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Fayclay at The Clayboard gives us some great news she received from her friend in Singapore. The news is in the form of a review of On My Way Here:
The review is from a local Singapore mag called Life Style, August issue and a star album pick of the month.
Life Style magazine is a mag send to union members monthly. It had been giving good review to Clay's all other cds as well as his book, Learning To Sing.
There is a McDonalds commercial out right now that has a little boy who looks like Clay when he was younger. Watch this YouTube video below and see if you can pick him out. Here's a couple of pictures of Clay as a boy to help you:
Freep.com (Detroit Free Press) - In an article called Check Out Our Baby Name Database, Clay and baby Parker are listed under Celebrity Baby Names :
Here are some of the names celebrities picked for their new bundles of joy:
Clay's "On My Way Here" was used on a TV promo for the Olympic games, which aired on South Korea's MBC-TV network. The CB's Bloomingclay provides us with this transcript:
The captions are pretty nice-it starts with how MBC staffs caught the precious moments of Olympics like "Kim Chang-bae,cameraman,participated 3 Olympics,15 Gold 25 Silver 15 Bronze' 'Park Kyung-chu,announcer,participated 2 Olympics,17 Gold 22 Silver 19 Bronze' 'Cho Duk-hyung,engineer,participated 3 Olympics,33 Gold 27 Silver 32 Bronze'
and then goes like '28 times of Olympics,186 moments of glory, and the sweat and tears of 3108 people and we recorded all those moments although we're not the ones who play, sweat and shed tears. Now we're preparing for the 29th stage to experience again with you'
From the Clayboard - Hwee tells us some great news about On My Way Here in Singapore:
Finally OMWH is been introduce as a new song by Singapore's radio, Power 98fm. When I was driving home from work I got a real pleasant surprise, Our radio station playing OMWH. dj encourage request and vote for the song to go into their daily top 10 and weekly top 30 countdown. So excited that I can't wait to get home to sms clayfans.
Lycos 50 - Clay is #3 on the Lycos Top 50 list this week. His listing says, "Clay Aiken-Visiting Somalia".
If you are one of the people who bought On My Way Here on ITunes before May 6, you have no doubt listened to "It's In Everyone of Us" many times. This is the bonus song that was available if you bought the CD on ITunes before OMWH was released.
If you're like me, you didn't buy OMWH from ITunes until after May 6. And if you are like me, you had never heard "It's In Everyone of Us" until TODAY!! What a beautiful song. The music and words are simple, yet powerful. And of course, Clay's voice makes it even more beautiful.
Its too late to get the song at ITunes, but you can head to YouTube and watch two different videos that feature "It's In Everyone of Us". Or you can scroll down, and watch them right here on Clay's Daily Double! After watching them, scroll down some more and we've included the words to it for you as well. Enjoy!
It's in everyone of us To be wise Find your heart Open up both your eyes, We can all know everything Without ever knowing why, It's in everyone of us By and by...
It's in everyone of us To be wise, Find your heart Open up both your eyes, We can all know everything Without ever knowing why, It's in everyone of us By and by...
It's in everyone of us I just remembered It's like I been sleeping for years, I'm not awake as I can be But my seeing is better, I can see... Through the tears, I've been realizing that, I bought this ticket And watching only half of the show, There is scenery and lights And a cast of thousands, Who all know What I know, And it's good That it's so...
It's in everyone of us To be wise Find your heart Open up both your eyes, We can all know everything Without ever knowing why, It's in everyone of us By and by, It's in everyone of us By and by...
And, in an effort to bolster the company's bottom line, I acquired and edited an inspirational autobiography by the pop singer Clay Aiken, written and published in about four months
Thanks for the Clay Aiken interview. I thought Aidin Vaziri asked pertinent questions and Clay answered in total honesty. He is confident in himself, yet not cocky or puffed up. That and his charismatic character, not to mention that spectacular voice, comedy and yet untapped talents, draw many fans to him. A great role model. We don't need all the violence, sex and racism we hear and see in so many of the pop stars in the forefront that many young people are fed on. Clay is a breath of fresh air and just what middle America needs.
