keepingfaith

Cotton, Happy Birthday to You! Videos of skating with Sasha, and a radio interview ... such a NIGHT!!!! So ... Clay says he wouldn't put out an album that didn't sound like Clay Aiken. That eliminates absolutely nothing. CG, I don't think there's any reason to believe that Clay's going after another album of slo-o-o-o-o-o-o-w, lou-ou-ou-ou-ou-oud songs. Breathe, honey! After what he's performed in seven tours, it's obvious to me that whatever Clay sings sounds like Clay, and among the songs he's performed night after night are Invisible, Rosanna, Jailhouse Rock, Measure of a Man, Great Balls of Fire, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Livin' La Vida Loca, You Were There, Opposites Attract, Yeah, OPP, 1999, SexyBack, and The Way You Make Me Feel. It all sounds exactly like Clay to me, whatever it is. The difference seems to be that Clay wants HIS contemporary songs to mean something, to satisfy him, and apparently he's succeeding since he's already claiming them as his signature songs. All right!!! Hot Damn!!!!! The one thing he has told us about this new producer is that he's eclectic. And I think Clay mentioned that because it's a big part of what he was looking for in a producer, and also why he's not defining a musical direction. He doesn't have to. I think he's going to be all over the place ... right where he belongs. He's not being forced to limit himself to a style or definition, to that dastardly niche I keep hearing about. Clay's voice is his niche. That's the beauty of the thing. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!! I'm cooking for 19 tomorrow .... now back to the kitchen at midnight to take a cherry pie out of the oven.

Clipped this from a transcript after watching it on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on Monday night. Olbermann was interviewing NYC DJ Maria Milito about the Idolization of American music in the aftermath of the AMAs: OLBERMANN: What happened to that big guy? Is he still in the business? MILITO: Which one? OLBERMANN: The big guy who didn‘t win. Studdard. MILITO: Ruben. I don't know. Ruben's gone from winner, to co-winner, to the big guy who didn't win.

It's my opinion and observation and all that, that Clay has personally invested in everything he's ever done -- from AI to present. In reading above, I noticed a comment that he's going with a pop sound on the next CD. Do we know this? From what I glean he's happy with the new album, he's mentioned contemporary, but contemporary covers a wide field. I think an album that reflects Clay would be eclectic, featuring pop, rock, r&b, a couple of power ballads, and maybe something with a Latin flavor so he can move it, baby. He seems so pleased with the new album, I wonder if it will be self-titled? Also, I love recorded Clay and live Clay. I adore the recorded versions of WY, RHW, and I don't think he could do BW live with the same result achieved on the CD. WY definitely improves with age, and I've deeply loved it from the first time I heard it. Recently, I heard the Nilsson WY at Walgreens, and it sounded so empty compared to Clay's rich version. I do believe that IWTKWLI, TOA, BYLM and HYCA were better live. Who am I kidding? -- I love it all. For all the pissing and moaning last year, ATDW is a part of my life and will have much greater staying power in my collection than MOAM. It already has. I never had the need to listen to MOAM with the same intensity and frequency as ATDW. Not saying I don't love and appreciate MOAM, but I've never gotten strung out on it to the extent I have with ATDW. I think ATDW has a timeless quality and when styles change and today's pop tunes sound like yesterday, ATDW will still be relevant. Some albums take 20 years to go platinum, and they ultimately have much greater impact than some of the stuff that sells millions and disappears forever. There's music that sold millions in the 70's that people would rather take a beating than listen to now -- and there's music from the 70's that I didn't get into until the 90's. Okay, an example: the early 70's Bonnie Raitt album with songs like I Feel the Same, Guilty, Everybody's Crying Mercy, Write Me a Few of Your Lines, etc.... I bought it at least 25 years after it was released. Lee Michaels had a huge hit back in 1969/70 with his album featuring songs like Do You Know What I Mean and Heighty Hi and everybody I know had that album. It was everywhere and blanketed radio for a long time. The only reason to listen to it now would be some overwhelming nostalgia, and I don't think I could ever get that nostalgic. But Bonnie had it going on, and just because the world wasn't so aware of her in those days, the music stood the test of time. The name of that album, BTW, was (and still is) "Taking My Time" -- and she did. None of this may be analogous to Clay at all, but it's one of the reasons I don't think instant gratification is imperative with recorded music.

