# 8 My titanium balled, taking his life into his big hands,

[keepingfaith]

I don't know how you guys stand the OFC. I go there for Clay's blogs period. I'm so sorry it's probably one of the first places a new fan will land.

I don't know how I've stood it for 10 months. Oh yes I do. Because there have been a few, including me, that don't want to see Clay's own fanclub messageboard just turned over to the Pod. And because I think it's necessary to provide a sane alternative to new fans who show up there. Because I know how it affected me. And you're so right, it's just about THE first place most newly inspired fans will land. All the newbies who bought the Best Buy Fan Packs were immediately introduced to the conspiracy theories and complaining that's business as usual over there. There's no celebration, no joy -- only when Clay blogs, or good news goes up, or an hour or two after a concert. The rest of the time it's a cesspool, but I guess I'm stubborn because I'm still not ready to give up on it. Especially with what lightmyfire did tonight!

I try not to let anybody jerk my chain ... I tend to walk away after I've said what I have to say. But the constant drip drip drip of Podjuice can be damaging to the psyche. And that's the truth!

[JennaZ]

Before every tour, fans have always seemed to predict disappointment.

Before the Idol tour, people turned up their noses at the idea of seeing Clay with other idols. They said he'd be on stage only briefly, and many said they'd save their money for his solo tour.

Before the Independent tour, fans raged at the concept of Clay performing with Kelly. There were those who declared the pairing a horrific miscalculation, one they could not and would not support.

There was a lot of excitement about the NAT, but again, there were some who predicted that the venues (which included several state fairs), were not up to par with the arenas he had performed in previously.

The Christmas concerts were not universally approved, with some fans expressing anger that he had put aside pop music for traditional Christmas carols.

And of course, the Juke Box tour was widely criticized because it meant that he'd be singing (gasp!) covers, thereby cementing his reputation as a karaoke king.

Yet, despite all this, fans rushed to buy tickets--upgrading, buying from brokers, joining subscriptions and memberships. The clack demand never ceased, and despite all the complaints, fans kept coming.

Why?

Because the guy delivers. Brilliantly. Beautifully. No matter what. Through illness and inclement weather. For the full value of the ticket price. Other artists may sing for an hour on stage, but Clay gives much more, never holding anything back, singing some of the most difficult songs at the very end of the show.

I'll admit, I've enjoyed some tours more than others. However, I can't say I've ever left a concert feeling like he was "just doing it for the money."

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.

[playbiller]

I have little stomache for it - but many fans have made the OFC a battle ground and that is very very sad. It is a lot about control over something that only Clay should have control over.

I remember a bunch of fans I knew who thought the fan club was too silly and wanted (i.e. plotted) to bring adult discussion. What is there now is just a bunch of pouting children out to spoil each others fun.

I go to the poll section, I go to the fanclub section, but rarely can I stomache posting on the man ot the music threads and that is a crying shame.

Some people believe my fight, or what I fight for in general is to be the anti-pod. But in reality the thing that is most important to me is that people stop presenting opinion as fact. I really hate that some people start rumors or state their opinon and then repeat it so often that it is thought of as fact.

I really just want to have fun and not battle people.

Of course what Jennaz says is the truth with one exception - the JNT05 - the fans were just too cool - they tried to kill it with insults, but it kicked into high gear when it got to the east coast (and got near Christmas). I wonder how many people (and I know people who skipped it based on reviews) regret passing it up - if Clay can't sell his Christmas tour somewhere, why should he do a pop show there? I especially appreciated the people who sat next to the some of the nay sayers and reported their rapt attention and drooling..

Edited March 26, 2007 by playbiller

[JennaZ]

Some people believe my fight, or what I fight for in general is to be the anti-pod. But in reality the thing that is most important to me is that people stop presenting opinion as fact. I really hate that some people start rumors or state their opinon and then repeat it so often that it is thought of as fact.

