It was a busy morning this past Saturday on Backstage Live- we had three dynamo personalities stop by to chat.Clay Aiken is doing the circuit promoting his new album "Tried and True". He had promoted it on his site, which meant that a ton of fans were tuned in to our show waiting to see and talk to him live. We spoke about the album, his upcoming tour with fellow "Idol" alum Ruben Studdard, his work with UNICEF and why he's just not into the whole Twitter thing./p> ...
Clay Aiken has revealed that he was picked on at school as a child for being gay.The singer, who remembered being teased and called names, recently became a public supporter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in order to ensure that students like himself are safe and happy."I don't know what it would have done for me. But I feel like there's a potential impact there," ...
...Where does this leave general season favorite Crystal Bowersox, and what does she now have in common with Adam Lambert, Clay Aiken, and Blake Lewis? Well first off, it leaves in her in a nice comfy position; there’s zero doubt that countless record labels have already obliterated her door offering (most likely) very lucrative contracts. As for the latter question: like Lambert, Aiken and Lewis, she lost to an inferior musician and performer. ...
Monday, June 07, 2010The Classics - and The Classy!Everyone knows I have eclectic taste in music. I like my rock to really rock (not the Daughtry-kind) so I still play Ten Years After and Pink Floyd and The Doors. I still go to cafes to listen to folk music and I see Tom Paxton every single time he's playing near me - even as recently as a few months ago and at 72 he's still funny, warm and emotionally touching. And over the holiday weekend I was thrilled to be sitting in a wine bar in my little town, sipping a martini and listening to the fabulous jazz guitarist and legend, Bucky Pizzarelli still dynamite at 84 years young. I don't know why it is that I don't gravitate to one kind of music only but I feel fortunate that I don't. I know music is subjective and some people simply don't "feel" anything but pop or classical strikes them right. I have a million moods and a million songs to fit them. I think I'm lucky that way....I've been thinking a lot about this particularly since Clay Aiken's new album Tried and True arrived at my doorstep. Now I love Clay's voice but I've never been one who's said "he can sing the phone book and I'll be happy". I have zero interest in hearing the phone book sung by anyone - including a voice as interesting as Clay's. Music matters to me. I wasn't happy when I heard he was singing "covers" but I became much more interested when I heard he was singing "standards". I never tire of hearing Ella sing "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and Kenny Rankin's version of 'Round Midnight will be on my deserted island. So I was excited about this album - and it didn't disappoint me at all. And Clay's rendition of Misty keeps inching over on Sarah Vaughan's which shocks the heck out of me!...
Four Steps Schools Can Take to Address Anti-LGBT Bullying and HarassmentAnti-LGBT bullying is a widespread problem in America’s schools, which requires a focused response. GLSEN recommends four approaches that schools can implement now to address anti-LGBT bullying and make schools safer for all students.
ThinkB4YouSpeak Campaign Educator’s GuideIn partnership with the Ad Council, GLSEN has created an educator’s guide to accompany its PSA campaign about the hurtful and demeaning term “that’s so gay.” The guide assists middle and high school educators in presenting the various components of this campaign to students, framing and discussing the ads in class, and extending student learning about
