Interview With Oregon Live - Recording For Sophomore Album Done

Deck the halls: Clay's on his way
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
ED CONDRAN
Oregon Live

Clay Aiken had so much fun on last year's tour for his holiday album, "Merry Christmas With Love," that "American Idol's" most famous loser is on another Christmas jaunt, which jingle-jangles its way to the Rose Garden Theater of the Clouds on Thursday.

Why another Christmas tour?

Because I love it. Last year was my favorite tour ever. I decided to do a Christmas tour to support the disc, and the tour did very well. I loved that it was in auditoriums. It's a lot more intimate of an environment than the amphitheaters I did when I went out with Kelly (Clarkson).

How will it be different?

Last year I performed with local orchestras. This year I'm working with local actors. There is a dramatic story line which runs throughout the show. The music and my performance is a soundtrack to that story line.

Have you almost completed your next album?

Not quite. We're in an interesting quandary. A number of songs have been recorded. It's a matter of what we should keep. There are a couple of different ways we can go. I've recorded some traditional Top 40, minus the hip-hop, some adult contemporary and some covers. If it's going to be a theme, do I want it to be favorite love songs? The good thing is that the songs are recorded. The only way I'll record more is if our theme is Mongolian polka. Then I'll have to record some new songs.

"A.I." arbiter of taste Simon Cowell recently noted that 2005 "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood had the most commercial potential of any "A.I." alum.

I think you should go back and listen to that again. Simon's remark was that she had the most commercial potential of any "American Idol" winner. I'm fine with that, since I didn't win (laughs). I think Carrie is very talented. She's great. I picked her from the beginning of last year's "American Idol." I'm not threatened by her. She's obviously in a different area as far as music goes.

Will your name always be associated with "American Idol"?

When the show is over, probably not. The show has a potential to last a while, so I expect to be tied to it for the time being.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that you berated a New Jersey high school choir you hired for a show. The story also claimed that you didn't give the kids meal breaks or pay them. True or false?

I don't comment on that story often since I don't like to give credence to anybody's made-up stories. . . . For the record, what was in that article was fabricated to the extent that we laughed very loudly when we read it. We were very surprised. You can't get mad about something that's not true. There's no reason for me to fight and bring it up. We didn't try to defend ourselves against anything so preposterous. I spent a number of years as a teacher. I have a feeling they wouldn't let me teach if I was the kind of person who would do such things to children.

Speaking of teaching, you've said in past interviews that you wish that you were molding young minds. Any chance you'll take a hiatus from singing for teaching?

I do hear about friends' classrooms, and I get sentimental about teaching. But I'm combining the best of both worlds for this tour. On this tour we have an actor, a young boy. The child has to be tutored. We opted to hire out of North Carolina, since I can tutor him. I'm still a teacher in North Carolina. I'm able to teach on the road. So I'm up teaching every morning at 8:30 a.m. I'm fixing up lesson plans. I couldn't be happier.

Insider Previews Joyful Noise Tour

The Insider went 'inside' Clay's Joyful Noise Tour today, showing a 2 minute segment from rehearsals. Clay showed viewers the snow machine ("It's not Christmas without snow", said Clay) and the incredible new set which includes a house with a door that bears Clay's competitor number from American Idol (5230). Clay also revealed that he wrote the entire script for the concert, which will feature a storyline, while in his PJs! Clay's old high school teacher and 11 year old Gregory Ellis were cast to be part of the storyline. Clay also said he was excited to have Gregory on the tour because he could be a teacher again. Clay was shown singing Merry Christmas With Love. Claymates can e-mail Clay via The Insider.

Screencaps are available here.

Video now available via ATCA.

E-Talk Daily Shows New Footage from Uganda

Clay appeared on tonight's edition of CTV's E-Talk Daily(aired on the main CTV network in Canada at 7 PM Local, 10:30 PM Central Time and at 7:30 PM on the Talk TV cable channel). The interview was conducted when Clay stopped in Toronto in August for the Jukebox Tour. Video now available via ATCA.

