JennaZ

Yes, I'll be in LA. I just got an offer for a hotel room in Pala, so I think I'll probably go to that one, too!

Congratulations! Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll work out. I know. It's a bit disheartening to see how many seem to be actively campaigning for the album's failure, as if the quicker it disappears, the faster the next album will come out. I really don't think it works that way. I do think this tour will be used to help support ATDW in a moderate way. I tend to doubt that concerts are really a driving force behind CD sales, but I do think this can stimulate interest in him among the orchestra crowds. Pala tickets. I'm still a bit on the fence on this one, but am starting to lean into the idea of going. My only issue would be finding a place to sleep that night. I'm not really surprised that many aren't buying tickets today. The OFC recommendation to wait seemed very compelling, especially if one doesn't have the money to buy multiple sets of tickets. And yay! for the Houston engagement. Jones Hall is lovely venue. Although I might have wished for a performance at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion (a great outdoor venue), the Houston heat and humidity can make it unpleasant at night. Jones is air-conditioned, and there are some great restaurants nearby. Houston is relatively cheap to get to. Part of me is sad though, because normally, I'd go to this in a flash. I grew up in the Houston area, and it does seem to be the first concert. Alas, my parents (who live in Houston) will be visiting me HERE in LA, so it might be hard for me to explain why I'd abandon them to go back there!

Excellent point, Ansamcw. I really think there is a press release floating around somewhere. As much as I love Clay, I don't think journalists are so eager to get a Clay Aiken concert article out there that they'd scrape together information from his web site and fill it in with pure speculation.

Great news on the Kevin Bacon front! Hopefully, we'll see something positive said about the BAF. Hmm.... Ellen shoots in LA... Clay is in LA.... Dare we hope? Me, too, luckiest. Judging from Clayzorback's post, she felt the same way. It's tough, because there is a lot of fun to be had in the fandom. However, there have been times when I wish I had not visited certain message boards. It was almost not worth it anymore, because any good news or interesting information was lost or forgotten amidst the sea of hatred and paranoia. FCA, in many ways, has been a lifeline for me. I suspect that without it, I would have ditched the fandom almost entirely. I like your way of thinking, playbiller. You know, when I was younger, whenever I'd get depressed, I'd go out and volunteer at a homeless shelter or food bank. It gave me perspective. Instantly, I'd realize that there were worse problems than mine, and that I actually had a lot to be thankful for. Within the Clay fandom, there has been much angst about "Clay the Perpetually Persecuted." Yes, he's had tabloid troubles, radio struggles and negative reviews. Sure, it would have been nice if ATDW sold more. But you know what, we're still able to make plans to see him on tour in great venues. We don't really doubt that we'll see him on television again. And we still have thousands of other fans to discuss him with on a daily, constant basis, with mountains of Clack to enjoy. How many other fandoms have video of every song from nearly every concert? It must be far tougher to be, say, a Ruben fan. Or a Bo fan. Or even, perhaps, a Taylor Hicks fan. We have it pretty good, actually. I just wish more people would realize it.

