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MCWL Up 1 Spot on Billboard Holiday Chart

Merry Christmas With Love rose 1 spot to #15 on Billboard's Holiday albums list this week.

More Info From Lycos50 Year-End List

We have more to report on the Lycos50 Year-End list, a list of the 100 most searched for term on Lycos.com. We reported on Dec. 7 that Clay had made the list at #64. Lycos today revealed more stats! Clay is the 5th most searched for man, only out-searched by rap singers Eminem, 50 Cent, Tupac and R&B singer Usher. Clay even beat 2005 newsmakers Michael Jackson and Brad Pitt and was given the title of 'the ones to watch for in 2006'. You can see a complete list of stats, released today by Lycos here (Web Users Have Spoken: Paris Hilton Is the Most-Searched Term of 2005).

Update 12/13: This is being mentioned at a whole spade of websites.... including:
RealityTVMagazine

Mary, Did You Know Enters RadioMaxMusic Charts

Clay's Mary, Did You Know re-entered online radio, RadioMaxMusic.com's top 70 chart at #70 this week. You can find out more information, including voting info, by visiting RadioMaxMusic.com. Invisible, The Way, I Will Carry You and a few other Clay Christmas tunes have charted as well in past years.

Clay's UNICEFusa.org Profile Updated

Clay's UNICEFusa.org profile was updated a week ago. We only noticed today. It mentions Clay has visited 4 schools this fall, but only two have so far been publicized- New York PS 3 and Learning Projects ES in Boston. Hmmm....

Bolded part is the new addition.

Education is essential to a child's development. I hope that as an Ambassador I can encourage people to join UNICEF's mission to make education a reality for children throughout the world."
Clay Aiken

Clay Aiken was appointed U.S. Fund for UNICEF Ambassador in 2004. He is particularly committed to supporting UNICEF's education programs.

Here is the latest on his efforts for the world's children.

During his 2005 winter tour, Clay visited four U.S. schools that participated in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF and tsunami fundraising efforts.

Updated December 5, 2005

Vancouver Province Mention

The Vancouver Province mentioned Clay today in a review of Fantasia's concert with Kanye West.

From the CB:

Haven't posted in a while, but I was tickled to see a positive mention of Clay by Stuart Derndyn, the music critic. Fantasia opened last night for Kanye West and she was apparently not good, or as he put it, a stinker. Last line in his review: Fantasia you're no Clay Aiken.

New A Clay Aiken Christmas Review

The San Francisco Chronicle posted this review of last year's A Clay Aiken Christmas DVD today.

A CLAY AIKEN CHRISTMAS

Clay Aiken was made for Christmas. Possibly in a lab. Think about it: He's a pinch of Charlie Brown, a dash of Hermey the wannabe dentist, bits of Bing and Perry Como and Johnny Mathis (and scraps of Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand and Cindy Lou Who). Originally aired in 2004 as an NBC special (Megan Mullally has mysteriously disappeared from the DVD version), Aiken's one-hour, nine-song show has the "American Idol" runner-up and his guests casually wandering around an overdecorated living room set crammed with seasonal signifiers -- you've got your frosted windowpanes, candles glowing, etc. It starts out with a gimmicky postmodern opener, pulling back to show how the "illusion" is created, but that's dropped pretty quickly in favor of the traditionally goopy format of Christmas shows of yore. Determinedly dorky in a droopy pea-soup-green sweater and saggy jeans, clear-voiced Aiken keeps it simple and unpretentious for the most part, only occasionally succumbing to the scourge of the age -- that unnecessary melisma beloved of "American Idol" singers. He hands off "White Christmas" to Barry Manilow (they have matching baby-chick 'dos), who is off-puttingly showbizzy in contrast. The disc's only extra is a behind-the-scenes short of Aiken and the on-set audience being bossed around by the director. -- Joe Brown

Clay Aiken
A Clay Aiken Christmas
2004
Rca
$14.98

Joyful Noise Tour 2005

If you have no been to our special news blog for the Joyful Noise Tour 2005 - for the most detailed, complete and in-depth news coverage from he Joyful Noise Tour 2005. Click here to go to our special JNT blog.

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Composers 'Fight' For Clay

Matt Bronleewe, the co-writer of Clay's new song Compromise (which we first reported last week) sheds some insight into the tough competition song writers face to get onto Clay's sophomore album. Matt wrote this in his blog in May after attending a ASCAP songwriting conference.

I just got back from a big song meeting (ASCAP Pro Songwriter Conference in Nashville, TN) regarding Clay Aiken's next record. In the room were fifty (50!!!) of some of the biggest songwriters in music today, all vying for a spot on his record. Wild stuff. I think even those of us in the music industry didn't realize the level of competition on this record. The cool thing is that quite a few of us in the room are good friends, and right away we all talked about how we could help each other get some songs together for the project.

