luckiest1

Play, thanks for bringing over the bit on Ruben's foundation. Go Ruben!! I always liked him. In fact, until Clay sang BOTW I was torn as to who I wanted to win. I love that the two of them seem to be such close friends still. I wonder if they exchanged ideas about their fundraisers.

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe Ruben gave Clay the idea about auctioning off the dinner with himself (or vica versa)! During AI2, I was torn between Clay and Ruben up until Solitaire. I haven't enjoyed much of Ruben's music since, but he seems like a nice guy. It was great to see that he is using his celebrity for a worthy cause.

Do you realize that the tour begins 3 months from yesterday? At least as its now scheduled. And DALLAS will be one month from today. Not Tulsa. DALLAS!

I am so psyched. Now if only I can get myself to lose some weight and get in shape to chase Clay!

Wheeeeeeeee! It's only 3 months? I can't wait! And definitely inspiration for me to get back on my Healthy Eating Plan next week. I've, uh, kind of fallen off the wagon since my trip to Raleigh. Easter isn't helping, either. We had our dinner last night and I had seconds of the rhubarb pie. Received a chocolate bunny this morning. What to do, what to do........

HAPPY EASTER, FCA!!!!

RUN, don't walk, and get the latest gala clack by ClayIzzaQT. It's so up close it's like being there! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Clack Unlimited link

Looks like my NY-OH 3fer has turned into a 4fer with the addition of Syracuse. :Tour3:

I honestly don't know if Clay wants radio play or not. Honestly. Truly. And that's why I just can't get all worked up about it. If it happens -- fantastic. If it doesn't -- Clay's still gonna have a career.

Of course, though -- I'm one that believes to this day that HYCA would sound fantastic as a single on the radio, and still thinks that it might have a chance somewhere down the line.

I think Clay would love to get radio play, just based on how excited he seems to have been hearing himself on the radio originally, and his comments since then. But if the payola in any way, shape or form depends on him, I can see him getting his back up about it and saying "no way". I would wager he doesn't agree with payola, and he can be a stubborn guy, even if he ends up shooting himself in the foot because of it. Of course, I know nothing, and could be way off base! Who the heck knows. But I don't think that his music isn't radio friendly. I think HYCA would fit right in on AC. I think The Way would have sounded lovely on AC or even Hot AC. I am not sure I agree about the men-dominated theory, either. Heck, Josh freaking Groban (who has a lovely voice but whose music I would consider 100x less radio friendly than Clay's) is all over the air waves. Makes no sense to me.

Elite boards........hmmmm. I would say the ones that do not allow people to register freely are considered "elite". Some have waiting lists, and some do not even post the rules for how a member is chosen, instead leaving it for people to wonder if they need to "know" someone to get in. Sometimes they insinuate that it is a first come, first served policy, but that can be easily disproven when there are people who have been waiting for 3 years to get in, but others have suddenly found themselves accepted after a few months. When I first discovered the boards in 2003, I registered at every one I visited. In hindsight, I guess that was a pretty good idea.

so what's up with OFC...I'm still getting that strange site. HAs any credible explanation emerged yet???

I have read the theory that it is a DNS issue, and perhaps TC or whoever is responsible didn't think to renew the domain name, which apparently expired yesterday. Depending on your ISP and how often they update their DNS server, you may or may not still be seeing the site. I guess we'll know for sure by later today if it disappears altogether.

Edited to WORD ldyjocelyn's post below.

I think it is about time fans get back to being fans and leaving the rest to team Clay. You know what is even more sad, to me? Watching these same people, who have created all this damage for Clay, his board, his career, this last year, now act as if they never did anything wrong. Like nothing happened. After brow beating the fandom with their conspiracy crap for the last year and playing taps to Clay's ATDW and hurting his career, they want to change their tune.

Just WORD. To your whole post, but especially this.

I really hope they sort out the Dallas/Tulsa problems soon. I can understand how nerve wracking it must be if you've already made travel plans. Right now my group is planning to drive to all our concerts. So I did a quick count this morning, and it looks like we now know about 18 of them. Only 2 more to be announced? Dare I still hope for Toronto?