Marhaven - taking a listen to OMWH through YouTube montages
AOL's Top 20 Most Played Songs is a list that is constantly changing. A song can drop from #7 to #10 in a matter of minutes. But two things are for certain:
1. On My Way Here has stayed #1 for a long long time, not dropping at any time in the last 2-3 weeks.
2. Today, Friday, June 27, all 12 songs from OMWH are in the Top 20 of AOL's Most Played Songs. Now, that is quite an achievement.
Here is the ranking of the 12 songs from his CD:
1. On My Way Here 2. Ashes 4. Grace of God 5. Everything I Don't Need 7. As Long As We're Here 9. Falling 13. Weight of the World 15. Where I Draw The Line 17. Lover All Alone 18. Something About Us 19. Sacrificial Love 20. The Real Me
These songs are being listened to, it appears, by not just Clay fans but others who are liking what they hear. Let's help keep them in these top numbers on AOL.
RCA confirms via an email that the MusicPass version of On My Way Here will be hitting stores tomorrow (Tuesday). It will be slowly phased into retail outlets in June and July.
Clay Aiken's On My Way Here MusicPass Card! The wait is finally over! The MusicPass Card you helped design will be available to purchase on June 24th! MusicPass Cards make for great gifts and collector's items and always come with a full album download and bonus content not found on the CD! Below is a list of retailers and the dates the cards will be available.
Clay Aiken’s “On My Way Here” moved up one spot to #28 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart this week. Any upward movement is a good thing, considering the song is getting no airplay.
Daughtry’s self-titled debut album was released in November 2006 and reached the No 1 spot for two non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. Like fellow American Idol alumni Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken, the bald-headed North Carolina-born singer has found commercial success beyond the reality show.
Just Jared - unprofessional Newsweek interviewer strikes again - "Newsweek also did a (stupid) interview with Vanessa. (It’s the same interviewer who was completely unprofessional with Clay Aiken.)"
The ConCLAYve - exploring great music with Clay and Pandora radio ... part 2
If you are like me, you have been watching various music sites as the songs from On My Way Here are slowly climbing their charts. AOL songs and videos is a perfect example of this. OMWH is dominating the top songs at AOL. Like the Little Engine That Could or the tortoise who began the race slow yet still beat the hare, OMWH is doing great things right now.
Carolina On My Mind has written a blog that tells us just what OMWH is doing at some of the online sites. Read her blog below and then click on the links that lead you to those sites. And while there, give Clay's songs and videos a hit and listen to some really great music!
'Little Engine That Could'
OMWH Songs Chug Up Charts
"On My Way Here," the lead single on Clay Aiken's new CD, has aptly been dubbed "the little engine that could" by Internet fans. Slowly but surely, the song and others from On My Way Here are chugging their way through a host of music industry charts, as well as into the hearts of many new fans.
Cagney1950 of Clayversity reported 120 Mainstream AC spins for "On My Way Here" Sunday morning, a +17 over last week and .235 audience impression. The song is currently #27 on the Mainstream AC Chart "with a lovely red bullet." Saturday the song #29 on the Mainstream AC Jump chart with +13 spins.
"OMWH" and "Ashes" are currently #1 and #3 on the AOL Top 11 Music Video Countdown AND in the "most viewed" videos listing at AOL. [NOTE: "Ashes" moved to #2 Monday morning.]
At AOL Music, "On My Way Here" continues to hold its stronghold as the #1 "most played" song in all genres. At 3 p.m. Sunday, seven other OMWH songs were listed in the top 24, including "Ashes", 3; "Everything I Don't Need," 6; "Falling," 10; "As Long as We're Here," 11; "Something About Us," 19; "Lover All Alone," 22; and "Weight of the World," 24.
This list changes constantly and currently represents 509 songs. To join other CA fans streaming, listening, and viewing at AOL and Yahoo, use these links:
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.