Recap courtesy CB's passionate:

Okay, just saw it. Under a minute but really good. Brand new footage from Uganda.

It's additional stuff from the Aug. 25 interview in Toronto. Clay talks about how everybody thinks that the problem in Africa is that children are starving due to famine and no one is being vocal about this situation.

Clips of Clay walking through a village and helping to pump water, playing with the children, also in a room where children are sleeping while he says it's hard to watch children living in such conditions. I don't think we've seen any of this before and I hope it's a sign we'll be seeing more.

Clayboard UNICEF Trick-Or-Treat Campaign a Success

The Clayboard's 2005 Trick-Or-Treat campaign for UNICEF has surpassed their own goals by almost $3000. The Clayboard's initial goal was for it to raise $5000 for UNICEF, who named Clay as it's 2005 TOT spokesperson earlier this year. Today, the total amount raised by the 58 Clayboard members in the campaign was at $7,852.00. Congratulations to the Clayboard!

Clay on CTV's E-Talk Daily Today

Claynadian readers! The Clackhouse reports that Clay will be on tonight's E-Talk Daily (CTV at 7 PM in most time zones).

E-talk Daily just had a preview for tonight in the noon news with a chat with
Clay, about his work with UNICEF, with clips of Uganda trip. He says, "I never
wanted to be a singer. Definitely music is extremely important, I love doing it,
but I think it is the enabler to do bigger things." Sounds like the interview
was done about the time of the TVG, but aired now to coincide with the UNICEF
Hallowen campaign.

"Clay is the Sexiest Man" Claymates to USA Today

USA Today columnist Whitney Matheson received a flood of e-mails from Claymates after Mrs. Matheson attempted to guess People magazine's sexiest man alive 2005 list by making her own list that Clay did not make.

Cruise news: I'm still combing through the hundreds of e-mails I got about yesterday's Pop Candy-- it seems a Clay Aiken fan club got wind of the column, so I'm now being barraged by messages claiming he's the sexiest man alive.

Regis & Kelly Offend Clay Fans

In a disgusting display on today's edition of Live With Regis & Kelly, the hosts dressed up as Clay and American Idol 4 Runner Up Bo Bice before the two hosts began kissing each other. Clay last appeared on the show in September 2004 to accept a Relly Award given out by the show each year.

New BAF Website Launched

BubelAiken.org is the new website of the Bubel Aiken Foundation! The website was designed by the Anoroc agency, who also worked on the new logo as well as the old website/logo. Congratulations Clay and the Bubel Aiken Foundation on your re-branding!

AD: Portland, OR

The Insider, Backstage With Clay

TV Infotainment show The Insider went backstage in today's episode with Clay's Joyful Noise 2005 Tour. This airs in most markets after the evening news cast. Check local listings. Clay reported in September for The Insider from the 2005 Emmy's and the Dancing with The Stars danceoff. This write up was posted on their website. Note... You can contact Clay through their website, and see a video clip so check it out!

Backstage with Clay Aiken


If you would like to send a message to Clay, click here.

Today might be Halloween, but CLAY AIKEN is already getting into the Christmas spirit, as he prepares for his second holiday tour.

Following the success of last year's tour in support of the festive album Merry Christmas With Love, "we immediately began saying, let's do it again, let's do it again, and make it bigger and better," says Clay during a rehearsal break. "I called my manager up and said, 'I've got this great idea. I want to get some actors next year and I want to do a story to go along with it."

Part concert, part play, the former "American Idol" finalist explains that the music featured in the show "is really a soundtrack" to the action taking place on stage. "It all kind of melds together."

But Clay isn't just singing for his supper. He's also utilizing his teaching background to tutor GREGORY ELLIS, one of the young boys in the production.

"I'm having so much fun with it," says Clay, who taught in his native North Carolina before becoming a pop sensation. "It gives me an opportunity to do what I used to do."

