Topic: AIKEN NEWS NETWORK JULY 21, 2010 (Read 1770 times)

Marilyn · « **on:** July 21, 2010, 01:00:56 AM »

LINDSAY- SAW THIS AND HAD TO BRING IT OVER. HOPE THATS OK

Friday at the Biltmore Estate, you'll be seeing Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. But you should be thinking Sonny & Cher.

“We both love '70s variety shows,” Aiken said in a brief three-way telephone call on Tuesday. “We're an entity this summer: Ruben and Clay.”

“I notice you put my name first,” Studdard said with a laugh.

Friday is the kickoff for a three-week, 17-show coast-to-coast road trip that reunites the two top finishers from the second season of “American Idol.” In case you've forgotten, Ruben won, but Clay sold more records.

Not that any of that matters now, seven years later. Times have changed, the guys have changed, and the songs they'll be singing have changed.

“We are going to be singing timeless material that we grew up listening to, that our mothers listened to around the house,” Studdard said. “Everyone's going to have a good time.”

“It was not our goal at all to do a show where one person sang and then the other person sang,” Aiken said, perhaps unconsciously referring to the format of the annual “Idols Live” tour that trots out each season's “American Idol” top finishers.

“We're doing the whole show together,” Aiken said.

The tour is a product of the two friends — they've been close ever since the show — finally being at the helm of their own careers. It's a nice change after some post-“Idol” years of dictated management, when “decisions were made in a vacuum — a vacuum that you're not even in,” Aiken said.

“Obviously we had different experiences but similar circumstances,” he said of their post-“Idol” ups and downs. “It takes a few years to get on your feet and make decisions for yourself.”

One recent decision: Do more live shows. “I think Ruben and I both, while we like recording, are really live performers at heart,” Aiken said.

“I've been performing since I was 10-11 years old,” Studdard said. “I really like singing for my fans.”

The material will be wide-ranging, drawing from both men's catalogs — including Aiken's new CD of pop standards, “Tried and True” — and adding fresh classics. “It's a variety show,” Aiken said. “It's the spice of life.”

Aiken is kicking off the tour in his home state, and he calls the Asheville area “probably one of the most beautiful parts of the state.”

Growing up in Raleigh, he said, “We always went to the mountains on vacation. I sunburned too easily, so we didn't go to the beach.”

Studdard grew up in Alabama. While both are Southerners, the singers agreed that their musical tastes reflected different traditions.

“I don't know that we overlap too much at all,” Aiken said. “That's kind of what made this show fun.”

“My taste is more caviar,” Studdard added.

To which Aiken responded, “And mine is barbecue.”

CITIZEN-TIMES

mimi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2010, 08:22:00 AM »

Thanks for the article..I especially liked the last part..Rubens taste is caviar, and Clay's is barbecue..to funny.

Tiffany · « **Reply #2 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:22:47 AM »

Here's a video interview with Clay in 2 parts. Taped it yesterday at PBS in GA from a blogger. Answers some fan questions.

http://blogs.ajc.com/american-idol-blog/2010/07/21/clay-aiken-answers-fan-questions/

Tiffany · « **Reply #3 on:** July 21, 2010, 02:51:42 PM »

From an Asheville radio station with Clay and Ruben. Fun interview!

http://www.star1043.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=standard.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/30353/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/30353/3236/richmedia/Clay_and_Ruben_interview_edited.mp3?CCOMRRMID=19693769&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=ASHEVILLE-NC&NG_FORMAT=&NG_ID=&OR_NEWSFORMAT=&OWNER=3236&SERVER_NAME=www.star1043.com&SITE_ID=3236&STATION_ID=WQNQ-FM&TRACK=

Tiffany · « **Reply #4 on:** July 21, 2010, 03:40:56 PM »

Here's a short interview out of Melbourne.

http://brevard.metromix.com/music/article/clay-aiken-and-ruben-melbourne/2081414/content

wvclayfan · « **Reply #5 on:** July 21, 2010, 05:05:12 PM »

Quote from: Marilyn on July 21, 2010, 01:00:56 AM

LINDSAY- SAW THIS AND HAD TO BRING IT OVER. HOPE THATS OK

Yes - and thank you! This is my first spare moment of the day, so I didn't get to start the news (obviously

)

Carolina Clay · « **Reply #6 on:** July 21, 2010, 09:37:56 PM »

Hello, ANN!

Media promos for the Clay Aiken-Ruben Studdard Timeless Tour preview the humorous banter, friendship, and musical styles the artists will share in 17 venues beginning in Asheville Friday.

In addition, the new Carolina blog also features Decca's little known T&T promo via jukeboxes, graphics by Fountaindawg, and "firsts" for grandchildren Kai and Lia on their first day in Hawaii!

Thank you for your blog visits and comments. Have a great week, all!

Caro

CAROLINA ON MY MIND