First, ladies, we ask you — is David Cook really ready to support a family? Sure, he's riding high on a record contract and endorsement deals now, but long-term success doesn't come easy for most male Idol stars. We'll spare you our multivolume thesis on why he's no Clay Aiken, but, suffice to say, he is no Clay Aiken.
Wallet Pop - Clay mention in political article ...
I'm sure that there are people who are still talking about the Reuben Stoddard/Clay Aiken showdown of a couple of years ago, I would have to say that American Idol, Iron Man, and even the return of Indiana Jones must always take a back seat to the great battle between conservatism and liberalism and the question of free will.
Charleston Daily Mail - mention of last year's National Center for Learning Disabilities gala where Clay was honoured -
Caperton has also appeared at various Manhattan dinner functions benefiting disability organizations and honoring guests such as Henry Winkler and Clay Aiken. The former governor has served as a dinner chair for the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Poker Road - random mention ... " A mighty impressive finish for Neckar, which would have had a good chance of making it onto Madison’s local news, if only they hadn’t just run a story about fellow Madisonian Phil “OMG ClayAiken” Galfond."
Negreanu, Hellmuth, Benyamine, Juanda, Gerasimov, Chan … Galfond? In what some have regarded as the best final table ever assembled in World Series of Poker history, Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond emerged as the champion, earning over $800,000.
The ConCLAYve - Pandora radio and On My Way Here ... leads to great music!
In April, RCA asked fans to vote for their favorite design for the MusicPass version of On My Way Here. RCA is one of the several record labels testing out this new album format, which involves purchasing a card at a music retailer. The card comes with a special code and website link, where you can redeem it for an online download of the album with exclusive content.
The On My Way Here MusicPass, with exclusive video footage, hits stores next Tuesday, June 24!
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!
A Korean magazine, The Dosirak Web Magazine, has interviewed Clay. Bloomingclay at The Clayboard, has tanslated the interview into English for us. Many thanks to her for doing that! Here is what she posts for us:
Dosirak is legal music download site in Korea and each week they publish the webzine(web magazine) which have artist interview every week. It seems that the interview was done as similar time period as the Singapore magazine interview was taken.Anyway,I translated the interview.As it was translated English->Korean first and I translated the Korean article into English, it is NOT exactly what Clay said.
Anyway,enjoy!
Here is the link(just click 'No' if pop up asks about installing the program.Ignore!) It talks about his journey before/during/after Idol and interview and then review which was attached to licensed CD here(I will translate them later).I only tranlated the interview part.
dosirak: Congratulations on your new album.You must have been busy with working on your album.Tell us what you have been doing recently. Clay Aiken: We just finished the musical on Broadway recently and we are now spending our time mainly on promoting the new album with TV appearances and interviews. dosirak: Your new album debuted at No.4 at Billboard chart.Congratulations.You must have a special feeling when you have a success with your every album.How do you feel? Clay Aiken: Who would not be glad about it? I feel already previledged to be able to keep doing the music and I'm so happy that people keep support me. dosirak: When I listen to the lyrics of your single 'On My Way Here', it seems like it is about your story last a few years. What does the song mean to you? Clay Aiken: We are educated at school but that is just a small part.We rather learn more from the experience in our lives. There is a saying 'If you give someone a fish,you're just giving him a meal for a day but if you teach him how to fish,you are giving him meals for rest of his life.' Every person you meet and every experience we go through in your life makes you who you are. This song is about learning from experience and becoming a wiser person. dosirak: Let's talk more about your album.Is there a favorite song on this album? Clay Aiken: I love most of the songs so it's hard to pick, but if I have to choose one, I want to choose 'As long as we're here'. This is the first song that made it for this album. Three years ago when tsunami hit Indonesia, I went there for the Unicef trip,the song was recorded after that. It talks about 'Do not worry about small things and let's just care about important things and people you love as there is limited time for us in the world'. dosirak: We heard that before the release of the album, everytime Claymates have parties.Did your fans hold the party this time?And what your fans mean to Clay? Clay Aiken: Claymates hold parties to