#21: "Surprisingly, the ice did not melt."

[merryclay]

GIBBY---Good for you.

Playbiller- EEEEEEEEEEEEEE, right back at you.

[bottlecap]

Today is my day to EEEEE.

Gotta get some stuff done, but EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

C'mon, play, let it out! Ya know ya wanna!

:xmas07a: :xmas07a: :xmas07a: :xmas07a:

Have a wonderful time at the concert tonight!

[luckiest1]

I am working from home today, which is quite nice and relaxing. I'm trying to be disciplined, though, and actually get some work done!

It's -7 Celsius here with a windchill factor of -13. Translates to about 8 degrees Fahrenheit. We got a pile of snow a few days ago, so it's definitely a winter wonderland here. But at least today, the sun is shining! I am planning to do some Christmasy stuff this weekend.....put up the tree, get out the decorations, maybe even start some non-baking traditions (cherry balls, YUM).

Safe travels and fun, fun, fun to everyone heading to tonight's concert! :xmas07a:

[ldyjocelyn]

playbiller, have a great time this evening, and everyone else attending as well. TRAVEL SAFE!!!

Review of the W-B show....

Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader

Aiken Spreads Some Holiday Cheer

Aiken spreads some holiday cheer REVIEW

‘American Idol’ runner-up fills Kirby Center with the Christmas spirit.

By Lisa Sokolowski lsokolowski@timesleader.com

Features Writer

Thursday, December 6, 2007

WILKES-BARRE – Chatter filled the F.M. Kirby Center while the Lee Vincent Orchestra was onstage, quietly playing Christmas songs. The orchestra went virtually unnoticed until the concert master came onstage and took his place at the piano.

That’s when the fans silenced.

They knew Clay Aiken would be coming on stage soon.

And out he came, from a curtain draped under part of the orchestra, dressed completely in black. He took his place at a standing microphone in the center of the stage and belted out a medley of Christmas tunes in a rather unassuming manner.

Aiken, the runner-up on Season 2 of “American Idol,” didn’t move on stage. He didn’t let flashy costumes or neon lights take the focus away from his vocals. And, on songs like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” his voice soared, causing the audience to wonder why he didn’t win “American Idol.”

Could Ruben Studdard, the Velvet Teddy Bear, hit the high notes in “Oh Holy Night”?

Aiken sang familiar Christmas songs – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bells” and “Winter Wonderland” with a big band ending – sandwiched together as medleys. The lesser-known songs (like “Mary Did You Know” and “Welcome to Our World”) were full-lengths, which perhaps was purposely done to eliminate turning the concert into a group singalong.

Aiken played the Kirby Center last year (this is actually his fourth annual Christmas tour), and he changed the show up this year by inviting four audience members to read aloud holiday stories.

The first story was a humorous tale of opening presents under a father’s video camera. The second was a tear-jerker about a sick grandson who was able to come home for Christmas; another was of a woman who made “moments” for her playhouse Christmas tree (because she was too young to say “ornaments”); the last was about the woman’s parents, who were separated at Christmas when her father was in the Korean War but were reunited thanks to Operation Santa.

The stories of holiday joy, each person’s own holiday miracle, choked up some audience members at times and caused laughter at others. But, what it did more than anything was stir up some holiday spirit.

And that’s what Aiken hoped for.

He closed the second set (he sang two and an encore) by asking people “not to save it all for Christmas” and to give love and affection to those close to your heart now.

He then appropriately sang, “Don’t Save It All for Christmas Day.”

People left chattering as the orchestra packed up onstage, this time talking about how great Aiken’s voice was, how great the orchestra was and perhaps just how great the holiday season is going to be.

Maybe it's mean of me, but I LOL'd at her Ruben comment. *g*

[Couch Tomato]

LOL..American Idol and his secondum...yeah that is going to be with him until he leaves this earth at 147. She wrote that like Idol was yesterday. I don't mind ..it just is.

Thankful..I was thinking it all day the other day but forgot to write it out. Happy Belated!!

[00lsee]

I will eventually write about this in my recap, but I wanted to say that I was utterly captivated by the expressions playing over Clay's face during his performance in DC.

