On My Way Here Debuts at #29 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart

According to Donna Reynolds at Foxes on Idol, Clay's On My Way Here debuted at #29 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Chart? Here's what she says:

Idol Chartwatch, June 17: New Idol Singles Hit the Charts
by Donna Reynolds -- 06/17/2008

It had to happen sometime. Older American Idol albums began to lose steam this week, with several falling fairly significantly on the charts. But two new Idols’ singles made their debuts, and you may be surprised to learn who they’re from. Read on for all the details.

For some reason, I always get a little bit excited when an Idol’s single debuts on the charts, especially if it’s from an artist that is all-too-often ignored by mainstream radio. And, strange as it may seem, finding Clay Aiken on the Billboard charts is almost cause for celebration, even for someone like me who is decidedly not a Claymate.

Yup, that’s right. Clay’s “On My Way Here,” the title track from his most recent, and I’d say best, CD to date debuted on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at #29. Will it get any airplay? It’s too soon to tell, but having chart visibility could help sales of the album, which haven’t been robust. In fact, On My Way Here slipped from #106 to #162 on the Billboard 200 this week with sales lingering around 137,000 copies.

In addition she says that On My Way Here is at #1162 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Now that Clay has charted on the AC chart, let's hope that more radio stations will begin to play OMWH. Let's hope we see OMWH climb higher on the AC chart in weeks to come!

Tidbits 4/26

• The State is giving us a chance to vote for our favourite AI runner up. Cast your vote here by posting a comment.

  Let’s go way back to the beginning and take a look at previous “Idol” runners-up. Who was your favorite? Justin Guarini? Bo Bice? Clay Aiken? Log onto “Idol Tracker” at thestate.com to cast your vote for the best second-place crooner.
  

• Ellen Show - On today's show, Ellen is being shown around in a huge house owned by somebody in Hollywood. She tries to guess whose house it is, and ends by saying, "Clay Aiken?" Download clip at Clack Unlimited.
• Columbus Ledger Enquirer - no need to win Idol to find a fan base -

  Ray, for example, said she only watched "Idol" in its second season, a season she identifies in the context of contestant Clay Aiken. But he was the second-place finisher.
  
  "He's actually kind of more famous than (season-two winner) Ruben (Studdard)," she said.
  

• WNYC - On the Leonard Lopate Show, Clay is interviewed about his work in Afghanistan. The website says, "Clay Aiken became a household name through American Idol. He’s here today to talk about becoming a UNICEF ambassador, and working to bring the everyday lives of children in Afghanistan to the spotlight." Click on the word "listen" to hear this great interview. Click on the Leonard Lopate Show page, then on "Clay Aiken In Afghanistan" to see pictures of Clay.
• Quiana Parlor Website - According to Quiana's website calendar, she will be joining Clay on his tour beginning July 19. The site also says this date is subject to change.
• Foxes on Idol - All seasons are remembered in this "Halfway Home" article. Concerning Clay and Season 2:

  Songwriter Diane Warren was on hand as the top six performed her songs. This was the night that really defined the top three. Clay (“I Could Not Ask for More”), Ruben (“Music of My Heart”), and Kimberley (“If You Asked Me To”) were all exceptional that night and left Josh, Trenyce, and Carmen in the dust. Viewers recognized this as well, and sent Carmen Rasmusen home.

  The Inquirer (Philippine News)- In an article about Michael Buble, it says,

  When we commended him for including ?Me and Mrs. Jones? in his new album, Michael confessed, ?I never heard it until I was preparing this album. I gave Emily s?t. We were having dinner in a restaurant. I was hanging out with the guys from Il Divo. James Caan was there. I think Clay Aiken was there, too, for some reason. When David (Foster, a co-producer) said, we got this song for you, ?Me and Mrs. Jones,? the table erupted.

• MSNBC - An article about the American Idol Gives Back show discusses the fact that none of the idols were kicked off last night, and it says,

  Whether this was less of a surprise that Chris Daughtry’s finishing fourth, Ruben Studdard beating Clay Aiken, or the “Idol” crew screwing up the phone numbers last season is a question best left for the ages.

• Los Angeles Times - another summer tour mention.
  
• Business Wire- In this article about an agreement between UNICEF and Azureus, it says:

  Azureus, a global leader in aggregating and distributing long-form, high quality video via the Internet's most popular media peer-to-peer (P2P) application, today announced a content agreement with UNICEF, the first-ever peer-to-peer (P2P) distribution initiative for the nonprofit organization....The site will feature touching videos from UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors like Sarah Jessica Parker, Shakira, Clay Aiken and Roger Federer.

• The Journal News - "Yes, Kimberley Locke, the second runner-up to Reuben Studdard and Clay Aiken on season two, has opened up Croton Creek Steakhouse and Wine Bar..."
• Foxes on Idol questions why Clay wasn't on last night's Idol Give Back - "What about Clay Aiken, who has devoted some of his own time to charitable causes?"
• Charleston Post & Courier - town to hold silent auction. Clay Aiken goodies amongst the items up for bid.
• Few more Rosie O'Donnell mentions:
• PopMatters
• Toronto Star
• Dallas Morning News
• Detroit News
• Houston Chronicle
• USA Today
• WCF Courier
• Newsweek
• Playfuls.com
  
• E! News - seeing double? (reference to Clay's hair)
• Detroit News - negative mention (refers to Clay's sexuality)
• 411Mania - Canadian musician Remy Shand, who disappeared off the radar in 2003 was seen with Clay last year. Shand says the two are just "friends".