Great post, FullyFunctional. Please delurk more often! That's the funny/frustrating thing about his fandom. There seems to be this assumption that everyone thinks only of Clay. If anyone mentions Clay negatively, they're haters. Positively, they're using him. If they don't mention him at all, it's an obvious snub. There's often no way to argue, because even the absence of information is offered as "proof" of their position, and anything that explicitly contradicts them is dismissed as "spin." I've felt this way, too. I think many of us here have, as well. Where is the joy? Where is the excitement? I'm thrilled about the upcoming concert series, especially as he's coming to California. I'm still not sure whether I'll do one, two, or three of them (logistical issues), but I love the idea of listening to Clay sing under the stars. BTW: I think that many of these venues could draw people who just want to go to an outdoor concert. Here in LA, I've seen performers I was only nominally interested in (Natalie Cole, Tom Jones), just because of the venue itself (the Hollywood Bowl). There's something about sitting in an outdoor theatre on a pleasant summer evening (and in Southern California, the evenings are typically very comfortable), listening to music, that makes for a wonderful evening. I believe there's a lot of potential for Clay to win over new fans in these concerts. Great point, Ansamcw. It's the dogmatism, that I find frightening, the almost evangelical zeal with which certain prominent poddies attack every voice of reasonable acceptance. There's that "If you're not with us, you're against us" mentality that seems to bully anyone who is unwilling to crucify Clive Davis and RCA. It does seem as if they think that if they can just rile up enough fans, they can cause Clay's career to unfold as they envision it. It's a very presumptuous stance, IMHO. It assumes a great deal: That they know what is best for ClayThat Clay wants the same things they want for himThat he has not been responsible for choices that have been made, andThat their plans and goals do not contradict his own I think they will do what they have been doing -- continue to rationalize their way out of any position that counters their own. If Clay never does a rock album, or never sings a rock song, they'll insist that RCA is deliberately suppressing him to keep him from competing with other rock artists on their roster. If Clay were to say, "I'm just not a rock star," they'll say that he was forced to say that, but that they can "see it in his eyes" that it's all just spin. However, I suspect that no matter what, most of them will stick around. Why? Because Clay is addictive, and even those who claim to want a different sound, seem to fall under his spell when he's actually in front of them.

Glad to hear so many of you are planning to come to Cali! Should be a blast! Size-wize, I'm a shortie at 4'9". Ha! So true, Playbiller. But then, so many have lost touch with reality so long ago.

This ticket business can get crazy. I've bought multiple tickets and ended up giving the remainder to non-Clay friends. It wasn't a total waste, but I did, in the end, feel that I may have spent more than I should have. The money I spent did make me wonder whether I would have been better off with broker tickets. I've also done the membership thing at the Kodak, which was worth it (second row!), but actually very stressful. Everyone paid, and I actually met some nice people that way, but I had some sleepless nights. This time, I'm a bit more zen about the whole thing. I'll try my luck with the Fan Club which, according to one report, may actually get better seats than the membership levels at the Greek. It's been a while since I've seen him in full concert (he didn't go West this Christmas), so I'm grateful for what I can get. Besides, I think just seeing him in such a lovely venue will wonderful. Summer outdoor concerts in California can be a dream. (My fantasy has always been to see him at the Hollywood Bowl, but the Greek is not a bad substitute.)

I'm so excited that so many of you are thinking of coming to Cali! I was planning to go to just the LA concert, but you all are tempting me into considering a 3-fer, too! Yes, I love The Onion. You can download hysterically funny Onion clips from iTunes, too!

Whoopee! The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles! I've heard that's a great place to see a concert!

Me too, atinal. I guess, though, that some invest themselves so heavily into the fandom that everything takes on such monumental significance, with drama arising over the most ridiculous things. War in the Middle East? No, it's Clay's teeth that generate anger and angst. Sometimes I think that people look for things to make them upset. Anyway, I'm glad all of you meeting in Texas are not letting the contest drama sap your excitement. Wish I could join you. I grew up in Houston, and still miss it sometimes. Have fun!

If Unicef is involved in any capacity, I don't think it would pose a conflict for Clay to participate. I don't think Clay would mind if people chose to contribute directly to Unicef rather than through Idol. However, I would not be shocked if he encourages fans to participate, even it's just by voting. According to the web site: This raises money for impoverished children without any cost to the caller. Whatever one's feelings for American Idol or Simon, the result is still money for people who need it. I realize many will find it difficult to support the show in any manner, but personally, I hope that some are willing to put aside their feelings for the sake of the world's most desperate.

Terrific post, Claygasm! No, you are not alone. This is clearly a cause Clay would support. Whatever one's feelings are about Simon or AI, the fact remains that the audience is so big that there is tremendous potential in this endeavor. And though Simon may have scorned altruism in the past, and while it's possible that he went to Africa on assignment for the show, I do think it's possible that witnessing the poverty first hand may have actually had an effect on him. I'm not saying he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. I just think that the whole program shouldn't be dismissed as a fraud just because Simon made a few cynical comments years ago. Like you, I have never seen any proof that Clay hates AI. Yeah, he hated it so much he hired Randy Jackson, John Dahlstrom, and Michael Orland in different capacities, so much that he supported Paula and the show in the press (and even appeared in the audience) when other idols like Corey and Trenyce were trashing them, so much that he appeared on the Season Five finale. Of course, conspiracy theorists would claim that it's all part of some huge settlement agreement (which of course, no one has seen), but to me, the more probable possibility is that he just doesn't hate it as much as some of his fans want him to. Ha! So true, djs.

