Looking Back - Time Magazine, October 2003 - "Building a Better Pop Star"

This time four years ago Clay's first CD, Measure of a Man, was released. Fans everywhere were ordering and purchasing the CD. It ended up going triple platinum, showing people everywhere that Clay Aiken would definitely be around for a while. And, of course, he has.

About that time, an article came out in Time Magazine called Building a Better Pop Star, by Josh Tyrangiel. This is a great article which tells about much of what happened before the release of Measure of a Man. You'll be glad you stopped and read the whole article. Here are a few excerpts to whet your appetite:

Aiken, who came in second on the most recent installment of American Idol, is not only not a rocker, but, as he says in his aggressively self-deprecating way, "I'm not an artist. I'm just a guy who was on a reality show—and I didn't even win!" Humility aside, Aiken, 24, doesn't mind being doubted because he believes in his bones that his detractors are wrong. "There are many people at the record label who are afraid of me," he says. "They don't understand the reasons that someone as uncool as me is here. In a way—and this is a horrible word to say, and once I say it you're going to print it—it's a revolution."

This is how the term "vanilla revolution" came about, and as the article goes on to say:

(Richard) Sanders says he understands that some of his employees are "skeptical about the selection process and skeptical about selling a pop artist with no credibility." But, he adds, "I've told everyone they need to look at it this way: Americans buy more vanilla ice cream than any other flavor. Yes, they like their Rocky Road and Cherry Garcia, but ultimately America wants to consume vanilla. So we're going to sell the best vanilla. Given the problems we're facing as an industry, we cannot afford to be judgmental."

Many of you also remember that Clay had many disagreements with Clive Davis about the album he wanted to put out, from the name of the album to the type of music he would sing. This article includes what went on with this. Clay won out in the end, refusing to give in and change his convictions.

In addition to not giving in on his CD, Clay's original This Is The Night video was scrapped because, as Clay said,

They had me in this tight little vintage T shirt and jeans and a leather jacket," says Aiken. "And (Rolston) had me sing the song in one scene with this angst attitude—popping my neck and mean looks on my face ... It's trying to make me somebody I'm not. I'm not mean, and this is something the label just doesn't get.

As the article says near the end, "It is telling that in just five months with RCA, Aiken has won most of his battles." The CD had the type of songs that Clay wanted and the name he chose and the video was scrapped.

Clay showed throughout this whole process of putting out this CD just what "the measure of a man" is. And aren't we glad.