Clay's Picture Perfect Tours: Part 8 - The Soft Rock and a Hard Place Tour

We've been looking back at all of Clay's tours, starting with the American Idol 2 Tour through today's topic, The Soft Rock and a Hard Place Tour, aka The ATDW Tour. We've seen some great memories of these tours through pictures and video. There hasn't been a bad tour in the bunch. All are classic Clay, from his first shirt tug to his last thank you in Orlando this year. More good memories than we could ever have hoped for have come from these tours.

I hope you have enjoyed each of these articles about the tours and that maybe you saw something in the photos and videos that you had forgotten about and that brought a smile to your face. Being that the ATDW Tour has only been over about a month, there's not too much that you could have forgotten about by now. But its always good to go back and look at some great pictures of Clay, no matter when or where they come from.

Before looking at the pictures, here are some memories that fans from The Clayboard wrote about. Maybe they are your memories as well:

Sunshinewagon - "They're in my SHIRT" (the bugs) and then "Love songs for the mosquitos, gettin' 'em in the MOOD" SRHPT

"Uuummmmm..yeah.......uuuuummmmm.......yeah..dltsl...yeah.....yeah......... It's hot.........that's the problem........it's really hot.
Singing to "Flat Clay" in Pala.
Singing "Listen" with Quiana in Sterling Heights.
Every performance of "Because You Loved Me" especially the last night.

Rpoppert - My very first Meet and Greet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww songs! Slowwwwwwwwww and eeeeeeeeeasy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Flat Clay!! The Jeffeerson's dance! Classics medley, especially Party All Night move. More skin ever seen on this tour!! Lover All Alone live! Every single night of Because You Loved Me!!!!
Getting the handshake line two out of my four shows!!! The first two times ever in four years, getting a handshake at the busses!!!! For all tours! Clay's humor!!!!!

Riversend22 - I have two memories from this past tour. The first was when he talked to me in Pala because I had apparently blurted out that he was sexy and Quiana heard me and called me on it. It made for a very funny moment. The second was during the TV Medley at the West Palm Beach show. During the "Who's the Boss" theme, Clay had noticed that I was singing and getting very into the song because I love it, and at one part when he says "Found a trail and at the end was you"...he had reached out towards me which was just cute. So yes...I have many many memories. I love and cherish each and every one and I look forward to making more in the years to come.

BamaClayFan - Summer 2007 Tour - Asheville show - I'll never forget.

Sugar4Clay - Sterling Hts "Listen" duet...beautiful, impromptu, perfect. Participating in the cellcerts, getting to know others in the ClayNation, watching this amazing young man become the huge star that he deserves.

There are so many things I could say to sum the tour series up, but I think I'll just end it simply by saying, "Clay, thanks for the memories...thank you...so much."

















From You Tube - Classics Medley/Orlando (By Floridabelle)




From You Tube - Lover All Alone/Orlando (By Claykitty01)




From You Tube - Because You Loved Me/Orlando (RVzLady)

Clay's Picture Perfect Tours: Part 7 - Christmas Tour 2006

After going all of 2006 without a tour, everyone was very excited about Clay's 2006 Joyful Noise Tour. This tour had Clay singing both traditional holiday songs and inspirational spiritual Christmas songs. Mixed in with these songs was Clay's typical funny banter. It was a night to be remembered, as all of Clay's concerts are, and a tour to get everyone in the spirit of Christmas.

So many things stand out about this tour. Of course that first night when Clay missed that note in All Is Well was something we never expected. I think everyone left feeling really bad for Clay. But then, the next night at Merrillville, as everyone sat on the edge of their seats scarcely breathing, with fingers crossed and a little nervousness in his face, Clay hit that note right on and never missed it again the whole tour. The place exploded when he hit the note. I was at the cellcert, and you could feel the excitement right through the my computer screen!

Then there was a sick Clay, so sick he had to be helped off stage one night, so sick he had to sit down and hold on tight for one or two concerts. But the only thing he missed out of those several nights he was ill was one encore song. He sang his heart out, hit all the notes, bantered hilariously, and never missed a beat. And no doubt he did this for the fans. Me? I'd have been home in bed, having cancelled the concert for being too sick to perform. Not Clay though. Clay gives his all for the fans. Always and in every way.

Once again, some of the fans at the Clayboard have given us their memories of this tour.

Rpoppert - JNT2006, was the only tour so far I have not attended, but I stil lhave to say All Is Well, and My Grown Up Christmas List, and DSIAFCD.. best memories. Plus, word of the day!

Claykevfan - I've been to one show every tour. I have loved every one and something special has happened at each that I will remember and cherish. But the most special has to be last Christmas's JNT in Merrillville when Clay sang "All is Well" and hit the glory note. It was beyond magical--as everyone in the audience was literally breathing along with him, "willing" him to hit that note, which he did quite brilliantly. Everyone was cheering, screaming--crying. And that beautiful smile on his face afterwards, it was just too incredible for words.

