Tidbits 7/30

• We've been getting a ton of 'new' old photos. The CB's Martigyrl posted some new photos from the 2004 Independent Tour. See our post from yesterday for more stuff from 2005.
  
• Quite a few AI related articles today. Let's start off with this one from the AP wire (it'll begin showing up everywhere): "Speaking of Duke, North Carolina has enjoyed its share of Idol contestants with season three winner Barrino, season two runner-up Clay Aiken and season five finalists Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler and Chris Daughtry."
• Fayetteville Online has a similar article, with an almost identical Clay mention: "As in seasons past, when Raleigh’s Clay Aiken and High Point’s Fantasia wowed viewers with their powerhouse voices, this year’s North Carolina contingent suddenly became household names."
  
• SC The State: blogger says, "Elliott was my Clay Aiken for 2006. He went from nerdish fellow with a good voice and small stage presence to a vocal powerhouse that owned the stage. I especially loved that he remained genuinely humble from start to finish."
• Reality TV Mag questions why Elliott Yamin wasn't offered a recording contract -- "If the record industry didn’t wake up after the success of Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, then you would think that a grey haired soul singer winning American Idol 5 would have given them a clue. The American public is crying out for uniqueness, diversity, and quality in music, and Elliott Yamin fits the bill perfectly."

• Something That Really Happened blogs about the Bad English cover Clay will be doing on ATDW.
• ConCLAYve published a new essay from Berkley. In it, she talks about Clay's efforts to raise money for UNICEF.

  I love and admire Clay for living his faith through his compassionate actions and I am in awe of those who dedicate their lives to these critically important missions.
  
  There is one way I can choose to make a difference for the children, in this tragic situation and in too many others.

• ClaySpots... more memory lane blogs. September 2003 is our next stop (remember the Miss America TITN? THUD)
• "Clay nation takes action" .. Clay/UNICEF blog from Wednesday's Child.
• In this time of need, pixieglitter from The Invisible Kingdom reminds us of Clay's "Grown Up Christmas List".
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, American Idol, Invisible, Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Taylor Hicks, UNICEF