Couch Tomato

What's this quarter business?

I'm not worried about Clay becoming too reserved in concert, he seems to have controversy every tour and adjusts. For those in attendance that didn't like it - sorry for that - but damn this is some of my favorite clack ever. I can't believe how much I watched Too Much Heaven last night.

Last night I started pinning down my final arrangements for my trip. Damn, I can't wait.

Home at last... how's the show!

So Clay went off script tonight and had some hijinks. I know that bothers some people - a lot. Me, not so much. I can't wait to see the clack from a show that was a bit different. But then again I'm going to five shows so I know I"ll get it every way I want it. Hmmm... well you know what i mean.

But from what I heard his voice sounded fabulous tonight, beautiful in fact.

Damnit!

Clay should just stop the damn show when they do that. I don't know how he can concentrate...can't wait until Boston... KAndre is going to kick some serious ass! heee

wow...that was good... he sounds hot tonight....and what are he and Angela up to...can't wait for the clack of this one.

well I'd sit in the rain for that pretty boy.

Was I the only one that got a better cellstream with the other phone.

He really sounds good tonight...and I've thought he sounded good throughout this tour.

this is an outdoor venue?

it's storming?

KAndre launching a campaign? Love it!

While we're at it...not only is the screaming I love yous in the middle of songs inappropriate...but I wish folks who have seen the concert 6 times would not STEP ON CLAY'S LINES. What you are doing is spoiling it for people who are seeing the concert for the first time. If you have to listen to him say he's the best thing about 1970s so what...just let him get the joke out for the people who haven't heard it.

I went to the last JNT which I loved and will always remember for the closing Good News. But that concert was full of people who had already seen the show. In some regard they acted like it was supposed to be audience participation through the whole show. They would scream out his lines before he could get to them and finally he said..ya'll heard this all before, let's just sing. Well how fair is that to the person who had NEVER seen the show.

It is not just teenies and non internet folks doing this. IT IS US and we need to police ourselves and just stop it so that everyone can enjoy the show.

I read Musicmams's husband's critique of the show and all I can say is not only is he GORGEOUS and makes a fabu beer - but he's smart too. Hopefully Clay Nation will listen.

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The 70's Medley

Car Wash

by Rolls Royce

Woo

You might not ever get rich

But let me tell ya it's better that diggin' a ditch.

There ain't no tellin' who ya might meet. .

A movie star or may be even an Indian Chief.

(Workin' at the) car wash.

Workin' at the car wash yeah !

Come on and sing it with me car wash.

Get with the feelin' y'all car wash yeah.

Come summer the work gets kind a hard

This ain't no place to be if ya planned on being a star.

Let me tell you it's always cool

And the boss don't mind sometimes if ya act a fool.

At the car wash

Talkin' about the car wash yeah!

Come on and sing it for me car wash.

Car wash yeah!

(Work and work) Well those cars never seem to stop comin'.

(Work and work) Keep those rags and machines hummin'

(Work and work) my fingers to the bone

(Work) at five I can't wait 'til it's time to go home

Hey

get your car washed today.

Fill up and you don't have to pay.

Come on and give us a play.

Get a wash right away.

Car wash talkin' about the car wash yeah!

Woo car wash

Those cars never seems to stop comin'

Well

I say

Keep those rags and machines hummin'

December 1963 (Oh What A Night)

The Four Seasons

Oh, what a night, late December back in '63

What a very special time for me

As I remember what a night!

Oh what a night,

You know I didn't even know her name

But I was never gonna be the same

What a lady, what a night!

Oh, I got a funny feeling when she walked in the room

And I, as I recall it ended much too soon

September

by Earth Wind and Fire

Do you remember the 21st night of September?

Love was changing the minds of pretenders

While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing

In the key that our souls were singing.

As we danced in the night,

Remember how the stars stole the night away

Ba de ya - say do you remember

Ba de ya - dancing in September

Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

My thoughts are with you

Holding hands with your heart to see you

Only blue talk and love,

Remember how we knew love was here to stay

Now December found the love that we shared in September.

Only blue talk and love,

Remember the true love we share today

Ba de ya - say do you remember

Ba de ya - dancing in September

Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

Ba de ya - say do you remember

Ba de ya - dancing in September

Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days

Nights On Broadway

by the Bee Gees

Here we are in the room full of strangers,

Standing in the dark where your eyes couldn't see me

Well, I have to follow you

Though you didn't want me to.

But that won't stop my lovin' you

I can't stay away

Blaming it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them love songs,

Singin' them straight to the heart songs.

Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them sweet sounds

To that crazy, crazy town.

Now in my place

There are so many others

Standin' in the line;

How long will they stand between us?

