Ansamcw

Yikes I;ve gotten addicted to guitar hero!!!

geesh...

anyway...too tired to comment too much...just going to do a general

WELCOME TO ALL NEWBIES?

y'all have kept me busy validating through the day...hee

Tay...your name is making me do a double take...thats what I call my daughter Taylor...

hope you all feel at home now!!!

Check it out!!!

Clay has the first four places on the AOL Top 11 now!!

http://music.aol.com/top11?themeName=defau...videoID=2131399

This is one of the ways people get to know about a cd...specially with kids in High school and college...AOL, Youtube, myspace, facebook...thats how my kids exchange music they love.

Couchie...I think right now internet, TV and radio are he most common ways that people learn about CD releases. I love coldplay but didn't know they had a new CD out until I saw a commercial.

Forgot to add... while I think anything can be discussed...dont' really understand why every single Clay diss is brought to the boards and discussed ad naseum. Who gives a shit what Craig Ferguson has to say or some blogger with two readers before Clay Nation and the haters descended up on it. I think often times the perception of just how bad it is out there is skewed because we have to see every single thing. It's like there is heartbreak on the board every single day because of what some idiot said. No wonder the joy is sucked out of this thing that should be fun.

So true...I think when Clay was just starting...there was a need to know to prepare us for the worse...kind of mentality. But right now we know that some people think Clay is not cool...lots of people think Clay is gay and that there are a lot of asshats blogging or running gossip sites that are trying to get hits ...so there really isn't anything new out there...

CG....I do agree with you. I think we all are entitled to our opinion and to express our opinion. I guess the line is crossed if the opinion is stated in a belittling way. I also think that there is a difference in expressing an opinion and arguing a point.

I also don't think that Clay is perfect...I think the real essence of the kind of acceptance that TRM is talking about is when someone is there to support or help you despite all these imperfections and mistake...its not thinking that he is always right or does no wrong.

SAU....In the beginning I was a bit lukewarm to this song. I think I just felt the lyrics were a bit OTT in depicting this perfect love...that I kinda want to roll my eyes...but the production and his vocals are excellent. When I think about how Clay chose this song...I get the impression that Clay is very idealistic in his idea of love...

Iseeme...thats true of any CD out there anyway. Even the most successful CDs will have people that don;t like it or don;t like certain songs so its tough to extrapolate two or three posters that didn't like certain songs in one board to the general population.

SAU

I love the last one, and those of us who started at FCA will love this one too, for that picture was the basis of our first banner EVAH!

you mean our first pin and our FCA website logo...

thanks for sharing with us LadyJ...yep love that last one. You know it's still kind of our logo on FCA and was our first pin. The woman who took that picture, in Portand I think, well her kids deleted all of her pictures from her camera. Isn't that a hanging offense. Thankfully this one survived.

Hmmmm....actually, Betty asked for my help with this one, and I actually found the original. This was from the Seattle Independent show, and was published in the Seattle Post Intelligencer newspaper. Was the story you've mentioned connected to that? There's a whole series of pictures from that night.

Original Picture Link

Review (click on the photo gallery link for the picture series)

yup that picture was a fan photo that was used by that paper AFAIK cos she contacted us to send her a copy of the file.

WHOO HOOO love this show. It seemed to me like there were 4 or 5 really GREAT routines tonight. Joshua and Katee continue to be my favorites... what great personalities they both have...love when Joshua said something about practicing his solo when he saw he had the solo. Still love twitchington... I thought the couple where the girl wore half a dress was HOT. I can't think of their names right now... Joshua was just too bootlicious heee.

Will may be a great dancer but something is missing and he doesn't move me at all.

I love it too couchie...I am a bit frustrated that I have no one to chat with when its on...so those FCAers that want to chat can come to this thread and we can comment on the dances on real time...

WOW...love the routines...I totally agreed with the judges....

my four faves are...

Twitchinton...they are just wonderful together. Twitch it really getting hotter and hotter to me...and I love her...what a beautiful and refreshing face...and she truly stepped up to Twitch on their dance...wonderful. And I love Nathan and Tabitha...what great concepts!!! lyrical hip hop...love that descriptions.

Kev and Courtney...another really cute couple. I love their chemistry. I really think Kev is much better than Dominick cos although I really liked him...his expressions are a bit cheesy and it really seems like he is acting. But Kev...wow...he looked like he was really into her..very believable. It also didn;t hurt that courtney looked super hot!!! Wow what an outfit...and her facial expressions were really sensuous. sexiest rumba ever IMO.