And for all you "Clay-mates" who want to get up close to the cute crooner, the tour kicks off November 2 in Vancouver and "then we head right on through till Christmas," says the singer. "The last show before Christmas is in my hometown of Raleigh. We'll come back after Christmas and do four shows in Florida. So it's 40 dates in 38 cities. It's a big undertaking."

For more with Clay, watch tonight's "Insider"!

K103 Portland Interviewing Clay

Clay will be on with K103 FM in Portland on Thursday morning at around 7 AM PST to talk about the Joyful Noise Tour which is making a stop in Portland the same day. Fans are encouraged to send questions for Clay to brucemurdock@k103.com. This station does stream through K103.com, so you can listen to the interview even if you do not live in the Portland area.

WashingtonPost.com Interview

The Washington Post's scheduled interview with Clay about UNICEF is now up. The interview was 'live' via a tape-delayed feed. You can listen to it here, or download by right clicking and selecting save target as here.

A few recaps from the interview via Clayboard members.

• New CD will be out in the first 6 months of 2006
• Interview was taped from Vancouver, BC where the tour starts in 2 days.
• Team Clay still out looking for good songs for the new album
• Talked extensively about Uganda and Indonisia UNICEF trips.
• Said trips touched him deeply.
• Asked about whether Clay would adopt a child, like Angelina Jolie has and Clay said he wouldn't rule it out.
• Clay talked to a singer-songwrite Steve Curtis Chapman who visited Uganda this past August about writing a song for Clay's new album.

Full transcript. Many thanks to the nicegurrrl from the CB who took the time to transcribe this for Clayfans.

This is Rocky Fisch from the WashintonPost.com newsroom speaking with Clay Aiken, this year's UNICEF Ambassador.

WP: First question here from Dumphries, Virginia: You have said that your experience with UNICEF has been one of the greatest blessings you have had. Can you elaborate on that?

CA: You know, I think that probably for me, I would characterize it that way, because you know- I've had an opportunity- I've had too- so many opportunities I never thought I'd have before, obviously, with this whole new career being- living in a smaller town in North Carolina to all of a sudden living in LA and traveling all around the country, and performing and doing something that I love, but- More than that for me, it's really been that- working with UNICEF, being an ambassador with UNICEF, has given me- I mean, pftt, I am in Vancouver, Canada today - and to me (laughs)- that was you know that was the furthest I'd ever leave the US before my experience with UNICEF. And having an opportunity to - not really just go and visit a different county, because I think, you know, visiting a different country on a vacation is one thing, but doing what I've had the opportunity to do, where you actually get to see how people live, and you get to see situations and - you know, being right there in Banda Aceh right after the tsunami was an amazing experience, an extremely eye-opening experience. You know, to go from small town America where you don't have any view of the outside world, really (laughs) and then to the celebrity lifestyle, I guess, if you want to call it that, where you are somewhat catered to in a way. And then, to come out and go to a place like Indonesia or Uganda where people really have to- I mean, not only is the lifestyle completely different, but you know it gives you an opportunity to take a look at what you have, and- it sounds very cliché to say it, but you take a look at what you have and what opportunities that I have as an American and what opportunities I have in this country, and it gives you such a worldly- a different view of (WP: Yes) - of your own life, not just the people who you are working with or observing and seeing live, it really - I think that more than that it has given me a different view of myself and my life as an American. I know that sounds extremely cliché and I hate to use it, but that's really been the largest benefit for me.

WP: Clay, when you go to these places, and you've been to many, exactly what do you do? I mean, is it basically observing, finding out what the people need or what has happened or what?

CA: That is pretty much what the purpose of an ambassador is. You know, I grew up knowing about UNICEF only because it was, you know, the trick-or-treat program (laughs), but that you raise money. I knew it was a United Nations program and - you know, for a while there, it was actually called the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund, and so my impression of it was that it only went into emergency situations. But the truth is, now it's United Nations Children's Fund, and a very few people - while they know what UNICEF is, and in a very general way know what UNICEF does, they don't really know specifically what it is that UNICEF does -

WP: And what does UNICEF do?

