Sunday, January 28, Our 4th Anniversary With Clay

Today, January 28, is our 4th anniversary with Clay. Four years since he tried out for American Idol. Four years since he first came into our hearts and now refuses to go away. Thank you for staying, Clay.

To remember our anniversary, let's remember the song that started it all, and think about some of the wonderful moments (via pictures) over the last 4 years.

"Always And Forever"

Always and forever
Each moment with you



Is just like a dream to me
That somehow came true, yeah



And I know tomorrow
Will still be the same



Cuz we got a life of love
That won't ever change and



Everyday love me your own special way
Melt all my heart away with a smile



Take time to tell me you really care
And we'll share tomorrow together



Ooh baby, I'll always love you forever



Ever, ever, ever
There'll always be sunshine
When I look at you



It's something I can't explain
Just the things that you do



If you get lonely
Call me and take



A second to give to me
That magic you make and



Everyday love me your own special way
Melt all my heart away with a smile



Take time to tell me you really care
And we'll share tomorrow together



Ooh baby, I'll always love you forever




Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Mention in January Korean Elle Girl

Asia has been showing Clay lots and lots of love recently... everything from the huge airplay Clay's been receiving on Singaporean radio to a rash of mentions in Korean magazines and newspapers. Clay's been mentioned in another Korean magazine, the January 2007 issue of Korea's Elle Girl.

The CB's BloomingClay provides this rough translation:

Although The Killers,who released their second album,is a very talented rock band but their name is not as 'hot' as their music.Their name doesn't have anything attractive that new urban musican John Legend's name or the singer with beautiful voice Clay Aiken's name have.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/27

• The Raleigh Chronicle -This is a really nice article about Clay appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Valentine's Day. One especially nice comment in the article is:

  Clay Aiken To Appear On Jimmy Kimmel Special
  By Elliott West, Raleigh Chronicle News Editor
  Friday, January 26, 2007
  
  RALEIGH - Raleigh resident and American Idol singing sensation Clay Aiken will be appearing on a Jimmy Kimmel ABC Valentine's Day special, according to Aiken's website ClayAiken.com.
  
  Kimmel and Aiken seem to enjoy a good relationship and unlike other talk show hosts, Kimmel does not press for answers to questions that Aiken has stated that he does not wish to answer publicly.
  
  Kimmel will now have Aiken on the program twice in just a few months as Aiken continues to be a very welcome and popular guest on the late night talk show circuit including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
  
  Aiken is also scheduled to appear on Good Morning America on February 1st to promote UNICEF, which helps children around the world.

• AP wire story - very touching story about a family coping with a mother's battle with Lou Gehrig's disease ...

  "Right now, I'm here and I'm able to do this," Aimee often reminds her kids, whether "this" is baking cookies, taking Emily to a Clay Aiken concert, or going last fall to the World Series to see her beloved Cardinals win.
  

• Gothamist - random mention in some rock music blog.

• Carolina On My Mind -- A few days ago, we erroneously posted that it was the 4th anniversary of Clay's Atlanta AI audition... well that day is today, and Carolina On Mind Mind celebrates the special occasion with this wonderful post:
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Ask Clay A Question @ ABC.com

At the homepage of ABC News, one of the banners that is frequently changing at the top of the page features Clay along with the words "Be Seen Be Heard" and "Ask Clay A Question". Sounds exciting, doesn't it!

So of course, I clicked on the banner to see what this was all about. It took me to a page titled, "Be Seen Be Heard" with information about what to do to ask Clay a question. You send in a video of yourself asking a question for Clay to answer when he appears on Good Morning America on February 1. On ABC's site, it says, "Find out why he has chose to speak up as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador!" So, though it doesn't say it in so many words, it seems that your question should have to do with Clay's work as a UNICEF Ambassador.

If you want to send in a video of your question, read all the instruction on the "Be Seen Be Heard" page (which is the page your were taken to when you clicked on the homepage banner). Make your video, fill out the information and upload your video via computer. Now, if you can't find the banner with Clay when you first go to ABC.com, you can continue to refresh your screen and hopefully it will appear. But, at least you have our handy little link for your use in this paragraph so you can read and fill out the info.

