atinal

Couchtomato, I loved your blog entry about your meet & greet and concert. Reading it, I almost felt like I was there watching you interact with Clay. Love the picture too, I'll look forward to the next entry.

EEEEEEEEEEE(I've never done that) for Couch Tomato (TM Clay) I was happy to hear about your meet and greet. I'm glad Clay acknowledged Finding Clay Aiken, and said that Quianna loved it. Your site has done a great service for Clay and his fans. I'm also glad you enjoyed the concert. Ansa, I'm glad you finally got to see Clay. While the Clack and word of mouth are great, it just doesn't compare to experiencing it live. I saw Clay in Kettering, after being home a few days, I did something I didn't think I'd ever do. See, I always said, if I got the chance to see 1 of each of his shows, I'd be satisfied. WRONG. I found myself checking ticketmaster and some of the boards to see if I could find a ticket to Merrillville. I told my husband I was thinking of going to another concert, and he said, go for it if you want to. So, I found a ticket and drove over 300 miles each way to see a concert I'd seen 8 days earlier. If you knew how much I hate to drive, you'd understand how much of a stretch this is for me. It was worth every frickin mile. I loved this concert. Possibly it's because the whole first set is the music of my youth, much of which I would never have thought I'd enjoy someone else covering, but it is performed by someone I consider, even if it is with my bias, the best performer of this generation. I don't say that lightly, I really feel it. I would not have made that trek for anyone else. It's so much more than the voice. It's the humor, the timing, he pulls you into the performance. Well, I guess I'm preaching to the choir here, but just felt the need to share my own personal experience with this tour.

Hi, everyone. Got back late yesterday from my Clay concert experience in Kettering. Ansa and others, thanks for sharing your perspective on the so called "hyjinks" at the concerts. I guess I'm willing to give Clay pretty much latitude in how he performs at his concerts. Clay goes all out on this tour and I don't know if I can think of any other performer who could pull it off as well as he does. A lot of these songs are vocally taxing, and not just obvious full songs that have been listed. I believe he has taken special care to put these songs in context to give us a "feel" of, not an impersonation of the original. I love him for giving us this tour, and feel fortunate to have been able to attend. As far as the "Sailing" incident goes, I was sitting in section D, I could barely see Clay, Jacob was blocking him from my view, so I was more listening to the song than watching it, it wasn't until the end when Clay kissed Angela, that anyone in my immediate area really noticed anything, and then most people just said, "what did he just do?" I never heard one person comment negatively about the song. My husband asked me on the way out of the venue, if there really was anything going on between Clay and Angela, I just said, "who knows" I told him that sometimes Clay says Angela is crushing on him, and tonight he said he was crushing on her. I think some who go to many Clay concerts, almost become professional Clay watchers or critics, and maybe that takes a little of the fun out of it, I mean if you can watch that whole show and only comment about the "Sailing" incident, it seems to portray a loss of perspective. So, Clay messed around a little during one song, 5 minutes of a 150 minute concert, the rest of the time he gave us his all. He had us ooohing and ahhing, smiling, laughing, some crying, gahing, awwwing, the list goes on and on. I know mileage varies and everyones opinion is important, but a few thousand of us sat in the rain most of the evening to watch Clay Aiken sing Monday evening, and I think we got more than our money's worth.

You know, it's silly, but I'm starting to get nervous for him during cellcerts like I used to before his performances on AI. I don't know why. Regarding Solitaire, it seems to me that he had a few times on the NAT where the ARLG would kick in, but he always was able to pull it off.

I don't want to give the WP guy more time that he deserves, but that last paragraph is a pretty blatant misrepresentation of Clay's playful explanation. I mean I have watched that CTT Clack( several times I might add) and I don't hear Clay do an "odd cackle" or say "shot her down". I mean, I wasn't at that concert, but it seems to me, you'd have to be pretty humorless, not to see that his comments were all tongue in cheek. Chruchmouse at the CH searched out some of this guys past reviews, and Clay is by no means his only victim, so perspective helps on this one.

