Tidbits 9/14

• Stubhub - Small writeup on Stubhub:

  Clay Aiken Tickets - Hardly Second Place
  A most unlikely star, Clay Aiken has proven he's got not only the chops to make it as a successful pop artist, but also the magnetism of our most beloved singers. He may have been the "American Idol" runner-up, but his career is a winner. When he's not busy with extensive charity work, he's touring and recording.

• Idol Stalker - There is a new poll here with Clay facing Justin Guarini singing "Unchained Melody". As of the time of this writing, it is Clay with 477 votes and Justin with 14. You can listen to both versions at this website and then vote.
• The Smoking Gun - In an article called "Sympathy For The Devils", Clay's name is mentioned:

  As seen in two of our recent mug shot collections, dozens of arrestees have posed for booking photos in clothing promoting sports teams and cartoon characters. Today, we're focusing on the favorite singers and bands of perps nationwide. On the following 19 pages, the accused seem to be partial to artists like Slayer, Tupac Shakur, AC/DC, and the Rolling Stones. And while no Clay Aiken fans make an appearance, Garth Brooks and Elton John represent the easier listening crowd.
  

• Foxes On Idol - reporting the rumored of the K-Lo/Ruben/Clay tour which is NOT going to happen, according to Clay's blog - "There has also been talk of a reunion tour with Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard for 2008."
• All About Jazz - article about a cellist/composer who has worked with Clay -

  He has also appeared on various movie soundtracks and recordings by jazz legend Lee Konitz, performance artist/vocalist Laurie Anderson, folk singer Judy Collins, and pop favorites Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and Joss Stone.

• Palm Beach Post reports Clay's West Palm Beach show this past summer was well attended -
  

  But as it turns out, this past summer was not so sleepy, after all. The 15-year-old, 2,198-seat center hosted a record 43 performances, including sold-out or nearly sold-out shows by comedian Kathy Griffin, "American Idol" star Clay Aiken and a Beatles tribute group. Demand was so strong that center officials see themselves expanding the offerings in future summers.

• NJ.com/The Express Times - band who opened for Clay in 2004 wins award -

  As a member of the local rock band, Led Foot, Wood got to open for "American Idol" season-two runnerup Clay Aiken on Musikfest's RiverPlace stage in 2004. The following year, the band's debut album took home Best Country CD at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Kane County Chronicle
• Northwest Herald
• The Times Tribune
  
• Lincoln Journal Star - Clay Aiken coming to Omaha -

  Clay Aiken and Chicago are coming to Omaha.
  
  Aiken, an “American Idol” runner-up, will perform a holiday concert with the Omaha Symphony at 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Orpheum Theatre.

• Nothing here today
  

riversend22 Posts New Florida Photos

The Clayboard's riversend22 has posted some fabulous concert shots from Clay's 4 concerts in Florida. Check all of them out at the Clayboard.

West Palm Beach LAA Video

I can never get enough of "Lover All Alone" ... here's another reason why:

Palm Beach Post's Leslie Gray Streeter Blogs on "The Aftermath"

The Palm Beach Post's Leslie Gray Streeter, who has been providing some truly wonderful Clay coverage this past week, posted some additional thoughts about Clay's concert on her Palm Beach Post blog:

Clay Aiken: The aftermath!

"So you're going to be Clayverted!"

More than one Claymate, or hopelessly devoted fan of singer, humanitarian, near-American Idol and cultural phenomenon, decried that by the time Clay's show at the Kravis Center was over, I would be one of them, ready to don the T-shirts, join the Internet groups and plan my vacations around Mr. Aiken's concert schedule.

So now? I'd gladly see him again, because he was great. Do I see me wearing a Clay T-shirt or traveling to see him or joining a huge network of Clay fans...Uh...don't kill me, but not really. I'm a fan now, but not one approaching the heights of what I've seen in my week of Claymate exposure. But I get it now, now that I've seen Clay Aiken and found him wonderful.

So I get it, Claymates. I get it. And I am admitting now, after talking to you and seeing how hysterical and talented and kinda cute Clay is, that I understand a little bit better. And after meeting Katie, Helene, Debi and Carolyn, our featured Claymates on the Palm Beach Post.com site and their friends, I get that their devotion now transcends the love of the music or the smile of a cute boy.

Amen... well said, Leslie!

Palm Beach Post : Clay "really talented, kinda sorta sexy"

There are those eureka moments we all feel when a reviewer just plain gets it... kind of like that Billboard review from earlier this month. Even though this review of Clay's West Palm Beach concert was not nearly as long as that Billboard review, it is another eureka moment... this reviewer just gets it!

Here is a snippet of the review... make sure you give the Palm Beach Post lots of hits for this... as a thank you for their fantastic coverage of the concert over the past 4 days.

