JennaZ

Welcome, eandpmommy! Word is that the E! thing isn't that bad.

Aww... Y'all are making me blush! Nice photo, cha cha! I loved those quotes, keepingfaith. I especially liked this: To me, that's the problem with trying to conform to whatever's "hot" in the music industry. What's hip now will be unhip in minutes, and no matter how hip you may think an act is, someone else will find them "bourgeois." That's why I have to respect Clay for remaining true to himself, cheesy goodness and all. So the situation is serious in Texas? Scary. And I'm supposed to fly to Houston next week! I hope everyone stays safe. (Better call my mom...)

I always thought that one day there would be a Neil Sedaka tribute, and that Clay would participate. I can't go to this, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be televised.

Whoops! You were faster on the draw, lickiest!

Go out to dinner for one night and you miss all the great conversation! I tend to think like you and Ansa do. I find him attractive, but the sexiness is not really what I look for in him. I have noticed that different fans are attracted to different aspects of him, and to some extent, it affects what we want from him and how we want others to view him. Personally, aside from his voice, his sense of humor--his ability to make people laugh--is what I enjoy most. I think that's why I like the idea of him in a variety show, and why the SexyBack performance doesn't bother me that much. I thought it was funny. However, I realize that other fans have different preferences. There are fans who want his charitable work to be more prominent, because they see him as a role model and champion of important causes. There are fans who see him as an artist first, and want the public to see him as a respected musician more than as an entertainer. Some prefer "sexy Clay" and wish the media would capture that side of him more often. I don't think that's wrong. I just think it's a reflection of our own tastes. Ain't that the truth! I don't love everything he does. I hate that he travels on airplanes in pajamas (the papparazzi are watching!) I'm not a fan of stubble. And I do wish he'd respond to more of these tabloid stories the way he did with the foot incident--with a humorous public statement that shows how ridiculous it all is. But I realize those are really my issues, because they're based on my own expectations of what he should or shouldn't do. I think this is the crux of the situation, and I think it's been what he's been telling us in every concert. He's not cool. He sings slooooow songs. He's cheesy enough to love TV show theme songs. For those who want him to be Justin Timberlake, he's going to show how absurd that notion is (which why I think he camps it up). I can see why we may long for the kind of broad, mainstream acceptance that Justin has, why we'd want Clay to win Grammys, and be played on the radio with the frequency of Kelly or Carrie. Yeah, it would be cool, if Clay were actually, well...cool. But I think this matters more to us than to him. And quite frankly, he may never be "cool" in the sense that Jimmy Hendrix, Nirvana or even Kanye West are "cool." But you know what? I think Clay can be very, very popular. He's talented. He's funny. He's sexy, smart, big-hearted, and extraordinarily and unusually complex. But I believe that if superstardom happens, it will be on his terms, in his own unique style, for better or worse.

Not surprisingly, Clay's take off on "Sexy Back" has finally hit the mainstream media. Insider And yes, it's fan video.

Umm... I don't think that was my idea, but it might be a fun one. The list looks like it's filling out. There may not be many more dates announced, but of course, something new always seems to pop up right after you buy tickets. (Sigh!) It looks like I'll be sitting out the Christmas tour again this year. Ah well... At least the East Coast dates are convenient for listening to cellcerts and downloading Clack.

Ah, Lickiest, we're just having fun speculating over his brief reference to things "in development." Television leaps to mind, but it really could be anything, including something we might consider fairly minor. However, the fact that he seemed excited makes me think it's something good. Of course, "development" is a still a very tentative term. It's far from a sure thing.

LOL! Now I'm glad they were, on the whole, fairly nice to Clay and Clay fans. However, given the reviews I'd heard here, and reports that there were nights with only 3 people in the audience, I can't say I was holding my breath for Broadway. At least Clay got to see it. I would have loved to hear the razzing by Angela and company after that show! Thanks for the recap, Lickiest! Great photos, Claygasm! Glad you brought them over! And Gibby, isn't FCA refreshing?

I think Clay has learned a lot since "A Clay Aiken Christmas." Even his Christmas concerts are less like that than they used to be. If his show were like his concerts, with a lot of comedic interplay, I can imagine him pulling this off.

LOL! I love the idea. Who knows? Maybe there was a high level network executive at one of his concerts who may have gotten some ideas... I know what you mean. I read of people who went to bed CRYING because they were so angry at what they saw. WTF? It was an impressive moment, but some let their expectations and feelings cloud their judgement.

You may have seen this at CH or elsewhere: From Shenwren at CV: Personally, I find the part in bold very intriguing. I can understand why he'd choose not to disclose anything in development. Not a good idea, for a multitude of reasons. However, he does seem to have something percolating, something he seems excited about, which does send my speculative mind racing...