For me, a rock fan, Daughtry is derivative of Nickelback, who was derivative of Creed, who was derivative of Pearl Jam .... I'll just cut the strings and listen to Eddie Vedder since they are all trying to sound like him anyway. KimC always crawled up my bad side. I didn't really need another reason to be disgusted by her, but she gave me one anyway. Elliott. I always liked him. I didn't see Idol when Daughtry was voted off, but I was happy Elliot was saved for another week. He's doing great ... and got his own makeover with beautiful new teeth and longer curly locks. His album came out earlier this year and sold over 400,000 so far, and his single has been a radio hit and sold 750,000 last I heard. But if he came in concert, he probably couldn't sell out a movie theatre. He got radio, he had a hit, but he ain't no star. I always liked the kid because he had so many problems, deaf in one ear, juvenile diabetes, a mouth full of mangled teeth, dropped out of school to help support his mother by working in a drugstore ... he was a sweetheart. Now he's got a singing career. I think Elliott and Daughtry will far surpass Taylor and Kat. I think that's doable ... it's called blackbox voting now. Oooooh, another opportunity for me to throw cold water on BFM. Clay sang it well enough, but the song would never, ever, ever, ever, have been a radio hit IMO. It had strange lyric to music phrasing and there was nothing about it that stood out musically. It wasn't terrible and it wasn't great. If Clay has a breakthrough on radio, the song will have to be exceptional. Oh girl, this is just my opinion, colored by many things, but I'd prefer never to hear the words "Clay Aiken" spring from the putrid lips of Sam Malone. Asshat doesn't even begin to describe that prick. I doubt you'd get satisfaction from Sam Malone -- and if he EVER played Clay Aiken songs, I'd never hear it because I refuse to let his dogbreath voice enter my world. So .... ya think my feelings about that human fecal matter are strong enough? I can do better. Some quick comments .... Regarding Bob Wills ... (playbiller, was that you?) In Texas .... Bob Wills is still the king because Waylon Jennings said so in his famous (in Texas) ode to the King of Western Swing (who was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago). Well the honky-tonks in Texas were my natural second home Where you tip your hats to the ladies and the rose of San Antone I grew up on music that we called western swing It don't matter who's in Austin, Bob Wills is still the king Lord I can still remember, the way things were back then In spite of all the hard times, I'd live it all again To hear the Texas Playboys and Tommy Duncan sing Makes me proud to be from Texas where Bob Wills is still the king You can hear the Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville Tennessee It's the home of country music, on that we all agree But when you cross that ol' Red River, hoss that just don't mean a thing Cause once you're down in Texas, Bob Wills is still the king If you ain't never been there, then I guess you ain't been told That you just can't live in Texas unless you got a lot of soul It's the home of Willie Nelson, the home of western swing He'll be the first to tell you, Bob Wills is still the king. I can easily get in that old "Rose of San Antone" and "Faded Love" mood, given enough Lone Star or Shiner, that is. Now, back to Clay and the radio, radio, radio. I agree that radio is going down the tubes in every way ... music, talk, weather, you name it. It's not the medium of choice any more and those days won't be back ever. But I hope for a radio presence for everyone who desires it for Clay ... because I want Cindilu and OOlsee to be happy, because I love 'em both. Cindilu, this is GORGEOUS!

