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The Clack House
The People's Republic of Clay
Interpenetration. Primal Voice. Primal Reaction.
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| Upcoming Events |
| Jul 31 - SILVER LEGACY CASINO, RENO, NV 8:00 PM PDT |
| Jul 31 - CLAY AIKEN: TRIED & TRUE LIVE! (CA,CO,FL, LA, NE, NC, OH |
| Aug 01 - CLUB NOKIA, LOS ANGELES, CA 7:00 PM PDT |
| Aug 01 - CLAY AIKEN:TRIED & TRUE LIVE! (CO,FL,GA,IN,MI,NV,NY,NC+) |
| Aug 02 - CLAY AIKEN: TRIED & TRUE LIVE! (AL,AZ,CA,FL,NH,NM,NC,OH, |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:24 am GMT Post subject: Media links July 16 to July 22, 2007 |
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Don't forget to check out the Calendar for a look at what's coming up.
The latest concert planning is found in the Summer Tour 2007 forum.
And don't forget to read event recaps in the Recaps & Reactions forum. |
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Notacanuck
Two-Strapper
Joined: 06 Aug 2003
Posts: 8314
Location: North Dakota
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| Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:51 am GMT Post subject: |
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Spartanburg Herald Journal (SC)
Program has lasting Impact on special campers, counselors
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Amid the squeals of children playing kickball in the hot sun and swimming in the cool indoor pool, Patrick Moran feels welcomed.
The bright-eyed 13-year-old eagerly enjoyed dancing and singing cheers with fellow campers Monday.
"It's fun when you have friends around playing with you," said Moran, who attends E.P. Todd Elementary.
Mingling with other kids is important for children like Patrick, who has special needs. And to make him feel included, a group of local volunteers worked with the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to bring Camp IMPACT to the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan.
IMPACT stands for Inspiring, Motivating and Progressing to Achieve Challenges Together. Begun in 2004, Camp IMPACT is a part of the "Let's All Play" program, which creates communities where all children can learn, live and play together.
There are four sites across America that have begun Camp IMPACT - one in Kansas City, one in Indiana and two in North Carolina. These are the model sites, and the goal is to have at least 100 camps by next year. The Middle Tyger camp is a pilot program, and hopefully it will be able to receive grants and donations to hire more staff and offer services to more kids next summer.
Currently, 16 children with special needs are mixed into the Middle Tyger's summer camp, which is serving about 100 kids. The program is free for children with special needs, and there are still a few more open slots.
"That's the beauty of it - that with the right community support, you can almost do this without adding money to your budget," said Aron Hall, director of services for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.
Rita Smith and her friend, Sandra Graham, heard about the foundation because they are Clay Aiken fans. The two Spartanburg women decided to work with the local YMCA and gather volunteers to make it happen. Camp began last Monday and will end this Friday.
"It's not just kids with disabilities who benefit from being included - everybody involved gets some benefit out of it," said Hall.
And Smith agrees that the program allows children with special needs to feel accepted by other children.
"This is stretching their abilities to do things and to extend their capabilities," said Smith. "For the typical children, it's giving them the opportunity to feel comfortable around children with disabilities. So it helps them, too - helps them become more sensitive."
Camp IMPACT's youngest volunteer is 10-year-old Mikayla Johnson. Her 7-year-old brother is autistic. And although her brother is not a part of Camp IMPACT, Mikayla has devoted last week and this week to helping young people better understand children with special needs.
"They need to spend some time with them and see that they're just like regular people," said Johnson, who aspires to teach special education one day. "I live with a sibling that has special needs, and I know how to take care of him."
And at least one parent says Camp IMPACT is truly making its mark. Betsy and Jeff Randall's 7-year-old daughter Micah attends S.O.A.R. Academy, a newly opened private school that serves children with special needs. So interacting with children outside of her classmates and 4-year-old brother and teenaged sister is beneficial for Micah.
"They don't have a lot of choices to be with other kids, and there aren't a lot of other camps they can go to where they have the supervision they need," Betsy Randall said.
Micah's made a new friend at camp and is looking forward to horseback riding later this week.