Aiken more than singer he's a showman
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, August 19, 2007

WEST PALM BEACH — Clay Aiken, whether or not you are a fan of his, is pretty much considered a good singer by most people who have ears.

But even the uninitiated would have to be blind not to see that Aiken - who has an amazing range and was vocally flawless - is that rare celebrity who is both a singer and a performer, equally, even though, as he pointed out, "I am not cool."

But here are three things that Clay Aiken is:

• Clay Aiken is a funny guy. Whether leading the crowd through a medley of television theme songs, including Diff'rent Strokes and Growing Pains, or mocking his uncoolness with OPP or SexyBack (yeah, you read that right), the boy's got a comedian's timing and deft touch with a zinger.

• Clay Aiken is really talented. He is not just a whiz at the questionably sappy original songs like Into These Arms. Aiken breathed new life into I Wanna Know What Love Is, a song that hasn't been fresh since 1984, and made the theme to Perfect Strangers, which was never really all that fresh, revelatory.

• Clay Aiken is kinda sorta sexy. I'll let you chew on that.

But because Aiken revels in that, he transcends even the goofy moments into genuine entertainment, like with his cover of Bad English's When I See You Smile. He is so uncool that he sort of is. And that's a talent.

... and while we're at it, here are some shots from last night's concert in West Palm Beach, FL:



Photos

• Clayboard photo thread - West Palm Beach
  

Clack

• ClackUnlimited.com

Palm Beach Post Pulls Out All The Stops For Clay Concert

We've gotta give kudos to the Palm Beach Post. Not only have they been profiling Claymates for the last 3 days, they've also given some other great coverage for Clay's concert tonight in West Palm Beach, FL.

Have a look:

1. Clay on the cover of their weekly TGIF section:

2. Front and center on their music page:

3. On their homepage:


Concert preview:

Don't miss popular singer and American Idol finalist Clay Aiken performing with an orchestra Dreyfoos Hall. His debut album, Measure Of A Man, hit No. 1 on Billboard's 200 chart and went triple platinum, while his powerful rendition of This Is The Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water won the 2003 Billboard Music Award for best single.

4. Their Clay Aiken quiz:

5. And, last but not least... day 4 of their 4 days of Clay; today's featured Claymate is Helene Lunden:

Our final Claymate!

Helene Lunden!
Residence: Boca Raton
Age: “Older than 40”
Profession: project manager for a major computer firm
Number of Clay Aiken concerts seen: “More than 20.”
Furthest she’s traveled in the name of Claydom: “Either Burlington, Vermont or Kansas City. I guess it depends on your measure.”

Her first Clay encounter: “I had never watched ‘American Idol,’ but I heard ‘You have to watch this kid sing! He has a fabulous voice.’ He did. He had something else that was hard to put a finger on. He has such a great spirit.”

I need you, more than anyone baby, you know that I have from the start: “My favorite (“American Idol”) performance was ‘Build Me Up, Buttercup.’ I loved it. I loved the way he looked, the song. He just comes out and makes me feel good.”

Funny, funny: “The only (Clay-related) thing I have in my office is a cartoon with John Edwards, where he’s talking to people about how it’s really too bad he lost, and how he hopes they voted for him. And when they walk away, one says ‘Who was that?” and the other person says “I think that was Clay Aiken!’”

The real “American Idol?” - There is a huge contingent of Clay Aiken fans who believe that he really earned more votes and is the true winner of the second season of “American Idol,” not Ruben Studdard. Says Helene: “I think that the votes were counted correctly. But did some get jammed up in the phone lines? Possibly. I think he’s much more popular because he didn’t win. His loss gave fans resistance to push against. They were supporting him far beyond what they would have. But God has a path for Clay.

Tidbits 8/17

The Palm Beach Post continues with part 3 of 4 with the profiles of Florida area Claymates. Today's featured Claymate is Deby Arnett:

What she likes about him: “The first thing that grabbed me was that voice. He’s very charming, so funny, and he seems like such a decent person. He’s stayed true to who he is, and he hasn’t allowed everything to change him. He’s the whole package.”

Furthest she’s traveled to see Clay: Last fall she and a friend, “my tour buddy” went to Los Angeles to see him on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and wound up seeing him in a last-minute mini-concert. “I can’t think of anyone else I would travel to see.”

But wait! There’s more!: “I admire him. He does more than just sing. He started a children’s charity, taught autistic children, he’s an ambassador for UNICEF. He’s on the President’s committee for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Access Hollywood, MSNBC - Jordin Sparks signs with Jive Records -

  Jordin is the first artist to sign with the Zomba Label Group – all past “Idol” winners and runners-up have signed with the RCA Label Group’s J (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard), Arista (Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks) or RCA (Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken) labels.

• Tour mentions:
• Miami Herald - "CALLING ALL CLAY-MATES: 2003's American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken croons at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; Ticketmaster or box office at 800-572-8471; $20-$100."
  
