Remembering Clay's Christmas Tour...Via Pictures - Part 3

Well, we come to Part 3 of our Christmas Tour reminiscing, courtesy of those luscious eye-satisfying pictures taken by our fabulous clack gatherers. For those of you who have not checked out CDD in the last couple of days, we are remembering three concerts a day for six days using the most gorgeous and memorable photos I can put my hands on. For those of you who have been here for each day, are you enjoying it so far? If so, stay tuned. I promise you that Part 3 is every bit as good as Part 1 and Part 2 were. If you haven't seen Parts 1 and 2, click here on Part 1 and Part 2 to enjoy a few breath-taking pictures of our guy from the first 6 concerts.

And now, on to Concerts 7, 8, and 9.

Williamsport, VA - December 9







Wilkes-Barre, PA - December 10








Easton, PA - December 11






We are halfway through our walk down memory lane. We will have the last half on the next three days. Makes you feel like you're almost there, doesn't it!!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

New Clay Mentions in People, In Touch & J14

We've been alerted to several new magazine magazines courtesy the CB's ellenpoppy...

• January 22 In Touch Weekly mentions Clay in an article called "Idol's biggest questions answered":

  Even though Carrie Underwood has sold more than five million albums, and Clay Aiken isn't far behind at five million, Kelly Clarkson is the most successful American Idol of all, having sold 13 million copies of her two CDs, Breakaway and Thankful.

• January 22nd People has a picture of Clay on page 4, the Index page, shaking Michael Sandecki's hand while singing at the AI5 finale: "Singer Clay Aiken met his match last May." The article on pages 110-111 is about "last season's American Idol rejects" who were "Almost Famous", and the picture of the "madeover" Sandecki is the biggest one. The article reads:

  The Clay Aiken Lookalike
  Michael Sandecki
  
  The Clay Aiken doppelganger sang on the show's May 24 finale and got the surprise of his life when Aiken joined him onstage. But after his big moment, Sandecki (who got rejected at his first Idol audition) did some soul searching. "I kind of got thrown into the spotlight. I had to question myself: Where do I fit in? Who am I?" he says. Now the Phoenix-based Sandecki, 22--who does clerical work for an on-line school--has changed his look so as not to be mistaken for Aiken. Still, he's not giving up his dream. "I eat, live and breathe music, and I'm going to make it somehow," says Sandecki. "But now I just want to be Mike."

• January 2007 J14 - (courtesy the CB's claysbuttercup99):

  He is on page 52 on a section called Ultimate American Idol Trivia.
  
  The first mention is on question four. His name is just mentioned; he isn't the answer. The question is:
  Which former finalist starred in the Broadway show for which Zac Efron is now filming a movie version?
  a. Constantine Maroulis
  b. Tamyra Gray
  c. Clay Aiken
  d. Diana Degarmo - the correct answer.
  
  The second mention is on question five. Ya'll know the answer to this one.
  During last year's finale, Michael Sandecki freaked out when his American Idol role model (who he resembles) graced the stage. Who was it?
  a. Ruben Studdard b. Clay Aiken
  c. Taylor Hicks d. William Hung

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay To Co-Host On The View Soon

Clay and Rosie O'Donnell are ready to put the sillyness of 2006 behind them, it appears. In Rosie O'Donnell's blog last night, she said Clay will be co-hosting with the ladies on The View "soon".

No word yet on the date, but major news outlets such as Access Hollywood are already picking up the story. The AccessHollywood.com story mentions: "In other Rosie related news, she let slip on her Web site that she'll soon be reuniting with Clay Aiken. He will co-host "The View," "soon," she posted."

In November, O'Donnell made headlines when she accused Kelly Ripa of making a homophobic remark after Clay jokingly placed his hand over Ripa's mouth while guest hosting.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/11

• South Florida.com (Sun Sentinel) - There is an article called "American Idol" returns for Season 6. There is no Clay mention in the article. But there is a poll that is to the right of the article as follows:
  

  Do you think this season's 'American Idol' will be the best one yet?
  Yes, the show keeps getting stronger
  No, there's too much hype and we've seen it all before
  No way, how could anyone ever top Clay?!

  You can vote on this poll. So far "No way, how could anyone ever top Clay?!" is winning...uh, as it should be! Check it out and vote!
• PhillyBurbs.com - AI underdogs prove Simon Cowell wrong - "One could argue that the likes of Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson have proven him wrong."
• The HUB - another good AI mention - "The kid who blossoms the best doesn't always win. Clay Aiken and Jennifer Hudson are two grand examples."
• Waco Tribune Herald -

  Clay Aiken, the next season’s runner-up, created a loyal and avid fan base during his “Idol” run, one that has supported his three CDs — Measure of a Man, Merry Christmas With Love and A Thousand Different Ways — to the tune of 4.5 million copies sold. Ruben Studdard, that year’s winner, also has released three CDs — Soulful, I Need an Angel and The Return — though his sales have been slightly more than half of Aiken’s.

