#15 the Earl of Aikenberry: a man of character and Naughty by Nature

[Couch Tomato]

He may not be smarter than a fifth grader, but he's definitely cuter!

A N D M O R E

[Totlak]

Wonder if anyone who was in 5th grade with him (or any grade for that matter) would have ever dreamed he would be where he is today? It just warms the heart to know that someone who the others probably laughed at and felt above would know have to say he is way more successful than they are or ever dreaming of being. I just love irony sometimes.

[keepingfaith]

I, too, think that Clay's future is much brighter now than it has ever been. Of course, to me, and to his fans, he is bigger than Elvis or the Beatles, but I don't think he is to the general public. I do agree that he is showing that he has staying power (heh), and that he's not one of those here-today-gone-tomorrow singers. I can definitely see a long-term career for him. How big it is remains to be seen.

I could have testified in a court of law before May 2006 that it was impossible for me to feel this way about a singer or a band or any entertainer. I would have firmly believed that I was not susceptible to feelings of this magnitude about somebody I didn't know. Totally immune. I still don't understand exactly what hit me but I know he's steadily picking up fans for life as he goes. The people who jump from one current fave to the next have probably come and gone in Clay's career, but Clay has been winning hearts and minds along the way, either thousands at a time or one at a time, but he's totally got it. I think it's inevitable that he'll be a huge presence in the world. How could he not be with all that talent, brains and magnetism? And those feet, and the package, and the twinkling eyes and magic smile and ... just slap me.

[keepingfaith]

Oh God! How did I miss this one!!!!! It's early in the morning and I'm lusting after a picture of Clay Aiken's bare feet. Do I need medication?

[ldyjocelyn]

Good morning all!

kf -- I know what you mean about the feet. Slurp. Look at those long toes. Gulp.

Ya'll kept writing really good posts overnight. So much so, that I couldn't quote them all.

I too wonder if Clay wants that "bigger than Elvis and the Beatles" career...especially since, frequently, the artists that can be called that frequently burn out so quickly. luckiest1 knows this story...

Remember the Bay City Rollers? Yeah, I was a fan. Major fan. You can sue me all you want, but I was 14 at the time, OK? But I remember the media calling them "bigger than the Beatles." Where are they now? Well, one was arrested for having child pornography. Some of the others had problems with drugs or alcohol or both. And you NEVER hear a Bay City Roller song on the radio, not even on the damn oldies station. (I still love S-a-t-u-r-d-a-y NIGHT!!!!)

My point is, I think Clay's probably heard and seen and read about artists like that. He's probably also had a few suits at RCA tell him in 2003 that he was gonna be HUGE (and not in the way that we like to think!). He may have put two and two together, and said "hmmmm....do I want this?" OTOH...I just don't know Clay at all. It's hard for me to get into his head. I feel there's ambition and drive in him.

The key is balance. He'll find it -- heck, he may have already. As long as he's happy (and selfishly, still making music and TV shows for MEEEEE!), I'm good to go.

I'm off to my Mom's for a visit today. 6 hours in the car by myself. I think I'm going to pull out some old stuff -- the LTS audio book. AIW. MOAM. I may even pull out MCWL. Or the JBT concert. Anyway -- have a good day today ya'll.

First page!!!! Hee.

[jamar1700]

WEEEEEEEEEEEE! New thread.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Long Weekend & long toes!

----

Alrighty ... to add some substance to this post...

Gibby said

I sometimes wonder if Clay WANTS to be a super-superstar like Elvis, or if it would even be a good thing for him. The pressures and demands on someone at that level are incredible.

I'm rather squicked out when he's compared to Elvis. I'm not old enough to remember young cool Elvis and mostly only remember the bad ending.

I don't much look at how Clay's career might fit into musical history. I hope he's around for a long time in one capacity or another and that it's what he wants it to be. I'm simple like that.