"She has been so excited," Randall said. "This is a great opportunity for her." |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:15 am GMT Post subject: |
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Official Fan Club
Clay blogged on Tuesday, July 17th.
Clay thanked everyone for coming to the Philly show and apologized for the fact that he couldn't walk the "hand shake line". He said the venue was very restrictive and wouldn't allow him to come out. He will do his best to walk the line every other night.
His current mood is "sleepy" and he's listening to "Quiana complaining"!! |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:34 am GMT Post subject: |
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Philly.com
Out and about
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Clay Aiken popped into Davio's (111 S. 17th) for dinner Monday night. The singer, who played the Mann Center last night, went for cheesesteak spring rolls and pasta bolognese and tipped very graciously. The "American Idol" alum also chose Davio's while in town for a concert last fall.
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:51 am GMT Post subject: |
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The Observer.com
Former American Idol star Clay Aiken, to perform at Institution July 20
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7/15/2007 - CHAUTAUQUA — Clay Aiken, former American Idol star, will make his debut performance at Chautauqua Institution on Friday, highlighting the schedule during the fourth week of the institution’s season.
The pop singer’s performance will be at 8:15 p.m. in the Amphitheater. |
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Ms Marmalade
CHECK THE CH CALENDAR AND CNN THREAD!
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Ms Marmalade
CHECK THE CH CALENDAR AND CNN THREAD!
Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:20 am GMT Post subject: |
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Union Leader.com
Attention, Claymates
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Nashua Symphony Orchestra will provide the musical backdrop for Clay Aiken when the pop singer visits the picturesque Lakes Region for an 8 p.m. concert Wednesday, July 25, at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford.
"Meadowbrook contacted us and invited us to perform with Clay Aiken," said Caroline Mardiasmenos, spokeswoman for the orchestra.
As the runner-up in Fox TV’s second "American Idol" singing competition, Aiken garnered scores of fans -- or devoted "Claymates" -- in 2003 with his Southern charm, easygoing demeanor and bright voice.
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:56 am GMT Post subject: |
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Syracuse Post-Standard
In review
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Chuck 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. |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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Ms Marmalade
CHECK THE CH CALENDAR AND CNN THREAD!
Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:01 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Wake World
CDub Team Rant: Cheese, Laundromats, and Double Ups
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| Huge thanks to the crew at Dbot5 Pro Audio. Our X Star demo boats will literally level mature trees when we turn up Clay Aiken. You need to check out their new speakers at Dbot5.com. If you're not into speakers, try their golf clubs. |
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Notacanuck
Two-Strapper
Joined: 06 Aug 2003
Posts: 8314
Location: North Dakota
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm GMT Post subject: |
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The NH Broadcaster
Nashua Symphony teams up with Clay Aiken
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NASHUA -- Though the Nashua Symphony Orchestra can't promise a "number one" on the Billboard charts, it can certainly reach for the stars and perform with the biggest out there.
On July 25, the orchestra will share the stage with American pop idol Clay Aiken at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford.
As the runner-up to Fox TV's second American Idol, Clay Aiken wowed television audiences in 2003 with his Southern charm, sweet demeanor, and bright, glorious voice, and became a pop star. Out of 7,000 hopefuls, the Charlotte, N.C. native won the hearts of the judges as well as millions of fans across the world. Aiken's debut single, "This Is the Night," made history by going number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. It sold more than 392,000 copies during its first week, beating Elton John's record for "Candle in the Wind 1997."
The Nashua Symphony Orchestra, which will be conducted by Clay Aiken's music director, Jesse Vargas, was invited to perform by Meadowbrook. This is not the first time the orchestra and Meadowbrook have collaborated. In 2002 the orchestra performed with the Irish Tenors.
More information about the Nashua Symphony Association can be found online at www.nashuasymphony.org or by calling 603-595-9156.
Clay Aiken with the Nashua Symphony
When: July 25, 8 p.m.
Where: Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavillion, Gilford
Tickets: Available at the Meadowbrook box office, www.meadowbrook.com or 603-293-4700. Group discounts and accessible seats are available. |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:15 pm GMT Post subject: |
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OC Register.com
Daughtry not quite up to snuff
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In the six years since the "American Idol" stranglehold on pop culture began, no finalist has distanced himself from that conformity machine faster or more effectively than Chris Daughtry, who with able assistance from his surnamed band Sunday night at Pacific Amphitheatre sold out the biggest area date yet in his short career – and without any marquee help from opening acts.
Only Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken have been able to pull off such feats on the West Coast, though neither has maintained that level of live popularity locally. Note the let's-regroup cancellation of Clarkson's summer tour because of sluggish ticket sales, or the fact that Aiken's long-on-sale Aug. 4 stop at the Greek has yet to fill up.
True, Kelly and Clay (and don't forget Fantasia) have become as much their own entities as Daughtry, with Clarkson in particular striking a convincing blow to Clive Davis' product-tie-in empire with her confessional new album "My December." But that's her third, and it took at least two discs for both her and Fantasia to even start to seem like phenomena that could stand on their own legs, without "Idol" as a crutch. Clay, meanwhile, is still recovering from the relative failure of the Clive-demanded misfire "A Thousand Different Ways."
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:41 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Waterloo Courier
Waverly native finds her voice on 'Evan Almighty' soundtrack
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WAVERLY --- Nikki Hassman has shared the stage with Grammy award winners and now has found a place on the big screen --- or at least the soundtrack to the big screen. Her latest performance, with her husband Adam Anders, is in "Evan Almighty," which opened last month in theaters nationwide.
<snip>
Hassman and Anders work from a 10,000-square-foot complex, Pulse Studios on Broadway, near Union Square in New York City. They collaborate with a wide range of artists, from urban pop to guitar-driven pop/rock. Their client roster includes some of the biggest names in the music business --- Backstreet Boys, Cheryl Crow, Clay Aiken, Nick Lachey and Celine Dion |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:28 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Idolator.com
Who Wants to Abuse an Orchestra?
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Noted Beatles coverers Cheap Trick will play all of Sgt. Pepper with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and joining them will be Aimee Mann, Joan Osborne, two other dudes, and "an Indian instrumental ensemble" for "Within You Without You." Meanwhile, noted glasses-wearers The Decemberists are on a tour wherein they play with a different orchestra in every city, and earlier this week they played with the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, apparently not very well. (The countdown to Tribune critic Greg Kot getting flamed by Colin Meloy's girlfriend starts now.) Coincidentally, on the same night Clay Aiken performed with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, apparently kinda well. So which one of these performances would you rather see (if forced)? And how long before the Claymates descend and tilt our poll in their hero's direction?
Which would you rather see?
* The Decemberists with orchestra
* Cheap Trick (doing The Beatles Sgt Pepper album) with orchestra
* Clay Aiken & Friends with orchestra
* Trans Siberian Orchestra
* Just an orchestra by itself
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Ms Marmalade
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:03 pm GMT Post subject: |
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EW.com
Also in print edition
| snowdrop wrote: |
There are a couple of eh Clay mentions in this week's EW (July 27, Simpsons movie on the cover.)
On page 16 is this short article about the off broadway show. Includes a pic of Clay from the AMAs & a pic of what I guess are the cast worshiping a drawing of Clay.