Wherever you get your downloads (and if you have a problem, let me know), this clip is a good example of what I mean 071202_DC_IBHFC-TCS-HYAMLC_4192spooky_large.wmv Video hardly does those eyes justice, because in person, magnified by binoculars, bringing that dear face this close...he really is a lovely and remorseless killer.

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

[Couch Tomato]

don't we have some rule about no porn during the working hours. If we do, I'll delete it!

ETA: and can you please put your recommendation in the thread for it in the live area. I haven't seen a scrap of clack since Gibbby. I don't want to miss this one.

[ldyjocelyn]

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

I thought the admins didn't allow porn around here.

Oh wait, I'm an admin.

Nebbermind.

*g*

I also see that great minds think alike, right couchie?

From Corabeth at the CH, a radio interview for tomorrow, December 7:

A colleague just told me that Clay will be interviewed on 94.7 WMAS Springfield, MA tomorrow morning between 5:30 and 10. They stream! My guess is later in the morning. I cannot cap that but I will try to listen. I'm leaving here for Albany at 8:30.

couchie, if you can convince them to use the clack recommendation thread, do you think you can also convince them to use the thread title suggestion thread too? *g*

[Couch Tomato]

couchie, if you can convince them to use the clack recommendation thread, do you think you can also convince them to use the thread title suggestion thread too? *g*

Bwah...but them in this case is moi cuz a full 60% of the recommendations were mine LOL.

Seems like a good time for my three favorite words...

VIEW

NEW

POSTS

heee

Oh and I see that LTS has fallen by the wayside..shall we postpone this until after the holidays/tour?

[bittersweet]

I will eventually write about this in my recap, but I wanted to say that I was utterly captivated by the expressions playing over Clay's face during his performance in DC.

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

don't we have some rule about no porn during the working hours...

Good gravy OOlsee that lovely description is porn-like. What are you trying to do? I thought I was going to have to call my husband home from work.

[bottlecap]

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

... And even though you know intellectually that the man can't see you twelves rows up into a darkened theater, you drop your binoculars and gasp because it IS.JUST.TOO.MUCH.TO.BEAR.

cough* Not that I've done that or anything....*cough

[luckiest1]

Oh and I see that LTS has fallen by the wayside..shall we postpone this until after the holidays/tour?

Hee, I've read chapter 3, but have refrained from commenting because I didn't want to be labeled an overachiever.

Honestly, the man has the most That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

... And even though you know intellectually that the man can't see you twelves rows up into a darkened theater, you drop your binoculars and gasp because it IS.JUST.TOO.MUCH.TO.BEAR.

cough* Not that I've done that or anything....*cough

*cough*me neither*cough*

[cha cha trusty]

00lsee said:

he really is a lovely and remorseless killer.

this should be nominated for a thread title!!!!

ALSO......... Diva said it was OK to post the video of her "Ode to Clack Goddesses" on youtube!!

:F_05BL17blowkiss:

[Ansamcw]

00lsee said:

he really is a lovely and remorseless killer.

this should be nominated for a thread title!!!!

ALSO......... Diva said it was OK to post the video of her "Ode to Clack Goddesses" on youtube!!

:F_05BL17blowkiss:

BWAH!!!! that was wonderful!!!!

Thanks DIVA and her wonderful chorus!!!!!

Now I have skiiiiiiiip....Skiiiiiiiiip ...going in my head!!!!

[jmh123]

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

... And even though you know intellectually that the man can't see you twelves rows up into a darkened theater, you drop your binoculars and gasp because it IS.JUST.TOO.MUCH.TO.BEAR.

cough* Not that I've done that or anything....*cough

Or you get that feeling in your tummy like something was in there doing somersaults just because it seemed as if he were looking at meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean you, even though you're in the balcony and there's no way he could possibly see you way up there. No, that has never happened to me. At all. Not even once. Nope.

Divayenta, your clackoperetta is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Chachatrusty, thanks for capturing and posting that.

[Divayenta]

Couldn't have done it without the eHOP Choir!

[playbiller]

Now for a random use of Clay's name

'Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I Made It Out of Clay Aiken ...