And note...the picture at the top of this article is a combination of the banner from the home page AND the "Be Seen Be Heard" page where you are taken when you clicked on the banner. Didn't want any confusion about that!!

So now, get busy with those videos and questions, and then sit back and enjoy Clay on Good Morning America on February 1 and listen to see if your question was chosen!!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

ATD Video Featured on Today's Yahoo "The 9"

Clay's new video for "A Thousand Days" is featured at the #6 position today on Yahoo's daily online TV show, The 9. The host gushes about how ATD has "all the elements of a hit"... "smoking band, CHECK, amazing hair, CHECK, creepy drama school facials, DOUBLE CHECK."

You can also vote for the video at Yahoo: The 9's website. Clay's video is currently leading with 46% of the vote.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

In Touch Names Idol's "Biggest Shockers"

Two Clay moment on American Idol are in InTouch Weekly's "10 Most Shocking Idol Moments", which appears in the Feb. 2 issue of InTouch.

Thanks to butterflyshine for the scans.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/26

• Thanks to Jocelyn who sent us a news tip last night regarding a Clay mention on The Insider last night. Clay, along with other American Idol runner ups were featured in an Insider poll which asked "Who is your favourite American Idol runner-up?". Clay's won many of these Insider polls, so I wouldn't be suprised if he wins again... keep an eye out for poll results on today's The Insider.
• Clay was also mentioned on CNN's Larry King Live last night. The show was about the tremendous success of American Idol and Larry showed a small clip of Clay. They also showed a short clip from Clay's 2002 Atlanta auditions.
  
• Foxes on Idol: "A Thousand Days" hits the Billboard Charts-- "Clay Aiken also hit the A/C chart with his single “A Thousand Days,” which debuted at #29."
• Raleigh News & Observer- Raleigh home to another up and coming musician --

  Jason Michael Carroll — This country singer is poised to become the biggest thing to come out of Raleigh since Clay Aiken. “Alyssa Lies,” the first single from his debut album “Waitin’ in the Country” (out Feb. 6 on Arista Nashville Records), is already a top-10 country hit.
  

• A few American Idol related mentions today:
• TV Gasm - "Even if you aren't the winner, things can be great. Some argue that Clay Aiken is the most successful Idol of all time, and he surely has the most rabid fan base."
  
• Asbury Park Press- Ruben Studdard makes his return. There's also a small mention in this second article from APP which is also about Ruben.
  

  Only Clay Aiken, who came in second behind Ruben, remains the most popular of the nonwinners. His first disc, "Measure of a Man,'' topped the Billboard pop-album charts, selling 2 million copies. Aiken's latest, "A Thousand Different Ways,''
  came in at No. 2, selling 211,000 copies in late September.
  
  But Studdard doesn't feel slighted … even though Aiken continues to best him on the charts.
  
  "It's all good,'' says Studdard, who will perform today in Red Bank and Tuesday in New York. "I'm too blessed to be stressed.''

• Evansville Courier Press-

  The show, to its credit, taps some amazing talent. Just look at the awards, album sales and stardom of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Taylor Hicks, Jennifer Hudson and, my favorite, Chris Daughtry.

• Daily Tribune - "The show has spawned the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard."
• Press Enterprise --

  As head of RCA Records, Davis had huge success in signing other "Idol" winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino. He must have recognized that the groundswell of support for Daughtry made the singer a hot commodity.

• Sturgis Journal -- "Past "Idol" participants Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Kimberly Locke, Anthony Federov and last season's Elliott Yamin and Mandisa each met Simon's sharp wit a time or two, but each also went on to make the Top 10."
  
• Bend Weekly: Jimmy Kimmel's ratings continue to climb...

  Although painfully short on trained seals and plate spinners, large celebrity guests - ranging from George Clooney and Britney Spears to Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa - the late-night gabfest increased its fan base (now at 1.8 million) from 2005 to 2006 by 22 percent, according to company propaganda.