• St. Petersburg Times/TampaBay.com -

  Clay Aiken: As the runner-up to FOX TV's second American Idol, Clay Aiken wowed television audiences back in 2003. He released his debut album, The Measure of a Man, which sold 613,000 copies, in October 2003. Last September, the North Carolina-born singer released his latest album entitled A Thousand Different Ways. 8 p.m.; $55.50-$75.50; Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. Call 229-7827.

• Kane County Chronicle - Christmas concert in Waukegan, IL - "CLAY AIKEN, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets: $68-$83."
• T.C. Palm - "Vocalist Clay Aiken performs, with orchestra, Saturday at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, and Sunday at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando."
• Palm Beach Daily News -

  Country orchestra: Clay Aiken will perform with orchestra at 8 p.m., Saturday, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets $20 - $100. Call 832-7469.

• Sarasota Herald Tribune -

  Clay Aiken
  
  Favorite from season 2 of "American Idol." 8 p.m. Fri. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. $55.50-$75.50. (800) 955-1045.
  

• "Idol: The Musical" calls it quits -
  
• Reality TV World -

  Idol: The Musical -- "a satirical musical comedy" that followed a delusional Clay Aiken fan base consisting of soon-to-be high-school graduates -- closed on Monday after only one regular performance, Reuters reported Tuesday.

• Major League Baseball - random Clay mention in this baseball article - "Giants manager Bruce Bochy yanked Barry Bonds from a game on Tuesday after Bonds pursued a gap shot with all the enthusiasm of a Chris Daughtry fan trapped at a Clay Aiken concert."
• Canon City Daily Record ... another random mention:

  I went to my share of games at the old Mile High and have been to many at Invesco Field and, I gotta tell you, Mile High Stadium games make games at Invesco feel like Clay Aiken concerts.

• Thailand Island Packet - random mention of "a light purple Clay Aiken hoodie"

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay Aiken smoking hot in Atlanta, begins final Florida leg of summer tour -

  Hotlanta lived up to its nickname as Clay Aiken & Co. performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in sweltering triple-digit temperatures with a heat index through the roof at Chastain Park Amphitheater Wednesday night.
  
  Although 4,000 seats were sold, many season subscribers stayed home due to the oppressive weather and an orange air quality code. The estimated 3,000 in attendance, nevertheless, were rewarded with an entertaining evening of beautiful singing and hilarious banter from Clay and the musicians onstage.
  

Tidbits 8/16

The Palm Beach Post is continuing their 4 days of Clay, profiling a new Clay fan everyday until Clay's concert in Palm Beach on Saturday. Today's lucky Claymate is Carolyn Valenti.

Bringing nerdy back: "I always thought he was cute. I like my men a little dorky. Everyone has a thing. I like when he wears his hair short. But long, short...it could be in pin curls and it wouldn't matter to me....As Baby Boomers, we redefined what masculinity means. He has a sensitivity, a cute kind of nerdiness."

Her first television Clay encounter: "The wild card show (during the second season of "American Idol"). He had been sent home, and it was sad. But once he was there, that was it."

Her first Clay encounter, live, up close and personal: On the Massacussetts turnpike after a show, when he and the crew were getting hamburgers.

The article goes on to list the writer's top 5 Clay Aiken songs and talk about Kathy Griffin.

1) "Solitaire" - Having been a teen drama queen, I was a huge version of the weepy, sweeping Carpenters version, but Clay's voice brought it to new heights of glorious misery. "...And solitaire's the only game in town..." SOB!

...

• Clay is #16 at this week's Lycos50.
  
• Associated Content - nice promo for Clay's appearance on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader", but at least get the spelling of his name right... :(

  Clay Akin, who came in second to Ruben Studdard on American Idol's second season, is now a multi- platinum recording artist. But he'll soon appear on another reality show: An all-celebrity version of "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" on Fox TV some time in the coming season.
  
  He is the co founder of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF), and for his appearance of the show, the foundation is guaranteed to receive at least $25,000. The way it will work is that the foundation will receive money for each question he gets right. If he gets all 11 questions right, the foundation will receive one million dollars. He was a special education teacher before he tried out for American Idol and he hit it big in the musical industry, so he may do pretty well.

• More buzz surrounding the 5th Grader appearance:
• On E! News, reports the CV's starhorse:

  Was watching the E! Channel this program about Reese Witherspoon and the E! News Ticker came up on the bottom. Like 5 different stories popped up.. The first one was about Britney... the second was about Clay and said something like Clay Aiken will appear on the celebrity addition of Are You Smarter then a 5th grader? and that he is playing for his own charity the Bubel Aiken foundation that focuses on chirdlren with special needs. Pretty cool if you ask me that they deemed it news worthy enough to put it in the ticker

• On a Portland, OR radio station, says the CB's hanapepe:

  The sky is loaded with flying pigs in Portland, OR as a local radio station just announced Clay's appearance on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" for their morning celeb newsbits. While this station isn't really Clay-friendly, they DID mention that his appearance would benefit his charity.
  

