Desertflower

Well I agree with you on MOAM. I think he was bored singing alot the songs from ATDW. But obviously YMMV on that. Well I thought LAA was a great first effort at songwriting....the lyrics are better than 99% of the crap that people put out nowadays. I think Jaymes disagrees with you *g* I hope she keeps nagging him. ETA If he never writes another song, I'd be disappointed cause I do think he has a talent there....but I am all about the voice so as long as he keeps singing I'm happy. Perhaps not, but I don't think he wants to do a Cover Album ever again.

Personally I don't think we've seen the type of music from Clay that satisfies his soul yet. [other than Christmas Music] MOAM was an RCA/AI Product and ATDW was a Clive Product. I don't think Clay was to invested in ATDW. JMO It really sounds to me at least that he is going in a more Pop Sound with the next CD....at least from what we have heard so far. The M&G's might give us some more clues. At least I hope so. I think Clay has a real talent for writing lyrics that are deep, meaningful, and make you think and feel something. He just seems to have a block about considering himself a songwriter. My wish is that he could hook up with someone to collaborate with to put music to his lyrics that would create a more uptempo, current sound. Now don't get me wrong, I think Clay loves a good ballad......but I also think he loves songs that make people get up and get their groove on too. I love BFM, but I don't really know if it would have been successful on the radio. I always felt it needed more oaf a driving drum beat.

I don't know how much say Clay has on how much a Single is pushed to the radio, if he doesn't even have a say in which song will be a Single. Frankly, I don't think RCA liked ATDW. I think they wanted him to sing the Covers straight, and not rework them and that may be why they wern't really pushed to the radio. Kelly only had a songs sorta pushed to the radio. I wonder if it is a contractual issue that they have to push 2 songs to radio? I agree with JennaZ, it has to be a song that fits the format and RCA has to have faith in the song. I think if they like it and think it will get play, they will push harder. Of course I could be talking out of my ass too. Clay seems to want radio-play and seems to be trying to have a hipper sound for the next CD. I hope for Clay that he achieves everything he wants. I am real curious on what this new sound is going to be. KAndre, I don't look to Singers or Actors to be Role Models...but when their behavior is so OTT it really does color my perception of them and interferes with my enjoyment of any product they put out. I think in order for Clay to sell out concerts again, he is going to have to have some type of radio-play. I don't think he needs to be #1....but he needs some play.

I know Pink is a bit out there at times, but I really like her. Fergie just turns me off for some reason. I like Kelly [not her current album though] and Carrie so I don't mind hearing them. Jamie Foxx's ego just turns me off. I did love him in Ray though. Suprisingly I like Eminem, and I don't usually like Rap. I like Will Smith, but them his Rap is pretty bubblegum plus the fact that he comes across as a real nice guy.

I know it probably shouldn't matter whether you like or respect an Artist personally, on whether you like their music. But, sometimes it does for me. I remember back in the 60's I loved the Beatles..but when one of them said they were more popular than Jesus, it just turned me off. And I wasn't religious then or now. I would never buy anything from Micheal Jackson (used to love his stuff) or R. Kelly. I don't enjoy Tom Cruise anymore, or Mel Gibson. Now alot of Artists are egotistical...but when they show it in public it really turns me off. Now I think it takes confidence in yourself and an ego to be a performer...but when that ego is way OTT is when it turns me off. ETA I didn't mention Akon or Kanye cause I wouldn't listen to their music even if they were the nicest guys on the planet.

Daugherty was my favorite the year he was on AI, but after awhile all of his songs starting sounding the same...and the OTT pimping got to me. But as with every year since AI2, I don't really care who wins. What got me about Chris was his attitude when he got booted. He was angry..I remember him saying how he was supposed to win. The whole entitled attitude just really turned me off of him completely. Then you started seeing pics of him at the Hollywood Clubs and at a Paris Hilton Party, while his wife and kids were at home in NC. Then the whole manufactored thing about "The Band". It strikes me as really peculiar to see the band up there with him accepting the AMA's, when they didn't even have anything to do with the album. Carrie has had great sales and great promotion and I have no problem with that. She at least is modest about her success. I am envious of others getting radioplay, but I don't blame them for it. Hopefully with the next album Clay will get radioplay.