• Kelly Ripa/Clay mentions:
• Phenoxville News
• University of Calgary Gauntlet

• Carolina On My Mind- driving tales and update on the Clay Aiken "drought".
• Meanspeed (non-Clay nation blog) - now here's one of the coolest blog posts I've seen so far this year. Someone at this blog has meticulously and scientifically (by the looks of it) analyzed every song on ATDW... take a peak:

  On September 19, 2006 the universal cultural phenomenon Clay Aiken released his second album, made up of cover songs, called A Thousand Different Ways. Apple's iTunes.com lists each track here under its genre: ‘pop.’ There is a recording company responsible for Clay’s intellectual property: A Thousand Different Ways, ©2006, 19 Recordings Limited.
  
  Clay shows a surprisingly adept manner of handling speed and tempo in a variety of slow ballad to mid-tempo ballad ranges: we hear the meanemotion ranges of surreal (below 55 beats per minute), melodrama (55-58 beats per minute), sincerity (59-62 beats per minute), ceremony (63-69 beats per minute), grace (70-76 beats per minute), loneliness (79-84 beats per minute), renewal (85-89 beats per minute) and natural (98-105 beats per minute). Hence, you will find no songs in the speed ranges of: bittersweetness (77-78 beats per minute), enthusiasm (90-97 beats per minute), lust (106-114 beats per minute), foreboding (115-118 beats per minute), victory (119-128 beats per minute) or mixed fast (129 and above). This Clay Aiken work is not about fast and lusting. This is about deep ceremonial introspection. This is a man singing the modern ballads with truth, honesty and from the heart.
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Billboard's Fred Bronson: ATD Enters Billboard Charts

Fred Bronson of Billboard's "Chart Beat" has some great news for us this week. Fred, who is a music chart expert and professional journalist, says the following in his online article, "Chart Beat":

'DAYS' OF 'CHANGE': As I write this, I've just picked up my car from the local auto dealer where I take it for its annual check-up. My route home took me past a house where the two artists who have new songs debuting on this week's Adult Contemporary chart once lived.

Coincidence? You be the judge.

Opening at No. 25 is "Change" (Curb/Reprise), the sixth chart entry for Kimberley Locke, third place finalist on season two of "American Idol." Her former roommate and former rival on the TV series, Clay Aiken, bows at No. 29 with his 14th chart entry, "A Thousand Days" (RCA).

I don't know who lives in the house now, but I wonder if they realize their connection to this week's AC tally? I could always post a copy of Chart Beat on their door and see if they figure it out. Maybe you should check your door right now, just in case it's you...

Chart Beat is "the latest news in the world of Billboard's definitive sales and airplay charts." This is great news, as it not only includes sales of "A Thousand Days" but also how its doing in radio airplay!

As you scroll down in the above mentioned article, you will see two more comments about Clay:

This is the first week there have been two debuts in the top 15 since June 28, 2003, when Clay Aiken entered at No. 1 with "This Is the Night" and Studdard had his No. 2 debut with "Flying Without Wings."

AND

Daughtry rewrites chart history, as he becomes the first "Idol" finalist not to finish in the top two spots to have a No. 1 album on The Billboard 200. He is also the first contestant since season two to top this chart. The only other "Idol" singers to have No. 1 albums on The Billboard 200 are Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice and Taylor Hicks did not reach No. 1 with any of their albums.

Note that its been 3-1/2 years since two songs debuted in the top 15, and Clay was one of those songs! Also, Clay is one of three idols, and the only runner up, to have a #1 album on The Billboard 200 until this week. There is no question in my mind of the talent and the staying power of Clay Aiken!

Watch in weeks to come. I'm looking to write many more stories on this subject as Clay's position rises on the charts!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Mentioned on Inside Edition's Tyra Banks Segment

CDD has learned that Clay was mentioned on last night's Inside Edition (an infotainment show). CDD's J4Clay recaps:

I was watching Inside Edition (sort of) from the kitchen when I heard Tyra Banks' name. So I went to watch. It was about how she has gained so much weight. :yow (Does she look overweight to yall? I mean, come on now).