J4clay - I saw him twice in person during this tour, and both concerts were so special. But being at the cellcert the night that he hit the glory note in All Is Well was amazing. The anticipation of waiting for that note and hoping and praying he would hit it that night was unbelievable. You could feel the tenseness right through your computer screen. When he hit it and the cellcerter told us about his reaction and the crowd's reaction, I just burst into uncontrollable tears. I was so happy and so proud of him. I was so pleased that the fans showed him the love and support he deserved. That was an amazing moment for me, especially knowing there was this bond all over the country between fans listening to that moment.

Next time we will have our last part of these special tour memories, and the tour we'll remember was just about a month ago. Hardly forgotten, and yet worth remembering again.

















Don't Save It All For Christmas Day From YouTube(By Clayletter)




All is Well, from the Merrillville show, is our next YouTube video for you to watch. I just watched it at YouTube (see video below). Watching Clay in the video is phenomenal. As he sings AIW, the look of determination on his face is amazing. He had something of the utmost importance to him and his fans to do. He wanted to make certain he hit that last note. He didn't want to disappoint his fans. He was bound and determined that he would not miss it. The focus and resolve on his face brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it. You can see it in his eyes and the way he looks intently straight ahead. He is so very focused.

Then he hits the "next to highest" long note as a precursor to the final note. Perfection on that one. A spattering of heartfelt applause can be heard in the audience.

All is welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Then he swallows, the french horn blares its note, and he begins singing the last verse of the song in a higher key.

Born is now Emmanuel
Born is our Lord and Savior
Singing Alleluia
Singing Alleluia
All is (quick breath) wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.

He closes his eyes and sings with every fiber of his being. The note is perfect, not a flaw. He holds it out for what seems like an eternity. And the place comes unglued. The fans immediately show their love for him with a huge standing ovation unlike any he's ever had, except maybe for his homecoming in Raleigh during the AI2 tour. They leap from their seats, cheering for him. They couldn't stay sitting down if they wanted to. Its a reflexive reaction. They want to show Clay their support and that they knew he would hit the note.

Clay goes "whew", throws his head slightly back, bows his head twice and smiles...then smiles bigger. Then opens his eyes wide and opens his mouth wide, like "Wow, I did it! I did it!" He's so proud and pleased that he did what he set out to do, and he did it for his fans. To please them. Next an even bigger smile and a big bow, complete with that long flowing hair falling down over his face. He then raises his hand to his head and sweeps back the hair and then motions a thank you with his hand. He motions to the orchestra and walks off. Task accomplished. Love between singer and fans is obvious. All certainly is well. And he never missed that note again, for the rest of the tour.

Love and pride personified, between Clay and his fans...between the fans and Clay. Its moments like this that make it all worthwhile and that make me feel blessed to be a fan of the most amazing and special person there is.

I dare ya watch the video and not cry. Its impossible.

We love you, Clay Aiken.


All Is Well - Merrillville From YouTube (By GooodBabyBrush)

Clay's Picture Perfect Tours: Part 6 - The Joyful Noise Tour 2005

The Joyful Noise Tour 2005...and what a joyful noise it gave to us. Not only did we get to hear some of the most beautiful Christmas songs sung by the voice perfectly made for those songs, but we got to share in a festive and inspirational story written by none other than Clay Aiken. A story with a message of sharing Christmas with those we love, celebrating the holiday with friends and family, and giving to others 365 days a year. Personally, I watched this program 5 times, and I could have watched it that many more and still not been tired of it.

Again, we asked some of the fans from The Clayboard to give us so me of their treasured memories of this Christmas show. Here are a few of those:

Rainlover - Singing Beautiful Star of Bethlehem to his grandfather.

Rpoppert - DSIAFCD!!!! Good News. Star of Bethlehem, sung to his grandfather. The whole play written by Clay was beautiful.

Riversend22 - My greatest memory from this tour was getting to meet Clay in a meet and greet for the first time. He looked so beautiful.

Kildeerclaygal - He brought me to tears with "Good News" at JNT05
Treking through 12 inches of snow to Waukegan last Christmas for a fabulous show and a wonderful dinner with my fellow Claymates!!

LuvTacos - But the one that stands out is KC, JNT 05...the night we had the battery operated candles and held them up during DSIAFCD. It was a night that Clay probably really needed a huge hug and he got one, via the candles. The look on his face, I will never forget.

Sugar4clay - Christmas tour with the play...we traveled to Denver to visit friends and see this show. He was starting to reveal his true self to his fans, and it felt very close and warm.

Psmurf752 - From the 2nd Joyful Noise Tour (2005) in Council Bluffs, Iowa
1) the white suit
2) Clay singing Emmanuel in the white suit

Every tour has its own set of special memories. Thanks to Clay, we have more memories than could even fit in the Grand Canyon.

Next time we'll remember the Joyful Noise Tour 06. Now, here are some photo and YouTube memories of JNT 05.


















BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM (From YouTube)




GOOD NEWS (From YouTube)