morons regarding how to effectively and positively support Clay Aiken.

My dad's birthday is December 26th. Poor baby, he said when he was a kid he always got one present for Christmas and birthday and always ate Christmas dinner leftovers for his birthday. We try to make a big deal out of it now with real birthday presents and dinner at fancy restaurants -- and no turkey!

Apologies in advance if anyone is offended by seeing this ... but I think when you look this good it deserves to be seen and enjoyed! He looks exceedinly HAWT in this picture ... and it's not even the huevos rancheros one! Okay, I confess, I've been staring at this picture for a while. It has powers.

If Ryan said that, then I bow to Clay's titaniums. And if he didn't, I bow to Clay's titaniums. jmh, that blend threw me out of the chair. And how appropriate at this time .... Clay Aiken ... So hung, horses weep with envy. Maybe that's what happened with Taco last night, a little old-fashioned competition. You know how guys are. And now to the Access Hollywood picture ... good God he could seriously hurt somebody with that thing!

Thank you, jmh :F_05BL17blowkiss: -- I've probably watched it 25 times already this afternoon. Not that I'm a junkie for this stuff or anything, and just because I'm going back to watch it again tonight does not constitute addiction. :eusa_whistle: How is it that I've been around this fandom for a few weeks shy of a year now and this is the first I've heard of or seen this special piece of Clack (package of Clack?). Not that this is a formal reprimand or anything, but I've heard some of your talk and if you really consider yourselves first class smutters, then you have to spread this stuff around. So if you beautiful Clack fiends can think of any other blasts from the past I may be missing out on, just drop me a link any old time as it will always be most warmly appreciated. I don't know, but I'm beginning to think that addiction becomes me somehow. And the Climmel hi res pics are superb. What a looker. I've reached the conclusion that Clay's new teeth give him a more masculine look. And those shoulders. I think I missed a lot of the JKL show until watching the second or third time because those broad shoulders captured my attention. The man has so many sexy body parts that multiple viewing to isolate and focus are necessary. And the complete sensual organism that is Clay Aiken is so much more than the sum of all those sexy parts. He loves to touch things, and I love to watch him touch things. OMG I'm even sounding pervy to myself. But I think my intentions are pure. Pure what, I'm not saying. I think I need more Clack now. 'Bye.

It's perfectly clear to me why Clay came out on a horse ..... He's a Sagittarian. He likes surprises, doesn't want to do the same thing twice, and he's a Centaur! I do think this was all Clay's idea because Jimmy mentioned being allergic to horses and Clay thanked him for being a good sport. Yep, I think Clay puts thought into his Kimmel appearances to always do something unique. As if just being himself isn't unique in and of itself!!!

My money's on Clay's segment. And keepingfaith, do tell which gif o'er which you drool? Might it be from Rhode Island? Ain't nuthin' folding in that one, let me tell you straight up. I drool o'er this one and muski, if this ain't Rhode Island .... then please please show me some Rhode Island! In retrospect, all is right with the world ... last night we had Clay in hot jeans on a horse with an erection (yes I like that phrase just the way it reads) and he said "ass" and "screwed," likened his photo to a "confused Jesus", and said he'd kill Bin Laden. He seems to have his life back. I love this man.

He had to. That was 'Janice Soprano' he was talking to. He's just speaking her language. Probably his, too. Please don't tell me there are fans that object to Clay using the word "ass" and, if so, does that mean they don't ever get to look at his ass?

You're killing me, CG. I just recently saw the small .gif from an early tour when Waldo was focused upon and, uh, mmm, let's just say made a studly appearance and based upon that I think he would give the horse some serious competition by any s-t-r-e-t-c-h of the imagination. And, btw, was that for real? I mean really for real? Because, OMG if it is. But then I guess those extra long hands and feet make perfect sense, huh?