Actually, I kind of agree. I've read a lot of things about how "brave" he must have been at Cary. Honestly, I suspect fans placed far more meaning into the situation than he did. To assume that he must have been affected by the presence of youknowwho is to attribute to the gnat far more influence than he deserves. I do think North Carolina performances may mean a little more to him, due to the presence of friends and family, and to the fact that it's his hometown crowd. However, it does seem that fans often find more "schmoopie" moments than may actually exist. I suspect there's a lot of projection going on. People assume Clay must feel a certain way because that's how they feel.

Judging by certain other boards, it's already started. I gotta say. This Betsy is an obscure writer in a minor market. Her review, for the most part, is quite positive, with praise directed toward his voice, charm, and personality. Why should we care that she didn't like the song choice? Clay may have been told to do covers, but I think he likes these songs. So some of them may be considered "cheesy" by some. As he has said at every concert, "I'm not cool." I think he knows the ATDW aren't particularly hip or cool, but he doesn't care. He's having too much fun. And so are audiences. I've read too many not.just.us reports to believe that the show is only successful for the die-hard fans. But, some seem to have an almost Pavlovian response to any word that might possibly be construed as less than enthusiastic. MUST.E-MAIL.NOW!

Whoa, indeed! That is a hot photo! Thanks for the find, Muski! I only know Ethel from the Clack, but I've never found her offensive. Her moments in the spotlight are very brief, occasional, funny and, IMHO, hardly disruptive. If Clay didn't like her, he certainly wouldn't continue to single her out. I would not be surprised if he actually looks for her in certain regions.

WORD, Ansa! The guy was just a drop of venom in a sea of Clay love. Personally, I think the less he's discussed, the more annoyed he'll be. (((Claygasm)))

I so agree! I know some fans think he gives them too much attention, but I love the interplay between the three of them. There always seems to be much more comedic possibility with them on stage. One definitely gets the impression that this is not just an employer/employee relationship. These people are friends, and honestly, I suspect that he enjoys his concerts with them more than those without him. Thanks for the recaps, Lickiest, Fear, jmh!

Thanks for bringing over your recap. Sounds like a beautiful night!

Thanks for bringing over the photos! Performing in North Carolina must be especially emotional for him. Hopefully, the loving response will be what he'll remember most about tonight.

Honestly, I don't think the presence of a single known individual is enough to nix the line. That person could be easily isolated and prevented access. My guess is that it's more than that. We would not know about any direct threats. Psychos don't always post on public message boards. Sometimes they just write nasty, hateful letters. Sometimes, they act with stealth. It's possible there are other people, former fans perhaps, who are just as dangerous. Personally, I trust in Clay's security to make the right decision as to what is or is not an acceptable risk. They may know far more than we do.

Loved the recap, Couchie! Muski wrote: I kinda know what you mean. When the electricity goes out, it's rather annoying. No internet. No TV. It's eerily quiet. But, it well, it's sort of fun, too. Lighting candles. Finding games to play. Interacting. When the power went off on my block a few months ago, people left their apartments, went outside, and strangely enough, started TALKING to each other! Neighbors who rarely said more than "hello" to each other began chatting. "I'm pissed that I'm missing 24." "Me too!" "Looks like they have power on the next block." "I wonder what the problem is." "BTW, I'm...." People said more to each other in the two hours the power was off than they had in the years they'd lived near each other. Not that I have anything against electricity. (What would I do without FCA!) But sometimes, a brief brownout's not the worst thing in the world. Nice photo display! I do think he makes less of an "effort" when he's on his down time. Interestingly enough, though, that more natural look can actually seem more attractive than his (I assume) professionally styled coifs. True. He's talked about never getting to be "off." When anything you do in public (on a flight, in a restaurant, on a NY street) gets media coverage, you have to feel a little less free. To retain your sanity, I think you'd need a trustworthy and grounded circle of friends (which he does seem to have). Anyway, best of luck to all those trying to travel today. Have fun for the rest of us!

What's happening to Court TV? Major format change. Court TV Changes Name to truTV Hoping for the best. My thoughts are with you... Loved the photos, btw! And congratulations, KAndre on the fantastic upgrade!

Great recap, Couchie! Can't wait to hear the rest! Thanks for bringing over the college fan posts, jmh. It's good to be reminded that Clay does actually have younger fans!

Good luck! I hope you get on that plane!

Hilarious recap, KAndre! Having witnessed this in person: I gotta say, you captured it all beautifully. And thanks again for the tickets. Considering my original seats were in Section C (I always panic and stupidly grab up lousy seats on the first day), the ones you gave us were heaven.