Anyway, they showed a segment from The Tyra Banks Show of her supposedly looking overweight and it was the segment where she was dancing with Clay. :snoopy :wheee To me, she looked great, Clay looked awesome, and people who are making such comments about her need to find something better to do with their time.

But it was great to see Clay's segment shown on Inside Edition.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Faye Parker Thanks Fans For Their Generosity

The Clayboard's MixnJude0 received a thank you email from Clay's mom, Faye Parker today. The thank you message after Claymates worked together to "free" Ms. Parker from "jail" in the recent Muscular Dystrophy Association's fund raising campaign.

I knew I could count on YOU!

Thanks for helping me reach my goal! Your generosity will make a difference for the children and adults MDA serves, providing help for today and hope for tomorrow.

With the help of friends like you, MDA continues to be able to provide comprehensive services through local clinics and advance its research efforts to find treatments and cures for some 43 neuromuscular diseases.

Thanks Again!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Regis Does A Clay Aiken

Regis is sure getting a good laugh at Clay and Kelly Ripa's huge "hand-over-mouth" controversy. On this morning's Live with Regis & Kelly, Regis placed his hands over co-host Caroline Rhea, says the CH's WinkyDink:

HEE!
On "Regis" JUST now, guest host Caroline Rhea had to interrupt Reege to sign off on their "Beauty and the Geek" interview, and Regis put his hand over her mouth and made an "I'm in trouble NOW!" face! Awesome!

Hilarious!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

"A Thousand Days" Video Now Up @ Yahoo

Yahoo has premiered the video for "A Thousand Days". The "live" video seems to have been shot at the same place as the "Without You" video that was released last year. Head on over to Yahoo Music to stream the video to your computer.


Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/25

It was 4 years ago tonight that Clay's Atlanta audition was aired on national TV. 4 years ago today, the Clay nation was born and forever altered the pop music landscape. Congratulations on your 4 years of tremendous success and here's to many more!

• Chicago Sun Times - "Vista brightens Windows", by Andy Ihnatko,
  an article about a new update of Microsoft Windows, says, "Like the kid who shows up for the first day of Junior High wearing a Clay Aiken sweatshirt, it's easy to spot the reasons why Microsoft's long-delayed new edition of Windows is going to get picked on."
• February 5, 2007 In Touch Magazine - The Top 10 Idols Most Shocking Moments...Clay was #3 and #8.
• Number 3 is "Clay Meets His No. 1 Fan. "As Michael (Sandecki) took the stage to sing Elton John's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, he was shocked -- then thrilled -- when Clay emerged from backstage to duet with his doppelganger>"
• Number 8 is "Ruben Beats Clay." "Growing momentum seemed to be carrying Clay to a sure victory...the Velvet Teddy Bear squeaked by with a 134,000 vote victory...."We both won, you know?" Clay definitely did -- He is the second season's best selling star."
• Nashua Telegraph ENCORE - American Idol article - "And P.S. this is “American Idol’s” wildly successful fifth season, and the format hasn’t changed. There’s a reason for that. We’re watching. And for those of us who are in it for the long haul, we’re hoping will spy the next Kelly Clarkson or Clay Aiken in their virgin television performance."
• Slate: Southern tradition continues for AI as the show heads to Memphis, TN ... "Most of the major runners-up (Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Chris Daughtry) are also from the South."
  
• Yahoo!/ Huffington Post - not sure what this is... can anyone enlighten me on this?
• North Carolina Times - article about Chris Daughtry's success mentions Clay: "He's had huge success in signing other "Idol" winners, including Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Burrino. "
• Mercyhurst College - arts students emulating Clay Aiken...

  In the original, Birdie was an Elvis look-alike. To bring the musical up to date, the Mercyhurst students are costuming their Conrad (played by freshman poli sci major Garrett Evans) a la Clay Aiken and promotional materials are playing on the popularity of “American Idol.”