celebrate the album release,not for me.Also,parties are held in various cities so I couldn't go there.I heard that many fans gather and have a great time. Of course,they mean a lot to me.Had it not been fans' support since American Idol,I would have not been here. dosirak: You're working as Unicef goodwill ambassador.Is there the most memorable moment as a Unicef ambassador? Clay Aiken: There are many.One of them is that when I went to Indonesia, people quickly restored their environments and had postivie attitudes despite dire situation.It was really touching.They are strong and brave people.It gave me an opportunity to reflect myself.I thought how blessed we are for being able to live day by day safely. Also,the most impressive one is when I visited Afganistan.It was shocking to see people living without all the energy facilities for a long time and above all I felt really sad when I saw children suffering.However,they showed the power not to give up despite their situation. dosirak: Along with Unicef,you also established the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.What is your plan for the foundation this year? Clay Aiken: We try to make programs for children with disabilities to get along with children without disabilities so that they can experience the childhood that children without disabilities go through. This year,we plan to start summer camps and prepare a fund for future summer camps. dosirak: What do you think of 2008 American Idol? Is there a contestant that can be as successful as you are? Clay Aiken: Unfortunately,I haven't watched American Idol for three years,so I don't know anything about contestants. dosirak: I guess you will tour after the album release,is there a plan?Plus,is there any plan to visit Korea. Clay Aiken: Personally, Korea is the country which I really want to visit.However,right now,there is no plan for the tour.We don't have a plan even for the US.I think that if I promote the album now,people will get interested and then other countries will get interested in me.So right now we try to concentrate on promoting the album. dosirak: Last request,please say hi to your fans in Korea Clay Aiken: It's always amazing and thankful that people listen to my song far away in Korea.Thank you so much to fans for likiing the music I like and for continuing to support me since American Idol. But it's only a small part of me that was shown on American Idol. I want to show other parts of me more when I visit Korea.Until then,please keep listening to my music. Oh! Please spread words about me!
Check these numbers out in AOL Music's Most Played Songs:
#1 - On My Way Here #3 - Ashes #7 - Everything I Don't Need #15 - Lover All Alone #16 - Falling #23 - As Long As We're Here #25 - Grace of God #31 - Where I Draw The Line #41 - Something About Us #46 - The Real Me #49 - Sacrificial Love #51 - Weight of the World
That's 12 songs in the Top 50 (okay, the Top 51). This is great news. Hopefully more people are finding out why this is an amazing CD and will go out and purchase one for themselves.
Keep listening at AOL and watching the videos at AOL Sessions.
Here's another great interview, this time by "Backstage with Barry Nolan". This is the first time for this writer to hear of this news show, but if this interview is a reflection on them, then they are a good show to watch!
The interviewer starts out saying that though Clay came in second on American Idol, his career hasn't skipped a beat. Then Spamalot and On My Way Here are mentioned. The interviewer calls the album "deeper and edgier" and Clay discusses how the album came about. She continues throughout the interview with positive questions. Even when she talks about the tabloids, its to ask him what he has learned and whether or not he has had to develop a tougher skin. To that last question, Clay says that its just about understanding what your job entails and not developing a tougher skin.
Hold on to your seats. You don't see this every day. A media site that calls themselves "Your #1 Positive News Source"!! Did I read that right? Yes I did, and The Happy Herald, "South Florida's Positive Living and Entertainment Guide", stays true to its description with a wonderful article about Clay.
When you take the link to this article, be sure to click on the "Zoom" button at the top right of the page. This will enlarge the article so you can read it. And you will be glad you did. In addition to talking about Clay's appearance in Spamalot, his new CD, On My Way Here, and his philanthropy efforts, there are many mentions of Clay's positive spirit. Clay talks about the importance of having faith in yourself and, "when faith wains, it is important to have a strong group of family and friends to draw upon." The article also mentions Clay's strong resilience and how people with positive spirits help get him through the day. In addition, Clay says he "trusts his gut" when determining what to "invest in emotionally, spiritually, and energetically". "If something smells like fish, it probably is," Clay says.
