Photos of Clay in Manhattan
WENN and People Magazine has posted some photos of Clay arriving at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan yesterday. What Clay is doing in New York is anyone's guess... maybe meetings about the new album?
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Thursday, August 09, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
A Note About CDD Clay News Weekly
A number of you have been emailing me regarding our weekly e-Newsletter, CDD Clay News Weekly.
CDD Clay News Weekly is currently unavailable because we have reached the maximum number of subscribers. CDD is looking at all our options to continue offering this newsletter to new subscribers.
Existing subscribers will continue receiving their copies of CDD Clay News Weekly as usual.
As an alternate, CDD Clay Today continues to be available from our partner FeedBlitz.
We apologize for the inconvenience.SecretlyLovesClay's Canandaigua Clips
The CB's SecretlyLovesClay posted a sneak peak at some of her upcoming clips from last month's Canandaigua, NY concert...
Clay Aiken - Canandaigua - Party All Night
Asheville Concert "Virtually Sold Out"
The Asheville Citizen Times is confirming that Clay's Asheville, NC show at Biltmore Estates on Saturday is nearly sold out.
“American Idol” star Clay Aiken looks like the biggest live show in Asheville this weekend – his Saturday night concert at Biltmore Estate is virutally sold out.
Some 3,000 tickets were originally available for the concert on the South Terrrace lawn at Biltmore and just a few scattered seats remained Tuesday, with none expected to be available at the gate by Saturday.
2007 Clammy Awards Announced
The 5th annual 2007 Clammy awards were announced today. The awards celebrates the very best in the Clay nation - with awards covering a variety of categories including banners, concert photos, essays, fan art, montages, poetry, stories, wallpapers and websites.
Clay's Daily Double was honored last year to have won the Clammy Award for best website. CDD is not eligible in this category this year; but we are looking forward to seeing what some of the best creative minds in the Clay nation have been up to the past year.
The Clammy Award website is now up and running though at this point, there appears to be nothing there except a few pictures. The awards are being run by the CB's clayscowchick through her website ItsAllAboutLove.
LBFCA Thinks Clay Aiken is Sexy!
The gals at LBFCA are back after a 3 month hiatus... check out their post "We Think Clay Aiken's Sexy".
Tidbits 8/8
Video of Jerry Aiken and Aron Hall's appearance on UNC-TV's N.C. Now is now up on ClackUnlimited. What great exposure for the TBAF!- Clay is #9 this week in the Lycos 50, as you will see in the Lycos PR issued today (scroll down... it's near the middle of this post). He moved up 5 spots from #14.
- Des Moines Register - "Juice" - tips for AI auditioners: "Wanna be the next Ruben Studdard? OK, maybe Clay Aiken?"
- New York Post - article about AI4 6th placer Constantine Maroulis -
EVERYONE knows even losers are winners on "American Idol."
Need proof? Take a gander at Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry - both are chart-topping, platinum-selling artists, even though they weren't crowned "Idols" - and don't forget Jennifer Hudson's Oscar win and Katharine McPhee's McPheever. - Atlanta Journal Constitution/Access Atlanta -
First place is overrated.
Just ask "American Idol" losers Clay Aiken or Chris Daughtry — or Miranda Lambert.
The country singer from Texas placed third in the first season of the USA Network's "Nashville Star," "American Idol's" country cousin, in 2003. But like those other two runners-up, Lambert has climbed higher than most of the series' winners. - Raleigh News & Observer - Raleigh rap artists looking to be the next big thing out of Raleigh -
As Raleigh police hurried the video shooters and bystanders off the corner early in the day, Small World thought about why he'll follow Clay Aiken as the next big thing from Raleigh and why North Carolina rappers haven't made a dramatic dent in the hip-hop scene.
- United Press International wire story - top search terms at Lycos -
The week's other most popular terms were MySpace, YouTube, Pokemon, Naruto, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Disney, Clay Aiken and WWE.
- Earth Times- Lycos Inc. PR -
The Lycos 50(TM) Top 10 Search Terms for the Week Ending Aug. 4, 2007:
9) Clay Aiken - Entertainment Weekly interviews Simon Cowell regarding his "talent search" based movie... uh... I think I'll pass on this one -
EW: Any plans to cast past Idols as judges or producers of the competition?
Simon: I can't imagine Clay Aiken producing the fictional show in this movie somehow, no. [Laughs] Maybe a choreographer or something, I don't know. - Foxes On Idol - article about "So You Think You Can Dance". Mentions Clay in these paragraphs about how people vote.
What surprised me was that Sara joined him out the door, not Lauren! However, I think a little American Idol history can explain just why she went now. In the second season, the final five were Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin, and Trenyce.
Josh was clearly the weakest at this point in the competition. Although the other four were all talented, Trenyce was seen as the weakest of them and everyone thought that after Josh left Trenyce would follow him.
But Josh had fans that called and called and called to save him and Trenyce was sent packing instead. She wasn’t as memorable as Ruben or Clay and she split votes with Kimberley, who was considered better. And with Carmen’s departure a week earlier, her fans also became complacent. - Houston Press - well... I completely disagree with this:
There’s a lot to be depressed about during the holiday season: a smaller-than-expected Christmas bonus, in-laws coming to visit, Clay Aiken television specials.
- Tour mentions
- Knoxville Metro Pulse... what does "dark in there" mean? "Sunday, Aug. 12: Clay Aiken performs tonight at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 p.m. Just one question, Aiken: Is it dark in there?"
- Northwest Herald - Waukegan Christmas concert
- Taking A Moment's Jemock sure has a story she's been waiting to tell... LOL -
SOMEBODY went and posted those pictures of Clay wearing some seriously and perilously low-slung pants. Gravity-defying britches, people. I don't know what's holding them up. Well, actually I know EXACTLY what's holding them up, but this is a family board, so cypher your own darn physics. I can't do everything, gosh. Oh, and he has his arms raised. Oh mama. Do you know the pictures I'm talking about? They're floating around all over the fandom, you can find them somewhere, I'm sure. Just make sure you have some bail money in your pocket, because these pictures are barely legal. And by "barely legal" I mean "awfully nice in an artistic and spiritual sense". What it is, is Clay's singing and dancing his big o'l heart out, and he's wearing a shirt with the tail untucked and the famously-ubiquitous undershirt has ridden way up somewhere around armpit level, and he's not wearing a belt and he's got some fine, fine hips on him, of which 90% of said hip is nekkidly visible
- Carolina On My Mind - Clay gains new fans in California
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Faye Parker Welcomes Japanese Claymates
A quick follow up to the story we posted on Saturday about 13 Japanese Claymates coming to see Clay live in California and North Carolina. Here are some photos of the Japanese contingent being welcomed to America by Clay's mom Faye Parker at the San Diego pre-party held last Thursday before Clay's concert.
Desert Local News: Great Concert Review
Another wonderful tour review came in today, this one courtesy the Desert Local News. Here's some of that they said about Clay's Indio, CA concert... also check out their concert photo gallery- there are some really nice shots in there.
Aiken wowed crowds with mostly covers, but of recognizable tunes, like Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away”, Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel”, Badfinger’s “Without You”, Foreigner’s “I Want To Know How Love Is”, and other well-known ballads. Between acts, Aiken told a few jokes that made the audience laugh. He and his backup singers even paid tribute to the Golden Age of Television with a medley of television theme songs.
Fans from all over California and all over the world came to see Aiken perform. Thirteen women from Japan flew out here just to see him, and then follow him all across the United States. “We love Clay,” said Mariko, one of the lucky 13. “He is very popular in Japan. We’re going to see him in North Carolina next.”
“He is hilarious, he is entertaining,” said Carrie Salensner from Los Angeles. “If people would come to one of his concerts, they will instantly love him.” Barbara White of San Diego agreed. “He is amazing, and a wonderful singer,” she says.
Photos of Clay at Cedar Point
GAH... Clay looks like a total movie-star stud with the hair in these photos from Clay's visit to Cedar Point in Ohio. Get your thud mats out and scroll down to see more.
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Update 8/9: 2 more photos have popped up at the CH -
TV Heads Up For NH, NC Fans
Few Clay related TV appearances tonight:
- Channel 9 WMUR in New Hampshire will broadcast some footage from Clay's Meadowbrook concert, from last month, on N.H. Chronicle tonight.
- UNC-TV in North Carolina ... Jerry Aiken and Aron Hall from the Bubel Aiken Foundation will be on UNC-TV tonight 7:30 PM
Tidbits 8/7
- Asheville Citizen Times - Clay's Biltmore Estates concert a near sell out:
“American Idol” star Clay Aiken looks like the biggest live show in Asheville this weekend – his Saturday night concert at Biltmore Estate is virutally sold out.
Some 3,000 tickets were originally available for the concert on the South Terrrace lawn at Biltmore and just a few scattered seats remained Tuesday, with none expected to be available at the gate by Saturday. - Asheville Citizen Times blog - about a confrontation at a B-52 concert this past weekend held at Biltmore Estates - "Will I go back to Biltmore to see another concert this summer? Probably not, even though I can't imagine Clay Aiken or Chris Issak fans getting that excited."
- Chicago Tribune slams AI4 6th placer Constantine Maroulis' album, but makes the case for why AI runner ups are important -
Because if runner-ups like Daughtry and Clay Aiken can put out better (and better-selling records) than some of the actual "Idol" winners, that means there's room for everyone.