• MTV- Paula Abdul helping launch new Bratz doll movie:

  Over the next few months, Abdul will be assisting in the selection of the four young actresses who'll portray the Bratz, as well as helping dress them and decide what music they'll be listening to. Clay Aiken, we can only assume, is preparing his demo tape.
  

• NJ.com - students at local high school take on Idol, but don't want to look like Clay Aiken.
  
• Media Life Magazine - Nashville Star finds success- "Miranda Lambert, a contestant during season one, has become the Clay Aiken of “Nashville” graduates."
• Newsday - Simon Cowell compares Taylor Hicks to Clay.
  
• Canoe.ca - Internet can help spread gossip (small Clay mention)
• Billings News - random Clay mention.
  
• Hollyscoop - Simon Cowell comments on Clay's sexuality (not too bad)
• Philadelphia City Paper - article about some karaoke contest... Clay mention.
  
• Appleton Post Crescent - although we couldn't care less... they say"Clay Aiken sucks"
  
• Kelly/Clay/O'Donnell blurbs:
• New York Times
  
• iVillage
• The Trade
• E! Online
  

• USA Today Idol blog - ATDW falls off Billboard 200
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Remembering Clay Christmas Tour...Via Pictures - Part 2

Yesterday we had our first in a six-part walk down the not so long ago memory lane of Clay's Christmas Tour. Using only pictures of course to satisfy your eye's longing! Today we will revisit Englewood, Baltimore, and Norfolk.

Englewood, NJ - December 5







Baltimore, MD - December 6







Norfolk, VA - December 7







Come back tomorrow for more pictures from our next three concerts! There's lots more memories to go!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Mention on The Insider Today

Clay was mentioned on The Insider today, according to a post at Clayversity:

A Clay mention on The Insider. They were showing some of the auditions for AI6. Showed Kelly singing SUBG and said she has been the most successful idol but then showed Clay (I think it was the "Without You" video)
and said he proves you don't have to win to be successful.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Supports Jacksonville Children's Chorus

Clay taped a short promotional message for the Jacksonville Children's Chorus when he was in town last month for the Christmas tour. In the short clip, Clay asks parents to consider signing up their child for the chorus... "Every child has an instrument that's free and beautiful - their voice."

The Jacksonville Children's Chorus took part in Clay's in Clay's Christmas concert held in Jacksonville last month.

You can watch the clip at their website, or below (thanks to YouTube):

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/10

• MSNBC - poll for best American Idol runner-up... you know what to do Claymates! VOTE!
• Clay currently holds a 46% lead, but Katharine McPhee is close on his tail with 36% of the vote.
  
• Lycos50 - Clay's up 1 spots to #21.... come on Claymates! We can do better than that!
• Associated Content - Rod Stewart has a concert mishap -

  Reaction to the crooning hot-woman canoodler has been generally negative following his disappearance. "It serves him right," remarked Joanna Miller of West Hartford. "Ninety-five bucks to see this crap? He makes Clay Aiken look like Mick Jagger. I was so bored I thought I was going to piss myself just to make something interesting happen."
  

• Victoria News: Rock band "Anti-Flag" insults Clay Aiken... a great way to gain new fans (not!)

• Everything Romantic (non-Clay) - remembering the best season of American Idol (AI2) with two fantastic group performance videos.
• Playgoer - nice Clay mention... what happens if American Idol is taken hold by untalented singers - "We're not talking Fantasia or Clay Aiken, folks. There are real consequences here!"

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Remembering Clay's Christmas Tour...Via Pictures

Well, its been less than three weeks since Clay's Christmas tour ended, and already we are pining away for more Clay appearances and another tour. Of course, Clay is enjoying a much needed time of rest...sleeping in, playing with his dogs, eating all the Krispy Kremes he wants. I don't know when we'll finally see him again...not soon enough for me!!

In this slow time of Clay appearances, I thought it would be fun to remember Clay's tour via pictures. There were 18 glorious and festive shows, so for the next six days, we will enjoy the memories of three shows per day. I will pick out some of my favorites and hopefully you will enjoy them as well. Hopefully??? Hey, they are pictures of Clay! Of course you will enjoy them!

Today, let's remember Waukegan, Merrillville, and Verona. Get your thud mats ready, just in case you might need them!

WAUKEGAN, IL - DEC. 1

MERRILLVILLE, IN - DEC. 2



VERONA, NY - DEC. 4

Well, have you had enough of Clay's concert pictures yet?? If not, come back tomorrow when we will post pictures for your viewing pleasure from Englewood NJ, Baltimore MD, and Norfolk VA!