That is exasperating. So much of what this fandom assumes is true is really just speculation declared so frequently that many forget the lack of real substantiation.

Why is everything always a battle? Why have so many put aside the idea that we can just "agree to disagree"? And why is it that anyone takes Clay at his word is accused of trying to squash public debate or "tell people what to post"?

Edited March 26, 2007 by JennaZ

[LovesClaysVoice]

I have little stomache for it - but many fans have made the OFC a battle ground and that is very very sad. It is a lot about control over something that only Clay should have control over.

I remember a bunch of fans I knew who thought the fan club was too silly and wanted (i.e. plotted) to bring adult discussion. What is there now is just a bunch of pouting children out to spoil each others fun.

I go to the poll section, I go to the fanclub section, but rarely can I stomache posting on the man ot the music threads and that is a crying shame.

Some people believe my fight, or what I fight for in general is to be the anti-pod. But in reality the thing that is most important to me is that people stop presenting opinion as fact. I really hate that some people start rumors or state their opinon and then repeat it so often that it is thought of as fact.

I really just want to have fun and not battle people.

You are not alone playbiller. I feel the same way. I have stayed at the OFC because of the same reasons keepingfaith has. I don't want Clay's fanclub to be only for the negative nellies and the Pod People. I want to have fun and celebrate Clay! That is why I post montages, articles, pics, and any good news I can find on the man. He is so worth having a fanclub full of love for him!

Jenna, he is irresistable, isn't he?

[keepingfaith]

I can hardly wait, Jenna! I'm so excited about it I don't think I'll sleep much tonight. Tomorrow at 10 I'm going to be a case! My first concert and Clay is coming here -- I think I'm still in shock from finding out on Friday, and now tomorrow the pre-sale. I'm getting a spinning feeling in my brain.

[LovesClaysVoice]

keepingfaith

Now go to bed!

[jmh123]

Go quick to the OFC in the 'For Once In My Life' thread!

lightmyfire just outed Momo as Bets!

OMG I just read it LCV! She nailed her. No way out. The Proof. WOW.

lightmyfire, you are amazing!!!!!!!!

jmh123 set the trap and lmf went in for the kill! They weren't even working together!

That was great!

Takes a bow. It was an accident, really. It was great team work from two people who didn't even know they were working as a team. I was doing just what playbiller was talking about--confronting the question of a fact, looking for what was known about this subject of who wrote the bio and the press release, and realized she'd forgotten for a moment that she wasn't herself, so to speak. At first I was going to out her, and then I thought I'd give her the chance to out herself. And she did, bless her heart. Then, boom, there was lightmyfire, laying it out for everyone.

Some people believe my fight, or what I fight for in general is to be the anti-pod. But in reality the thing that is most important to me is that people stop presenting opinion as fact. I really hate that some people start rumors or state their opinon and then repeat it so often that it is thought of as fact.

I really just want to have fun and not battle people.

I admit I fight just for fun sometimes, and I'm not proud of that, but I share your thing for fan wank, and, like keepingfaith, I sometimes feel compelled to present a different perspective for the sake of intelligent people who aren't hearing all sides of a story, or who are hearing conjecture presented as if it were fact. It also bugs me when people are being deliberately misleading. Like with groucho. But fighting with him directly was never fun--it was scary--and I gave that up a long time ago.

Good luck tomorrow, everyone. Be cool and be confident. It isn't always the first few seconds when the best tickets turn up. I almost always get my best tickets at unexpected times, I think because I'm willing to wait and be patient. The systems are always overloaded in the first five minutes, and a lot of good stuff gets thrown back for various reasons and shows up later: tickets that were on hold and then go back into the system, credit cards rejected, orders over the limit, and so forth. I've bought good tickets 45 minutes into the sale, 4 hours into the sale. Sold out turns into on sale again. Sometimes the general sale yields better seats than the presale. I get great tickets from other people who bought too many also. I used to buy too many tickets trying to get the best one, but no more. One per venue is my limit.