- Dallas Morning News - American Idol sales numbers:
Clay Aiken, second-season runner-up:
Measure of a Man (2003), 2.8 million
Merry Christmas With Love (2004), 1.3 million
A Thousand Different Ways (2006), 516,000
Dallas/Fort Worth Star Telegraph - article about giving teenagers their own debit cards... remember the Clay Aiken MyPlash MasterCard thing?... Checking and savings for kids; debit card with checking; "Stash Your Cash" financial education program for middle-schoolers, featuring former American Idol stars Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Fantasia
- USA Today Listen Up - Jann Arden's version of "Solitaire" better than Clay's... what? "Arden’s simply, sweetly sentimental reading, from Uncover Me, serves Neil Sedaka’s chestnut far better than Clay Aiken’s overbaked version did."
- Delaware Online - Here's the not caring... Michael Buble "makes Clay Aiken sound like a karaoke singer at the Hi-Ho Tavern."
- There Was A Man - recaps and photos from Pala, CA show.
Monday, August 06, 2007
OLMass Tells Us Convincingly Why "The Best Is Yet To Come"
I don't think there is one person who would say that Clay's only talent is singing. Oh yes, that's the first thing we heard come out of Clay's mouth...that gorgeous singing voice. But the more Clay performs, the more we see him in concert, the more we see that Clay is a multi-talented person. A mega-talented entertainer. That makes him an absolute delight to see in concert, not just once, but over and over again.
OLMass from The Clayboard posts great words of wisdom pertaining to Clay on occasion. Just the other day, he did so again by starting a thread called "The Best Is Yet To Come". And I'd like to share his thoughts with you, as we all watch Clay during this summer tour grow even more in his many talents.
I didn't know whether to call this thread "The Entertainer" or "A Different Kind of Critic" because both apply. In the end, "The Best is Yet to Come" says it all.I couldn't agree more with OLMass. Clay is unbelievably talented in so many areas. I can't think of any pop or rock or hip hop or whatever star who could outshine Clay. He is a polished entertainer and just keeps getting better and better. I hope one day he does bring the variety show back on TV, just like greats like Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, and Red Skelton. He is every bit the performer that they are. And they don't make 'em like they used to....until Clay!!I've been watching all of the concert clack and trying not to be jealous of those of you having the opportunity to see it live. Clay has evolved so far beyond the "pop star" that AI hoped to find; he has become a consummate entertainer. Can you picture any other top ten AI contestant doing the kind of show Clay does. And it is a show; it is much more than a current recording artist performing a concert. Clay entertains; singing just happens to be one of the things he does (and does best) to entertain.
As Clay continues to hone his showmanship, I think he will begin to attract a different kind of critic in both the professional and the fan now that Clay has proven he is not just another flash-in-the-pan pop star. I can see him easily morphing into a variety performer with the same brilliance as a Carol Burnett or a Danny Kaye. He may just be the one to bring back that kind of entertainment. As far as I'm concerned, with what most radio has become, it doesn't matter to me if he ever has another top-40 hit or if he is ever again called a pop star. He is so much more as an entertainer and the best is yet to come.
California Leg Comes To An End in Indio
Magical Holiday Tour 2007: New Jersey Gets Another Concert
Whatever happened to "I'm touring the west coast this Christmas", I have no idea. Another east coast - specifically, New Jersey - date has popped up for the 2007 Magical Holiday Christmas Tour.
Morristown, NJ
Mayo Center of the Performing Arts
Thursday, December 13
8:00pm
Capacity: 1270
$55 - $95
Tickets on sale to venue members Monday, August 13 at 10:00am by phone - 973-539-8008
Ticket on sale to the general public begin Wednesday, August 15 at 9:00am through the venue website.
USA Today Idol Chatter Poll: Time To Vote, Claymates!
OK guys... it's time to vote for Clay on the USA Today: Idol Chatter poll we told you about last week.
Let them know who we thought should have won ... get to work - click here to go to the USA Today: Idol Chatter poll.
To submit your vote, you must register at the site and leave a comment as per instructions on the page.
Voting ends on Thursday.
Tidbits 8/6
- Atlanta Journal Constitution - Clay Aiken coming to Atlanta -
Clay Aiken spoke to our nightlife/leisure reporter David Graves about his upcoming tour stop at Chastain Park Amphitheatre Wednesday, August 15 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I might have to ask David for the full interview. What we posted online is only four questions and naturally, there’s nothing about his personal life. Here’s the link..
He’s going to perform songs off his last album (covers such as “Open Arms” and “Every Time You Go Away”) and upbeat songs such as “Baby Got Back” and “1999.” Yes, Clay performing “Baby Got Back.” That is not a typo folks. The Sir-Mix-A-Lot bootylicious song and Clay Aiken. That alone makes me want to go and see him just to have my jaw hit the concrete. 