If you're a big fan of The Daily Show, you may have seen the Bill Moyers interview with Jon Stewart on PBS last week (the reinstated Bill Moyers' Journal on Friday nights). If not, it shouldn't be missed -- and YouTube has it. Now somebody tell me, how did we ever exist without YouTube. It's only been around since about March/April of 2006. How did we live? PART 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abOF8VtqdJI PART 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCntjg2M6QQ PART 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRq2blRumc8 Colbert last night was one for the ages. I usually watch both shows and most nights it's a toss-up as to which I enjoy more. I think The Word segment on Colbert is the most consistently thought-provoking three minutes on television. And it makes me laugh out loud. Both Stewart and Colbert have huge cajones, don't they? But Sweet Jane did her thing last night and poor Stephen was completely meeked out for the first time ever. If you missed it, I found it here: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Jane_Fonda_f...lbert_0510.html

St. Cyril's has lots of signs ... check it out .. (Especially this one: If you want to make God laugh just tell him your plans .... sound familiar?) http://www.stcyrilhouston.org/ Briefly back to the Beatles. I always loved George for his heart and soul, ... but I screamed for Paul. I think we've discussed this before, Clayze. In fact, I had a teenage marriage to a Paul McCartney look-alike, and no it didn't last. I've seen Paul twice -- once with Linda and once with Heather. And that Hussy Heather better not get close to me. I didn't see The Beatles when they played Houston (tickets were $5) because my mother didn't approve of them. But as soon as I was old enough to buy my own tickets I saw a few others for $5, including Hendrix and the Stones, if that gives you any idea what I was doing in the late 60's. Mama would have been much happier with the Beatles, instead of the Stones, the Doors, Zeppelin and Zappa. Some of it is still coming back to me.

I can hear the ghost of Claude Rain's now ... "Bitching? There's bitching in the Clay Aiken fandom?"

OM Goodness that brings back some bad memories. My Dad was from Liverpool and his relations all knew The Beatles! John's aunt lived across the sreet from my aunt and my cousin dated George for a while! She used to go to the Cavern all the time. My Dad would not take me up there to visit! I was sooo mad at him for a long, long time! I cannot wait to SEE Clay at my concerts! I honestly do not care what he sings...just sing! Though I would love a full version of When A Man Loves A Woman. I miss that voice As for the controversy king...I wonder if he is getting a giggle out of stuff now? At this point it just has to be so ridiculous how things are taken out of context and manipulated! If there is one thing I have learned over the past few years is how anything in the media can be changed to fit their agendas. It certainly has opened my eyes up to what I see in print and on TV. I don't believe much of anything any more......... Well unless it's good about Clay*g* {{{{{merrieeee}}}}}, so glad that your surgery went well! And I have to pile on the George love here. Two of my prized possessions are the ticket stub from my George concert in the 70's with Ravi Shankar, Billy Preston, et al. and the DVD of the Concert for George at Royal Albert Hall with Eric, Paul, Ringo, Ravi, Dhani, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty ... mmmm, I need to watch that again. Paul and Eric doing Something is beyond words. Your aunt lived across the street from Aunt Mimi? My, my. See, I'm still enough of a BeatlesChick that my heart is aflutter at that. A girl in my gym class back in the day was from London and at the time the boys were filming A Hard Day's Night her uncle was working on the train they filmed on and was in the movie. That was enough to make her a school celebrity. She had an advance copy of Lennon's "In His Own Write" and I remember the first day we all read "No Flies On Frank" ... oh for those days. BTW, I'm nuts about the Beatles Love CD, and the acoustic version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. {{{sigh}}} I've only been in two fan clubs in my life .... The Beatles and Clay Aiken. And for attending multiple concerts over the years, only the Moody Blues ... but that's getting ready to change in a couple of months, ahem.

Damn, I didn't want to have to fight for RHW. A wise man once said that anything worth having is worth not fighting over, but I could make an exception for RHW. Maybe we could work out a shared custody plan? I don't even understand why that song does to me what it does because it's not the kind of song I usually go for, but for some reason it hits me in all the right ways. I think I'm fortunate in never having heard of Richard Marx before. Also, not being a listener of AC radio, I'd never heard that song before Clay's version, which was a big plus I think. I know a couple of people who don't like RHW because they were tainted by Marx's version. Also, I never heard EID before -- yeah, I didn't see the Robin Hood movie either. The only time I recall ever seeing or hearing Bryan Adams is on the DVD of the Roger Waters' The Wall Live in Berlin. Everytime I listen to WY I just melt. The song never did a damn thing for me when Nilsson did it, and I had never heard the Mariah version, blessedly, but Clay's voice on this one is, IMO, the best ever, ever, ever. It curls my toes, just for starters. I was a late blooming fan of IWTKWLI -- a song I was familiar with and the duet didn't grab me ...... at first. Now, I turn that baby up and it gets the job done. My only criticism is that it's too short. I think it should go on for at least another 30 secs of intertwining vocal gymnastics and big drums. Yes, indeed, I hope to hear this one performed live. :TourExcite: And ... for my sentimental favorite, my most treasured wish would be for Clay to sing every single word of Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me in concert with the symphony orchestras. If he's ever going to do it, this would be the time. I could be persuaded to settle for an Elton medley with SSTBTHW, CYFTLT, and DLTSGDOM. Heavens, I'm starting to swoon just thinking about it. :Tour3: Oh yeah, did I mention that I don't really care what he sings just as long as he sings? While I have fantasties, I make no demands whatsoever. But .... if he does sing DLTSGDOM .... or an Elton medley ..... I'll just die right there -- locked in samadhi.

