luckiest1

Am I weird for watching this clack over and over again?

I don't think so. I think the whole concert was just an amazing accomplishment. I haven't had time to watch much clack lately, so I've only seen the Long Island AIW, but I loaded the entire set by Scarlett onto my iPod. He was in such GREAT voice that night, whether it was because he was concentrating so hard, I don't know. Unfortunately, none of the .wav files I loaded will actually *play*. No idea why, but I think maybe whenever RL slows down a tad, I will have to convert them to mp3s.

Interesting discussion about the Singapore article and interview this morning. Interesting in the fact that I haven't seen it discussed outside of this board. I love that he seems to have defined his "Clay Aiken" sound in his mind. I can't wait to see what he will do with ATDW on tour. I plan to be at the first show, no matter where it is.

I'd attend an FCA get together in Chicago, since I learned this year that it is well within driving distance. *g*

Concerts? Apparently, I am a 'ho.

AI Tour - 1 (Buffalo)

Jingle Ball - 1 (Cleveland)

IT - 2 (Detroit, Winston-Salem)

NaT - 7 (Greensboro, Syracuse, Clio x 2, Dayton, Raleigh x 2)

JNT04 - 1 (Detroit)

JBT - 5 (Cary, Clio, Interlochen, Meadville, Toronto)

JNT05 - 2 (Cincinatti, Youngstown)

JNaT06 - 3 (Merrillville, Williamsport, Detroit)

Total: 22 (wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!) and only 2 of those was I without my trusty sidekick, my daughter. And 1 of those she'll never let me live down, becoss it was without her permission (AI2).

Oops, sorry, ^^that^^ was me. *g*

Teach me to not log in........

Bringing my recap over from CH:

Well, I'm back. I have not read one word on the boards yet, so I have no idea what has been discussed already, but I just wanted to give some general impressions of the Merrillville concert while it is still fresh in my mind.

I didn't attend Waukegan, and I didn't watch any clack either, although I had listened to the cellcert. So when my party of 4 arrived in Merrillville after an 8 hour trip (with 2 unsucessful Walmart stops), we were kind of surprised that people were upset about the night before, and "the note". Heck, other than the one note at the end of AIW, I'd thought it was a pretty darn fantastic cellcert, myself. I will have to go back and watch the Waukegan clack when I get a minute.

Anyways, we met up with ldyjocelyn & HeidiHo at the hotel. We had a great time getting to know each other and devirginizing my daughter with the Tyra clack. Thankfully ldyjocelyn had managed to get her hands on a few extra AIW for us after all. We headed over to Smokey Bones for dinner, and then all piled into Heidi's rental vehicle to make use of the VIP parking pass (woo hoo! since it was freaking cold out). We went to check our coats and said hello to various meers in the lobby, including the lovely and now infamous geekette of the signed iPod. *g* Our seats were row H which turned out to be about 15th row from the stage, on the centre aisle. Absolutely fantastic viewpoint, because I could get a close up on the expressions using my binoculars, but a pretty much unobstructed full-body view without them. I have a bit of a foot fetish, so I spent a lot of time watching those huge shoes slip sliding away on the stage....I sure hope someone captured them on film, because I just loved watching them. Yeah, I know I'm weird.

I was just in 7th heaven for the whole show. To be in the presence of the Aiken after a year was almost overwhelming. I've never seen him more comfortable and chatty! He was truly amazing, and his vocals were just gorgeous. The hair is very different than I expected.....almost looks flat ironed, it is so straight, but it shines and falls just so....I loved it. Kudos to cousin Jamie if she indeed is doing the styling.

I'm not going to go into detail of every song and bit of banter, since it seems we will have full clack of everything (YES!) but the most memorable part of the show (aside from every single second of the banter) was, of course, AIW. In fact, everything from OCOCE on really just blew me away. The standing O after OCOCE was very spontaneous and cool, and Clay looked quite surprised when he turned around and saw us all on our feet. ldyjocelyn and I grabbed onto each other during DSIAFCD in anticipation of the glory note, and then we just leaped out of our seats and started screaming when he hit it. It was truly magical. During AIW, he showed such amazing focus and concentration on making each note just perfect. When he went up for that final note, the place exploded. What a moment! What an accomplishment it was, for him. I was truly honoured to be there to witness it.