Georgiaclay, I don't think I said yet how glad I am to hear from you and how pleased that you're doing well. Please keep us posted, and I'm confident you'll make it to a concert!!

[jmh123]

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.

Oh, the latest thing I read were "fans" threatening to leave if Clay goes easy listening - But... but.... but.... Don't they want him to work with David Foster? And... And.. aren't most of David Foster songs easy listening and doesn't he encourage his proteges to sing with Orchestras?

Sooo true...show me a rocking dude that DF has produced???? If they want him to be a rocker...honestly their best bet is with RCA and CLive...cos thats the kind of music he usually pushes people into. I think they went this direction because thats what Clay wants and what fits his voice the best.

I agree. I think they and Clive are on the same side, and that's the irony. I think Clive would have Clay be the male Kelly Clarkson, or else just belt ballads. I think he expected to release that covers album right after the finale and capitalize on the AI5 appearance, but Clay insisted on re-recording and refining if the album was going to be mostly covers. Clay wanted to show his musicianship, the Fosters wanted him to show his musicianship, but Clive isn't a musician. He just wants to sell the most records. I think Clive thought the original songs were too esoteric, and I think some of the Poddies would've not particularly liked those songs just like they were indifferent to the new songs at the JBT. Until the party line became "hate covers, free the original album," then all that was forgotten. 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.

It's also ironic that I prefer rocking Clay. Like I said, I just hate people presenting speculation as fact. And besides, I'm so easy when it comes to Clay. I really don't care what he sings. I think he's doing what he wants to do, and that makes me happy.

Before every tour, fans have always seemed to predict disappointment.

Before the Idol tour, people turned up their noses at the idea of seeing Clay with other idols. They said he'd be on stage only briefly, and many said they'd save their money for his solo tour.

Before the Independent tour, fans raged at the concept of Clay performing with Kelly. There were those who declared the pairing a horrific miscalculation, one they could not and would not support.

There was a lot of excitement about the NAT, but again, there were some who predicted that the venues (which included several state fairs), were not up to par with the arenas he had performed in previously.

The Christmas concerts were not universally approved, with some fans expressing anger that he had put aside pop music for traditional Christmas carols.

And of course, the Juke Box tour was widely criticized because it meant that he'd be singing (gasp!) covers, thereby cementing his reputation as a karaoke king.

Yet, despite all this, fans rushed to buy tickets--upgrading, buying from brokers, joining subscriptions and memberships. The clack demand never ceased, and despite all the complaints, fans kept coming.

Why?

Because the guy delivers. Brilliantly. Beautifully. No matter what. Through illness and inclement weather. For the full value of the ticket price. Other artists may sing for an hour on stage, but Clay gives much more, never holding anything back, singing some of the most difficult songs at the very end of the show.

I'll admit, I've enjoyed some tours more than others. However, I can't say I've ever left a concert feeling like he was "just doing it for the money."

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.

Exactly!! Beautiful post!! :Tour3: :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Edited March 26, 2007 by jmh123

[luckiest1]

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:

Edited March 26, 2007 by luckiest1

[rcknrllmom]

Good morning!

Had to go to the OFC to read that thread! I rarely read the boards there for the obvious reasons.....

Welcome! to the newbies!!!

And I am glad you liked my latest montage. It was nothing fancy, but somehow when I heard that song, I knew I had to make it!!

Good luck to ticket buyers....hoping to be one of those...'soon'......