Look who's listed at the Columbus Symphony's MySpace page as the #1 friend - Clay!- Concert listings:
- Wilmington Star - Cary, NC - "Clay Aiken, with the N.C. Symphony Orchestra: 7 p.m. Aug. 10. $32.50-$55."
- Dallas Morning News - hints for the AI wannabe -
FUN WITH MAKEOVERS: You might want to ugly yourself up a bit so that producers can spot something attractive underneath and want to transform you, à la Clay Aiken or Elliott Yamin. It's amazing what dollar-store glasses, a bowl-cut hairdo and high-water pants will do to make a person under.
- New Yorker - "Idol: The Musical" in events calendar
- Foxes on Idol - Canadian Idol heads to Toronto musical based on Queen - "We Will Rock You"... they musical makes reference to pop cultural icons including Madonna and Clay:
The local version of the script has been tweaked to incorporate multiple references to Canada and Toronto, and also to keep other references current. Also spoofed are American Idol, boy bands (“the death of rock”), and many pop icons such as Clay Aiken, Madonna, Britney Spears, and, of course, Céline Dion.
- Press release via PRWeb - Idols coming to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT ... this really has nothing to do with Clay's concert there later this year... the PR just makes reference to the "Ruben and Clay" season of AI - "Trenyce was an American Idol from season two which produced Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. This season was a competitive one with lots of talented idols."
- Idolator finds some Clay fan's signs disturbing....
- Nothing here yet
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Billboard's Mobile Beat Gives The Greek Concert a Fantastic Review
It is rare that a review of a Clay concert can be found that has nothing but positive things to say about that concert. But I believe that Billboard's Mobile Beat Review by David Chung is just that review!! The review is quite long and there are so many awesome things said about Clay, his songs, his banter, Angela and Quiana, and the orchestra, that just summerizing it just wouldn't do it justice.
Cutting to the chase, here is a snippet of his review (bolding is mine). Don't forget to head over to the Billboard blog to read the entire thing ... Read it slowly and savor it. This is one to be reread and remembered!
Clay Aiken, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, August 4th, 2007
by Dave Chung
Part concert, part comedy show, Clay Aiken and a live orchestra performed in front of a few thousand of his most dedicated fans on Saturday night. Before the show, I had spoken with fans of the American Idol runner up, or Claymaniacs, who told me that an Aiken concert is as much about his interaction with the audience as it is about his trademark big vocals. I was a little skeptical about how this would turn out because I appreciate rapid fire performances in live concerts. However, many an Aiken concert veteran assured me that I was in for a great night on this stop of The Soft Rock & A Hard Place Tour. Thankfully, Aiken delivered. In an entertaining two hour set, Aiken and his background vocalists Angela Fisher and Quiana Parler put together an upbeat night (somehow, in a set filled with ballads) that was just as filled with laughter (legitimate “LOL,” “LMAO,” “ROFL” laughter) from the audience as it was with strong performances coming from the performers on stage.
The second I walked into the venue, I knew this was going to be a concert unlike any other. After hanging out with teenage girls (again, holler!) last week at Carrie Underwood’s show, I expected a similar crowd for another American Idol alumnus. Instead, it was a much older crowd than I expected (median age 45?), skewed about 90% female. The stage was set up for a full orchestra, something I wasn’t expecting, but was pleasantly surprised to find. As one of the few non-balding males in attendance (not that there’s anything wrong with balding), I was an anomaly at the show. I found two girls with a “Clay took our concert virginity” poster, which was more of what I was expecting from the night’s audience. Seeing them and their sign made me feel more at ease because I was a Clay concert-virgin that night and they seemed pretty happy with their first experience. I suppose it says something when people come back for more after that first intimate experience…instead of not returning your text messages… nor calling back… perhaps blocking on IM…maybe even Google chat… Wait, what are we talking about?
...In what was probably the most relaxing concert I’ve ever attended with the most respectful crowd I’ve ever been a part of (I am positive not a single expletive was spoken all night), Clay Aiken put on a great show vocally and in terms of entertainment for the audience in attendance. Not only is Aiken a powerful vocalist who has developed his own identity and following that has gone well past him being a “guy from American Idol,” but he puts on a hilarious show that is filled with more laughs that you’d ever expect from a ballad-filled evening. While I wish that Aiken performed some more songs from his first CD, few Aiken fans would ever leave his show unsatisfied, as the singer manages to make everyone feel like they’re just hanging out with Clay and his band for the night. With strong vocals throughout the night and random banter that surprisingly did not annoy me between songs (almost an impossible task), Aiken became more than just a singer to me tonight, but lived up to his reputation as a strong entertainer as well.
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