That's how I feel, too. I can't be a pessimist, because I do enjoy a little hope now and then. I don't want to believe the worst. However, I do like to take whatever happens with a little equanimity and perspective. It helps, I think, that Clay is really just an interest of mine, not my obsession or my world. I fear that too many in the fandom have become so Clay-centric that they can no longer distinguish between the reasonable and the absurd, between the reality of what Clay has actually stated and the fiction created in their own delusional minds. Where I work, titles--for better and worse--can make a huge difference in what you get in terms of vacation, stocks, travel, expenses, equipment, furniture, party invites, HR training, etc. And the gap between Coordinator and Manager is a significant one, with coordinators treated as administrative staff and managers treated as executives, even if the duties were not dissimilar. Besides, every title advancement, even without a pay raise, looks good on a resume. Again, congratulations!

That's always been my suspicion. For me, the song is haunting because it sounds so raw, so vulnerable, and so profoundly personal. I have often wondered if he was reluctant to include it because of what people might think it says about him. I also think it's possible that if he isn't confident about his own songwriting abilities, he might shy away from putting this attempt out, especially if there's a lot of him in it. To me, the notion that Clive would keep this song off the album to punish him in some way has always been patently absurd. Congratulations on the new title! They really can make a difference in terms of how people relate to you. It's great to see you get the respect you deserve.

Hi all, I haven't had a chance (or, quite frankly, the inclination) to tour the other major boards, but I take it that the joy of an upcoming tour has already been tempered by the same stale, old declarations? One can almost predict what is to come. 1) As fans hound venues and extract a few dates, we see a chorus of protests that Clay has not announced the full schedule. 2) As the schedule is announced, invariably some locations are left out and we see a fresh wave of anger and bitterness that their region was not represented, with many taking any exclusions as a personal diss from Clay. 3) As details about the concerts are revealed, condemnation flows freely, with a few declaring that they will not attend. 4) Once sales begin, there is the predictable rancor toward Ticketmaster, the OFC, venues, ticketbrokers and fans who buy from ticketbrokers. 5) At concerts, anyone who is noticed by Clay is declared a famewhore and is blasted on the boards. 6) No matter what he sings or does, there will be complaints--about his appearance, song choice (especially if Quiana or Angela get solos), meet and greets, etc. Some will take offense at something he says in jest, and people will overanalyze every word to support their own individual doomsday scenarios. All this, despite a Clackflow that would make any fandom envious. (Sigh!) Anyway, it's good to see the celebration here. I agree that Clay will sing songs off ATDW, that it will be used to support this album, and that the concerts will be fantastic.

So many great posts! WORD! You're so right. This is the most annoying thing, the need to prosthelytize their position. Wish I could post more, but I've gotta go and you've all said it all!

Work's been insanely busy, lately. Much of it is away from the office (without computer access), and often, I don't get home until 1:30 am. So, I haven't had much time to read the boards or watch any Clack. It'll continue this way throughout much of February, so if you don't see me online, that's the reason. Whenever I have such periods, the quote above really holds true. In the last few weeks, I haven't really run into anything Clay-related, and I'm a bit sensitive to it. I don't think he's obscure, just not top-of-mind for everyone. Not every bit of gossip reaches everyone, which is, quite frankly, rather reassuring. The world is broad and wide, and contrary to what some fans may think, it does not revolve around Clay Aiken. BTW: Congratulations on those getting Kimmel and Gala tickets! Apropos of nothing: One thing I have done recently is listen to ATDW, something I actually hadn't done for a couple of months. What struck me was how much I really do love the album. So many have denigrated it because the sales aren't where they want it to be, but it really is a lovely piece of work. Sometimes, a little distance from the day-to-day analysis and grievance can be a good thing. Anyway, I don't know how much I'll be able to post in the next month or so. Just know that I peek in from time to time and am thinking of you all. It's good to have a place where I can find news presented in a positive manner, where I don't have to wade through pages of angst and bitterness to find the silver lining.

Video? Radio? Kimmel? But... but... The pod people said ATDW was dead and buried, that RCA was actively working to sabotage Clay, not promote him. Why would they spend money on a video, of all things? Oh! I get it. This must be part of some elaborate plan to get people interested in his album so they'll go to the stores, not find it, and buy Daughtrey! or Katherine McPhee albums instead. Ah, that's the ticket! GMA must be luring Clay back to talk about Unicef, but we all know it's an evil ploy designed to allow Diane Sawyer to ambush Clay. Obviously, there must be some secret alliance between her and Clive to destroy Clay's career, because he's such a huge threat to every artist on their roster. :medium-smiley-070: It's such an interesting time. I'll admit, I had hoped for a Valentines Day push, but I hadn't really expected it. However, there definitely seem to be signs that something is in the works. I can see why touring may have been postponed to summer. And if, God willing, Clay can actually get a radio hit or two out by then, it would certainly help ticket sales.

ldyjocelyn, you're absolutely right. Dreamgirls did win the Golden Globe, but in the Musical/Comedy category. However, it seems like the critics' circles have been picking films like Letters from Iwo Jima, The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, and United 93. The Queen is fascinating. Helen Mirrin really did a brilliant job of capturing what we've seen of the public Queen Elizabeth, and yet, in a manner that makes her seem like a real woman. I was surprised to see the film get nominated, but not disappointed.

It is interesting that Dreamgirls didn't get nominated, despite the buzz. However, I don't think it had been winning a lot of the preliminary critics awards, and it didn't win the Golden Globe. I haven't seen Babel, but I have seen the other nominees, and must admit, I was more engaged by The Departed, Queen, Letters from Iwa Jma, and Little Miss Sunshine than I was of Dreamgirls. Dreamgirls had some great moments (especially with Jennifer Hudson), but it felt a bit long, especially during the stretches when Jennifer's character was off-screen. Little Miss Sunshine seems to be making a bit of a surprise run. I loved the film, but I had wondered whether Academy voters would find it too light for Best Picture consideration. However, it did have some truly moving performances, and it's one that, quite frankly, most people seem to have a soft spot for.

RE: Kimmel tickets. My guess is that the ticketing service is being cautious about their confirmations because of what happened last time. Their general policy has been to overbook in the belief that a sizeable percentage of people will not show up. With Clay, not only did they show up, they flew in from all over and waited in line all day. I would not be surprised if they are checking the list of those requesting tickets to a list of people who were turned away last time and were promised make-goods. Once those tickets have been locked down, they'll go down the rest of the list. Add in the possibility that they may have VIP guests to accommodate, and I can see why they'd be hesitant to confirm anything until the last week. They work a lot of shows, so they may feel they need the time. IMHO, "saving" spaces for fans of other guests would be very difficult unless they are working with a particular group. Glad you had a great time in New Orleans, muskifest! My husband is from New Orleans, so we were just there last Christmas. Too bad about the Saints' loss, though. It would have meant so much to the people of the city. Great points, Ansamcw. I realize this is rather speculative, but my sense has been that Clay has always been somewhat conflicted about a musical career. On one hand, I think he loves singing and enjoys performing before audiences. On the other hand, I suspect his father's failed music career may haunt him somewhat, because he saw what it did to him, and he's always said that he's tried very, very hard not to become his father. Perhaps a part of him is reluctant to commit his entire creative soul into music, for fear that rejection or disappointment would destroy him they way it destroyed Vernon. Better to reserve a part of himself (making music only a part of his life) than let music consume him and thus, potentially ruin him. Then, too, from a practical perspective, many artists look for career diversification because, quite frankly, music doesn't really pay as well compared to other endeavors. Countless artists, from Reba McIntyre to Ice-T have pursued acting careers, not just because it raises visibility, but because you have to sell a lot of records to equal the paycheck of one good movie or TV role. Of course, the real money is from merchandising. It's quite probable that Britney earns far more from her perfume line than she does from record sales. It doesn't bother me that Clay mentions wanting a talk show. Personally, with the TV market the way it is now, I tend to doubt he'll get one any time soon (unless he joins an established show). However, I do think his wit and personality could go a long way toward advancing him as an entertainer and not just a singer. I'm not sure that concentrating exclusively on music will necessarily result in bigger returns, because I'm not sure he's the kind of guy who can concentrate exclusively on music. It's possible that only being a singer could actually make him enjoy it less. I think it's great the Jennifer Hudson was nominated. Whether that will translate to broader success is still too early to tell. It really was the perfect role for her, and those may not come around every day. However, she was the best part of the movie.

TESSSY! It's so good to see you here! You know, I used to like Kelly as an artist, and the fact is, I have nothing against her as a person. I do give her a lot of credit for picking solid, catchy songs with wide appeal. However, the plain, petty truth is that every time I hear one of her extremely ubiquitous songs on the radio or in a commercial, I get a twinge of jealousy. It's not something I'm proud of, but for that reason, I find myself not really wanting to support her. I don't begrudge her success, and I actually appreciate the fact that she and Clay seem to be good friends. However, I'll leave it to one of her many fans to buy her albums.

I don't know if it was ever the least liked. I believe that honor goes to "Just You." There were complaints about the lyrics, but most people praised the bridge and chorus, especially as Clay's renditions became stronger. There was always a lot of anecdotal evidence suggesting that the song connected with non-fans. To me, what makes it unpopular with fans now is mainly that it's "old" (because he's sung it since the summer of 2005) and that he didn't write it. I'll bet, though, that if it becomes a hit, suddenly, everyone will claim they loved the song all along. To gift or not to gift? Personally, it's never bothered me that people want to give Clay gifts, although I have been exasperated by many of the choices. Food? Seriously, with his allergies (and enemies), there's no way he's going to touch anyone's homemade cookies or lemon squares, and even packaged products, quite frankly, are susceptible to tampering. Scrapbooks? They're lovely, but someone once posted that she saw Faye displaying them, and she had about twenty made by fans. Now, obviously, a lot of effort was put into each one, and no doubt, they cover different subjects, but how many scrapbooks does one twenty seven year old man really need? Stuffed animals? Ditto. As others have said, fans simply need to understand that if they give gifts, he should not be held to fault if the gifts are not publicly acknowledged, appreciated, or used. I think he has enjoyed many presents, and has often been delighted by the creativity and generosity of his fans. However, gifts should not come with expectations, which sadly, seems to happen too often.

I like Ruben, but I just don't know if he captures attention anymore. I mean, he's affable and pleasant, but people seem to have forgotten him. Many don't even remember that he actually won American Idol. I always thought he'd have a tougher time when it came to promotion, because sadly, he is kind of known as the guy who was outshone by the winner. There may be this perception in the media that people just aren't interested in him anymore. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law, muskifest. I hope people don't get bullied into not requesting. I hate that some people are so discouraging. You're right. It's almost as if people are hoping to see him fail. The fact that he's getting airplay at all must be hard for the pod people to rationalize. After all, it's SO obvious that RCA wants Clay to tank.

Everytime a Clay fan pouts about what Clay did not get in terms of promotion, it's worth noting all the things he DID get. I really think that Clay actually got quite a bit of national, mainstream promotion, including many appearances that others would have loved to have, including Larry King. And by now, quite frankly, whether Clay won or lost AI is completely irrelevant, something some Ruben fans must have a hard time swallowing. Yippee! Kimmel must really like the guy. You know, between this appearance and The View, it really does begin to look like there is going to be a secondary promotional push for this CD, perhaps in support of ATD. Although I live in LA, I'm probably not going to try for tickets to this one. Valentines Day is the day my husband proposed to me, so it's always been kind of special for us. As much as I love Clay, I can't give up that day. However, I hope others decide to go. I must say, that last Kimmel show was one of my favorite Clay experiences, especially because of the concert. And there's nothing like being in an audience chock full of Clay fans.