#31: The Very Handsome Sir Clay of Aiken

[annabear]

As someone who is under 40, I have to say that whenever I go to a Clay event (party, concert, signing, etc.), I do feel in the minority. I really do believe that Clay appeals largely (but not exclusively) to 35+ female crowd, and as you said, that's due in large part to the type of music he has sung in recent years. His choices, both in on albums and in concerts, do tend to be more VH1 than MTV. Clay's most modern cover was of "Sexy Back," and that was in a mocking, "look-how-ridiculous-this-is" manner.

<snip>

Clay is not cool. I think he accepts that. In fact, he jokes about it in concerts. However, I'd bet that he also believes there's nothing more uncool than trying very obviously to be cool. He'd rather be himself, and if the coolness comes, so be it.

And who knows? It may still come, but not through deliberate efforts to craft songs specifically for Top 40 radio, or by ingratiating himself to the MTV crowd with an expensive, edgy video, or by rejecting the older fans who supported him throughout his career. If it comes, it will be with music he loves to sing.

And if that success comes, he can tour anywhere and everywhere.

I know it can be frustrating living in a region that doesn't get a lot of tours. As a West Coaster myself, I've missed several tours, as well as Spamalot. However, personally, I just can't hold it against Clay or his management team. Clay is not in a position to tour wherever he wants. As much as I'd love to believe otherwise, he is not the hottest ticket in entertainment. As it is, he and we are extremely fortunate to have the tours we have had, because there are many, many others (including all but a handful of idols) who haven't had nearly the same success.

WORD, JennaZ.

It's funny that when I first started my fandom back in 2003, I was on a little board started by a college student. Most of the posters were younger. I was the "old" fan, at an age just slightly beyond Clay himself! I now have friends of all different ages within the fandom.

KAndre, you've said some really brilliant things, and are inspirational to boot. I don't think I've ever seen you write so eloquently about a serious subject. You rock!! I always worry way too much about what people think, and it just makes me shrink up and be boring. Great insights about the fanbase and about the value of an intense fanbase no matter what they look like. Intense fans are by nature...intense. I think we all realize on some level the irony of middle aged fans cringing at all the middle aged fans, but some of us cringe anyway. So I love your attitude!!

On the other topic du jour: sings "I've looked at life from both sides now." Not really, because NC is still on the east coast and usually gets a concert per tour (although none for CITH), maybe two, but it sure is different from when I lived in the NE. I've travelled much more often, and much farther than before I moved. And you know what, the trips have been really fun, on so many levels. So I love travelling to see Clay!! I know for some people travel is impossible, and I haven't had to go cross country, or across the world (claytonic and ausdon and our other faraway members are the ones who are really deprived), so I have lots of sympathy for those who aren't as lucky as I. All in all, living in ClayLand was the bomb y'all.

Another WORD to jmh! I've been slowly working my way out of the "worrying" car over the past 5 years and enjoying myself beyond belief in the process!

Living in Ohio - of all places! - has had it's advantages when it comes to Clay touring. I've usually been lucky enough to have at least one, if not multiple shows within a few hours drive. I've traveled to see him as well. With the exception of the insane price of gas, I love roadtrips! Spam is the first time I've flown to see Clay and it just happens that I'm lucky enough to be in a position right now to be able to do so. I've said it before and I mean it - I wish it was possible for everyone who would like to see Clay to be able to. There's nothing like a live Clay Aiken preformance.

[jmh123]

By the way - when do the predictions come out about how many CDs they think Clay will sell the first week! Is that after the release date? I can't remember.

Friday we should get the first predictions, based on shipments, and Wednesday we should get another prediction based on Tuesday's sales.

[keepingfaith]

Just an afterthought about QVC. I've never watched that network or any shopping shows or infomercials but I've always assumed that "middle age and beyond" is the demographic. I can't imagine that the teens and 20-somethings I know would ever, ever, ever watch QVC. So having an audience that skews to middle age should be right on target for the pitch. (And having the host of the show falling all over him didn't hurt, IMO.) Now I feel dirty to even be talking about marketing - which I happen to believe is one rotten aspect of modern society.

In my life we've dealt with racism, and sexism, and now it looks like we're going to have to add ageism to the list. My mother is 85, and she watches Idol devotedly, and her favorite by far this year is David Cook. She loves him. There's no way to figure this stuff out, just let it be. Demographics aren't absolutes -- it's JUST marketing and regardless of what some may believe, marketing is not the be all and end all. It's just statistical marking of a target, and it's so often just completely wrong and off base. I try to remember that the American TV networks consider the entertainment part of shows as filler between sales pitches. People are defining and redefining potential customers every minute, and when the day comes that I start defining myself in consumerist terms, well, somebody please shoot me.