... and other songs to wax lyrical about on TV's returning 'The Singing Bee'

<snip>

Meanwhile, has Horowitz got that holiday spirit?

"Maybe I'll get a Chanukah song in" when the show returns.

Just don't expect, "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I Made It Out of Clay Aiken."

Truth be told, Horowitz is a big fan of "American Idol": "I attended a show, and it's amazing. The format is so wonderfully simple."

No idle time these days.

[keldanker]

I will eventually write about this in my recap, but I wanted to say that I was utterly captivated by the expressions playing over Clay's face during his performance in DC.

Wherever you get your downloads (and if you have a problem, let me know), this clip is a good example of what I mean 071202_DC_IBHFC-TCS-HYAMLC_4192spooky_large.wmv Video hardly does those eyes justice, because in person, magnified by binoculars, bringing that dear face this close...he really is a lovely and remorseless killer.

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

Good Lord, woman!!! :hubbahubba:

[Clayzorback]

I'm glad you are okay Jamar. Bookwhore, I knew you didn't live in Omaha but I know Jamar is your buddy and I wanted to make sure you knew what was happening. I figured you would call her and check on her.

I guess I am of a different opinion on the YouTube clack. I think Clay has been generous to allow clack to be taken of his concerts. I know he says he doesn't mind it. Although, at least once, he "jokingly" said that it is stealing his show. I sense that he may be setting the stage to put a stop to it. He has been complaining more and more about flashes and has even added another complaint. The red and green lights from our cameras. He may be using this as his excuse, if he really wants to put a stop to clack gathering.

I know it is second hand info and open to interpretation, what he says to a meet and greeter. However, I personally think that Clay really doesn't want any videos of his concert put on YouTube. He clearly told his fans that YouTube Is not a good source of publicity for him. I think when his entire concert is made public all over the internet, that it does have the potential to cost him ticket sales and cd sales. ESPECIALLY when well meaning fans (who always like to blame "The Haters") put up unflattering stuff. Be it a missed note, or cracks in his voice, or a bad hair day, or him making funny faces. They might be endearing to us fans, but they don't help to sell him to a non fan who stumbles upon them when searching for information about him. I know that I watch clack and appreciate and look forward to it when I can't make a concert, but I have always had concerns about it not being a good thing for Clay. Please don't interpret my post as putting down any of our clack goddesses. That is not my intent whatsoever. I'm as guilty as anyone else for being grateful to be able to have had it.

[liney23]

If the current thread title poll trend continues, I say we have one as the main title and its companion as the sub-title. I love those quotes!!!

cindilu... why not just say we now have the next thread title AND the one after that since the numbers are so close. No sense losing a good title by making it a subtitle... with the concerts going on, the threads will continue to come and go fast and furious.

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

00Isee... are you going to come pick me up off the floor where I just thudded???? I'll just lay here and wait for you quietly! Woman... that was an awesome description!!! I'm going to be fanning myself for awhile now! I don't have a husband to call like bittersweet... (welcome, bittersweet, by the way), so I'll have to call my batteries!

Divayenta, your clackoperetta is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Chachatrusty, thanks for capturing and posting that.

jmh... I'll second that!!! So, great DIVA. Any chance we could get the words. I couldn't understand everything and want to.

I read one interview where Clay said in the first week, they always had one bad night. He said last night was it. What night was he talking about? I wonder what he considered a bad night?

ETA: Climmel alert... Pink Armchair just posted a new hilarious climmel at CH... run now!

[playbiller]

Clazorback, not all the unflattering videos are put up by fans - a lot of haters have accounts andd taht is why I would like to see clackgoddesses enforce that they and they alone have the right to put up the video on youtube. I know taht some unsavory characters are putting stuff up now, and who cares if it is good stuff, they are making money off of Clay's show by linking their blogs to it.

The only way to stop it , is not to distribute it to the fans and you would have to take it up with video gatherers. Some do not like to be told what to share and what not to share.

