claytonic

The other day, I was thinking of Cliff Richard, and guess who he reminded me of? Believe it or not, Cliff Richard is now 67 years old!! Here's a snippet from his Wikipedia site:

Thanks Playbiller, I had no idea about that feature. I also had no idea the reason I couldn't see the full dropdown menu was because I wasn't logged in. I shifted my brain into a higher gear and then I saw the light! Thanks, to think I've been searching and searching the OLD manual way all this time....

Oh, I just remembered something... About two weeks ago, I was in a stationery store and talking to a guy working there about an item I wanted; and he said "I don't have any more of those". I asked him "Do you own this store" He said "No". I said: "Then why do you use the first person singular? You should say "we", not "I", because you are speaking on behalf of the company" I guess you could say I didn't get a smile out of him....

I always understood the "we", and it has become part of his speech when he is talking professionally. Someone I used to work for spoke similarly, but always automatically switched to "I" if he talked to a family member, etc. Anyone who has grown up in an environment where several languages are spoken, as a child, they automatically switched from English to Spanish if talking to (say) Grandma, or French if talking to (say) Dad etc. I don't know if I am explaining it correctly but you just automatically switch into a mode without even having to stop and think about it. I know it from experience and I totally get how Clay speaks. Whoever it was who said that Clay probably doesn't even hear himself say 'we' is probably right, his brain knows to 'switch' to the 'language' that is appropriate, and there is nothing else to it. I think it is only a big deal to the kinds of people who are also not comfortable (read: intolerant) with anything outside their comfort-zone, such an unfamiliar accent or language etc. That's my take on it.

That reminds me.... I wasn't able to quite finish reading your recap from New York and I am now having trouble finding the page it was on. Can you help? LOL Seriously! Oh, and that also reminds me, while I WAS reading the recap, it crossed my mind how you should co-write Clay's next book. You are hysterically funny and two nerds with their own brand of humour would really produce something of a masterpiece!

Does someone else live in his Raleigh house as well? Isn't Jerome in NY with him? I thought they were friends, so surely that would mean Clay isn't really alone in NY, i.e. he has a 'family' with with. I assume Jerome is considered family as well, along with his usual little group that he travels with on tour and to shows where he is performing.

This has been exactly my attitude since day one. It is no one's business. I am sick of these so-called journalists. During one trip to Australia, Frank Sinatra called them 'hookers' because he was sick of the way they stalked and badgered him. Bravo Mr Sinatra!

I wonder if his relationship situation would be a different story if he had never auditioned for American Idol. Really, I cannot begin to imagine how hard it would be to have your relationships scrutinized. And it is all the harder now that whilst women genuinely lust after him, how does he KNOW that the girl he might pick truly loves him for himself, especially since he was never the object of interest to women before Idol. Now that he has some serious money, he knows too well that he could attract the wrong kind of woman. That's why he has said she'd have to have her own thing happening and not just be his wife/GF. I can't believe I am writing this because I hate the way his private life has been disrespected, but I also frequently think of someone called Caroline Jones when I see Clay committed to improving the lives of children the world over rather than being committed to a personal relationship. (Caroline Jones is a highlyl-respected Australian journalist, of the vintage of Barbara Walters.) While she was married for a short while in her twenties, she later decided to become celibate, embrace Catholicism and dedicate her life to community service, and explained that having a marriage and children would mean she could not be readily available to the community. Her book "An Authentic Life" is worth reading, it is beautifully written. Her "Search for Meaning" series of interviews have great depth, and I could see a much older Clay doing these kinds of interviews. I think Clay would adore her. I don't know Caroline Jones except for what I have seen on television and read in her autobiography (An Authentic Life) so this is not a plug for her. I am mentioning it only because Clay reminds me of her. (I just had a look and her book is on e-bay. ) Her book is even worth reading for no reason other than the fact that it is so beautifully written. But of course there is more to it than that. There is one part in the book about her mother that truly rips at your heart. If anyone has read the book, tell me if Clay crosses your mind when you think about it.

Well, if I didn't already have such a magnificent handle, I'd change it to StripedSox.... I have an idea for new Clay merchandise...... stripped socks called "Stripies".

Bottlecap THANKS. I didn't even know about his striped socks trademark! Do fans turn up at concerts in striped mismatched socks? It could be a good trend to continue... then when you lose a sock, you don't have to throw it away... just find another odd one to 'match' it.

HAHA goes to show I wouldn't pass a trivia test about Clay Aiken! I didn't know about the mismatched socks, but the part I found REALLY funny was the instructions on zooming in and taking another look!!

Have a look ... his socks don't match? >>> I found a post at TWoP that said his socks don't match. [ROFL.. gosh, so it's not only the members here who scrutinise every detail of his body..... ] Of course, I couldn't see his socks... then I read another post that said if you ENLARGE the pic and then look at the socks.... and lo and behold, they don't match! Now, how this information is going to solve the problems of the world, I don't know... but I just had to post it. It's too hilarious for words, I can't believe the poor guy cannot get away with ANYTHING!

