Amazon Presents Clay's "List of Music You Should Hear"

Amazon.com is sponsoring a page where Clay lists "music you should hear". Some of the tracks Clay mentioned by name include:

• "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman from the album, This Moment - “I've been a fan of his as long as I can remember. It's great that he's getting airplay on mainstream radio with this song.”
• "Fall" by Kimberly Locke from the album, Based On A True Story - “We did American Idol together and I think she is just awesome all around.”
• "Everything" by Michael Buble from the album, Call Me Irresponsible – “A wonderful singer, just a classic.”
• "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles from the album, Little Voice - “That's one of those great catchy songs that you just seem to hear everywhere and can't get out of your head.”
• "Because of You" by Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson from the album, Reba Duets – “What's not to like? Two powerhouses together on a great song."

The page also has a short bio about Clay:

When Clay began the search for songs to record for Aiken’s first album of original material since his 2003 chart-topping debut, Measure Of A Man, he fell in love with a song written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan “Alias” Tedder called “On My Way Here.” The message of the lyrics — how the lessons we learn while growing up shape us into who we become as adults — struck such a deep chord with Aiken that it wound up inspiring the theme (and title) of his new collection, On My Way Here

Tidbits 8/7

Some great shots from Indio over at myDesert.com...

• Asheville Citizen Times - Clay's Biltmore Estates concert a near sell out:

  “American Idol” star Clay Aiken looks like the biggest live show in Asheville this weekend – his Saturday night concert at Biltmore Estate is virutally sold out.
  
  Some 3,000 tickets were originally available for the concert on the South Terrrace lawn at Biltmore and just a few scattered seats remained Tuesday, with none expected to be available at the gate by Saturday.

• Asheville Citizen Times blog - about a confrontation at a B-52 concert this past weekend held at Biltmore Estates - "Will I go back to Biltmore to see another concert this summer? Probably not, even though I can't imagine Clay Aiken or Chris Issak fans getting that excited."
  
• Chicago Tribune slams AI4 6th placer Constantine Maroulis' album, but makes the case for why AI runner ups are important -

  Because if runner-ups like Daughtry and Clay Aiken can put out better (and better-selling records) than some of the actual "Idol" winners, that means there's room for everyone.

• Dallas Morning News - American Idol sales numbers:

  Clay Aiken, second-season runner-up:

  Measure of a Man (2003), 2.8 million

  Merry Christmas With Love (2004), 1.3 million

  A Thousand Different Ways (2006), 516,000

• Dallas/Fort Worth Star Telegraph - article about giving teenagers their own debit cards... remember the Clay Aiken MyPlash MasterCard thing?...

  Checking and savings for kids; debit card with checking; "Stash Your Cash" financial education program for middle-schoolers, featuring former American Idol stars Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Fantasia

• USA Today Listen Up - Jann Arden's version of "Solitaire" better than Clay's... what? "Arden’s simply, sweetly sentimental reading, from Uncover Me, serves Neil Sedaka’s chestnut far better than Clay Aiken’s overbaked version did."
  
• Delaware Online - Here's the not caring... Michael Buble "makes Clay Aiken sound like a karaoke singer at the Hi-Ho Tavern."

• There Was A Man - recaps and photos from Pala, CA show.
  

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