| Quote: |
Their Aiken Hearts: The Claymates Get a Musical
Now this screams Theater of the Absurd: On July 5, the satiric Off Broadway production Idol: The Musical — a low-budget send-up of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken's rabid, easily spoofable fan base — debuted for a nine-week run at NYC's pint-size 45th Street Theatre. It's about a club of small-town Ohio high schoolers so in love with Aiken that they don choir robes and worship a crude 10-foot statue of him during ''meetings'' that are more like religious rituals. ''These kids have found that this is their place to belong,'' says creator-producer Todd Ellis. ''Other clubs, like the Red Hat ladies, wear funny hats. These guys wear funny robes.'' Gushy songs like ''Idolize,'' ''Quakin' for Aiken,'' and ''Burnin' Hunk of Clay'' — during which one character practically makes love to her in-progress sculpture of the pop star — provide a campy, hummable soundtrack. No word on what Aiken thinks of the show (his reps didn't return calls for comment), but Ellis, an avowed fan who feels the crooner should have won season 2, never wavered about which Idol to use for inspiration. ''It was always Clay,'' he says. ''Claymates advance the theme that society has become obsessed with Idol and the contestants.'' Plus, they're always good for a laugh. |
And if you don't go running out to buy EW for that, there's also a large article about how the AI gang does after the show. The main pic includes Kelly, Carrie, Daughtry, and Elliott. Then along with the article, there are report cards for all 4 of them (large pics included), and then on the last page of the article, there are smaller report cards & teeny pics for Ruben, Kat, Fantasia, and Taylor. Sort of odd that there is no report card on Clay, though I guess I wouldn't have liked what it had to say anyway. *g*
There are very few mentions of Clay in the article. He is mentioned in the first paragraph:
| Quote: |
| A year ago, at the close of the fifth and most popular season of American Idol, it was easy to envision how the following 12 months might unfold. Winner Taylor Hicks, trading on his appeal among older women, would enjoy something akin to Clay Aiken's early multiplatinum career. |
It goes on to imagine what was going happen with the AIers that year, and then went on to say, this is what really happened. A few paragraphs later:
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| Idol favorites Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, and Fantasia all rode postshow momentum to big sales, but as TV fans moved on to new seasons, each singer stumbled with sophomore efforts. Once again, their TV appeal (Clay the boyish innocent, Ruben the teddy bear, Fantasia the hard-luck story) just didn't translate to a pop-music context, where a catchy tune is more important than a big voice or personality. ''There are a ton of chicks in church on Sunday that sing awesome, but just because you can sing doesn't mean you have good songs,'' says Booker. Idol's Randy Jackson agrees: ''The songs are way bigger than the artists — trust me. If records don't sell, it means the songs are bad.'' RCA Music Group exec VP Tom Corson, a key member of the Idol team, defends the artists, insisting that Fantasia — whose latest has moved 431,000 copies — has ''done just fine'' and that Hicks' 690,000 albums sold are ''nothing to shake a stick at.'' But when you consider that an average 33.9 million viewers watched Hicks' and Fantasia's victory episodes, those numbers look pretty unimpressive. |
No other mention of Clay in the article. In Daughtry's report card, it says that he's the "second-best-selling non winner, after Clay." The report cards are Carrie & Daughtry get As, Kelly A-, Elliott & Fantasia get Bs, Taylor C, Ruben C+, Kat C-. Fill in your own blank for Clay, since he's not included.
You can read the whole article here. |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 12:51 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Aspen Daily News.com
The Power of Jim Croce ... and MuteMath?
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Jason Hood - Time Out Music Columnist
To any reader out there who may have done poorly on the essay portion of their high school SATs, please don’t fret.The forthcoming inquiry will be in a multiple choice format. The subject of our question will be "Popular Music of the Last 40 Years." OK, go!
MC5 are to Rage Against the Machine as Julie Andrews is to:
a) 50 Cent
b) Zamphir (King of the Pan Flute)
c) Marilyn Manson
d) Clay Aiken
Oh so close. While most of you said Marilyn Manson, the correct response is d) Clay Aiken, Clay Aiken.
The reason for the correlation is of course they are both talented, attractive and giftedly outspoken women with voices which whisper like a gentle breeze blowing through an orchard of sugarplums and periwinkle.
While I kid the fans of Andrews and Aiken, I also respect them. Both artists are true talents and there are probably thousands upon thousands of people who were first introduced to the wonder of music through one of their songs. I myself was introduced to the sublime world of rhythm, melody and harmony through another icon known for his softer side. My very first memory is my parents fighting over who would retain ownership of their once-shared copy of Jim Croce’s, "Time in a Bottle (LP)," (my mom won, she also got a Freddie Fender I never really cared for, but I digress).
Why would this seemingly nonsensical argument make such an impression on my 4-year-old psyche? The answer is easy: I saw how powerful something as simple as voice and instrumentation on a vinyl record could be in the lives of the two people I loved more than anything in the world. Instantly there was a third love in my life.