[YSRN]

clayzor, here's what he said (I know you said you already read it, but I didn't see it here):

QUOTE("nancy3133 at CB"): I asked him about how he felt about the Video taping of his shows and then posting it on You Tube. He said He doesn't mind the videotaping of HIS Shows he says that HE OWNS HIS shows. and although he is not sure about the content of the shows. like the Copyright on the songs he is singing in the show. He said that he really didn't care much about that since they won't be sueing him anyway. He asked that if you are putting stuff on You Tube to NOT put any of his mistakes on You tube. and then he said to I think Mary Remember that time last year when I didn't hit that note and it was all over You Tube.

On the other end of that he said if he is taping a tv show like the NBC Skating on Ice. He thinks it is very WRONG to put anything like that on You tube. He said he doesn't own that show and is only a performer and to post it on you tube is VERY RUDE

I don't think anyone asked about the cameras at the shows but he took the opportunity to address that as welll.

Then he discussed the camera policy and he said he doesn't care at all about cameras He said HE Hates the flash and that is the only thing he feels strongly about. He said it effects the people on stage and the lighting. He did say it was great when they were putting tape over the flashes and then said He was going to blog about this but didn't want to be mean so asked us to pass the word. There is also a light on the camera he said it was the Red Eye light He asked to also put tape over that as well. He said that is distracting I said that this venue was Not allowing cameras. and he said it was a venue policy. I told him I had been to the venue before and they allow cameras if the artist does. He and Mary explained that what happens is That They Clay's people will allow cameras, however they DO NOT WANT Flashes. IF the venue does not want to deal with flashes then the venue will institute the no Camera policy He did say if people use flashes they SHOULD be asked to leave and he is very okay with that

I disagree about whether he cares about his "funny faces" or whatnot. He is who he is and he seems quite comfortable expressing himself in a myriad of ways. Including his "funny" side. I don't think he was setting the stage for a more complex message. I just think he wants people to think about his shows vs. other shows (i.e., NBC's skating special) and broadcasting an obvious fuck-up.

I personally don't think there are ANY unflattering videos of Clay... except that AIW one, so I guess that's all subjective anyway. Even "the fall" one seemed ok TO ME because it just showed him having a good sense of humor about life, but I can see if he said, now, don't be putting that one up, that I probably wouldn't.

And "hi" by the way... I've missed you. :F_05BL17blowkiss:

[Guest Toots]

I will eventually write about this in my recap, but I wanted to say that I was utterly captivated by the expressions playing over Clay's face during his performance in DC.

Wherever you get your downloads (and if you have a problem, let me know), this clip is a good example of what I mean 071202_DC_IBHFC-TCS-HYAMLC_4192spooky_large.wmv Video hardly does those eyes justice, because in person, magnified by binoculars, bringing that dear face this close...he really is a lovely and remorseless killer.

Honestly, the man has the most dangerously subtle eyelids I have ever seen. Yes, he often employs them with frankly seductive skill...but when he caresses with them...ah...it's a mix of tender and intense. That slow blink, those drifting lashes, the sidelong glance. All seemingly gentle, soft, soothing, safe...until he drops his chin and openly looks...and the unwary are suddenly trapped by a stunning direct gaze. Inviting. Deadly. Those eyelids. Those eyes. And then...he smiles.

00lsee, you mean there is MORE?

Diva Loved your clack-a-opera!!

[aikim]

Just a fast hello to all! Heading home in about 15 minutes, we are supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow tonight...good thing I am off of work tomorrow. I'll still have to make my way through the snow to the grocery store; the family expects to eat on a regular basis.

Kim

[liney23]

Clazorback, not all the unflattering videos are put up by fans - a lot of haters have accounts andd taht is why I would like to see clackgoddesses enforce that they and they alone have the right to put up the video on youtube. I know taht some unsavory characters are putting stuff up now, and who cares if it is good stuff, they are making money off of Clay's show by linking their blogs to it.

The only way to stop it , is not to distribute it to the fans and you would have to take it up with video gatherers. Some do not like to be told what to share and what not to share.

Play... I totally agree. I wonder if it would be a good policy for the ClayNation to adopt that only the Clack Goddesses who took the video would put it up on YouTube and police it unless someone is given express permission to do it for them, along with an agreement to police in their place. I think the one who took the video could ask that an unauthorized person putting up their video be removed. Not sure how YouTube works. Is that feasible?