After the festivities had subsided, I got together with a couple other songwriters to discuss the spectacle we had just witnessed. One of the guys was completely bummed out. I asked him why. He said it was because he just found out, in front of everyone, that the song he had pitched for Clay's album had been rejected. Ouch. I consoled him with my story of once having a song of mine rejected by the Muppets - and let me tell you, when you are rejected by foam puppets, you've reached the bottom of the rejection pile. Oh well. You just have to dust off your boots and press forward, because right around the corner can be something AMAZING. Anyone in the creative industry has to quickly get used to rejection. For the creative professional, it's not just a common occurrence, it's a li

Good Morning America 12/18 and 12/25

Clay's pre-empted Good Morning America appearance yesterday has been rescheduled to the following dates, as announced by the Official Fanclub.

• Dec. 18 - Good Morning America Sunday - Clay will sing Mary, Did You Know.
• Dec. 25 - Good Morning America Christmas Day Special Edition - Clay sings My Grown Up Christmas List.
  

Bo Bice Works with MOAM Producer

Season 4 runner up has been working with Clif Magness, who also worked with Clay on Measure Of A Man, reports MTV.

Intestines, 'Idol,' Baby And Bon Jovi Helped Inspire Bo Bice's Debut
12.09.2005 5:07 PM EST

LOS ANGELES — Bo Bice is in denial. The credits on his debut album, The Real Thing, due Tuesday, include Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

A year ago, maybe. But these days, Bo Bice is no regular cat. As the runner-up on "American Idol," he earned a chance to work with guys like Kroeger and top-notch producers and songwriters like Marti Frederikson, Kara Dioguardi, Clif Magness, Max Martin and John Shanks. And while he may be humbled, he's seizing the opportunity.

Bo did co-write two of the tracks, "It's My Life" with Magness and Dioguardi, and "Valley of Angels" with Magness, who also worked on Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken's albums.

Fantasia Following Kelly, Clay's Footsteps

Small mention - article about Fantasia opening for Kanye West in LA. Says Fantasia is following footsteps of Clay and Kelly.

Kanye keeps the dawgs in, focus on
It's all about the music at HP Pavilion as the king of hip-hop pounds out one hit after another
By Jim HarringtonCONTRIBUTOR

FANS IN San Jose witnessed what is arguably, and unfortunately, the rarest feat in all of pop music on Wednesday night: They saw a big-name hip-hop show that was completely void of cliches.

Megastar Kanye West didn't ask the folks at HP Pavilion to put their hands in the air and wave them like they just don't care. He didn't have us say "hey" or "ho," nor did he take the time to remember Tupac, Biggie or any other "fallen soldier."

The show opened with sets by soul singers Keyshia Cole and Fantasia, the 2004 "American Idol" champ. Following in the footsteps of Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, Fantasia has done a good job parlaying her small-screen fame into a successful start in the pop music world. Her debut CD, "Free Yourself," entered the Billboard charts at No. 8 in November 2004, and her self-affirming R&B anthem "I Believe" was the best-selling single of last year.

No More Christmas Classics... But Clay Aiken?

Short blurb about Clay in this article asking why TV studios no longer produce animated Christmas specials anymore.

Where Are The New Holiday Classics?
The other day, I was sitting in my optometrist's chair, patiently waiting for my first eye exam in, well, five years. I know, I know. Five years is ridiculous. Really ridiculous. I agree. I'm gonna be better. I promise.

Are you reading this, mom?

Anyway, before checking out my painfully strained 42-year-old peepers, my eye doctor, as always, wanted to briefly chat about the boob tube.

"It must be real busy for you right now," he said.

"Not really," I replied while squinting to read an absurdly blurry line that looked like hieroglyphics scrawled by a toddler. "During this time of year, all you see are reruns and Christmas specials."

And that got me thinking on the short drive back to my office -- Why doesn't television make animated Christmas shows anymore?

That's why instead of seeing new animated specials, we're getting holidays shows featuring Clay Aiken, Nick and Jessica (no last names are needed, I'm sure) and sappy holiday movies starring the likes of Peter Falk, Joe Mantegna, Steven Weber and Tom Cavanagh.

Clay Gives Family A Claysmas To Remember

Anika Jones never expected what she got last night. Airing on FOX last night, Dear Santa was a one-hour special where 'santa' granted the wishes of 4 special kids. Anika had hoped that her father would be back from Iraq and so that the family could spend their first Christmas together in years. Clay was on hand to help welcome her dad, and other Marines serving in Anika's dad's divison home after a 9 month tour in Iraq. Aiken felt that it was important because Brett (Clay's brother) had also just returned home from Iraq. To celebrate the occasion, Clay sang an abridged version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, while Clay's rendition of My Grown Up Christmas List was used as background music for a video montage about the family.

Clack should be up at hte usual places: Vivavoce, Allthingsclayaiken.com, Measureofafan.com and the Clayboard.