But sometimes I do look at him up there on the stage and marvel that only 5 years ago he was just another someone...someone's neighbor, someone's friend, someone's co-worker, someone's nephew. It makes me look at the people around me and wonder which of them could handle having that sort of massive seismic shift happen in their life? And how many hidden gems are there in my very own life that maybe I'm overlooking?

There have been many many acts/singers who burned hot and then faded into nothingness. And yes ... I do remember the Bay City Rollers. Who could forget the plaid, gaucho length, overalls? Hee. Oh and I learned the other day that you can't buy a Milli Vanilli song on itunes. I really wanted their version of Blame it on the Rain for my Rain Song playlist. Darn it.

Edited September 1, 2007 by jamar1700

[aikim]

Good Morning All,

Can't believe it is September already, where did the summer go? I am so not ready for Fall weather wise but definately ready for it Clay-wise

55 Days until Clay is Live at Lincoln Center! :whoohoo:

66 Days until Clay Tapes The Skating Special! :whoohoo:

86 Days until The Christmas Tour Starts! :whoohoo:

112 Days until Christmas in Merrillville! :whoohoo:

115 Days until The Skating Special Airs! :whoohoo:

Everyone have a great day!

Kim

[keepingfaith]

aikim, I giggle everytime I read your updated calendar .... we don't count down the days until Christmas, we count down the number of days until his skating special airs. It's going to be interesting this year because I'm usually in the camp of ... "Oh no! Only 5 more days until Christmas!!" and this year it's going to be "When will it ever get here!" What have I learned from this? Primarily, that Clay Aiken has rendered me a child again, anxiously waiting for my grown up Christmas gift. Him.

[aikim]

aikim, I giggle everytime I read your updated calendar .... we don't count down the days until Christmas, we count down the number of days until his skating special airs. It's going to be interesting this year because I'm usually in the camp of ... "Oh no! Only 5 more days until Christmas!!" and this year it's going to be "When will it ever get here!" What have I learned from this? Primarily, that Clay Aiken has rendered me a child again, anxiously waiting for my grown up Christmas gift. Him.

I actually wasn't go to add the last one because I figured people might not want to think about Christmas just yet...and things are over 100 days in the future it takes me a while to count, but then I was asked to add it over at CV and I thought, why not?

Kim

[Scarlett]

Oh God! How did I miss this one!!!!! It's early in the morning and I'm lusting after a picture of Clay Aiken's bare feet. Do I need medication?

Good morning all!

kf -- I know what you mean about the feet. Slurp. Look at those long toes. Gulp.

First page!!!! Hee.

Me too! Me too! *jostles keepingfaith & ldyjocelyn to cyber-ticke them*

[cindilu2]

Page one!

Edited September 1, 2007 by cindilu2

[keepingfaith]

Just because.

[laughn]

But sometimes I do look at him up there on the stage and marvel that only 5 years ago he was just another someone...someone's neighbor, someone's friend, someone's co-worker, someone's nephew. It makes me look at the people around me and wonder which of them could handle having that sort of massive seismic shift happen in their life? And how many hidden gems are there in my very own life that maybe I'm overlooking?

I've thought of that too. The whole AI franchise and the glut of AI wannabe 'contest' shows has made me aware of that. The other day a co-worker of mine told me her nephew tried out for AI. I forgot to ask what season, but she said he didn't make it and sort of dismissed the whole thing. I have no idea how talented (or not) her nephew is, but all I could think about was Clay in Charlotte...and Quiana....and then all the other Clay and Quiana's out there right now still kicking at the door.

I know I'm going to get my ass kicked for not remembering where this is from, but didn't Clay just recently mention, or allude to, that he might have gotten a slightly inflated notion of himself along the way. That he needed to make an adjustment to his way of thinking somehow. Oh God, I hates when I can only remember just part of something I read and it just tickles at the edges of my brain. *sigh* Now I will have to go hunt up that remark.