Well, I have to follow you

Though you didn't want me to.

But that won't stop my lovin' you

I can't stay away

Blaming it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them love songs,

Singin' them straight to the heart songs.

Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them sweet sounds

To that crazy, crazy town.

I will wait,

even if it takes forever;

I will wait,

even if it takes a life time.

Somehow I feel inside

You never ever left my side.

Make it like it was before

Even if it takes a life time, takes a life time.

Blaming it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them love songs,

Singin' them straight to the heart songs.

Blamin' it all on the nights on Broadway

Singin' them sweet sounds

To that crazy, crazy town

Too Much Heaven

by the Bee Gees

Nobody gets too much heaven no more

It's much harder to come by

I'm waiting in line

Nobody gets too much love anymore

It's as high as a mountain

And harder to climb

Oh you and me girl

Got a lot of love in store

And it flows through you

And it flows through me

And I love you so much more

Then my life..I can see beyond forever

Ev'rything we are will never die

Loving's such a beautiful thing

Oh you make my world.. a summer day

Are you just a dream to fade away

Chorus..

You and me girl got a highway to the sky

We can turn away from the night and day

And the tears you had to cry

You're my life..

I can see a new tomorrow

Ev'rything we are will never die

Loving's such a beautiful thing

When you are to me, the light above

Made for all to see our presious love

Chorus..

Love is such a beautiful thing

You make my world a summer day

Are you just a dream to fade away

Chorus..

Nobody gets too much love anymore

It's as wide as a river and harder to cross

Chorus..(repeat and fade)

I Feel The Earth Move (Angela)

by Carole King

I feel the earth move under my feet

I feel the sky tumbling down tumbling down

I feel my heart start to trembling

Whenever you're around

Oh baby When I see your face

Mellow as the month of May

Oh darling I cant stand it

When you look at me that way

(chorus)

Oh darling When Im near you

And you tenderly call my name

I know that, My emotions

Are something I just cant explain

Ive just got to have you baby

Ooh yeah, ooh ooh yeah yeah

(chorus)

Mandy

by Barry Manilow

I remember all my life

raining down as cold as ice.

Shadows of a man,

a face through a window cryin' in the night,

the night goes into

Morning just another day;

happy people pass my way.

Looking in their eyes,

I see a memory I never realized

how happy you made me.

Oh Mandy well,

you came and you gave without taking,

but I sent you away.

Oh, Mandy well,

you kissed me and stopped me from shaking,

and I need you today. Oh, Mandy!

I'm standing on the edge of time;

I walked away when love was mine.

Caught up in a world of uphill climbing,

the tears are on my mind

and nothin' is rhyming.

Oh Mandy well,

you came and you gave without taking,

but I sent you away.

Oh, Mandy well,

you kissed me and stopped me from shaking,

and I need you today. Oh, Mandy!

Yesterday's a dream, I face the morning

cryin' on the breeze, the pain is callin'

Oh Mandy well,

you came and you gave without taking,

but I sent you away.

Oh, Mandy well,

you kissed me and stopped me from shaking,

and I need you today

Oh Mandy well,

you came and you gave without taking,

but I sent you away.

Oh, Mandy well,

you kissed me and stopped me from shaking,

and I need you!

Bridge Over Troubled Water

by Simon and Garfunkel

When You're Weary, Feeling Small

When Tears Are In Your Eyes I Will Dry Them All

I'm On Your Side Oh When Times Get Rough

And Friends Just Can't Be Found

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

I Will Lay Me Down

When You're Down And Out When You're On The Street

When Evening Falls So Hard I Will Comfort You

I'll Take Your Part Oh When Darkness Comes

And Pain Is All Around

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

I Will Lay Me Down

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

I Will Lay Me Down

Sail On Silver Girl Sail On By

Your Time Has Come To Shine All Your Dreams Are On Their Way

See How They Shine Oh When You Need A Friend

Look Around I'm Sailing Right Behind

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

I Will Ease Your Mind

Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

I Will Ease Your Mind

Your Mind, Ease Your Mind

KAndre I have always loved EotR too and yeah, the lyrics aren't very deep. I don't think you can separate the lyrics from the arrangement and the melody. It may be similar to poetry, but it isn't poetry. Poetry has to stand on its own. A song doesn't.

I guess I should download and listen to this song.

I think Clay sounds really great tonight. I really can't to see this show. I still haven't watched vidoes of everything and I think I'll save something formy show...although I have HEARD it all...the visual is just so important.

I'm so happy for the new clack policy.... we always managed to get decent clack depsite it...but the photos this time around have been awesome. The fans manage to capture something in Clay that the "professionals" can't..and I think that's because he's just his most alluring when he's performing!

home at last.... dang it started at 4:30?!!

