Tidbits 4/12

• Salisbury Post - Article entitled "First Salisbury Idol contest offers $1,000 grand prize" says: "Maybe it's something in the water. Maybe it's the Carolina sunshine. Maybe it's the barbeque. Whatever it is, North Carolina has given the world more than its fair share of singing idols, including Clay Aiken of Raleigh, Fantasia Barrino of High Point and Kellie Pickler of Albemarle."
• The Hook In an article about Chris Daughtry, "If the names Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, and Kelly Clarkson ring any bells, these artists can thank American Idol, this generation's version of Star Search."
• Lycos 50 - Clay dropped down one spot to #16 for the week ending 3/31/07. What does it say about Clay? "No longer watches Idol." He has been on the Lycos 50 for 197 weeks.
• As if there wasn't enough confusion surrounding Clay's canceled Dallas concert ... the Dallas Morning News seems to think it's still happening:

  CLAY AIKEN July 7 at 8 at Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie. On sale Mon at 10. $39.50-$59.50. Ticketmaster at 214-373-8000 or 972-647-5700 or www.ticketmaster.com
  

• Azle News (India) - not sure when American Idol changed its name to "Dallas American Idol" -

  People in the U.S. can’t get enough of the TV show DALLAS AMERICAN IDOL which has unleashed Larry Hagman Clay Aiken on the world. DALLAS American Idol has become a national obsession with everyone wondering “Who Shot J.R?” “What’s up with Sanjaya’s hair?”

• Globe & Mail (major newspaper in Canada... Canadian equivalent of the New York Times) - review of a new musical being staged in Toronto called "We Will Rock You". The musical is loosely based on the career & music of rock band Queen ...

  The targets of his satire include not just the absurdities of mindless rigidity, but pop music itself -- icons like Madonna, Britney Spears and American Idol winner Clay Aiken, even Queen itself -- and, by extension, the mesmerized audiences who carry the flame for their overpaid, undertalented idols.

• Toronto Star - another Idol releated article -

  Former runner-up Jennifer Hudson just won an Oscar for Dreamgirls. Clay Aiken curiously remains on the public radar. Chris Daughtry, namesake of the lame rock outfit Daughtry, has already outsold the three competitors who finished above him during his Idol tenure.

• Newswire Today - new record label launched with artists who have appeared at "Clay Aiken release party" -

  Thompson, an eighteen-year old pop rocker/singer-songwriter has recently appeared in shows with Teddy Geiger, Brian Littrel of The Backstreet Boys and the Clay Aiken release party and is among the Nashville-based label's debut artists.

• ABC 4 - article about a AI2 semi-finalist- "She performed last on March 3, 2003, singing 'Because You Loved Me' made popular by Celine Dion, but lost out to a field that included Ruben Studdard, Corey Clark and Clay Aiken." Press release here.

We've got a whole bunch of blogs about Clay's trip to Afghanistan... I just love it when the Clay Aiken blogosphere comes alive like this:

• ConCLAYve: Clay Aiken's $100,000 in 10 days challenge
• Taking A Moment: Clay's UNICEF appeal | Press release shows how "proud" we are of Clay
• Southern Girl: Clay's UNICEF mission | Raising $100,000 in 10 days
• Something That Really Happened: Clay's $100,000 appeal
• Idle-Wandering: Clay takes trip to Afghanistan
• ClaySpots: Clay Aiken - a Humanitarian -

  He's in a country where he is, instead, surrounded by the constant reminders of decades long war, upheaval, and oppression. He's spending his days and nights in places where snipe attacks and suicide bombings are a fact of life.
  
  His famous face won't help him get to the front of a line....in fact, it's important for his own safety that he alter his appearance slightly, to blend in with the people he so desperately wants to help.

• Thistle Hut: Clay's a source of inspiration
• Hobbies: Clay Aiken visits Afghanistan