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Ms Marmalade
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:50 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Picnic with the Pops.com
Picnic News
On the right you see "Click here to view our TV spot" . . . . and it includes video of Clay. It looks like the TV spot they used to advertise the series. |
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 1:21 am GMT Post subject: |
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This Week News.com
This Week's Highlights
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Saturday, July 21
Aiken for More
What is it about former American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken that gets the girls swooning? Is it his wholesome boy-next-door looks, now more mature and smoldering courtesy of a brunette bowl cut? Is it the lingering effects of his debut CD, Measure of a Man, or his unique reinterpretations of Richard Marx and Celine Dion on A Thousand Different Ways? Perhaps we'll never be able to quantify that certain something that launched Aiken on his 15-plus minutes of fame, but it will make for a good guessing game during Picnic with the Pops this Saturday, where Aiken will perform as a special guest with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
—Melissa Starker
WHAT: Clay Aiken at Picnic with the Pops
WHEN: Saturday, July 21
WHERE: Chemical Abstracts Service lawn, Campus
WEB: columbussymphony.org
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Ms Marmalade
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Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 20462
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 2:53 am GMT Post subject: |
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Post Gazette.com
Travel Manners on an Airplane
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These tips will help you chill even when there's nothing to eat, your seat mate won't stop talking and you can't move
<snip>
The incident this month came only days after former "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken fell asleep on a Continental flight, his foot landing on the arm rest of the passenger in front of him. The singer claims he was awakened by a quick hit to the chest by the annoyed passenger, prompting an argument and a call to the FBI, though no charges were filed.
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The article is accompanied by the following handy instruction card:
Air Travel Etiquette Instructions
| Quote: |
| In the event Clay Aiken's foot lands on your armrest, remain calm. |
This is accompanied by an illustration of Clay. |
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Ms Marmalade
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Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:11 pm GMT Post subject: |
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Columbus Dispatch
Aiken's appearance thrills female crowd
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Sunday, July 22, 2007 3:59 AM
By Lynn Green
FOR THE DISPATCH
"You don't even care what you're screaming at, do you?" Clay Aiken teasingly asked the squealing women scattered across the lawn of Chemical Abstracts Service last night.
"I could say anything." He paused. "Carburetor." Women whistled and cheered.
Aiken, the American Idol runner-up turned adult-pop star, headlined the Columbus Symphony Orchestra's Picnic with the Pops program last night.
His audience is mostly women; his singing is polished, and his attitude is upbeat. Every moment of his performance is safe and stylized. He exudes sincerity and earnestness, but, like so many pop singers, he lacks compelling originality.
Aiken specializes in adult-contemporary ballads as well as covers of hit soft-rock songs from the 1980s.
His current tour also features medleys of 1970s and '80s television themes and of "fast songs you can do with an orchestra," the latter of which included such silly gems as Sir Mix-A-Lot's Baby Got Back, Usher's Yeah, and Kenny Chesney's She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy.
He also led a singalong of Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel, asking for help with the words (which were handed out in advance).
One of Aiken's endearing traits is his gently self-depreciating humor.
"We have more gentlemen in the audience than we usually have," he observed. "Either the women in Columbus are strong-willed, or the alcohol tab is very high for the men here."
Backup singers Angela Fisher and Quiana Parler, both accomplished musicians in their own right, made strong impressions with solo numbers. Fisher got a huge cheer for Listen from the movie Dreamgirls, while Parler ended the first half of the program with a stirring performance of Faith Hill's When the Lights Go Down.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, unfortunately, seemed to be a minor player. The orchestral arrangements might or might not have been good, but they were drowned out in the front section of seating. Occasionally the brass or violins would cut through Aiken’s band for a few moments, only to be obscured by the next crescendo.
Aiken's strongest moment was his performance of Lover All Alone, for which he wrote the lyrics. In spite of jarring intonation problems from his guitarist, he loosened his grip on the polished, practiced stage manner and truly connected with his own soul.
And for those few minutes, the squealing fans, the strong-willed women, the devoted husbands and the rest of the audience fell absolutely silent in appreciation.
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