CA: You know, UNICEF works in 157 different countries throughout the world; not just in emergency situations - obviously they are on the forefront of emergency situations like the earthquake in Pakistan, or the tsunami in Southeast Asia. They work on child nutrition, they work on child welfare in general - welfare of children and women in third-world countries and even in developed countries, because we worked in the US after Katrina - all over the world, to keep children safe, to keep them educated, make sure they're educated appropriately, make sure they're fed, make sure they're kept healthy. And so the job, to answer your question, of an ambassador, really, is to go and observe, and then I have the opportunity to come back and do things like this - and interview and discuss with people what I've seen. The work that was done after tsunami, you know - (interrupted)

WP: And spread the word in other words -

CA: I'm sorry?

WP: Spread the word.

CA: Yeah, in a way. And, fortunately for me, my very first assignment, I guess if you will, was right after the tsunami, and I had the opportunity to actually thank people for the work that they had done, as opposed to coming out and asking them for money. Tsunami was such a major fund recipient from US donors that it was an opportunity for me to actually go for my first trip and take a look at what UNICEF is doing with the money. Instead of saying, this is what they're doing, here is what they're trying to do, here's what they need to do- this is what they have done with your money, thank you for what you've given, and let me show you and let me tell you first hand how it's being put to work and how your money is making a difference. So that was kind of an interesting - a neat opportunity.

WP: This from Vanport, PA: Is it true that UNICEF will be donating half of the money collected from trick-or-treat to the victims of hurricane Katrina?

CA: It is. It's the very first time-

WP: And Rita, by the way.

CA: Ok. It's the very first time that they've actually worked in the US. UNICEF has a mandate to work in countries where their help is needed and asked for by the government, and as a generous country that we are, you know, we typically don't take out of the coffers of UNICEF. We've never taken out of UNICEF's coffers before because we don't usually have that need, have that great a need, obviously when there is a greater need elsewhere. So, UNICEF never worked in the US, but obviously with the tragedy for Katrina, the US government has asked for UNICEF to help out, and it's - and so this is the very first time, and they will be given 50%. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this year's trick-or-treat fund will go to hurricane relief efforts in the gulf states.

WP: Any idea how much you expect collect tonight in those UNICEF bags?

CA: I really have- I really don't have any idea (laughs). You know, I think this year- this has been a tragic year with tsunami- people giving to tsunami, right up through the beginning of this year from last's year tsunami, and then obviously the devastating hurricanes. I've, you know, lived through a few hurricanes myself, but none the magnitude of this year's storms- "s" storms. So this has been kind of a tragic year, and so many people in the US have really given a lot this year to different causes. And, for that purpose, you know, we hope to raise money- and I'll be completely honest with you, I'm not a very good spokesperson because I don't know how much we raised last year, (laughs) but it is - one of UNICEF USA's biggest fundraiser of the year is trick-or-treat. And, you know, we hope that people are able to at this point still give to the cause this year, and realize that even though half of it will go to Katrina, half of it is going, again to - to, you know, the 157 countries that UNICEF works in.

WP: Are you planning to go to New Orleans?

CA: Oh, you know, I kind of opted not to. I think that - at this- at least, not yet. I think that at the time that the storm hit, there was very little need for me to go down there as far as - you know, to be in the way. I kind of disenfranchised a little bit, if I'm being completely honest, with a lot of the celebrity activity down there, which- you know, I feel like my greatest- asset- if you will- or the greatest benefit for me doing something like this, is like I said, in Uganda - when I went to Uganda and had the opportunity to come back and discuss, or talk to people about what's happening in Uganda, what UNICEF is doing. When I take a trip to Indonesia and had a specific purpose, it usually is to come back and talk about what's happening down there, what people can do to help, what people have done to help, what UNICEF is doing to help. And, obviously, for Katrina, there was so much attention down there anyway, I think that a lot of- in my very personal opinion, I think a lot of people went down there for the wrong reasons. I don't think that there was really a need to bring attention to Katrina when the news outlets and the media was really doing that quite well on their own, and I felt that a lot of celebrities went down there for self-serving purpose and it kind of disenfranchised me, so I made a very pointed effort not to go down there. You know, if there is at some point a time where I feel like I could do something that would be beneficial and wouldn't be (laughs) self-serving, I think I might go, but until that time I've kind of opted to not be in the way, and allow the people who are experts in doing what they do best to do it- (interrupted/unintelligible)