This is not only a must read article about Clay, but if "The Happy Herald" truly is "Your #1 Positive News Source", then this is a must read site to lift our spirits!
One of the most beautiful songs on Clay's CD, On My Way Here, is "The Real Me". This song was written by Natalie Grant, a Christian music singer, who has won the GMA Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year three consecutive times.
”The Real Me,” penned by multi-Dove Award winning Curb singer/songwriter Natalie Grant, has been recorded by Clay Aiken on his best-selling new RCA/19 Recordings release, On My Way Here. The album debuted at #4 on The Billboard 200 for the week of May 24.
In addition, there are some really nice comments, some which are obviously from people who are Natalie's fans. Here are a a few:
Lindsay May 19th, 2008 at 5:18 pm When I heard this, I was like…someone else singing Natalie’s songs? And a GUY, at that? But I saw his performance of it- it was really good! I think he did the song justice…even though Natalie’s is still the best I think I’ll buy it on iTunes?
just.. me!! June 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 am i love the original song.. i cried the first time i heard it..Natalie dilivers her songs like no one else.. i also liked Clay Aiken’s version.. Natalie has done some changes to the lyrics..and he puts lots of emotions in it.. i can see why clay relates to it!!!
Michelle June 12th, 2008 at 6:55 pm Natalie from the first moment I heard this song it just spoke to my heart. I cannot tell you how many times I have played this song and spoke the words as if a prayer. I’m thankful that God gave you such an amazing gift to take the feelings in your heart and put words to them. All your music moves me. Clays version is beautiful as well and dear to my heart. May God continue to bless you as you listen for His voice and find the music in your heart.
Lien June 12th, 2008 at 8:11 pm Beautiful song sung by 2 beautiful voices. Would love to hear you do a song together.
Check out Natalie's blog and read all of it as well as the rest of the wonderful comments.
The Real Me
Foolish heart looks like we're here again Same old game of plastic smile Don't let anybody in Hiding my heartache, will this glass house break How much will they take before I'm empty Do I let it show, does anybody know? [Chorus:] But you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within reveal me completely I'm loosening my grasp No need to hold back my frailty 'Cause you see the real me
Painted on, life is behind a mask Self-inflicted circus clown I'm tired of the song and dance Living a charade, always on parade What a mess I've made of my existence But you love me even now And still I see somehow That you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within Reveal me completely I'm loosening my grasp No need to hold back my frailty Oh, cause you see the real me
Shadows are shattered dreams They follow me they've hunted me But you've taken the broken peices Of my life and helped me to believe
'Cause you see the real me Hiding in my skin, broken from within Reveal me completely I'm loosening my grasp No need to hold back my frailty Oh, cause you see the real me
Two songs from On My Way Here are in AOL's Top 11 most popular videos for the week. Ashes is at the #3 spot and Everything I Don't Need is at #7. Both songs are from AOL Sessions.
Ashes views are much higher than the other four songs in AOL Sessions. However, AOL has taken the counter down, so there is no way to see what the count is today. Hopefully AOL will get it back up and running again soon. Meanwhile, check out the Sessions videos for a listen to some great songs by Clay.
Good news to our ClayLate readers. Clay Aiken today is now the only singer to have two songs ranked as the top 11 most watch videos on AOL.The AOL chart ranks songs based upon plays of AOL-enabled videos.
So Aiken fans and news sites (like this one) that have embedded AOL enabed vids in their posts have been bringing Clay to the top. Aiken today Tuesday ranks #3 spot with Ashes and #7 with Everything I Don’t Need.
Ironically Aiken ranks behind Leona Lewis and Danity Kane with big budget music videos compared to his studio recorded AOL Sessions vids. To date, no tour has yet been confirmed to support his current album despite widespread fan request for such a tour.