I watched an interview with Bob Geldof on local PBS over the weekend and he said more or less the same thing that Clay said ... but in many more words -- that the point is not to just send money to feed the hungry and stop there. As Clay would say ... "pat me on the back and give me a cookie." The point is to determine why there is no food, or why the people can't get to where it is, and strike at the root causes of the hunger and deprivation. The old adage about "don't give a man a fish, give him a fishing pole and teach him to fish" doesn't hold up if there's an army surrounding the pond shooting at anyone trying to fish. I understand what Clay is saying ... he's saying don't just treat the symptoms, diagnose the problem and treat the systemic causes. And he's exactly right, of course. I've read a lot of comments about wishing Clay would hook up with this person or that, but after listening to an hour of Geldof, I sure hope Clay meets up with him one day. I found Geldof to be incredibly high on honesty, low on ego, and extremely inspiring. If Clay loses a fan or two because he takes a stand for something he believes in deeply, it will balance out with picking up fans who admire his strength and determination. Clay may have been a nerd in his past life, but he's wasn't a milquetoast and I don't expect he ever will be. I think I've been saying this for as long as I've been on the boards, but I am convinced that record sales is NOT the most important thing in Clay Aiken's life -- maybe not even second or third. The man just loves to educate! And as far as Clay being political goes .... in my opinion, EVERYTHING is political. One can play or sit on the bench, but if you get in the game, it's political. I saw Kelly on Letterman last night and enjoyed the live performance much better than the video. I didn't care for the song when I first heard it, but I thought she sold it last night. Thing is, I don't think this is a song that will be that listenable after a jillion plays -- I think it will age quickly once the novelty of the line "bet it sucks to see my face everywhere" wears off. But I reallly like it that she's pushing her own material, whether it's great or whether it's crap, she deserves the opportunity to put it out there and give it a shot. {{{{Clayzorback}}}} ... yesterday was your birthday ... and I didn't know it?? I would have baked a cake! Okay, well I won't miss it again, M'Dear. :00003653: :00000441: :09: Hope you had a great day. But I ithink you should have a Birthday Week ... that's my style!

To Love Somebody is such a great song that it would be hard to mess it up, I think. I thought Josh did have one of his best performances with TLS, but to follow Clay? What was he thinking? And I don't even want to consider what Justin may have been thinking. This guy thinks Clay Aiken was in Season 4 and looks like Castro. Hello?? Justin Guarini? Anybody home? ETA: I change my mind from time to time about my favorite Clay song from Idol. Looking back on it all, I think at the time the song that shocked me, that blew my mind, that exceeded all expectations, was Mack the Knife. Totally unexpected. That song proved to me that there were no limits for Clay Aiken. I groaned when I heard he was singing it. Oh no, not that barfy Mack the Knife song -- the staple song of Vegas lounge lizards!! But, oh yeah, Mack the Knife dazzled me and the last note took my breath away. Preconceived notions of the songs Clay would ever sing ..... out the window.