Well, I'll say this, that review by Andy Dehnart, looks awfully good compared to the hatchet job the Washington Post just did on him. I don't know how to bring it over but it is posted at Clayversity. My opinion on this article is that the hijinks at the Wolf Trap concert had nothing to do with his review, it does look like he didn't get the joke, and almost makes it sound like Clay was claiming sexual harassment by Angela. Arrrrgggg.

ldyjocelyn, I agree with you concerning the reason for putting WDC on this concert set list. It was just another song that he didn't have to learn. I don't mind it being in this show, I love the way he sings it, even goofing off he sings it better that just about anyone else could. See, I wouldn't even mind if he just came on the stage and sang the song with no dancing or choreography at all, well maybe a few of his own moves. It was one of my favorites for the IT, and while I enjoyed the dancing with Angela, it's not all of what makes that performance for me. I also enjoy the humor of Clay's shows and think it is another thing that makes him stand out from the rest. Buzztechie, I also understand where your coming from on wanting a different song from Clay, I don't think I will live long enough for Clay to sing everything I'd like to hear from him, but this concert sure is a good start.

You, know, maybe I would have felt differently if I had been there. But when I watch the 2 clips I've seen, (90s CTT, and WDC), I don't see terrible, disrupted the concert type behavior. There were only a couple of very brief spots where Clay couldn't stop himself from laughing (I'm not sure how is he able to continue singing myself) Before watching this Clack from last nights concert. Some of those clips of Sugar Sugar, and Happy Together, are among my favorites. Maybe I just have a weird sence of humor.

Couchtomato, I think I've read that the stage and somewhere around 3000 seats are covered and the rest is outdoors.

The bolded part made me lol but the fact is what she said is true. And I personally don't think screaming in the middle of a quiet song could be called spontaneous. I think it's planned & is definitely done then so Clay will hear it. I would love to blame it on the tweenies but those voices on the clack sure don't sound like tweenies to me! Honestly this bolded part upsets me even more than inappropriate screaming. I do think the majority of Clay fans that travel to several concerts have long past their tweenies years behind and what they are doing it SOOOOO disrespectful to Clay & all the fans who don't live on the internet & see Clay's shows umpteen times. I believe most people found the jokes funny (or at least amusing) the first time we heard them. It's almost like the fans become hecklers when they yell out Clay's lines. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ohhh, K'Andre, I like your lists, but I usually do like your lists, but honestly there are few artists that I can listen to over and over. I think that is one thing that has surprised me with Clay. I never tire of his voice. I do agree that these three back ups work very well with Clay, and that they are all working very hard on this concert. I haven't seen this concert yet. My only one will be Kettering. Over the years though, I have seen some pretty big acts and I am continually blown away with how, at least in my mind, Clay's and team stacks up against them. Most of my past concert experiences did not leave lasting impressions on me, or have me wanting to see them more than once. One of my best concert experiences, was the Elton John/Billy Joel of mumble12mumbleyears ago, why was it great? Because between the two of them they had a bazillion songs to sing, and they had been performing for years, but, to me, even they, don't hold a candle to Clay in personality, stage presence, and overall performance. (Maybe it's hard to do sitting behind a piano most of the night) Oh, and Couchtomato and others, I do agree about Angela's stage presence.

K'Andre I'm not sure I'd agree that the backups are equal in their talents or strengths. I like them all, but I do think Quiana stands out from the other two. I'll give you a couple of reasons "I" feel that way. When I went to the JNT, I loved, loved, loved it. Clay's singing was sublime, all throughout, but Quiana's "Grownup Christmas Wish" made the hair stand up on my arms. You know, it was an involuntary reaction. I think that maybe the same thing that happens with IWALY, it just gets a reaction. I don't get that kind of reaction from the other 2, I think they are very talented backup singers, I think Jacob's voice and Clay's blend very well on harmonies, and that he can sing some genres pretty well. Now, Angela, I think she is good, but wouldn't put her in the same class as Quiana. She get's screechy sometimes, an example of this is "Suspicious Minds" GMA, I love it all the way through til the end where she hits those 2 screechy notes, and feel like her mic should be turned way down or off, ha. I just think she overdoes it sometimes. Now, I would like to add this disclaimer, K'Andre, that even though I disagree with you on this one little item, I would still happily consider myself a minion. So, on to World Domination.

Ansa I did not see this myself, but reports on several different boards are saying that MSNBC political show of Tucker Carlson just made a few salacious remarks about it, with accusatory tone about amount of dollars shown as business expense, not using the same figures as WRAL, and to top things off made a a gay inuendo comment as well (Sorry for the run on sentence) This whole situation makes me feel very sad. It's another example of how low humans can go with no regard for the impact of their actions. My understanding was that Fran is/was a lawyer, is this correct? If she is doesn't it seem that she could come forward as a spokesperson, to answer these charges, or would that just add fuel to the fire?