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 4/23

• Syracuse Post Standard - MALE blog reader surprised at Clay's singing, sense of humor:

  I have to admit that he isn't what I expected. I looked around at youtube and there is a lot there of him. His voice is phenomenal. He's funny too. I'm going to try to find a concert near me. Mark, you really should put up more of these. Listen to this one.
  

• Foxes on Idol - In an article entitled "This Week in American Idol History: Halfway Home", Seasons 1-5 are discussed. Concerning Clay, it says:

  Songwriter Diane Warren was on hand as the top six performed her songs. This was the night that really defined the top three. Clay (“I Could Not Ask for More”), Ruben (“Music of My Heart”), and Kimberley (“If You Asked Me To”) were all exceptional that night and left Josh, Trenyce, and Carmen in the dust. Viewers recognized this as well, and sent Carmen Rasmusen home.

• San Jose Mercury News - Clay Aiken deserves more attention:

  A sigh of relief Sanjaya won't win "American Idol." Enough already!
  
  Not one word about UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken, who recently returned from Afghanistan. He requested contributions for classrooms, clean water and medical attention. His campaign aimed for $100,000 in 10 days. Pledges are now $145,000 in seven days, with Canada asking to be included.
  

• Los Angeles Loyolan - American Idol not American enough?

  During season four, incorrect phone numbers were shown for the contestants, forcing the show to discard those results and have a do-over. Somewhere out there, some fans still believe that Clay Aiken really won season two. The list of controversies goes on and on, but overall, none of these have proven anything close to fatal for the show.

• A few more blogs about Clay's UNICEF mission to Afghanistan:
• Southern Girl
• Chexxxy's
  

Tidbits 4/9

• Lycos50 - Clay's #17 this week.
  
• The Clayboard - Cstinia tells us that while her parents were in Vietnam recently visiting family, "that during the first days in their hotel, she (her mother) heard Clay's music on the intercom." How great to know he is being played in other countries!
• Philadelphia Daily News - "Say anything - good or bad, doesn't matter - about Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern, Clay Aiken, Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton and you can count on your morning being spent replying to the angered."
• Foxes on Idol In the article, "This Week in American Idol History: The Top Eight – A Fairly Predictable Round" by Donna Reynolds, Clay is mentioned from Season 2: "It was #1 Billboard Hits for season two’s top eight, and Lionel Richie was the guest host. Clay kicked off the night with “At This Moment,” and the judges loved it. “That song was perfect for you,” Simon said. “Absolutely on-the-money!”"
• Cape Cod Today - singing is what Idol is really about - "I, for one, do not care if Clay Aiken or Ryan Seacrest are gay. I have no interest in learning if Reuben Studdard has lost any weight, and I have an annoying habit of repeating the name Bo Bice, the heartthrob from Alabama. I also resent the fact that Kellie Pickler did not make it all the way."
• A few more Clay mentions of Clay ... this is a syndication of yesterday's Canadian Press wire story about Neil Sedaka:
• Canada.com -

  That season, Sedaka was excited about Clay Aiken, who performed Sedaka's song, "Solitaire," on the show. This season, he's praising the talents of contestant Melinda Doolittle.

• Syracuse.com - nice mention of Clay's upcoming Syracuse concert -

  July 18 - Clay Aiken will perform with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Tickets range from $35 to $100. Tickets for SSO subscribers and Clay Aiken Fan Club members will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 16 through 5 p.m. April 17. General public tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. April 18. To purchase tickets, call 424-8200 or 800-724-3810 or go to syracusesymphony.org.

• Ask Men - very random Clay mention....
  

  It’s a rare day when you’d rather sit and listen to a young singer/songwriter than punch him in his whiny face -- but for a decade now, Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes) has been making us want to do just that. And while his previous disc helped him break through to America’s mainstream markets with some of his most somber, stripped music to date, his latest release reveals that the man has been hiding a refreshing level of swagger from his audience. Don’t believe us? Try throwing on the Cassadaga’s “Four Winds,” and if your foot isn’t tapping and your hand isn’t reaching for a cold one within a minute, you’re probably dead or your driver’s license says Clay Aiken.

• Michigan Live - no Clay Aiken at Clio Amphitheater this year, but Clio Amphitheater has big plans for Summer '07 - "Clay Aiken and Travis Tritt aren't on this year's schedule, but officials of the Clio Area Amphitheater say this year they will branch out across the world."
• AntiMusic has a list of 2007 summer tour dates.
• Charlotte Observer - The Charlotte Observer asks of the AI6 Idols, "Which Idol has gone from slam to glam? You vote and tell us." And they include a famous idol makeover from the past. Who, you ask? Why our own Clay Aiken, of course, with a gorgous current picture as proof of that!!

• Nothing here yet.