LOL...who is that screaming! heeeee

Looks at papers on desk at work... . throws them in drawer.

I won't be late Clay!

Parker keeps her cool despite her son's fame

Parker keeps her cool despite her son's fame

File Photo By Chris Seward

Clay Aiken's mom Faye Parker smiles at a fan as she signs a photo of her famous son at Triangle Town Center in 2003. 

By WENDY LEMUS, STAFF WRITER

If Faye Parker doesn't have an agent, maybe she should.

In the past two years, since her singing-sensation son Clay Aiken garnered more fame than either of them could have imagined, Parker has become a celebrity of sorts herself.

Oh, she still runs her interior design business, Parker Exclusives, in downtown Cary.

But her schedule is also filled with invitations to judge pageants and attend charity functions, in addition to doing interviews with the likes of "TV Guide," which late last month displayed her famous son on its cover.

"They just get in touch with me," Parker said in a recent phone interview from her office. "They find out where I work. ... [by now] it's kind of common knowledge."

While the pace of Parker's life has picked up, some things have remained the same.

Clay is still Clayton, his full name, to her. That is how she refers to him — 26 years of habit.

She has not stopped decorating homes and, in fact, recently began work for an Aiken fan in Charleston, S.C.

"I'm still here trudging along just like usual. Sometimes I have a few more clients because [fans] come in," she said, adding, "they're all so nice. If it helps business, that's great."

Parker, who lives in Raleigh, still attends the same church, Leesville Baptist, where members used to hear her talented son belt out gospel songs.

A subtle hint of the South in her voice, Parker said she enjoys the "invites," even though they require a lot of time and sometimes travel.

"I just went to Michigan and judged the state pageant," she said.

A recent local fundraiser for the Literacy Council of Wake County auctioned off a dinner with Parker.

Just imagine, she said, how intimidating that can be, wondering if anyone would ante up for a prize with her name on it. She did not have to wonder long, though.

One dinner — sold! — to the highest bidders, to the tune of more than $11,000. The two winners are friends from different states, fans of Aiken.

Parker sometimes takes along a friend to such commitments.

"My friend went and we had a very nice time with both of them," Parker said of the prize dinner at a local restaurant.

She stays in touch with a special group of people — Aiken's hometown fan club. She is on the board of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which raises money for children with developmental disabilities.

Occasionally, she will attend one of her son's concerts, but not nearly as many, she said, as some of his fans; she met one California couple that has literally followed Aiken from city to city, attending more than 90 shows.

Parker will be in the audience at two shows on his summer tour — the one in Cary on Friday evening and the one at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Va., on Monday.

In a half-hour interview, the seasoned interviewee — she has met Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer — anticipated many of the questions about her son, who rose to fame on the 2003 season of TV's "American Idol," where he came in second to Ruben Studdard.

Parker said her son is happy touring and doing what he has loved to do since he was a child — sing. The mother and son are extremely close.

He realizes that there are advantages to fame beyond money and adoration, she said.

"He loves being able to make a difference," Parker said. "He knows he's got the best fans in the world."

Aiken's celebrity status and increased visibility have encouraged his loyal legion of fans to support causes that are important to him, such as The Bubel/Aiken Foundation. He and friend Diane Bubel formed the nonprofit organization; he had worked as a volunteer with Bubel's autistic son while studying special education at UNC-Charlotte.

Aiken was named a national ambassador for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in 2004.

He doesn't have to worry much about being spotted at the mall, his mother said, because he doesn't hang out in malls much. It is in local restaurants that "I think sometimes people recognize him," she said — an understatement, of course.

Parker said fans usually are polite when asking for autographs, waiting until Aiken finishes eating. One excited group of teenagers who spotted him in Charlotte on their prom night approached his table and Aiken later had his picture taken with the group.

Parker said Aiken still watches the TV show that made him famous, when he can. He keeps in touch with Studdard and Kimberley Locke, friends and competitors from the 2003 season.

He called another fellow contestant, Josh Gracin, before Gracin's performance at the Longbranch Saloon in Raleigh several months ago. Just one guy kidding another, Parker said.

When Gracin addressed the audience, her son "wanted to make sure he said 'Raleigh' right."

Contact Wendy Lemus at 467-3391 or wlemus@nando.com

Aiken Wait is Over

By WENDY LEMUS, STAFF WRITER

Claymania is heading for Cary.

In a little more than a day, a group of exceedingly loyal fans will descend on Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park to see their "American Idol" in person.

When singer Clay Aiken performs Friday night, Aug. 5, at the outdoor venue, many fans will come from his hometown area, and some will come from other states and countries. It will not be the first time many of these self-dubbed "Clayniacs" have seen the Raleigh native perform live (and likely not the last).