I'm not a Chris Daughtry fan per se, but I think it unfair to shun him because of his looks. Anybody in the rock world who doesn't have some attitude these days should probably give it up. I did watch the AMAs last night, and although I'm NOT a big fan of the current crop of rockers, he's just as good or better than the lot of them, so I'm fine with his success. I'm also pleased with the fact that he's remained devoted to his wife and kids. Also, I thought it quite generous of him to bring up his touring band to share the awards, considering these weren't the guys who played on the album. More than anything, it was Idol Has Officially Arrived Night at the AMAs, if that hadn't been established before then it certainly has now. At the beginning of the show, Jimmy Kimmel announced he couldn't write a monologue for himself due to the strike, so he went out in the audience to get a couple of people to come on stage and dance with him and Souljah Boy -- he chose Kellie Pickler and Jordin Sparks. The next order of business was to introduce Carrie Underwood, who presented the Breakthrough Artist award to .... Daughtry. Daughtry and Underwood won awards all night long. I left the show before it was over, but from what I saw, the AI alums were kicking butt. I'm pretty tired of comparing the Idols and the amount of push they each get. I'm sure Kelly Clarkson fans were wondering why she didn't have a presence on the show, even though she is on tour now -- but it wasn't her year. Something tells me that 2008 will be Clay's year. I feel it coming. In the meantime, I really am happy for all the kids who went through the Idol mill and came out with careers. I think Clay Aiken shifted the focus of Idol from the winner of the number of phone calls, to the top talent. Season 5's eventual winners seem ultimately to be Daughtry and Elliott Yamin, not Taylor and Kat. I think Season 6 may be the dud year for Idol -- which is why the tour bombed and supposedly Season 7 is being reworked. But there's no denying the phenomenon and I'll be keeping my eye on it again this year ... especially since it's the year 5 anniversary for Clay and Ruben, and I do expect to see them on the finale. The days of Idol being considered cheesy, gimmicky, or invalid by the industry are totally over, IMO. ETA: The only thing that rankled me watching Rewind this week was Kimberly Caldwell's remark that everyone in the Top 32 was equally talented. What?????

The first tour that came around after I "got the message" was JNT06 -- and it never entered my mind to actually travel across the country to see him in concert. Wow, have I been educated by the eHP!!!! Innocent? Nice try, merrieeee, but it's actually the eeeHP .. the educating, enabling, evil Houston Posse. I thought exactly the same thing. Great minds, ha! It's funny but I never knew Barry Manilow was hugely popular. He was not on my rock n' roll radar screen and I knew of only two songs by Barry Manilow because I heard him sing them on TV ... Mandy, and I Write The Songs (which he didn't write). How many times did you really lick it, merrieeee!

kareneh, my Band-Aid comment was the Amaretto Freeze talking (r-i-i-i-i-i-i-gt). But, but, but, I think muski's new avi proves that I'm working straight out of Clay's playbook. I'm only following where he leads. And I think this is a very appropriate discussion for page 69 ... or page 70, 71, 72 ...... Regarding this Simon hug .... it wasn't the only one. luckiest, I second the applause for the great work you and goldarngirl do with the concert montages. I watched all of JBT/AC this week and it was superb. I can't wait to see what you guys do with the hottie who stars in the Houston clack! rivet, rivet. {{{{jumpingjacks}}}}

If enabling was against the law, the eHP would be doing life without parole.

I'm kind of a crusader for ethics in marketing -- and it's lonely out here. For all the talk about marketing Clay, how to, and how much, I don't see that as the issue at all. For something real and lasting, it's all about putting out a unique product that people want because it's really, really good. I can't buy into a scenario where Clay would record throwaway pop just to get on the radio and sell units. That's the old "sucker born every minute" school of marketing, which has gained control without a soul, and there's really nothing there. It's hollow and vapid ~~ just slap on that "Cool" label and push the hell out of it. It's nothing more than a vehicle to coax money out of people's pockets with the usual cynical attitude, and falls far short of anything that can be defined in the ballpark of ethics. I don't think that is what Clay is in this for. I thnk he wants to make great music and record fantastic songs and have people buy Clay Aiken because it's a top of the line brand. Good for him not recording Back For More because he didn't like it -- it's one of those songs that a lot of people wanted because it was deemed "radio-friendly" or because it was fun in concert or whatever -- but it was not a great song by any stretch. If it bored Clay, it wasn't the song for him. His quote that nobody ever knew what to make of him ... I don't know the context of that remark, but I would guess that observation applied to more than just his singing style. I think the whole person that Clay is has confounded people all his life. He's silly and unpredictable and he has principles. He loves to play the fool, and he knows who wrote the Federalist Papers. He takes risks and he laughs a lot. The list goes on and on. Before I go to bed, I just have to tell this story. I went to a big classy dinner tonight and happened to be standing right behind Sandra Day O'Connor when a woman I know asked her about a mutual acquaintance and Justice O'Connor said, "You know, he got married again and they're pregnant," and my friend said, "Noooooo. Justice O'Connor, you're shitting me," and Justice O'Connor quickly replied, "No, I am not shitting you." It was terribly funny. And I can't believe I'm at this computer at 2:30 just rambling on! Too much wine. Muski ... What??? I didn't realize you were responsible for the attendance, too! It sucks that when an enterprise loses money, the shit starts rolling -- in one direction. Sometimes the ass kicking parade can look pretty much like Monty Python Meets The Rockettes. Suck it up, Babe. Remember, don't let 'em get you down and don't ever let 'em see you sweat. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