No I wasn't on the Boards then. I guess I just have a different view on what bashing is. I never really hung out at RHT, but I can imagine it got nasty over there. All past history anyhow. I like Ruben. I think he has shown himself to be a class act. He has remained supportive to Clay despite everything that has happened since AI. He had plenty of reasons to turn against Clay, and he never did. I may not like his music, but I have immense respect for him as a man. I remember during the AI Tour, Faye told some fans that both Clay and Ruben had been victim of AI. I think the show instilled a real competitive spirit in the fans that continues to this day. The whole mind-set back in the early years of AI was the only way to be successful was to win. Their attempts to pimp Ruben, and diss Clay really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way....and unfortunately I think Ruben was the scapegoat for some of the anger people felt toward AI.

I never saw much Ruben bashing, except on a couple of Boards. I don't think saying you don't like someone is bashing. But from what I saw over at Bolt, the bashing went both ways. Of course there weren't any Clay Boards that had Ruben in the center of a Sniper Target..like that one Board of Ruben's did.

How many opportunities is she going to get from a local production of Dreamgirls? If she were doing this as a Cast Member in a traveling Broadway Production I could see it having a bigger effect. JMO There have been lots of "Suits" who have heard her perform, when she has been with Clay...and as far as I can see no one is signing her. Hell Clay is good friends with David Foster who loves Singers with big voices....and for that matter Jaymes could open some doors for her. I think it takes more than just being a great singer to grab people's attention in Show Biz. Although I don't get the Aslee Simpson, Paris Hilton....ect types. I guess "image" is what sells them...and Studio Magic. I'm not really obsessive about the hair either...as others have said it will change. The only style I absolutely hated was a Faux-Hawk that he wore for some photos and merchandise during the second JNT. Loved JBT hair too!

Tyra hair was nice too, but I don't think we'll see it again since Clay thinks it makes him look fat.

For all we know she may be perfectly just happy making a living a singing, without the Fame. I remember reading how she said that she would read the Tabloids and Gossip Columns until she started working with Clay and Kelly. After she saw what lies they printed about both of them, she was glad she wasn't in their position. But yeah to achieve the kind of success that Clay has, it has to take a lot of drive and ambition. I imagine he gives up a lot in the pursuit of his career. He has a lot of benefits too. I didn't like most of Clay's outfits during AI. Liked Billy Joel Night, BYUB, and a few others. I think a lot of the outfits only showed how scrawny he was back then. Way, WAY to much make-up.....and I think the trowl approach to make-up continued for a long time after AI. I'm so glad to see a more natural look now...although I think he does look better with his eyelashes dyed. But I think AI tried to "prettify" him during and after the show. I think Clay was always pretty insecure about his looks and his pasty white skin...hence OD'ing on the Bronzer. I'm really liking how he looks the last year or so...except I wish he would go back to the longer hair.

I started at TTC too. After TTC imploded I went to the CB and then to the CH.

Well he certianly has that strut now. In Indio, he walked right past me, after he went into the audience. I was sitting in the Second Row, second seat from the end...he had this smirk on his face when he was heading to the stage...the little shit knew he was gonna get a swoony reaction when he walked out in the audience. The only people that saw the smirk were those of us that were sitting at the side of the stage. Couchtomato, I never saw the sexy during AI...just the talent. BUT, I may have been in denial, cause I sure liked the RS picture. *g* When I saw the first download of Invisible from St Paul, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I didn't start watching AI till Movie Night and I remember being absolutely floored by Clay's voice. I wasn't even on the Boards then-knew nothing about the Demos. I just know I became more entralled with him every week, And the night he sang BMUB and Solitaire...OMG...I must have watched that a hundred times. There never was anyone else but Clay from the first moment I saw him. Ruben I thought was good, but with poor breath control and way, WAY over-hyped. Kim I thought was good at times, but she was pretty inconsistant. Everyone else was kind of disposable, although my son loved Treynce.

Sorry need to proofread better, of course I meant talent...although I thought he looked good in Hollywood. Well, except for the sideburns, hate long sideburns.

