atinal

What a fitting thread title "Oh,yeah, he really is that good." We knew it all along, didn't we? He can sing anything, but these songs really showcase that tremendous voice.

I probably look a little silly sitting here at my laptop grinning from ear to ear. WOW just seems to be all I can verbalize right now.

I haven't posted in ages, but I still check in to see what's going on. I'm looking forward to Clay's new cd. I just pre-ordered it from Itunes, the last time I used Itunes was for On My Way Here. I had to update my password and CC info. Hopefully I'll be listening along tonight with some of you.

Does anyone know if atinal or ialreadyam are still around these parts? I haven't seen them posting lately.

luckiest, I'm here everyday, but I mostly just lurk now. I have started to rate OCOCE, several times. I think the problem I have had with it, is the applause at the beginning, since it was the first song of the show, and the way it ends since it is part of a medley, but I'll try to get back to it.

And besides, Couchie and KAndre don't like the song that much, , well, you wanted excuses didn't you.

OK, since somebody (I don't remember who) mentioned the Larry King interview and I've never seen it, I had to go watch. Now I'm a little confused, but not about the interview itself. They showed a clip from AI where Clay is singing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with a blue-robed choir while he's wearing a leather jacket. I've only ever seen him sing BOTW with a red-robed choir while he's wearing a white, striped shirt. Can someone tell me when he did the leather jacket version?

I don't honestly remember and I never noticed it when I watched the Larry King interview, but is it possible that one is from the final competition night and the other was from the finale?

One thing Clay has said is that he does not believe himself to be defined by his sexuality, that it is a "small facet" of who he is, which is why I hesitate to evaluate his past artistic choices through a "gay" lens. This is not to say that it was never a factor in his decisions, just that I feel uncomfortable going to that as a primary reason.

I don't expect his coming out to affect the types of songs he will sing in the I fully expect him to continue to sing love songs. I suspect (though he could surprise me) that he may continue to avoid overt or explicit sexual references -- not because he's gay -- but because he's Southern Baptist. It's possible that living a more open life will free him creatively, or inspire him in other ways. However, I really don't think his revelation will significantly limit him musically. It may make a CCM switch fairly unlikely, but on the whole, I think he'll get much more out of this than he'll lose.

I agree with Jenna in the above quotes, I don't think he will quit singing love songs and I especially hope he doesn't because I don't think anyone can sing them better.

want to also comment on some of what I was reading at OFC yesterday. That the whole cool bit at the DCAT tour had to do with Clay saying he was gay. I totally disagree. Clay came out. As defined by society - and himself - he's still a dork. He's still uncool. And he's still not going to sing the rocking songs some think he should be singing. None of that is cast in stone as people change but what in any of that has to do with I'm gay. And this is why I won't be going back to reanalyze everything. Clay's entire personality didn't change because he came out and everything in life doesn't have to do with one's sexuality.

I'm enjoying this convo and I'm glad to see all opinions. I don't want us to get bogged down in parsing words because maybe we won't say everything in the most "politically correct" way. But we know each other and as long as our hearts and minds are open that's what is important. It's all food for thought for me. I will definitely look up the lyrics to touch later.. they aren't exactly memorized

Couchie, I read that opinion about the not cool skit, I couldn't quite connect the dots on that one.

OK I just listened to Touch for the first time since the great reveal. Is the real reason he won't sing it is because it says "girl I want to be by your side etc?

I don't think this is the reason, I would be more inclined to believe that there was a song he liked better that didn't make the album and "Touch" was used instead. I would like to add one of Wanda's famous disclalimers since I really know nothing about which I speak.

I do have a tendency to believe, that not wanting to misrepresent himself may have had a lot to do with how he chose to portray the message in his music videos.

I agree that the blog was perfect. There have been a couple of times that I've gotten choked up over the years, but like Cotton, I don't cry. Sometimes I've wondered if there is something wrong with me. With this blog I felt a couple big tears running down my cheek.

Over the years I have been so surprised at Clay's ability to put things into proper perspective, he is a very smart man.

WooHoo page one

I just can't hear or even read lines from this song without thinking of when he added it to the set list of the NAT, and didn't sing the line, " you're the one I want to talk to in bed". Remember the pages and pages of posts because fans who were upset because they though he'd left it out intentionally? Ah, those were the days!!!

My dream for Clay, is that he start to get the respect he deserves for what ever he chooses to do. Too many critics, djs, talk show hosts, late night comics have been so focused on the sexuality issue that they have never been able to see past that. This man is one amazing talent and maybe people can put their biases aside and start to see that, and realize that's what the story should have always been about.

I had a little chuckle when Clay answered the question about if there was anyone special in his life. He deflected it the way he always did. When, in the past, the question was about a possible special woman. The only one he had in his life was his dog....When the question was about a man, the answer was about the little man who was screaming to be fed, or something like that.

(I think) I now understand why Clay wore the WWJD bracelet for so long.

BTW, I've been meaning to ask, what did the rings signify? You know, he wore them on different fingers, I mean, not the usual ones LOL

Claytonic, I think the rings were just part of the look for the role out of ATDW, I think if they had had a lot of signifigance he would have replaced them after they were auctioned off at the Gala JMO

I honestly can't quote very many lines from the bible, but merrieee the one you mentioned has run through my head a lot the past few days and "let he who is without sin cast the first stones"

Thanks to those who answered my question. I was thinking that was the case, but when I would read one of those posts filled with animosity and then see it worded I would cringe, but I was hoping it was just a few of them who were going around and showing support for each other.