He looks like he's about to pass out -- and poor baby was just getting started. Sleepy Clay is adorable. I love the dark eyelashes. Love Love Love! I think anyone as translucent as Clay would need TV makeup to show up on the screen. I never minded the bronzer either. Sure, it was obvious enough when there was a face/hands contrast, but he always looked good to me -- better week after week. I think Clay trusted the professionals to fix him up -- and it worked. Simon was not all that predictable where Clay was concerned. He was "really, really, impressed" with DLTSGDOM and thought it was absolutely brilliant because it WAS; and, of course, after SOT he said Clay was the one to beat, which he WAS. Actually I think that's when Simon got nervous that Clay was going to walk away with the thing. So he went negative, or conflicted, as much as possible, except when Randy and Paula were less than ecstatic with "At This Moment," which Simon thought was perfection, because it WAS. I don't hear much about that song, and I don't think I'd ever heard it before that night, but Clay sang it with such maturity and emotion I literally swooned. Of course we know that Simon said TLS was the best performance of all three Idol shows he had done. What about Solitaire? Simon was hugely impressed and joined in the Clay love that night. Simon thought Mack The Knife was brilliant, which it WAS, and that BOTW "may have just won the competition." All in all, if I remember correctly, Simon told Clay his Wild Card performance was the best he had heard yet that season, and he said TLS was the best he'd heard in three seasons. Paula said that UM was the best performance of the season. And Randy Jackson said, "Dude, where's that voice coming from?" about 10 times. For me, the only song that was forgettable was Someone Else's Star. I'd never heard it before, and it isn't my style. SOT? That vibrating bottom note kicked my ass. I didn't know that range was there until that note, that night. That's when I knew that Clay Aiken was here to stay. I love reminiscing about AI because it was so exciting to watch a real life "a star is born." I now realize that many of you were on various boards then and had inside info about what song Clay would sing from week to week, and that even back then there was angsting going on. That was so far from my consciousness back then. I was just happy to see his smiling face walk out on that stage every week and sing just about anything. There was some point on that show, toward the end, when the term "claymates" came up, because I do remember hearing Ryan mention it. Does anyone know what I'm talking about, or did I dream it?

I, too, can see where Nancy can be grating and, at times, just downright wrong, but I rather admire her and enjoy her dissertations. Giving birth to twins at 48 takes extreme fortitude! She just recently found love after mourning her fiancé who was murdered in a random act of violence years ago, and which explains her rather strident pro-victim views. Welcome Christel! Nancy Grace is so pro-victim that she's anti-innocent until proven guilty. And she herself has created victims by her own hand (or mouth I should say). I'll never forget when she convicted Richard Ricci in the court of her own personal opinion for the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. When he died she said he should rot in hell. She accused his girlfriend of being in on it with him. Except, Richard Ricci and his girlfriend turned out to be 100% innocent of involvement in the kipnapping of Elizabeth Smart. I remember when Nancy Grace was asked about this and she smirked something like 'I'm not going to be guilt-tripped about this" -- and she never apologized. I cut her loose right then.