[00lsee]

In my opinion, make-up is completely appropriate for Clay's television/stage/photo-op appearances, but...even if he wore eyeliner habitually in "real life", my reaction to that would STILL be about me, not Clay.

[KAndre]

KAndre looks to the left and then to the right, just to make she has an audience...

Ahem...

I'm

a kitty cat!

And I dance, dance, dance!

Dance, dance, dance!

And yep, I did this on the streets of New York...my friends pointed and laughed...then bounced around too.

[merryclay]

Sorry. Mess up. I love Clay Aiken and all this fun.

[ldyjocelyn]

Best Week Ever Blog

FIELD TRIPS: In Which I Visit The Food Network And Am Saved From Starvation By Paula Deen

As a shameless eating enthusiast, when I had chance to visit the Food Network and meet culinary icon Paula Deen (whose shows I watch obsessively, because they’re like pornography for your stomach) on the set of Paula’s Party, I prepared for my visit by embarking upon a strict fast - much like the ones I employ before Thanksgiving, Christmas and other particularly gluttonous holidays - to ensure that my belly would be completely empty upon arrival, and thus prepared for maximum stuffage. What I didn’t know about the magic and trickery of television is that there isn’t actually a whole lot of food sitting around behind the scenes of these shows, as it’s all being cooked and eaten onstage by the less-starving likes of Clay Aiken (what a not weird guy he was), Dionne Warwick and Ace of Cakes baker Duff Goldman. Luckily, Paula stepped in an saved me from losing a little weight.

Video included -- it looks as if Clay may be appearing on Paula Deen's Party! Heh. Actually, that gets another EEEEEEEEE from me, because I'm addicted to the Food Network!

[merrieeee]

I'm

a kitty cat!

And I dance, dance, dance!

Dance, dance, dance!

And yep, I did this on the streets of New York...my friends pointed and laughed...then bounced around too.

Yes we did and it was fun, I tell you fun! The folks on the subway at 1 in the morning thought we were all drunk and that was fun too! Yes that is what life is all about! Having fun and when I am with my buddies I don't give a flyin' flip what anyone else thinks of me.

I maybe old but I ain't dead yet......not by a long shot! And thanks to ShelleyC I am now officially 12 years younger than I was before this weekend! Hee!

[Iseeme]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeee - I love Paula Deen and I bet if Clay is on her party show it will be hysterically funny! So "what a not weird guy he was" means the blogger thought he was okay? Maybe that's why he was at home getting his hair cut in his jammies - I mean I think Paula tapes in Savannah, doesn't she? Just a hop, skip and jump from Raleigh? Paula gets all yammily mushified around handsome men........

A dancing kitty......"who knew!" (tm King Arthur)

[muskifest]

Who's Paula Dean? (runs off to Google her)

ETA: Hee! Lookie here:

April

Paula's Party Filming this month at the Food Network Studios in New York

Guess Clay got some free 'home cookin'' while in the big city, huh?

[bottlecap]

People.com de-Hannahed Clay's picture and also bought into the "Lion King" matinee schtick. He's still CUTE, even if he won't dance like a kitty cat.

ETA: The blurb has since been corrected to say:

Spamalot star Clay Aiken takes a break from his own musical Tuesday to perform at the 22nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition – a gala event for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS – in New York.

[ldyjocelyn]

Paula Deen

Iseeme, I thought Paula's Party taped in Savannah too, but this blogger visited the Food Network test kitchens, which are in NYC. So it makes sense that Clay taped a segment while still in NYC.

I just checked the schedule, and I doubt if it will be the May 9 episode -- with a chocolate theme. *g*

[Iseeme]

Muski - aren't you supposed to be working?

Paula Deen is a chef on The Food Network. She's got a great personality, tapes out of her home in Savannah for her daily shows, and has a "party"show on the weekends where she has a celebrity come on and cook with her. She has great Southern recipes and usually has the celebrity "help" her.....which ought to be hysterical with Clay. She's written a bunch of cookbooks and is really quite cute.

ETA: Ohhh - that makes sense about the Food Network kitchens being in NY. Nope - don't think he'll be on the chocolate show!!!!

[annabear]

Eeeeep! Paula also tends to cook with a lot of tree nuts! :o But she makes a mean macaroni & cheese, and lest we forget Clay's reaction when Tyra mentioned mac & cheese!

[muskifest]

Muski - aren't you supposed to be working?

BUt...but....in that video Clay's cuttin' a rug with Paula! He's so freakin' CUTE! Oh, and Bottle? That People.com Clay pic is hawt except for the bottom lid eyeliner bwah!

[Ansamcw]

Why can;t I watch that you tube teaser..this is really discrimination... :cry4:

Gah its funny how people is spreading that Lion king error...hee

I love Paula Deen. Her cooking is so southern down home style...I remember she was on Iron Chef America and she won doing a cheese chocolate fudge...her recipes are not for those watching their diet. But she is such a southern lady...I just love her accent.

[cha cha trusty]

Who's Paula Dean? (runs off to Google her)

ETA: Hee! Lookie here:

April

Paula's Party Filming this month at the Food Network Studios in New York

Guess Clay got some free 'home cookin'' while in the big city, huh?

I was just coming to offer this - which is a spot from the BestWeekEver.com and a youtube vid which has a few Clay sightings in it!!!

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/04/30/fiel...n-by-paula-deen

FIELD TRIPS: In Which I Visit The Food Network And Am Saved From Starvation By Paula Deen

As a shameless eating enthusiast, when I had chance to visit the Food Network and meet culinary icon Paula Deen (whose shows I watch obsessively, because they’re like pornography for your stomach) on the set of Paula’s Party, I prepared for my visit by embarking upon a strict fast - much like the ones I employ before Thanksgiving, Christmas and other particularly gluttonous holidays - to ensure that my belly would be completely empty upon arrival, and thus prepared for maximum stuffage. What I didn’t know about the magic and trickery of television is that there isn’t actually a whole lot of food sitting around behind the scenes of these shows, as it’s all being cooked and eaten onstage by the less-starving likes of Clay Aiken (what a not weird guy he was), Dionne Warwick and Ace of Cakes baker Duff Goldman. Luckily, Paula stepped in an saved me from losing a little weight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZrmG2FiIJI

eta: Jeeeez! I wasn't quick enough!!! 16 posts between the first post and mine! LOL

eata: did you see this CD Teaser posted by Clay on youtube??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9k0YCFmq8

[ldyjocelyn]

*sniff*

cha cha doesn't read my posts! I posted that on the previous page.

*sniff*

ETA: Oh, OK. You're forgiven.

[cindilu2]

People.com de-Hannahed Clay's picture and also bought into the "Lion King" matinee schtick. He's still CUTE, even if he won't dance like a kitty cat.

He is oh so gorgeous. I want him - just exactly like he looks here. Boyfriend is stylin'. (Maybe I just think so cuz I'm oh so young and cutting edge *g*). And I dance with my kitties. Does that count, oh KAndre?!

It must be a little disconcerting for Hannah to be identified only as 'friend' or 'date', or as in this one, cut out of the photo altogether. She is a celebrity in Britain, and told us that she did find it different to walk around virtually unrecognized here. She's a gracious lady, and I love her!!

[ldyjocelyn]

broadwaystars.com

It Might As Well Be Easter

Follow Spot

by Michael Portantiere

IT MIGHT AS WELL BE EASTER

None of the good people involved in raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is likely to forget the 2007-2008 season. First, the stagehands strike disrupted the organization's fall fundraising efforts, but everyone pulled together and did a phenomenal job anyway. As for the spring, Easter came so early this year that BC/EFA's annual Easter Bonnet Competition was held long after the actual holiday -- just this week, in fact. Here are some photos from the event, held on Monday and Tuesday at the Minskoff Theater.

Spamalot's Hannah Waddingham and Clay Aiken sang a soulful duet that was only briefly interrupted by a nun on roller skates.

[Ansamcw]

LOVE that picture...hope we get Clack!!!

[Claygasm]

Not to beat the eyeliner drum but....

Eyeliner ON stage is fine - if its not too heavy so that it looks like eyeliner.

Eyeliner ON camera is fine - if its not too heavy so that it looks like eyeliner.

Eyeliner off camera on the streets of NY or Anywhere, USA - skeeves me out!

So shoot me.

[ldyjocelyn]

Bang.

[laughn]

Paula dean's May 30 show is a BBQ episode...perfect for the not weird guy.

[Claygasm]

Bang.

I KNEW someone would do that!!

But......

I am not yet dead!!!