These are the kind of fans who will take plane trips for a glimpse of that red hair and an earful of that resounding voice, which had its origins with a skinny kid who sang at church and in the Raleigh Boychoir.

Aiken has come a long way since then, traveling the road from "American Idol" runner-up and Rolling Stone cover star to headlining concert tours.

In the process, he has developed a loyal legion of fans who span the generations of 12-year-old girls and their mothers, and their mothers' mothers.

Following Aiken's first Raleigh appearance two years ago — on the "American Idol" tour — a fan related the story of an 80-year-old woman in the audience who was in a wheelchair and on oxygen, but clearly enamored with the singer.

Fast forward to a more mature and seasoned Aiken, with a compact disc (two if you count his Christmas CD) to his credit as well as a published autobiography.

As of Tuesday, his concert remained close to selling out after a couple months in the Ticketmaster system — unlike his previous near-instant sellouts at the State Fair (tickets were $15) and of more intimate-venue "Joyful Noise" Christimastime concerts in Raleigh. A handful of lawn tickets for the 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater remain available; reserved seats quickly sold out.

"I think he does kind of realize that he may have a staying power now," after multi-platinum record sales, concert tours and numerous public appearances including a July 24 "TV Guide" cover, said Barbara Dewees of Raleigh, a member of Aiken's hometown fan club with tickets to the Cary concert.

Dewees, 57, and other local fans agree that the true test will be Aiken's next CD, which he is reportedly working on.

Dewees has heard buzz about this Jukebox Summer Tour — which reportedly includes everything from Aiken's now-famous covers of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire," to a medley of Elvis Presley songs and some Goo Goo Dolls numbers.

Special events are planned for Aiken's tour of music spanning the '50s right up to a preview of his upcoming CD. Ten lucky audience members will enjoy a "meet and greet" with their singing idol. One fan club Web site has reported that fans are encouraged to bring cell phones for an interactive text-messaging event in which some will get a post-concert text message from the man himself.

On to more serious matters, especially for Friday night's ticket holders. Amphitheater parking lots open at 5 p.m. and gates will open at 6. The concert starts at 8.

"We don't want people to camp out before the show, as we do have an event the night before and we share our parking lots with the surrounding office buildings," said Becky Schmidt, the amphitheater's general manager.

"We will have a total of three hours to get everyone parked and into the venue before Clay hits the stage so camping out is not necessary."

There will be the added convenience of shuttle service from the parking lots to speed up the entry process, Schmidt said.

Large amphitheater video screens purchased last summer will be used, so fans can get a better view of the singer.

Dewees has seen Aiken live more than 10 times in the two short years since he rocketed to fame. She has tickets for five dates this summer.

"I like his sense of humor," she said. "He's jovial, intelligent, witty, funny — an all-around entertainer. And he's easy on the eyes."

(See related stories on the News page of CaryNews.com)

Contact Wendy Lemus at 467-3391 or wlemus@nando.com

I also think Quiana is better than Angela and Jacob. But I give Angela a few more for her stage presence. But what floors me is how hard they all work from start to finish of that concert. They are working it! I'm so happy they are back with Clay. It won't be forever because I think they'll all move on to eventual careers... but for now..loving it.

Quiana is really having a blast. I can see it in the videos!!

I love Jacob as a backup singer...just didn't like his saxophone playing. Thanks for explaining the differences in his playing on this tour.

OMG, I finally watched some clack. Whey didn't ya'll tell me? Oh you did. Yes I've heard the concert multiple times but hadn't watched much more than Elvis medley and Back For More... I had no idea the boy was ACTING. And he's so good!! He's pretty much got the right attitude for every era.

OK maybe it's the clack angles but this feels like The CLAY --- Quiana and Angela show. Jacob seems to have less of a showcase. Or maybe I need to get past the 70s. Puff Daddy Clay has his "wifey" and his girlfriend on the side..and he's having a hell of a lot of fun. I'm just in awe.

I'll tell ya'll right now. I HATED Grease. Don't think it was cute. Don't care if he did it for us. I can barely watch it to this day because he was so darn self conscious. It made me uncomfortable. (vocals rocked though!!). Where did that Clay go. No he isn't the best dancer in the world but is he is a thousand times better than he was on that Idol stage. So not another word about any stupid nap from me. Clay has been working and working HARD. Everything just seems so free and easy for him and I have to say...I am one proud fan! Go Clay!

Is it August 27th yet? No? Damn!

What happened to Fran Lewis Skinner?  I don't see her listed.  Did she leave BAF?

Don't know what happened but Diane Bubel is now Exec Director. I assume Fran has moved on.