{{{{wandocleo}}}} O.K. I'll bite, what the hell is babka and churschiki? Is this Russian food? Is this anything like the chocolate babka of Seinfeld fame? More Idol talk -- I think however and whatever happened on Clay's Idol journey regarding Simon, Randy, Paula, Nigel, it was pure serendipity. The coincidences and compound instances that make magic. Circumstances and dynamics spun together into pure electricity -- a powerful force. Your regulation pop stars usually have a short shelf life -- so many one hit wonders, the marketing delights with turnkey faux hipness that nevertheless thins quickly and gets tossed aside for the next ready-made gimmick. Clay was tossed into that world, but he kept his head and hired a savvy lawyer who worked only for his interests. I remember what Clay said in Houston when telling the story about waiting to audition in Atlanta: "I wasn't gonna give it up. I didn't want to show all my cards." Now that's something I can extrapolate. I don't think that was a one time thing ... I think he likes to play his cards close all the time, and we can only imagine what he has up his sleeve. Maybe Simon's comment that Clay was unique and that his path would be unique, translates into the definition of a legend. I don't know what cards he's holding, but I think he's been playing them rather adroitly. I do know what I'm holding .... a ticket to ride.

Now that I'm thinking about Clay's book -- hmmmm -- maybe I could donate some copies of Learning To Sing for Clay's birthday. That would be a win-win: the kids get books and Clay gets royalties! Also, have I mentioned lately that I love, love the Mykala book? I think I'll order some of those as well.

You can still get it, because I ordered it from Amazon just a few months ago. There are two audio versions. The unabridged audiobook is not read by Clay. He reads the one that is condensed. Therefore, I need both AND the hardcover book. Because it's the book I love most of all. As I'm reading from the printed page, I can hear Clay's voice clearly in my head -- and I love that! Also, the audiobooks don't have those priceless pictures. I've bought many copies of that book to give away -- and I always think "Baby needs a new pair of shoes!"

Yes, I had the Joy To The World story -- and I submitted it for the first week of the tour, and haven't heard anything; but, it's not the touching, eyes tearing up kind of tale that Clay's looking for.

I have to chime in and say that I sometimes hate what Christmas has become, more and more over the years. Yeah, this is one of those "back in my day" deals, but when people talked about the commercializing of Christmas 40 year ago, and they did, they had no earthly idea what was coming. One of my fondest memories was decorating the tree with my family just a few days before Christmas after we had tramped through a muddy lot (because it had always just been raining) to pick out the perfect specimen. Daddy stood up the tree and strung the lights and mother hung the ornaments. I got to hang the icycles one by one, but always managed to spill the box on the floor! Anyway, it was always late and we'd be watching a Christmas movie on TV, like Miracle on 34th Street. After the tree was up we knew it was just three or four days until Christmas Eve! This was when Christmas began in our home. And because it was compressed in those few days, it was ALL family get-togethers and pressing the nose against the downtown department store windows looking at the toy selections, because there was no ToysRUs or Walmart or Target ... it was the department store for Santa and toys. And Santa was THERE. Yes, the real one. He was old and sweet and he loved every kid. Oh, and we didn't see him everywhere we went, he lived downtown at that store until Christmas Eve. These days Christmas trees go up around here the Friday after Thanksgiving. Many of the houses hire a contractor to decorate the yards, and people are now having their trees designed. It's all about the stores. All about the sales. People trampling each other to be the first in Walmart on the Friday after Thanksgiving. In fact, all of the day after Thanksgiving hysteria at the mall, with people waiting in line overnight just to get some toxic toy for their kids at 70% off -- it's all starting to seriously creep me out. So many people stressed and depressed because they can't afford to buy expensive gifts, or people mad that they won't be receiving those expensive gifts. and the marketing that plays on people's fears and insecurities to sell worthless crap. Clay's Christmases feel authentic to me. The real deal. I know he wrote about some of his Christmases in LTS -- like the space shuttle model he got two years in a row, and the Walmart phone in the beaten up box, or the VCR he had to save up and buy for himself -- but it's pretty clear to me that Christmas wasn't as much about the stuff for him as it was about the spirit of the Holidays. Being with family and friends, some of whom you only see at Christmas time, and sitting at Grandma's table for a feast, lots of laughter in the house and in the yard, the aunts' gossip clatch at the table, the one certain of the kids always wanted to eavesdrop on, and the tears of the children (who always get out of sorts after they've been indulged), parents singing "you better watch out" to their kids those days before Christmas -- my Christmas memories are lined with that background. Whatever Clay's is, he keeps it alive with the Joyful Noise concerts. Anyway, I've never thought of Clay was a religious fanatic, just a kid raised in a community Baptist church in the South, where the church is a social and cultural focus as much or more so than a religious sanctuary. Now if I could tell you about some of the deacon's sons I knew! I think it's fairly obvious that Clay is a progressive where the dogma of the church is concerned. He said so in the book. Christmas is the singing season, the giving season, the caring season -- it's CLAY! I love that he spreads it around.