As much as I loved the concert, probably the most moving moment, for me, was being able to give Windtalker a bearhug following AIW. I am so glad she was there to be a part of it all. Huge thanks to beagle3 for coming to get me. {{{Windtalker}}}

Afterwards, we hung around talking to all sorts of people. Too many to remember to mention (and I'd hate to leave anybody out) but "hey!" to y'all....you know who you are. And then back to the hotel and fresh clack....some of which is on the two video cameras we had brought with us, shot by my daughter (aka crimsonice) and her friend (aka disneykid). Hopefully we will figure out how to get it off the cameras and onto the boards soon, thanks to help from the 4th member of our party, the lurking goldarngirl. We had a surprise visit from another lurker, atinal and her friend, who brought us some gorgeous Christmas ornaments....thank you!

This morning we stopped at the gas station directly across the road from the venue, in the hopes of finding a local paper with a review of the concert. A very nice lady there was helping me to look through every available paper (there were a lot!) and she asked who had played the venue the night before. I told her Clay Aiken. She said "CLAY??????" and clutched her heart. "I voted for him." Hee. She admitted she'd heard him a few times on the radio but had not bought any of his CDs. I told her to hang on just a minute, whipped out to the car, and grabbed my copy of ATDW. She was very excited (and strangely not surprised) when I handed it to her. We never found a review, but when I left she was clutching that CD to her heart. *g*

Bringing my recap over from CH:

Well, I'm back. I have not read one word on the boards yet, so I have no idea what has been discussed already, but I just wanted to give some general impressions of the Merrillville concert while it is still fresh in my mind.

I didn't attend Waukegan, and I didn't watch any clack either, although I had listened to the cellcert. So when my party of 4 arrived in Merrillville after an 8 hour trip (with 2 unsucessful Walmart stops), we were kind of surprised that people were upset about the night before, and "the note". Heck, other than the one note at the end of AIW, I'd thought it was a pretty darn fantastic cellcert, myself. I will have to go back and watch the Waukegan clack when I get a minute.

Anyways, we met up with ldyjocelyn & HeidiHo at the hotel. We had a great time getting to know each other and devirginizing my daughter with the Tyra clack. Thankfully ldyjocelyn had managed to get her hands on a few extra AIW for us after all. We headed over to Smokey Bones for dinner, and then all piled into Heidi's rental vehicle to make use of the VIP parking pass (woo hoo! since it was freaking cold out). We went to check our coats and said hello to various meers in the lobby, including the lovely and now infamous geekette of the signed iPod. *g* Our seats were row H which turned out to be about 15th row from the stage, on the centre aisle. Absolutely fantastic viewpoint, because I could get a close up on the expressions using my binoculars, but a pretty much unobstructed full-body view without them. I have a bit of a foot fetish, so I spent a lot of time watching those huge shoes slip sliding away on the stage....I sure hope someone captured them on film, because I just loved watching them. Yeah, I know I'm weird.

I was just in 7th heaven for the whole show. To be in the presence of the Aiken after a year was almost overwhelming. I've never seen him more comfortable and chatty! He was truly amazing, and his vocals were just gorgeous. The hair is very different than I expected.....almost looks flat ironed, it is so straight, but it shines and falls just so....I loved it. Kudos to cousin Jamie if she indeed is doing the styling.

I'm not going to go into detail of every song and bit of banter, since it seems we will have full clack of everything (YES!) but the most memorable part of the show (aside from every single second of the banter) was, of course, AIW. In fact, everything from OCOCE on really just blew me away. The standing O after OCOCE was very spontaneous and cool, and Clay looked quite surprised when he turned around and saw us all on our feet. ldyjocelyn and I grabbed onto each other during DSIAFCD in anticipation of the glory note, and then we just leaped out of our seats and started screaming when he hit it. It was truly magical. During AIW, he showed such amazing focus and concentration on making each note just perfect. When he went up for that final note, the place exploded. What a moment! What an accomplishment it was, for him. I was truly honoured to be there to witness it.

As much as I loved the concert, probably the most moving moment, for me, was being able to give Windtalker a bearhug following AIW. I am so glad she was there to be a part of it all. Huge thanks to beagle3 for coming to get me. {{{Windtalker}}}

Afterwards, we hung around talking to all sorts of people. Too many to remember to mention (and I'd hate to leave anybody out) but "hey!" to y'all....you know who you are. And then back to the hotel and fresh clack....some of which is on the two video cameras we had brought with us, shot by my daughter (aka crimsonice) and her friend (aka disneykid). Hopefully we will figure out how to get it off the cameras and onto the boards soon, thanks to help from the 4th member of our party, the lurking goldarngirl. We had a surprise visit from another lurker, atinal and her friend, who brought us some gorgeous Christmas ornaments....thank you!

This morning we stopped at the gas station directly across the road from the venue, in the hopes of finding a local paper with a review of the concert. A very nice lady there was helping me to look through every available paper (there were a lot!) and she asked who had played the venue the night before. I told her Clay Aiken. She said "CLAY??????" and clutched her heart. "I voted for him." Hee. She admitted she'd heard him a few times on the radio but had not bought any of his CDs. I told her to hang on just a minute, whipped out to the car, and grabbed my copy of ATDW. She was very excited (and strangely not surprised) when I handed it to her. We never found a review, but when I left she was clutching that CD to her heart. *g*

I tested my CV cellstream out this morning, and it worked just fine. I know I shouldn't spoiler myself tonight, since I'm going to Merrillville tomorrow, but I can't help it. I have no willpower.

{{{ldyjocelyn}}} There's always tomorrow!

I really hope that Clay's "surprise" for us on Thursday is either a spring tour announcement, or an open clack policy announcement for the symphony dates. Either one would be awesome news!

18 is definitely not enough, and I am crying over not being able to find a spot for IYDKMBN, but here it is, for today only:

Chain Of Fools (NAT)

Solitaire (single version)

Right Here Waiting (ATDW)

Lover All Alone (iTunes)

Without You (ATDW)

Oh Holy Night (JNT04 version)

Back For More (GMA version)

Invisible (Raleigh evening NAT)

Not Supposed To Love You Anymore (Demos)

I Know How The River Feels (Demos)

All Is Well (AIW)

Emmanuel (JNT05)

MOAM (AOL sessions)

MDYK (NBC version)

Truly (Hometown Connection)

WAMLAW (JBT)

Unchained Melody (David Foster Gala)

A Thousand Days (Clio JBT)

I'm planning on tuning into the CV cellcert on Friday night, so I'll try to pop in and do updates as well.

I'm not taping.....did his mic cut out on the first line, or was it just my tv?

Love, love, love that he is spoofing the insanity that has prevailed the past couple of days. You go, Clay!!!!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh god, Barry is killing WTWNN

OK, Kimmel is just playing with us now. He seriously had me going that time.

It is officially past my bedtime.......

Heh, my head'll be just fine, thank you very much.

ETA: but I just made some popcorn in anticipation.

That WAS Jack Black? Wow, I'm good. I thought that's who it was!

oh wait...he will introduce Barry Manilow...heh

Oh please, just no........

What did Jimmy say his "son's" name was? Sounded suspiciously like it started with Clay......hee.

ETA: I guess sometimes we hear what we want to hear. LOL

I hope he presents soon because I am not sure I can stay awake for all of this. B O R I N G

But I have to say, our man is looking fan-tas-tic tonight! Does my heart good.

Ah, no wonder I thought I missed those parts..........they aren't included! LOL.

I hope a more complete one becomes available, too, but this is just awesome. I just love his laugh. He is so quick and he can handle anything that it thrown at him.

Well, I will look forward to Friday, but I have decided I am not the kind to wait out on line in the middle of the night for standby tickets with little chance of getting in (no ticket) in the fall in the cold. hangs head in shame I guess I am a bad fan.

Hee, I could take your place.......if I lived near NYC. Hmmmmmphhhhh, one of these days I am going to get myself to a taping. As it is, I am not even going to be able to watch this one live, because, while I do have the day off work, it's to take my mom to an appointment in Toronto. Just like the day that Martha was on, when I was in the same type of situtation. So I figure this one is going to be as hawt as Martha, too. Heck, at least I'll have something to look forward to that evening!

so what is your favorite JNT04 OHN???