And many, many thanks to all of the photographers who have shared their gorgeous pictures with us. We are forever grateful for all the clack that you are willing to share with the fans!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Wins Readers Choice Award From ChartAttack

Clay fans and readers of ChartAttack, a popular music magazine in Canada, have chosen Clay's A Thousand Different Ways as 2006's #1 international album. Winning with a landslide 3497 votes, there's little doubt that the Clay nation is as strong as ever.

• View official results
• ChartAttack.ca article - "Clay Aiken's Thousand Different Ways outdistanced Snow Patrol's Open Your Eyes by 884 votes to be named best international album"
  

Congratulations Clay on this win!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/9

It's looking a little empty here at CDD, so here's a gorgeous photo of Clay courtesy the CB's thread "Innocent FULL LIP PHOTOS!! Yummy and want more!!".

• Clay blogged last night with some random thoughts and quotes. He says he's resting for what's ahead "this summer"... Go to the official fanclub to read the blog.
• MSNBC - FOX's announcement that this season of American Idol will have twists have spawned some interesting suggestions, including this:

  Some of those who’ve unexpectedly lost or been eliminated have gone on to successful careers, so it’s doubtful that contestants such as Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson (who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe), or even Chris Daughtry (who now has a record out) would return to the show.

• Williamsport Sun-Gazette mentions Clay's concert at the Williamsport Community Arts Center last month. "One month later, Clay Aiken, a former Idol runner-up from FOX TV’s second American Idol in 2003 came to the stage and ideas went from there for an Idol in the area for local talent, Steele said."
  

• Taking A Moment on Clay's blog last night:

  I've been thinking about what he said--you know, about not thinking about what he says. And what I want to know is who the heck is pick pick picking apart everything the poor man says, and dissects everything like he's some big, fine, JCPenney 52-piece biology set, and extrapolates all kinds of things from his punctuation or lack thereof, or reads all sorts of hidden messages into his misspelled words, like how he mysteriously spelled "pertinence" with an "a" ("pertinance").

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

New DOOL Goodies From Sony Pictures!

Sony Pictures, the distributors of NBC's Days of our Lives, has put up a very nice web page for Clay. Clay, of course, guest-starred on the December 26 episode of the hit daytime TV show, performing his ATDW song "Everything I Have".

Head on over to DaysOfOurLives.com where you can watch Clay's performance of EIH and an exclusive interview with Clay on the set. During the interview, the cast praised Clay and said everyone was lining up to get Clay's autograph. Clay commented on how it was nice to "try something new" and that many of his friends were fans of daytime TV. The long awaited ATDW tour was also mentioned briefly during the two minute interview. Clay said he would like to staged an "intimate" tour to be held at smaller venues.

For those of you who've been living under a rock, Clay Aiken began his rise to stardom on the hit television series American Idol. In 2003, his debut album Measure of a Man went triple platinum and his follow-up release Merry Christmas with Love was the best-selling holiday album of 2004. His most recent release, A Thousand Different Ways, offers fans ten cover version of love songs spanning the last three decades, as well as four brand-new songs.

In this special holiday episode of Days of our Lives, Aiken gives a private concert at Salem hot spot Dune for Steve and Kayla after the couple volunteer to help him get to the airport. He performs Everything I Have from his recent album, A Thousand Different Ways and the episode will also feature his version of O, Holy Night.

The cast and crew were thrilled to have another musical sensation grace the studios. There were lots of photos taken and plenty of autographs signed. And Clay was a more than gracious, and well-prepared, guest who impressed everyone with his abilities.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Fan Makes Her "Radio Debut" on WRAL Mix 101.5

HappyClayDay was at home on Monday (or possibly it was at work) when the phone rang. When she picked it up, who was on the other end but Diane Ramsey, the "Requests Hour" DJ at WRAL Mix 101.5 radio in Raleigh. HappyClayDay had emailed Diane and requested that they play Without You and Invisible. Not only did they play both songs, but Diane got to introduce the songs on the radio!

When I asked her about what time it would be played I told her that I wanted to post it on the message boards so everyone could stream and hear the song and she said, "Oh, so you're a real Claymate, huh?" I told her yes, absolutely!

HappyClayDay also said that when Diane told her they were going to play her requests, she told Diane, "Great! He doesn't get played nearly enough on the radio."

HappyClayDay posted this at The Clayboard, and so quite a few people were able to stream and listen to her introduce both songs and then enjoy the mini Clay concert courtesy of 101.5. Joycez capped the whole thing and will have it at the above Clay thread before long for those who would like to hear it.