Now I love Quiana and think she has a fabulous voice....but I don't think she has any Star Power. I think she is much better now than she was when she first started touring with Clay. As I remember it she was pretty withdrawn back then and she looked pretty dowdy the first few appearances with Clay. (Tonight Show and SNL) I think she dresses great now...but I think it has been a learning process for her. Perhaps when she was auditioning for AI, she wasn't outgoing and her appearance didn't impress the judges...then it wouldn't have mattered how great a singer she was. They were looking for people with "IT" or people that looked good and fit the image of a Pop Star. I think they probably had an abundance of R&B Diva Singers to chose from. I don't know if they even wanted Kim. I think they expected the Winners of Group 2 to be Clay and Ruben. Kim showed a lot of personality during that Show...and I think Clay was a bit nervous and sang the wrong song. I think Season 2 they had to decide if they wanted Talent over Style. Lucky for us they chose talent. Corey Clark was horrible in so many ways. What were the judges thinking? Yeah he looked the part. ETA From CV Clay spoke at the NC EC Conference this morning about the BAF. It is posted at the OFC.

Oh I loved, LOVED Pala. He was so freaking funny and in great vioce. The atmosphere was perfect. (except for being squished like a sardine). The audience was great. Flat Clay was beyond hilarious. The only problem I have with Clay's Concerts is that they go by to quickly! I have not heard or read any complaints about Pala...just praise. I think the difference is that the audience was included in the banter. JMO Anyway who cares about Wolftrap anymore...it was a long time ago.

Dear God, that is just depressing, both in thought and in action if it were true. How sad for him if that did happen. I'll just go on thinking it's a Clurban myth and make myself happy. Now I don't see it as depressing...cause I don't think he listens to Faye anymore than my kids listen to me. I think he listens to her opinion and then makes up his own mind. I don't believe he is a "Mama's Boy" other than the fact that he loves her. He hasn't lived with her for years....and I notice when he vacations, he does it with his friends. I just think the Mama Boy thing is part of his act.....I don't think anyone makes up Clay's mind but Clay.

Amen,..........again! I feel like I'm in Church! Well it is Sunday...*g* I remember reading (correct me if I'm wrong) that Faye was in the audience and didn't look any to pleased with the antics. I don't think he has repeated that level of goofing off since. I think many people were really pumped about Clay performing in such a prestigious venue and that the Media would be there....and were disappointed in the antics. Maybe if you were sitting closer to the stage they came off better? I wonder if the weather played into the weird mood of that Concert. I also think if it was your first or your only Concert.....your perspective was different than those who had been to multiple concerts.

I think there were times during the JBT and the NAT, that there were so many inside jokes that some of the people in the audience felt excluded. I think Clay has learned how to banter with the people on stage, but to include the audience in that Banter. Clay is a fast learner. I also think there is a much higher degree of comfort by Clay toward the fans...then was there during the Early Tours. JMO

JMH, thanks for posting those v.very nice pics....Gawd he looks so young in some of them. even when he looked like Jail-bait. *g*

I'm not a huge fan of the Glory Noting....I do love AIW though...and it was totally worth travelling across Country to go to the last Christmas Tour just to hear him sing that song. But MDYK, brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it. The pureness and beauty of his voice just got to me. I still adore MDYK. I just hope the new CD has a bit of everything..Uptempo/Radio Friendly numbers, some Ballads, some Green Eyed Soul. I agree with Shadylil, not every song needs to showcase his voice.....sometimes it's great to have a song that gets you moving and pumps you up. One of my favorites is IYDKMBN-I think that is a sound most people who are not die-hard fans know Clay can do.

I watched the Clack and listened to the Cellcerts before seeing the California Concerts...and I loved every minute of every Concert. [especially Pala and Indio] I think a lot of us who live in the West, don't see him as often as those of you that live in Clayland....so perhaps appreciate him more when we do see him.

I do indeed, and so true. Being forced to do what? I don't recall reading anything here about him being forced to do anything. He has said that he plans what he does and sings on his Tours. As far as whether he was bored with some of the songs, that is a personal perception. YMMV I agree 100% I do think Clay loves singing with Symphonies and I do think he will continue to sing with Symphonies when it fits the Music. I also agree Clay likes to keep us guessing. He doesn't make the speculation very easy, does he? I just know I can hardly wait until the new CD...and I sure hope he succeeds on his timetable and gets it out early next year....cuz I really want a Tour next Summer!.

Don't remember reading that. From a M&G Report in San Diego by Nordie I had already posted a quote above from a M&G about a band...so who knows? He likes to keep us guessing. *g*