My only point was that, yes, the man is smart...smart and learning on his feet. With all that has happened in the first five years I can't wait to see where he takes us in the next.

editing to say how much I really love that Frisco shot ^^^ right there with the little lip bite...thank you very much!

Edited September 1, 2007 by laughn

[liney23]

I, too, feel that underlying ambition in Clay. I also think that he has scoped the scene and knows not to put all his eggs in the fame basket. 5230 was formed not only to use for getting himself and expenses paid... I believe he knows that for longevity, he needs to be involved in all aspects of his career and entertainment, not just singing on the stage. I believe that Executive Producer title will be used a lot in his career. It's that control issue he has...

I was VERY interested in the Mark Burnett and other guy greeting Clay after Fifth Grader was wrapped. I think others (except Clive, who doesn't see beyond the end of his "it's always worked for me" nose) see the intelligence in Clay and respect who he is beyond a great singer. He's going to be around a LONG time, I think and is going to accomplish great things. So sayeth the sage...

And... those bare toes/feet...

eta... my very first first page eveh!!! Someone pick me up off the floor! (faints dead away)

Edited September 1, 2007 by liney23

[xxx4clay]

Interesting thoughts here today. You know, I used to want Clay to be the biggest thing since sliced bread and I thought maybe he would be. I didn’t base this thought on any insight or knowledge, it was just what I wanted so I thought it would be.

I’m in a different place now and here’s why. Disclaimer: this it total and absolute speculation and I don’t know nothin’ or nobody and this is solely my opinion and I could be wrong - often am. When I see Clay now, I see a happy man. I base this on public appearances - his concert demeanor, the meet and greet stories, recent TV appearances, the busline handshakes. When I think back to 2003-4 Clay, I’m not so sure I saw a happy man. Using the same criteria - concerts, meet and greets, TV, buslines - in my eyes, I saw a very uncomfortable person. And often, not a happy person. As I said, my perception only.

So I have to wonder whether Clay liked the constant high wire act he was back in those days. The continual pulling at him, the moving from appearance to appearance without time to think, the concerts, the interviews, the photo shoots, the appearances, the TV shows, the book, the CDs, the continual adulation, and all that accompanied that.

To me, today Clay appears much more comfortable, happy, and satisfied than he did 3 or 4 years ago. So I have to think that for him, a slower paced career is more in keeping with the life he wants to live. It seems so to me. Or maybe he’s just taken a long time to get used to his new life. Or maybe I’m full of shit.

None of this should be taken to mean his career cannot reach great heights - it just means it will take longer to get there. Maybe it will get there and maybe it won’t - it’s no longer real important to me. I just want the world to see him as the man he really is. The Clay we know - the smart, funny, kind, and charitable man with a singing voice that can give new meaning to anything he sings. Some will like him, some won’t. I just want people to react to him based on who he really is not on some caricature that the media has created.

Damn. What has happened to me here? First I post about Clay’s hair which, to quote a good friend of mine, is really just “dead stuff.” Now I write a post of speculation. I may need an intervention.

Since I need to leave, I’m just gonna indulge myself and add this -

I saw a few days back that there are several sports fans here. Me too! Me too! I love sports and I love college football and most of all, I love my WVU Mountaineers! And we have our first game today and I will be there! Awoohoo!

Let’s Go Mountaineers!!!

[Clayzorback]

I'm sorry to interupt the serious discussion, but I wanted to post this information. I received it in a PM last night. Admins or mods can move it if you need to. I didn't know where the proper place was to post it.

Okie4Clay found her husband dead on the kitchen floor last evening. The doctor said he died immediately of a massive heart attack.

I don't know if any of the members here know Okie4Clay, or her daughter Soonerfaithful, but I thought in case some did they might want to know. I do know both of these ladies and I am devastated for them.

[merryclay]

Regarding the toes-- IMHO, there is no way they could be stinky. No, they look so clean and shiny and sweet. I like his toes. I saw a closeup of his toenails somewhere a while back and they looked immaculate.