• A few tidbits of Clay's scheduled appearance on the Neil Sedaka 50th anniversary concert -
• Undercover.com.au - "Showbiz legend Neil Sedaka is to be honoured for his 50 years in the biz by Natalie Cole, The Captain & Tenille and Clay Aiken in New York in October."
  
• Tour mentions:
• Palm Beach Daily News -

  Country orchestra: Clay Aiken will perform with orchestra at 8 p.m., Saturday, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets $20 - $100. Call 832-7469.

• Bradenton Herald -

  IDOLIZED
  
  Clay Aiken, a runner-up on the second season of "American Idol," is a major star now, since his television appearances and 2003 release of "The Measure of a Man."
  
  He's released two more albums since then, and now is coming to Tampa Bay for a concert.
  
  Aiken performs with a 42-piece orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday in the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $55.50 -$75.50, and can be purchased online at tbpac.org, at the performing arts center box office, or by calling (800) 955-1045

• Guam Pacific Daily News - "Guam Idol" wraps up -

  Auditions for a shot at being the next American Idol, the show that launched the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Fantasia Barrino, wrapped up Thursday night as Guam Idol held their seventh and final preliminary round to determine the 14 participants for a final sing-off on Aug. 22.

• More "Idol: The Musical" mentions:
• The Stage News - "The musical takes place in Steubenville, Ohio where a group of high-school students belong to a club fanatically devoted to all things Clay Aiken, a former American Idol contestant."
• National Post - "A musical about fans of American Idol's Clay Aiken lasted one night on Broadway."
• iFMagazine - someone send them a fact checker! The musical wasn't even started by Clay fans; but then again, it's the American media... what do you expect? -

  In a shocking turn of events, Clay Aiken’s fans, known as Clay-mates, were dealt a serious blow to their attempt at world domination this week as their self-promoting theater project, dubbed IDOL: THE MUSICAL, was s***-canned after just one night because of poor ticket sales, a lack of positive feedback and the whole thing about critics lambasting it as a bucket load of baby vomit.

• AOL TMZ -

  An "American Idol"-themed musical inspired by Clay Aiken and his army of obsessive fans has gone up in smoke just one day after it went up in lights on a Broadway marquee. Did we mention it was about Clay Aiken obsessives?
  
  Backstage magazine called "Idol" "interminable, amateurish, headache-inducing," and that was just in the first paragraph of its review. Just for the record, neither Aiken nor "American Idol" the show were involved in the production.

• The Advocate - "It was an open-and-shut case for Idol: The Musical. August 12 was the opening night for the show that depicted young intense fans of Idol season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, who wanted to get out of his small town. It closed the same night."
• Raleigh News & Observer -

  "Idol," based on the fan mania surrounding Clay Aiken, closed after Sunday's opening-night performance in New York City. Before that show, the production ran through 47 preview performances.
  

• AOL TMZ on Clay singing Sexyback (tabloid site... negative)
  

Palm Beach Post Previews Clay Concert

The Palm Beach Post served up 2 articles in advance of Clay's concert in West Palm Beach, FL later this week.

The first article is a profile of Kate Vizzi, a Clayfan who is hosting a pre-concert meet up before the concert. The Palm Beach Post will profile another Claymate tomorrow...

Clay Aiken fans are everywhere - all over the Internet, all over the world and now coming to the Kravis Center on Saturday. Devotion this strong deserves its own celebration, so we're beginning our Four Days of Clay, featuring Aiken-esque trivia, lists, tidbits, conspiracy theories and an introduction to four of the faithful fans who'll flock to the West Palm Beach show this weekend. They are the Clay Nation, people. And they will not be "Invisible." Believe that.

Age: "A young, young 66."
Residence: Boynton Beach
Profession: Retired, worked in benefits administration
Furthest she's traveled to see Clay: Minneapolis

Her favorite era of Clay: "He's gained some weight now. He looks good. His hair's a little longer now...I liked the spikes. But whatever he wants to do."

Like sing "SexyBack?": "Yes, he does that. And a little bit of rap."

... and the second article is a more formal pre-concert write up, but it's just a reprint of the old Houston Chronicle interview from last month that also surfaced this past week in the Florida Sun Sentinel:

Clay Aiken — despite the stylishly shaggy 'do — still isn't hip.

"I'm never going to be, and I'm fine with that. We all must embrace our inner dork," he says with a laugh.

Aiken has still managed a successful post-American Idol career as the soundtrack of choice for enthusiastic grandmothers.