Hee, I remembered a couple of cool things that happened in NC outside of the gala. The first day we were there (Friday) we went to a Chik-Fil-A straight from arriving at the Raleigh-Durham airport. I was wearing my BAF/Krispy Kreme t-shirt. The girl who served me took one look at my shirt and gushed "I love your shirt. I love anything to do with Clay Aiken and his foundation!" So I ate my lunch, and then remember I had a homemade DVD out in the van, in my suitcase, so I ran out and got it and took it to her at the counter. She screamed, and ran around the counter to give me a big squishy hug. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Then, when we were waiting in the Raleigh-Durham airport to come home on Tuesday, they must have paged "Jimmy Kimmel" six times. We were wondering if maybe Clay was using it as an alias.......

Here are my grainy, not so great gala photos. But hey, what the heck, how often do I have the opportunity to do this stuff? Anyways, they go in reverse order, so the jacket did indeed come after the LAL lyrics.

And here are the rest:

Hey all

Sorry this took so long to write up, I've been doing it in parts each day and saving it until it was done! We are flying home this afternoon so I hope to catch up on the board and the conversation tonight. Enjoy! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I met so many people on Saturday. Our group consisted of me, my daughter crimsonice, her friend disneykid, NCDonna and kids, and mandmlady. We started out at the Gandolpho Deli where we ate and chatted with ebird and her friend Ann, as well as cindlilu2 and her friend Karen.

Then we headed over to cindilu2's hotel to change.....and hopped a taxi to the Cardinal Club. We were about a half hour early, and found jmh123 and her friend Nancy right away. Faye was walking back and forth across the street, and finally she got picked up in a black SUV that had us all wondering for a minute.......but no sign of Clay, who I assume was already upstairs doing his meet & greet with the lucky gold members. Finally it was time to register, and we all crowded into the lobby to wait in a poorly assembled line to make sure we were "on the list". Talk about stressful. I was never so happy as when Brianna, the dancer from the JNT05 gave me my ticket, which said "table 23" and "seat #222". Up we went, in the elevator, to the 28th floor, where we stood packed like sardines again for another 15 minutes.

We took a quick look at the silent auction items, but most of the big ticket stuff was missing (Wango Tango shirt & LAL lyrics). We found our dining room, which apparently was nowhere near the main room where Clay would be dining. At our table, to the best of my recollection, was geekette, careless whisper, invisible926, notrelated, CAP121, Huskerfalcon, ProqFreq, and us five. We were visited by Jaymes Foster selling raffle tickets, Diane Bubel who came by to introduce herself and say hi, and even Faye at one point, because she found a ticket on the ground and it belonged to someone at our table. The meal started with a salad and raspberry vinaigrette, then the main course was steak, salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Dessert was a carmel chocolate cheesecake. There was red and white wine served, and also champagne.

At one point we were visited by ficus who informed us that Clay was eating in her dining room and that many people were coming by to peek. CAP121 took off with her. crimsonice and disneykid decided they had to go visit our friend goldarngirl too, and when they came back they reported on his appearance (beard and hair) and also that CAP121 was crying tears of joy. Hee.

We went upstairs eventually to wait for the performances, and we stood around drinking Claytinis until they called our numbers. Our group was in the 7th and 8th row, from the centre aisle and over about 6 seats. Amazing seats! Clay entered very quietly and he came right down the centre aisle but he was already in his front row seat on the aisle before I noticed. Everyone went nuts but he picked up his "fan" (for auction bidding) and waved it over his shoulder at us in a "oh stop that" motion. I spent most of the speech portion of the night alternating between paying attention to the speakers and videos and watching the back of his head. He occasionally turned in profile to talk to his seatmates (Jamie, Quiana, etc) so I go to see his pretty face. Oh, did I mention he looked freaking fantastic? And hawt? And I normally hatessssssssss beards? Alrighty then.

So he sat and watched some speeches and he also watched the video of the kids that had the BYLM song playing through it. He got up and made his speech fairly early on. He was hilarious from the get go. He said he was just going to wing it. He talked a lot about how the foundation was started initially as a school project and it was a "fake" foundation. Then the panties started flying up to the stage, and "if that wasn't flattering enough" they also had cheques pinned to them. The first 3, or 5, or 7 pairs, he figured he'd find the addresses and send them back and explain that there wasn't really a foundation to donate to. But by the end of the tour, he said they had about $48,000 in "panty money" (the audience roared at this). So he called Diane and they decided to make it real. I thought it was a really cool speech - he definitely gave it a fan slant, because the room was mainly full of fans. He also made some comment about the video and how "that guy can really sing" that started everyone screaming and then he tried to get us all to stop. He is so cute.

During the presentations, he stood over on one side and then took the stage each time to give the award and to shake hands or hug the recipients. During his speech he had instructed some fans who were sitting over on the side to come down to the front row and sit where he had been sitting. He really had to insist before they did it!

The auctions were just amazing. I can't even begin to describe how "on" he was. I don't think it was planned at all for him to participate, because he said something like "my rear end was sore" when he started. I'm sure you've all seen the snippets of video already. Those are just a tiny indication of what he did. He was on a roll. He got crazier and crazier as the night went on. If it hadn't started so late, I think he would have started stripping and auctioning off his clothes! LOL He said something about his "britches" being next. His mom was teling him to take off his tie and auction it and my daughter said to me "do you think Grandma would pay it if I used my credit card?" People around me were bidding on things. cindilu2 bid on something fairly inexpensive, and the auctioneer tried to trick her by jumping up to $21,000. It was funny. Once you were in the running, Clay was making faces at you and egging you on, which of course was driving the prices higher and higher just for the individual attention it got you. cindilu2's friend was in a bidding war for something, but she let it go at the end, and the winner ran up on the stage to get her item from Clay and got a kiss! After that, all hell broke loose, people were bidding more for the kiss than for the item, I think. Clay was dancing and hugging himself and rubbing things on his face and through his mouth and kissing them and saying he slept with them, just to raise the bids. He SOOOOOO knows. It went on for a long time. He must have been exhausted before he finally sang. I was cellcerting NCDonna and mandmlady through the whole thing and every once in a while I'd say something into the phone because I'm sure all they could hear was the screaming going on!

I've been thinking about the auction almost constantly. There was a really funny part when he was auctioning off the signed LTS. He said "Learning to sing............hearing........(long pause).......the music........(another long pause).......in your life" (said very dramatically). Then he said something like "that was a dramatic pause". It was hilarious. I really hope we get more clack of this. Every little clip that gets put in the vault makes me over the moon excited, because I don't want to lose the memories.

I have to admit, the performance part was almost anti-climatic, just because the auction was so unbelievable! But someone (a woman, can't remember who she was, but not Lynda Loveland) did the introduction. It was funny, because he'd been on the stage doing the auction the whole time, and I don't think that was planned. So she did this great introduction for him anyways, and then he came back on the stage and sat on a high-backed stool. Quiana sat beside him, to his left. Jesse was on the piano to Clay's right. Clay said that he'd done this really fun tour a couple of years ago, one he'd really enjoyed, but Jesse hadn't been on it so hadn't had a chance to play any of those songs. Then he said it was 3 hours long every night, so maybe Jesse would be glad because he would have been too tired. But he said he was going to sing a couple of songs from that tour, and then launched into ICMYLM. He was making faces at the woman who was sitting in the first row aisle seat (the one Clay had been sitting in originally) so that was what all the laughter was about. It definitely was not as inspired a performance as some nights on the JBT, but really, the room was still so abuzz from the auction, it was hard to bring it down that quickly. I was trying to cellcert but the battery on my phone was dying, and the connection kept cutting off, so they kept calling back. Thank goodness I had thought to put it on vibrate!

I was really surprised when he said they were going to sing The Prayer. I thought it was totally gorgeous. Quiana's voice is just so rich and full. When Clay came in for his first part, I really got the impression he was holding back. He started letting loose more as the song progressed. I think he is always conscious about not overpowering his partner in a duet. I believe this audio is going to be one of my favourites for a long time. I can't wait to get it on my iPod when I get home! Then Quiana sang a song that I didn't recognize at all. After each song, when the audience went to stand and give an ovation, Clay got the look on his face and tried to make us all sit down. Hee. Then he went into Unchained Melody and I died. I have been obsessed with his David Foster version, and this was similar to that. Near the beginning, one of the semi-glory notes, we all started applauding, and he shushed us, and said "wait till the end". BWAH. After it was over we all went nuts and he said "see you in the summer" off mike, then leaned over and said it again into the mic. Then he was gone. *sigh*

We all made our way out to the elevators. I was hanging around waiting to find my group, and I saw so many people come out who were just walking around in a daze. None of us could really believe what we'd just witnessed. Jerome came by and was really friendly, asking us all if we'd had fun, etc. Kristy came out and rode down the elevator with my daughter, and she said she was really friendly. Not sure whether it was upstairs or down in the lobby, but Diane Bubel was there, shaking everyone's hand or hugging everyone, as they left. I thought it was really great the way she personally wanted to speak to each person. In the lobby there were goodie bags for everyone, with a BAF mug and some other small stuff, including a local newspaper and a copy of Exceptional Parent magazine.

We went outside and talked to people for a few minutes until our whole group assembled, then we walked back to the hotel to change. I am surprised we weren't hit by a car, because our heads were really in the clouds still and we weren't paying much attention to where we were going, LOL.

Hey everyone

I have to post quick as we are getting ready to go to church, and I can't miss my once yearly NC church experience (nothing like we have at home!)

Clay was on fire last night. It was the best $175 I have ever or will ever spend, I think, in my life. I can't even begin to describe it. He had no inhibitions. He did everything, short of stripping, he could, to get us to bid higher. He had no shame. He made all sorts of insinuations. He danced, he rubbed, he wiggled, he tongued, he shreiked, he pouted............you name it, he did it. I got a few very grainy pictures that I may post later but I am pretty sure there will be great clack coming out of this as no one seemed to be stopped from taking video during the auction. Now, the performance was another matter - we were all asked to put our cameras away. I am SO glad that there is audio (I am listening to the Prayer right now) and let me tell you, it was amazing. There is one extremely high note Clay hits (not a power note, an extremely fragile high high note) that almost had me on the floor. I have to disagree with ansa about Quiana's voice in person - it is phenomenal. Of the two, I actually felt that Clay's voice was not as full, but not because it can't be, because he holds back when he's in such a small room. I think he realizes just how powerful it is when he let's it loose. I love the way their voices blend together. I was over the moon with the song selections (although I bet most others weren't). I think UM was reminiscent of the David Foster Gala version, which I absolutely adore.

I will never forget last night. I met so many people - fans, but also Jaymes Foster (had a conversation with her about whether there were Target's in Canada), Diane Bubel, Kristy, Jerome...........OMG just can't even remember them all.

I promise to write more later. I am sure all the key points have already been mentioned on the boards - 8 songs on the skating show in November, Quiana on the summer tour, concert in Oklahoma this summer. His attitude towards LAL was interesting, when he was auctioning it off. He kept saying "I'm never doing anything like this again" in relation to the song, or at least that was the way I was taking it. He said Jaymes made him do it. People were yelling out "sing it, sing it!" and he gave us a look and said "it'd take a lot more money to get me to do that". Heck, it went for $50,000! Not quite sure what to make of that......

But seriously, it was like being in his living room. He was among friends, and I felt included in that assessment, even though I've never met him. He was just so comfortable. I don't even know how to describe it. I really and truly hope there is complete video because if there isn't it will be the biggest loss this fandom has ever had, IMO. Y'all just HAVE to see him in ACTION!

Hey all! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Posting from sunny and gorgeous Bailey, NC. We are starting to get ourselves showered and dressed for the exciting day ahead. We had an awesome, short flight yesterday, during which I listened to the fantastic iTunes podcast interviews. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I love hearing him talk just about as much as I love hearing him sing.

I'm not caught up on any boards, and that is probably for the best. I want to go into tonight's gala with an open mind.

I will try to text or call ldyjocelyn later on and let y'all know how it was! Of course, I have no doubts it will be fantastic. I am very excited about heading into downtown Raleigh in a couple of hours. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

*waves to all*

I got busy at work yesterday. And I got frustrated as, one by one, my regular haunts (gmail, thedailyplate) were hit by meta-tag filters and deemed unacceptable to surf at work. Thank God this one has escaped!

Also -- think back to his banter at the end of the JNaT2006 shows. While he did plug both the BAF and UNICEF because they are dearly important to him, he also stated several times that people should follow their hearts with their charitable giving (and their tax write-offs.) He knows that people are pulled in many directions with their financial resources, and that people have choices to make. But, I truly think he wants people to GIVE, no matter where. If it helps the world, it's good giving. JMO.

I was also going to mention this, as I was listening to JNaT mp3s yesterday and heard it. I totally agree with it, as well. It's a personal thing. TBAF is not everyone's cuppa. It's mine because I can relate to it. My son has struggled with learning disabilities and ADHD all his life. I have spent lots of time advocating for his rights to be included in a regular classroom, but also have his individual needs met. I only wish that TBAF had a Canadian chapter, so I could also participate in WFI and other worthy fundraisers.

Soooooooo.......we're down to hours instead of days before we leave for the gala. EEEEEEEEEEEEE! My camera (crappy as it is) is packed and charged. I even remembered to pack the cable so I can upload any pictures in NC. Let's hope I have something to upload.

Let's face it. I'm hopeless! But I PROMISE if I see anymore spoilers anywhere I will not bring them here. Maybe we can declare FCA a set-list spoiler free zone??

Sorry again for bringing that over.

Oh, please don't feel bad! I'm a spoiler whore of the worst order. I've never stayed unspoiled for anything Clay related. As much as I wish people would stop pestering the venues, if the info is out there, I want to know it. *smacks self*

Hmmmmmmm....ETYGA, eh? I love that song. What is the compilation album called? Do you have the iTunes link?

Sheeeeeeeeeeit, this makes me just want to keep driving south after Asheville!

ansa, total WORD to your post. It's all about proving something. I admit I am a spoiler ho but I also like surprises. And who in their right mind ever thought that he wouldn't sing Invisible? Oh, wait, the poddies who insisted he'd only sing fresh, new, original material, that's who.

I am bummed about how strict they seem to be about cameras. People have been told that even with the artist's OK cameras will NOT be allowed. Clack may be hard to come by. I just hope not all the venues are that strict.

I can't say I'm surprised.......there has always been a question of how to get around the orchestra's policies on the JNTs and even the JNaT. Depending what stance TC takes ("crapshoot" like last time, or "no flash" - except they are usually more lenient on that in outdoor amphitheatres) it will probably vary from venue to venue. I am sure some of our stealth gatherers will manage to get some. However, it makes me want to go to more shows, just in case.

Welcome LovesClaysVoice! I enjoy your posts at the OFC. And thanks for bringing over the Exceptional montage by rcknrllmom - it really is exceptional! And it reminded me why I'm still here, even though some days, as I wade through the shit on various other boards, I wonder why I subject myself to all the hypocrisy.

I try not to post just to fight. I, too, hate when people present opinion as fact. But sometimes, there are situations that are just too sweet not to point out. Like when some fans contradict themselves. Or out themselves. :medium-smiley-070:

Good luck to everyone involved in the :Tour4: today. So far, I've managed to avoid it by joining group sales, but my day is coming.

And don't forget--if you refresh too much or too fast, you get locked out for 24 hours, so you have to restrain yourself.

Yes, this can't be said enough. You have to try not to refresh too often. Make yourself count to 30 or even 60 between hitting that button, tempting as it may be.

The Foster hate (remember when she made that post about the JNT05??) turned to love and Clive became the bad guy. I think David Foster, as a first-rate musician, sees Clay's talent as a vocalist, and wants it to shine. Dion, Groban, Buble--Foster's people--they sing a lot of covers, they sing a lot with large groups of musicians backing them, very similar to what Clay is doing now. Clive is the rocker. It's ironic.

Hee, I never really thought of it that way, but you have a point.

So, I read some of these negative posts and think, "Yeah, they say this now." But wait until they're actually looking up at him on stage. Wait until those lights go on, when he strides on to the stage, flashes a rakish grin, and opens his mouth. Wait until the music pours out and engulfs us all.

That's why he continues to sell tickets, despite all the bitching and moaning. He is irresistible, and we know it.

And this is what it all boils down to. Well put! :Tour3: :Tour3: :Tour3:

Poddie Folsom Prison

(Sung to the tune of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison song)

I hear the train wreck coming

It's coming 'round the bend

And I ain't been so happy

Since I don't know when

They're stuck in Podville Prison

And time keeps dragging on

and that train keeps a rollin'

on down to San Anton

Clay always tried to tell 'em

I ain't no rocker son,

I'm just a good boy

who wants to sing good songs

But poddies wouldn't listen

They tried to make his dreams die

Now every time they hear a ballad

They just hang their head and cry

Now there's Poddies eating crow

in a fancy dining car

they're still wanting to drink the kool-aid

and looking for the bar

Well we know they had it coming,

and we know we can't be free

'Cause those people keep a staying here'

and that's what tortures me...

Well if they'd free us from their prison,

if that railroad train was ours

I bet we'd move it

all the way to Mars

Far from Poddie prison, that's where I want to stay

and then I'd let Clay Aiken sing my blues away.....

The bolded part is my favourite verse.......thanks for sharing!

Right Here Waiting

Short Banter (hello FCA)

Everytime You Go Away (audience participation)

Everything I Do (I Do It For You)

A Thousand Days

Banter

Here You Come Again

Because You Loved Me

If You Don't Know Me by Now

Banter - here come the sad songs:

Broken Wings

Without You

Sorry

Lonely No More

Lover All Alone

Interlude of some sort - short break for Clay

Moon River

Banter

When A Man Loves A Woman

For Once in My Life

When I See You Smile

Ya Gotta Have Faith

Banter

MOAM medley f. Run to Me, Perfect Day, The Way & I Will Carry You (the Oprah arrangement, with added strings)

I Want to Know What Love Is

These Open Arms (no, I swear, it was there all along)

Everything I Have

Banter

This is the Night

Measure of a Man (a la Capitol Fourth)

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Then a few new original songs as a final segment

and Back for More at the end

Please, God, can we add in Not Supposed To Love You Anymore? I have a thing for the demos. And come to think of it, I have a thing for the feet, too. *waves* to keepingfaith

I heard that Jamie apparently posted on Jesse V's myspace saying "can't wait to see you next weekend". I hope that means Jesse might accompany Clay at the BAF gala. I wonder if there'll be a partial orchestra? I wonder what he'll sing? I am not sure how I am supposed to work this week.....I just want to get on the plane NOW!!!!!!!

Fly by post to drop off this little goodie from cindilu2:

Once Upon A Dream - Dream On (wmv)

Once Upon A Dream - Dream On (mpg)

It's a long one - 7 minutes - but worth every second of downloading time!

I'll be back when I catch up on the thread.

Wheeeeeeeee! Welcome keepingfaith and lightmyfire! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

I'm up for some musical discussion on main, definitely. :medium-smiley-070:

:TourExcite: :TourExcite: :TourExcite:

:Tour3: :Tour3:

EEEEEEEE! Page one?

Happy Birthday, JennaZ!