[Clayzorback]

Great eye candy LovesClaysVoice. I just now left the OFC and saw lightmyfire's post outing Bets as Momo. Bend over lightmyfire so that your number one minion may kiss your lovely ass. You and jmh123 were just brilliant.

keepingfaith has hit the nail on the head as to why a few of us have stayed over there and tried to fight the good fight. It is not easy when you don't have the support of the mods or administration. I don't believe their hands are tied as much as they claim. They are just afraid of losing free speech, and having the board turn into another Clayboard2. That's my opinion as to why these people are coddled over there, instead of gotten rid of. The OFC has been trashed. I know who I blame. It needs a good housekeeping and I don't see that happening. I have literally made myself public enemy number one, with my in your face style of battling with them. I don't like looking like the bad guy, but somebody has to do it. *g* Clay has a lot of fans that don't understand what is going on. Someone like me has to come in and draw them a picture. They don't get the subtle posts with tact. playbiller I agree. It's about the spreading of information as truth without any proof. It's about people who have an agenda to keep spreading it, until the fans start to believe it. Then the angst starts and then those people, who have stirred the turd, sit back and prod and provoke people, who are questioning them, just for the entertainment of it all.

Good luck to all who are trying for tickets today..........I know you will do well. Back to work for me today. See you all this afternoon.

[roseviolet]

I don't know how I let myself get drawn into that thread on the OFC, but there you are... and I still don't understand.

---------------------------

I have added some new tracks this week to Rose Radio. Be sure to listen in today at 11:00 a.m. (PDT) for the preview of the new songs. You can check the broadcast schedule for when it airs locally. This week's selections will include tracks by Clay Aiken, Elliott Yamin, EverBlue, Foreigner, Ryan Malcolm, Simply Red, Talking Heads, The Beatles, and The Police. Since the list doesn't quite make a whole hour, I've added some of my favorite oldies to the show to fill it out. On Tuesday you can read more about this week's selections on the Rose Radio blog. I would also like to point out that I do post the list of the top listener-rated songs each week to the blog too. It is important to flag your favorites as you listen since I use that information to help me decide which songs I keep each week. Thanks!

[playbiller]

Well, I was a math major in college and a logic minor - so this crap really offends me in a logical sense. There are so many assumptions based on faulty logic or "trust me I have insider information that I can't tell you' forom the untrustworthy. I don't bother asking people to trust me, don't trust me,I just would like peopleto think logically.

I get hung up on people who make math errors or try to be deceptive with numbers to the point of rage - they are numbers and it is obvious, kind of rage. So, you can imagine how faulty logic offends my sensibilities. I was hypnotized once and did all the things the hypnotist asked me to do until he hasked me to add 2 + 2 and get 5. I just would not do it - period. He explained to me after the show that there are some things that are so ingrained in a person, you can't make them do it. SO, while I may slip up in math from time to time (like on my taxes), you will never find me trying to mislead anyone with math.

[muskifest]

Did you guys see this re: the format of the concert:

From CAP121 at CV:

Quote:

Also, I had e-mailed Gayle McMasters of the Houston Symphony asking in what capacity the symphony was going to have, were they going to be accompanists to Clay or was there a time when they would be on stage and he wouldn't. This is the response I got back:

Quote:

He will be singing with the orchestra during the entire concert

.

[Claygasm]

Did you guys see this re: the format of the concert:

From CAP121 at CV:

Quote:

Also, I had e-mailed Gayle McMasters of the Houston Symphony asking in what capacity the symphony was going to have, were they going to be accompanists to Clay or was there a time when they would be on stage and he wouldn't. This is the response I got back:

Quote:

He will be singing with the orchestra during the entire concert

.

Somewhere heads are exploding! HOw can he sing all those rocking original songs with the orchestra?

[Ansamcw]

WOW so many great posts since I went to bed last night!!!

first of all

:Tour4: :Tour4: :Tour4: :Tour4:

goodluck to all of us hoping for great tickets...and for those in the front lines...may the ticket god smile upon you.