You know, the fact that Clay is different may be the main appeal to me. I couldn't put my finger on it for so long, but maybe it is as simple as that. He doesn't look like everyone else, he doesn't sound like everyone else. Sometimes there is a little of a mournful cry in his voice, other times there is that low timbre that kind of vibrates through you, then again you have smooth tones and growly tones. There is so much variety in his voice, much like there is in his look. This was what I didn't see in Bo this year, or any one else for that matter. With Bo, I felt like I could go to my old record collection and pick out a half a dozen or more with almost an identical sound. My point is not to put Bo down, but use him as an example of what makes Clay stand out to me. Bring on the concerts.

Do you all really think there will be 100 songs? Thats a lot even with lots of medleys. Thought maybe he could have been exaggerating (humorously). Anyway, it sure will be fun to find out. No way I'm going to try to do all 100, but K'Andre, girl, I'm impressed. So, I'll just try to do my best guess of 10 to 24, and they're not in any particular order. I think a rockin" Old Time Rock n Roll / Bob Seger would be a great way to open the show. Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger BOTW- Simon and Garfunkel You Send Me - Chain Gang - Sam Cooke Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me - Mel Carter Jail House Rock- Can't Help Falling in Love- All Shook Up- Elvis Crying- Roy Orbison Unchained Melody- Righteous Bros That'll Be the Day- Buddy Holly My Girl- Stand by Me- I Can't Help Myself - Motown Country Roads - John Denver Boogie Woogie Bugleboy- Andrew Sister (by backups) In the Still Of the Night - Good Night Sweeheart - DooWop Long and Winding Road- She Loves You- Something - The Beatles Don't let the Sun Go Down on Me - Elton John Invisible- The Way- Well, I did go back and delete some to get my 24. I have to admit anything from mid-seventies through 90's my mind is a little blank. This will be fun to watch.

I really love the thread title. Kind of a walk down memory lane. I know things haven't moved as fast this year as they did in the past 2, but I still think there is so much to celebrate. Many of the fans seem to look for things to criticize instead of celebrate and I have a hard time understanding that. I heard a voice 2 and a half years ago that touched me, plain and simple. What continues to amaze me is that, here I am 2 and half years later and I'm still as entralled by it as I ever was. People try to compare him to other new artists and the normal time lines in terms of getting his new album out, but how many other new artists were able to tour to the extent Clay did in their first couple of years in the business? How many other new artists can put out a best selling Christmas CD just a year and a half into their careers, and record it in the middle of 2 tours? There are so many accomplishments and characteristics of Clay's to celebrate, but some fans choose to analyze and parse his every word. Where's the fun in that? I'm here for the fun and the celebration, and this looks like a good place to do it.

Hi, I'm atinal. My name, not too imaginative, is just my name spelled backwards and my last initial. I'm a member at Clayversity and just started posting there very recently. I lurk a lot at the CH and recognize many of your names from there and CV. How I got hooked. I watched season 1 and really enjoyed the show and was for Kelly all along, I loved the show and the concept, so I knew I was going to watch season 2, but I didn't know my life as I knew it was going to change. I don't remember when Clay hooked me, I just remember him being my favorite all along. I was sad at the finale, not devastated, because I liked Ruben too, I just thought he got a pass on a lot of things that they called Clay on. Anyway, I was completley oblivious to what was going on on the internet until after Clay's CD released. I followed what I could on TV, and bought the single. I thought in my heart, if he sings it, I am buying it. I think I logged onto the internet to try to find out how Clays CD was doing in sales, and the rest, as they say is history. I didn't go to any AI concerts, and was really behind on all the info, so many of you had. When the IT was announced, I thought, wow, I'd really like to go to that. I will say this, I was a Kelly fan but I would not have gone to see her in concert by herself. I have been to 1 each of Clays other concerts, so I have not had the opportunity to go to multiple concerts, but my goal is to try to see at least 1 of each of his tours. There is no other artist, that I've ever even considered going to see more than once About me - I'm a retired manager from a telecommunications company. I'm married, have 1 son. (Clay's age) I have a few hobbies, but mainly, since I retired I started oil painting, mostly portraits. I haven't painted Clay yet, but I plan to. I'm trying to find just the right picture. Which reminds me buzztechie I've missed seeing you on the boards and wondered what happened to you. I've admired your work as well as that of other Clay photographers. I too, have to say fountaindawg when I see you post a link to one of your creations, as a lurker, I go arggg! Anyway, looks like a great new sight. I too have to thank you couchtomato and ansa for the pin thread, my bank account however does not.