Hopefully this is the beginning of more radio play for Clay!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/8

• Buddy TV - In an article about the worth of American Idol ($2.5 billion), the article says, "Former Idols Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, and Kelly Clarkson have found success in their young careers."
• Nancy Grace TV Show - FancyNails4 at The Clayboard tells us of a Clay mention on Nancy Grace's TV show. Nancy Grace is a Court TV and CNN anchor. She mentioned doing a "Clay Aiken":

  Near the end of the (Nancy Grace) episode they showed her in her limo with her producer, 'Phil'. She was also talking on her cell phone with a woman I presume is also associated with the show. They were yakking about different things. Nancy said to Phil: "I can do a Clay Aiken to you." She then put her hand over his mouth! The woman on the other end of the phone heard her and said : 'Did you just put your hand over his mouth?'

• TVWeek.com - In an article entitled, "The Rise of the Franchise Players", No. 4 on their list was Regis and Kelly. This comment was made about Clay, "...the team has firmly established itself as a stalwart among pop culture icons, generating national buzz even for incidents involving Clay Aiken."
• ArsTechnica on the rise of digital music downloads - "Kelly Clarkson went five times platinum, and American Idol contestants Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, and Bo Bice all went gold (more than 500,000 copies)."
• Metro.co.uk - X Factor winner to try her luck on American Idol - small Clay mention: "Season two runner up Clay Aiken and season four winner Carrie Underwood have also achieved massive chart success. "

• Blograham Lincoln (non-Clay blog) - good candidates for president in 2008 -

  4. Clay Aiken:
  Pros: Can you think of a better "voice for democracy"? Unlike most other potential candidates, has previous experience in elections on the national level.
  Cons: We'll need a constitutional amendment to allow someone under 35 to be president. Also, potential weakness on "toughness" regarding defense and terrorism

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

US Figure Skater Scott Smith Skates To The Tune of Clay Aiken

US figure skater Scott Smith skated to with "This Is The Night" on Four Continents Championships held in January 2006 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Here's a clip of the beautiful skate courtesy YouTube. Many thanks to CDD visitor cyn for the heads up!

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Drought Relief: Clay's Christmas Tour "One-Liners"

Need a little laughter or drought relief? Check out sorkid78's montage called "One Liners", courtesy Google Video.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Clay Took The Best International Cool Guy of Daum in Korea

We have some really exciting news for you. Narangclay, a Korean Clay fan, has posted on The Clayboard that Clay has been chosen as the best international Cool Guy of media-Daum. Daum, according to Narangclay, is the most popular portal site in Korea, taking in 50 percent of Korean portal site users. Be sure to click on our link to Daum's website. There are several great pictures of Clay over there. Though you won't be able to read the articles there, you can definitely tell that Clay is popular by scrolling through the pictures!

Narangclay said that he had the most recommendations for this honor and that the number of page views for him is over twenty thousand! She also posted:

Many Korean reply that 'we know and love Clay' on there. (Almost replies say cute, cool, have a good voice and personality, he is like angel...and so on). We so proud that we are Claymates. We really want you and Clay to know that there's many Asian and Korean Claymates.

Though we can't meet Clay close at hand. But, We always love him......

ps. Korean Claymates can only Hope a his visit to Korea.

I hope too that Clay will some day be able to travel overseas to perform for the many fans that he has in Korea and all over Asia. It would be exciting to hear about the success of a tour such as this. And it would be successful!!

Some of you may remember that back in October we had another article on CDD about the time that "A Thousand Different Ways" was released. A Korean fan sent pictures of a display of ATDW in their biggest music store. If you are interested you can check out this article in our archives.

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible

Tidbits 1/7

• Jacksonville.com has some new photos of Clay's December 21 Jacksonville, FL Christmas concert... certainly not the best shots I've seen, but they're not bad!
  
• Buffalo News - American Idol article has a great Clay mention:

  The finale between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken was the closest ever, with a margin of just 130,0000 votes giving Studdard the victory, although the millions of votes reportedly overwhelmed the phone system. Aiken has emerged as the bigger star of the two, winning two Billboard awards, but both he and Studdard have released three successful albums.

• ... and another mention in the Buffalo News:

  Donna Marie Saviola says during the finale of Season 2, she and her husband watched the show in Florida while visiting her mother. "My son called because he wanted Ruben Studdard and we wanted Clay [Aiken], and we got a phone message from him, "Ha ha ha!'"

• PopSugar - American Idol pop quiz - "Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken by this many votes:"
  
• Ripa/Clay/O'Donnell:
• Arizona Republic
• Edmonton Sun - gay mention/Conan O'Brien... (negative)

• Carolina on My Mind - Clay Aiken - A "beacon of hope". This is another beautiful blog from Carolina... WOW! Definitely a blog to add to your bookmarks.
• Taking A Moment - Jemock's Clay Aiken fan slang dictionary, part 2.
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible