#48: He is...therefore I fan.

[merrieeee]

Que Twilight Zone music: On Reed's PUBLIC MySpace there is a promo video for Mylene's upcoming tour. The video is produced by a company called Stuffed Monkey!

I saw this by j4clay at CV and I thought it was cute.

On My Way Here this morning I realized there is Something About Us. As Long As We're Here I am not going to Forget I Ever Knew You. I've spent 5 year Falling for my BF.

Sometimes we leave CV in Ashes, but Where I Draw The Line is being mad at anyone for having a different opinion. The Real Me and the real you may not be the same, by the Grace Of God "soon" will come "soon".

Let's have some fun and not carry the Weight Of The World.

[liney23]

Seriously... I soooo love this thread title. Anyone up to designing a t-shirt iron on thingy we can get put on and wear proudly. It needs to be seen (and worn).

Couchie... this could be a good fundraiser for BAF, too. I don't wear white or black, but would love to pay big bucks for a t-shirt or t-shirt iron-on.

[keepingfaith]

Egads! I just lost all the "quotes" I'd piled up to respond to. So here's to winging it. No 1: How wonderful it is to read all the posts from yesterday alluding to angst and controversy that is never specifically mentioned, so I don't have a clue what it's about, and I'm thrilled that I don't, and kiss the cyberground that is FCA. No doubt there's nothing actually new to angst about, so it must be ring around the dead horse time again -- for SOME.

Okay, the Paul McCartney thing. He's done a couple of albums produced by Youth over the past 15 years, mostly experimental music and credited to The Fireman. The new original studio album, "Electric Arguments", is wonderful and I'm surprised he didn't put his name on it. Some of it is among the best stuff he's ever done. The latest EP is "Amoeba Secret," recorded from a live show and including songs from his last Macca studio album, "Memory Almost Full" (along with CMoon from Wings). "Memory Almost Full" was commercially and critically successful, ergo the Grammy nomination. The new Bruce Springsteen album just kills. Where's he been? WOW. My prediction: Bruce sweeps the Grammys in 2010.

Predicting what Clay Aiken will do? Other than for entertainment purposes, I don't get it. But then I like progressive change and spontaneity so it's all good for me. People who resist or fear change may have a difficult time, but, as I've said before, I can only deal with myself, and I'm no missionary, so I hope they get over it and learn to accept happiness eventually.

Liney, you'd have to see KAndre and me about the champagne. I think we're the only eHP imbibers. Now off to the salt mines for the day and most of the evening, and I wish I had a mimosa right now. Yes, I know it's 8:30 in the morning!

[claytonic]

Seriously...

I soooo love this thread title

. Anyone up to designing a t-shirt iron on thingy we can get put on and wear proudly. It needs to be seen (and worn).

Couchie... this could be a good fundraiser for BAF, too. I don't wear white or black, but would love to pay big bucks for a t-shirt or t-shirt iron-on.

It is easily my favorite thread title.

I was looking at it a couple of days ago He is ... therefore I fan

and I suddenly realised what the 3 dots stood for.

He is

HOT

therefore I fan.

I am planning on buying a Japanese fan, and pasting a pic of Clay, with the thread title. (I know I said I don't collect merchandise but this will be a useful item when the temperatures climb).

Liney, you could design your own TShirt with the thread title where you want it to be. There's quite a few shops here that will put your chosen pic on a Tshirt, pretty much what the audience gets made for their favorite contestant in programs like Idol. The biggest problem will be choosing the pic... there are so many to choose from!

[Couch Tomato]

ya'll really like this thread title Me too.

Well continue to bat ideas around and we can come up with something. There's always Cafe Press as we did the DCAT Tshirts or they have other things you can put it on. Pins I really like to do to mark something Clay is doing. Even if we do something for Cafe Press and the love remains down the road we can always look into a pin later as a compliment to whatever other pin we do. Maybe I can also do a few items with the saying for the auction. I'll talk to Cindilu..or anyone - you are always free to come up with ideas as well. Oooh maybe a cup?

[FromClaygary]

ya'll really like this thread title Me too.

Well continue to bat ideas around and we can come up with something. There's always Cafe Press as we did the DCAT Tshirts or they have other things you can put it on. Pins I really like to do to mark something Clay is doing. Even if we do something for Cafe Press and the love remains down the road we can always look into a pin later as a compliment to whatever other pin we do. Maybe I can also do a few items with the saying for the auction. I'll talk to Cindilu..or anyone - you are always free to come up with ideas as well. Oooh maybe a cup?

Oooooohhh! I'm a cup kind of a girl!...but I'd love a Tshirt too!

[lilyshine]

OT Post

For those of you who support community arts organizations, you may know that all arts funding was cut from the stimulus package. I guess artists don't need to work or pay rent, like real folks. Non-profit community arts centers were lumped with casinos, golf clubs and stadiums as not needing support.

I live in a poor, rural area and our local arts center works very hard on a shoestring to provide workshops, concerts & exhibits to a population that otherwise would not experience any art not on the TV screen. The elimination of this funding is going to be very hard on us and others like us.

If you agree and are inclined to help, here's a link to a website with info about contacting Congress. Arts Advocacy

Clay content: Clay said to support local arts groups!

[annabear]

OT Post

For those of you who support community arts organizations, you may know that all arts funding was cut from the stimulus package. I guess artists don't need to work or pay rent, like real folks. Non-profit community arts centers were lumped with casinos, golf clubs and stadiums as not needing support.

I live in a poor, rural area and our local arts center works very hard on a shoestring to provide workshops, concerts & exhibits to a population that otherwise would not experience any art not on the TV screen. The elimination of this funding is going to be very hard on us and others like us.

If you agree and are inclined to help, here's a link to a website with info about contacting Congress. Arts Advocacy

Clay content: Clay said to support local arts groups!

I am COMPLETELY with you on this, lilyshine.

[wandacleo]

Cups or tshirts would be good fundraisers for our BAF initiative.

I love this place, by the way.

[merrieeee]

I love this place, by the way.

Me too!!!!

[jmh123]

I found this article at the CB: Barry Manilow, done with oldies, has album of new songs in the works. Most of you know I'm a dirty rotten cover lover, and I don't blame Clive for the demise of Clay's career. I don't even think his career is in trouble, OK? Just need to make all that clear. Still I think there's some interesting stuff here:

Barry Manilow had surprising success in the past few years with recorded retrospectives of the greatest hits of the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, but he says he’s through looking back.

“I’ve gotta get back to writing my own stuff,” the multiplatinum-selling singer says. “This has been a lot of fun, and it’s great that it’s always been successful, but I’m done.”

Manilow’s The Greatest Songs of the Eighties came out in November, and it followed the criteria for the previous retrospective albums — the songs had to have been number-one pop hits and they had to have melodies that stuck out for Manilow. So the ’80s compilation features Manilow’s takes on classics such as “Open Arms,” “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Time After Time,” with mostly straightforward productions and Manilow’s voice, which is as strong as ever.

Manilow says that the whole idea of doing that kind of looking back wasn’t his, anyway; it was label head Clive Davis’ — “I would never in a million years do anything like this,” he says. “I’ve fought [Davis] on every single song he’s given me,” Manilow says, but since Davis was the one who encouraged Manilow to record a little ditty called “Mandy” back in 1974 — you may have heard of it — Manilow always gives Davis’ ideas a listen.

That’s how The Greatest Songs of the Fifties came to be, and when that disc was a smash, it made sense to keep going. But no more.

Manilow says that as he has worked through the decades, he’s found that melody gradually took a back seat to the rhythm. “The rhythm got much more aggressive, as people got into computers and drum machines. But what I kept looking for was the melody. Little by little, the melody kept taking a back seat.”

He adds that “I doubt very much that I [could] go into the ’90s, because there was very little melody in the ’90s,” and although he admits he thought that about the ’80s before he started wading into the music, he’s also done with looking back simply because he’s ready to do a record of his own songs.

Next up for Manilow is a new original album, and while he’s still writing the songs for it, he says of the tunes he’s done so far that “It’s more of a rock ’n’ roll album than I’ve ever done. …

“If you dig into my earlier albums, you’ll see that there are a lot of moments where I try to break the rules and go away from the adult-contemporary world, into some aggressive, guitar-driven songs. I really loved writing them, and I don’t think I sound too bad on them.”

Now, though, the priority is another road jaunt, which have been getting shorter and scarcer over the years.

Manilow’s been doing a greatest-hits show in Las Vegas for three years, and he calls Vegas “home.” He doesn’t go on the road for extended jaunts anymore; short trips are more his speed. He recently got back from four nights in London, and says, “As long as it wasn’t a month-long tour, I was able to handle that.”

Sure, but at age 65 and with a successful show in your adopted backyard, why go on the road at all?

The key, he says, is in the titles of the Vegas show and the road show. The Hilton shows are called “Ultimate Manilow: The Hits”; the road show is called “Ultimate Manilow: The Hits … and Then Some.”

“The audiences in Vegas, it’s finally gotten to what they warned me about: no fans, or a handful of fans, and the rest are strangers. Sold out, but strangers. And they want to hear the hits. So I can’t be too inventive at the Hilton.”

On the road, he says, he gets to play for more dedicated fans, so he can stretch out beyond his 39 Top 40 hits. “They know my work, but they can’t afford to drag themselves to Vegas. So I can be more inventive in my shows on the road. And I will. And I do. I sing songs on the road that I don’t do in Vegas.”

But that’s not all Manilow is working on. “I’ve got such a list of projects,” he says. “It’s always been excellent for me,” and some of them may finally be bearing fruit.

Manilow says his latest musical, Harmony, about the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a German singing group that found international acclaim before being forced to break up by the Nazi regime, is progressing apace. He’s found a producer who has the show booked in three theaters outside New York this fall. When it’s pointed out that he said the same thing in an interview five years ago, he agrees and says, “I’ll believe this all when I see it.”

Manilow’s other passion these days is his Manilow Music Project, a charitable foundation that, among other things, brings musical instruments back into public schools. Recently, he bought $500,000 worth of instruments for every school in the Coachella Valley, and he hopes to have a similar effort at each of his road stops starting later this year.

“It was so rewarding to all of us.… You wouldn’t believe the letters I’m getting about these bands in these schools — playing music again!”

Getting musical instruments back in kids’ hands is crucial, Manilow says; he remembers his own childhood when he testifies to the importance of music.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had some of that. Forget about becoming famous or making records; I don’t know what I would have done as a person if I hadn’t landed in the band. That was my social life. My other grades got better! I know that’s what happens to these young people.”

Barry Manilow performs at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1 La Salle Square, Providence, Wednesday night at 8. Tickets range from $19.99 to $119.99; call (401) 331-2211 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

[Clayzy]

ya'll really like this thread title Me too.

Well continue to bat ideas around and we can come up with something. There's always Cafe Press as we did the DCAT Tshirts or they have other things you can put it on. Pins I really like to do to mark something Clay is doing. Even if we do something for Cafe Press and the love remains down the road we can always look into a pin later as a compliment to whatever other pin we do. Maybe I can also do a few items with the saying for the auction. I'll talk to Cindilu..or anyone - you are always free to come up with ideas as well. Oooh maybe a cup?

I want a t-shirt that says "Clay Aiken is my homeboy" That would crack me up! But I also want a "He is... therefore I fan" shirt too! I have these ideas, but have no idea how to put them into being... horrible with graphics, I am!

(Dude... I just Yoda-talked on a Clay Aiken board... crossing my fanatical interests, much?)

ETA: Oh, and boo on the arts not getting any stimulus funding and, uh... Yay? on Barry Manilow doing new music? I don't listen to Mr. Manilow much... I only have ever heard "Mandy" and "Copacabana".

[annabear]

:all_coholic:

[tribeca]

Jmh123

thanks for that article it was very interesting.

Anna

What is exactly happening in your post?

[calurker]

I'm puzzled too, tribeca. Been staring at it for ten minutes and I ain't got nothin"?????????????????

[liney23]

Boo on the stimulus cutting the arts, but it may be helped later. This stimulus package is not all that's going to have to be done, just the first step, well, second step (TARP was first).

Yay, for Barry Manilow! Now that Clive is out of the picture, he and Rod Stewart can just say no!

And, double YAY for giving schools instruments.

He studies with the same metaphysical teacher I do and I have sat near him/spoken to him at seminars a few times over the years. He's a good guy and if Clay is as successful, I'll be happy cause Barry hasn't done too badly for himself.

[tribeca]

Liney

You met Barry Manilow?

My mom also wanted to go to his concerts but Dad said we never had the money. Dad bought a concert CD & a tour book

we pretended to be at the concert. I was 9 (?) and said I was going to do a pole dance to one of the songs. Never saw my dad turn such a shade of purple. I had no idea what I said at the time

[00lsee]

Jmh123

thanks for that article it was very interesting.

Anna

What is exactly happening in your post?

Um...Warning: Vodka is flammable?

Maybe?

No, I've got it! Barry Manilow inflames her senses so much that she must get drunk to overcome her passion?

Um...no?

Hmm...Okay, okay...OLDIES make her dance like a man with his head on fire and remind her of those good old days when sparkly disco balls somehow made booze taste better?

The fiery man is running to a 3/4 tempo...maybe she's suggesting Clay sing waltzes. Lots of waltzes. Booze optional.

I dunno.

heh

[luckiest1]

jmh123, thanks for bringing that over. I found it quite interesting, especially Barry's thoughts about the difference in performing in a set venue (in his case, Vegas) vs. taking a show on the road.

[djs111]

Guy calling in to a local DJ said that the only thing live about Springsteen's Super Bowl performance was Springsteen's voice. The guy who was in charge of setting things up said it was ridiculous to think they would have time to set up and test and tune and calibrate the sound. Especially when the weather is iffy and there is no shelter.

Also said people pay BIG bucks to go to the Super Bowl, the national anthem is not the reason they pony up, it is an admittedly teensy tiny part of the festivities, and that's why they tape it - it is not a concert. That way they know it will be perfect.

Article in local free paper about ticket-raptor and Live Nation wanting to merge - may get a congressional look-see. Evidently they want a big bite of artists' earnings too, and be able to dictate booking and tours. Plus ticket-bitch is brazenly shoving choice seats to the scalpers and getting a cut.

I guess the good news is that it would be even less logical than usual to blame Clay personally for his tour schedule.

I did see people denounce Cookie's tour schedule disdainfully if it did not stop at a venue near them, so at least Clay is not the only thoughtless greedy lazy singer who ignores his fans. :-O

[duckyvee]

Anna

What is exactly happening in your post?

Um...Warning: Vodka is flammable?

Maybe?

No, I've got it! Barry Manilow inflames her senses so much that she must get drunk to overcome her passion?

Um...no?

Hmm...Okay, okay...OLDIES make her dance like a man with his head on fire and remind her of those good old days when sparkly disco balls somehow made booze taste better?

The fiery man is running to a 3/4 tempo...maybe she's suggesting Clay sing waltzes. Lots of waltzes. Booze optional.

I dunno.

heh

She's crazed and therefore needs a drink?

[bottlecap]

Anna

What is exactly happening in your post?

Um...Warning: Vodka is flammable?

Maybe?

No, I've got it! Barry Manilow inflames her senses so much that she must get drunk to overcome her passion?

Um...no?

Hmm...Okay, okay...OLDIES make her dance like a man with his head on fire and remind her of those good old days when sparkly disco balls somehow made booze taste better?

The fiery man is running to a 3/4 tempo...maybe she's suggesting Clay sing waltzes. Lots of waltzes. Booze optional.

I dunno.

heh

She's crazed and therefore needs a drink?

Dragon attack?

[annabear]

ducky wins! :bier:

If you know where I can find a dragon for hire, let me know, mmmk bottle? Thx!

[merryclay]

This country need jobs. I'm very worried. My DD's husband was laid off from Dupont and another 120 that same day. They said there were grown men that had been there for 10 years or more standing outside weeping. It's very sad.

[00lsee]

ducky wins! :bier:

If you know where I can find a dragon for hire, let me know, mmmk bottle? Thx!

Dang...and I really liked the idea of more Clay waltzes...

*glides away humming, 'it's that time of year when the world falls in love...' ya ta ta ya ta ta*

Hey, if ya gonna dance, better take ya ta ta's.

What.