WP: Clay, from Millersville, PA, someone writes here: I really respect your energy and involvement with students. Any ideas on how we parents, teachers, can help today's young generation become socially conscious adults who will be active in global issues and concerns?

CA: You know, I was actually just talking about this with a friend recently. I think that as adults- as students today, sadly, don't know what is going on in their own world. And I know as a highschooler myself, and as a college student, there was zero, really, educational opportunities, if you will, in high school or in college, to really take a- to learn about current events. You know, we spend a lot of time on Constantinople and the Ottoman Turks and (laughs) whatnot, but very little on modern American History, modern World History, and that's where you really learn, I think, to be a world citizen. That, and on the news. I mean, I think children should be encouraged to pay attention to the news and to know what is going on in their own world. I think it's really important that the youth of today- highschoolers, college students - know what's happening in the real world. I think honestly, and as an educator myself I'm probably going to get chewed out by some fellow educators (laughs). I may lose some credibility as a teacher, but you know, I think a lot of times we spend too much time on superfluous book-work: calculus, (laughs) statistics for high schoolers, you know, and world civilization history, and not enough on what's happening in our world. And so it's one thing to be very educated and to know what happened in 1164 in the Turkish empire, but it's completely something more important to know what happened in the US in 2006 or 2005 or 2004 or 7- or, you know, to know what is happening in your world today. And kids don't have that opportunity as much anymore, and kids don't - they're not interested in it. And, you know, I'll watch the news like it's a religion, to be honest with you (laughs). I know it's on constantly, because if you don't know what's happening in your- you know, if you don't what's going on today with the Supreme Court, or if you don't appreciate the importance of Rosa Parks and what she did for this country, and what she did for people all over this nation, then you don't really know what's- you're not a very worldly person. That to me- and I've kind- I feel like I've gotten on a soapbox right here because I (laughs) just was talking about it yesterday, but it's an interesting question to ask right now.

WP: Clay, from New Orleans, a question: Will any of the music on your next CD reflect any of your experiences in Indonesia, Uganda, Banda Aceh?

CA: We- we're still putting the next album together, and you know, that was- that's not- I definitely could not give a definitive answer right now about that because we - we are still working on songs and trying to find out, or compile, you know, the album itself. But it's not outside of the realm of possibility. You know, there's - my trip to Uganda was probably the most powerful thing I've ever experienced. You know, I mean, as far as emotions go, there's no end to the emotions that surge through you when you are seeing something like that. And ironically, a songwriter who I admire quite a bit, I spoke to before I went to Uganda and found out that he was actually going to be in Uganda at the very same time. His trip got moved back later, but he was going to be in Uganda this summer as well, too, because he was going to- with a different organization- to observe the same thing I had observed, and we had discussed- we had discussed for a while the possibility of trying to put something, or - he's the talented one there- put something down that relates to what happened. But I'm not 100% sure, so I can't give a definitive answer on that.

WP: Ok, any idea when your next one might come out?

CA: (laughs) Lord, I can't give a definitive answer on that one either! (Still laughing). We'd love to have it out- we want to have it out in the first half of next year, and that's - whooo, way too broad I'm sure- of a statement, but its pretty - that's about what I can offer right now (laughs) as far as an answer to that.

WP: Question from Brooklyn, New York: Would you ever consider adopting a child from Asia or Africa to raise as your own as a single parent as Angelina Jolie did?

CA: Wow! I couldn't say no to that, but I- you know, it's not - like I said, it's not something that is in the forefront of my mind right now. You know, I think it takes a very special person to adopt a child, and it takes even more of a special person to take on such a task as a single parent.