Reminds me of the two times during AI2 when someone had the audacity to sing the same song as Clay --- Josh Gracin with To Love Somebody, and Justin Guarini who sang UM the night after Clay sang it. Big, big mistake for Justin. That may have been the night his career hitched a ride out of town. Did anyone see Darlene Love on Letterman last night? She sang River Deep, Mountain High in front of an orchestra -- yes there were strings involved -- and it was powerful and brilliant. It rocked my stuff! Darlene Love has a huge voice, and the song had such intensity that I couldn't help thinking about Clay singing in a similar vein, a/k/a blow the roof off, during the tour. Which leads me to the conclusion that I have no expectations, desires or suggestions for the tour setlist ... other than what Clay & Co. choose to perform. I do know that orchestras backing up popular entertainers are known to play against type and get down with the rock, funk, and R&B. The Houston Orchestra is doing an evening of Led Zeppelin music later this summer -- the lines are blurring. We've seen a few things go out from subscriber venues to know that certain songs like BOTW, Invisible, MOAM, WY, HYCA and IWTKWLI will likely be included. And while we've heard about For Once In My Life and Moon River, there's no reason to assume these arrangements will be anything like we've heard before. Moon River may be as close to Andy Williams as HYCA is to Dolly Parton, but Clay will do his thing. Of all the songs on ATDW, I expected to like HYCA the least, and as soon as I heard it I fell in love with it. If Clay sings Moon River, it will simply mean that Andy Williams will have forever lost his song to Clay Aiken. I'm excited at the prospect of hearing Clay sing BOTW in front of a full orchestra in a symphony hall. But if he doesn't sing it, I'm okay with that. If he doesn't sing LAA, I'm all right with that, too. I like the song, but I guess I'm the exception to prove the rule in that I don't think it's all that. His voice is superb and the lyrics are sensitive and real, but David Foster's arrangement or Eman's arrangement, whosever, leaves me cold and hollow. The cello is the only part of the song that I enjoy instrumentally, Clay's voice and the cello provide the only warmth. I may be a gang of one, but I don't think LAA if released would have gone anywhere on the charts ... it's just too much of a downer in combined lyrics and melody. You can have one or the other, but not both together. Without You is a downer lyrically, but the music is powerful. SSTBTHW is a downer lyrically, but the guitar work elevates it. If LAA is your favorite song ever, don't mind me, I'm probaby just talking out of my ass, again. On my CD, I put LAA before IWTKWLI to give it a bounce. If Clay is singing IWTKWLI on the tour, maybe it will be in tandem with LAA. {{{Clayzor}}} :F_05BL17blowkiss: I'm so happy that the surgery is behind you and hubby, and that it's Milkshake Time! You're making them at home, now? Why did I think you'd be making frequent trips to Sonic .... oops, I forgot that you were Madame Gourmet at Christmas, so I guess Mr. Clayzorback is getting some special shakes from you, baby! I'm still in limbo on Tulsa. I have a new car, but I don't want to make an 8-hour trip to Tulsa alone. Anybody need a ride to Tulsa? :TourExcite: I have my sister about half interested in going. She pretty convinced that one concert will be sufficient for her. She's never seen Clay either, so, we're going to be two virgins (uh hmmm, so to speak) on the second row at Jones Hall. But she is at least half interested in going to Tulsa with me because she'd like to see the Lyle Lovett/k.d.lang concert at the Brady on Sunday night the 8th. I'm working this as hard as I can. Anyone have any tried and true techniques in coercive persuasion? Or want to ride to Tulsa with me? :pod:

While we usually "cook fajitas on the grill", or "smoke a brisket" at my house, I do know that for many the word "Barbeque" is just another "F" word - some people use it as any part of speech necessary. I know people who in the course of having a barbeque will barbeque their barbeque on the barbeque. Can't get enough of that effin' barbeque!!!

Veeeeery in-ter-est-ing .... and are these the same sources that believe the new album will consist of songs from the original album that Clay wasn't allowed to release because it was too good ... with a tracklist full of sure-fire big time radio hits that weren't allowed to see the light of day, or be heard on radio, because all the songs would have been mega-hit successful? The resurrected phantom album that Clay needs to get released before RCA gives the songs away to other artists they like better? What must these "insiders" think now that RCA is promoting ATDW on radio, both the album and tour? That RCA now wants Clay to keep on doing love song covers because they are scared he may threaten the popularity of Foo Fighters with a new edgy, rocking sound? I just can't keep all the theories straight anymore -- they have morphed, revised, and disappeared and reappeared too many times. But mostly these theories seem to be conveniently forgotten just as soon as disproven. I still don't get the point. And I can't believe they're still at it.

This comment totally cracks me up. Bitter about the album ... on Clay's behalf. That's rich.

Cha Cha, your avatar is incredible -- the eyes change but the rest of the face moves as one. It's unbelievable. I've always seen a resemblance between Paul and Clay, but I never before realized how much. That's just remarkable!