More Photos & Clack From Raleigh TBAF Gala

Invisible926 has posted some of her shots from the Bubel Aiken Foundation Champions of Change gala held last night in Raleigh. More photos are available here and here.

You will also want to check out clack from last night at ClackUnlimited.com. So far, we only have audio of Clay singing "Home", "I Can't Make You Love Me", "The Prayer" and "Unchained Melody".

For those of you looking for a recap, here's a fantastic one from LynninNJ and scrpkym at the CB:

This is a joint-recap, as i am sitting on scrpkym's couch after getting about 5 mins sleep....but that's only b/c i feel asleep for 5 mins while Clay's West Point JNat played for 2 hours!!!! We are obviously home from the Gala and what an amazing evening it was.

We arrived in sunny, warm Raleigh at 3pm so had to get ready quickly for our BIG DATE with Mr Aiken!!! We arrived at the Cardinal Club around 5pm all "dolled up" and were greeted by a sea of Claymates and lots of smiling, familiar faces. We met up with [name removed], [name removed] and got our tickets to the event (Brianne from JNT 2 was volunteering and later we found out Nick was too)a nd headed up the elevator 28 FLOORS to BAF-ville! When we walked in, we were at the Silent Auction where lots of great Clay and non-Clay things were on display. We milled around for some time, did some bidding and then went to our tables when dinner was about to begin. Gala attendees were in 5-6 different rooms set up with round tables for parties of 10ish....but they were located all around the 28th Floor of the Club. Most of us were in Dogwood and [name removed] was in Sir Walter Raleigh with more NC fans. Turns out we met the rest of our "clan" also seated in Dogwood......with rumors flying that Clay would also be eating in that room....omg!!!

And sure enough.....HE WAS! Seated at his table in a far corner were Clay, Quianna, Jesse V, Jamie, Faye, Aunt and Uncle, Jennifer, and Linda Loveland from WRAL....with Jerome standin by!
OK.......this was CLAY - full beard, mustache, bangs, highlights, three-piece dark suit, white shirt and red/pinkish solid tie......OHMIIIIGGGGOOOOODDDD....FULL BEARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had gotten word from the Gold Girls of the beard, and were anxious to see it live and in person..........AND WE LOVED IT!!!!! We were pretty much on the others side of the room, so we couldn't really stare and watch him eat, but we did get our glances (lots of water drinking and table chatting) and some tablemates snuck some pics! Clay in the room at the table about 50-60 mins, and miraculously the COFFEE BAR (they weren't serving at the tables) was set up RIGHT NEXT TO his table.......so obviously, we all needed a caffeine fix!!!!!!! The line was long (thank GOD!) and allowed for looooong glances of MR BEAUTIFUL.....and of course we called Kym in for coffee right away too!!!! As we were waiting, someone made an general announcement and mentioned that Claytinis would be served upstairs and we saw Linda L. ask Clay "what's a Claytini?" We heard and saw Clay say, "It's a Martini with a little bit of ME in it. It's a little bitter."
Before we could get coffee, they ran out, and then Clay left......by Jerome's and Mary's motion......we guess to go get ready. Soooooooooo annnnnywayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.................
we headed upstairs - for Claytinis!!! There were non-alcholic Claytinis....but of course we chose the ALCOHOLIC CLAYTINIS......and have pictures to show for it! They were yummy!!!!!
Oh yeah - Jaymes Foster was there too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooooo......show time was getting close. We assemled into the Hall which sat about 300 people, and found our seats. We were off to the side, but in 2nd row behind the piano.....Kym was back row center! So we all settled in and the show started around 9:15pm. Linda Loveland from WRAL was the Mistress of Ceremonies and did most of the introductions and she was warm, funny, smart - and looked STUNNING. Even Clay said later in the night (commenting on her just having her baby 7 weeks ago) that she was HOT. Awards were presented, speeches were made by Diane, Clay. Kristy and award winners.....and then, the FUN BEGAN!!!!!! It was then time for LIVE AUCTION/COMEDY HOUR...featuring none other than Clay Aiken (who said he wasn't planning on being involved, but his butt hurt from sitting too long - so he was). He was excited about the auctioneer (and mimicked auctioneer talk - real fast talking...imagine him doing that) and it was obvious he was going to be very involved in the process. With the first few items, there was a vacation to the mountains of NC, and Clay liked it so much - he kept bidding on it himself, but the guy wouldn't take his bid.......it was funny! Then came other items such as signed Proud of Your Boy music score (which he doesn't remember....but he thinks he may have slept with), Invisible music/45, Grammy jacket came up and Clay really started getting into it with the crowd. He was interacting ALOT and pleading with the bidders for higher amounts "it's for the children" he would yell into the microphone....of which at one point - yes, ladies, he did have his finger in the mic stand....ONCE AGAIN. *thud*

The excitement came with a 2003 Wango Tango shirt (striped, bright colored) that he decided he was going to put on, take off, rub all over his body, and swing around his head like a stripper. NO LIE.

We think that went for $8k (OMG) and the winner got to collect on stage and got a big hug and kiss from Clay - sooooo worth the investment. The biggest item sold was the handwritten SCORE of Lover All Alone - music written from DFoster and lyrics handwritten by Clay........*sigh* and signed by them and Eman. This is the ORIGINAL and only 3 other "copies" are out there....and belong to DF, JF, and CA....whoa. Final winning bid.....$55,000.00!

He was cute, he was funny, he was flirty....he was sexy - he was playful....he was a TEASE. Especially when someone in the front row said "Clay, I'll buy your ring" And then led to the not only the bidding of his thumb ring (he left the other 2 at home - forgot to put them on after his shower) but of all his jewelery that he had on......ring (with the other 2 included later) and necklaces....that he whipped out from under his white shirt. He then proceeded to put the ring in his mouth *excuse while i take a moment* and roll it around with his tongue seductively - and also rumor had it he LICKED the necklaces as well.....be still my heart. Final bidding ended around $8,000....again, money well spent.

The auction/comedy show ended at about 11:30pm - and we didn't even get ENTERTAINMENT yet!!!!!!!!! Clay introduced Jesse, Quianna and gave away some suprises like the Oklahoma stop on the Summer Tour and Jesse and Q joining him (didn't mention anyone else)......and then sat on a stool, Jesse at piano.....and sang ICMYLM....beautifully.
It was a little tough for him to get serious, so when you listen to the MP3's.....he's making funny faces, so that's why we're all laughing during the song. Then Clay brought Q up with him and introduced David Foster's THE PRAYER.....omg - a dream for some come true. Gorgeous harmony, amazing vocals....touching lyrics....they must have practiced in the car as Clay was driving Q and Chamberlin from Charleston back to Raleigh (they were staying at this house, by the way). Next came Home from Quinna (with Jesse on piano playing with no sheet music), and then Clay's finale of Unchained Melody..........simply AMAZING.

A few more thank you's, a farewell from Linda Loveland and Clay was gone with a "See You This Summer".........and he was swept away by Jerome.....waving a few times back to the crowd as he left.

*ouch* My fingers hurt and I'm seeing TRIPLE......so that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed our recap!