JennaZ...great post. So true about the concerts. Oh an now I understand the issue about Clay doing it for money...hee. Well...I think if its ALL about money...why would he go out and performe when he can hardly stand because he has vertigo??? Why would he try to do the bus lines after the show...JBT??? that is one really long show with the stump the band...I don;t see that being done by someone who is only out there for the money. Just think...for somoene who suffers from panic attacks ...the IT entrance was a courageous thing to do...still think its all about the money? Yeah I think he does need to do the concerts for his bottom line...but he give 150% during every concert...that is love...love of performing and love for his audience.

jmh...you are me. I remember my posts just before we knew about the covers concept. I was one who kept praying and saying it can;t be all covers (but I was never against covers per se)...and crying please not the Barry manilow route...and I was really scared of that track list and wasn't happy with the snippets we were getting but I kept it mostly to myself and tried to look for the silver lining. That is why when there was a chance to listen to the whole CD I jumped at it right away cos I was nervous about how I would feel about it. I remember I was in tears when I heard ATDW in full cos I truly loved it. Yeah I love Rockin Clay ( as opposed to Rocker Clay cos I never saw that guy) and I would love a whole CD of originals like LNM, TRD, BFM, LAA and I am truly intrigued by compromise, and want to hear the song STC wrote for him. But I am a great believer of Letting Clay be Clay, so I will simply follow his lead.

I am also a believer in the concept that Clay can take care of himself and is not some pathetic puppet. If he said he worked hard on this CD and is proud..I beleive him. If he says that he loves singing songs with great melodies and meaningful lysics I believe him. If he says that the tracklist was put together by himself, Jaymes and Clive I believe him. If he said it was an honor to work with Clive in his liner notes I believe him. Yup clay would never air his dirty laundry in public (hmmm but really he did some of that on his book) and I'm sure he will always be polite about Clive. But to use the word honor???To me that is unnecesary spin unless he truly meant it. Clay has talked about the kind of music he likes and the thought process behind his choosing the music he performs. I don't think that is spin. Unfortunately...for the pods...they will only believe the things that are in line with their theories. Even if time and time again Clay's words contradict them (like when he said they deliberately took all of the rock elements out of These Open Arms)...they rather think Clay is a lying and spineless mouthpiece rather than think they are wrong...that to me is the height of arrogance.

[Ansamcw]

Did you guys see this re: the format of the concert:

From CAP121 at CV:

Quote:

Also, I had e-mailed Gayle McMasters of the Houston Symphony asking in what capacity the symphony was going to have, were they going to be accompanists to Clay or was there a time when they would be on stage and he wouldn't. This is the response I got back:

Quote:

He will be singing with the orchestra during the entire concert

.

Somewhere heads are exploding! HOw can he sing all those rocking original songs with the orchestra?

I am really amazed when people doubt this...and orchestras do play with bands too...its all about the arrangements.

[LovesClaysVoice]

Somewhere heads are exploding! HOw can he sing all those rocking original songs with the orchestra?

The band must be having a separate concert with Clay before the orchestra or after because I don't think Clay can sing Compromise or Taken with the orchestra!

[muskifest]

Man, I can't wait to see those oboes blow on WDC.

[ldyjocelyn]

Man, I can't wait to see those oboes blow on WDC.

BWAH! But I was thinking that Clay will get that orchestra PUMPED during "Invisible."

Wonderful posts overnight. I'll try to post more later when I have time, and my adrenaline has gone back down after the ticket thing for Houston this morning.

[muskifest]

Hey, where's bottle? :3:

Edited March 26, 2007 by muskifest

[bottlecap]

Hey, where's bottle?

bottle's sittin' at her desk staring out the window at the (finally) beautiful and sunshiny day and wondering why she's not independently wealthy. 'Sup?

[Ansamcw]

Hey, where's bottle?

bottle's sittin' at her desk staring out the window at the (finally) beautiful and sunshiny day and wondering why she's not independently wealthy. 'Sup?

YUP...aren't we all...

GOOD luck for those going for Pala tickets...

let us know if you were succesful

[Ansamcw]

Hey anybody getting in on the pala sale...couchie does not see a password thingy coming up...