• Taking A Moment - celebrating a special anniversary - Clay's AI audition airing on TV, 4 years ago today.

  Thank you Clay, for walking into that audition room in Atlanta, wearing that striped button-down shirt, Structure cargo pants, and puka shell necklace. Thank you for saying “I’m the American Idol.” Thank you for being adorable and geeky and compelling. Thank you for opening your mouth and singing “Take time to tell me you really care…And we'll share tomorrow together…I'll always love you forever.”
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Updated Information for Bubel Aiken Foundation Gala

Yesterday CDD had in article informing Clay fans about an upcoming Bubel Aiken Foundation Gala, The Champions for Change Gala, to be help March 31, 2007 at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh NC.

Since then, Aron Hall of The Bubel Aiken Foundation has some new information for us. Mamarose10 at The Clayboard received an email from Aron that he asked her to share with others. This information is as follows:

Champions for Change Gala

March 31, 2007 at the Cardinal Club in Raleigh, NC

Currently, tickets are available for Cardinal Club members ONLY.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on February 1. Please do not call the Foundation about tickets until then. Check the website for info on how to purchase tickets. We will be happy to assist you then.

He added that he loved the enthusiasm with which we support TBAF's efforts!

So those of you interested in purchasing tickets to the Gala, mark your calendars for February 1 to call the Foundation. Not a day before. And first check the website for information.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Bubel Aiken Foundation Gala Announced

The Bubel Aiken Foundation will be holding their 2007 "Champions for Change" gala on March 31. The event will be hosted by the Cardinal Club in Raleigh, NC. For more information on purchasing a table or ticket, please contact TBAF at 919-882-2152. TBAF accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Please have your Member number available to complete the transaction.

For more information, please visit the Cardinal Club's website.

Update 1/25: read more here.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/24

• Lycos press release - mentions Clay's #9 position on this week's Lycos50.
• Courier Post Online - AI article... Idol fans says - "You get really attached, and every season I have one or two people I really root for. When Clay Aiken lost, I just cried."
• The State - mentions today's Meghan Mullally Show repeat which features Clay.
• Philly Burbs - AI6 contestant has the potential to "undergo the most drastic physical transformation in all of “Idol” history, including Clay Aiken (Season 2 Clay Aiken, not k.d. lang Clay Aiken. I’m still processing that one)."
• MTV - Taylor Hicks article... small Clay tidbit -- "Taylor didn't write the song (that'd be Jess Cates, Emanuel Kiriakou and Lindy Robbins, who have penned tunes for Clay Aiken and Nick Lachey)"

• Nothing here today.
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Fanclub Confirms Kimmel Appearance, GMA Date Announced

The Official Fanclub has confirmed a report last week that Clay will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Valentine's Day.

Additionally, the fanclub announced that Clay will be appearing on Good Morning America on February 1st "for UNICEF".

Make sure you mark your Claylendars - it looks like the "drought" may be ending earlier than expected!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

New Video For ATD Coming On Thursday

Yahoo! Music will debut a "live 'A Thousand Days'" video on Thursday. This might be something like what was done with the "Without You" video which can be seen at ClayAiken.com's video section.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Chicken Soup Editors Looking For Your Stories

According to Clay Aiken the Ideal Idol, the editors of the popular Chicken Soup for the... series are looking for YOUR stories. Selected stories will be published in a new book called Chicken Soup for the American Idol Lover's Soul.

Dear Fellow American Idol Fan-atics,

We know who we are - we're the ones who wouldn't miss an AI show even if the world were coming to an end. We're the ones who think that the vote between Clay and Ruben was one of the most important elections of the past decade.

Now we have a chance to share how AI has impacted our lives. We are in immediate need of funny, inspirational and heartfelt true stories for our newest upcoming Chicken Soup title Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul.

The stories should be 1200 words or less, and should be positive and non-controversial. No tributes, philosophical, self-promoting or biographical pieces will be accepted.

The stories must be written in first person but you don't necessarily need to be the person that the story is about. It can be about a friend who auditioned for AI, your grandma who re-ignited her singing career after watching the show or your sister who began working with special needs kids having been inspired by Clay.