We would like to thank CDD Clay News Weekly subscriber Romy for this fantastic recap of the show.

The "Dear Santa" program, shown on Friday, Dec. 9. 2005, starred Santa
and four celebrities who helped present gifts to four specially chosen
children who wrote Santa Claus through US Postal Service.
The celebrities included Raven Symone, Hillary Duff, Tony Hawk and
Clay Aiken. Clay was featured in the last segment where a little six
year old girl wished for her daddy, Greg Jones, to come home for
Christmas. The family, including the mother, a younger sister and
Amika, hadn't spent Christmas with their father for the past four years
While Amika was doing gymnastics, getting ready for a meet, her daddy
walked into the gym and she leaped into his arms. Clay's voice was
heard in the background singing "My Grown Up Christmas List" . The
family was shown spending Christmas together, having dinner and
attending a special party at Fort Lewis for the families of soldiers
serving overseas.
At the party, sponsored by the Moral, Welfare and Recreation
Association, Clay came on the stage and sang a short version of "Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," with Andy on the guitar and William
Joseph on the piano. His rendition was quietly gentle and sincere.
His face just radiated with a sweet smile.
Sartorially dressed, Clay wore a dark gray suit with white stripes
and a red shirt, a shade I couldn't identify. This was completed with
a dark blue tie patterned with large white circles. He looked like a
Christmas present that any Claymate would love to find under the tree.
He presented the MWR with a Jeep, one of the sponsors of the show.
His part of the show was very short, but he did mention that his
brother had returned from Iraq and he could sympathize with these
families. Amika said, "he is a very good singer." We agree.

Clair Dilly Rendered Speechless by Her Idol

Clay appeared on the Discovery Health Channel's 'Sextuplets Turn 12', a special documentary about the Dilly family, who have not one, two or three - but 7 twins. One of the sextuplets, Clair Dilly is a huge Clay fan and finally met Clay this past summer at the Indiana State Fair. She loves Clay so much that she "sometimes she says good morning" to Clay's picture hanging, notes her sister. "Clair is like obsessed with Clay Aiken. She goes to his website like every single day", says her brother. Discovery cameras followed Clair to the Indiana state fair this past August.

Clay: Have a seat, have a seat. Did you guys have fun?
Claire: Yeah.
Clay: Only two girls, huh? Wow! Your brothers didn't want to come to the show?
Claire: No... (laughs)
Clay: What is that about?

(Clair is rendered speechless -- takes photo with Clay)

Videos are now available at Vivavoce and should be up at ATCA and MOAF soon.

Infotainment show, The Insider showed clips from the special last Thursday.

Clay Mention on 12/8 Conan O'Brien Show

Clay was mentioned last night on Conan O'Brien's late night show.

From the CB's murah15:

So Im watching Conan....and he's doing a piece in FAO Schwarz. Well we were at the Early Show monday morning and we saw people filming inside the store. I was talking to a security guard and he was like "look its Clay" which I knew it wasnt....

In any case, now they are showing the clip and he says "look at those fans outside The Early Show *shows Claymates* they think I'm Clay Aiken" So it was apparently Conan O Brien filming his segment while we were all there for Clay.

Ummmmmmm, you WISH Conan! I think he's lucky that he was inside that building and no one realized it was him!!

Clay Mentions On The Internet

Reference of ACAC DVD on this review of the Gilmore Girls DVD.

Gilmore Girls: The Complete Fourth Season
DVD Review

To be honest, Rory's storylines are often fairly week, especially early on. The writers don't much capture the feel of college life, nor do they really explore the angst a mama's girl like Rory would feel moving away from home. Instead, they offer, say, her annoying quest for the perfect study tree (who the hell studies under a tree? That's where you pretend to study, Rory), or her surprised reaction when the subject of a negative theater review she writes for the school paper strikes back (whatever, Rory, just don't insult Clay Aiken).

Who bunch of mentions about tonight's Dear Santa appearance. Source: ClayReport.com

• The skinny
• On TV Tonight
• Tube notes
• TV: Nightmare Before Christmas

Um. Clay Aiken and Jay-Z?

From Angry Fat Man

Congress should do politics and send Clay to... (PG-13 Rated)

Congress should stick to politics

Children's Entertainer Influenced By Clay

Abridged article.

Mr. Steve knows all about entertaining kids
With upbeat songs, playful lyrics, balloon creations and a few tricks up his sleeve, Mr. Steve delights children with his musical comedy show.

Steve Lundquist, 51, of Rockford, IL uses music, magic, ballooning and even his audience as part of his performance.

I like the harmonies of the Beach Boys, Larry Gatlin, and today I like Rascal Flats, Garth Brooks, Clay Aiken and Bo Bice.

Hilarous DVD-A-Thon

Looks like someone is got bored. For a good laugh, check out Salamander's Clay Aiken Christmas DVD-A-Thon. Who knew Clay Aiken could make Barney appealing. :0