:bday2:

oh this was my own extrapolating..cos in other boards they say orhcestra 45 minutes and all clay 50 minutes...and people are thinking this is Clay and the band...can you quote the email? cos if the orchestra is the opening act, then Clay sings with them I can understand...but I wonder if Clay's part will be longer than 50 minutes...I just want more Clay is that so wrong??? hee

Not wrong at all! We all want more Clay, right? :F_05BL17blowkiss:

The info is in the Columbus thread over on the OFC, posted by someone named CarrotTop4Clay. She seems to have quite a bit of knowledge of this venue. Here is a part of the post.

The Columbus Symphony starts their part of the concert @ 8:15 PM and performs until ~ 9 PM. Then there is ~ 15 minute intermission. Then Clay will come on to the stage ~ 9:15 PM and perform about 45-50 minutes. Clay may sing longer....I'm just writing what the usual second half is like. There have been a few performers who have stayed on stage a little longer, so I'm hopeful we'll get an hour of Clay. Concerts are usually over ~ 10 PM.

So whether this is the format for Columbus only, or for all the concerts...who knows? During the Christmas symphony tour, there seemed to be different rules for different orchestras.

And here is a rock guitar version of it!

OMG I just watched this. The guy in the bow tie cracks me up! I sure hope Clay doesn't dance like him. And those hand motions are a bit over the top.....

so I read somewhere that one of the venue said the first half he would be singing with the orchestra and the second half it will be with the band...I bet that will still have some of the strings playing with him for some of the ATDW arrangements.

While I've seen a lot of people speculating about this, the only actual email from a venue I've seen only said that the orchestra plays a 45 minute set as an opening act, and then Clay will have his own set (with the orchestra) for another 45-50 minutes. I'm not sure how people are extrapolating that into Clay & the orchestra in the first half and Clay & the band in the second half. I think it is more wishful thinking than anything.

For Once in My Life is a whole 'nother story... That one has my cringing a bit. All I can think of is Stevie's version, which is too brassy and bombastic for my tastes. However, I never thought I'd like Here You Come Again based on Dolly's version, so who knows?

I just listened to Stevie's version of FOIML, and listened to the words (which I am copying over from CH):

For once in my life I've got someone who needs me

Someone I've needed so long

For once unafraid I can go where life leads me

And somehow I know I'll be strong

For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of

Long before I knew

Someone warm like you

Could make my dreams come true

For once in my life I wont let sorrow hurt me

Not like its hurt me before

For once I've got someone I know won't desert me

And I'm not alone anymore

For once I can say: this is mine you can't take it

As long as I've got love I know I can make it

For once in my life I've got someone who needs me

Just wow. I really can see him singing this....not necessarily in the style of Stevie Wonder.

I think they just picked songs that were familiar to their subscribers. He is well known for BOTW. MOAM was the title track of his first album and the others are well known songs. If they had listed LAA or LNM, unless people had his album they wouldn't know what those were.

Didn't Clay mention how he wanted to sing "Moon River" way back in that Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer? I think he LIKES songs like that. I think, as he has said over and over, he likes singer's songs. He is an old soul and he likes the classics.

Doesn't mean he doesn't like "rocking" out from time to time but I think HE wants to set a mood with these concerts under the stars with symphony orchestras. I would bet dollars to donuts this "theme" was his idea. Not Clive's. Not RCA's. His. He likes these kind of songs! Plain and simple.

You took the words right out of my mouth. I am having fun watching the heads explode!

:TourExcite: :Tour3:

muski, maybe you've been locked out for refreshing too often? :Tour4:

I think Clay need the album to come out to do another Pop tour - so the album is really supporting the tour.

Yeah, I agree with this. And because the album is supporting the tour, the tour can't help but help the album out in sales, IMO. It's like some people want to look at it backwards, saying that even if the tour helps sell albums, it won't help it sell enough to warrant more promotion. But wouldn't more promotion come before we know how many it's going to help sell? And wouldn't that number be dependant on the promotion? ::insert spinning head emoticon::

I guess that's why I tend to leave the marketing/career advice to the "experts", and concentrate on just being a fan. I'm good at that.

According to info on the OFC message board, row 20 was the closest row offered today, and Monday's "post" sale will be rows 13 - 19.......