Tentative chapter headings include:

· America Got It Wrong (dealing with disappointment)

· Success is a Journey (lessons/experiences along the road)

· Touched By an Idol (viewer's stories)

· "And Tonight Our Next Idol Hopeful Will be Singing." (stories of the songs that moved you - stories can be from Idols or fans)

As you can see, many of the stories will be written by the contestants or their family members, but we also want to hear from you, the fans - especially for the chapters:

· Touched By an Idol (viewer's stories)

· Success is a Journey (lessons/experiences along the road - must relate to Idol)

· "And Tonight Our Next Idol Hopeful Will be Singing." (stories of the songs that moved you)

You may submit more than one story. We accept previously published pieces, as long as you retained all rights to your story. For each story published, a 50-word biography will be included about the author and a permission fee of $200 per story will be paid. We also need AI cartoons and if accepted for publication, payment will be $100 each. We accept poems, although very few are used. Payment for poems is $50. All payment s are paid within thirty days of publication. The submission deadline is April 15th, but the sooner the better!

Please submit stories through the Chicken Soup for the Soul website at
www.chickensoup.com. Click on Submit a Story and be sure to select "American Idol Soul" as the book title.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/23

Clay is featured at YourMusic.com, which is run by the BMG Music Service. Thanks to CDD visitor Natalie for the heads up!

• LBFCA - remembering the Clay nation's best moments - "The Sport of Team Clay"...
  
• Associated Content - top ten guilty pleasures:

  1. Clay Aiken: This is the guilty pleasure that causes most people to make fun of me, but I can't deny that I have an unnatural attachment to Clay Aiken. I voted for him every week when he was on American Idol and even taped his appearances, so I could watch them again. I was so intent on Clay winning that on the night of the last episode where viewers were able to vote, I remember going to my favorite bar, sitting in the dark, frantically text messaging votes in for Clay! A few months later, Clay had a concert in Charleston; I paid $60 for a ticket (it's not as bad as it sounds; $14 of that was Ticketmaster charges) and ended up with a seat a few rows from the stage; I probably shouldn't admit this, but I screamed like a ten-year-old girl when he came out on stage and sang along with every word...and I'd do it again if I had the chance!
  

• New Orleans' Time Picayune - American Idol mention ...

  Last week's premiere drew an average of more than 37 million viewers, the show's second-largest audience ever, eclipsed only by the 2003 sing-off between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

• Press release from My School Rocks, a kids-orientated magazine that featured Clay on its cover in March 2006. -- "Past covers have included NASCAR star Jeff Gordon, Chelsea Cooley Miss USA 2005, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, baseball legend Cal Ripken and tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams."
• University of South Carolina Daily Gamecock - AI article -

  There have been other winners and runners-up on the program, such as Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Carrie Underwood but none have seen the same success Clarkson experiences to this day. Most of the albums the winners have released have seen mixed reviews but have had promising sales.
  

• Ventura County Star - repeat of the Billboard article "catching up" with the idols that appeared last week.
• Random Clay mentions: Common Dreams (politics), New York Daily News (NFL player "makes Nick Lachey look like Clay Aiken"), USA Today Idol blog (AI6 recap)
  

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay Aiken and Jimmy Kimmel to 'reunite'.
• Sticks on Fire (non-Clay blog) - American Idol blog, nice Clay mention:

  Simon told one contestant (the “bush baby” guy) ”you don’t look like an American Idol.” I can only assume he’s referring to the traditional Hollywood good looks of AI winners Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard or runner-up Clay Aiken.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Moves Up This Week To #9 on Lycos 50

Clay has been slowly climbing the Lycos Top 50 list over the past few weeks. Just two weeks ago, he was at #21, then last week he suddenly moved up to #10! Now this week, Clay has made it up one space to #9! Clay is listed with the subcaption, "Best Makeover?"