TOTLAK- i was going to quote you but I forgot, but anyway, it is so cool that the dork of the fifth grade class is now a heartthrob.

[cindilu2]

I'm sorry to interupt the serious discussion, but I wanted to post this information. I received it in a PM last night. Admins or mods can move it if you need to. I didn't know where the proper place was to post it.

Okie4Clay found her husband dead on the kitchen floor last evening. The doctor said he died immediately of a massive heart attack.

I don't know if any of the members here know Okie4Clay, or her daughter Soonerfaithful, but I thought in case some did they might want to know. I do know both of these ladies and I am devastated for them.

How very sad.

There is a long condolence thread here on the Clayboard if you want to leave a message.

[FromClaygary]

Eeeeh! Do I get to be a first-pager with 87 posts? Am I allowed??

Didn't you ever go out with a guy that was super handsome, sexy and hott, only to find out that he was dumber than a box of rocks and shallow as a rain puddle? And then he wasn't so handsome and sexy anymore? With Clay, he just keeps getting sexier and handsomer as time goes by, each time he lets us glimpse another layer of himself.

Could you hear my head rattling "Yeah, yeah!" from way over there? In fact....I married him! No worries, peeps, he's long gone.

Hee...ldyjocelyn

But sometimes I do look at him up there on the stage and marvel that only 5 years ago he was just another someone...someone's neighbor, someone's friend, someone's co-worker, someone's nephew. It makes me look at the people around me and wonder which of them could handle having that sort of massive seismic shift happen in their life? And how many hidden gems are there in my very own life that maybe I'm overlooking?

Love all of this thought, but particularly the bolded part...maybe I need to look harder on a day to day basis.

I too have my moments of looking around at a Clay event and thinking "Wow"...Wow at the people's faces I can see, and their rapt attention to the man on stage....Wow at where we might be, and how we all were drawn there by him, often to somewhere we never dreamed we would visit. Wow to the love in the air.

Wow that I'm sitting there with good friends I would never have known if it wasn't for him.

Just....WOW.

I have this happen at least once every tour. And ever time it just blows. me. away.

Edited September 1, 2007 by FromClaygary

[keepingfaith]

Oh God! How did I miss this one!!!!! It's early in the morning and I'm lusting after a picture of Clay Aiken's bare feet. Do I need medication?

Good morning all!

kf -- I know what you mean about the feet. Slurp. Look at those long toes. Gulp.

First page!!!! Hee.

Me too! Me too! *jostles keepingfaith & ldyjocelyn to cyber-ticke them*

I was just thinking about you Miss Scarlett, and wondering if you have merrieee busily working on another AMA poster enlarged beyond anything that Karen Eh? could ever imagine. Oh, nevermind, I momentarily forgot that Karen Eh? can imagine anything enlarged. But I recall with such joy the night merrieeee gifted us with the poster of our choice, and we slept with them that night. Yeah, we did. I've looked everywhere and can't find my GMA picture in a digital file. So if anyone has the picture of Clay at GMA on 9/19 with a full right profile and a big smile ..... pleeeeeeze

ETA: I think the difference in Clay's comfort level in 2003 and now is that back in the "day" Clay wasn't calling his own shots and I think he is now. I think he's responsible for where he goes and what he does. He's probably not less busy, but it's just so much more pleasant when we're calling our own tune.

Edited September 1, 2007 by keepingfaith

[Couch Tomato]

I'm in a different place now and here's why. Disclaimer: this it total and absolute speculation and I don't know nothin' or nobody and this is solely my opinion and I could be wrong - often am.

<snip>

Damn. What has happened to me here? First I post about Clay's hair which, to quote a good friend of mine, is really just "dead stuff." Now I write a post of speculation. I may need an intervention.

XXX I love to speculate. And I enjoy it when it's feels like sitting around gabbing. And your saying "i know nothin or nobody and this is my sole opinion" is how every single post I ever write should be received We take pride n the fact that FCA has no experts or insiders heh. I know that's probably not exactly true (considering our wonderful music lesson the other day) but I just loved the spirit in which it was all delivered.