I believe my JNT04 files are all from Detroit - canfly172. I kind of have a soft spot for that one, since it was my only JNT04, and canfly's audio is very good.

what would be your best O Holy Night from JNT2005...I have one that is really beautiful but he sang it straight forward. I was wondering what would be the best with all the extra trimmings?

I just happen to have a text file here at work with some of my favourites from the JNT05 listed. For OHN, I have written:

- lightnin Minneapolis (thriiiiill a' ho-ope, new ending)

- San Diego spot (beautiful, normal ending)

Hee, I believe I have the Minneapolis one on my iPod. He goes up at the end, which he only ever did the once, but I love it. I also have a JNT04 version on my iPod, because I love the arrangement he used that year.

As for the Disney Christmas files, I don't find that mine are bad quality at all. I have no idea where I got them, but when I get home I can do a yousendit or I can email them to you if you like.

See to me there is a difference with people commenting that Clay;s outfit does not seem to fit the occassion and wanting to see another hairstyle. Thats just opinion and we are being objective about it. But when people get upset about it...and call him clueless and seem to be angry at him or act superior is another matter to me altogether. His whole life is not about promo...and photo op...even if it is...his image...the look he wants to convey is entirely up to him

That's how I feel about it, too. Obviously people are going to have a "look" that they prefer to see him in, whether it has to do with hair or clothes or glasses or whatever. But I sincerely hope that he doesn't think "what will the fans think?" when he gets dressed. I just don't get being angry or upset just because he doesn't do what the generic "you" wants him to do.

My other son is married to, how can I put this in a kind way, a bossy control freak. To me he rarely seems happy, but he has a short haircut, wears suits and ties.

Loved that story. Perfect analogy!

Ya'll talking about Clay's clothes when he's standing next to a man wearing a pimp suit? Heee

Hee, I thought the same thing!

Hi-res picture

*dies*

God, I am so impressed that he took the time to blog at 3 am and set the record straight. It was a confusing night in chat (yes, I went over, never typed anything, but watched the insanity scroll by at lightening speed)! The hacker posted some pretty offensive stuff apparently. I couldn't quote verbatim because my eyes are too old to keep up with it.

It always amazed me that so many boards would police tone toward other members, but would not police tone toward Clay. People could say truly insulting and offensive things about Clay, things that if, said by a DJ or comedian, would incur the wrath of Clay Nation. Those who react to the statement usually get edited, but the inflammatory comment itself is allowed to remain and the poster herself receives no official chastisement. I never understood why a fan board would permit less respect to be shown to Clay than to board members. I'm not saying that fans shouldn't be allowed to criticize or question Clay. I just don't think it's too much to ask that such comments be made in a more diplomatic manner. It's one thing to say, "That's not my favorite picture of Clay." It's another to say, "That picture makes me want to bleach my eyes out." Yes, it requires a subjective determination. However, every analysis of tone is a subjective determination.

I couldn't agree with this more! Would that it was a rule on every fan board. To me, that's the definition of a "fan" board. If you want to post disrespectful posts about the object of any fandom, I'm sure you can find other places to do it. Personally, at this point, if I meet a potential fan and they ask me for website referrals, I point them to the CNN site, and the OFC. Whether they discover the message board part of it eventually is up to them, but to point an innocent fan to an established message board (such as CB, CV, CH, etc), at this point, just seems wrong. They would have no idea what was going on and would probably run for the hills!

I have more Clay stuff than I know what to do with. My bedroom right now is a bit Clay-centric.....I have a laminated Singapore poster on one wall, my framed OFC 8x10, and then this upright picture stand thingy with 5 magazine covers in it in the corner.....and oh yeah, a "celebrate Clay" thing I stole off a newspaper box in Raleigh on my mirror. Heh. Upstairs I have a framed Rolling Stone in the living room, the poster from MOAM, a Pop Star centrefold, and a few pictures stuck with a magnet to the fridge. However, I have two recent large posters that some wonderful friends have made me, as well as one of those awesome mosaics that I won at a 9/19 ATDW party, just waiting to be framed or laminated and hung somewhere. What I really need is a bigger house. And kids who don't complain that there is too much Clay for their liking.

At work my cubby is Clay-centric as well. A homemade Shutterfly JBT calendar, and some BAF buttons and a small pic from AI5. I usually have a different Clay on all my computer desktops as well.