Barry Manilow on Clay's Christmas Special!

From burgaw01 from the Clayboard:

Just got a notice from the Barry Manilow Hotline that Barry will be a special guest on Clay's Christmas special (no news there!), and it's taping Monday. Didn't know if the Monday taping had made it to the Street yet. Also, the reference in the copy just said "Clay's Special"--not Clay AIKEN'S Special!

Here's what the Manilow Hotline says:
"Looks like it will be a Manilow Christmas!
Next Monday....Barry appears as Special Guest Star on Clay's upcoming NBC Christmas Special. As soon as we have the confirmed airdate on NBC, we'll let you know!"

Clay on Platinum Christmas II

Clay and Kimberley Locke's duet, "Silver Bells" will be a new Christmas release, Platinum Christmas II:

1. Josh Groban - O Holy Night
2. Michael Buble - The Christmas Song
3. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
4. Kalan Porter - Mary Did You Know
5. Kimberley Locke And Clay Aiken - Silver Bells
6. Christina Aguilera - Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Whitney Houston - One Wish (For Christmas)
8. Paul Mccartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
9. Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
10. Kelly Clarkson - My Group Up Christmas List
11. Tamyra Gray And Ruben Studdard - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
12. Ryan Malcolm - Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
13. Keshia Chante - Last Christmas
14. Newsong - The Christmas Shoes
15. Kenny G - Joy To The World
16. Jacksoul - Can't Wait Till Christmas
17. Luther Vandross - O Come All Ye Faithful
18. Gloria Estefan - Love On Layaway

Clay will be on ET Tonight! Keep an eye out!

He will be joining Jimmy Kimmel in the lead up to the AMA's on ET, tonight!

Listen to an authorized excerpt from LTS

CLICK HERE

You will find it on the right ("Audiobook Excerpt" link)

Taping of Xmas Special on Monday

As reported by Claymates in a previous post, Barry Manilow will join Clay on MONDAY to tape the Christmas special.

Clay in Nov. 1 InTouch Magazine

Click here to see SCANS

Barry Manilow: Clay has High Standards

From hippoga from the Clayboard:

Here is the Clay mention-

"Manilow's new "do" looks more than a little inspired by "Idol" alum Clay Aiken, who has been called the Manilow of his generation.

I sometimes get a little tired of the Manilow comparisons but one of the lines in this same article made me smile and not mind so much. The reviewer went on to say that-

"Whether you consider yourself a fan or not, the quality, quantity and high standards to which Manilow has aspired are increasingly rare today."

Clay definitely has the "quality" and "high standards" and I sure am hoping for the "quantity" in the years ahead!

Toys-for-Tots Foundation talks about Clay

"We are truly thrilled and honored to have Clay Aiken as our 2004 Marine Corps Toys for Tots Honorary Spokesman. He is not only a great entertainer, but an even greater human being," said Major Bill Grein, retired Marine and vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "The Marine Corps has always been looking for 'A Few Good Men', and we believe that Clay is just what we need to give our 2004 Toys for Tots Campaign a great push. Last year we were able to fulfill the Christmas hopes and dreams of nearly 6.5 million of our nation's neediest children. That was a lot of work, but we still ran out of gifts long before we ran out of children in need. We're hopeful that Clay, with the help of his many loyal fans, will help us reach even more kids this year. After all, every child deserves a little Christmas!"

CD Cover Released

From BarnesandNobel.com:

BN.com review's Clay's CD

From BarnesAndNobel.com:

With the release of his album of holiday classics, Merry Christmas with Love, American Idol 2003 runner-up Clay Aiken continues to prove he's a champ. The disc includes the original title track, as well as heart warming renditions of "Silent Night," "Joy to the World," and "Winter Wonderland."

American Idol to American Role Model!

The little girls want to look like Britney Spears in their halter-tops and short skirts. The boys want to be just like their favorite athlete, who these days have enough tattoos and piercings to last an entire street gang for a year. And America wonders why our rates of teen-pregnancy, drug use, and dropouts are so high.

Role models are an interesting concept. In our society it seems, that there is confusion between role model and sex symbol. It seems that the people we idolize or make our role models are not necessarily people that we look up to as human beings, rather they are people we want to be or want to be with (No woman in the Western World can argue that Brad Pitt will be hot when he is ninety!).

Who do the kids have anymore? All of the role models of the past have sold themselves over to cults or sold themselves out to fame; until now.

It’s time to meet someone that parents will want their kids to admire. Clay Aiken is a breath of fresh air. With his squeaky clean image and good southern boy values what is not to love?

Since the beginning of his rise to fame Clay has remained true to himself. Always being the same person whether the cameras are on or off Clay captured the hearts of American men and women alike. A devout Baptist who is known to be a momma’s boy, Clay tops it all off with his passion for children with disabilities.

So whatever happened to that time when kids wanted to be their mom’s and dad’s? Now you are more likely to find a teenager searching for Madonna (“Esther”) at the Kabbalah Center than sitting in the church pew with their family.

It’s no secret that Clay has developed a following, and no matter what these fans (dubbed “claymates”) are searching for at his concerts they leave getting a little bit more than they bargained for. Nightly, during his summer tour Clay came out on stage in a white suit (and some never make it passed his appearance) to sing the cover of a song done by Christian Pop Group Avalon. As the words to the powerful ballad “You Were There” came forth from his lips hands began to rise in worship of God. Clay has said that he sings this song for himself and God and that the audience just happens to get to hear it.

This man has got to be to good to be true, there has got to be something on him that people are dying to leak. He has an illegitimate child somewhere (because what twenty five year old man is still a virgin?), he has drug problem, he has a sever alcohol addiction… something. Despite these accusations, he always has a powerful faith based defense. “WWJD” bracelet aside, this man is for real.

Maybe it is not that he is too good to be true but rather that he is exactly what America needs at this point. The mom’s love him as much as the daughters, as much as the sons, as much as the fathers and the grandmas.

Maybe true admiration can be found not in the Kabbalah Center but in the testimony of Clay Aiken who has truly gone from “American Idol” to American Role Model.

To Clay, if he ever does get to read this, “thank you.” Thank you for having the courage to stand up for your faith and to give credit where credit is due, no matter who might be watching.

Atlanta Radio!

Thanks to WATCHERTWO from the Clayboard:

This morning the DJ's were discussing Christmas and said Entertainment Weekly gives Clay Aiken's CD an A. Did we know this? Great Clay mention especially here in Atlanta.

Lip Synching...Great Clay Reference

Extract:

The Ashlee Simpson fiasco on SNL was inexcusable...but her "excuse" was the best...the band started playing the wrong song!!!! Ummm, didn't they rehearse 2 songs? I have no respect for "artists" that are successful because of studio recording enhancements and cannot perform live... Now....have you been to a Clay Aiken performance? The kid is better live than on any of his recordings. How many others can stake that claim? Gloria


Editor's Response to Gloria: Yes, I have seen Clay Aiken perform in concert and I agree completely. Clay is easily the best Pop vocal talent of his generation.

New NBC Special Ad- 10/26

VCR Alert: Radio Music Awards Tonight on NBC

Clay is scheduled to present. It starts at 9 PM EDT.

Clay was on CBS this morning

They did a small piece about ABC dropping MAP, and they mentioned Clay.

Comcast... You must See this! LOL

Click>>

Clay is the official Spokesperson for Toys for Tots 2004

From the CB:

Toys for Tots 2004 Celebrity Spokesperson will be CLAY AIKEN!!

Clay has already finished taping some Public Service Announcements and there will be much more to come.

We will shortly, through the wonderful assistance of Major Bill Grein and the “Entango” Corporation be able to put up a very special fund, the Clay Aiken Fans Toys For Tots Fund, designed by Entango, and accounted for by Toys for Tots.

Updates will be given on a regular basis as the to the amount in this very special fund. ALL DONATIONS TO THIS FUND WILL BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. All donations over $250.00 will receive a “hard copy” receipt also in the mail approximately 2 weeks after the donation is made.

The technical details are being designed at this time, and the links should be up by mid week. In the meantime, starting tonight at 8:00 pm, ALL DONATIONS TO THE OCS FUND WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE SPECIAL CLAY AIKEN FANS TOYS FOR TOTS FUND AS SOON AS THE LINK IS UP. Links will be provided at The Clayboard, The OCS Website, The ClayDawgs Website and Clayaikenworld.


THE OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE TOYS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. THERE IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FANS TO DONATE ACTUAL TOYS IN THE WORKS AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE BOARD.

More info, HERE.

EW Web page article about tour

FROM EW WEB PAGE, first article under NEWS:

Clay Aiken is getting ready to deck the concert halls. Billboard reports that the American Idol star is preparing a five-week tour, backed by a full orchestra, to promote his upcoming Christmas album. Dubbed the Joyful Noise Tour, the trek will begin in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 27 and take him to Sewell, N.J.; Baltimore; Lowell, Mass.; New York; Clearwater, Fla.; Melbourne, Fla.; Atlanta; and finally, Cleveland on Dec. 21. Along with the yet-untitled holiday album, Aiken also has a book coming out on Nov. 16, an inspirational tome called Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, and a holiday TV special, airing Dec. 8 on NBC.

Clay's pals, Idol winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, and Fantasia Barrino, have a Christmas special of their own coming up on Nov. 24 on Fox. Ruben has a holiday CD of his own, called I Need an Angel, due in early November, while Kelly and Fantasia both have CDs due at the end of November.

More Clay, Please

More Clay, please
In response to a recent blurb titled "Feats of Clay" (Oct. 9) regarding RCA recording artist Clay Aiken, I have to say that no, it's not "enough already."

According to many of his fans, Aiken has not been getting the exposure he rightly deserves -- especially in Pittsburgh, where I have heard him on the radio once. Not to mention two out of his three cross-country tours didn't even make a stop in the city!

To whomever decided that the publicity and appearances for Aiken are "enough," I challenge you to attend a concert without coming out of it more respectful of Aiken and his enormous talent. In addition to his voice, his stage presence and his popularity, Aiken refuses to conform to the cookie-cutter pop star by going against his beliefs. All of that is reflected in the way he performs and captures his audience -- which, yes, is mostly female, but there's a large grouping of men who call themselves ClayDawgs and respect and admire Aiken as well. His talent spans the sexes and the generations.

He is truly an "American Idol," and I say the more exposure he gets, the better. Bring it on!

Sarah Reck
Baldwin