Mark and Chelsea...another really cute looking couple...like a couple of kids. BUT such great performers. They act with their total body, their eyes and the emotion really comes from within. Wonderful. She is really a wonder...so playful and a bit immature during their rehearsals...but wow, what passion on stage. LOVE the choreography...wanted to watch it again and again.

Joshua and Katee...LOVE LOVE them. I totally agreed with Joshua and his natural samba rhythm and movement. Its not as pronounced and exaggerated as the pro ballroom dancers...but thats why I love it. It is sensual and natural. Katee...I was worried about her when watching the clip but when she went out...wow...who is this girl! She was naturally sensual and had this elegant sexiness. The chemistry between these two was also palpable...

the rest of the field...are good and I like them all but I think are expendable at this point.

Will...I can see that he really is a good dancer ...but I really think Jessica is hindering him. I really don;t like her. She does not seem to be taking this seriously. I was so pissed at her rehearsal video cos she was giggling all the time. I feel like he is constantly supporting her instead of just shining. I also think that overly groomed mustache and beard kinda make him prissy. I do think he will be pushed to the point where the audience makes their choices.

I actually love Nigel as a judge. He truly is knowledgeable and shows that he truly cares about Dance. I love how casual this show is...from the conversation among the judges...with Cat and the audience.

Love Cat...I just do...can she please take over AI???

Not ten minutes after I said I couldn't go 6 days without the internet, the internet went down at work. Then after work I had to run errands and then go to celebrate my neice's 6th birthday. 9 hours without internet. Where's my blackberry merlot

So thats why you were so quiet yesterday! I was worried you had another ER trip...glad you were just having fun with a bunch of 6 year olds...hee

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I always love Sacrificial love...even from the snippets.

Is this in a minor key? cos I find the melody pretty haunting, kinda reminded me of Sondheim's songs...

Love the simple piano intro and accompaniment on the first verse....I think it forces the listeners to pay attention to the lyrics...which are very mature...simple ...real...very much like a conversation. It becomes very very effective in drawing the listener into this situation that is pretty common out there.

I love the melody...the haunting quality. Very introspective, yet not really depressing. Love the instrumentation on the chorus...and LOVE the strings on the bridge...that stacato? or whatever the term is with what the strings were doing giving it a driving and intense feeling...then resolves in the piano again...very very dramatic.

What I like about the lyrics is that it depicts a very mature and straight forward handling of a pretty common relationship situation...no real need for deep analysis. Its simply a guy asking his partner...whats the deal? Actually, that kind of straight forward communication is very refreshing...no going around the bush...no living in denial. Just deal with the problem straight on and ask the hard question. It also suggests that the person singing has a high self esteem and is very strong...he wants to be treated right in a relationship and if the other person is not as committed to it...then lets just end it. Very powerful message...one that I wish a lot of people would adapt in their life situations. Cos I have seen too many people holding on to a partner even when its painfully obvious their partner is not into them...

This Nearly Was Mine was from South Pacific!

Yup...I remember now..no wonder I knew it...one of the first musicals I saw on stage.

Totally OT, but did anybody watch SYTYCD?!

Not that I was thrilled to see Leona's Bleeding Love get any more LOVE than it's already been getting, but that choreography and costuming was brilliant! Who'd have ever expected that from hip-hop?! I'm shocked to say I loved it!!!

I wish one of Clay's songs would be used!!!

I know I love it...going to watch it again. I have been pleasantly surprised by that couple, specially chelsea...she is a great performer....I love this show and I continue to pray that his song will be used.

GAH...smut and the funnies...a sure fire combination...thanks for making us laugh!!!

Scarlett...what show was this nearly was mine from...its very very familiar to me...

There are a lot of songs on this CD that I dance to while doing stuff around the house, but not TRM or LAA (both too sad). I have read that this cd music is not danceable, and I disagree. I go dancing a lot and there is a waltz beat, a two step beat, and some whip (southwest swing in Calif.) music. Also a lot of the songs can be danced with a lot of hip movement. Admittedly not like Shakira's Hips Don't Lie, which I love, but that one is kind of frantic. I am talking about sexy, smooth hip action. I am Latina so I should know hip movement! Hee Hee

I can definitely see some of these songs working real well on DWTS with the type of dancing they do on the show, especially SL. (Sexy)

yeah several songs really do make me dance like EIDN....and I agree that it would be great for DWTS...so hope it gets used...

oh...we have a Bella and Belle...I will have to be careful about that. Love Dachshunds... all my dogs growing up were Dachshunds...they are very loving , small dogs with big dog personality.

