Critical Mass 19 :: Clay Discussion

[Clanderson]

   HI PHILLY, I'M HERE! (what else is new eh?)



                                              I still have no life.

[Sundancer]

Workin'...

[aikenseeker]

Everyone sleeping in?

Uh-huh!

Just woke up a bit ago... and had to get my outfit ready for my interview today!

 

[IChris1]

Everyone sleeping in?

Uh-huh!

Just woke up a bit ago... and had to get my outfit ready for my interview today!

 

Susie, good luck 

[ILClaymate]

Everyone sleeping in?

Gee, I only wish! 

Sus ~ good luck at the interview. 

[Sundancer]

Scary.

No one posts for hours, but we've all got the window open anyway.

Good luck today, Suse!

[aikenseeker]

Thanks guys!

It is scary isn't it Sunny!

Yeesh! It's like we're waiting for someone else to start the ball rolling!

HEE!

[Sundancer]

It is scary isn't it Sunny!

Yeesh! It's like we're waiting for someone else to start the ball rolling!

Well, don't look at me; I'm shy.

[aikenseeker]

Well, don't look at me; I'm shy.

 

So what do we all think of the spray on tan eh?

[ILClaymate]

So what do we all think of the spray on tan eh?

I'm guessing it was for the wedding he was in.  Has he been asked about it?  Not that it is anyone's business I guess, just wondering.  I've been behind so I may have missed it.

Here's a new review from Syracuse last night that was kinda interesting.  I thought the venue was pretty full....1600?  Was this a very small venue?

In Review
Thursday, July 19, 2007Chuck Klaus Contributing writer
The appearance of "American Idol" 2003 second-place winner Clay Aiken before 1,600 screaming "Claymates" - well, about 600 or so were screaming - has given your obedient servant new insight into the reviews of earlier days.

I can now imagine myself trying to review the hysteria of the bobby socks and saddle shoes set when young Frank Sinatra first came on the scene, or writing a critique of the hordes when Elvis first appeared, or the shrieks that arose when The Beatles were just getting started.

And much like those fabled critics of yore, I simply don't get it. All of this large-scale Clayemotion confounds me, I fear.

Not to unduly knock Mr. Aiken. His has an interesting voice, fairly well-used within his chosen field of pop ballad singing. There's an interesting combination of elements making up his style: a touch of blue-eyed soul, a bit of modern country, some strains of soft rock and, perhaps the most dominant influence of all, contemporary Broadway. His voice is on-pitch, he treats most of his material in a fairly spacious manner, and his work is pleasant and fairly polished, in an extremely informal way.

This ease on stage, as well as a constant barrage of self-deprecating humor, may be one of the secrets of his success. Aiken, forever putting himself down, can hardly be seen as a threat to his female audience, and they evidently love him for that. He is the beloved singing teddy bear placed near a young girl's flouncy canopied bed.

Aiken, appearing with fellow American Idolers Quiana Parler and Angela Fisher, sang a wide range of music, from covers of Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" to his early hit "Measure of a Man" and material from his most recent release, "A Thousand Different Ways." He generously gave his "backup singers" - really more like co-singers - solo spots and lots of room for comic byplay, and gave a really nice pep talk on behalf of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, encouraging the enthusiastic audience to become season subscribers of the SSO.

Aiken also was generous in his praise of conductor-pianist - and evidently gifted arranger - Jesse Vargas, who coordinated well and with a minimum of fuss while providing solid piano support.

Aiken had the chance to perform a ballad for which he served as lyricist, which offered the SSO's cellist, Lindsay Groves, the chance to contribute a sonorous solo. Here was one instance where the Clayemotion of the audience paused long enough to allow Aiken to truly be heard, which turned out to be a source of further Clayelation.

SYRACUSE.COM

[GWENN]

GOOD MORNING ALL!!!!  I DID SLEEP IN AND THEN THE PHONE STARTED.  SO, HERE I AM WITH MY COFFEEE STILL KVELLING FROM MY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND ANXIOUSLY AWAITING MY NEXT. 