Very good, fans, for searching for Clay at Lycos so loyally! Let's keeping him moving up till he's #1 again!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/22

Remember the Yahoo! Dig -It-Or-Dis-It poll we blogged about last week? Clay has come out on top, taking 32% of the votes. Congrats Clay!

• The Trades - why runner-ups often beat out winners - "A search for Reuben Studdard brings up about 2 million links, with an emphasis on his recent weight loss, while Clay Aiken gets over 9 million."
• Austin American Statesman - wonderful mention:

  People magazine checks in with all five for a spread that’s on newsstands now. Some (read: Clay Aiken) are doing really, really well. Others are content with moderately successful albums and walk-on roles on some of TV’s hottest shows. None of them can complain. Well, maybe Justin Guarini …
  

• Arizona Daily Star / San Francisco Chronicle - Idol check up:

  Clay Aiken (second place). The popular North Carolina singer, who many thought was robbed of first place by a voting snafu, saw his debut CD, "Measure of a Man," sell near 3 million. His tours and CD sales are second only to those of Kelly Clarkson among "Idol" alumni.
  

• South Bend Tribune - Idol article... Clay mention: "Clay Aiken was the runner-up in 2003, but he still got a recording contract."
• Foxes on Idol -

  Let’s keep it real here. First of all, people have threatened to bail on the show since the words “Ruben Studdard” were first printed on the winning envelope at the end of Season 2 – maybe even before that. Clay fans began to proclaim, “Idol found, game over,” and said they’d never watch again or at least never vote for anyone because for them Clay was it.
  
  We all sit patiently and wait for the next Kelly Clarkson to dazzle us, or for the Voice of the Ages to show up in the nerdy guise of a Clay Aiken. But in order for the judges to find the diamond of tomorrow they have to wade through the coal slag of today.
  

• Herald Dispatch - mentions Clay & his rendition of "Mary, Did You Know"
  
• Defamer - Paul Abdul & her recent dizzy spells during the pre-season AI media tour -

  If we're to take Abdul at her word (and, really, why shouldn't we? She's on the most popular show on TV!), we have to assume that the apparent erasing from her memory of last season's "one of them ate pizza and one of them ate salad/the melon and the moth" and "irrational fear of spontaneously sprouting male genitalia" incidents is some kind of subconscious coping mechanism meant to protect her from the painful persecution of a year ago, and not a pharmaceutical-induced retrograde amnesia that's so thoroughly wiped out her recollection of past Idol installments that she can no longer remember how Clay Aiken became famous.

• Rosie/Kelly/O'Donnell mention (yes... still... why won't they just stop?)
• NY Post

• Taking A Moment puts some humor into yesterday's big radio mess up.

  Although "Clay Aiken" appears to be on the 'BEACH MUSIC TOP 40 COUNTDOWN", the entry attributed to CHA is false and misleading. It has been determined that the impetus for such a misleading statement is due, in all probability, to typographical error or brain fart.
  
  Therefore, this case is CLOSED AND DECLASSIFIED. Please return all shagging videos to their proper location.
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Receives Airplay In Singapore

Hwee, a Clay fan from Singapore, has some great news for us. She tells us at The Clayboard,

ATD has been receiving airplay in 2 radio stations here in Singapore. One station P98 has a nightly countdown base on request and voting, and ATD was #1 for more than 2 weeks and next 2 weeks was between #1 and #6. It debut at #29 on P98 weekly top 30 count-down, moving up to #27 and today made the highest jump to #12.

Clay has quite a few fans in Singapore, so this is really great news. Who knows, one day, maybe Clay will head over toward Singapore and do a tour! Now those would be some really happy people!!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Recorded A "Beach" Song?

Update: false alarm... it looks like it's the wrong Clay Aiken (gee.. never knew there was another Clay Aiken) -- "It is Clay Hector Aiken of Slapout, South Carolina. Or El DeBarge. It is NOT Clayton Holmes Aiken of Raleigh, North Carolina."

There's speculation on whether Clay recorded another "new" cover called "If Love Is Blind". Television Without Pity's Elliebird said her husband heard the DJ of popular "Beach Music Weekly" (a syndicated radio show) mention "Clay Aiken's 'If Love Is Blind'".