May I add my 2 cents about TRM? First of all, I'm a lyrics person, so it doesn't matter to me how great a song's melody is if I can't relate to the lyrics. This song, as I confessed to my friend, Bella19, started off almost invasive to me. Like I was eavesdropping at a confessional...and it disturbed me. I felt ashamed to be a fan who would inflict that kind of pain on someone because I was taking it completely from Clay's perspective and thinking he was referring to the fans when he had to put on a mask. The plaintive sound of his vocals at the beginning of the song were breaking my heart. Then I realized as the song progresses, it was really more about hope and growth and when he sings about "loosening my grasp" I realized he was, as he puts it... letting go, and letting God.

It took me awhile, but now I hear it entirely differently, but I still love EIDN (which I play over and over), SUA and ALAWH the best.

Yeah if we take the lyrics and apply it all to Clay it can be very heart wrenching. But I do think everyone has negatives in their lives...or that we feel we are not perfect and need to put a mask...so it truly has universal appeal. I also don't think this song was meant to be static...it could be different people at different parts of his life. Whats important is that he has found this acceptance and security with someone.

For 12-year-old, Ubah Mohamed, her wants were simpler.

"I understand he is famous. I hope he will give us food and build a school for us," she said, near to a refugee camp.

Awwww! Kind of puts things into persective!

YUP...it sure does. It also tells us that we only know a small bit of his life, all this whining about where he is...I guess he was doing important work.

I'm going to mention one more thing before I go to bed.

Maybe we didn't see a spark between Clay and Jaymes because Clay didn't want us to. I can see Clay trying to keep his love life a secret. I think he wants to protect his love ones from the media. I don't know if Clay and Jaymes are in a romantic relationship, but it's a posibility. It's also a possibility that the whole thing is not true.

Good night everyone! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

LNM, I have thought the same thing. That when Clay is in public/on stage he does his thing, but we'd never see his true romantic feelings on display. Somehow to me that seems how the real Clay would be.

I think one giveaway about The Real Me is that the piano intro has a spiritual sound. It moves to being a beautiful pop ballad, but the intro David played seems to be a big hint.

To change the subject, I've been questioning a 60's-70's type variety show in Clay's future after watching about a half hour of America's Got Talent tonight. These dancing/singing/variety reality programs are the Ed Sullivan Show / Carol Burnett Show / Saturday Night at the Palladium, etc. for the new millenium - with low-paid talent. At least for now. I take Clay at his word that he really really really really wants a talk show. And I think he'll have one eventually. I think he wants to record and tour -- but I think he also wants to talk -- on TV. He is such a natural ON talk shows, it makes sense for him to host one. I remember when Mo Rocco asked him what he'd do if he weren't singing and Clay said it would be hard for him to go back to the classroom. If ever worse came to worst for Clay, and the recording industry was lying in destruction and people couldn't afford to buy tickets to concerts, you can bet Clay Aiken would have a talk show somewhere, even if on local TV in Raleigh, and he'd love every minute of it. And knowing Clay he'd grow it to national syndication and be back on top in no time. Don't mind me, just thinking with my fingers.

I agree with you about the type of show. I can see him having a talk show but getting to sing with his guests on some days. Similar to the Charlotte Church show in England. I used to envision a late night show, where instead of having a monologue he starts with a song. Then he can also have a bit of comedy talking to the audience or talking to Quiana and Angela ...or going to talk to the man on the street or something...then interviews of guests. I think it will be cool if he can sing with some of the guests and not just the singers...but maybe the actors and even politicians.

The other show I envision is pretty much like the Donahue show...where there is a topic to talk about and he lets the audience interacts, but I would hope he would have one day a week where it will be about the music.

But basically I do think he wants to be able to talk with his guests, to discuss important topics...or just get to know people. I don;t think he really is into creating skits like the Carol Burnett show.

Okay I have a question. Beneath my scream name, it says "dog walker". Where did that come from? I have a specific reason for asking.

that is level of membership...that changes as your post count goes up..the next level is body guard... we set it up that way to represent the different people in Clay's entourage, so dog walker is entry level...highest level is stylist...cos you get to dress clay...and you control the hair color...hee Yup its more important than Chairman of the recording company...hee

Shadows of...Shadows are...I think the confusion is there because he does not really emphasize the f in of ...But I do think he says Of because I hear the O sound but not A for are...Proabably live he will sing IN...hee

forgot to say that great for the good news of gbmifan...and also for the CAL fires...glad y'all are safe

Hello

I found this board quite by accident recently and started to lurk. Some of you may know me by the same screen name at the Clayboard. As I was skimming through the thread this evening, I saw a mention of something and I thought I would respond to it.

The link about " American Idol - Clay's Revenge" and folks were wondering what it was. The small town where the auditions are being held is very close to where I live. On the evening that Clay

was at the Snowflake Lighting, I attened a dinner theater at a local fire company. The evening I attended the play was a "who dunnit" type of production and the theme was based on the Judge Judy Show on television. When I read my playbill/program, I saw a listing of dinner shows to be held in the future. One of those was "AI - Clay's Revenge". It was listed for a date in the coming spring. When spring arrived, I never saw that particular show advertised anywhere. I believe this recent announcement of auditions is the very same production company that presented the "Judge Judy" show I attended. I just think they are now getting around to preparing for the "AI Clay's Revenge" show which I saw advertised a while back. Hope this helps clear it up. Gee, I have some acting experience. Perhaps I should audition and then I can get the scoop on the whole story line.

Other than that, sorry I barged into the discussion at hand.

Hey Welcome!!!

Oh don;t worry about barging in with another topic...everyone does it... we are pretty casual about what we talk about here.

thanks for the info...and hope you can tell us more about it...

I see this as another song of triumph over adversity. Be it God or his mother or his friends or the love a good woman he was lost and now he's found.

I'm loosening my grasp

No need to hold back my frailty

'Cause you see the real me

Is there any better feeling than being able to truly be yourself - warts and all - with someone? Its like freedom. Its like someone lets you breathe.

Love this too CG...thanks for bringing it over...you were on fire interpreting the lyrics during that listening party. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

A tad sidetracked but wanted to get my two cents in on Real...if it wasn't Clay singing it, I would happily never listen to it again. And I really dislike his whisper-singing in the beginning (almost as much as I disliked it during MGUCW this past year...sing, boy...SING!).

Too much poetic type stuff for my taste, the writer just seemed to be trying too hard. I like the way he sings the last half though. I don't skip it, but don't replay it.

Hee I was going to add in my earlier post that I love his soft voice and that I was sure you hated it...hee I was right!!!!

love ya!!!

I noticed that in the original NG lyrics, it was

"No need to mask my frailty".

And in Clay's version is

"No need to hold back my frailty".

I like "hold back". I think "holding things inside" is completely different from "masking" or "pretending". "Pretending" to be someone he's not is something that some have accused him of. I don't think he pretends to be something he's not. But I do think he holds himself in, holds back. Protects himself.

The "don't let them see you sweat", "don't show your weakness" that, really, most men do, don't you think?

wow great insight. I think you hit it on the nail...

Yes, I think he feels he's on parade - and maybe sometimes has on his "game face" or mask. After all, he does have to "seem" to be having a good time even if he's feeling crappy, or mad as hell at something or someone. That's part of being in the public eye, right?

But - God - or some really close friends, or his Mom - or Jaymes, even - he can show his real self to. Show his temper. Show his sadness, or hurt.

We all need someone we can strip it all away with emotionally, and not always be PC or polite. Clayton Grissom Aiken - warts and all.

Self-inflicted circus clown - possibly my favorite line from the whole CD!!!

yup....as chatty as he is...I do beleive he is one of the most private persons I know. Thats why I think at this point...he probably is dreaming about an anonymous life...

And it's entirely possible since the verse was changed that they simply printed them wrong on the liner notes. I hope pray suppose we'll know for sure when he sings it to meeeee in concert!

Which I am keeping my fingers crossed will be this fall

oh claygirl...I hope so too...but I really don;t think so. If its fall we should be hearing more about it by now there doesn;t seem to be enough time to get ready. At this point I think it may be late winter or spring....

I do hope he gets to do a tour this year...

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY gbmifan - SO happy to hear your test result came back fine!!!

Aikim - I guess it does depend on first impressions. I just can't see anything gender-specific about this song. And...I must admit your eye-rolling and gagging is kind of happening here! I think I'm not ready to think about that whole scenario as true yet.

Yeah, I almost didn't write the part about Jaymes, because I knew the reaction I would get, but perhaps you can explain to me why it is easier to except them as friends having a baby than as a couple having a baby? It seems to be an issue for a lot in the fandom and I just don't understand it.

Kim

Kim ....I can definitely see this applying to Jaymes and Clay but really in more of a profound friendship. Now I don't have a problem with the possibility of a romantic relationship between the two of them. But I just never saw that kind of attraction from Clay to Jaymes. I can see that she is a very special person to him...just like Quiana is special to him. I know I am kinda basing it on very subjective tenuous things...but I always saw a different kind of sexual chemistry between Clay and Angela for example...and clay and Tyra. With Quiana, Christie and Jaymes I really never observed the same chemistry with Clay. I just think Clay iss a bit too comfortable with them...like being with a sibling. BUT...I COULD BE WRONG...won't be the first time. If I am and there is a romantic connection...then good for them!

I LOVE THIS SONG! It was not my favorite at first, but the more I hear it the closer it gets to the top of my list. I've been thinking about the things Clay has said about this song. First on the WRAL video he said it was about being a celebrity and the first time he heard it he thought of Britney Spears. In another interview he said it's about having someone who loves you and knows for who you really are. I think in the Billy Bush interview he was almosy forced to say it was about God. Billy Bush kept pushing him and trying tio get him to say it was about his sexuality. So Clay surprised him by saying it was about God. It pretty much left Billy Bush speechless so he had to move onto something else. I think it could actually mean a lot of things to Clay as it does to me. I can relate to it in many ways but the thing that keeps sticking in my mind is a person singing it to his lover. I won't go into detail, but when he sings "reveal me completely" my mind is not pure! LOL

Well....I guess I forgot all about the WRAL interview...thanks for specifying which interview. In a way I never thought of Billy Bush's interpretation...but I have to say it could fit if you want it to fit.

I actually have a hard time seeing a lover fit into this song...I do believe its tough to find someone that way, but if you can find it in a lover...you certainly are lucky....

You know how sometimes something that you just can't quite get, can drive you crazy?

Well I'm having one of those senior moments and I know you guys can help me out! I have a picture in my mind of Clay getting ready to start to sing a song and before he starts he holds his nose and looks down. I don't recall any more details unfortunately. This scenario just keeps haunting me and I cannot remember where it is from. I'm sure it's Clay and now I cannot get it out of my head. Does anyone have any clue what I am talking about? Bueller!!!

Was it like there was a foul smell somewhere? This scenario seems familiar...

seeing the original lyrics to the bridge...I can see why he changed it.

Ansa... in the way beginning, in some written interview, I remember reading that he was comparing this song to being about being a celebrity and needing someone in your life who knows the real you and helps you remember in the face of all that being a celebrity means. Then later he talked about it being about God for him. It might be both, but I think God was the easier, shorter answer for him at the time and not the complete answer. JMHO

Liney...I think the bolded part was how Natalie Grant explains the song in one of the you tubes that I saw. I don't know if this interpretation came from Clay, I don;t remember hearing him say this. How did he explain this song to Billy Bush?

GAH!!! Love you Merieee but I can never understand why you hate snowflake....I love his hair...and his eyes...and his stubble...and his scarf...

Thanks Ansa!

Okay, everyone keep your fingers and toes crossed and say a few prayers; I sent Emily the Obama montage set to Something About Us and asked her to listen and possibly consider the song for her wedding. I so want her to use this song...I keep picturing her and Mike dancing to it for their first dance.

Heck, if she doesn't want it; I'll bring the CD anyway and my hubby and I can dance to it...our anniversary is two days before her wedding.

Kim

Hee...I will send you good vibes...hope she likes it!!!

KF... those words are very interesting. Its tough to interpret since he didn't write this song, its hard to tell how much is personal to him. But the shattered dreams is very intriguing. You would think that he is living a dream life right now. But he did say that becoming a singing superstar was not his 'dream" growing up. So I wonder if right now he is dreaming of a quiet family life of complete anonymity. I would love to ask him about those lyrics.

I really hope an autobiography is in his future....hee

hey drmchaser...welcome...thanks for sharing your story.

I hope you join us at main...we're very casual around here...hee

Could someone define sonically for me...I know Clay used that term too and I am not sure what it means musically...all I keep thinking is sonic as in sonic boom and I know that is not right!

Kim

Sonic pertains to the sound...or vibrations, if we want to be more technical about it...so so sonically simply means the sound of the song...so it could be the melody, the production...basically it has something to do with what we can hear not the lyrical content of the song.