That's an excellent question, Cotton ...

Was the situation that bad back in the early days? I've heard about the wars between Kelly and Clay fans ... didn't realize there was such a Ruben fans vs. Clay fans war going on in the background. To me that had to be destructive for everybody concerned. It really baffles me because Clay was obviously a huge star coming off Idol, and I don't think Ruben was. Clay was the ding-dang IDOL. Why would there be jealousy toward Ruben? What a wa-a-a-a-a-aste of time. Picking back through my brain I remember a conversation with my sister a day or two after The Anomaly, and opining that the show "picked" Ruben to win because he needed the help and Clay's stardom was a done deal. This way the show got TWO idols instead of one. Of course, that was just an attempt to justify a result we disagreed with, but, from my point of view, the only thing Clay didn't get were the streamers and confetti at the end of the show. What Ruben didn't get was a non-controversial win ~~ and he was saddled with questions about the results for months. I'm glad I missed those fan wars. If I had been online back then, I probably wouldn't have stayed around long. I was upset when Clay didn't win Idol, but I certainly never blamed Ruben for it. In fact, coming in second that year gave Clay a sympathy factor that increased his fanbase, so it's all good. I read a news story about the upcoming Idol season yesterday, and changes are coming, or so they say. For one thing, they are pulling back on the guest stars to focus more on the contestants. Randy Jackson thinks they have one of the best groups ever coming up .... and, because the Idol tour took a bath this year, next year the So You Think You Can Dance? finalists will join the AI tour for a song AND dance tour. I think there was more, but that's all I remember. EGADS, it's 7:30 and I haven't had coffee!!!

That was "party all night" from Opposites Attract. Both the Houston and Tulsa "Classics" have their own particular charm -- as relates to below the waist rhythmic activities.

That was Tulsa. I had an unobstructed view of that action from Row E! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! It was hot in there that night.

Whatsamattame? I can't get enough of AI Clay today! Going through my AI Clay pictures, I was surprised at the number of photos with Carmen. I think he liked touching her. Here are just a few ... Is he twirling her hair here?

Corey Clark? From what I saw in Rewind this weekend, that guy should not have made the first cut. That screaming falsetto was WORSE than fingernails on a chalkboard for me. I've seen Simon go off on stuff way better than that. If it was all image and style, then I missed that too. I saw nothing about him that was a keeper. I must add that I have nothing against pretty boys. I've known some super hot guys in my time who were first class human beings and seemed to be completely unconscious of their looks. Here's one ...

He's a piece of work, isn't he?

Yes, I love watching Gladys Knight's reaction to Clay, especially when she said that something big was going to happen for him. I watch the AI clips of Clay's performances regularly. I just can't go too long without seeing Clay on AI and I never really had any complaints about Idol at all up until the Finale (and I threw a fit about that!). I didn't watch Idol during the times now being shown on Rewind -- not until the Wildcard Results show -- but I have to be honest and say I know that if I had been watching it then I would not have found Clay attractive. Not my type at all. It was the voice, voice, voice, in that order that sucked me into watching Idol week after week to hear him sing -- but then I started getting soft on his expressions and body language: the smile that lit up his face, his starry-eyed excitement when he finished tearing up a song and the audience screamed and cheered for him, which turned into serious concern as he faced Simon, the raised eyebrows, the lip bites, the sweet moments of humility, and the twinkling eyes eventually got to me and made me love him. But never was I attracted to this guy, although it didn't escape me that he was getting better looking week by week. Okay, I was felled when critical mass was eventually reached. It took a while for me, but it took. He's fucking gorgeous, totally hot, and waaaaaay cool. You can spread butter on this piece of toast. These are some of my favorite moments from Idol:

I know that Simon is just as focused on style and image as he is on substance, and that Clay must have put him in a real quandary, but I think this shot of him listening to Clay sing UM reveals how taken he was with the voice.