TOOK BARRY TO HIS FAVORITE RESTAURANT FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING.

BEING ABLE TO SHARE TUESDAYA WITH SO MANY OF YOU MADE IT ALL THE MORE SPECIAL.  THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

SUSY--GOOD LUCK TODAY.   

GWENN

[Marilyn]

From anntherese54 at the CH:

Greetings from donnamom's laptop in Syracuse. Hubby is waiting for me to head out to Canandaigua, so this needs to be quick.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

The color for tonight's M&G is GREEN. Clay got the idea from the green plastic that popped out of the fidget he was playing with at the beginning of the M&G.

Clay said that there would be a NEW SONG tonight in Canandaigua. I don't know if that means a NEW NEW song....or a NEW OLD song...or another TV theme song. He did not offer any more info than that.
Clay does an awesome imitation of a mating bullfrog.

Details to follow.

[lovinclay]

Good luck, Susie!

WOW     a new song!  Wonder what it will be.  I truly hope it's Lonely No More.  I hope he doesn't take a song out, though.

[Sundancer]

WOW     a new song!  Wonder what it will be. 

Maybe something about a horny bullfrog.

[Clanderson]

WOW     a new song!  Wonder what it will be. 

Maybe something about a horny bullfrog.

   Sundancer, you made me spit my coffee all over my keyboard!!
 Horny Bullfrog indeed.

[lovinclay]

WOW     a new song!  Wonder what it will be. 

Maybe something about a horny bullfrog.

That'll work!

[PHILLYLUVSCLAY]

Start checking your e-mails OFC just sent out the next batch of meet and greets....

[Marilyn]

Start checking your e-mails OFC just sent out the next batch of meet and greets....

YEAH-NOT A CHANCE!

[Marilyn]

OMG- THIS IS ON POPLICKS.COM!!

Twelve lessons I learned in the last month:

1. Before stealing a $320,000 Porsche from the dealership and driving it through the glass doors of the showroom, make sure the vehicle has enough gas in the tank to drive more than one mile.


2. If you fail to adhere to lesson #1 above, you can always fill a canister of gas, find the impounded Porsche at the police station, and steal the same vehicle for a second time.


3. You can not use the fact that a grocery store is having an awesome sale as an excuse for leaving your baby in a hot car or a defense to felony child neglect.


4. You cannot pay your parking ticket with dog feces.


5. If you want real Chinese food, you should go to China, because you're not getting it here in America.


6. If you are a man convicted for sexual assaulting a 13-year-old girl, you can be spared a prison sentence based on your height, assuming you are only 5'1" tall.


7. Do not shove a man on a plane or the FBI will be involved -- even if the man you shove is Clay Aiken and he was putting his feet on your armrest.


8. Do not get your hopes up about naming your child "4real" because the government may prevent you from doing so.


9. In Italy, you should follow popular custom by giving a female high school graduate a breast enlargement as a gift.


10. Speaking of plastic, don't complain to the police when a store clerk seizes your credit cards when your cards are counterfeit.


11. If you don't want to be one of the many women making less than men, don't choose the wrong college major.


12. When a sarcastic voiceover is dubbed over a product demonstration video for the Wii Fit, it can make the original product look pretty stupid.

[quynn]

There's an interesting combination of elements making up his style: a touch of blue-eyed soul, a bit of modern country, some strains of soft rock and, perhaps the most dominant influence of all, contemporary Broadway.

Can someone tell me what Clay sang in concert that was from Broadway?

he treats most of his material in a fairly spacious manner

What does this mean? 

Aiken, appearing with fellow American Idolers Quiana Parler and Angela Fisher,

Was Angela on AI?

He is the beloved singing teddy bear placed near a young girl's flouncy canopied bed.

I love this.  No mention of old ladies! 

His voice is on-pitch

Yep!  Good call!

Overall, a positive first review for the tour from a guy who just doesn't get it, but was open to a fair review.  I'll take that!