All that to say..I enjoyed reading your speculation and I believe there is truth to be found in it IMO.

[cindilu2]

Oh God! How did I miss this one!!!!! It's early in the morning and I'm lusting after a picture of Clay Aiken's bare feet. Do I need medication?

Good morning all!

kf -- I know what you mean about the feet. Slurp. Look at those long toes. Gulp.

First page!!!! Hee.

Me too! Me too! *jostles keepingfaith & ldyjocelyn to cyber-ticke them*

I was just thinking about you Miss Scarlett, and wondering if you have merrieee busily working on another AMA poster enlarged beyond anything that Karen Eh? could ever imagine. Oh, nevermind, I momentarily forgot that Karen Eh? can imagine anything enlarged. But I recall with such joy the night merrieeee gifted us with the poster of our choice, and we slept with them that night. Yeah, we did. I've looked everywhere and can't find my GMA picture in a digital file. So if anyone has the picture of Clay at GMA on 9/19 with a full right profile and a big smile ..... pleeeeeeze

ETA: I think the difference in Clay's comfort level in 2003 and now is that back in the "day" Clay wasn't calling his own shots and I think he is now. I think he's responsible for where he goes and what he does. He's probably not less busy, but it's just so much more pleasant when we're calling our own tune.

this one?

Edited September 1, 2007 by cindilu2

[curiousgladys]

Interesting thoughts here today. You know, I used to want Clay to be the biggest thing since sliced bread and I thought maybe he would be. I didn’t base this thought on any insight or knowledge, it was just what I wanted so I thought it would be.

I’m in a different place now and here’s why. Disclaimer: this it total and absolute speculation and I don’t know nothin’ or nobody and this is solely my opinion and I could be wrong - often am. When I see Clay now, I see a happy man. I base this on public appearances - his concert demeanor, the meet and greet stories, recent TV appearances, the busline handshakes. When I think back to 2003-4 Clay, I’m not so sure I saw a happy man. Using the same criteria - concerts, meet and greets, TV, buslines - in my eyes, I saw a very uncomfortable person. And often, not a happy person. As I said, my perception only.

So I have to wonder whether Clay liked the constant high wire act he was back in those days. The continual pulling at him, the moving from appearance to appearance without time to think, the concerts, the interviews, the photo shoots, the appearances, the TV shows, the book, the CDs, the continual adulation, and all that accompanied that.

To me, today Clay appears much more comfortable, happy, and satisfied than he did 3 or 4 years ago. So I have to think that for him, a slower paced career is more in keeping with the life he wants to live. It seems so to me. Or maybe he’s just taken a long time to get used to his new life. Or maybe I’m full of shit.

I want to WORD this part of your post. I have been feeling the same way for quite some time and it's good to know others feel the same way! BTW, it sure was great seeing you in Florida and Texas!!! WooHoo!!! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

aikim - I've always loved your countdowns and missed them when you stopped for a while.

Okie4Clay and soonerfaithful - My thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. I just can't imagine how they are feeling right now!!!

[keepingfaith]

Oh yes, that's it!!! Thanks cindilu! :F_05BL17blowkiss: :F_05BL17blowkiss: :F_05BL17blowkiss:

And I should have known it was a "Karen Eh?"! Thanks to merrieeee I have a very large laminated poster of this, which is one reason, only one among many, that I'll kick in for the lawyer if I hear any more of this deportation talk .... and completely obliterate from my mind that unfortunate talk about hating the look of our favorite Snowflake Lighter.

Got any leftover posters, merrieeee?

[aikim]

aikim - I've always loved your countdowns and missed them when you stopped for a while.

Awe, thanks so much! I only stopped during the tour since there was so much going on. I hope I have a lot to add to it in the coming months! So nice to see you here! :F_05BL17blowkiss:

Kim