Last weekend I started working again on rating my song from the CITH tour, I didn't get too far, I guess I probably listened to 12 versions of OCOCE. I can't think of a single other singer that I could listen to sing the same song over and over particularly a Christmas song when it's 85% outside. That's pretty much what it boils down to for me. I want to look forward with hope that the best is really yet to come.

I had a thought about some of those who are so concerned about Clay lying. Are they people who posted "unconditional" in the Circle the Wagons thread? If they did, they lied.

I have a question for those of you who have spent more time than me over at the OFC, (for me that was pratically none, until a day or two after this story broke) Do you have a feel for what number or percentage of the fans over there are posting these OTT diatribes?

Lord, is the 2 weeks almost over? It seems like forever. Anyway, I read for an hour or 2, 2 or 3 different times, and it was so hard to tell. I never started at the beginning of the thread, many times I would just go over after annabear would post a link to one of Jaymes' posts.

Some of the nastiest posts seemed to get quoted a lot, so I'm not sure if that makes it appear that there are more of them.

I have been stunned by the cruelty and anger being spewed by some of them. Some of them do almost come off like the women scorned, you know of the "hell hath no furry" variety. Kind of like Clay cheated on them by being gay, but it's the liiiiiiiiieeeeeee that is/was the last straw.

I'll bet there aren't as many bible verses thrown around at a preachers convention.

Alrighty then...

I still haven't caught up to all of the posts at the OFC, but I've spent quite a bit of time reading there off and on today.

In the past I've often felt a little defensive when reporters, DJs and comedians have used the term "Crazy Claymates".

If some of the people posting their grievances there today are the same ones who have been writing, emailing, calling and texting anyone who has said anything bad about Clay for the past 5 years, then that term is well earned.

Honestly, I understand that some are having a harder time than others accepting and processing this "news" and most are expressing that respectfully, but some of those posts are downright mean. Why?, Because "he lied?". If someone was sticking a freakin' mic in my face and asking me if I was gay, I'd probably tell them it wasn't any of their f-ing business, but like many people I'd probably be so shocked they were asking the question to begin with, that I wouldn't think of that and I'd freaking lie too. Seems pretty human to me.

I probably should just go to bed, got that stupid garage sale tomorrow.

I agree, Couchie

Man, I think I would go blind if I read at the OFC very often. That is the hardest darn thing I've ever tried to read.

Gibby, I hear ya, and Jaymes is taking quite a few hits for sending the thread into a tailspin. Arrrrg.

Yeah, I'm startin' to think I'd fork over $30. to join Jaymes's fan club!!!

why, oh why did I have to pick this weekend to have a garage sale?? They are so much work, but hopefully I'll get some of this crap out of my house.

I agree with those who say the question should never have been asked to begin with. It's a flagrant violation of privacy, do we really have a right or even a need to know these things? Deep down I think I wanted to beleive he was straight, not so much becuse it mattered to me or that I had a need to know. I think I just wanted the asshats to be wrong, now even that seems silly to me, no proof would have ever been good enough anyway.

I have asked myself so many times over the years, "Why Clay, why has he captured my attention like no other singer in generations?" At first, I think it was mainly his voice. It delivered so much more than the purity and clarity and power. Then I think it was the message board fandom. Once I found it, I got caught up in and was swept away by the sheer excitement of it.

For some reason, I think, I always knew that there was something special about Clay Aiken. As I look back over the past 5 years, I realize he is forever the teacher. This man is half my age, and is so much wiser than I could ever hope to be. I have learned more about compassion from him, than probably any other person I have ever really known. Through his example, I have become more comfortable in my interactions with people with disabilities. I'm more aware of the plight of children around the world. I became painfully aware, that not only were people ridiculed and persecuted for being gay, but even for being perceived to be gay.

I think I could go on to list many things I have learned as a result of being a fan of this man. I think I'm a better person because of him, but I'm not through yet. I think he still has a lot he can teach me.

I loved his GMA interview and believe his statement about being careful not to dream too specifically for someone was also wise beyond his years, (and maybe that's what some of us did)

Yep, I still love him.

ldyj

:bday2:

I haven't been around much lately, but I just wanted to jump in and and say hi to everyone.

I also wanted to share some recent experiences I had with OMWH. The past couple of weekends I've been traveling back and forth between Ohio and Mo., so I've been in several stores and have been eating out quite a bit. In a two day time period, I heard OMWH 4 times. Once in a well known department store in Ohio, Once in a Tumbleweeds restaurant, twice in a Big Lots stores (one in Ohio and one in Mo). So I came to the conclusion that Clay is a favorite with Muzak programmers, and that even though he may not get much radio play, people are getting to hear that marvelous voice.

It made me smile.

I'm loving all the disclaimer statements, what a hoot.

Iseeme, sorry to hear about your MIL.

I'm so glad that KAndre and Scarlett made their Hong Kong destination without too much more disruption. Please keep your travel journals coming girls, I really enjoy reading them. While I'm reading along about your adventures, I can't help but shake my head and smile, just thinking of a couple of Clay fans traveling half way around the world together, just because they wanted to. How cool is that?

Keepingfaith, I'll see what I can do about a OMWH keychain