WP: And one final thing. Do you plan on watching the new season of American Idol in January?

CA: Oh, I hope to be too busy (laughs) but I typically try to turn it on when I can.

WP: Ok, Clay Aiken, thank you very much for speaking with us today.

CA: Thank you very much.

Google Testing New Video Service

Google is testing Google Video, its newest service introduced last week. It allows users to upload videos of any size and share it-- for free! Already, a few Clay videos are up.

Clay on MTV

From the CB's LVClaymate1130:

Around 5:45 i was siting in the living room eating and watching MTV Hits (in case some of you don't know it's a 24 hour music video channel). Occasionally they will show "Invisible" but it's once in a blue moon. Well to my surprise "Invisible" came on. So I turned the volume way up and sang my heart out :laugh . I kept it on after the video went off and a couple other videos came on. Then around 6 they showed "The Way". They NEVER show that video. Obviously MTV has caught on to something lol.

Clay Aiken CD Parties Looking for New Logo

Organizers of Clay CD Release parties are preparing for the upcoming sophomore album scheduled for release in early 2006. They are looking for a logo and poster which will be used for promotion. This contest runs until November 6. Entries can be e-mailed to clayaikencdparties@yahoo.com. The winning design of the logo contest will be announced Nov. 7. Visit clayaikencdparties.com for more info.

Details for the poster contest are forthcoming. Stay tuned.

Clay's Daily Double At WashingtonPost.com

Our post yesterday about Clay's upcoming live audio discussion via WashingtonPost.com (tomorrow, at 1 PM EST) about his UNICEF work has made headlines at WashingtonPost.com!

Does Clay Look Good On Your Sofa?

We thought this was an interesting story from the CB's ANA MEDINA:

I recently moved to Florida. We went shopping for furniture today. I liked a brown sofa and I was trying different color pillows on it. All of a sudden the saleslady said "clay would look good on your sofa". Well , i turned around and looked at my daughter her eyes were wide opened. Then we realized she meant the color clay. She was wondering why we were laughing. I started telling her that for a minute there i thought she was talking about Clay Aiken. She went on to say that she really likes Clay Aiken. My husband immediatley told her "I hope you have over 30 minutes because she will never stop talking about clay"
This is the first time someone has mention Clay as a color to me.
I'm going back to buy that sofa since Clay will look great on it!!!!. hehe

Special Edition of LTS Arrives for Lucky Claymate

The CB's ClayPerfect received her special leather-bound edition Learning To Sing (made available through Easton Press for $84, click here to order) and has posted some photos of it for us. The book contains 2 Clay autographs - one on the book itself and one on the Certificate of Authenticity.
Click to enlarge.

KTLA Re-Airs Thursday Interview

Due to popular demand, KTLA re-aired it's Thursday interview with Clay on Saturday's 10 PM Evening News. KTLA is promoting the new tour, scheduled to hit LA in December and said Clay is a 'superstar' and 'one of the fastest rising stars in the music industry'.

Claydawgs Lose One Of It's Own

From the CB's gonzosgaltoo:

This is a very sad morning. CLAYDAWG Snowdawg Jim "Jimu" Leverton was killed at 1:15 p. m. yesterday in a traffic accident.
Jimu's Dad posted on the The Claydawgs website at 4:10 a. m. this morning (Pacific time) that Jimu had been killed in a traffic accident in Utah. Jim was a long haul tractor trailer driver.

Jim loved Clay and the Claydawgs.

Guests can post on the The Claydawgs site by simply typing in a user name. I started a guest thread there titled, "Love One Another." Below is a pic of Jimu taken a month or so ago when my DH, Bob/Claypappy, my Clayfriend-Laura, weavindreams, and I met Jimu for the first time in Abingdon, VA for a Cracker Barrell lunch.

On behalf of Clay's Daily Double, I'd like to send our prayers and best wishes to the Claydawgs and Mr. Leverton's family.