Here's a neat video at YT .. song is "Boy From New York City", appropriately sung by Manhattan Transfer! Of course it is all about OUR boy!

he is not perfect, he is just right! I LOVE that, I've never seen that expressed that way before and I just love it!

He was a very private person, he didn't like the celebrity aspect to his job, he just wanted to do his acting work and be with his loved ones away from the public glare. And who can blame him. I don't believe his death was anything but accidental. He said in an interview that he wanted to live for as long as his daughter's life. He comes from a small family of just two parents and one sister. Just so tragic to lose someone in the prime of his life.

We, in Australia, woke up on Wednesday morning our time to the shocking news of the death of Heath Ledger due to an accidental overdose of sleeping medication. We are all in shock here - imagine, he is just a little younger than Clay and now we will never see the best of what he had to show us. He may not have been a singer, but wow, he had the most magnificent tone to his 'talking' voice. And such a big, big talent on the big screen. If you pray, please say a prayer for his family, especially his little girl. If you don't pray, please have good thoughts and send white healing light to them. It is a terrible tragedy for a little girl to lose her Daddy. Thank you. p.s. for those who don't know, Heath is from the beautiful city of Perth in Western Australia.

It is probably the same people that left during Quiana's solo. Apparently Clay can try and teach the manners, but it just won't work for some people. I always felt bad for both Quiana who wanted to shine and for Clay, who looked like he would die of heat exhaustion and could have used the break. Sometimes children with disabilbites are brighter and more polite than some adult fans. People left in the middle of a solo??? OMG, surely they must have had a serious emergency or else they are totally ignorant! That is a huge no-no!! At the movies, many people try to get out while the end credits roll (to beat the bathroom/traffic rush - whatever) and that creates a distraction that annoys the hell out of movie buffs/actors/industry people because they like to see who worked on the movie. However, at least there are no live performers to witness someone walking out while they are on stage, regardless whether they are performing or taking their final bows, although it is obviously worse, unforgivable really, if they are performing a solo. There are always going to be people new to live theatre who don't know the etiquette and perhaps there should be something on the ticket or Playbill that says "if you are new to live theatre, please .............. etc etc".

I received this quote in an email today, and since the first thing I thought of when reading it was Clay, thought I should post it here. "Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. " -- Stephen King, author Whilst Clay's talent is immense, I know of others (in all kinds of fields, not just entertainment) who also have great talent. The reaon they fall away is in part due to their attitude, arrogance and work ethic (lack of). Clay is one of the hardest workers around and from all accounts, he seems to be one of the most loyal people around. Those who can genuinely call him a friend have hit the jackpot in life. I was so touched to learn that instead of going home and putting his feet up, deservedly, after his Christmas tour, he took off to Mexico because "hunger doesn't take a vacation" ...don't know if that is accurately verbatim, but that is the gist of what I read. It brought tears to my eyes.

What is a blinky? Blinkies are blinking lights. At one time some fans had blinkies with hearts on them. Apparently these spelled out Clay and Awesome from what I have read. They are tacky attention grabbers, IMO. OK, I thought that is what it might have been. They are probably great for outdoor concerts but not for Broadway. However, apparently they were used ONLY at curtain call, so that might not be so bad especialy for a crazy/fun show like Spamalot. Just my 2 cents, I know not everyone will agree. Did Clay ask anyone not to use them again?

What is a blinky?

I looks like the parka Brett was wearing when he entered the stage door after the show..

I can't get over how you guys notice every little detail about Clay! KAndre mentioned the shirt he was wearing (outside signing autographs) was the one he wore for BOTW, and so I went and checked out the Clack for BOTW and true enough, the stripes on the collar matched. This is all too much! :lmaosmiley-1: (But I LOVE IT!) oops got you guys mixed up, it was Couch Tomato (not KAndre) who noticed the collar stripes... lol but yeah there's been even MORE little and not so little details picked up since then! I continue to gulp in amazement.... I wonder if Clay knows how closely he is scrutinized. :5:

I would love for him to have a TV show that is a cross between Oprah and Charlotte Church. A singer herself, Charlotte did duets with her guests, comedy skits and interviews. Charlotte had a wicked sense of humour and was highly entertaining. I can see Clay in a similar role, and he would have another huge platform to subtlely teach his "classroom" about the importance of education and inclusion for children the world over. Regular exposure on TV again would boost his audience and record sales. (For those who don't know, Charlotte Church was that little girl with the amazing opera voice who sang for the Queen, the Pope and the President of the USA! She is all-grown-up now and taking a break from TV to raise her new baby).

Yep, I can even HEAR it from where I am in Australia... Nic

Well I did go to Cwww.clackunlimited.con first but could not see where it was. that stagedoor link ... my browser crashed when I tried to download from it. That happened 3 times. I wonder why...