Tidbits 3/4

4 years ago today
Clay performs "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" on American Idol 2's Wildcard round.

• Claymates... it's time to attack this poll at MSNBC which asks "Who was the best "American Idol" runner-up?". Clay's currently trailing Katharine McPhee, so let's get to work everyone!
  
• YouTube - If you can't get enough of spotlightlover's NaJNT 2006 tour montages, here's another one for "Mary, Did You Know"
• Waco Tribune - the world needs heroes, not celebrities: "That’s not to say no celebrity is worth at least some of our admiration. I’m impressed that Lucy Liu is a UNICEF ambassador, along with Clay Aiken, Alyssa Milano and Liv Tyler. And celebrities were out in force to raise money after Hurricane Katrina."
  
• The Courier News - American Idol isn't original ...

  Sure, some people from the show have gone on to have best-selling albums and to win Grammy Awards, but we dare you to point out anything original about the music of say, Clay Aiken, or the vocal stylings of Carrie Underwood.

• Indianapolis Star updates us on where the AI winners are now...

  Ruben Studdard: Alabama-based Studdard edged Clay Aiken in 2003's memorable two-man duel. Debut album "Soulful" reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's albums chart. Studdard's third album, "The Return," arrived in stores last October.

• Blogcritics - Another AI article ...

  If they someday have to give classes in the lessons of American Idol, I would say it’s find what’s inside you that’s special and let people see it. Elliott Yamin, Jennifer Hudson, and Clay Aiken all did this to an extent.

• Regina Leader-Post - review of Canadian Idol 4 runner up's CD... "I remember being surprised at liking Clay Aiken's debut CD, especially since it didn't sound like a hustled-along mish-mash of songs cobbled together to cash-in on his fleeting American Idol fame."
• Sympatico.MSN.ca - Taylor Hicks & the Idol curse...

  Like most history, Idol has a way of repeating itself. Just look at Studdard, the Season 2 winner who went nowhere fast. Runner-up Clay Aiken soared over Ruben in popularity, record sales and overall stardom. Ouch.

• Knox News - Taylor Hicks comes to Tennessee...

  It's interesting watching the "Idol" alums live after getting to "know" them on TV. I've seen Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken headline and Fantasia open for Kanye West, all at Thompson-Boling Arena. Clay's audience seemed to be mostly Claymates. Kelly's was a broad spectrum. Fantasia's was Kanye's.
  

• ClayKat - one of my favourite blogs is back! Thanks to ClayKat for the nice plug for CDD.

  Well, after being away for so long from ClayKat, I almost shouldn't call this a blog anymore! I'll try to be here more often, but with full-time work, family life, volunteer work, social life, health issues, another blog and lots more, let's say that my time is limited... though my admiration for Clay is certainly not!
  
  Clay's Daily Double has set up a special 2007 ATDW Summer Tour blog where one will find the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. So far, we are told that Clay will be in San Diego, California on August 2nd and Chautauqua, New York on July 20th. I presume there will be concerts in many other places in between as well (eastern Canada, please, Clay!!).