Odd thing is... we can't confirm that this song even exists and no one has heard it yet!

My husband called me from work on Saturday because he was listening to a shag/beach music radio show out of South Carolina on his computer. . and caught the DJ saying that this next song has been climbing the beach music charts for the last 19 weeks . . . song #18 -- If Love Is Blind by Clay Aiken. My husband called me on the phone right away and put the phone up to the speaker but I really couldn't hear the song. What is this song, If Love Is Blind? I've never heard of it . . but it is very cool to be climbing the beach charts. That means if it's still on the charts in April when we go to the 10-day shag festival in Myrtle Beach, all the DJs should have the song . . and I'm going to request my @#%$ off! In the mean time, I'm going to try to find out how to vote it further up the beach charts . . anyone heard of this?


He's on this music chart at #18.

You can hear a sample of this song at Amazon.com... (imaging Clay doing THAT on the next tour... hilarious!) ...

This is about all we know right now. Of course, we'll update when and if new information is available. You can join the discussion about this at the Clayboard.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/21

• Rushville Republican - Yep Its That Time Of Year Again by Elizabeth Gist says, "Millions of Americans waited for this week to come. Tuesday night, they rearranged their schedules, broke out the Clay Aiken CDs and the “I Luv Kelly Clarkson” posters, and sat in front of their television sets, captivated... That’s right, boys and girls, it’s AMERICAN IDOL TIME!!!"
• Chicago Sun Times - Opportunity Knocked, 'Idols' Answered By Jonathan Cohen, Gary Graff, Gail Mitchell, and Jeff Vrabel asked nine idols what American Idol has meant to their career. Here is their comments about and from Clay:

  CLAY AIKEN
  
  Season/finish: 2003, second
  
  Chart history: The Billboard 200: "A Thousand Different Ways," 2006 (No. 2); "Merry Christmas With Love," 2004 (No. 4); "Measure of a Man," 2003 (No. 1). The Billboard Hot 100: "This Is the Night," No. 1; "Invisible," No. 37; "Solitaire," No. 4.
  "We auditioned for the show because it looked like fun. I think every year after that, the fourth and fifth [season] especially, you found people who got into the show because they knew something big was going to come out of it. I kind of liked seeing contestants come up out of obscurity. It's lost a little bit of its innocence and so it's not as much fun for me anymore."

• Clayboard Thread - nJOYclayFL included this at the Clayboard, and I thought it was an awesome thing that was said here about Clay:

  I just found this on a Miami Poetry Review board, where they were discussing 'Chris Daughtry's new CD'... and the reviewer added the following comment about Clay..."Studdard hasn't done too much since claiming the title, but Clay Aiken is still out there, using his fame to support worthy causes and sell Christmas albums. In that respect, Clay Aiken is the Bono of "American Idol."

• MSN FOX Sports blog - article about the upcoming Super Bowl and its "Half time show" mentions Clay:

  Clay Aiken and U2. The true measure of musicians is how they interpret the material of others. I see U2 and Bono swapping off songs, with the band as backing musicians. Aiken could rip into "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and Bono could stretch out a little on "Build Me Up Buttercup" (which Aiken performed on 'American Idol'). Maybe they could even trade looks. I'm thinking the sunglasses might bring out the sinister side of Aiken, and a good moose and some highlights could help Bono find his inner Aiken.

• North Lake Tahoe - random Clay mention.
• Cinema Blend - AI using "bad" singers to bring up ratings?

  ‘American Idol’ may want you to believe it’s best known for bringing talent into the mainstream like Kelly Clarkson or Clay Aiken, but what fans have always enjoyed are the opening weeks of misguided and tonally impaired denizens of the world making a fool of themselves. Executive Producer Ken Warwick echoed this sentiment in a statement, ”People like the bad singers. It’s more the bad singers that will bring in the ratings.”
  

• Southern Girl - Valentine's Day, Clay Aiken and Jimmy Kimmel.... who cares about candy and chocolates...
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible