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Archive => Solo Tour 2004 => Topic started by: Marilyn on June 09, 2010, 10:57:53 PM

Title: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 09, 2010, 10:57:53 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
« on: July 09, 2004, 07:41:12 AM » 

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Please note:  Media previews and reviews will be posted here for posterity.  They will also be posted in the ANN the day after the concert, so please have all discussion about them there.  Thanks!

GRAND FORKS REVIEW




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RALPH ENGELSTAD ARENA CONCERT: Clay Aiken draws Claymates, Claynadians and Aiken Hearts
Fans from Winnipeg make bus trip to Grand Forks

By Emily Tobin
Special to the Herald

When I walked into the Clay Aiken concert with my two best friends, I thought I was prepared for his legions of adoring fans. I was wrong.

I knew there would be Claymates, but I was not prepared for Claynadians, some of Clay's most loyal fans from Canada.

Sporting maple leaves and "I love Clay" pins, Courtney Black, 15, and Liz Andree and Krystin Cullum, both 16, had driven all the way from Winnipeg on Thursday to see their idol perform in Ralph Engelstad Arena. Part of a fan club called Aiken Hearts, they estimated at least 60 people had bused from Winnipeg to Grand Forks to see Clay. (Concert attendance numbers were not immediately available.)

Worth the trip

It was definitely worth the trip, they said.

"I always thought he had the look, no matter what Simon says," Black said. Simon, of course, is Simon Cowell, one of the three judges from "American Idol," the TV show that in its second season made Aiken a star.

Sitting a row in front of the three teenagers was fellow Claynadian Colette Berube, 59."I'm not even a teenager and I have a crush on him," Berube said.

Mostly female fans

Clay's fan base at the concert appeared to be predominantly female but the age range was impressive. I sat next to four young girls whose shirts spelled out C-L-A-Y. On back, they read "Aiken for Clay," and the sleeve bore a heart that read "Claymates." They were definitely proud to be outrageous fans.

"Some guys see us and are like, 'Eww," but I don't care," said Jozy Hansen, soon to be an eighth-grader.

The C-L-A-Y girls, Hansen, Rachel Boetter, Laura Dahlstrom and Jocelyn Fetsch, also appreciated opening act, Cherie. They agreed she sounded just like Celine Dion and was very beautiful.

Cherie wowed the crowd with her powerful ballads and strong voice. What wowed me was that she managed to hold those notes while in stiletto heels.

By the time Clay took the stage, the C-L-A-Y girls had taken out my right eardrum, and they weren't the only ones screaming.

Refreshing

Other attendees of the concert included three women from Grafton, N.D., all sisters and grandmothers. Phyllis Eng, 70, said she finds Clay refreshing because she can understand what he's singing. Her sister, Margie Kennedy, 75, said Clay reminded her of her own boys, clean cut and well mannered.

Clay opened the concert back-lit by bright lights when a section of stairs rose to reveal him. One of the Claynadian girls said it was incredible. I thought it looked like E.T. had landed again. Not only that, but his hair was bigger than Cherie's.

Clay's might have taken himself a little too seriously. He appeared more comfortable when he was simply joking around. In between songs, he pointed up to a suite and said "Someone up there is watching the game and I wonder what the score is."

And Clay's concern for the female audience was evident. After a bit of prolonged screaming, he stopped mid-sentence and said, "Someone is gonna go hoarse tonight."

After a short intermission, Clay changed into what resembled clown pants. A male friend of mine who attended the concert informed me, "If I ever dress like that, please kill me." So Clay should fire his stylist.

Aiken's concert was ballad heavy, opening with a cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." It also included hits from "American Idol," including "This is the Night" and "Solitaire." The highlight of the night was an acoustic break that featured Clay and his three backup singers on a medley of James Taylor songs, including "Fire and Rain," "Sweet Baby James" and "Whenever I See Your Smiling Face."

Clay's fans appreciated not only his touching ballads but also his efforts to raise money for special needs children. One sign read, "My family thanks you for raising autism awareness."

All hair jokes aside, Clay presented himself well, giving up stage time to acknowledge the amazing talent in his back-up singers, and taking time to say "I love you too" to his screaming fans.

GRAND FORKS HERALD
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 09, 2010, 11:02:04 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2004, 12:37:13 AM » 

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SIOUX FALLS PREVIEW


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The Lovable Loser
By: Monica LaBelle
Argus Leader

Published: Jul 8, 2004

No. 2 ‘Idol’ sings tonight at the Arena

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact makeup of a “lovable loser.” But Clay Aiken seems to fit the bill.

Cute, tame, kind of geeky and with a smile that shines brighter than his singing voice, Aiken is easy to love. And since he lost the finals of the 2003 “American Idol” competition to the R&B-leaning Ruben Studdard, Aiken has been – by definition – a loser.

But unlike other likeable displaced “Idols” (Justin Guarini comes to mind), Aiken has managed to transcend the awkward position of being voted second best.

While Studdard ruled the second season of “Idol,” Aiken’s post-“Idol” career has been more befitting of royalty.

His first song, the saccharin pop tune “This is the Night,” became the best-selling single of 2003. And his debut album, “Measure of a Man,” has gone platinum, selling close to three million copies. Meanwhile, Studdard is struggling to find some airtime for his videos on VH1 Soul.

“Clay should have been the winner because out of the two, he’s a better package to sell as a pop idol,” says Chuck Wood, program director at Hot 104.7 FM.

Tonight, fans can determine that for themselves when Aiken performs at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Some have criticized Aiken’s voice – in an April concert review, Los Angeles Times critic Richard Cromelin called it “thin and pinched, with uncertain pitch and little versatility.”

Others bemoan the fact that a TV show, which is essentially a popularity contest, launched his career.

Aiken wasn’t available to defend himself, but he doesn’t have to. Somehow, this polite guy has risen past the criticism to amass a fan following usually reserved for boy bands or lesser-known deities.

Dubbed “Claymates” – or sometimes “Claymaniacs ”– Aiken’s fans obsessively journal his daily life – like what days he wears certain jewelry – on Web sites dedicated to his Clayness. They follow him no matter the distance – Arena officials say they’ve sold tickets for tonight’s show from as far away as the East Coast.

And this past March, 400 Claymates gathered in North Carolina for “Clayvention 2004.” You can be sure the meeting didn’t discuss the merits of clay pottery.

“The Claymaniacs are crazy,” Wood says. “For being on the scene only a year, he’s got an amazing following.”

Not surprisingly, most of his fan base is female.

Numerous concert reviews document an estrogen-laden audience. And Wood says, “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a guy call in for Clay Aiken. And if he did, it was for his girlfriend.”

Perhaps this is why Aiken’s presence is so polarizing. Few people have mild feelings toward the ex-“Idol.” They tend to either love or hate him.

“There is more division in the audience than there even was with the boy bands,” Wood says. “You’ll get the hate call. Then you’ll follow that up with people who say we can’t play enough Clay.”

Even his peers love him.

When asked if Aiken had less credibility because he launched his career on television, tonight’s opening act Cherie – a heralded up-and-coming French pop singer – says, “No. Because he’s still a very good singer.”

She talked favorably about the opening slot appointment.

“It’s an honor, really, that he agreed to have me on his tour,” Cherie says. “I don’t think of him as the ‘American Idol’ thing. I think of him as a really good singer.”

But while his star is certainly bright right now, Wood is skeptical about Aiken’s long-term appeal.

“No. Disposable pop. I put him in the same category as the boy bands,” Wood says. “But, he might have some longevity because he does have talent.”

Man, this loser is just too lovable.

SIOUX FALLS ENTERTAINMENT


SIOUX FALLS REVIEW

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Aiken pleases the mostly female crowd
Monica LaBelle
published: 7/10/2004

Audience eats up his style

The Sioux Falls Arena was host to an abundance of estrogen Friday night.

Few males could be seen in the high-energy audience for superstar Clay Aiken.

Wearing a workplace-style ensemble of khakis, shiny blue shirt and green tie, Aiken and his considerably more talented backup band roused South Dakota fans to their feet.

Aiken opened with an impressive rendition of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," then slipped into the less dynamic songs from his hit album, "Measure of a Man."

The audience of 3,200 included many middle-aged women, some wearing homemade Clay Aiken shirts.

They weren't hard to please, despite the unvarying styles of his songs that accommodate his limited vocal range.

But with Southern gracefulness, Aiken admitted to the audience his harmonizing disability and let his backup trio get solo time to belt smooth grooves and James Taylor songs.

And that was the melodic highlight of the concert - besides the opening act, French import Cherie, who set expectations high with her wide-ranging vocals and throaty rock-song finish.

The mellow, wide-eyed Aiken from "American Idol" competition days was replaced with a more eager persona that was sure of its possession of the crowd.

Stage experience was evident as Aiken plied audience members for dance moves by telling them they could move better than his recent North Dakota audience.

"They don't have anything on you as far as signs," he told the front rows of Claymates.

His occasional attempts at lighthearted banter seemed tight and rehearsed, not genuine.

After a 15-minute intermission, though, Aiken busted back on stage in a fresh variation of the previous blue shirt and moved easily to "Perfect Day."

ARGUS LEADER

 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 09, 2010, 11:07:41 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2004, 11:11:32 AM » 

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APPLETON/GRAND CHUTE PREVIEWS


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Aiken grows comfortable in his celebrity status
By Steven Hyden
Post-Crescent staff writer

Clay Aiken is enjoying the ride.

The ride has taken the 25-year-old singer from college student to pop stardom in just over a year. He took second on the second season of “American Idol,” but arguably has emerged as the show’s most popular graduate. His debut album, “Measure of a Man,” has sold three million copies. Many critics noted that Aiken was the bigger draw during a spring tour with fellow “Idol” alum Kelly Clarkson.

The ride now includes a first-ever solo tour that comes tonight to Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Stadium officials expect about 6,000 people to turn out for the concert.

Aiken’s rise has been so rapid that he admits he hasn’t processed it all yet. He’s just trying to live in the moment and enjoy it while it lasts.

“I don’t want to become one of those celebrity people who is trying to squeeze as much out of their 15 minutes as possible,” Aiken said. “I’d like to allow that to last as long as it can. If God decides to make it last 20 minutes, I’m ready for it to happen.”

In a phone interview with The Post-Crescent, Aiken discussed the new tour, media coverage of his personal life and taking control of his career after “Idol.”

Q: What should fans expect from this tour?

A: It’s a family-oriented show. That’s been our focus. I don’t like doing things that I would be ashamed of or wouldn’t want kids of my own, if I had kids, to see. There’s a lot of songs from the album, “Measure of a Man.” We have some cover songs of stuff that I’ve liked throughout the years. … It’s a good mix of new stuff and some old stuff as well.

Q: You have an incredibly devoted fan base. Have you gotten used to being famous?

A: Used to it? Yes. Have I come to terms with the fact that it might be around for a while? That’s what’s difficult. It’s crazy to think that it’s not one of those things you’re not going to wake up from and it will be over. Which is nice, I don’t want it to be over.

I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that people might recognize me for a few more years. It’s less of getting used to it and more of trying to figure out how to live in that whirlwind.

Q: Do you feel like you have had ample time to process everything that has happened to you?

A: Occasionally I do have a moment where I’m like, ‘Look at where I am. Look at what I’m doing. Look at the opportunities in front of me.’ But to look at it and process it, and realize it’s a completely different place, I haven’t really done that because I still try to live in the moment and realize, you know what, this is fun.

I like to tell myself this is still not normal. Because on many fronts it helps me remember that it all could be over soon.

Q: Obviously you are under much more scrutiny now than when you were just a college student. Do you read what the media writes about you?

A: When I wake up in the morning, I’ll read the newspaper, and most of the time that’s about current events instead of celebrities. I don’t really have much time to read the tabloid magazines and I don’t really have any desire to. People have jobs to do, and unfortunately some people pick a career that focuses on slander and smut and whatever. That’s their thing to do and I just don’t need to have anything to do with it.

Q: After “American Idol,” it seemed like you were able to wrest control of your music and the image you project. How did you do that?

A: I did not plan on having success in any way. I didn’t plan on even auditioning for that show, for “Idol,” ahead of time. It was kind of a last-minute decision.

I think that a lot of times artists go into the industry wanting so badly to be a star that they take the advice of those who have been able to help others. For me, since it wasn’t my own design and since it wasn’t necessarily a dream I had all along, I kind of didn’t care. It wasn’t so important to me that I was willing to change the way people look at me or the way I look at myself

APPLETON POST-CRESCENT




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Aiken’s fans fill stands at Fox Cities Stadium

By Steven Hyden
Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE – Why does Ann Shagosh love Clay Aiken? It’s simple, really.

“His voice,” the Green Bay woman said. “It touches me where no one else’s voice has.”

Shagosh was one of about 5,000 people who flocked to Fox Cities Stadium on Saturday to see the mild-mannered “American Idol” star.

While the venue has hosted concerts before this was the first time stadium officials brought in a performer themselves.

For fans who showed their devotion to the big-voiced Aiken with homemade signs, T-shirts and other apparel, the chance to see the easy-listening pop star was too good to pass up.

“I like the fact that he sings the wholesome songs,” said Dutch Lawson of Mesa, Ariz., who bought tickets for his wife and two daughters while visiting family in the area.

“My wife said he’s not hard on the eyes,” Lawson said.

Lawson’s daughter Addy, 13, echoed that sentiment. “He’s hot,” she said. “And he’s got a pretty good voice.”

Alex Cousineau of Appleton was heading to the concert with co-workers. Like Aiken did before he was famous, Cousineau is a YMCA camp counselor.

“I’m not a big Clay Aiken fan, but I love music so much I thought, why not experience it?” he said.

“He was just a normal guy turning his homework in late in college.” he said. “And then he got his big break.”

APPLETON POST CRESCENT

APPLETON/GRAND CHUTE REVIEW


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Review: Give Clay Aiken some credit where it’s due

By Steven Hyden
Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE — For those who can’t stand the phenomenon “American Idol” has become, the show’s biggest star Clay Aiken is an easy target for mockery.

First off, the guy is pretty nerdy. Pop stars are supposed to have flair and glamour, but Aiken is as square as a lunch box. Secondly, he specializes in a brand of soggy soft rock that went out of fashion with cuffed jeans and Aqua Net. Musically, he makes Chicago sound like Limp Bizkit.

But if Aiken’s detractors could have seen his concert Saturday at Fox Cities Stadium, they would have had to grudgingly admit that the 25-year-old singer has enough charisma and genuine affection for his fans to justify his stardom, reality show or no reality show. He clearly has struck a chord with people looking for a wholesome alternative to tawdry Britney Spears-style pop.

Aiken’s two-hour show, which included two sets and a 15-minute intermission, was heavy on inspirational ballads and audience participation, just perfect for a crowd of about 5,000 people made up mostly of young girls and older women.

The biggest surprise of the night came at the beginning of Aiken’s set, when the former camp counselor opened with a stirring rendition of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” It was a surprise because the song actually kinda sorta rocked, something Aiken’s six-piece band never came close to doing again for the rest of the night. (Coincidently, Cher also opened with “Where the Streets Have No Name” when she performed two years ago at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon. Who will be the next performer to cover U2? Jessica Simpson? Hilary Duff?)

The concert’s best moments came when Aiken interacted with his worshipful audience. One year into his pop career, Aiken seems to have retained that down-to-earth quality that made so many “American Idol” viewers fall in love with him. He was generous enough to share significant stage time with his band and trio of back-up singers, each of whom took the lead on a fun acoustic set of James Taylor numbers.

Aiken has an appealing, self-effacing stage presence. Unlike most pop stars, who only recognize the audience with canned “How ya doin’ tonight?“ type banter, Aiken took several moments during the concert to acknowledge the people who have made him famous. He also told a funny story about calling out the wrong state at the previous night’s gig, and made sure to make the token Packer references required of every performer who comes to the area.

Aiken’s winning personality almost makes up for the shortcomings of his music, which are considerable. As a singer, he has a huge, powerful voice that still comes off sounding generic. He simply doesn’t have that one-of-a-kind quality shared by pop’s greatest singers, from Elvis Presley to Otis Redding to Prince. It doesn’t help that his material often is dull, especially the tracks off his blockbuster debut CD “Measure of a Man.”

With better songs (he seems tailor-made for an album of big band standards or show tunes), Aiken likely would score better musically. A-list material would be a great complement for what he already has, a devoted fan base and a natural likability that could help him sustain a long career.

APPLETON POST CRESCENT
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 10, 2010, 09:28:23 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2004, 11:09:08 AM » 

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LEXINGTON PREVIEW


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Aiken turns Opie Taylor look into Tom Jones appeal

Posted on Sun, Jul. 11, 2004
By Heather Svokos
HERALD-LEADER POP CULTURE WRITER

Some might take a gander at those strawberry eyelashes, which flit beneath the elongated punctuation-mark eyebrows, which match the moppet hairdo, which pokes out from behind big ears, which complement the freckly complexion and spindly frame of Clay Aiken. And they might wonder a host of things, including: Pop star sensation? Urh?

If this is our reaction, perhaps we've been too infected by the ilk of Simon Cowell, who early on in American Idol's season two, told Clay, "You don't look like a pop star, but you have a great voice." Simon and the other Idol judges are famous for their limited, generic visions of what a pop star should look like. (Anyone heard of Bette Midler? Barry Manilow?)

So once you move beyond the boyish looks, it's clear the guy has chops. He's got a beautiful, technically polished voice, and theoretically, that should be enough to explain his appeal. But there are several other interesting elements that make his fame a kind of Cinderfella story.

First, let's remember: in the American Idol contest, this guy lost out to Ruben Studdard, but his album's doing better than Ruben's, and his star has outshone that of the man Gladys Knight dubbed the Velvet Teddy Bear.

Also, Clay's got something rare in pop: immediate cross-generational appeal. The teeny-boppers are the ones who got Clay to the runner-up status on Idol, but the moms and the grandmoms -- they, too, are Aiken 4 Clay.

Still scratching your head? We and a few fans -- Claymates, as they call themselves -- will try to put it in perspective.

His 'Weapons of Mass Seduction'

If Clay came in second, maybe it was the underdog factor?

If that were the case, how would we explain Justin Guarini? The sproingy-haired singer came in second to American Idol Kelly Clarkson in season one. The way he slid and slithered across the stage, winking seductively at the drooling girls in the audience, Guarini's future seemed as dazzling as his million-toothed smile. Alas, there was From Justin to Kelly, a critical and box office bomb. And a year ago, he released an album that was filled with producer-driven songs that he hated, he told Entertainment Weekly. The self-titled album flopped; to date, it's sold a meager 140,000 copies. To boot, RCA dropped him from its label.

Conversely, Clay's album, Measure of a Man, has sold about 2.6 million copies.

Clay arguably does not possess matinee-idol looks, and unlike Justin, he delivered his pop anthems with, depending on whom you asked, either minimalism or a dearth of charisma. The minimalism worked -- Clay stood his ground and slowly adjusted his sensitive, impeccably show-tuned tenor to stadium-size volume, and quite often blew the lid off the joint.

But the same things that draw fans are what turn some off: from Elvis through Eminem, America has loved its rock 'n' roll bad boys. And along comes Aiken, an easier pill for the masses to swallow: a sugary-sweet Southern gent, a devout Christian who works with autistic kids and even creates foundations to open doors for developmentally disabled children.

Saintly, maybe, but these are not exactly your standard hallmarks of sexiness. But for many fans, it may be his sexless vibe that makes him, well, sexy. Or at the very least, accessible.

"He literally looks like the person who would sit next to you in class, or would be your child's teacher," said Amanda Morris, a 21-year-old Georgetown College senior who's active on an online Aiken message board, cheekily titled Weapons of Mass Seduction. "He doesn't look like the guy you're gonna put a poster of up on your wall. He is the guy you could sit down and talk to. You wouldn't expect him to be a Justin Timberlake -- he's more on your level. He's just as goofy as we all are and doesn't try to put up this front to be really cool."

Although he did undergo an insanely touted makeover throughout the run of American Idol, Clay has otherwise refused to let the pop star machine mold him into something he's not, fans say.

Another fan on Weapons of Mass Seduction is Sara Harpe, 49. She's admittedly more of a "fanatic" than her 14-year-old daughter, Betsy, who told her mom why she digs Clay. "I like his music, and he's not afraid to be himself. He knows he's different, and he is confident enough in himself to be OK with that."

That makes Sara rest easier as a mother. "Even though he has been taunted and teased by some people of the public and media, he has shown the maturity to rise above and stay true to his ideals. ... I am very grateful that she (Betsy) has a very public person to show her it's OK to not follow the crowd."

As someone who works with children with autism and related disorders, Sara has other reasons to admire the singer. "I know not everyone one understands how the world affects them. It takes a very insightful person that is willing to walk the fine line between taskmaster and soul mate to establish a close bond with children having autism. From what I have read, Clay effectively rose to that challenge when he was a caretaker for a child with autism."

Wow, that really got off the sexy track.

To bring us back on the Clay Train, let us hear from another Internet group; a randy, half-sarcastic group of women who call themselves the Lecherous Broads For Clay Aiken. One of them has called Clay a "delicious little teacozy of a man."

But more telling is a snippet of the group's "manifesto," which in part declares that "nobody is allowed to say anything mean about Clay Aiken 'cuz he's dreamy and he's the boy we all wished had taken us to the prom."

And there you have it. Clay Aiken, pop superstar? Surely a deserving title for America's ideal prom date.

LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER


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Not just an idol anymore
Popular runner-up wants to go beyond the show

By Walter Tunis
CONTRIBUTING MUSIC CRITIC

On the eve of a national tour that brings him to Lexington for a Monday concert at Rupp Arena, singer Clay Aiken is poised for life beyond American Idol.

First comes the acknowledgement that singing on an arena stage differs a bit from performing before a trio of TV judges and roomful of hysterical fans with cell phones.

"There are plenty of differences," Aiken said by phone last week. "One of them, of course, is no one is there insulting you when you sing on tour. You don't have (American Idol judge) Simon Cowell in front of your face every night.

"The odd thing, though, is that people think the American Idol studio held thousands of people. It looks so big on camera. But it actually holds only 200 people or so. So when you sing in front of a concert audience of 6,000 or 7,000, you're going to feel the energy more. It's much bigger. You feed off the crowd all the time. The bigger, the more excited and the more hyper the crowd is, the more you give a performance."

But Aiken's tour is more than an excuse to build his already secure fan base. A runner-up in last year's competition on the wildly popular TV talent show, Aiken is ready to shake the notion that he is just a manufactured celebrity.

"Do you call American Idol an introduction? Or is it still the form by which people remember me? That's become a difficult complication for (American Idol winners) Kelly (Clarkson), Ruben (Studdard) and myself. How much do we still want to be connected to the show? I know I never would have made it here if it weren't for that show. But am I truly American Idol? I don't think so. But I guarantee you won't be able to write your article without using those two words.

"American Idol was a great entertainment boot camp. It's where I got my education, not just in how to perform live, but in how to deal with cameras and how to deal with interviews. But I'm not defined by the show, nor is that show defined by me."

Aiken's debut album, Measure of a Man, however, was undeniably created with the popularity of the show in mind. In fact, such prestigious music industry executives as Clive Davis, the producer mastermind behind Whitney Houston's stardom and Santana's commercial rebirth, among many other triumphs, and Steve Ferrera had the 12 songs chosen for the album before Aiken concluded last year's American Idol competition. The album was in stores within five months of the program's season finale.

"It was definitely put together quickly," Aiken said. "But I liked the songs. They come from amazing writers and were produced well. But I don't know if the product necessarily defined me. A lot of the songs are about heartbreak. And, let's face it, some are downers. I don't consider myself too much of a downer. While I love to sing the ballads, I'd like to have a little more happiness on the next one."

A follow-up recording, though, is down the line. For now, Aiken's hit version of Neil Sedaka's Solitaire and an upcoming Christmas album serve as his primary recorded output outside of Measure of a Man. Still, the album will make up the bulk of the repertoire at the Rupp show. "That's the one we want people to buy," he said.

Aiken is also promising a tribute to "one of the singers I've always admired" during the Rupp performance, but "you'll have to wait ... to find out who that is."

Most of all, Aiken hopes his tour will complement his American Idol star status and establish a sense of independence from the program.

"I am my own person," he said. "Instead of 'American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken' or 'American Idol alumnus Clay Aiken,' I'd just like to be introduced once or twice in a newspaper story just as singer Clay Aiken."

LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER

LEXINGTON REVIEW


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Note to Clay: Leave the U2 tunes alone

By Walter Tunis
CONTRIBUTING MUSIC CRITIC

"You all shout like I can hear what you say," said a bemused Clay Aiken last night at Rupp Arena.

Granted, the screams, cheers and overall jubilation of the largely female crowd was certainly an audience force for this American Idol celebrity to reckon with. But with a turnout of only 3,000 -- a figure that seemed smaller given that Rupp's full-house seating configuration was employed -- Aiken easily held court over the crowd with a two-set, two-hour performance devoted to mostly cheery and calculated pop fare.

On the plus side, Aiken performed as a capable if not terribly daring singer. His voice easily sailed up to the higher registers on This is the Night and cooled to ballad timbre for the comparatively hushed I Survived You. It was also refreshing to see an artist so obviously designed to meet the expectations of a teen pop audience play to all ages. At one point, an older patron was escorted onstage to dance with the singer during the radio-friendly pop of When You Say You Love Me.

In essence, what you got from Aiken was what you have been seeing on TV in the past year: a likeable, politely unrefined pop personality with a wholesome voice, who doesn't fall back on cheesy choreography, video-friendly theatrics or, worse, lip-synching during a stage performance.

But when Aiken ventured into deeper waters, there were problems. For example, who thought it was a good idea for him to open the concert with U2's Where the Streets Have No Name? The song boasts a social resonance way, way beyond the singer's grasp. A mid-show medley of James Taylor tunes, which included an overly stoic and stilted reading of Sweet Baby James, sounded equally out of place.

The more appropriate cover tunes -- and there are loads of them -- steered to the safer pop-fabric framework Aiken updated on his 2003 album, Measure of a Man. Such jukebox fare included: Mr. Mister's Kyrie, Orleans' Still the One, Toto's Rosanna and an encore of Neil Sedaka's Solitaire. All come from a middle-of-the-road base that has become a clear comfort zone for the singer.

In her second Lexington concert in as many months, opening act Cherie, a 19-year-old French singer with a booming vocal command, used her self-titled debut album as the basis for a surprisingly comprehensive pop presentation.

LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER

 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 10, 2010, 09:39:21 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2004, 07:44:22 AM » 

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CHARLESTON WV PREVIEW



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Clay's way

Aiken no second-place finisher as most successful ‘American Idol’ star sings on

By all standards and measures, Clay Aiken is an A-list celebrity. His first album, “Measure of a Man,” went triple-platinum in six months. He won a Billboard Music Award in December for the year’s best-selling single (his cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”). He was nominated for two “TRL Awards” on MTV: best male artist, along with Justin Timberlake, rapper 50 Cent and Andre 3000 of OutKast.

Aiken’s road to larger-than-life stardom was atypical: void of hype and paved with few of the traditional steppingstones. He didn’t do time as a singer/dancer on the Disney Channel. He didn’t emerge from a boy band.

Nor was he the focus of a glitzy, million-dollar publicity campaign from a label trying to hype his talents and spit-shine his star qualities.

All Aiken did was be himself for several weeks in the second edition of the Fox network’s weekly talent search, “American Idol,” a role that led to a showdown — and a cooked-up rivalry — with vocalist Ruben Studdard.

Aiken lost that little war, but he won the larger battle decisively. He has been, by far, the most popular and successful “American Idol” performer. [His constant touring includes a Charleston Civic Center show on Tuesday.]

No matter how temporary it is, his success says a lot about what some people these days want from their celebrity entertainers.

Mostly, it says they want someone who isn’t larger than life, someone who is as ordinary, wholesome and homogenous as they are.

Nearly every review of an Aiken tour notes the composition of the audience: predominantly females of all ages, including lots of moms and grandmothers.

Asked recently whether he brings out the maternal instincts in some of his fans, Aiken laughed and said: “The show lets you watch a person and get to know a person and even take ownership of that person. It’s possible I remind people of a kid who needs taking care of. But I don’t mind. My fans do take care of me. They are amazingly devoted and enthusiastic.”

Aiken brings out the motherliness in some of his fans because, above all, he portrays himself as a moral hygienist: He’s friendly, spiritual, charitable, modest and humble.

He also arrived at “Idol” with a sympathetic story: He was estranged from his birth father and raised by his mother and her second husband, who died in 2002. He started singing in church choirs while still in grade school. While in college, planning for a career working with underprivileged children, a half-sister committed suicide.

Thus, his fans extract something deeper from his music than casual listeners, who tend to dismiss Aiken as another Barry Manilow or the next Michael Bolton. His most die-hard fans document his every move in excruciating detail, right down to the jewelry he wears or doesn’t wear on a certain day.

“I have a chain I wear occasionally around my neck,” he said, “and fans on their Web sites will write about what’s on the chain on a certain day, whether it’s just a chain or there’s a pendant on it.

“I really don’t understand it. I still think I’m awkward and geeky and pretty normal.”

Aiken knows his success comes with a stigma — “People say we’re not real artists; we’re game-show contestants” — which puts him in a peculiar place. For now, he’s obligated to play up his association with the show that made him a star. But he’d also like to slip out of its spotlight and into his own eventually.

“Maybe when I’m done with the second album,” he said, “I’ll be able to distance myself from the show a little bit.”

Aiken knows why so many of his fans were attracted to him: because he isn’t as slick and beautiful and luminous as people like Cherie or Justin Timberlake.

“Most people who attach themselves to someone on the show pick someone they relate to,” he said. “Ruben and I don’t fit the typical image of a star. I’ve told Kelly [Clarkson] several times, the reason every person auditioned for the second [‘Idol’] show was because they saw her win, and they thought, ‘She’s normal; if she can do that, so can I.’”

Clay Aiken performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Charleston Civic Center. Tickets, $34.50 and $44.50. Call 342-5757.

WVGAZETTE


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'Idol' crooner enjoying the ride along with fame
 
Chris Dickerson
Daily Mail staff
Thursday July 08, 2004

The way Clay Aiken sees it, his thrust into superstardom is like singing "Kumbayah" while making S'mores around an open fire.

"I try to look at it as a good summer camp experience," Aiken said. "I'm enjoying it while it's lasting. If this goes on for 15 years, I'll be thrilled because I'm having a good time. But if it's over next year, I've got some great memories to live off of."

Aiken, the geek-turned-heartthrob who narrowly missed becoming the second "American Idol," hopes to add to those great memories Tuesday when he performs at the Charleston Civic Center.

The 7:30 p.m. concert is the fourth show in Aiken's tour which kicks off tonight in Grand Forks, N.D. Cherie, a 20-year-old French songstress trying to make a name for herself in the United States, opens the show.

Aiken, who has toured with his fellow Season Two "Idol" contestants and, last winter, with Season One winner Kelly Clarkson, is happy to be back on the road.

"We got off the plane last night here in Grand Forks, and the tour bus was waiting for us," he said, happy that it wasn't the usual car or limo. "It's the same bus and same driver we had when I toured with Kelly, so it's kind of like going home. I get a little excited about things like that. I guess I am waxing a little nostalgic."

But he said there are drawbacks to the rigors of constant touring, including fewer trips home to his hometown of Raleigh, N.C.

"Being on the road quite a bit, those trips are becoming more rare," the 25-year-old Aiken said. "It used to be one weekend a month, I'd get back home. Then that became one weekend every two months. Then it become once every three months. It dwindles, but being on the road is fun, too."

For fans who caught his co-headlining show with Clarkson, Aiken said the show rolling into Charleston is an extension of that.

"I basically have the same group of people," he said Wednesday afternoon. "Same dancers, same musicians, same crew. Kelly went off to finish her next album, and I'm going on."

While he only has one album of material (last year's multi-platinum "Measure of a Man") under his belt, Aiken said fans should expect more.

"As I grew up, there were tons of songs I wanted to sing," he said. "So now I've got a band and everything, so I might as well go ahead and do it."

He did say the new show does have some differences from his winter shows.

"There are going to be some different covers," Aiken said. "And we're actually doing a little tribute to one of my favorite singers. But you have to come to concert to find out more."

After his tour ends, Aiken will remain busy with a Christmas CD planned for a mid-October release.

"What's nice about it is that it's a very classic Christmas album," he said. "It's not one of those pop-based Christmas albums where we try for a different take on a classic song. It's got a fireside feel. We wanted it to stand the test of time, and I think it will."
After that, Aiken doesn't know what lies ahead.

"I've been so busy with the Christmas album and the tour, I haven't had too much time to really think about anything else," he said. "I haven't sat still long enough. But we'll do a second album."

* * *
Aiken was quick to point out a few links to the Mountain State.

"The teacher I worked with in Raleigh in her special ed classroom, she is from West Virginia, and I think her family still lives there," he said. "And I've been skiing at Winterplace near Beckley. Everyone knows West Virginia for its skiing."

Contest winners chosen

Of the more than 500 entries in the Daily Mails' Clay Aiken ticket giveaway, 122 had all five trivia questions answered correctly. To narrow those to the five winners, a random drawing was held.
The winners of a pair of tickets each are: JoAnn Dearien of Clendenin, Carolyn Smith of Scott Depot, Tara Thomas of Montgomery, Helen Waybright of Charleston and Jill Withrow of Charleston.

The questions and correct answers are:

1. For what other reality show did Clay consider trying out before "American Idol"? "The Amazing Race" (Many entrants said "The American Race.)
2. What is the name of Clay's dog? Raleigh
3. Where did Clay go to college, and what was his major? UNC-Charlotte, special education
4. What song did Clay sing in his first "American Idol" audition? "Always and Forever" (Many entrants said "Open Arms," which was his first televised audition)
5. With whom does Clay share a home in L.A.? Kimberley Locke

If you go

What: Cherie and Clay Aiken
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Charleston Civic Center
Tickets: $33 to $43
Info: 342-5757

CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL

CHARLESTON REVIEW


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Aiken sings hits both old, new Southern boy's voice makes show worthwhile

Chris Dickerson
Daily Mail staff
Wednesday July 14, 2004

Clay Aiken's niche in the music world is simple: He's a nice down-to-earth Southern boy who can sing.

Yes, he can sing. That might sound simple enough. But in today's world of lip-synching and rap/hip-hop, that trait is a rare find.

Aiken, fortunately, is a good singer. A very good one, in fact. And that's why fans both young and old flock to see and, more importantly, hear him perform.

When he took the Charleston Civic Center stage Tuesday night, Aiken immediately took command of the Coliseum and the estimated 5,000 fans there to see him.

Aiken, a 25-year-old Raleigh, N.C., native who became world famous as the runner-up on the second season of "American Idol," relied heavily on songs from his 2003 debut pop album "Measure of a Man."

Over the course of his two-hour, two-set performance, Aiken alternated between the album's catchy pop tunes ("Perfect Day") to ballads ("I Survived You") that showcase his powerful vocal skills.

But he also threw in a few covers, such as Mr. Mister's "Kyrie," Orleans' "Still The One," Toto's "Rosanna" and U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name." Those songs especially highlighted his capable band.

In addition, he and his impressive backup singers did a medley of James Taylor hits midway through the show. And he closed with three spectacular vocal displays: the stirring gospel "You Were There," his infectious No. 1 hit "Invisible" and an impressive version of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire," a song Aiken made his own on "Idol."

Aiken's charm is unmistakable. He seemed to thrive on interaction with the audience, even bringing giddy girls on stage a few times. He danced with St. Albans resident Ashley George and sang the title track from his album with a girl named Virginia from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

He talked to people in the crowd, commenting that he recognized a few crazed fans who apparently have followed him from town to town on the tour. We also learned there were people from as far as away as England who had made the trek to Charleston to see the show.

He jokingly chastised others who had brought suggestive signs to the front rows. He laughed with the audience, with his band and at himself throughout the evening.

His self-deprecating demeanor only added to his appeal. His charity work was highlighted on the giant video screens during his show's 15-minute intermission.

It was nice to see someone who realizes he's on the stage to entertain and then actually is able to do it.

Aiken might not have won on "American Idol," but he is more than making up for that now.

Tuesday night's crowd wasn't too big. The few stragglers in the balcony easily could have moved down and still not filled the lower level. But those in attendance, mostly teen and pre-teen girls, were quite loud and enthusiastic.

Opening act Cherie, a 19-year-old French songstress trying to make a name for herself in America, barely was passable.

Her voice wasn't that impressive, and her stage show was pretty dull. And she certainly shouldn't have tried a cover of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's "It's Your Love," especially in the South. But she did what she was supposed to do, which was get the crowd achin' for Clay.

CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL


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‘Idol’ also-ran Aiken brings 1st-class talent to Civic Center show

By Roger Lilly
For The Charleston Gazette
July 14, 2004

Charleston and the Civic Center Coliseum opened their arms Tuesday evening and welcomed America’s most renowned runner-up, the world’s luckiest loser, it’s most awesome also-ran, Clay Aiken.

Last year’s “American Idol” television show second-place finisher blew into town determined to show everyone he’s more than just a semi-pretty face. He made his point early and often.

The show actually started off pretty much in a lame vein, with an uninspired performance by an up-and-coming French singer, Cherie. Neither she nor her sparse three-piece band had the chops to fill an arena with worthwhile sound.

Her seven-song set featured a rumbling, unseen bass and ended with her next single, “Older Than My Years” and her current one, “I’m Ready”.

After a short intermission, the lights dimmed and the instruments fired up. Clay Aiken emerged from the center of a multi-staired stage. You could almost feel the swoon.

Singing U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”, Aiken was armed with that one thing I mostly found missing from the television series, a jammin’ back-up band. The 5 1/2-member crew (one fellow spent his time split between playing woodwinds and harmonizing with two female singers) was strong and tight, and knew when to take the lead and step forward.

A medium-sized crowd that didn’t need to scratch the balcony was treated to some of the strongest pure vocals that Charleston has heard in quite some time. But what the crowd lacked in size it more than made up for in volume and enthusiasm.

Aiken rewarded them with powering versions of songs from his 2003 debut CD, “Measure of a Man.” “Shine”, “I Will Carry You”, “No More Sad Songs”, “I Survived You”, “Perfect Day”, “This Is the Night” and the title track were all done as well or better than the studio versions.

For someone who went from complete obscurity to absolute absurdity in a matter of months, Aiken really seems to have his head screwed on right. His banter with his band-mates and the audience seemed unforced and honest.

His six-song tribute to James Taylor was a total delight and gave the harmony singers a chance to step forward and strut their impressive wares.

Being a parent who occasionally enjoys a conversation with his kids, I became swept up in the “Idol” phenomenon from the beginning. It seems that the “American Idol” crew spends a year locating the best vocal talent the nation has to offer and five minutes picking the pulp they put on their CDs. Most of the “Idol” discs are only two songs away from being a coffee table coaster.

But Aiken definitely has the chops, and if his Charleston show is any indication, he will most certainly have the staying power.

Roger Lilly can be reached by e-mail at criticalmuss@yahoo.com.

WVGAZETTE
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 10, 2010, 11:50:22 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2004, 12:50:17 AM » 

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NASHVILLE PREVIEW


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Clay Aiken isn't letting success go to his head

Behold the phenomenon that is Clay Aiken.

The second season American Idol runner-up has sold 3 million copies of his debut album, Measure of a Man. He has appeared on Jay Leno's late-night show. He's already finished a big co-headliner tour with first season American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. And last week he started his own headliner arena tour, which brings him to Gaylord Entertainment Center tonight. He's also been on the cover of Rolling Stone.

But Aiken still is not sure he's going to make it. ''I don't think I'm a pessimist. I'm a realist. I try to allow myself to be as successful as I believe I can be,'' he said in a phone interview just hours before a tour date in North Dakota.

''Yet, I prepare myself for failure. We go out and do tours. And when I see the crowds with Kelly, I tell myself, 'It's all Kelly.' It's possible I could be back teaching within a few months.''

That's highly unlikely as the sweet nerd-turned-sweet pop star is the biggest commercial success to come out of the American Idol franchise. Aiken built a broad rabid base of fans who call themselves Clay-mates, fans who are likely to buy albums for several years whether they hear Aiken's songs on radio or not.

Aiken, though, looks forward to the day when he's known as a pop singer and not the American Idol contestant.

''I don't think anyone's ready to let that happen just yet,'' he said. ''It's a double-edged sword in that way. I wouldn't be in the position at all if it weren't for that show. At the same time, I don't think I'm defined by American Idol. There's a stigma that goes along with that.

''We are anticipating the day when we're introduced as Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kimberley Locke. I'm not that show. That show was a stepping stone and a wonderful stepping stone. But it's not who I am.''

Aiken already is severing one tie. He and Locke, a Gallatin, Tenn., native, have been sharing a bungalow-style house in southern California for the past year or so. But Aiken says the lease is up soon and they're both looking for new places.

Aiken, though, still talks with most contestants, and he still feels the love for the one contestant, Josh Gracin, whose military service prevented him from staying in touch. But when Gracin's country album, on Nashville-based Lyric Street Records, came out a couple of weeks ago, Aiken still went to buy it, though it wasn't easy.

''I bought it the first day it was out,'' he said. ''I had to go to two malls to find a record store. And then I had to run through the mall to get it because, well, I was being chased.''

Aiken, when asked, conceded that few school teachers, if any, get chased through malls.

TENNESSEAN

NASHVILLE REVIEW



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Vanilla, sure, but Aiken can deliver it well

By BRAD SCHMITT
Staff Writer

With no offense to his rabid fans, let's call Clay Aiken's show last night what it was: sticky-sweet schlock.

The American Idol star turned in a two-hour show of power ballads and puff to a Gaylord Entertainment Center less than half-filled with loud Clay-mates, the term die-hard Aiken fans use to describe themselves.

On a sparse stage, Aiken whipped out a seemingly endless supply of vanilla ballads from his debut album, including the title track, Measure of a Man. Aiken even sanitized his cover songs, which included U2(?!)'s Where the Streets Have No Name, Toto hit Rosanna and Orleans hit Still the One, stripping out any edge or grit and replacing it with powerful but too-smooth vocals.

In khaki pants, blue shirt and striped beige tie, Aiken told the crowd he'd been in the Dakotas and Washington. ''It was good to get to a place that had some sweet tea,'' he said, eliciting a cheer.

Perfect beverage choice for the show. You half expected to see Barney and Gomer Pyle skip onto the stage for a duet.

So what is it with these Clay-mates? What's the draw?

Aiken offers a kind boy-next-door pop artist with a powerful, engaging voice. In a pop-music scene filled with profanity-laced Eminem and OutKast and a variety of scantily clad pop tarts, Aiken offers a sweet (there's that word again) non-threatening alternative, a good boy who works with the disabled, an average Joe who looks more like pop music listeners than any artist in the top 10.

Sure, you might yawn through a song or two, but Aiken provided stirring renditions of his album cut Run to Me and Measure of a Man. And he was charming and engaging when he pulled a girl onto the stage to dance or when he took the cell phone from a fan and asked, ''Why are you talking on the phone, girl? I'm trying to do a show!''

He even called an Aiken look-alike onto the stage.

''I have to thank you,'' the look-alike said, ''because a year ago nobody would talk to me.''

''Same here!'' a smiling Clay shot back.

And though Aiken has said he looks forward to the day when the words ''American Idol'' don't appear near his name, he was smart to include a video montage from the show, which got great audience response.

With little radio support and a half-empty crowd at the GEC, Aiken was able to truly connect with those who were there.

Some people like vanilla.

TENNESSEAN
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 11, 2010, 12:30:57 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2004, 09:05:27 AM » 

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GREENSBORO PREVIEW


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The feats of Clay
Kevin Harvey, Staff Writer
Friday, July 16, 2004 1:00 am

Who says second place is the first loser? Since narrowly losing “American Idol 2,” Clay Aiken has enjoyed success not usually associated with being defeated. His first single, “This Is the Night,” stayed at Billboard’s No. 1 slot for 12 weeks. “Measure of a Man,” his first full-length album, debuted last October at No. 1.

A Raleigh native and a graduate of UNC-Charlotte, Aiken says that shows in his native state are among the best on the tour.

“North Carolina always has the best crowds,” Aiken says before a concert earlier this week in Charleston, W.Va. “They’re usually more hyped.”

Aiken, who started his nationwide tour earlier this month in Bismark, N.D., will perform tonight at the Greensboro Coliseum. Here are some thoughts of the 25-year-old who admits he winds down by watching movies on his bus and talking about what he calls “random stupid stuff.”

Is this your first trip to Greensboro?

No, I’ve been there quite a few times; I’m not that far away. I’ve never performed at the Greensboro Coliseum before, but I used to sing the national anthem there.

You try out for “American Idol,” then suddenly you get on TV, and before you know it you have a hit record and a national tour. Is yours a Cinderella story?

I think so, that’s one way to look at it. It’s not anything I expected. Somebody was some kind of fairy godmother. It wasn’t anything I had in the cards for myself. To be honest, I was pretty surprised by it all.

You were the first runner-up to Ruben Studdard, yet you’ve enjoyed more post-“Idol” success. How do you feel about outshining the guy who beat you?

Well, I think people who think I have more commercial success are somewhat mistaken. Single sales I do better in, but in radio airplay he does better. We both have successes in different areas, and the competing question I’ve tried to get rid of. The media just doesn’t want us to be ourselves.

Has fame jaded you?

I don’t think it’s jaded me. I do think I behave differently in different situations, but it hasn’t changed me. I carry myself different when I’m at work. I have to pay attention to where I get my gas now (laughs). The other day, the band members asked me if I wanted to go to the mall. Then they were like, “Oh yeah, you’re you.”

With all of the work you do, how do you maintain your sanity?

I spend a lot of time it the hotel room watching TV. When we’re on and I get to the venue, I do about 75 of these (interviews), you do the sound check, you do some production notes, then you do the show. I like the opportunity to get some chill time.

What do you do in your spare time on the road?

To wind down, I kind of like to sit around and talk about random stupid stuff, watch a movie on the bus and go on with life as normally as possibly.

How do your friends feel about all the attention?

My closest friends are the ones who don’t care about what I do. We go on vacation and they don’t see me any differently. One of my best friends is on the road with me right now. He makes sure everything works and gets done, and he doesn’t even pay attention to what we’re doing. My best friends aren’t interested in the fame.
• • •
Clay Aiken at a Glance:
Birth date: Nov. 30, 1978
Personal statistics: eyes, green; height, 6-feet-1; hair color before makeover, red; hair color after makeover, brown
Goals in life: “Success, happiness, stability. I would love to be known as a generous and selfless person.”
His American idol: “My mother is the strongest person I know.”
Favorite type of music: “I love music with strong melodies where the singer really has to sing. I like jazz, some slow R&B and pop/country ballads.”
Favorite male pop artist: Jon Secada or Peter Cetera
Favorite female pop artist: Shania Twain and Faith Hill
If he couldn’t sing, which talent would he most like to have: “I wish I could draw like my friend Meredith. Even her handwriting is art.”
His definition of an American idol: “Someone with a talent that leaves a mark on American society and inspires people to think, feel, love, act.”
His favorite judge: “Randy. He is probably the best at giving truly constructive criticism.”
His least favorite judge: “I’m not stupid enough to answer this question.”
Advice for other “American Idol" hopefuls: “Believe in yourself and practice, practice, practice.”
If he could be a performer from any era, which would he choose? “Big band in the 1940s. Music really brought people together during that era.’”
Source: www.claytonaiken.com

Kevin Harvey, a senior at UNCG, is a writing intern this summer with the News & Record’s Life section. Contact him at 373-7319 or kharvey@news-record.com.

GO TRIAD

GREENSBORO REVIEW


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Aiken drives those Greensboro fans wild

CONCERT REVIEW
Analisa Price is a rising freshman at Western Alamance High School and a writer for the Here & Now section. Here & Now runs on Mondays.

By Analisa Price Times-News correspondent

GREENSBORO — Thousands of fans were "Aiken for Clay" on Friday night and they weren’t too subtle in showing it.

Just by glancing around the Greensboro Coliseum, you could see countless girls testifying their steadfast love for last year’s American Idol runner-up on signs and homemade T-shirts.

French artist Cherie opened the show at 8 p.m. with a new hit single, "I’m Ready." Even so, concertgoers wanted Aiken and didn’t seem too thrilled about waiting.

Finally, the North Carolina product appeared, and "Clay Mania" began. Everyone was on their feet cheering at the sight of him, and when he started to sing, the crowd was in complete hysteria.

Aiken quickly got the crowd moving with a dance contest. He said a Hawaiian lady sends him leis for every concert, and he presented one to a member of the audience with the best moves. A winner was chosen who then got to get up onstage and dance with Aiken himself while all the other "Clay Mates" jealously looked on.

Most of the songs performed were from his album, "Measure of a Man," but he performed a medley of James Taylor songs that highlighted his backup dancers, which the audience loved. It was a nice break between the ballads he is known for.

The fans’ favorites of the night seemed to be "I Will Carry You," "No More Sad Songs," and "I Survived You." The audience also gave Aiken standing ovations for "This is the Night" and "Invisible." "You Were There" left the crowd in awe and was definitely one of the most powerful pieces of the night.

At one point in the show, Aiken pointed out that it was a family show, and it was. Young children were there with their teenage sisters and moms, and there were also Clay-crazed grandmothers in attendance, making the audience a varied group of women ages 7 to 70. Men were few and far between, but the ones sitting around me seemed to be having a good time.

Aiken ended with an encore of "Solitaire," which was the best performance of the show.

Though Aiken can’t dance and openly admits it, he sure knows how to get a crowd on their feet.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 11, 2010, 12:35:23 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2004, 09:06:53 AM » 

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GREENVILLE PREVIEWS


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Small-town guy, big success
Posted Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 2:05 pm

By Donna Isbell Walker
ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
dwalker@greenvillenews.com

Clay Aiken says he isn't interested in being defined by record companies, industry executives or album titles.

The North Carolina-born singer, whose second-place finish on last year's "American Idol" has led to a double-platinum debut album called "Measure of a Man" and a headlining tour, has his own take on who he is and what he wants to accomplish with his music.

"I'm a nerd. That's OK with me, and if people want to buy that, then great. That's wonderful, and hopefully we'll have a long career," Aiken said over the phone from North Dakota, where he was preparing for the opening night of the tour. "If they don't, I'm not willing to change who I am to sell an album."

When Aiken sat down last year to record "Measure of a Man," he laid down the law to his record label; Aiken said he wouldn't record certain types of songs, particularly those with sexual content.

Perhaps it was a gutsy move on the part of someone making a first album for a huge and powerful record label, but 25-year-old Aiken, who auditioned for "American Idol" at the urging of friends, said he was ready to walk away from the project.

Doing it his way

"It wasn't necessarily always a dream of mine to have a record deal. I didn't even expect to do this until a year-and-a-half ago. And so it was not such a dream that I was not willing to give it up. I had rules that I wanted people to abide by, and if they didn't want to do that, if that didn't work, then OK, this isn't for me."

The album, filled with songs about love and loss, was given the title "Measure of a Man" because Aiken was adamant that it not be self-titled, as is common with first records. Clive Davis, the venerable head of RCA Records, wanted Aiken's name as the title, but Aiken balked.

"I kind of had a concern about that because so many of the songs on the album were ... downers. They were very introspective, and some of them are very heart-breaky and what-not, and that doesn't really define me at all. So I didn't want to call the album 'Clay Aiken' when I did not think the album represented who I was."

Aiken grew up in Raleigh and graduated from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. An unabashedly small-town guy, he says he shocked the Los Angeles-based members of his tour staff by declaring the low-key North Dakota town of Grand Forks a cool place. He said he misses the slower pace of Raleigh while he's on the road, but right now, his face is too familiar in his hometown.

"I can't go to the grocery store. I can't go down the street. I can't do anything at all in public that I could have done before this," he said.

A teacher first

But Aiken isn't complaining. The singer, who began his career as a special education teacher, created a foundation to help children with special needs. The foundation, he said, is a way to stay connected to the world of education while he pursues music.

But it's also a way to educate more people about the problems faced by children with disabilities. The concert stage and his national prominence are a much larger platform than a local classroom.

"I think the grand scheme of God's plan was to get me involved in that special-ed field so I would have something I was passionate about to work for, so that when I actually got to this position, I wasn't doing it for myself. I think it's the responsibility every entertainer has, if they're in the public eye, to do something with it. You can do it for your own benefit, or you can do it for someone else's benefit, and I think doing it for someone else's benefit is a little more fulfilling."

Aiken's show at the Bi-Lo Center Saturday will feature several songs from "Measure of a Man," along with some of his favorite tunes by other artists.

"It's an opportunity for me to sing some stuff that I've always liked. I sing in the car all the time ... and some songs I'm like, 'Man, I'd just love to sing that on my own, sing it with my own band.' And so this is my opportunity.

"I actually have (the band), I'm paying them, they're here; we might as well sing what I like."

GREENVILLE ONLINE


Quote
Seldom idle now
Aiken leaves the classroom to pursue singing ... for as long as people want him

By ALAN SCULLEY
Posted on Fri, Jul. 16, 2004

For a select few performers, “American Idol” has become a dream vehicle by which to enter the music business. But success on “Idol” doesn’t guarantee a place in mainstream music once the show is over.

Consider Justin Guarini, who has faded quickly from the public eye since finishing second to Kelly Clarkson in the show’s inaugural 2002 season.

Clay Aiken, who finished second to Ruben Studdard in 2003, didn’t want to go the same route. He went into the making of his debut CD, “Measure of a Man,” knowing he needed to bring more to the table musically than he showed on “American Idol.”

“I think that with ‘American Idol,’ you perform a lot of classic standards stuff, and a lot of times people come out of there wondering, will this person have the ability to compete in a mainstream market?” Aiken said by phone recently.

“I think that’s what we were really trying to show with the album. Yeah, I sang ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ and ‘Solitaire’ and ‘Mack the Knife’ on that show, but that’s not all I can do.”

Whether fans saw the songs on “Measure of a Man” as adding a new dimension to the musical personality Aiken established on “American Idol” may be open to debate. But there’s no arguing with the popularity Aiken — who will perform this weekend in Greenville and North Charleston — continues to enjoy.

“Measure of a Man” debuted last fall with first-week sales of 613,000, the second-highest total ever. It spent two weeks at No.1 and has topped 2 million in sales. Its lead single, “Invisible,” became an adult-contemporary hit.

Meanwhile, touring — first this spring with Clarkson and now as a headliner — has kept Aiken in the spotlight throughout the year.

It’s an amazing series of events for Aiken, who never saw singing as anything other than a hobby.

“I had my life planned out until I was 50 years old,” Aiken said. “I was going to be a teacher and maybe a principal, at some point. Music was not in my five-, 10-, 20-year plan. And so I would have never auditioned had it not been for someone who convinced me to do it.”

That someone was a family friend, Diane Bubel, who had heard Aiken sing and persuaded the 25-year-old Raleigh, N.C., native to try out for “Idol.”

Aiken failed in his first audition for the Fox network affiliate in Charlotte. But Bubel got him to travel to Atlanta for national auditions. He made the show and emerged alongside Studdard as a leading contender to win.

In the season finale, viewers voted Studdard the winner by a margin of less than 1 percent. But Aiken’s showing was strong enough to earn him a deal with RCA Records.

Trying to describe exactly the kind of artist Aiken wants to be is tough. Between his “American Idol” performances and the songs on “Measure of a Man,” he has sung a variety of material, from classic pre-Beatles pop to adult-contemporary fare.

Aiken enjoys the fact that he has been hard to pin down stylistically.

“I think that’s part of the reason we’ve had so much success with our album and what we’ve been doing, because we don’t necessarily fit into one of the prefabricated niches that record companies have put out,” Aiken said.

“What’s amazing about the show I was on, and the way that I came around, is because I came around by allowing the public to pick from day one.

“And I think there’s no need to put me in one of those niches, (to say), ‘This is where he belongs.’ It doesn’t matter where he belongs. People like what he does and he doesn’t have to fit into that. ... The public will decide how long they like me, and when they stop liking me, they’ll stop buying.”

THE STATE (SC)

GREENVILLE REVIEW


Quote
Clay Aiken greeted with idol worship
Posted Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 12:03 am
By Donna Isbell Walker
ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
dwalker@greenvillenews.com
 
It's probably best not to keep thousands of screaming Claymates waiting.
Impatient fans at Saturday night's Clay Aiken concert at the Bi-Lo Center began chanting "We want Clay, we want Clay," and within a couple of minutes, the lights dimmed, a staircase opened, and Aiken appeared.

The fans' shrieks were loud enough to drill holes in eardrums a mile away.

Aiken, casually dressed in khaki pants, untucked shirt and WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelet, kicked off the show with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."

The "American Idol" runner-up, who seems to have taken first place in the hearts of many fans, performed two sets mixed with famous cover songs and tunes from his double platinum debut album, "Measure of a Man."

The appreciative audience, ranging from kids to grandparents, screamed and danced and held up signs with such sentiments as "I'm Shaken for Aiken." His appeal has many factors, said two fans who drove up from Atlanta for Saturday's show.

Cathy Tibbitts, in town for the show with pal Kathy Werhan, said the two picked Aiken during his early days on "American Idol" for his voice and stage presence.

"He's a good guy," Werhan said. "He's different from what's out there. It's refreshing."

Aiken, a native of Raleigh, showed off his vocal range on songs as varied as Mr. Mister's '80s hit "Kyrie" and Orleans' 1970s rocker "Still the One," and he paid tribute to fellow North Carolinian James Taylor. Along with his three backup singers, Aiken performed Taylor classics like "Sweet Baby James" and "Fire and Rain," often taking harmony and letting the other vocalists sing lead.

The engaging performer also got a female fan, who wore a shirt emblazoned with "Mrs. Aiken," to dance on stage, and another fan to sing a duet.

And while he paid ample tribute to his musical heroes, Aiken also performed a cross-section of tunes from his own album. The set included "This Is the Night," accompanied by video of Aiken performing on TV, plus "Shine" and of course, his big hit "Invisible."

GREENVILLE ONLINE
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:15:19 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2004, 02:03:01 AM » 

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CHARLESTON SC REVIEW

Quote
A nice boy to marry your daughter
by Devin Grant

There are still certain times when even something as effortless as attending a concert becomes hard work. I was expecting Sunday night to be a perfect example of that when I attended the Clay Aiken concert at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Let me give you a little background of myself. First, I abhor the prepackaged fluff that passes for pop music these days. The only time I watch the T.V. show "American Idol" is during the first few episodes, where Simon, Randy and Paula are still weeding out the William Hungs among the hopeful multitudes. Aside from that, I really couldn't care less who wins those silly karaoke contests. So when I was given the opportunity to see Clay Aiken perform, you might think my first reaction would be to run away screaming.

Actually, I wanted to go, if only for the chance to see an actual ready-made popstar. Although Aiken seems to be a nice guy, the fact remains that he is the creation of the FOX network. I will admit that I am amused that Aiken, who came in second place at last years "American Idol" contest, has managed to become the biggest star so far to emerge from "IDOL", eclipsing the efforts of Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini and Ruben Studdard. Wow, I just named three other "American Idol" winners without looking them up on Google. Perhaps I was paying more attention to that show than I thought.

So, I arrived at the North Charleston Coliseum ready to be entertained, and indeed I was, even before I stepped into the building. I discovered that Aiken's core audience isn't the teens who watched "American Idol", but rather the mothers of those kids. A large percentage of the 5000 or so people who attended Sunday night's show seemed to be women between the ages of 40 and 50. Perhaps it is the nice-guy image that Aiken presents. Most mothers will probably tell you that Aiken is just the sort of clean-cut boy they would like to see their daughters bring home.

With that said, it was still a little weird when, in the middle of Aiken's set, a woman sitting a couple rows in front of me who was old enough to be someone's grandma shrieked, "I love you, Clay!" There was a lot of that sort of screaming going on, along with displaying of poster board signs and constant flashing of disposable cameras. After spending a weekend at the Bonnaroo Festival and several weeks covering shows in small clubs, the spectacle of this coliseum performance was pretty surreal.

The beginning of Aiken's performance found the singer stepping out from under the stage's massive staircase, which opened kind of like the one in the house in which TV's The Munsters lived. As Aiken emerged, singing U2's "Where the Streets Have no Name," the crowd litterally went wild. We're talking spontaneous dancing in the aisles and everything. Incidently, Cher opened with the exact same song when she played the Coliseum last year. Draw whatever conclusions you choose.

Clad in blue jeans, a striped shirt and a red tie, Aiken roamed the three-tiered stage, belting out songs from his debut CD,"Measure of a Man," including "No More Sad Songs," "Shine," "Perfect Day" and the title track. Beside the U2 tune, covers included Toto's "Rosanna," Mr. Mister's(anyone remember them?) "Kyrie," and a James Taylor medley that Aiken shared with his backup singers. One of those singers was none other than Charleston's own Quiana Parlor, who also competed in the early rounds of American Idol's second season. Parlor and Aiken performed a duet on the song "without You," but not before Aiken gave an audience member from Ashville a chance to sing the same song with him earlier in the show. After the obligatory performance of the hit single "Invisible," Aiken stepped back under the stairs, only to emerge moments later for his required encore, a performance of "Solitaire."

Again, I am not a big fan of Aiken's music, but even I had to admit that the guy really can sing. While the material was beyond lightweight, Aiken is such an agreeable guy that in some cases you don't mind his vanilla warbling. So was the concert good? Well, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even I enjoyed Aiken's nod to James Taylor, which featured my favorite JT tune, "Sweet Baby James." A couple of things bothered me about the show, though, the biggest of which was a lengthy promo for Disney's forthcoming "Aladdin" DVD. It came after an intermission and had a charity tie-in, but do we really need what amounts to a television commercial in the middle of a concert that folks paid upward's of $50 to attend? Opening act for Aiken was French singer Cherie, who has gained notice in recent months for songs such as "Older Than My Years" and "I'm ready."

I actually enjoyed Cherie's set more than Aiken's. Cherie sings as well as Celine Dion, with the noticeable fact that Cherie's music doesn't make me want to vomit. Cherie proved to have an adaquate amount of stage presence as she led the audience through some simple exercises, including "the wave" around the coliseum.

All in all, it was a pretty good show even for someone like myself who normally shuns pop music. I still wouldn't pay to see an act such as Aiken, but I can show you 5000 people who would, and did. Strangley enough that group seems to be made up largely of women who are between the ages of 40 and 50 and are looking for a nice boy to bring home to their daughter.

Watch your back, Clay.


 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:17:53 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
 MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #9 on: July 21, 2004, 02:03:24 AM » 

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PORTSMOUTH PREVIEW

Quote
Down-to-earth Idol brings debut tour to Portsmouth

by Ed Condran

Clay Aiken speaks quickly.

"Everyone in my family talks fast." Speed is certainly necessary in his fast-paced life. Aiken, arguably the most popular "American Idol" alum -- "Definitely arguably," he said with a laugh -- is on his first solo headlining tour and is very much in demand. His interviews are limited to 10 minutes, but that's OK. Aiken could give a New Yorker a run for his money in the chat department.

Life has been a whirlwind for the diminutive Aiken, who performs Tuesday at NTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center in Portsmouth. That's quite a contrast to what could have been had he not participated in the second "American Idol" in 2002.

Prior to auditioning for the Fox reality show, Aiken, 25, mentored children with behavorial disorders in Raleigh, N.C.

"I've always thought I would be a special ed teacher," he said in a phone interview from Charleston, W.Va. "I love it. When I hear my friends tell me stories about what happens in their classroom, well, I long for that."

Don't think that Aiken regrets his change in vocation. His debut disc, "Measure of a Man," has sold nearly 3 million copies. His legion of "Claymates" are helping make his 42-date summer tour a success.

"I'm thankful for everything. I have nothing to complain about. I'm singing in front of great crowds, and I'm seeing the world."

Prior to his meteoric rise, Aiken was hardley a traveler. "When I was growing up we went to a few places outside of North Carolina. We did go to Virginia Beach since I have an aunt in Norfolk. It's great to be back in the South. There is something different about performing down here. When I performed in Kentucky the other night, you could just feel it. The response is just great. "

Unlike many of his peers, Aiken comes off as an unaffected, regular guy --a trait that helps and hinders him. The former member of the Raleigh Boys Choir has been hammered by the media for being too dorky. "The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth," Rolling Stone declared. "OK, We Admit It . . . We Love Clay Aiken" read the cover of Entertainment Weekly. "Revenge of the Nerd," was the headline in Teen People.

Much of what has been written about Aiken has more to do with his cool quotient than his musical talent. However, this that hardly dims the sunny singer's perspective.

"I don't mind all of that. When I was 14, I wished there was as big a dork as me so I could have a role model. If you believe the media, women should all be supermodel skinny and everyone should look cool. I want to change that misconception. You don't have to be cool. It's not easy. I got kicked around in middle school. I hardly look at myself as cool."

But there are a plethora of young girls who disagree. During an "American Idol" makeover, Aiken scrapped the glasses and dyed his hair. Now he has legions of female fans.

"People have said, 'Look how I've grown out of who I once was.' But it's not as if I've turned into a swan. This ugly duckling had turned into an ugly duck."

Not according to People magazine, which named him one of its "Sexiest Men Alive" in 2003. One year after his graduation from UNC-Charlotte, the affable Aiken is a well-compensated and popular vocalist. "I can't deny that I'm in an incredible situation. It's been fantastic."

So will Aiken follow fellow "American Idol" contestants Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini to the big screen? The two starred in the bomb "From Justin to Kelly." The rumor is that Aiken will costar in a movie with Ruben Studdard, that man who beat him on "American Idol."

"That won't happen," Aiken insisted. "There are other things to do."

One of which is to work on a new album. Aiken is proud of "Measure of a Man," but he's hoping the next project better captures his essence.

"There was a push for this album to be called 'Clay Aiken,' but 'Measure of a Man' didn't define me. Some songs are downers, and there is heartbreak that I just never experienced. Next time I would like there to be more up songs. But I can't complain. I'm going to continue to let God point me in His direction. He has bigger dreams for me than I do for myself."

VIRGINIAN PILOT


PORTSMOUTH REVIEW


Quote
Aiken’s boy-next-door appeal, voice pair up to wow the crowd
 By JEFF MAISEY, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 21, 2004

PORTSMOUTH — Clay Aiken, the 2003 American Idol runner-up, was treated like the winner at the nTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center stage Tuesday night.

Where one couple on the third row donned Krispy Kreme doughnut hats and Clay T-shirts, another group of girls were self-decorated in costume jewelry that included princess crowns and fake feathered scarves.

Middle-aged and teeny-boppers alike jointly held their homemade posterboard signs at arm’s length over their heads for Aiken to read. The enthusiasm was boundless.

Aiken seems to have done all right for himself with millions of his debut CD, “Measure of a Man,” sold and throngs of star-struck fans gazing up at him on stage.

It’s the American dream come true.

Aiken’s concert opened in semi-dramatic form. A lighted center stage staircase opened vertically to the sound of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” as Aiken walked out. While Aiken was no Bono, his backup band of session musicians came off as the real thing, just like any good cover band should.

For a non-songwriting entertainer with no dance moves to speak of, Aiken relied on his boy-next-door appeal and adequate voice to wow the audience. Much of his performance, though, resembled a glorified karaoke set, which included a lengthy medley of James Taylor tunes where Aiken allowed his dynamic backup singers to shine.

Aiken’s down-home chatter between songs was equally as entertaining as “No More Sad Songs” and “I Will Carry You.”

French born teen idol Cherie was the opening act. The 19-year-old singer performed half of the tracks from her yet-to-be-released self-titled CD.

With a voice more appealing than Britney Spears’ and yet not nearly as strong as Whitney Houston’s, Cherie often sounded so polished you’d think she was lip syncing to pre-recorded music, especially considering the audible bass lines and back-up singers were not present in her live band.

VIRGINIAN PILOT


Quote
A case of 'Idol' worship
"American Idol" star Clay Aiken comes to Portsmouth and wows the ladies with clean-cut charisma and musical melodrama

BY JON ALLEGRETTO
July 21, 2004

PORTSMOUTH -- The threat of a thunderstorm had passed. The only question was when Clay Aiken would appear on stage.

Even before the lights had dimmed on Tuesday, the crowd began chants of "We want Clay!"

Finally, the Harbor Center's lights dropped to black, and the air erupted with a high-pitched collection of voices. With lights flashing intensely, the pavilion's sound system pumped snippets of Aiken's recent successes from various news reports and television moments that sounded like the quick changing of a radio dial.

Then the moment arrived.

In a teal button-up shirt, khaki pants and tie, Aiken appeared from behind the stage as the center staircase lifted for his entrance and his band performed the U2 classic "Where the Streets Have No Name."

Since being named runner-up in the second season of Fox TV's "American Idol" competition, Aiken reaped a bounty of public affection: His image has appeared on the covers of magazines including Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and Teen People. His album "Measure of a Man" moved more than 600,000 copies in its first week in stores and has since racked up sales of more than 2 million.

About 4,500 fans turned out to see the singing star in the flesh.

Early in the show, Aiken hyped up people in the crowd by encouraging them to dance. "You can't dance if you're sitting down," he said. Eager to interact with his audience, Aiken smiled and joked often. To one specific fan, he said, "Those are jumping jacks, honey!" At one point, a fan who identified herself only as Patsy joined Aiken onstage and danced with the star and his background singers.

Many concertgoers openly displayed their admiration for the singer with homemade apparel and signs penned with felt-tip markers. They included messages ranging from "3,000 miles for a song and a hug" to the simple yet effective "We Love You Clay."

Virginia Beach residents Michela Pearl, Kathryn Alvarez and Susan MacClary made entire outfits for the occasion. The three 15-year-olds came equipped with matching crowns and capes. The reason?

"We are the queens of Clay's heart," the three said in unison.

The largely female crowd included various ages and levels of interest in the singer. Some fans said they came simply because they enjoyed his music and message, while others said they had followed Aiken since he first appeared on television.

"It's nice to hear something with meaning," said Eric Fontanilla, a 29-year-old from Virginia Beach who said the singer's lack of obscene language was another reason that he was drawn to Aiken. Although he's been a follower of the singer since his first appearance, Fontanilla admitted that he was uncertain of Aiken's lasting ability: "I thought he wasn't going to make it - it surprised us all."

Aiken's squeaky-clean image and musical lightness - Entertainment Weekly recently dubbed him "the king of Wuss Mountain" - is certainly part of the attraction.

So are his looks, which some would describe as resembling the nerd next door.

But a gang of 11-year-old girls on Harbor Center's lawn insisted that his singing was truly the reason for all the excitement.

"It's his strong voice," said Susanna Keating of Virginia Beach, her five friends shouting in agreement. "But it's kind of strange that it comes out of such a skinny person," injected Ashby Whitehouse, another girl in the posse.

"He is kind of flimsy," another friend said.
HAMPTON ROADS DAILY PRESS
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:23:43 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2004, 03:49:02 PM » 

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ROANOKE PREVIEW

Quote
Former Idol Star Hasn't Been Idle

By Ralph Berrier Jr.

Clay Aiken calls them "moments."

They come during a soundcheck, on the tour bus or just before he takes the stage. For an instant, the whirlwind of his career freezes in time and he reflects on what an amazing year he has had. Barely 15 months ago, no one had heard of the skinny, spiky-haired North Carolina native with the big voice. Then came his epic battle with Ruben Studdard on "American Idol," in May 2003. Aiken finished second in the popularity vote, but he won out on the pop charts with his platinum-selling "Measure of a Man" CD and several hit songs.

Yes, the 25-year-old Raleigh native has had quite a year.

"It's really kind of funny," Aiken said by telephone during his tour's opening leg in South Dakota. "I look where I am ... I mean, I'm in South Dakota. It's wonderful. I still have 'moments.' Sometimes I look around and think, 'How am I doing this?' It's all happened so fast."

Growing up in Andy Grif-fith country ("I think a Raleigh station still puts 'The Andy Griffith Show' on in prime time," Aiken said), Aiken gained a love of old country and pop standards from his mother, Faye, who used to tote her son to the local Sears where she worked. Little Clay would sing early '80s hits such as "Islands in the Stream" while perched upon the carpet samples, earning a dollar or two from customers.

He joined the Raleigh Boys Choir and played roles in high school productions of "Oklahoma!," "The Sound of Music" and "The Music Man." Even with obvious talent and natural stage presence, Aiken chose not to pursue a musical career, enrolling in college to study special education.

While a student at UNC-Charlotte, Aiken worked with Mike Bubel, a teenager with autism, and became close to Mike's family. Diane Bubel, Mike's mom, knew Aiken had musical talent and encouraged him to audition for "American Idol." Aiken actually had his eye on another reality series - "The Amazing Race" - but eventually bowed to Diane Bubel's nagging.

After a rocky start in which he nearly blew the audition by singing the words of the wrong song, Aiken impressed judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and the impertinent Simon Cowell and earned a trip to Hollywood. Even then, he nearly didn't make the cut. He didn't finish among the top two in his group, but saved himself in the wild-card round, which is sort of like playing your way out of the loser's bracket, with a version of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."

In the weeks that followed, Aiken advanced by singing mostly oldies, including "Mack the Knife" and "Build Me Up Buttercup." Finally, when it came down to Clay vs. Ruben, the hefty Studdard won the nationwide polling by a mere 130,000 votes out of nearly 25 million cast.

Aiken fared pretty well for a runner-up. He scored a No. 1 hit with his "This Is the Night"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water" single, which reaffirmed his preference for classic pop.

"In the '50s and '60s, people had to sing," he said, noting that much of today's pop music is the product of technology and studio craft. "If I'm in the studio and mess up, I know I can punch in and sing that word over. Back then, you had one piece of acetate that had to record the band and all. That '50s and '60s sound, especially Motown, really had emotion. Those are real singer songs, not performer songs."

Aiken credits his love of classic pop to his mother, who has become something of a celebrity herself. Just last month, Faye Aiken was in Roanoke to judge the Miss Virginia competition. She gave the city a good scouting report.

"Mom was just up there, and she liked it a lot," he said. "I'm traveling a lot now and I prefer the smaller quiet areas. The fast-paced L.A. lifestyle, I'm not used to it. I always thought when I moved from Raleigh to Charlotte I was going to the big city. It was going to be so fast-paced, so big ... my Lord, it was Charlotte!" 


ROANOKE TIMES


ROANOKE REVIEW

Quote
Geek appeal thrills Clay Aiken audience

By Ralph Berrier Jr.

How can you not like Clay Aiken? He's the nerdy guy who got the homecoming queen, the physics geek who won the Nobel Prize, the skinny placekicker who booted the game-winning field goal.

More than a year after playing second fiddle to Ruben Studdard on "American Idol," Aiken has emerged as the platinum-plated star. His rags-to-riches story has endeared him to millions of fans, and his friendly demeanor and work with special-needs children shows he has a good heart. The spiky-haired waif from North Carolina has a naturally huge voice, polished neither by voice teachers nor music school, and really belts out those middle-of-the-road pop ballads that TV fans apparently love.

Yet the thing that sets Aiken, 25, apart from the rest of his soon-to-be-forgotten "Idol" classmates is his boyish exuberance and easygoing manner. You get the feeling that all this attention and success from the past year hasn't changed him that much. That's why he has ultimate crossover appeal, winning fans aged 8 to 80.

So it's no wonder that a crowd of 5,000 loved every minute of Aiken's 110-minute show at the Roanoke Civic Center Wednesday night. At times, the proceedings seemed as geeky as he is, with silly dance contests and corny between-songs patter, but what else would an Aiken fan expect? He never seemed overwhelmed that thousands of people adore him, and he had fun with the crowd, whether ad libbing between songs or encouraging a little girl from Lynchburg to sing "This is the Night" onstage with him.

Emerging from a portal in a two-story staircase, Aiken looked a little Harry Potter-ish in his glasses and red tie with striped shirt. He began with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," the first of nearly a half-dozen cover songs he performed.

The show was heavy with 1970s and '80s hits, many of which he hopefully won't be performing in future years (Clay, we really don't need to hear "Still the One" sung by ANYBODY). His choices of Toto's "Rosanna" and Mr. Mister's "Kyrie" bespeak his affection for the songs of his youth. The tribute to James Taylor, another North Carolina hero, was mostly an unnecessary showcase for his three back-up singers.

His Christian upbringing was most evident on a couple of contemporary gospel songs, especially the high-concept "You Were There," during which he and his backup group dressed in angelic white.

For the most part, his voice rises above the material. Although he sings every song pretty much at full-throated, talent-show volume, he does it without the egomaniacal bombast that affects many big-voiced pop singers (think Michael Bolton). Standouts from his platinum-selling "Measure of a Man" album included "This is the Night" and the show-closing "Solitaire," but much of that album consists of harmless mainstream radio pop. One expects that as Aiken's career runs long-term, he will tackle much more substantial material
.

ROANOKE.COM
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:29:33 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2004, 07:48:52 AM » 

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BALTIMORE PREVIEW


Quote
Clay Aiken is a school teacher distracted by fame
And that's where he'll return if the music stops
 
By Rashod D. Ollison
Sun Pop Music Critic
Originally published July 22, 2004

He doesn't get it.

Clay Aiken never dreamed of becoming a pop star - never mind a sex symbol. And he is an unlikely one: skinny and gawky with jug-handle ears.

"Hello! Have you seen me?" says Aiken, who's calling from a tour stop in Kentucky. He plays 1st Mariner Arena Friday night. "The attention is flattering. Some [fans] are, like, mothers and grandmothers, but the fan base spans different age groups. I don't understand being ga-ga over anyone, especially me."

Last season, he came in second behind Ruben Studdard on American Idol. But with all the media attention, the massive fan base and the double platinum sales of his debut, Measure of a Man (released in October, two months before Studdard's), it seems as if Aiken were the first-place winner. His first single, "This is the Night," made history by entering Billboard's Hot 100 at No. 1, selling more than 392,000 copies during its first week. It beat Elton John's record for "Candle in the Wind 1997." Measure of a Man moved 613,000 units during its debut week, also entering at No. 1.

The North Carolina native and former special-ed teacher, 25, can hardly go to the grocery store these days without getting mobbed. Security guards shadow him at appearances. He sells out arenas. Last July, he graced the cover of Rolling Stone, rocking a What Would Jesus Do bracelet, his shirt blown open revealing a slightly hairy abdomen.

"I am not a sex symbol," Aiken insists. "It's only been a year since nobody knew who I was or cared who I was. So it has taken some adjusting to all of this. But American Idol was a good boot camp. We had to learn how to perform live, take criticism, do interviews. Now I kinda know what's going on around me."

Regardless of his awkward looks, there's no denying Aiken's charm. On the phone, he's polite and humorously self-deprecating, his Southern twang warm and relaxed. As it has been said several times before, Aiken's booming vocals, though adequately suited for the glossy, bombastic pop songs on Measure of a Man, are ideal for Broadway (or those over-the-top productions at amusement parks).

On his debut - and it is no surprise - Aiken says he had very little creative input.

"The main thing with my last record was setting the standard," he says. "I wanted to maintain who I was before all this started. There's a misconception that I had to fight hard to maintain my identity. That's not true. There were some songs I didn't want to sing, and the producers were respectful of that. But I had hardly any input on the songs."

Most of the tunes, including the stalker anthem "Invisible," seem to focus on unrequited love.

"Musically, the last album was much more an album that didn't define who I was," Aiken says. "Much of it was sad songs and downers. The next album will have more of an up side."

No release date has been set yet. But who knows whether his second album will be as well-received as the first? Pop audiences are notoriously fickle. Aiken, however, is not worried. If the fame evaporates, he will be all right.

"I was gonna be a teacher my whole life," Aiken says. "I had no other plans. But doing this wasn't worth changing who I was. If this singing doesn't work, fine. I consider my teaching Plan A and singing Plan B."

Clay Aiken performs at 1st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., tomorrow night at 7:30. Tickets are $35-$45 and are available through Ticketmaster by calling 410-587-SEAT or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

BALTIMORE SUN (registration required)


BALTIMORE REVIEW


Quote
The 'American Idol' runner-up comes in first with his fans

By Rob Hiaasen
Sun Staff
Originally published July 26, 2004

Spooky. The Clay Aiken pre-concert at Burke's Cafe was straight from the backstage scene at any old Led Zeppelin concert. You remember - or not: Idolatrous teens hungry for a line of Krispy Kreme doughnuts; one "Clay Mate" reprimanded by another for drinking a Coors Light ("Clay would not approve," said the voice); and messages computer generated onto tucked-in T-shirts:

"Bartender, I'd Like a Clay on the Rocks."

"I have Mom's Permission to Kiss you!"

"Lonely? Call 1-800 Me! Me! Me! Me!"

My, my, my, what do we have here? A pre-concert party for Clay Aiken - the lip-biting, runner-upping, national idol with his double platinum debut album Measure of a Man, the Carolina Comet who may have lost American Idol but won the love of the nation's moms.

Moms like the one who wore a shirt that read, "I may be your Mom but I can still shake it like a Polaroid Picture" at a pre-concert party for Clay Aiken Friday evening, who in two hours would consume 1st Mariner Arena in his first Baltimore appearance. These fine people at Burke's restaurant -another of whom was wearing the biblical words, "He is the Potter. I am the Clay" - will go forth to look upon Aiken and a few were even chosen to meet and greet but not touch Mr. Aiken. And the rest will be shaking like Polaroid pictures, high on Krispy Kremes, higher still from listening to their geeky Elvis, their bright angel, their stud. Yes, hubbies everywhere, we said stud. Deal with it or stay home and peek at Britney's videos.

Welcome to Clay Nation, which stopped in our state Friday. Clay Aiken could have left with our wives and daughters, you realize. To his credit, however, he simply put on his show and left one non-believer to dig deep into his rusty soul to ask the age-old question:

OK, who is Ruben?

For starters, there's Clay lingo to itemize. "Clay Mates" are, duh, his fans. "Clay Dogs" is some sort of a fan subset. "Thud" is the falling sound a Clay Mate makes when Clay sings, twitches or breathes. "Lip Bite" is a trademark Clay quirk, one which 6-year-old Taylor Dukeman of Baltimore ably demonstrated at the party. Her mom, party planner Missy Dukeman, stood by with what would become a familiar expression that seemed to say, Don't look at us that way. We are not crazy, honest. We just really love Clay. Hey, you don't have to explain - well, maybe just a little.

"He's that real geeky person who became famous," said Emily Blount, a 33-year-old fan up from D.C. He's not Brad Pitt, she said, and that is powerfully accurate.

Blount felt like she had to explain how strangers on Aiken internet message boards sprung for her ticket on account of her having brain surgery in the fall. But there's nothing crazy about that or the fact that before the night was over, these Clay Mates would chip in more than a $1,000 for Aiken's charity, the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

More than 130 people showed up for the party, a guest list that included Pat Hlousek, a 57-year-old bartender from Rockville. The Lord has blessed Clay with the "golden voice of the century," she said. Plus, he's a good Christian and refuses to do, you know, explicit stuff like Britney does. One couldn't help notice Pat's dress for the evening - a black number with, as she said, air-conditioning all around. Would Clay approve?

"No," she said. "But I'll get his attention."

Certain things you should never say about a man. For example, when in a group of Clay Aiken fans, never say, "He's kind of short, isn't he?" You will learn Aiken is a mountain of a voice at 6-foot-1.

Now meet Gloria Dietz and her sister, Kate Bradley, both of Baltimore, both Clay Mates, both shaking like Polaroid pictures because Dietz won a local radio contest for best Clay Aiken poem. We can't get enough of this handsome STUD/who has given new meaning to the word THUD went part of her framed poem. Gloria has even tailed Clay to New York in hopes of meeting him. So, when was the last time she wrote a poem for her hubby? "Many moons ago."

Binnie Meltzer, a 56-year-old English lit professor from New York and Rhonda Emory, 36, of Elkton did some explaining.

"Male chest-beating is out. The Thinking Man is in style," Meltzer said.

"We have been begging for a man like Clay for a long time," Emory said.

The most delicate of subjects was also raised, with Emory proposing that Mr. Aiken is still a virgin.

"It's our common belief," Emory said.

"It's their common fantasy," Meltzer said.

Enough said.

Gloria Dietz was told to be at the arena by 6:30 p.m. to "meet and greet" Clay Aiken. She wrapped up her poem, bolted Burke's, and hauled jeans toward 1st Mariner. An over-the-counter horse tranquilizer could not have slowed her. "It's hitting me just now," Gloria said, nearly running. She would meet Clay! But she wouldn't try to kiss him. "He doesn't like that stuff."

She's had passions before - Boy George, Rosie O'Donnell, Melissa Etheridge - but Clay is true thud material. Inside the arena, Gloria and other chosen fans were whisked away to meet Aiken. Others stood outside staring at the fleet of glossy, window-darkened, RV's. "I Love Nerds" and "I Wanna Play with Clay" and "Dork" read their T-shirts. But Gloria Dietz, Aiken poet laureate, was on the inside.

By 7 p.m., Gloria had emerged from some top-secret location to brief her sister and any others on her meeting with Aiken.

"Are you Gloria?" Aiken had asked.

No words came to Gloria at that time. "I froze." She had been thrown off by the rules: no cameras, no handshakes and no one-on-one pictures, just a group shot of the 13 chosen fans. But during that group shot, oh baby, Clay had his hand on her back! And she touched his arm. Then, she found the words - "You just made my life" and "Clay, rock the house!" - to finally say to her idol.

The only thing left to do was to find her floor seat, sit through an opening act (a singer named Cherie, whose only fault was insisting the crowd perform "The Wave") and at 8:30, holler like a teen-ager watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan.

With orgiastic fanfare, Clay Aiken opened his Baltimore show with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." OK, this guy has pipes, major PVC pipes. In necktie and specs, Aiken had his shirt untucked and he wore those comfy bowling shoes, if that's what they are. He has very good posture, as moms would note.

Among other tics, Aiken does this hand thing with his, well, hands. The crowd seems to mime his hand thing. Lot of group hand action - and signs, of course. Aiken enjoys turning up the house lights and reading the signs. "Did you get my cookies?" Of course he did, hon. And fear not: we will not run the risk of the headliner closing his show by hailing Fahrenheit 9/11.

In the spirit of the birthplace of his career, Aiken believes in giving unknowns a heaping if fleeting share of his spotlight. He brought a 16-year-old girl from Jersey up to dance with him. She wore a T-shirt that covered limited geography. "You're too young to dance like that," Aiken quipped. To sing "Without You" with him, he invited a Tracy Turnblad-ish girl on stage and she was from Jersey, too. It was mildly embarrassing not to have a Baltimore girl up there.

Aiken sang all the songs people craved to hear. It was not unlike secretly liking the Carpenters or Barry Manilow or in even older days, David Cassidy. For the record, there were men at the concert with their arms draped around their gal's shoulders. Points scored.

In a packed concert venue, Gloria Dietz's "Gloria Loves U" sign could be seen from across the arena. Earlier, she was worried and so nervous and even crying. She was just happy now.

See, it's not crazy at all.

Copyright © 2004, The Baltimore Sun

BALTIMORE SUN (registration required
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:38:41 AM
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MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2004, 07:49:12 AM » 

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SYRACUSE PREVIEWS


Quote
Aiken on Tour

By Mark Bialczak
Staff writer

Ask Clay Aiken how's the day going in Sioux Falls, S.D. - we do read the tour itinerary to prepare for these interviews, you know - and the American Idol chuckles.

"Well, I don't know," Aiken says by telephone. "I'm in Grand Forks, North Dakota!"

Turns out Aiken's getting ready to travel to Sioux Falls for a show later that night.

So, the natural question becomes, do you ever wake up on tour and not remember what city you're in?

"I do," Aiken confesses. "But I've had it drilled into me here. Grand Forks. Grand Forks. Grand Forks."

Aiken's got 10 minutes to talk before he gets ready to get on the tour bus.

"We're always on the bus," he says. "I like it that way. It's much easier. The bus becomes home. I like different cities. I enjoy seeing them. It's neat to see different ways people live. There are so many things to see around this country."

Aiken, 24, says it quickly. When you talk to the personable runner-up to Ruben Studdard in the 2003 "American Idol" competition, you can indeed squeeze a 15-minute interview into a 10-minute slot.

Aiken's 42-date headliner tour comes to Syracuse for a show at the Onondaga War Memorial on Saturday night. Before this, he co-headlined a national tour with 2002 "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.

Yes, lots has happened for the spikey-haired native of North Carolina since he graduated from the Fox TV show into the world of the-rest-of-your-career.

His album, "Measure of a Man" has sold 3 million copies. His first single, "This Is the Night," was the best-selling single of 2003. His next single, "Solitaire," debuted No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart.

The networks love him. He's appeared on the late-night TV shows and performed on the morning programs.

And he actually seems to enjoy a reporter asking questions.

Q How have you handled the fame?

A "It's been difficult because it happened so fast. Not having three or four years to ease into the hubbub. It's been difficult to get used to not being able to walk the dog or go to the grocery store. People are out there, waiting to meet me."

Q Do you ever get used to fame?

A "I think you get used to the fact that ... let's say I don't get surprised anymore when my name is mentioned on TV. I was watching Jay Leno, my name came up. No big deal anymore. You get used to realizing that your life will be different. I hope I don't get used to fame. As complicated and difficult as it is, it's humbling at the same time. If I ever get used to it and take it for granted, that wouldn't be good."

Q Do you want the fame to last or do you want to go back to a 'normal' life?

A "I don't care either way. OK, I do care a little bit. How long do I want it to last? I want it to last as long as it will. I think there are a lot of people who have their 15 minutes, than they scramble to be on 'Hollywood Squares' or '$100,000 Pyramid.' I don't' want to be one of those people. If I end up working for the (Bubel/Aiken) Foundation (to care for challenged children), that's OK. If what's next for me is going to teach, I'm ready for it. I miss that. I don't ever want to miss that, either. I like to have a bit of that reality. Maybe I'm one of those people who really aren't all that thrilled with fame. I do love what I do, but some aspects of it ..."

Q Do you think that things would have turned out differently if you had beaten Ruben instead of losing by, what, 20,000 out a 3 million votes?

A "I joke about that a lot. Oh, I lost. But in all honesty, I think that I'm pretty OK where I am now, and I'm happy with what has transpired."

Q What have you learned since "American Idol" that has helped you become a better performer?

A "I think just being a little more comfortable with what I'm doing. Knowing the audience a little more, knowing the music a little more. Some of the songs from that (debut) album, I couldn't relate to my life. I haven't been scorned in a previous life, and not since, either, in a love way. But in the business, yes. So many life lessons that I've learned in the past year can be used to identify with the songs."

Q Are you a more confident performer now?

A "I think I was pretty confident before now. If anything, I'm less confident. There are times I hope that I don't let the fans down. I didn't worry about that before. Now there are so many fans loyal to me."

Q Who did you want to win this year's "American Idol" competition?

A I kind of had LaToya (London) picked from the beginning. She was so classy. But after LaToya was eliminated, I think the right person won. Fantasia (Barrino) was the obvious pick then."

Q Is there a fraternal feeling among "American Idol" competitors?

A No, not really. Interestingly enough, we never have contact with seasons that aren't part of us.

"I'm friends with Kelly, obviously because of the tour, but not any others out of my season.

"I stay in touch with Kimberly (Locke) and Ruben. We're a graduating class together."

SYRACUSE.COM



Quote
Fate deals ‘sexy’ Aiken a winning hand

By JESSICA RYEN
Observer-Dispatch

He never dreamed of being famous.

“I just wanted to be a teacher,” Aiken said from a tour stop in Charleston, W. Va., a tour that takes him to Syracuse’s Oncenter Saturday, July 24, and to Albany’s Pepsi Arena Sunday, Aug. 8.

“I admired politicians who did a lot for kids with disabilities.”

In fact, Aiken’s career path seemed pretty clear cut when he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in special education. He had planned to get a master’s degree and saw himself as a principal by the age of 50.

But fate had other ideas for the 25-year-old from Raleigh, N.C.

Aiken was working with Mike Bubel, an autistic teenager whose mother, Diane, encouraged him to try out for the second season of “American Idol.”

He said he only went to the audition to appease her.

After being chosen to perform in Hollywood, Aiken’s good luck continued. When he was rejected from the top 32 contestants, viewers voted him back on as a wild card.

Fast forward to the last week of “Idol” when it was down to Aiken and his good friend, Ruben Studdard.

“Ruben and I didn’t put any designs on what a title (is),” Aiken said. “My whole take on life was that getting a degree in music didn’t mean you were going to get a job in music. It’s all about the way you sing.

“Both Ruben and I looked at the title of ‘Idol’ in the same way — just because you won it, didn’t mean you’d be a star.”

Basically, Aiken said, you had to prove yourself.

In the weeks that followed Studdard’s win, Aiken did prove himself. He immediately started working on an album, “Measure of a Man,” and became a celebrity.

The CD sold 613,000 units in its first week, and his debut single “This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water” spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

Soon, Aiken was on the cover of a dozen different magazines. He also won some prestigious music awards, including the Fan’s Choice Award at the American Music Awards.

But, what he finds funniest — and still can’t believe — is being named one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive.”

His explanation? “I think I got ‘punk’d’ there,” he said.

He does feel blessed, however, and realizes that with fame, comes responsibility.

“People are watching your every move,” he said. “You can choose to make the most of that and be a role model to kids looking up to you, or live your own life and not care.”

And because Aiken chooses to be a role model, he said, he named the album after one of his favorite songs on the CD, “Measure of a Man.”

“I want to make sure I’m setting a good example and making my family proud,” Aiken said.


UTICA NY OD


SYRACUSE REVIEWS
Quote
Aiken pleases his idolizing young fans
by Mark Bialczak

Many of the fans at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Saturday night loved Clay Aiken in the Tiger Beat magazine sort of way.

That means the teen and adolescent girls were loud and proud of their adulation for their American idol.

They held up hundreds of hand-lettered signs, just like the crowds do in the studio audience for the Fox show "American Idol." One said "Clay, I'm not a Claymate. I'm your soulmate."

They wore homemade T-shirts using every combination of words with his name that they could make up.  One girl: "Claynadian Claymaatics." The girl next to her: "Clayvert in Progress."

And, together with their moms and grandmoms and even a couple of good-sport dads and granddads in the jammed-but-for-a-couple-half-sections-in-the-upper-corner hockey arena, they screamed and made lots of noise.

The star of the show took it all in with many big smiles.

Aiken's undoubtedly grown in boundless leaps as a performer in the year since he was eked out by Ruben Studdard in the AI finals. He's still got a little aw-shucks in his born-in-Raleigh, NC, persona. Humbly, he thanked his band, sound crew and all his fans more than once.

Aiken started, surprisingly enough, with the time-tested U2 rocker "Where the Streets Have No Names." He showed much vocal pluck. He didn't carry the tune with the swagger of Bono, but then again, who could?

That wasn't his only nod to rock either.

Aiken took Mr. Mister's "Kyrie," Toto's "Roseanna" and Orleans "Still the One" to the rafters, too.

And there was his medly tribute to James Taylor, in which he let backpup singers - the sweetest voice belonged to Quiana Parlor - almost take center stage for the tender "Sweet Baby James," " How Sweet It Is", "Fire and Rain," "Your Smiling Face," and "You've Got a Friend."

Of course, Aiken also delivered the songs fans screamed for from his debut disc, "Measure of a Man." The title cut, "No More Sad Songs," "Shine," "Perfect Day" and "This is the Night."

During one cute scene, Aiken's handlers invited a mature woman from Toronto on stage to dance. She looked smooth, in a 1960's Shag style. Aiken took one look and jokingly bolted to the other end of the stage.

To look his best, the glasses-wearing Aiken made four wardrobe changes. In all of them, he was Aiken Untucked. Everybody's got an unplugged set these days; Aiken goes for the electric sound with his shirt hanging outside his trousers.

Aiken saved the two biggest crowd favorites for the regular set finale and his encore.

"Invisible" and "Solitaire" had three generations singing along and thrusting their placards of love high in the air.


Transcribed at ca.com.


Quote
Clay Aiken Conquers Syracuse

He came, he sang and he conquered. Clay Aiken brought his show to town last night and the near capacity War Memorial crowd was with him all the way. Ripping through a selection of songs from his first album, Measure of a Man, Clay thoroughly entertained the 6000 or so fans who turned out with signs, Clay shirts and glow sticks. And the operative word was LOUD.

To say that Clay has a devoted group of fans is an understatement. The audience, which was mostly female, came from as far away as Calgary, Alberta and Brazil. For many, Syracuse was one stop on a summer-long odyssey that is transforming these people from ordinary folks to serious "Clayheads." Clay pointed out one couple in the audience for whom it was their 50th show! Plus, a camera crew from MTV was filming tonight's show so Syracuse will be featured in an upcoming special.

To his credit, Clay has become a consummate performer, working the crowd like an old pro and carrying on a running conversation with the assembled masses between songs. His interaction with the audience includes bringing the "best" dancer in the crowd up on the stage (for this show the lucky Claymate was from Toronto) and picking one singer from the crowd to come up onstage and sing with him.

Vocally, he didn't miss a note and sang with all the conviction and range that brought him to the public's attention in the first place. Backed by a very talented group of musicians, Clay is gracious in allowing his backup singers a chance to solo while he sings backup for them. He has surrounded himself with a group of supportive people who compliment his style and energy.

The highlight of the show? Probably his truly stunning rendition of "Solitaire," which was his encore. The low point? During the video montage featuring highlights of the past year, some fans booed when a picture appeared of he and Ruben Studdard. But overall, the show was truly enjoyable and, while I can't say that I have been "Clayverted," I enjoyed seeing him live and was thoroughly entertained during the two hours he was onstage. Still, I had a sense of his isolation and wonder just how long he is going to want to do this. I suspect that Clay will pull back long before his fans do.

If you missed him in Syracuse, fear not. He will be in Albany at the dreaded Pepsi Arena August 8 and at the Erie County Fair in Hamburg outside Buffalo on August 19.

SYRACUSE.COM

Quote
Aiken Breakin' Hearts

Clay Aiken brought awkward, puritan charm to the Onondaga County War Memorial on July 24, tackling tracks from his debut, Measure of a Man (RCA) - "Invisible," " I Will Carry You" and choice covers by U2, James Taylor and Orleans. Even more unashamedly corny than in his runner-up American Idol showing last year, the 25-year-old rose from the proscenium's floor in "You Were There," as shots of Calvary Hill and fluffy clouds panned across the TV monitors - more Young Life kitsch than pop star fare, but the preteens and housewives gobbled up his Bah-bul Belt charm like Librium.

French chanteuse Cherie opened with slick, wailing anthems a la Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey; girl can hardly speak English but suggests promise for her American debut, due in August.
From July 28 Syracuse News Times. No link available. Transcribed at CA.com
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:46:31 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2004, 11:36:40 PM » 

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DELAWARE STATE FAIR REVIEW


Quote
Clay Aiken: 15 minutes and counting
Stands half empty at rainy, uninspired state fair show
By RYAN CORMIER
Staff reporter
07/28/2004

First there were the Deadheads.

Then came the Kiss Army, Parrot Heads and Phish Phans.

Now we have "Clay Mates," and they were swarming the Delaware State Fair on Tuesday night for Clay Aiken's concert.

Mostly made up of preteens, teens and their parents, the fans huddled under their ponchos as a steady rain fell throughout the night.

Aiken opened the show with an uninspired cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."

Imagine Britney Spears covering "Sunday Bloody Sunday."

Well, it was worse than that.

Aiken, dressed in an untucked blue button-down shirt, a yellow tie and khakis, sucked every bit of emotion out of the seminal U2 song.

The fans cheered at one point in the song, but it was at the line "I want to take shelter from the pouring rain."

For the rest of the soggy evening, Aiken sang nearly every song off his debut album and sprinkled in a few other covers. But since all of his own songs were written by other people, the whole concert was basically a five-piece cover band fronted by Clay Aiken.

Aiken rose to fame through defeat in 2003 when he lost the second "American Idol" competition to Ruben Studdard.

Unlike Justin Guarini, whose career has turned into a punch line following his second-place finish at the first "American Idol," Aiken has capitalized on his loss.

Even though the 25-year-old has been lambasted by music critics (one called him a "Southern-fried theater nerd"), his first album, "Measure of a Man," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts when it was released in October and has sold 3 million copies.

His first single off the album, "This Is the Night," was the best-selling single of 2003 and his second single, "Solitaire," opened at No. 1, turning his reality television experience into a bona fide pop chart juggernaut.

But during Tuesday's 60-minute set, the one-man boy band looked like anything but.

His stage presence consisted of synchronized stepping with his three backup singers, clapping his hands over his head, leaning on a railing and sitting on a stool.

Even his chats with the crowd seemed forced. "You guys are better than I am for sitting out here," he said at one point. "So I'll stop talking."

The set included a tribute to James Taylor with Aiken singing "Sweet Baby James."

The tribute took an odd turn when his backup singers took turns singing lead on Taylor's "How Sweet It Is," "Fire and Rain" and "Whenever I See Your Smiling Face."

During those three songs, Aiken sang backup harmony - surely not what the wet crowd paid $23 each to see.

They also didn't sit in the rain to watch the Disney infomercial that opened the show, touting Aiken's song "Proud Of Your Boy," which will be included on the "Aladdin" special edition DVD out later this year.

The attendance was well below the 7,700 capacity for a concert at the state fair, with the grandstand half-empty.

Tonight's Toby Keith show and Saturday's performance by Rascal Flatts are sold out.

DELAWARE ONLINE
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:51:13 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2004, 11:37:20 PM » 

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MASHANTUCKET CT FOX THEATER PREVIEWS


Quote
CLAY AIKEN: Measure of the Man called AMERICAN IDOL
By David Pencek
Norwich Bulletin

A day may come when Clay Aiken’s name isn’t in close proximity to the words “American Idol.” The fact that he was a runner-up on one of the most popular television shows will merely be a footnote in any mention of the pop singer.

The day is not here yet, but Aiken is doing his best to speed up the process.

“I appreciate the fact that without the show I wouldn’t be here today” Aiken said during a recent phone interview. “I don’t think I want to be defined by the show. In seven years, the show might think of something else to talk about. Might as well get started now.”

Aiken talked from his hotel room in Lexington, KY., the fifth stop on his first solo tour. Aiken brings his tour to the Fox Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino tonight with newcomer Cherie opening the 8 p.m. concert. The tour also visits the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I., Tuesday.

The 25 year-old Aiken became a pop icon last year when he and Ruben Studdard competed for the second “American Idol” title. More than 25 million voted with Studdard besting Aiken by 130,000 votes.

Although he finished second, Aiken has enjoyed more success than Studdard. His album came out first and produced hits with “Invisible” and “This Is The Night”.

One could easily aruge Aiken’s become the most popular “American Idol” contestant from any of the show’s three seasons so far.

His debut album, “Measure of a Man,” is closing in three million sales and he is recording a holiday-themed Cd that is scheduled for release in December.

Earlier this year, Aiken co-headlined a tour with first year winner Kelly Clarkson. He said he has a picture of Clarkson on his tour bus.  “Everything is the same for this tour. It’s the same bus. She’s the only person missing from this tour,” Aiken said. “I didn’t think I would be nervous but I realized after the first few shows that I am probably a little nervous. All the pressure is on me. I don’t have Kelly so there’s a little more pressure, but it will be easy to get through.”

Aiken’s demeanor and charm make him a likeable pop star. The fact that many stories refer to him as a nerd or geek doesn’t bother the Raleigh, N.C. native.

“I can’t speak for some people who may portray this uneattainable, coolness star. I’m not that” Aiken said. “I’ve never been that. I was a dork before, I’m a dork today and I’ll be a dork tomorrow. I’m not going to try and be somebody I’m not.”

In his shows, Aiken covers songs from the artists such as U2 and James Taylor to less legendary artists such as Mr. Mister and Toto.

Aiken’s desire to break away from the “American Idol” label hasn’t stopped him from staying in touch with his former competitors. He and Studdard speak at least once a month, he said, and he talks with Julia DeMato frequently as well.

“We are family” Aiken said. “For all the good and bad that goes with it, we’re all brothers and sisters. When we get together it’s always a reunion. We did go through a lot together.”

Incidentally, the finalists from this season’s “American Idol” including champion Fantasia Barrino, are on tour as well and visit Hartford August 28.
Transcribed at RHT.com. No link available yet.

Quote
Feat Of Clay
 
By KRISTINA DORSEY
Arts & Entertainment Editor/ETW
Published on 7/29/2004

Did ever a second-place finisher end up in a better position than Clay Aiken? Ruuuuuuben Studdard won last year's American Idol battle, but Clay won the career war. He's sold more records and drawn more people to concerts. He won the Fan's Choice American Music Award and the Billboard Music Award for best-selling single of the year, “This Is the Night”/“Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Compare that to the fate of the first year's runner-up, Justin Guarini, who is probably running the Tilt-a-Whirl at a traveling carnival right now.

Here's the secret to Clay's success: Clay's CD plays better to his fan base. In Clay's case, those are tween girls who love music like this soundtrack to a junior high school dance. (And, unlike Kelly Clarkson's schizophrenic CD, Clay's has a sound — Manilowish pop — and sticks with it.)

In addition, Clay gives better interviews than Ruben. He's willing to talk about anything.Ruben is the strong, silent type, but that doesn't provide scintillating magazine copy.

Aiken brings his act to Foxwoods tonight (the show is sold out) and then to the Ryan Center in Rhode Island on Tuesday. The opening act is Cherie, whom The New Yorker has compared favorably to both Whitney Houston and Shania Twain.
— Kristina Dorsey

Clay Aiken and Cherie perform at 8 tonight at Foxwoods' Fox Theatre. Tickets are $82.50 and $110. Call 1-800-200-2882. They also play the Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I., at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets range from $30 to $44. Call (401) 788-3250.

THE DAY.COM CT

MASHANTUCKET CT FOX THEATER REVIEWS


Quote
Not a runner-up anymore - Aiken stands on his own at Foxwoods

By DAVID PENCEK
Norwich Bulletin

Figuring out what to make of Clay Aiken isn’t easy, especially for someone who has never had a particular affection toward “American Idol.”
His nearly two-hour show Thursday at the Fox Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino didn’t really clear things up. Aiken somehow made it seem natural to cover a song from U2 and a song from Mr. Mister in the same concert. Does anyone even cover Mr. Mister anymore?

He made it seem appropriate to take a 15-minute intermission after performing for just 40 minutes. Did he even break a sweat?

It would be easy to dismiss Aiken as a product of today’s reality-TV phenomenon and nothing more than a glorified karaoke singer. But then you watch the power and connection he had with the audience that consisted mostly of women ranging from adolescents to elderly. It’s something many established pop stars don’t have and would envy.

It’s then you realize that you can’t simply brush aside Aiken’s popularity or talent.

Aiken (as if you didn’t know) was the runner-up in the second season of “American Idol.” He finished second to Ruben Studdard.

His concert felt like “American Idol” all over again when Aiken covered songs such as U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name,” which he opened with, Toto’s “Rosanna” and Orleans’ “You’re Still The One.”

The show’s pacing also made it feel like the television show as Aiken went quickly from one song to the next.

But then Aiken separated himself from the show that made him famous and appeared stronger when singing songs from his debut album, “Measure of a Man.” He owned tunes such as “Shine,” “This Is The Night” and “Invisible.” He ended the night with an encore performance of his hit “Solitaire.”

During the few breaks he took, Aiken had some intimate moments with the audience. One young girl from Norwich was invited on stage to dance with Aiken and his backup singers. He then gave her a hand-made lei.

During the second half of the show, Aiken invited a young girl from Rhode Island on stage and she sang an impressive rendition of “Without You.”

The 14-year-old wore a shirt with the words “Simon Said I Was Good” on it, referring to “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell.

“He never said that to me,” Aiken said. “But I’m doing okay now.”

Aiken is doing more than okay and what was evident from his show is that if he tosses the cover tunes and continues to produce his own hits, he could be the one person from “American Idol” who lasts.

One of the positive aspects about “American Idol” is that the people who watch have the power to make a pop star out of who they want and not who the record companies think the public wants. And right now, the people want Aiken, the young man who wears terms like “geek” and “nerd” as badges of honor.

New pop singer Cherie, who hails from France, opened the evening with a 25-minute performance. She sang five songs from her self-titled debut CD that will be released Tuesday. Those in the Fox Theatre should remember since that fact was on the two video screens throughout Cherie’s show.

Cherie did her job of warming up the crowd, especially with her hit single “I’m Ready” closing out her set. She even returned to the stage to sing a duet with Aiken.
NORWICH BULLETIN


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Fans Adore Him, But Aiken Does Little To Deserve It

By ERIC R. DANTON, Courant Rock Critic

Change the circumstances a bit, and the cops would have found a bunch of bodies and some leftover Kool-Aid.

That's the sort of pull Clay Aiken exerts on his fans, who packed the Fox Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino Thursday night to see the "American Idol" runner-up make his solo debut in Connecticut.

Yet the attraction is mysterious to the uninitiated, because Aiken is largely devoid of charisma on stage. Despite 36 episodes of "American Idol" and a year on the road, he still looks stiff and not altogether comfortable in the spotlight. Maybe that lack of polish humanizes him, gives him an outsider's appeal that makes Aiken seem like a real person to his adoring fans. It also makes him seem like a hopeless amateur instead of the smooth professional he's trying so hard to be.

Regardless of how he looks and acts on stage, his fans say they love his voice. Truth be told, though, what sounds so warm and deep on his album, "Measure of a Man," comes off as thin and sometimes forced in a live setting.

It's like seeing behind the curtain in "The Wizard of Oz": outside the forgiving confines of the recording studio, the vocal tricks sound contrived. There was a little yelping hiccup in his voice that came right before he'd belt out and hold high notes, for example.

Worse than that was the colorless way Aiken presented songs he had no business covering. He deserves credit for the guts it took to open with the U2 song "Where the Streets Have No Name," but Aiken's version had none of the grit or desire or heated rock 'n' roll passion that Bono - another singer who thinks he's God - injected into the original.

The same was true during an extended medley of James Taylor songs, during which Aiken's backup singers overshadowed him on "Fire and Rain" and "Whenever I See Your Smiling Face."

Although he performed plenty of songs from "Measure of a Man," including the title track, Aiken needed a hefty array of covers to fill out the two 40-minute sets. There were some odd choices, too: "Kyrie" by Mister Mister? "Rosanna" by Toto? The latter, at least, featured Aiken's best vocal performance of the night. The song pushed his voice a little out of its range, and the resulting rawness finally made him sound real.

After performing "This Is the Night," Aiken ended with "Invisible," which sounds like the anthem of a guy who desperately wants to hide in your closet and watch you get ready for bed. Aiken performed the Neil Sedaka song "Solitaire" for an encore.
CT NOW.COM (registration required)


Quote
Clay Aiken Shows Stage Maturity Beyond His Years
 
By BETHE DUFRESNE
General Assignment Reporter/Columnist
Published on 7/31/2004

A colleague of my generation, more attuned to the spectacular rise of pop star Clay Aiken than I, assured me as I headed with my niece to the Fox Theater for Aiken's Thursday night concert that the young man “has pipes.”

I may not be the best one to make predictions, but it looks to me like he has legs, too.

The gangly “American Idol” runner up, with spiked hair, sonorous voice and soothing style attracted a mostly female audience at Foxwoods. They ranged from toddlers and school girls to the ubiquitous “Claymates,” a burgeoning sorority of women clad in Clay t-shirts, name tags and — I'll bet — sooner or later the red thong Clay underwear that was selling briskly in the lobby.

One woman, age 55 and accompanied by her equally star-struck 28-year-old daughter, told me after the show that she had tickets for his next four concerts, occurring within the week. I wish I'd had time to ask if this was her first trip as a groupie.

With his signature “Measure of A Man,” “Invisible,” “Run to Me,” “Perfect Day,” “I Survived You,” and my personal favorite, “I Will Carry You,” Aiken earned every deafening shriek of approval from the capacity crowd.

What struck me most, besides the beautiful voice, was the boyish Aiken's relaxed assurance as a performer. His is such a young career, yet he manages the stage like someone long past trying to prove himself, and he does it without any hint of arrogance.

If Thursday's audience tended to the older side, it might be because of the casino venue and the ticket prices, $85-$110. But it was a real advantage to be in the relatively small Fox Theater.

“This is one of the most intimate crowds we've had,” said Aiken, and he used the space to his advantage, especially during a James Taylor medley with his superb back-up singers that had me singing along.

As he is wont to do, Aiken connected directly with fans, dancing with a 9-year-old and popping into the audience to pull a 14-year-old on stage for a — blessedly — brief duet.

He also performed a wonderful full-length duet with Cherie, his opening act. If these two don't make it as longtime pop stars, they certainly have a career waiting in the wings on Broadway.

Can a guy this nice, who wears a “W.W.J.D.” wristband, raises money for disabled kids and dedicated one of his numbers to Jesus, endure as a pop idol in America? It's far too soon to say. At least he'll always have something to fall back on.

He can sing.
THE DAY.COM
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:07:04 AM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #15 on: July 25, 2004, 11:38:07 PM » 

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CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY PREVIEWS

Quote
The Latest Feat of Clay
'Idol's' Aiken makes nightclub debut
By David J. Spatz

Chalk up another first for the guy who came in second on "American Idol."

When Clay Aiken steps onto the stage of the Circus Maximus theater at Caesars Atlantic City next weekend, it will mark his nightclub debut.

"All of the dates we've done so far have been in, like, 4,000- or 6,000-seat venues,"Aiken says. "I've never played a nightclub before."

Or such a small room. At 1,200 seats, the showroom at Caesars is considerably smaller than any place Aiken has played since he bagan touring after finishing second to Ruben Studdard on the 2003 edition of the TV talent competition.

But Aiken, 25, won't change his music or how he presents himself for his new surroundings. Casino or not, the skinny kid with a massive voice from North Carolina feels his is a family show that will play to all generations.

"We've got a good and very wide audience base," he says during an exclusive Daily News interview. "We have preteens and teens and an older generation coming to the shows, and we try to do a little something for everyone."

The song "Invisible," he adds, plays well to younger fans. "Solitaire," his breakout hit, appeals to the folks who were glued to their televisions while he made his "American Idol" run.

In addition to songs from his debut triple-platinum album, he also performs covers of songs that cater to folks who came of age musically in the 1970s and '80s.

"We've got a very eclectic mix of music," he says.

What he's really looking forward to, though, is unpacking his suitcase. Since launching his tour earlier this month, Aiken has been doing nothing but one-nighters, waking up in one city and going to sleep in another. The two-night stand at Caesars will be the first and only multinight gig on the tour, which ends in late September.

"That'll be a treat," he says with a big laugh.

Aiken, who'll warm up for his Boardwalk debut by working Foxwoods casino in Connecticut the night before, says he had some preconceived notions about casinos that are turning out to be completely unfounded.

Until last September, he had never set foor in a casino, not because of any big moral objection, but simply because -- growing up in Raleigh -- he never had the opportunity.

"The only vacations we took were ones where we could drive there," he says. "Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, the mountains of North Carolina."

"I'd never even been to Atlanta before I went there to audition for '[American] Idol.'"

Everything he knew about casino life came from TV and movies. "My vision of a casino was that it was a lot of desperate people...and five people in a lounge listening to Don Ho with a martini glass," he recalls. "That's what you see in movies."

He's also looking forward to venturing out of his hotel suite to do a little Boardwalk exploring. But he admits it isn't easy trying to blend in with the crowds.

Owing to the enormous popularity of "American Idol" -- and a massive publicity blitz -- Aiken is instantly recognized the moment he steps into public view. Even with a hat and sunglasses, fans see through the disguise and mob him for pictures and autographs.

"I don't do incognito that well," he says. "It's easier if I'm in Los Angeles, where people expect to see [celebrities]. But if I'm in Portsmouth, Va., or Grand Forks, N.D., people don't expect to see me and it becomes a big deal."

And, yes, he admits that signing autographs, shaking hands and posing for pictures get a little tiring when all he wants to do is run to a mall and do a little shopping. But whenever Aiken feels he's a prisoner of his own success, he remembers one very salient point.

"All those people asking for autographs are the ones who helped put me here," he says.
NY Daily News (no link yet.)

Quote
Aiken hopes to shed 'Idol' image some day

By SCOTT CRONICK
At The Shore

Clay Aiken may be the most successful "American Idol" contestant of all, but that's not how Aiken wants to be recognized. He wants to be known as a great singer who just happened to be on "American Idol."

He may get his wish. The 26-year-old, who was the runner-up to Ruben Stoddard on the second "American Idol," certainly knows how to sing. Whether he was dazzling audiences with his vocals or his Southern charm, the Charlotte, N.C., native earned a legion of fans.

Even though he didn't win, his crisp voice and boyish charm made him an instant pop star. What makes Aiken so special is his ability to capture the older audience, as well. Although he has called upon great writers to pen songs for his album, his covers of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" warmed the hearts of the moms who were watching "Idol" with their kids.

Aiken has certainly not left the spotlight like some of his "Idol" peers. His first single, "This is the Night," shot to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and made history by selling more than 392,000 copies in the first week, topping Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997." When his full album went on sale, Aiken didn't surprise anyone when it also went to No. 1 by selling 613,000 copies out of the box.

Aiken will make his Atlantic City headliner debut at Caesars Atlantic City on Saturday, and he took the time to talk about "American Idol," his career and even Atlantic City.

Q: The last time you were here, you sang in the Miss America Pageant. Any memories?

A: I sang "This is the Night," and it was pretty neat. It was really something being up there being part of a family institution. It was a great experience coming straight off "American Idol." I really liked it, and I really like the Boardwalk.

Q: Did any of the contestants hit on you?

A: Probably a few of them did. I think we were all star struck with each other.

Q: You've been very successful so far recording other people's tunes. Is there a songwriting side of you?

A: I kind of look at people who write songs on their own albums closely. There are people who write for their album, like Alicia Keys, who is amazing. And even the ones that (first "American Idol" winner) Kelly Clarkson wrote are great. Then there are the other artists, who I won't name, who write songs because it's a way to make some more money on their album. On those albums, usually the first three songs are written by someone else, and they're great, and the rest of the album that the artist writes is mediocre. They make a little more money, but then the album won't sell as well because there's some songs that aren't so great on it.

If money is the motivation, it's the wrong motivation. That said, I don't think I have the talent and I don't really have anything to say. So if I wrote music at this point, the motivation would be the money, and I won't do that.

Q: Are you working on another album yet?

A:Right now, we're putting the finishing touches on a Christmas album, which is really going to be nice. We'll have a lot of promotion for that album, and then there will be another album hopefully coming out in the first half of next year. There's a lot to do.

Q: Are you sick of the phrase "15 minutes of fame" yet?

A: It's not too much of a problem any more. I don't hear it that often any more. That comment comes from those who assume that if you come off "American Idol," you're only entitled to the same fame as game show contestants. They liken us to reality shows. I like to think that those of us who come off "American Idol" can be successful. Kimberley (Locke), Kelly, Ruben and I all have more talent than those who come off "Blind Date" or "Survivor."

Q: I sense some agitation there.

A: A little. I am very grateful for "American Idol," obviously, but it is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it was very beneficial to us. Heck, I could have resigned myself to being a teacher. But the show has also held a few of us back a little. I long for the day when the fact that I was on "American Idol" becomes a side note. Kind of like ... "Some may remember him from 'American Idol.'" But the reason people come to my shows and buy my album is because I can sing. I don't want the show to define who I am.

Q: Are there regrets?

A: Absolutely not. I have nothing but great memories. It was such an interesting and amazing experience. Kimberly and I sat back and watched videos of it a few weeks back, and we both said how we would go back and do it every day if we could. The people involved in the show, the people who ran it, the producers, the executive producers, made it such a family environment to work and live in. It was an amazing experience.

Q: You're 6-foot-1, are people surprised when they meet you?

A: (He laughs.) All of the time. They are always surprised. I get told that all of the time. I was surprised how tall Jay Leno was - and David Letterman is just as tall. I think people thought I was short because I stood next to Ruben all of the time, and he's 6-4.

Q: Is there a future in theater? I know you did it when you were younger, and it seems like a good fit.

A: I don't pay too much attention to it. I just saw "Wicked," which was so visually appealing and stimulating, that you think about it a little.

Q: How was it performing at PBS' "The Capitol Fourth?"

A: It was really neat. It was very majestic singing in front of the Capitol. Like Miss America, it is such an institution and such a huge event. There were 500,000 people there, which was the biggest live audience I probably will ever play.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about you?

A: That I am this angel. That I am some kind of perfect boy next door. I have a temper. I make rash judgments. I yell at people. I am not perfect.

PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY


Quote
Clay Aiken's busy summer on the road
Friday, July 30, 2004
By SUSAN KALAN
The Express-Times

A day in the life of Clay Aiken is -- as this American Idol puts it -- "pretty boring." Despite a first-ever nationwide headlining tour this summer, the 25-year-old multi-platinum RCA artist describes life on the road as "staying in a hotel, catching up on interviews, doing a sound check, doing the show, and getting back on the (tour) bus."

A yawn in the middle of a 10-minute phone interview on Tuesday from Harrington, Del., (where he was playing an evening show at the State Fair) is hard for this Idol from Raleigh, N.C., to hide. But he's forgiven. After all, headlining 42 dates in three-month's time can be pretty grueling -- so grueling that he did not know what city he was calling from for the interview.

"I'm not sure," he answered, then asked one of his traveling staff.

"You sleep two hours a week," he continues, in his southern accent. "It's the adrenaline you get used to the schedule, learning how to sleep less. It becomes part of the routine."

Catching up on sleep is done on the Aiken tour bus as it travels from city to city. He is appearing in Atlantic City tonight and Saturday, before heading to New England and then to Bethlehem for Musikfest Aug. 6.

A routine is something Aiken is cherishing, no doubt, with rave reviews in support of his album, "Measure of a Man," and his first single, "This is the Night," followed by "Invisible" and a trail of sold-out shows at indoor and outdoor venues across the country.

When Aiken rolls into Bethlehem to kick off the 10-day Musikfest, he will be performing a sold-out show at the Straub Chrysler Jeep RiverPlace on Sand Island.

Though Aiken says he is not familiar with Bethlehem, he does know it has a background rich in Moravian heritage. He says he started attending a Moravian church in his community when he was 18.

Aiken says he's been briefed that Musikfest tickets sold out before they ever went on sale to the public. Musikfest marketing director Sharon McCarthy says she can't remember a show in the music festival's last 20 summers that had the "magnitude" Aiken's show is packing.

What makes even moms love Clay Aiken?

"I don't know!" he answers with a laugh. "If I knew that, I'd bottle it! The 'American Idol' show was so successful it was a successful medium with television it showed the boy- and girl-next-door. Unlike celebrities that are unattainable, people are attracted to us because we are what we are. That's why we're so popular."

Popularity doesn't come without a price, though, and makes the simple things in life once taken for granted, "like shopping and going to the bank," more difficult. He's graced nearly every magazine cover on the newsstands, from Rolling Stone -- where he wore a WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelet -- to the Christian-based Guideposts for Teens and Exceptional Parent, which addresses children with special needs.

Aiken said he still wears his WWJD bracelet, a gift presented to him in his second or third week on "American Idol" by one of his campers at a YMCA back home.

Charity is also a major component to his tour. Prior to Idol fame, Aiken was a camp counselor/substitute elementary school teacher pursuing his degree in special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he graduated in December.

As part of an independent study, he formed the Bubel/Aiken Foundation last July to foster inclusion of those with special needs so they can participate in programs and work environments normally designed for persons without disabilities.

The foundation carries the name Bubel in honor of Mike Bubel, who is autistic. While attending college, Aiken worked with Bubel, then 13.

Diane Bubel, Mike's mother, encouraged Aiken to audition for the second season of "American Idol" because she thought he had "an incredible voice."

After plucking Aiken from a pool of 7,000 "Idol" contestants, judge Simon Cowell told Aiken he didn't look much like a pop star but had a great voice and agreed with judge Randy Jackson to advance the singer to Hollywood.

Given a second chance in the show's wild-card round, and following a memorable performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," Aiken captured the most telephone viewer votes, sending him to the competition's top 12.

The rest is history. After more than 25 million votes cast for the "Idol" finalists, contestant Ruben Studdard edged out Aiken by 130,000 votes.

Since then, one of Aiken's most memorable performances was June 15 when he headed a tribute to America's unsung heroes at the first annual Rosalynn Carter Institute Gala Celebration of Caregivers held at Atlanta Symphony Hall.

"It was a very classy event," he recalls, adding it was "very neat" to meet former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

While his life's ambition was to work with individuals living with disabilities, even pursuing his master's degree in administration in the field of education, Aiken, a Baptist, now says he no longer plans his life but follows "provident direction God's plan."

He says that plan is set in his favorite Bible verse, Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still."
NJ.COM



Quote
Not Much Chance For Clay Aiken to Slow Down

Friday, July 30, 2004
By Ed Condran
Courier Times

Feat of Clay
American Idol's Aiken isn't stuck on himself

by Ed Condran
Correspondent

Clay Aiken speaks at a rapid rate for a Raleigh, N.C. native.

"Everyone in my family talks fast," Aiken explained.

Speed is certainly necessary in Aiken's fast -paced life. The charming UNC-Charlotte alum, class of 2003, is agruably the most popular "American Idol alum ("definitely arguably", Aiken said with his constant and infectious laugh). As such he's on tour and is very much in demand. A.I.'s season two runners-up interviews are limited to 10 minutes, which is fine since the affable pop singer could give a New Yorker a run for his money in the chat department.

Life for the lanky Aiken, 25, has been a whirlwind lately. That's quite a contrast to what it could have been if he did not participate in round two of "American Idol" in 2003. Before auditioning in Atlanta for A.I., Aiken mentored children with behavioral disorders in Raleigh.

"I always thought I would be a special-ed teacher," Aiken said while calling from Charleston, WV. "I loved it. When I hear my friends tell me stories about what happens in their classroom, well, I long for that."

Don't think that Aiken regrets his changes in vocation, however. "Measure of a Man", the lanky, 25-year-old rag doll of a performer's debut disc, has sold nearly 3 million copies, and his legion of "Claymates" is helping to make his summer tour a success.

"I'm thankful for everything," said Aiken, who is scheduled to perform in Atlantic City this weekend. "I have nothing to complain about. I'm singing in front of great crowds and I'm seeing the world."

Unlike many of his peers, Aiken comes off as an unaffected regular guy. The unpretentious former member of the Raleigh Boys Choir has been hammered by the media. "The Geek shall inherit the Earth," Rolling Stone declared. "Okay. We Admit...We Love Clay Aiken" read the cover of Entertainment Weekly. "Revenge of the Nerd," was the headline of choice on Teen People.

Much of what has been written about Aiken has more to do with his cool quotient than his musical talent. However, that hardly dims the sunny singer's perspective.

"I don't mind all of that," Aiken said. "When I was 14, I wish there was as big a dork as me so I could have a role model. If you believe the media, women should be supermodel skinny and everyone should look cool. I want to change that misconception. You don't have to be cool. It's not easy. I got kicked around in middle school I hardly look at myself as cool."

But there are plethora of young girls who disagree. There's no denying that since Aiken had a A.I. makeover, the glasses scrapped and hair dyed, he appeals to women.

"People have said that, look how I have grown out of what I once was. But it's not as if I've turned into a swan. This ugly duckling has turned into an ugly duck."

Aiken,who was named one of People's Sexiest Men Alive in 2003, is sitting pretty. The affable A-List celebrity is now famous and well compensated, in addition to being a talented vocalist. "I can't deny that I'm in an incredible situation," Aiken said. "It's been fantastic."

After "Idol" contestants Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini starred in the film "From Justin to Kelly", which bombed, there have been rumors of a movie that will feature Aiken and Ruben Studdard, who beat the pride of Raleigh on "American Idol".

"That won't happen," Aiken insisted. "There are other things to do."

One of those things is to work on a new album. "Measure of a Man", which includes tracks penned by such ace tunesmiths as Desmond Child ("Invisible"), Steve Morales ("The Way"), and Rick Nowels ("When You Say You Love Me"), is a disc Aiken is proud of, but he's hoping the next project better captures his essence.

"There was a push for this album to be called "Clay Aiken", but "Measure of a Man" didn't define me," Aiken said. "Some songs are downers, and there is heartbreak that I just never experienced. Next time I would like there to be more 'up' songs. But I can't complain. I'm going to continue to let God point me in His direction. He has bigger dreams for me that I do for myself."

PHILLY BURBS

Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:07:22 AM

CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY REVIEW

Quote
Atlantic City just adores Clay Aiken
By Kevin Clapp


Claymania gripped Caesars Atlantic City on Friday night, with no man woman or child immune from its chief symptom – shrieking.

Young and old came, they screamed and they cried some more. All for a guy who two years ago was as well know as the neighborhood grocer.

But Clay Aiken, “American Idol’s” favorite son, has touched a nerve. In a brisk, buoyant performance the first of two sold-out performances this weekend, the singer happily obliged the capacity crowd with a steady diet of ballads that have made his career.

Cheered like conquering hero by the more than 1,000 people packed into the Circus Maximus Theater, Aiken proudly embraced his role as latest in a succession of easy listening heartthrobs.

In a 90-minute performance, featuring three wardrobe changes and several declarations of love from starry-eyed members of the audience, Aiken was a picture of self-assurance. He tore through much of his debut album while sprinkling popular coves throughout the set to show he’s more than a balladeer.

And his adoring fans lapped it up. On their feet from the opening notes of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Names,” girls, women and men bounced in the aisles, snapping photos for keepsakes and thrusting open cell phones towards the stage the transmit Aiken’s voice to points unknown.

You don’t have to be a diehard fan to appreciate the passion and verve he brought to the performance. His is a powerful voice, put to good use on a liberal dose of the soaring ballads that are his trademark.

Smartly, Aiken broke up his slower material with an assortment of up-tempo covers from the likes of Mr. Mister (Kyrie) and Orleans (Still the One). They played like a concert version of “I Love the 70’s and 80’s,” but they kept the crowd jumping. Not that he needed to worry about an energy deficit.

Working the stage with a veterans ease, Aiken seemed to appreciate all those who let him perform. He’s perfected stage patter, whether pulling girls on stage from the front rows or joking with the five piece band and three singers supporting him. He even took time to thank the back stage crew.

If this life is a dream for Aiken, he had the chance to play dream-weaver Friday by helping the Make-a-Wish foundation make six-year-old John Martin’s dream a reality.

After introducing the Yeadon, Pa boy prior to the medley of James Taylor classics, Aiken welcomed Martin back on stage later to sing his signature hit, “This is the Night”.

And when both ripped their microphones from the stands in unison the crowd, including Martin’s adoptive mother Katy, went wild.

Arguably the hottest thing to emerge from the “American Idol” universe, Aiken showed Friday he is more than the sum of his experiences on the talent showcase.

Quote
'Cellcerting’ lets fans enjoy a concert - from home
August 8, 2004
By KEVIN CLAPP

The Circus Maximus Theatre was packed, a raucous crowd of screaming Clay Aiken fans swooning as their idol bounded across the stage July 30.

But the 1,040 in attendance that Friday weren't the only ones enjoying the show at Caesars Atlantic City.

Ruthie in Seattle was there, sort of. So was Mary Lynne in Canton, Ohio, Barb in Springfield, Pa., and Pat in Radcliff, Ky. Thanks to a new concertgoing trend they, and countless others, could enjoy the show even if located thousands of miles away.

It's called cellcerting, a practice in which someone dials a friend from his or her cell phone during a concert. Enjoying the show from afar, the listener has the option of going online to post real-time updates for other fans on the Internet.

"Thank goodness," says cellcerter Debbie Katz of Merrick, Long Island, "for unlimited minutes."

The cellcert is all the rage among Aiken followers who can't get enough of their Clay. But it's not a trend relegated to fans of the "American Idol" alum. Katz, for instance, has cellcerted at Barry Manilow concerts.

Casino entertainment directors say it's more common than ever to see hands gripping phones transmitting music to points unknown.

With the introduction of camera phones, fans have been able to click pics of their favorite performers, too.

In discussions with artists, Trump properties Vice President for Entertainment Steve Gietka says policing cell phone usage hasn't become an issue. Yet.

"As the technology gets better and better, and the image quality gets better and better, it will become an issue," Gietka says. "Some see any occasion where their image is taken without their approval, their music is taken without their approval, as a problem."

Other artists view cellcerts as another way to reach out to fans. During early Aiken shows, the singer would take a phone from the audience and begin talking to the person on the other end.

But at Aiken's July 30 performance, Mays Landing fan Marge Bond was asked by security to put her phone away. She was sitting close to the stage, an area more accessible to security personnel who are instructed to halt cell transmissions, Gietka says.

"We had heard the cellcert police were out in force telling people to turn them off," says Katz, who placed a call to a friend in Kentucky that night. "We didn't have any problem. I just dial the number, lay it on the table and keep it out of sight."

Seated farther away, Sulin Yao Ong, 36, of Linwood had no problems either. She phoned a woman in Burlington County she had first met online earlier in the week.

At www.claytonaiken.com, concert updates are posted in red, usually capital, letters. Comments range from the descriptive - "... AUDIENCE IS FAIRLY QUIET ..." - to laudatory. One post from Friday's concert in Bethlehem, Pa., praised Aiken's ability to dance, sing and look at the audience at the same time.

Whenever Aiken performs and she's not there, Bond is online following the action via cellcert (a term, by the way, that Aiken has filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office). On a trip to New York, and without her laptop, Bond ducked into an Internet cafe to check out the action online.

Of the 10 shows she's attended, half have featured a phone call, including a Baltimore concert she attended with Yao Ong.

"When I was in Baltimore calling my sister it was so hard to get reception it drained my battery right out," Bond says. "So I had to finish the cellcert with Su's phone."

"If anything, I think it might enhance the experience," says Bill Borenstein, director of entertainment for Harrah's Atlantic City and Showbo
That's the draw for the Aiken fans who have taken cellcerting to the extreme.

"When you cellcert with people, it makes them feel like they're there if they can't attend," Bond says. "It's the life line of the Claymates."
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:10:25 PM
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« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2004, 12:25:18 AM » 

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PORTLAND MAINE PREVIEW


Quote
Aiken makes good on 'Idol' chance
By ALAN SCULLEY

For a few select performers, "American Idol" has become a dream vehicle through which to enter the music business. But the fact is, success on "American Idol" doesn't guarantee popular contestants a place in mainstream music once they finish their run on the show.

Consider Justin Guarini, who has faded from the public eye since finishing second to Kelly Clarkson in the inaugural 2002 season of the hit show.

Clay Aiken, who finished second to Ruben Studdard in 2003, went into the making of his debut CD, "Measure of a Man," knowing he needed to bring more to the table musically than he showed on "American Idol."

"I think that with 'American Idol,' you perform a lot of classic standards stuff, and a lot of times people come out of there wondering will this person have the ability to compete in a mainstream market?" Aiken said.

"I think that's what we were really trying to show with the album. Yeah, I sang 'Build Me Up Buttercup' and 'Solitaire' and 'Mack the Knife' on that show, but that's not all I can do."

Whether fans see the songs on Aiken's CD as adding a new dimension to the musical personality he established on "Idol" may be open to debate. But there's no arguing with the popularity Aiken continues to enjoy.

"Measure of a Man" debuted last fall with first-week sales of 613,000, the second highest total ever behind Snoop Dogg's "Doggy Style" CD. The record spent two weeks at No. 1, has topped 2 million in sales and its lead single, "Invisible" became an adult contemporary hit.

Meanwhile, touring, first with a spring round of dates with Clarkson, and now as a headliner, has kept Aiken in the spotlight. It's all an amazing series of events for someone like Aiken, who never saw singing as anything other than a hobby.

"I was going to be a teacher," Aiken said. "That's what was my goal in life, to teach and to do that. I had my life planned out until I was 50 years old. I was going to be a teacher and maybe a principal at some point. . . . And so I would have never auditioned had it not been for someone who convinced me to do it."

That someone was a family friend, Diane Bubel, who had heard Aiken sing and convinced the 25-year-old native of Raleigh, N.C., to try out for "Idol."

Aiken failed in his first audition for the Fox network affiliate in Charlotte. But Bubel convinced him to travel to Atlanta, where national auditions were held. He made the show and emerged alongside Studdard as a leading contender to win.

In the season finale, viewers voted Studdard the winner by a margin of less than 1 percent. But Aiken's showing was easily strong enough to earn him his deal with RCA Records.

Teaching went on hold, and singing became the priority as Aiken went to work on "Measure of a Man" with the help of label president and music industry legend Clive Davis.

Aiken said he retained a good deal of control over the material on the CD. "They played me like 15, 16, 20 songs. I said 'I don't like this one. I don't like this one. I do like this one. This is the kind of sound I like. This is what I'm interested in doing.' "

Aiken enjoys the fact that he has been hard to pin down stylistically.

"I think that's part of the reason we've had so much success with our album and what we've been doing, because we don't necessarily fit into one of the prefabricated niches that record companies have put out," Aiken said.

"What's amazing about the show I was on, and the way that I came around is because I came around by allowing the public to pick from day one," he said.

MUSIC PREVIEW 
WHO: Clay Aiken
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Monday
WHERE: Cumberland County Civic Center
HOW MUCH: $35 and $45; tickets available at the civic center, Ticketmaster locations, by calling 775-3458 or 775-3331 or online at www.theciviccenter.com.

MAINE TODAY.COM


Quote
He's boyish, wholesome and in Portland tonight

By RAY ROUTHIER, Portland Press Herald Writer

Diane Karpowitz says she hasn't had much reason to keep up with pop music. But that was before Clay.

"Now I watch MTV when his videos are on, and I go on his fan boards (online)," said Karpowitz, who lives in Windham and is in her 50s. "And I watched 'American Idol,' but I didn't care half as much this year because Clay wasn't on it."

Karpowitz is pretty typical of the broad fan base that 25-year-old Clay Aiken has amassed since kicking off his pop singing career last year.

The wide-eyed singer from North Carolina gained famed on "American Idol," Fox TV's talent contest, coming in second in 2003.

Though the show seems tailor-made for the teeny bopper set, Aiken's smooth voice, wholesome image and boyish charm earned him a largely female fan base that spans from grammar schoolers to grandmas.

When Aiken plays the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland tonight, there will be mothers and daughters sitting side by side. There will be high schoolers and people old enough to be Aiken's mom singing along to his pop ballads and up-tempo songs.

So in an age when the audience for contemporary music is more segmented then ever, how does Aiken do it?

"It's his voice that drags you in first, then you look at what it's coming out of," said Karpowitz, who works in the children's room at the Windham Public Library and will be at the concert tonight. "He's a wholesome kid and he loves his fans."

A big part of his success is that Aiken attracts fans who are passionate and devoted. Karpowitz saw Aiken in concert last year in Worcester, Mass. After seeing him in Portland she'll travel to Gilford, N.H., later in the week to see him outdoors at Meadowbrook Farm. Earlier this year she made a "Clay Display" at the Windham library, which featured a timeline of his career.

Aiken's fans communicate constantly via the Internet, they hold pre-concert parties in virtually every city he visits, and they support the causes he champions.

One of the parties will be held before the Portland show, and the guest list is already filled with people who are coming to the show from all over the country. It's being organized by Leanne Timberlake, 43, of Wayne.

Timberlake, who counts Barry Manilow and James Taylor among her favorite singers, has traveled as far as Washington, D.C., to see Aiken. This week, after seeing him in Portland, she'll travel to his shows in Rhode Island and at the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut.

Many pre-concert parities are fund-raisers for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which the pop singer founded to help children with special needs. Aiken has a degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His foundation helps honor Mike Bubel, a young man with autism he worked with while in college.

For the Portland party tonight, fans have been asked to bring jars of pennies for donation to the foundation.

"He doesn't come across as someone who puts fame first," said Timberlake. "He is all about sharing, about doing what he can to help, and that appeals to a lot of people. That helps people connect to him more."

Sadie McCurry, 16, of Westbrook also is planning to attend the pre-concert party.

She discovered Aiken when her chorus teacher told her that she could see some good young signers by watching "American Idol." When Aiken was in the finals of the competition, McCurry fell asleep with the phone in her hand while she was trying to phone in her vote. Aiken ended up losing to Ruben Studdard, but he's arguably become better known post-Idol than his competitor.

In March, McCurry heard that Portland radio station WJBQ (97.9 FM) was giving away a chance to meet Aiken at a concert in Worcester. To win, people had to call the radio station and sing one of Aiken's songs while in the shower.

"I usually have bad stage fright, but I didn't care that day," McCurry said about singing the song "Invisible" to thousands of people over the air.

When she got to the show, she was able to have her picture taken with Aiken. While his arm was around her, no less.

McCurry will be going to the Portland concert with her mom, who is also a fan, but in a slightly different way.

"I want to marry him, I don't think she does," said McCurry.
MAINE TODAY.COM

PORTLAND REVIEWS


Quote
Aiken combines goofy humility, showbiz steel
 
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 4, 2004
BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer
 
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Sure, Clay Aiken can sing. He's got a strong, high voice that can handle several pop styles well and never quite loses its husk even when he's going for the high hard one at the end of a ballad.

But lots of people can sing. Why was Aiken performing to a screaming, sign-waving, packed house (about 90 percent women, a wide range of ages, from as far away as Florida) at the Ryan Center last night when so many of those other folks are waiting tables or washing dishes or, at best, Ruben Studdard?

Two reasons, from where I was sitting.

First is the musical niche he fills. Fifteen or 20 years ago, there were plenty of people doing the kind of pop Aiken does: synthesizer-heavy rock, but with live players rather than programming, and go-for-broke anthemic songwriting. Hip-hop dominates pop, if not in its content then its language -- drum machines and synth programs rule the mainstream.

Aiken started last night's show with a cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," and Mister Mister's "Kyrie" and Toto's "Rosanna" shared the setlist with selections from the American Idol runner-up's debut album, Measure of a Man. And they fit together just fine. With nostalgia for all things '80s running high, the success of someone like Aiken, whose music is new but sounds old, is not as big a surprise as it may first appear.

Then there's his personality: Plenty of goofy humility and humorous self-deprecation (he joked about his dancing ability, his hair and his nose in the course of the night), mixed with just enough showbiz steel. He alternated between commanding the stage and seeming to not quite believe he was there. Sincere tributes to the band, crew and audience were mixed with fake-o stage moves. Not enough to be patently dishonest -- just showbiz.

He was generous with the spotlight as well, giving each backup singer a lead spot in a James Taylor medley (his male backup singer had at least one sign devoted to him as well).

He brought an audience member on stage to dance (during "When You Say You Love Me," which was marred by the emphasis on the dancing). He brought an audience member on stage to sing (Valerie Diaz of Webster, Mass., who did a very good job). Heck, he brought an audience member on stage to pet his dog. (One audience sign read in part "Cuz if you can do it I can too!" And inspiring that feeling is clearly part of the point.)

It's endearing at first, but the show dragged a little near the end, and those would be easy places to trim. Unless he wants to trim the creepy stalker anthem "Invisible" ("If I was invisible/ I could just watch you in your room"), which is completely out of place with his clean-cut, family-friendly persona.
Quote

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL


Quote
AIKEN WAS SECOND TO NONE AT PORTLAND PERFORMANCE
by April Boyle
August 4, 2004

Clay Aiken may have placed second to Ruben Studdard in the 2003 season of the hit Fox reality show "American Idol", but to the horde of fans gathered at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Monday night, he is clearly second to no one.

The past year has been a whirlwind rise to stardom for this 25 year old all- American boy from Raleigh, N.C. Now, he's headlining in his own tour in support of a chart-topping album, Measure of a Man. Still, many critics wonder if he can truly measure up to all the hype.

Aiken's performance Monday proved he does indeed have what it takes to be more than a flash in the pan.

The tour producers went all out to make the show an impressive visual extravaganza, complete with a light show and hidden lifts that allowed Aiken to rise to the second tier of the stage.

The ghostly outlines of a talented eight-piece ensemble could be seen on the dark stage as the opening strains of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" signaled Aiken's arrival. A lighted staircase lifted, revealing Aiken's lanky frame, followed by powerful vocals.

Aiken's choice of music nicely demonstrated his vocal versatility. Covers included such unlikely songs as "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister, Toto's "Rosanna" and a medley of five James Taylor songs that included the hits "Fire and Rain" and "You've Got a Friend." Aiken graciously switched to backing vocalist on much of the medley, showcasing the exceptional vocal talents of back-up vocalists Jacob Lutrell, Angela Fisher and Quiana Parler.

The show also featured 10 of 12 songs on "Measure of a Man". The album, although perfectly rendered, lacks the passion that won over "American Idol" watchers. Aiken more than made up for this in his live performance, delivering heartfelt renditions of all 10 tracks, including "Invisible" "Run to Me" and "I Survived You."

True to his "American Idol" roots, Aiken held a competition prior to the show for a chance to sing with him on stage. The winner, 14 year old Kim Steele from Boston, delivered a duet of Mariah Carey's "Without You" that showed vocal maturity well beyond her years.

Aiken concluded the performance with a soulful rendition of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."

Aiken has a knack at charming audiences of all ages, whether he's belting out a ballad or simply chatting up the audience with his subtle southern accent.

French pop singer Cherie warmed the audience with an opening half-hour performance that included songs off her debut album, such as the beautiful "Older Than My Years".
From the Portland Press Herald.
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:16:14 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
 MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2004, 12:25:56 AM » 

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KINGSTON RHODE ISLAND PREVIEW

Quote
Despite spectacular success, Aiken still a 'real person'
 
01:00 AM EDT on Monday, August 2, 2004
 BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer
 
Clay Aiken took a strong, expressive voice, added American Idol national-TV exposure and a squeaky-clean appeal and turned it into one of the best-selling albums of 2003. Now he's bringing his first solo tour to the Ryan Center tomorrow night, and, if the rest of his career is any indication, thousands of screaming fans will follow him.

Aiken's female fan base is well known for its devotion -- creating Web sites, throwing underwear at the stage, chasing the tour bus. "They're very enthusiastic," Aiken agrees, but he quickly credits the success of the American Idol show.

"Everybody -- Kelly and Ruben, Kelly especially -- symbolizes a real person making good and having [their] dream come true. And I've told her that many times -- that she's the reason all 70,000 of us lined up for that second season of Idol. . . . And I think that a lot of people who have dreams of making it big, they see the girl next door or the boy next door have success, and they relate to them much more.

"I mean, I can't relate to a lot of celebrities who are out there -- they dress too good for me; they talk too good for me; they're too cool. I don't know how to relate to that."

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Aiken was studying at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte to teach children with developmental disabilities. His career plan was teaching, maybe becoming a high school principal. And while circumstances have changed, Aiken says, the ultimate goal is still the same.

Despite the two No. 1 singles and the No. 11-selling album of last year (Measure of a Man), Aiken finished his studies and graduated last December. He also set up the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which helps children with disabilities (the foundation is named after himself and the family of an autistic North Carolina boy he was working with).

The creation of the foundation was something of an accident, he says. He started it as part of an independent study for school. His assignment was to create a mock nonprofit foundation, and make a prospectus on how it would work. In an interview in conjunction with last year's American Idol tour, Aiken mentioned the "foundation," and audiences started giving money at shows.

"And we were like, 'Oh, goodness. People don't understand that it's a fake foundation!' " Aiken says. "So we made it real."

The foundation integrates kids with disabilities into YMCA summer camp programs, and gives grants to people with disabilities "who are serving in their own communities rather than being served," Aiken says.

After his singing success, however, Aiken says classroom teaching is probably a thing of the past. "I doubt that I'd be able to go back to Raleigh and teach in a classroom and demand too much respect as a teacher, after all those kids had seen me on TV. But I see this foundation as a way to teach on a larger scale -- in a larger classroom, if you will. . . .

"I went and visited one of the summer camps that the foundation is funding, and got to see the kids playing, and some of my classmates from college, who are now special-education teachers, were working in the camp. . . . Makes me kind of jealous."

Is it real or is it TV?

To some, the TV-driven success of American Idol singers such as Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson lacks legitimacy. Where are the years spent scuffling and honing one's craft in smoky bars?

"I think there's a lot of people who think we didn't work so hard for it, didn't come up singing in clubs," Aiken says. "I didn't, but Ruben did, Fantasia [latest Idol winner Fantasia Barros] did. . . . Of the people who were successful on Idol, I think the only people who didn't try that hard [prior to the show] were Kimberley Locke [who finished third behind Studdard and Aiken last year] and myself -- we both had plans otherwise.

"But most everyone else had been trying to sing for years and years, and really paid their dues, and then found this particular door."

He calls Clarkson "one of the best singers that there is on the radio right now, period. As is Ruben. I'd like to think that I'm at least somewhere near that category. So it's great fodder for critics and whatnot -- it's an easy way to discount our legitimacy. Unfortunately, for critics, hopefully, we'll all three be around for quite a while."

Besides, it's pointed out, record companies don't exactly work on a strict merit system. "That's right . . . there's a lot of politics and everything. And this [the TV show] is just a more democratic way of doing it."

Next up for Aiken is a Christmas album, coming out Nov. 4. Then he'll begin picking out songs for his next album, due out the second half of next year.

"It's going to be very traditional," Aiken says of the Christmas album. "We want to do a perennial-type album, that can be sold year after year. . . . It's going to be a lot of classic Christmas songs, classic arrangements, that people can put on year after year when they're making their eggnog or sitting by the fire."

So what is it about Aiken? He's got a strong voice, but so do plenty of people out there who aren't doing as well. What's he got that they haven't got?

"Musically, I'm not sure. . . . [But] there has not been any artist in recent years who is very family-oriented. . . . I'm happy that we're able to put together an album, and even shows on the road, that the entire family can come to."

In a pop universe dominated by R&B, hip-hop, rock and country, the field is wide open for a middle-of-the-road, soft-rock singer like Aiken, and his potential audience is huge. Aiken says his audiences range from "4 to 84. . . . Which is another thing that critics are -- well, critical of. Artistically, it's not the most creative and new idea.

"People call me, all the time, vanilla. Which I don't find insulting at all. It's the most popular flavor -- you can't make half the flavors without vanilla. I think that critics find that to be less credible, but the public seems to be happy with it, and I'm happy to fill that opportunity."

Clay Aiken and special guest Cherie sing at the University of Rhode Island's Ryan Center, in Kingston, tomorrow night at 8. Tickets, at $38 and $32, are available at the box office, by calling 331-2211 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
PROVIDENCE JOURNAL (registration required)
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:19:27 PM
Pamela
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« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2004, 08:55:00 PM » 

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CLEARFIELD PA COUNTY FAIR PREVIEW

Quote
'American Idol' runner-up to perform in Clearfield

By Linda Hudkins

Clay Aiken, last year's "American Idol" runner-up, said his mother told him he started singing and performing at 18 months of age.

By his own recollection, he was no more than 5 years old when his mom would take him to the department store where she worked, and he would hop up on a coffee table and perform. Delighted passersby often left little tips for the now-25-year-old entertainer, whose tour schedule will bring him to the Clearfield County Fair this weekend.

"When little kids are willing to sing and be that outgoing, people want to hear it," Aiken told the Mirror in an interview just before he hopped on a Rhode Island stage.


For details, please see Page D1 in the Aug. 6 Altoona Mirror.
No link available.  Transcribed at the Clackhouse.


CLEARFIELD PA COUNTY FAIR REVIEW


Quote
Aiken Says He Prefers Small-Town Audience
By Ashley Gurbal, Staff Writer
Aug. 9, 2004

Clay Aiken fans of all ages packed into the grandstand at the Clearfield County Fair Saturday night to see the "American Idol" star perform.
French singer Cherie warmed up the crowd with her single, "Older Than My Years" and other tracks from her new CD, which was released by Lava Records Aug. 3. Cherie had the crowd on its feet.
"Let me see your hands!" Cherie yelled and the crowd obliged, swaying back and forth in time to the music.
However, the crowd was soon cheering for the man of the evening.
"We want Clay! We want Clay!" the crowd chanted.
Mr. Aiken burst onto the stage around 8:30 p.m. For some this was the highlight of the evening.
"I love Clay Aiken," said Nichole Dugan, 15, of Clearfield. "It was most exciting when he first came out. Seeing him in person made me like him even more."
Mr. Aiken's show was not a one-man act. The audience and Mr. Aiken's back-up singers were a key part of the show.
A woman, who identified herself as Claire from Englewood, N.J., was selected earlier in the day to sing "Without You" with Mr. Aiken, a duet he originally performed with fellow "American Idol" star Kimberly Locke.
An audience member was also brought on stage to dance with one of Mr. Aiken's instrumentalists, Jay. Mr. Aiken said Jay is known for his shyness on stage and he wanted an audience member to dance with Jay to bring him out of his shell.
The audience was on its feet for most of the show and went wild when Mr. Aiken sang "Measure of a Man." The James Taylor covers Mr. Aiken performed were also a hit with the crowd.
Still, none of the songs brought about as much reaction as the one Mr. Aiken described "as the song that started it all," "You were There." (NOTE FROM JULIE: OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A MISTAKE. THE SONG HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS "THIS IS THE NIGHT.") Mr. Aiken sang the song with video clips of his "American Idol" performances playing on large screens set up on the stage.
Several fans brought signs to the concert, which they waved enthusiastically throughout the show.
"I just really love Clay," said Jenny Taylor of Butler. Ms. Taylor and her niece, Lyric Ackelson, 10, both brought signs that read "I love Clay" and "Achin' for Aiken." "We worked all day on these signs," they said.
After "You Were There," Mr. Aiken reflected on the year that has passed since is "American Idol" days.
"We've spent a whole year on the road," he said. "We've been in to New York City, LA. . . but we have the most fun in small towns. That's where I'm from. As much as I try to tell people differently, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. Thank you Pennsylvania!"
Many of Mr. Aiken's fans have been following him since his "American Idol" debut.
"We became fans after the hours and hours of 'Idol' watching," said Rebecca Marko of Roaring Springs. "It's not the same without Clay."
Rachel LeGrand of Philipsburg has also been following Clay since "American Idol."
"I've been following him ever since he started on American Idol," she said. "I cried when he lost."
Security at the event was tight. The individual delivering Mr. Aiken's check was sent away and told the check would be picked up, according to Fair manager, Wade Cowder.
"They turned away a guy with a $100,000 check," Mr. Cowder said.
One of the lucky few to get backstage was Linda Fisher of Bellefonte, whose son and daughter-in-law are friends of Kiana Parlor, one of Mr. Aiken's back-up singers.
"It was nice," Ms. Fisher said. "He's a great guy."
Ms. Fisher often makes fudge for her son and his wife, who have shared it with Ms. Parlor. Ms. Parlor has given Ms. Fisher's fudge to Mr. Aiken, who enjoyed it.
"He said, 'Thanks for the fudge. It's awesome," Ms. Fisher said.
Many of Mr. Aiken's fans were ecstatic as they left their seats after his performance.
"It was the best concert I've ever been to," Ms. LeGrand said.


No link available. Transcribed by Miromom.  Printed in The Progress of Clearfield PA.
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:23:11 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #20 on: August 08, 2004, 08:55:36 PM » 

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ALBANY NY PEPSI ARENA PREVIEW

Quote
Mr. Congeniality
Even though he came in second on 'Idol,' Clay Aiken is touring like a star

By GREG HAYMES, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, August 5, 2004

Clay Aiken has been so omnipresent in the media that it's nearly impossible to believe that it's been only a year since he emerged as the star of the second season of Fox's "American Idol" talent search.

And he didn't even win.

But Aiken -- whose name is usually followed up with the dubious description " 'American Idol' runner-up" -- has clearly been the biggest winner that the show has produced in its three seasons.

Last year, when he released his debut single, "This Is the Night," it shot straight to No. 1 on the Billboard charts, easily eclipsing "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard and becoming the fastest selling single since Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind 1997." It was the only certified platinum single of 2003.

When he released his debut album, "Measure of a Man," in October, it also shot to the top of the charts, selling more copies in the first week than any other debut album since Snoop Dogg's first album back in 1993.

His face graced the covers of magazines from Rolling Stone to TV Guide. He won an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award. He toured with the second season "Idol" finalists in 2003 and hit the arena circuit again this year, sharing the spotlight with first season "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.

And now he's back on the road with his own headlining tour that lands at the Pepsi Arena on Sunday evening. We caught up with him for a brief chat from backstage at the Delaware State Fair, and here's what he had to say:

Q: So how is the tour going?

A: It's really been great so far. We've been playing all arenas and stadiums so far on this tour, but we're also going to be playing at about 10 state fairs across the country. The tour goes through mid-September. Then we'll take a little bit of time off and go back out for another short leg in October.

Q: Is the live concert experience the most fun part of the musical experience for you?

A: It's a completely different element. It's different than recording, and it's different than doing "American Idol," even though, of course, we had an audience when we did the TV show.

The live audience on "Idol" was really what drove us to perform better. Having a live audience in front of you definitely adds a whole different level of energy. It adds to the whole experience and makes you enjoy what you're doing more. For me, it is one of the more exciting things to be able to go out and look right into the faces of the people that you're singing to.

Q: With your hectic schedule of touring and recording and all of the other demands on your time, do you think sometimes that perhaps you've bitten off more than you can chew with all of this explosion of show biz?

A: Well, it is pretty hectic, but I don't know about that. I'd like to think that I'm handling it pretty well. It's definitely a lot fuller plate than I ever thought I'd have -- or I ever even hoped to have -- but it's fun. It's a whirlwind ride. We're here in Delaware to play the state fair today, so I think it's safe for me to compare it all to a roller-coaster ride.

Q: I understand that you're also writing a book titled "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life." What is it about?

A: I'm working on that right now, and I'm hoping to have that out in October. It's not necessarily my memoirs, in the sense that I think I have a life that people want to read about. It's not an autobiography, because I certainly don't think that I've lived long enough to write an autobiography.

It's more of a collection of different stories from my life and the lessons I've learned along the way. The book serves a couple of purposes, and one is that I get a chance to thank some people who have taught me major lessons in my life. Two, I get to share some of those lessons with the public. I feel as though the book is an opportunity not for me to try to teach someone something, but rather to share experiences with people who might have gone through some of the same types of things.

Q: So what's next for you in the recording studio?

A: We're just about done with a Christmas album. In the next week or two, we should be finishing it up, and it should be released sometime in the beginning of November. It's a real traditional holiday album. The goal is to have a real perennial -- an album that people can enjoy year after year after year, so it's not necessarily geared toward any current musical style. It's very traditional, fireside Christmas music.

And then shortly we'll start looking for songs for the next studio album, which will hopefully be out in the first half of 2005.

FEAT OF CLAY
CLAY AIKEN with Cherie
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: The Pepsi Arena, 51 S. Pearl St., Albany
Info: 487-2000
Tickets: $35.50, $45.50
TIMES UNION

ALBANY NY PEPSI ARENA REVIEW

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Clay Aiken gets Pepsi crowd screaming

By DAVE SINGER For The Daily Gazette
Monday, August 9th

ALBANY — For someone working toward a teaching degree two years ago, Clay Aiken stood on the Pepsi Arena stage Sunday night undaunted — in fact, perfectly comfortable — while thousands of hysterical girls screamed his name and waved countless homemade posters that declared their love for him.

Amid all the clamor, Aiken sounded good, worked hard and seemed to be enjoying life on stage. He sang mostly from his only release, "The Measure of a Man," but he mixed it up with several cover songs. Highlights included "Shine," perhaps the strongest song of the first set, "I Will Carry You," "Measure of a Man," "Run to Me," where he stood at the end of the extended stage surrounded by the audience, belting it out full throttle, "Perfect Day" and "I Survived You," maybe the best moment of the night.

His cover songs — mostly polite nods to the older adults in the audience —included a James Taylor medley and the ’70s Orleans hit "Still the One." These all failed to ignite the crowd.

For an American Idol runnerup, Aiken is doing OK, even better than any of the winners, and record and concert sales point to much more Aiken in the future, including an upcoming Christmas album.

Aiken doesn’t dance on stage and when he’s not singing, he hardly knows what to do with himself. These kinds of things, along with plenty of warm, extended banter between songs, make it hard not to like him. The audience — more than 7,000 — included largely mother-daughters, father-daughters, grandmother-granddaughters, and hordes of teenage boys and girls in groups.

For those unfamiliar with "boy-band " audience screams, it sounds like a deafening highpitched airplane in your living room. Aiken triggered these screams every time he started a song, spoke, held a long note, climbed the steps to reach another level of the three-tiered set, and ended a song.

The band — three back-up singers, two keyboardists, a drummer, bassist and guitarist — served primarily as support and stuck strictly to the script.

Aiken has all the required credits to teach special education in North Carolina. But he still needs to student-teach one semester. At this rate it won’t be happening any time soon. For the moment he seems to be making plenty of people happy.

Upcoming 19-year-old French hotshot Cherie (here comes another one-named star) opened the show with an unremarkable set that felt more like a commercial than a concert. Cherie can sing and Cherie can move. But her voice was always revved to full volume, and her three-person band — no bass player but lots of electronics — never cleared any space for her to come through with clarity. But she’s young and has the goods; we may be hearing from her again.
No link available.  Transcribed at the Clackhouse.  From SCHENECTADY GAZETTE (subscription only).


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Aiken is polished and forgettable

By STEVE BARNES, Arts editor
Monday, August 9, 2004

Toward the end of Clay Aiken's 2-hour concert Sunday night at the Pepsi Arena, the formerly gawky, now nearly cool and still overly earnest young singer was the subject of the sort of video retrospective screened at awards dinners. There was Aiken on the "Today" and "Tonight" shows, with Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno, bussing Barbara Walters and the other gals on the view.
Aiken's handlers used the footage to evoke screams of recognition from the 4,000 or so largely female fans at the Pepsi, but it also suggested a dispiriting, undeniable conclusion: Aiken is a media product, a polished and packaged guy who went from bespectacled dork to wildly adored, platinum-selling artist in just over a year.

Whether he deserves the success is irrelevant. He's gotten it, and the music industry's best have put him front and center for adulation. He can sing, no question, often very, very well. But, really, so what? Any one of thousands of American vocalists, if given the same resources, would sound as good.

Aiken -- should you somehow not know this by now -- came in second in "American Idol 2," and he's been by far the most successful of that pop factory's contestants. It's easy to see why when he's soaring along in one of his power ballads, like "Solitaire" or "I Will Carry You": It's infectious, feel-good stuff, but also ultimately forgettable, a point proven by Aiken's decision to sing covers of better music than his own for almost half of the evening.

U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" is superior to anything on Aiken's 2003 debut, "Measure of a Man," as are the five James Taylor tunes he performed as a medley with his backup singers.

The kid has some personality quirks that, if let loose, could make him into a more interesting artist.

Cherie, a French pop singer who's like a 19-year-old combination of Celine Dion and Shania Twain, opened the concert with a septet of songs from her self-titled new album. By turns grandiose and kittenish, Cherie is perfectly paired with Aiken. Both possess big voices that love to climb along rising key changes. Also like Aiken, it's unclear whether there's anything noteworthy about Cherie besides her pipes.
ALBANY TIMES UNION
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:27:09 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #21 on: August 08, 2004, 08:56:07 PM » 

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OHIO STATE FAIR REVIEW

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Fans adore winning performer
Friday, August 13, 2004
Julia Osborne
FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

For a popular singer such as Clay Aiken, there’s nothing unusual about playing to sold-out houses, being surrounded by beefy security guards and working a tour schedule that finds him in a new city almost every night.

His stop Wednesday night was the Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fair.

The unusual thing is that all of this has come so suddenly to the earnest 25-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., who has almost completed his degree in special education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Sixteen months ago, he had appeared on the second season of American Idol and had been voted off. He won a "wild-card" return, finished second — and was off to a world of compact discs, TV appearances and "Claymates," audience members who proudly wear their allegiance on their chests.

This was his third appearance in central Ohio in about a year, but most of the more than 10,000 seats at the center were filled for the roughly 80-minute show.

Some fans are following his tour, from Rhode Island to Colorado, including eight state fairs in 30 days.

The acoustics in the Celeste Center are, to put it politely, poor. Metal isn’t the best conductor of sound and music. The bass boomed enough to make any car-audio addict jealous.

Yet Aiken gave the crowd what it wanted, with smiles and grace.

"I always love coming to Ohio," he said, "because you are some of the best crowds we have — and I don’t say that everywhere."

That statement — and everything else he said — brought cheers, screams and applause from the audience.

From the opening Streets Have No Names, Aiken ran through more than a dozen of his songs, many fans singing along with every number.

A James Taylor medley allowed him to show an easy, melodic range and added appreciated variety. Yet the crowdpleasers were the hits and his latest single, I Will Carry You, along with an encore of Solitaire that was more intense than Neil Sedaka’s original.

His three backup singers and five musicians showed talent and skill and added an extra depth.

Aiken’s stage is a production number in itself, allowing the singer to rise at the back, then walk some illuminated stairs — which disappear and reappear — to the stage.

Costume changes — from a long-sleeved shirt, tie and jeans to all white, then all blue — were incidental, but noteworthy for a state-fair show.

The opening act was a 20-year-old French singer who uses only her first name, Cherie. Her style is a mix of Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan, with plenty of enthusiasm. She made a bouncy beginning to an upbeat evening
.COLUMBUS DISPATCH (subscripton required)
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:31:11 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #22 on: August 08, 2004, 08:56:38 PM » 

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JACKSON MI COUNTY FAIR PREVIEW

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Reluctant 'Idol' candidate Aiken has done very well
Sunday, August 8, 2004
By Mary Barber
Staff Writer

"They say when you wanna make God laugh, all you gotta do is tell him your plans."

That's a line from "When You Say You Love Me," on Clay Aiken's debut CD, "Measure of a Man."

God must be chortling.

The 25-year-old was studying special education at the University of North Carolina -- Charlotte when the mother of one of his students persuaded him to try out for "American Idol."

He sang at the Charlotte auditions and was sent home.

"I had no desire to be involved at all," Aiken said in a phone interview. "But I saw the people who sang with me, and I said 'I'm not getting cut.' ! It's just stubbornness."

His second audition, in Atlanta, resulted in an invitation to Los Angeles for the show's second season. Then he was cut again -- but was allowed to continue on a "wild card." He ended up taking second, behind Ruben Studdard.

Second place hasn't been so bad.

Aiken's first single, "This Is the Night," hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. He won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards. His CD hit No. 1 and was one of the top-selling CDs of 2003. He joined the "American Idols Live" tour, then spent several weeks on the road early this year with the show's first winner, Kelly Clarkson.

And he finished his degree, graduating last December.

Now he's headlining a tour, with opening act Cherie, and he said the pressure's up.

"If the show went bad, I could blame it on her (Clarkson) last time," he joked. "But it's fun."

Aiken seems to be able to keep his success in perspective. After all, he's one of the rare few who could have it either way -- with fame, or without.

"In many ways, (teaching) is much more fulfilling than walking on stage," he said. "You don't get the money, for sure, which is a shame. But the benefits you get are much bigger and much more fulfilling. ! You don't walk in and have all the kids stand up and clap for you. You have to find success in small miracles. When the kid you were working with for three months to read one word does read just one word, it's very satisfying."

But fame has its perks, he said.

"The adulation and adoration you get from an audience when you're singing is very visible, very evident," he said. "I enjoy what I'm doing, and I get to see the world, see different things, and pay for vacations for my parents and my friends. I don't see any reason for me to want to stop it right now."

But if it doesn't work out, that's fine, he said.

"I don't have designs on it lasting forever," he said. "That would be a little too presumptuous."

Millions of kids want to be the next Clay Aiken, the next American Idol. But that's not the right path for everyone, he said.

"I think the best advice I could give someone would be to have enough confidence in yourself not to let one loss get you down," he said, "not to let one comment from Simon (Cowell, one of three judges) or the equivalent get you down."

He said he saw lots of very talented singers at "American Idol" who could make a career in music.

"But one nasty comment from Simon, and they were crushed for life," he said. "What's the point in that?"

He said Cowell is critical offstage as well as on, but his comments could be slightly more constructive in private.

"He's a little pompous, but he genuinely does usually care about those who are on the show," Aiken said. "He's not a cold-hearted person at all."

Asked if Cowell's advice helped him, Aiken said, "He'd like to say it did."

Aiken performs at 8 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $29-$32.
M LIVE


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Happiest when he's sharing his success

Sunday, August 8, 2004
Special to the Gazette

Just about a year ago he was a 24-year-old senior at the University of North Carolina, only six credit hours away from earning his degree in special education.

Then he heard about an audition.

And that was all it took for Clay Aiken to begin sharing his talent with the world.

He doesn't plan on leaving Michigan out, as he will be making a stop at the Jackson County Fair at 8 p.m. Thursday.

"What I'm trying to do, a goal of mine, is to have a show that everyone can go to -- a family show," said the 2003 second-place winner of "American Idol." "I only have one album to work with, so there will be a lot of old stuff.

"But there will be some new stuff, like covers of songs I grew up with. It's going to be a really good family show. It's going to be about music, no fancy lights."

But if you ask him, he is surprised that he ever got this far.

When he first auditioned for "American Idol," Aiken was sent home. So he auditioned again -- and this time it worked.

"I had to go home once," Aiken said. "After that, each step I expected to get sent home."

By now, everyone knows that Aiken lost the second title of "American Idol" to the smooth-singing Ruben Studdard. But some might say that Aiken is enjoying a little more success than the winner.

"It's just a matter of what type of facts you look at," Aiken said humbly. "Ruben has had a great deal of success. With airplay, I think Ruben gets more. With record sales, maybe I do."

Since it was released last fall, Aiken's "Measure of a Man" has sold more than 3 million copies in the U.S. and spawned the hit singles "Invisible" and "Solitaire."

All of the success is quite a change for Aiken. Singing in church since he was just a boy, Aiken always loved singing as a hobby. And now that he gets paid a little bit to do that, he has developed some other "hobbies" that everyone else does everyday.

"CNN is my hobby," Aiken said laughing. "And I like to read once in a while. Unfortunately, there's not enough time for a hobby."

Another interesting fact about this Raleigh, N.C., native that most people probably don't know is that he can turn his feet around backwards.

"Everyone says it's disgusting," Aiken said with a laugh. "But it's just natural to me."

Aiken is very thankful for his success and is making sure that others benefit from it as much as possible.

Aiken received his degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte last year through a special independent study provision. Besides sharing his talents, Aiken is sharing his time and resources to promote the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which promotes the awareness and acceptance of children with various disabilities.

Aiken created the foundation along with Diane Bubel, the mother of an autistic son, Michael. Aiken was inspired to create the foundation after having his job at the YMCA, where he saw children with disabilities turned away because of the lack of staff trained in dealing with their special needs.

"I had my life planned out. I was going to be a teacher," Aiken told the Associated Press earlier this year. "I get a little jealous of my friends who have their classrooms now. It's a different sort of gratification.

"I once worked for three months to get a child to be able to read a word. You don't get anyone clapping for you when you do that. You work hard. You earn it. I didn't work hard to be able to sing. God gave that to me. It's easy, and people scream and cheer, and who wouldn't like that? It's great. But there's a different feeling associated with it."

For more information in the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, go to www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org.
M LIVE


JACKSON CO MI COUNTY FAIR REVIEWS


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'American Idol' star draws about 5,000 to fair concert

Friday, August 13, 2004
By Monetta L. Harr
Staff Writer

After watching Clay Aiken twice a week for months, it wasn't a total shock to see him emerge from his huge touring bus looking more like a fraternity student after a long night than an "American Idol."

Wearing a gray, hooded Wisconsin sweatshirt, striped cotton pants and flip flops, his reddish-brown hair tousled, Aiken greeted seven select fans before his concert Thursday night at the Jackson County Fair.

Aiken, who has parlayed his second-place finish in the second "American Idol" competition into a pop singing career, wouldn't sign autographs. But he shook everyone's hand and then stood in the center of the group and posed for photos.

Faryn O'Connor, 14, of Rives Junction nearly swooned when the quick photo shoot ended because Aiken put his right arm around her. The left arm went around the shoulders of Gloria Spicer, 76, of Kennesaw, Ga., who played Aiken's rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at her husband's funeral.

"He is such a good young man. He has the correct attitude for life," said Spicer, who had attended another of Aiken's concerts in Atlanta.

The audience of about 5,000, a mix of all ages, clearly agreed about Aiken's positive, upbeat attitude. Aiken sang for 90 minutes, ending with "Solitaire," which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Sales chart.

He performed a mix of music, including gospel, James Taylor and even a few rock songs, prompting the mostly-female audience to scream and clap their hands.

Aiken talked to them, challenging them early-on to a dance contest.

"The one who dances the best, I'm bringing up on stage," he said.

Women of all ages and sizes jumped onto chairs and swung their hips and arms, and it was Heather Hensel, 21, of Canton and Susie Moore, 24, of Saline who were chosen.

They danced on stage as Aiken sang another song and when it was over and their feet were back on the ground -- at least near their front-row seats -- all the women could say about their experience was to scream and hug each other.

But even Aiken was surprised by Heather Bouaziz of Ypsilanti who got a shot to come on stage and sing with him, something Aiken does at his concerts.

"What?" he said, stumbling over the city's name.

"Are you in this chunk of Michigan or that chunk," he asked Bouaziz, referring to the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

"I don't know Clay, I'm too excited to think," she replied.

She wasn't too excited to sing, though, and when she belted out the words, Aiken stepped back and looked at the audience. Together, they went through a couple verses, ending with a roar of the audience.

Aiken initially said he was glad for the cooler weather -- "It was like 105 degrees last night at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus," he said -- but toward the end of the concert he noted the musician's hands were getting a bit cold.

The temperature was about 60 degrees, with the audience dressed more for a football game than an August concert, in jeans and sweatshirts and carrying blankets.

It didn't affect Aiken's voice, though, as he belted out song after song, including "This is the Night."

Between songs, sometimes between verses, various groups of women in the audience shouted, "We love you Clay." Many wore black T-shirts sold outside the concert, Aiken's photo on the front and dates of his first solo national tour on the back.

Aiken's opening act was Cherie, who with her French accent had the crowd doing the wave and standing on their feet, clapping to the music.

As they walked together out of the concert, Margaret and Steve Van Antwerp of Jackson were clearly glad they had come to hear Aiken.

"Clay is awesome, a fantastic voice," said Margaret Van Antwerp. "I loved it."

M LIVE
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:37:38 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #23 on: August 08, 2004, 08:57:24 PM » 

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ILLINOIS STATE FAIR PREVIEW


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Idol Chatter
Clay Aiken on the butter cow and other weighty issues

By NICK ROGERS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

There’s no real need for a true profile of Clay Aiken.

Not when Fox gave millions of viewers his story weekly last summer on “American Idol.” In that season, he lost in a controversially close call to R&B crooner Ruben Studdard.

But he’s since gone on to Ruben-sized success. His debut album, “Measure of a Man,” sold 2 million copies. His co-headlining tour with first “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson drew good crowds, and he dropped the “co-” for the tour stopping Friday at the Illinois State Fair.

Spiky-haired, skinnier and smaller than your average pop star, Aiken always has shown a good sense of humor about himself and his, well, nerdy qualities. (His words, not ours.)

So we figured a somewhat random question-and-answer session would be fun.

Here’s what Aiken had to say on butter cows, Brooke Burke, fried pickle chips, turkey basters, “The Music Man,” Snoop Dogg, bad roommate habits and Yahoo Serious.

NR: I was reading the liner notes for “Measure of a Man” and you thanked Rick Nowels for the “amazing airline tip.” What is the “amazing airline tip”? Can you give that up?

CA: I had to fly to London. I had recorded with him first. His was the first song I did, and the next thing I had to do was fly to London and record with Steve Mac. And he suggested, instead of flying on the airline I was on, that I fly Virgin Atlantic. And this is the best airline on the planet when you’re flying overseas because you get a massage on the plane. So it was great.

NR:So you’re rooming with Kimberley Locke (fellow contestant on “American Idol”), right?

CA: Yes.

NR: What’s her worst habit as a roommate?

CA:Oh, goodness. Let’s see. It’s not a bad habit, I guess. She gets up early. She’s an early riser, and I’m not such an early riser. She gets up in the morning and makes breakfast. And it’s not that she’s loud, but it’s that it smells so good and it wakes me up. But she does it in her underwear sometimes, which I guess is probably not the best idea.

NR: What’s your worst habit as a roommate?

CA: Oh, goodness. I’m probably pretty messy. She keeps her room as dirty as possibly can be, but the rest of the house she keeps very clean. Me, on the other hand, my room is not so bad, but the rest of the stuff - like the living room and everything - I just leave stuff lying around all the time.

NR:What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen so far at a state fair?

CA: Well, I’ve only been to one state fair, the Delaware State Fair, and it rained the entire time. So I don’t know that it was weird, but there were some passionate people out there because it was pouring down rain the whole time, and there were about 5 or 6,000 people in the audience. I was like ‘Man, you guys are better than I am.’”

NR: What item of food has not yet been fried that you think could be fried and still taste good?

CA: Everything can be fried and taste good. Listen, I’m from the South. We fry everything. There’s nothing that’s left that hasn’t been fried, except for maybe the curtains. I don’t think there’s anything else. I’ve had a fried banana, had a fried Snickers bar. Fried bologna’s good. Fried pickle chips! Have you ever had fried pickle chips?

NR: Yes, I have. I had some of those at the fair last year.

CA: That’s good stuff, right there. I want some of those.

NR: What is tough about playing a fair venue? Did you do the show in Delaware or did it get rained out?

CA: No, we did it. We did it right through the rain. I don’t think there’s anything tough about it. I think it’s kind of cool to play a state fair because people are there to have fun. The energy is usually higher. The only thing that’s bad is walking through the pig poop. That’s the big problem.

NR: When I say “butter cow,” what’s the first thought that pops into your mind?

CA: Um. Eww, I don’t know. What’s a butter cow? Is that like a, is that like a … at the North Carolina State Fair, I’m not even lying, one year, you can look this up if you don’t believe me, they had a cow made out of butter.

NR: That’s exactly what it is. They have one at the Illinois State Fair, too.

CA: So we’ve had that before. I’ve been there, done that.

NR: Who plays you in “The Clay Aiken Story” and why?

CA:Oh, goodness. Alfred E. Neuman, is he a real person? Let’s see. Yahoo Serious. I don’t know. Someone who’s a little dorky and not ashamed of it. Why be ashamed to be a nerd? Let’s go with Brad Pitt. I think Brad Pitt should play me.

NR: What is the weirdest thing someone’s ever requested you to sign?

CA: Um, I had a lady send me a turkey baster one time and wanted me to sign the turkey baster and send it back. That would probably be the strangest thing.

NR: Which celebrity were you most surprised to hear enjoyed your music?

CA: Celebrities enjoy my music? Brooke Burke, you know who Brooke Burke is?

NR: Yeah.

CA:Yeah, she’s a big fan. That’s good.

NR:When you’re at the bar as you are hypothetically in “When You Say You Love Me,” what’s the drink of choice for you?

CA: Milk.

NR:Milk? OK. What’s the saddest song you’ve ever heard, firstly in emotion and secondly in quality?

CA: I don’t know many songs that are sad. Heather Headley had a song called “If It Wasn’t For Your Love,” that talks about how if you’re in love with someone how that can get you through anything. It’s not a sad song, but it’s so emotional that it makes you cry. I saw her sing it at an event she did on Broadway a few months ago and she cried while she sang it, that’s how moving the song is. In quality, the saddest song I’ve ever heard would probably … um, I get some pretty crappy demos on the road. Besides William Hung, I think that’d be it.

NR: What is the hair product of choice and do you have to use a flattening iron?

CA: I do use a … I don’t use anything. I don’t know how to do my own hair anymore. I forgot. I have to have someone do it for me. I think it’s Bed Head products.

NR: When you were in “The Music Man” in high school, did you have to dance the Shipoopi?

CA: Oh, that’s right. They did have that. How did you know I was in that musical in high school?

NR: It’s in your bio.

CA: Is it? In my bio? Oh, I need to have that changed, have that updated. I’ve done a few things since then. Yeah, I think we did have to dance the Shipoopi.

NR: Who did you play in “The Music Man”?

CA: I was in the quartet, one of the councilmen or something like that.

NR: If you switched over to front a rock band, what band would it be?

CA: I have absolutely … I would not, if I switched over to front a rock band? Give me a name of one. I don’t even know any.

NR: How about a hip-hop crew?

CA: I’d wanna be, like, Snoop Dogg’s sidekick or something like that.

NR: That leads into my next question. Did you get any notice from him when you challenged his first-week sales record from a debut artist?

CA: Oh no, I did not. I did not. No, thank God. He still won, so it’s all good. He still beat me.

Publicist Eavesdropping the Entire Time: Hey you guys, finish it up. We have time for one more question.

NR: OK. Let me see here. Describe yourself in 20 words to someone who might not be hip enough to know your story.

CA: Oh, goodness. Um, I’m supposed to be counting these words here. Let me see, in 20 words … lucky guy … um, God, I can’t do that! Lucky guy who got his break on a reality TV show, and, uh, I’m not gonna count. Lucky guy who got his break on a reality TV show and was fortunate enough to have some success following it and is still just the same nerd he was when he auditioned in the first place.

STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER


ILLINOIS STATE FAIR REVIEW
Quote
Clay Aiken delivers formidable performance at Grandstand

By NICK ROGERS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

 If a man is measured by his generosity, Clay Aiken is one of the heftiest guys around.
Aiken is no vocal slouch; his trademark is a formidable vocal tone that belies his skinny stature. But he was more of a singing straight man Friday night, as Aiken created powerhouse four-part harmonies with his backup singers throughout his concert at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand.

A crowd of 5,171 watched Aiken and company roll through an 85-minute set of material from his "Measure of a Man" album and as eclectic a collection of covers as a pop singer can churn out.

The evening began on a wobbly note, with the pre-recorded shill for Disney (the tour sponsor and the studio for whom Aiken recorded "Proud of Your Boy" for an upcoming "Aladdin" DVD) and the unveiling of the same sort of set every pop concert has these days - two tiers of stage separated by a shiny metal staircase.

But instead of him running out and down the staircase, it lifted up to reveal Aiken, whose Bono bombast was credible on the show-opening cover of "Where the Streets Have No Name." Though some of Aiken's biggest fans weren't even born when that song was released, those screaming for him ate up the song, which came complete with a copy of the cascading light scheme U2 uses.

"We can smell the funnel cakes, the hot dogs," Aiken said of the state-fair venues he's played frequently on this tour. "But tonight we're smelling something a little different down here on the horse track. Maybe they left a little welcome gift for me."

Aiken conversed with the crowd many times during the night, pacing the stage with his hand in a pocket and putting forth a chummy Southern-buddy vibe. But a couple of interactive crowd-pleasing ideas backfired a bit.

He sought someone with "innovative dancing talent" to come on stage during "When You Say You Love Me." But the woman from Cape Girardeau, Mo., he brought up apparently didn't feel comfortable doing the eye-catching dance on stage that inspired him to lure her up there.

And the shyness of a 5-year-old girl whose prayer every night was to sing with Clay Aiken (and got her wish) made for prolonged silences, during which Aiken was patient and joking with her. When she started singing "Invisible," it was a cute moment - but that song, with its sanitized stalker lyrics underneath a sunny beat, is creepy enough when sung by an adult, let alone a small child.

Those were only slightly shaky moments, though, in a concert that was otherwise hugely enjoyable.

For starters, Aiken earned kudos for pulling some rarely heard '80s chestnuts out of the cover box.

He and backup singer Angela Fisher tore up the Aretha Franklin-George Michael duet "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me," which is a rarity even for 1980s flashback radio programs. And Aiken allowed his band mates to turn a spirited rendition of Toto's "Rosanna" into a remarkable jam session.

Plus, Aiken sort of resembles the singer for Mr. Mister, so why would he not do "Kyrie," let alone lend an admirably nerdy opening dance to it?

Aiken had tremendous backing power from Angela Fisher, Jacob Luttrell and Quiana Parler, with whom he created unshakable walls of sound all night. Watching the quartet perform was like a professional, wholly on-key version of a group-sing on "American Idol" - with no one preening to the camera in a plea for votes.

Along with the tribal-sounding "Kyrie," Aiken showcased Fisher, Luttrell and Parler on a medley of James Taylor covers - "Sweet Baby James," "How Sweet It Is," "Fire and Rain," "Your Smiling Face" and "You've Got a Friend."

Of Aiken's own material, standouts included "I Will Carry You," with an uplifting chorus that showed off Aiken's vocal power; "Invisible," which, despite the spooky lyrics, still has an undeniably catchy melody and vocal line; and "Solitaire," his encore number.

All in all, this was the rare show where the onstage dancing and interaction between singers and musicians felt like a genuine extension of the fun they were having. And it translated well enough to the crowd that everyone there became a "Claymate," if only for about 90 minutes.

Opening the show was French singer Cherie, whose wardrobe of a bandanna and oversized football jersey didn't seem to match her measured, precisely sung pop tunes.

Cherie's voice is good enough, without being overpowering, that only rarely did she reach for syllable-extending histrionics or warbling high pitches. The highlight of her set was "Older Than My Years," a tender ballad with coos and breathy pauses a la Celine Dion, without any of that singer's ridiculous theatrics.
STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:44:48 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #24 on: August 08, 2004, 08:58:04 PM » 

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IOWA STATE FAIR DES MOINES PREVIEW

Quote
Cult of Clay

By KYLE MUNSON
CLAY PIGEON
August 12, 2004

There have been three winners of Fox's hit reality-TV contest, "American Idol." None of them has been Clay Aiken.

But take stock of the gawky, freckle-faced singer's career since he lost to Ruben Studdard in May 2003 and you begin to wonder if maybe he planned it this way. Underdog status only seems to enhance his aw-shucks appeal.

This do-gooder from North Carolina with a squeaky-clean image - and a tinge of ambiguous sexuality - has been embraced by scores of adult women ("Claymates") who seem to have been waiting for an antidote to Eminem. For a tamer heartthrob than Justin Timberlake to sweep their daughters off their feet. For a young, fresh talent like Josh Groban but who sings pop songs instead of fancy-pants opera.

Enter Clay Holmes Aiken astride the proverbial white horse, in shining armor. He's 24, stands 6-feet 5-inches and weighs in at a wispy 145 pounds - spiky hair and all. He's no dummy: He was trained as a special-education teacher at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He puts his money where his heart is: His Bubel Aiken Foundation is a charity for children with developmental disabilities.

In an interview with Datebook (read on) Aiken only confirmed his likability and spotless image. He treats his mother well. Mr. Rogers is one of his heroes. His notion of a harsh swear word is "crap."

That sound you hear is the collective sigh of thousands of Claymates across Iowa.

Aiken makes his Iowa debut Sunday at the Iowa State Fair, and dozens of fans from around the nation have already signed up to attend a pre-party in West Des Moines organized by Laura Quittem-Stein.

Aiken's fans gather online at sites such as Quittem-Stein's www.iowaclayfans.com.

She has flown from Los Angeles to North Carolina and traveled thousands of miles to attend 26 Aiken concerts. This 36-year-old financial planner says that she's like many fans: Prior to her late-blooming "Idol" worship, there was no comparable pop star who inspired such devotion from her.

"His spirit, his genuineness. He reminds me a lot of my husband, but my husband can't sing," Quittem-Stein said. She estimates that as many as 80 percent of Aiken's fan base is female.

Deb Sloss of Perry, mother of five children, is ready to marry off her 20-year-old daughter to Aiken. Watching him perform throughout the second season of "American Idol," Sloss said, was "like watching your own child grow up." (Sloss has been mailing this writer for several months about Aiken and contributed some questions for the interview.)

Take it from "the Beckster," who in an online post at www.iowaclayfans.com credited Aiken with improving her social skills:

"I'm a little shy myself . . . but for some reason when Clay's involved, I seem to come out of my shell."

Aiken seems to have more in common with Oprah than any pop star. He's not just a singer, he's a one-man, self-help franchise in the making.


Quote
Answers from Clay
While sitting in his hotel room last month at a casino in Connecticut, Clay Aiken answered several questions for us:

Q. Will you ever break the "Idol" mold and write your own songs?
A. I don't really know. . . . You should only write songs for two reasons: (1) If you have a great talent for songwriting; and (2) if you have something to say. There are so many talented songwriters out there, I might as well use their stuff.

Q. Since you're perhaps the ultimate momma's boy among today's pop stars, have you bought your mom anything in the wake of selling something like 3 million copies of your debut album, "Measure of a Man"?
A. I paid her house off for Christmas. She has a car now that she's driving around, courtesy of myself and Ford.

Q. What about college? Did you pay your own way, or does mom deserve a kickback for that, too?
A. I worked and got a scholarship to pay my way through college - crap, I think I owe them back for that. It was a fellowship program, and I was supposed to work in the field for a certain amount of time.

Q. Still performing Prince's "When Doves Cry" in concert?
A. We've retired that for now.

Q. You said in a TV interview that you wanted to grow up to be Mr. Rogers. Can we expect you to slip into a cardigan sweater and a pair of comfy sneakers on stage at the Iowa State Fair?
A. I was going to be a teacher and that's what my whole life was going to be geared toward. Now I have an opportunity to look at this (music career) as a larger classroom. When I say I wanted to be Mr. Rogers, it's a metaphor for wanting to make sure that my music is something that parents can let their kids watch and feel safe and comfortable with.

Q. Well, there's nothing more family-friendly than a State Fair. This will be your first chance to visit Iowa's. Ever been to a state fair at all?
A. The North Carolina State Fair. Every October that's a big Raleigh tradition - the food, the rides and everything. I wasn't too big on the cows and the pigs and whatnot. I had a teacher in high school who was from Iowa and always talked about the Iowa State Fair. . . . Seems to be a big Iowan thing.

DES MOINES REGISTER


IOWA STATE FAIR DES MOINES REVIEW



Quote
Aiken's powerful voice needs bigger challenges

By KYLE MUNSON
REGISTER MUSIC CRITIC
August 16, 2004

Whether nice guys finish last is a moot point.

Clay Aiken lost "American Idol" last year, but the scrawny pop heartthrob took the stage Sunday night at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand to the sound of shrill screams that shot from the mouths of pubescent MTV viewers - and their moms in equal measure.

The audience of 5,585 was a sea of custom T-shirts scrawled with love for Aiken, and placards were held aloft proclaiming such slogans as "I have ears like Clay."

Aiken kept these fans hypnotized for nearly 90 minutes by shuffling around the stage and belting out soaring ballads from his multi-platinum debut album, "Measure of a Man."

There was also an '80s nostalgia trip twist to the concert, which started strong with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." But then Aiken relied on such inglorious fare as Mr. Mister's "Kyrie," the Aretha Franklin-George Michael duet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" and Toto's "Rosanna" to goose the pace of the show.

Aiken can out-sing most stars sharing space with him on the pop charts, but more's the pity. Sunday night suggested that he's wasting his Broadway voice on too many B-grade songs. The less that Aiken reminds us that "American Idol" is glorified karaoke for couch potatoes, the better.

A mini-set of James Taylor songs was a better showcase for Aiken's subtler talents, and it emphasized the warm interplay he has developed with his three worthy backup singers.

Aiken's five-piece band was stilted and heavy on keyboards - to be expected when there's a full plate of ballads to digest.

Part of Aiken's nonchalance about his own fame is to cast the spotlight on his fans. He invited a woman from Waukee on stage to dance. A guy named Gus from St. Paul, Minn., was even chosen to warble his own version of "The Way," with custom lyrics in praise of Aiken.

There was a retrospective of his TV highlights as Aiken sang "This Is the Night." Is this what the instant fame of TV has done to concert culture? One year is assumed to be a reasonable lifespan for our pop stars. Aiken should feel lucky, with not even his first headlining summer tour under his belt?

At least in that short time Aiken has made powerful friends in Washington, D.C. None other than Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin was in the audience. Harkin, a Democrat, has forged a friendship with Aiken over their mutual passion for assisting the disabled. The singer even singled out the senator for applause in the middle of his concert. Aiken wasn't excited about the Iowa State Fair's 150th anniversary, but rather the 14th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act that Harkin championed.

"He's really just a great young man," Harkin said shortly before the concert.

Hard to disagree with the senator, based on Aiken's low-key demeanor Sunday.

And the one-song encore of "Solitaire" proved that Aiken has powerful pipes.

He has already won the hearts of TV nation.

The next step is for Aiken to transition from "American Idol" aftermath into lasting fame. And the best way to do that is with more dynamic, challenging songs.
DES MOINES REGISTER
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 12:54:54 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #25 on: August 13, 2004, 07:43:23 AM » 

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INDIANA STATE FAIR PREVIEW

Quote
Feats of Clay
Clay Aiken talks about his Indiana State Fair show, 'American Idol' and having fanatical fans.

By David Lindquist
david.lindquist@indystar.com
August 13, 2004
 
Clay Aiken has been singing U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" as the opening number on his current concert tour.

It's a fitting nod to the Irish rock group, as Aiken's debut music video, "Invisible," followed the documentary format of U2's 1987 clip for "Where the Streets Have No Name": With no advance fanfare, musicians perform a song in public and a crowd gathers around.

U2's video paid tribute to the Beatles, who famously played atop their Apple headquarters in 1969.

Will 25-year-old Aiken make a mark on the musical landscape to rival the Beatles or U2?

That's probably a stretch.

However, the North Carolina singer, who placed second during the second season of "American Idol," has a career as successful or far better than those of fellow "Idol" alumni Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarino, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino.

During a recent phone interview, Aiken -- who's scheduled to perform Monday at the Indiana State Fair -- shared his thoughts on hot dogs, fans who sing poorly and the secret to a successful season of "American Idol":

When you were in Indianapolis last December, I talked to people who flew from Singapore, Hawaii, Kansas City and Cleveland to see you perform.

That's right. I remember there was a girl from Singapore who lied and told her parents she was coming to visit her aunt in Canada (laughs). That's bad.

Is there a point where fan adoration is excessive?

It all baffles me, honestly. It confuses me quite a bit. But I don't know if flying somewhere to see someone is excessive. I guess there are plenty of people who would do that for other celebrities.

When they come into my mom's office and try to talk to her, that's a little excessive, if you ask me. When people come to your house and knock on your door, that's a bit much. I wouldn't say that coming to see a show is too bad.

You're doing a string of state fairs, including ours. Do you have any favorite foods or attractions at a fair?

I'm allergic to all the good stuff. I can't have chocolate. Hot dogs -- even though they're readily available at the gas station -- they're always better at a fair. A lot more grease and fat involved, I think, and that makes them better.

I wanted to ask you about the videos for "Invisible" and "The Way." Each features a lot of screen time for "regular people." Does that say anything about your outlook toward celebrity?

The video for "Invisible" did include a lot of regular people, and I didn't even really realize it. I met a girl in Atlanta who pointed that out to me and she said she appreciated that. So we made a very concerted effort to do the same thing (with actors) in "The Way."

I grew up watching videos and celebrities that I couldn't relate to. They were people who were far cooler than I would ever be. Better looking and better dressed. Because of reality TV, people say they're excited that finally there are people on TV they can relate to. I'm excited that I can be a part of that whole thing.

The third "American Idol" tour is out on the road. Like a lot of tours this summer, it's not a commercial blockbuster. Do you have any thoughts on the shelf life of that enterprise? What can invigorate or extend its popularity?

"American Idol," as a television program, is great. It definitely has the potential, because of what it is, to be a phenomenon every year. But I think that's contingent -- and this is going to sound like I'm tooting my horn and Ruben's more so -- on the dynamic of the people you have.

It was big the first year because it was a great show. But that finale, there was no question who was going to win. There was no suspense. You'd ask people, "Who do you want to win, Justin or Kelly?" Everybody said "Kelly."

This year was the same way. Once LaToya London left, the dynamic was gone. The finale was pretty much, "I'm going to watch it so I can see it." Everybody was pretty sure Fantasia was going to win.

I think the second season was so much bigger because I don't think everybody knew who was going to win. Maybe everybody did, and I'm just in a hole. But I'd like to think it was much closer. I think we saw that with the vote. It was a suspenseful thing, and it carried through the whole season. It was tough in the top five to pick who was going to go home.

When there's just one standout during a season, there's no suspense or "picking your pony." Everybody's picked the same person and you're just tuning in to see what they sing every night, not whether they're going to go home.
INDY STAR


Quote
Coping with sudden stardom
Aiken up in air but with feet on the ground

WEEKEND: INDIANA STATE FAIR
By HEIDI PRESCOTT
Tribune Staff Writer
 
Clay Aiken has no idea what it feels like to be a pop star.

Never mind his appearances on the morning shows, the late shows and other performances in between.

Never mind his face gracing the cover of Rolling Stone and the awards for his debut pop album "Measure of a Man."

Never mind a book deal, the Christmas album and the tour.

"I don't see myself as a celebrity to be honest with you. I kind of see myself as a normal nerd from North Carolina," a modest Aiken said last week.

Stardom has been a blessing and a curse for the personable "American Idol" runner-up, who brings his show to the Indiana State Fair on Monday night.

Aiken basks in the spotlight but misses the anonymity. He likes the attention but craves time when he can be alone. He enjoys traveling but envies his friends at home who teach and have normal workdays.

"Most of my friends from home who I'm really close to, to some extent, really don't know what's going on," Aiken said of his chaotic schedule on a day he was running an hour behind schedule. "There are a lot of things people just can't relate to."

Yet Aiken seems to take the fame and its price in stride. In a 10-minute media interview with The Tribune last week, he shared -- between yawns and laughs -- what life is like on the road.

Q: You said in a recent interview that some days you're not that thrilled with the immediate fame. Why is that?

Aiken: Well, for example, yesterday. I went to the mall for the first time in a number of months. I wanted to hang out, so I put my hat on and tried to walk around the mall as discreetly as possible.

We were only there about an hour before we started getting noticed and chased and followed around and stopped. And that's kind of difficult, you know. I didn't nearly get to do anything. I bought a pillow from Sears. I would have loved to have gone into the record store and seen what was for sale and what was out, but I can't go into those anymore because my picture is up everywhere.

To what do you attribute the success of your concerts?

To some extent, the success we've had has been in a market that hasn't been catered to in a long time. There have been a lot of people who have had success in catering to a market that likes not necessarily risqué but edgy entertainment. ... But there really hasn't been an opportunity -- there wasn't one before "American Idol" -- for people to really sit down and enjoy it as a family.

What do you see onstage when you're looking out at the crowd?

What makes us proud is the fact that we get to see a good amalgamation of people. We've got grandparents, we've got my mother's generation, we've got Generation-Xers, we have teenagers, we have kids -- so it's a big stretch, and in the show we have songs from every decade since the '60s. So there's something in the show that everyone can enjoy, hopefully.

What do you think the crowd sees when it looks up onstage at you?

I have no idea. (Laughs) I'm just amazed at the fact that enough people actually like the show. I'm still baffled by it. Two years ago, no one would have ... cared who I was. So it still kind of amazes me.

You look a lot more confident onstage today than you did a year ago. Are you more confident or comfortable?

That's interesting to have you say that because I don't see myself growing as much as other people might. I kind of see myself doing the same old thing. I think it's more comfortable. I know the industry a little bit better now, and I know what to expect. It makes it a little easier to go onstage every night and not be so nervous and worried about what's going to happen.

How much is singing still fun now that it's your job?

It's fun, but sometimes it gets tedious when you're singing the same songs over and over. But we always have something in the show to look forward to, something we didn't do the night before.

The songs like "This Is the Night," "Invisible" and "Measure of a Man" -- those are songs that define the year for me, those don't get old. (Yawn) "This is the Night" I sing every night, and I mean it every night. It's a song that has a lot of meaning to me.

What has been your biggest splurge?

I paid my mom's house off at Christmas.

What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was actually "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon.

What is a gift from a fan that has touched you most?

It's usually the things that people say that are the most meaningful -- when someone tells me that a song or a video meant a lot to them at a hard time.

If it all went away tomorrow, what would you miss?

There are parts about it that are nice, to be honest with you. I guess in order to miss something I would have to not be able to fill it somewhere else.

If it all went away tomorrow, I'd go back to being a teacher probably. I'd go back and have my career (yawn) in the same place I thought I was going to have it two years ago.

The paycheck would be different, that's for sure. (Laugh) Being able to travel around the country wouldn't be as easy. But you know the fame and having people recognize you and having people want to be around you all the time, I mean it's nice, but it's not something that I need.

In concert
Clay Aiken will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Indiana State Fair, Marsh Grandstand, 1202 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis. Tickets are $30 and $35, including fair admission. For more information, go to www.indianastatefair.com
.
SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE


INDIANA STATE FAIR REVIEW


Quote
Idol star shows flair at the fair
Clay Aiken pleases the crowd with songs from his own album and popular covers.
 
By David Lindquist
david.lindquist@indystar.com
August 17, 2004
 
A Clay Aiken concert represents the essence of the Indiana State Fair -- pleasant, no-pressure, family fun.

While Monday night's show didn't pander to any particular age group, youth was served when a sixth-grader from Chicago came up from the audience to startle Aiken with her vocal skills.

He in turn gave a priceless endorsement for her upcoming year in school choir: "You tell your teacher I said that you get the solos."

Aiken, the famed former "American Idol" runner-up, is perfectly at ease with crowds. This one numbered 6,500.

If this is his only shot at a tour of this scale, he didn't scrimp on the production budget. Stairs and platforms were integrated smartly in the stage design.

And two video screens built within the furniture made the audience look at the real Clay as well as his video likeness.

Lights from camera flashbulbs continuously cascaded down the Grandstand, capturing Aiken in a tie and untucked shirt.

Coincidence or not, his first costume change arrived as he drove the show toward a home-stretch crescendo.

He wore a white suit when singing powerful praise anthem "You Were There," a tune popularized by Avalon.

The spiritual theme trickled into the next song, "This Is the Night." As an accompanying video reel of Aiken highlights showed his Rolling Stone magazine cover, the frame zoomed to a subtle, subversive accessory found in the corner: His "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet.

Big radio hit "Invisible" then led to the encore, and it made a much better impression than the show's opening number -- Aiken's rendition of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."

His clinical vocal delivery and a puny guitar tone (a part of Aiken's band that lacked muscle throughout the show) signaled early trouble.

But Aiken surprised by salvaging Mr. Mister's "Kyrie" from the 1980s scrap heap and actually improving it.

The song resembled a tropical dance party, thanks to a big beat and a soaring chorus.

The concert's other cover of note, Orleans' timeless "Still the One," allowed Aiken to lead a full-throated sing-along.

It's something he's good at, good enough to suggest his inclusion in an Osmond-Manilow-Aiken continuum of nice-guy entertainers.

The show's momentum snagged on a five-song tribute to James Taylor. Aside from presenting backing vocalist Jacob Luttrell as a Taylor sound-alike, the segment lacked purpose.
INDY STAR
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:01:18 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #26 on: August 13, 2004, 07:43:52 AM » 

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THOMPSON BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE TN PREVIEW

Quote
Southern charmer
Despite singing success, illustrious 'Idol' says he's just 'everyday people'

By BETSY PICKLE
August 13, 2004

There's probably nothing an "American Idol" fan would like more than to hear Clay Aiken pelt Simon Cowell with nasty remarks. But even 14-plus months after graduating from TV's hottest talent competition, the Southern-bred singer refuses to take the low road.

"I don't always have to be diplomatic about him now," the Raleigh, N.C., native says of "AI's" dyspeptic British judge. "Sometimes I am. ... Depends on how mad he's made me. He hasn't made me mad in a while."

And it can't hurt that advance orders for Aiken's inspirational memoir, "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life," due in October, already have far eclipsed Cowell's bid for literary greatness, "I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But ..."

"I haven't even paid attention to it," Aiken says with typical modesty.

At 25, "American Idol" Season 2's No. 2 finisher is already a master at finding the bright side of life. And why not? Aiken, whose first solo tour will bring him to Knoxville's Thompson-Boling Arena Tuesday night, has watched his debut album, "Measure of a Man," go multiplatinum even while Season 1's runner-up, Justin Guarini, has all but disappeared from sight.

Aiken set the record for sales of a single by an "Idol" contestant by selling 393,000 copies of "Bridge Over Troubled Water"/"This Is the Night" last summer. That's 107,000 more units than Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard's debut sold, 157,000 more than Season 1's Kelly Clarkson's and 251,000 more than latest "Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino's.

Even though Aiken has opened the hearts -- and wallets -- of thousands of "Claymates," he's still more likely to get slings and arrows from the press. Entertainment Weekly is quick to acknowledge his accomplishments but seems to greet the same with backhanded compliments. Aiken, who gained performing experience by touring last year with his "AI" Season 2 peers and earlier this year with Clarkson, has his own theory about that.

"Being a star is about being something that's unattainable," he says by phone from Ledyard, Conn., hours before a show at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. "The movie idols of the '30s, '40s and '50s were all the most beautiful, the best-dressed, the classiest and the most poised. ...

"Now you've got ... a lot of celebrities or people who are famous now who are really just the person next door who just lucked out and got on a TV show. Kelly Clarkson, Ruben and myself all kind of are normal, everyday people, and I think that that's what's really difficult for EW and whoever else to grasp, to wrap their minds around. The whole reality-TV craze has brought about a change in what a celebrity is nowadays."

Although he started his celebrity career as a somewhat gawky college student (the special-education major earned his degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte last December), Aiken insists that he hasn't had that much of a makeover.

"My glasses are gone, and my hair is cut differently and styled differently, and that's it," he says. As his "Idol" weeks went on, the clothes remade the man.

"The clothes were different, obviously, because I had a little more money to spend," he says. "You don't buy Dolce & Gabbana in Raleigh, N.C., at all. There's a little bit of difference in what I was wearing, but outside of that, everything was the same."

Aiken says he never was much of clotheshorse.

"Oh, good Lord, no," he protests. "Not at all. Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Sears. My mother and father both worked at Sears (when I was) growing up, so they got that 10 percent discount at Sears, and we spent a lot of time there."

Aiken isn't surprised that Southerners -- Clarkson from Texas, Studdard from Alabama, Barrino and himself from North Carolina and Diana DeGarmo from Georgia -- have made such strong showings on "American Idol."

"I have to say I'm biased, obviously, since I am from the South," he says (although his rapid-fire speech pattern suggests he's spent some time with Yankee friends). "A lot of the most famous musicians have come from Southern states. There's a long history -- jazz kind of started in the South, gospel music in the South.

"And at the same time, I think that it has a lot to do with personality. ... I've found in our experiences on the show (that) the people who are from the South are willing to be more open about their personalities.

"I've learned that people in L.A. and people in New York and people in other parts of the country are not usually as open with their personalities with people they don't know. From the South, I just kind of run my mouth to whoever I see. So I think that kind of comes across on camera, too."


KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL (registration required)
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:03:29 PM
THOMPSON BOLING ARENA KNOXVILLE TN REVIEW

Quote
'Idol' favorite Aiken mixes old, new with mixed results

By BETSY PICKLE, pickle@knews.com
August 18, 2004

Clay Aiken is a brave man.

Not because he faced hundreds of screaming fans Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena - anyone who has survived a season on "American Idol" can do that. No, Aiken is brave because he started his show with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." That takes guts, setting yourself up for comparisons with one of rock's most passionate singers.

Then again, it's likely most in the crowd of about 3,000 would have said, "Bono who?" There may be some overlap between Claymates and U2 admirers, but not much.

To his credit, Aiken gave the song a tougher veneer than his usual adult-contemporary sheen. And the Knoxville crowd, which seemed to be mostly females from age 4 to about 74, responded with wild applause after being properly primed by French pop newcomer Cherie, a lithe brunette who sounds like a cross between Celine Dion and Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken performed several other covers as well as most of his album, "Measure of a Man," showing off his talents and those of his backing singers and musicians in a 22-song set. The "AI" Season 2 runner-up has his stage show down to a science, complete with audience participation and far-from-slick patter that makes this best-selling musical artist still seem like just a homeboy from Raleigh, N.C.

The covers were a mixed bag. While Aiken's voice is a good fit with Mr. Mister's "Kyrie," Toto's "Rosanna" and Orleans' "Still the One," there's no compelling reason for a singer with his abilities to keep alive hackneyed '80s and '70s radio hits.

As the "AI" judges are fond of saying, it's all about song selection. Aiken and his backup singers fared better on five songs by James Taylor, who coincidentally spent part of his childhood in North Carolina. Aiken's pure tones were just right on "Sweet Baby James." He generously shared lead duties on "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," "Fire and Rain," "Your Smiling Face" and "You've Got a Friend."

Aiken seemed totally relaxed on songs such as "I Will Carry You," "Run to Me," "Perfect Day" and "I Survived You." But though he charmed the crowd with his patter, he showed he has some stage presence to learn. His head-tilted-back, eyes-closed style may have seemed like the approach of a singer immersed in a song, but it put a wall between him and the audience, even though fans swallowed the conceit whole.

One lesson he's mastered is how to sell a song. He's probably sick to death of "Solitaire," but he used a full deck of emotion as he capped off the night with it.
KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL (registration required)
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:04:29 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #28 on: August 14, 2004, 08:39:36 AM » 

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CLIO AREA AMPHITHEATER I & II PREVIEW

Quote
Aiken meets challenge of stardom
Road-weary `Idol' favorite endures grind

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Friday, August 20, 2004
By Doug Pullen
dpullen@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6140

As a child growing up in North Carolina, Clay Aiken dreamed of becoming a pop star. Now he dreams about getting some sleep.

"You kind of get used to it," says Aiken, who headlines nearly sold-out shows tonight and Saturday at the Clay-O ... er, Clio Area Amphitheater. "It's not that bad. Five hours (of sleep) a night isn't too horrible."

Aiken's been on the pop stardom treadmill ever since his audition for the second season of Fox TV's "American Idol" aired last year. He finished second in fan voting to R&B singer Ruben Studdard, but the show launched the 25-year-old Raleigh native with the extreme makeover into a much higher orbit.

His debut album, "Measure of a Man," was rushed into release early this year, selling 3 million copies and counting. He's had three smash hit singles, including "Invisible" and "Solitaire," and was the main attraction of last summer's "American Idols Live" tour and a co-headlining trek last spring with first-year winner Kelly Clarkson.

His fans, who call themselves Claymates, have launched dozens of sites on the Internet devoted to the details of his life. One site - claytonaiken.com - even has its own dictionary of Clay-rooted terms, called the "Claybonic Dictionary."

"I think he really is an Everyman," said Dianne Thies of Ortonville, co-president of the 150-member, Michigan-based MiClayNational fan club. "He's very normal, but at the same time there's something very special about him. He doesn't act like he was deserving (of this). ... He doesn't have that attitude. He's very humble and genuine about everything that's happened to him."

It's been quite a ride. Aiken, a self-described "nerd," clearly is enjoying it. But he admits that it's taken "a lot of adrenaline" to get through all the performances, interviews and public appearances that have dominated his schedule.

If he can just avoid caffeine.

"I never get to sleep when I drink caffeine. I will, when I finally do get a minute to sleep. But last night we had a day off and I really wanted to sleep and we didn't have caffeine-free stuff, just regular Mountain Dew," Aiken laughed, speaking by phone from a recent tour stop.

With females from 8 to 80 so willing to mob him wherever he goes, the guy with the boyish charm and the booming voice has been forced into hiding more than he'd like.

"I'm almost hermetic. When I get to a hotel, I stay where I am. I don't wake up and start going out shopping and sightseeing. I stay in my room," he said.

That's the price of instant, TV-fueled fame. Aiken, who is as pragmatic as he is talented, understands that.

How does he keep his head on straight?

"It's pretty tough. It's almost impossible," he admitted. "I have my best friend on the road with me. He makes sure I stay sane, and ordinarily if I do go out, it's usually not so bad. If I do get stopped, it's hard to get away when people are chasing you down the street. I take my security guy with me. At 6-foot-6, he's easy to spot, so it's harder to stay inconspicuous."

If there's one drawback, he said, it's losing the ability to lead a normal life, like the one he knew as a college student when he auditioned for "American Idol" in the summer of 2002.

"Just being able to walk down the street and not have people recognize me, you take that type of thing for granted - being able to be anonymous," he said. "It's really surprising how much I miss that."

Aiken isn't complaining, just responding thoughtfully to questions about how he's adjusted to life after "AI." "I'm looking forward to finding my peace with it," he said.

His old life would have taken him into the field of special education, which Aiken studied at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. He received his degree last year, but had to put his dream of becoming a special ed teacher on indefinite hold.

Aiken said he "gets jealous" when he talked to old classmates about their teaching careers, but he knows he can't go back now.

"I think it would be a little difficult to have me as a teacher," he said. "I don't know if I'll ever go back to the classroom, as much as I'd love to."

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (named for an autistic boy he tutored for a year), created last year to help people with disabilities, has filled some of the void.

"I want to make sure the foundation is successful," he said, noting that its creation allows him to be "teaching in a different way."

But he's the one who's learning lessons right now. Even playing small venues is an adjustment. Aiken's first two concert tours played to large arenas.

"I'm big on interaction with the audience and that kind of small setting," he said, recalling his early days singing in church and talent shows. "I just sang in Atlantic City, and for the first time in two years I've sung to an audience of less than 4,000 people, and I had the hardest time being successful with that. (It) was so tough to take that huge show and make it small again."

Aiken doesn't want his live show, or his real life, to lose any of their guy-next-door quality, which is why he makes fun of himself, invites fans on stage and ventures into the crowd to share his microphone or pose for pictures.

"I try to make it as casual as possible," he said. "If I try to look at myself as some kind of Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson or Justin Timberlake type superstar, I wouldn't believe if I tried to come across that way. It's not convincing. I've been successful with just being myself."
M LIVE


Quote
Claymates pumped for Aiken show

FLINT JOURNAL REVIEW
Saturday, August 21, 2004
By Sally York
syork@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6322

VIENNA TWP. - Clay Aiken's legions of fans pledge an undying devotion they can't quite explain.

It's not just the American Idol singer's strong, pure voice. Or his commitment to children with disabilities. Or his easy smile and haywire hair.

"He touches something inside us that has never been touched before," said Flo Baerren, 59, co-president of MiClayNation, Aiken's Michigan fan club. "Something that we probably didn't realize was there until he touched it."

The Lansing labor relations representative, who has crossed states to see Aiken live 16 times, and about 80 other fans gathered at the Clio VFW Hall on Friday for a pre-concert party featuring balloons, food and raffles to benefit the fan club and Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which assists children with disabilities.

Aiken, who has two top-selling CDs, was set to perform Friday and tonight at the Clio Area Amphitheater for about 6,000 people. A sign outside the venue read, "Hey, Claymates! Welcome to Clay-O!"

Inside the hall, excitement was building among the mostly female fans, who came from as far away as Ohio, Iowa, California and Canada. But no one was more excited than Heather Bouaziz, 27, of Ypsilanti, a college student studying special education, Aiken's major.

On Aug. 13, Bouaziz was plucked from the audience to sing a duet with Aiken at his concert in Jackson, and impressed the singer. She told him she was recording a demo CD and he told her he wanted to hear it.

"My leg was shaking violently," said Bouaziz. "He held my hand during the song. I thought, 'This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing with the person who has changed my life forever.' "

Delphi worker David Conn, 55, of Westland, said wife Judy, 56, a school paraprofessional, got hooked on Aiken first. He quickly followed suit.

"The first thing that impressed me was his character and value system," David Conn said. "It's good to see a young guy with the heart he has. And I love his voice - he has a great set of pipes."

The Conns recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with what Judy Conn called "our Clay vacation," going to concerts in Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Dorothy Kester, 28, of Vienna Township and sister Angie Anderson, 30, of Mt. Morris Township waited 96 hours in a tent to buy Aiken tickets back in April.

Disappointed they only got third-row seats, Kester entered a radio station contest last week, warbling part of Aiken's hit, "Invisible," on the air. She snagged two front-row seats.

"We're going to scream like banshees," Kester said.
M LIVE


CLIO AREA AMPHITHEATER I & II REVIEW


Quote
Aiken's ClayMates have reason to cheer
FLINT JOURNAL REVIEW
Sunday, August 22, 2004
By Doug Pullen
dpullen@flintjournal.com*810.766.6140
 
CLIO - Clio, or Clayo as some called it, was the ground zero of the Clay Nation this weekend.

Clay Aiken, the "American Idol" star-turned-pop music phenomenon, rolled into town for two sold-out concerts before nearly 6,300 fans - who call themselves ClayMates - Friday and Saturday at the Clio Area Amphitheater, the first time an artist has sold out consecutive shows there.

Teenaged girls, middle-aged moms and grandmas (with a few reluctant and some not-so-reluctant males in tow) streamed in from all over, wearing their souvenir T-shirts and waving their devotional signs. There were so many women on hand that amphitheater staff had to convert the men's bathroom in the Clio Arts Center into a women's potty and haul in portable johns for the, ahem, overflow.

Extra merchandise stands also were set up to accommodate the adoring hordes, who snapped up everything from tour shirts to thongs (yes, you read that right).

Some made the trek from as far north as Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, as far east as New York state and as far west as California. They're like some wholesome version of the Deadheads, those neo-hippies who followed the Grateful Dead around the country like nomads, only ClayMates' high is natural.

Now that's devotion, and completely understandable. Every generation needs its lovable geek. Aiken is one who crosses generational lines, a spikey-haired heir apparent to the throne once occupied by the Neil Diamonds, Barry Manilows and Celine Dions of the pop music world. In a pop culture landscape where stars act like spoiled brats and worse, the 25-year-old Aiken is a breath of fresh air, and a refreshing upgrade from the plasticene product-as-music of the boy bands who preceded him. All he needs now is some better material to challenge that soaring voice.

Aiken backs up his TV-fueled fame with the goods with an approachable nature and warm, clear tenor perfectly suited for the big, soaring ballads he does so well. Particularly impressive Friday were his feisty (for him) reading of the kiss-off song "I Survived You," which featured a rare but welcome touch of anger, a rousing encore of Neil Sedaka's lonely "Solitaire" and stirring, inspirational songs like "I Will Carry You" and "You Were There" that allow him to hit those tall, sustained notes (fans call them glory notes) and inject his spirituality ever so subtly.

Friday's energetic performance - which was preceded by an upbeat but perfunctory half-hour set from 19-year-old French newcomer Cherie - was a little less surprising, but more well-rounded than the one he gave last March at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena with first-year "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken is an even more assured performer now, shedding a trifle of the aw-shucks humility for a more polished presentation that included video screens, a multi-tiered stage, a five-piece band, three backup singers, a sign language interpreter and an infomercial for the forthcoming "Aladdin" DVD, which is the tour's sponsor.

Aiken's show was divided into two 45-minute sets and was built around both his engaging personality, a powerful voice (that is only going to grow in character as he gets older) and his abundantly generous spirit. The set list drew heavily from last year's triple platinum debut album, "Measure of a Man," and a handful of covers ranging from U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" (the show opener was not well suited to Aiken's music theater stylings), a tasteful James Taylor medley that showcased his impressive trio of backup singers and a version of Toto's "Rosanna" that gave his unobtrusive band a chance to get its funk groove on.

He also shined the spotlight on his audience, pulling one woman out of the crowd to dance with him on the forgettable "When You Say You Love Me" (turns out he unwittingly plucked the same woman out at his previous show near Syracuse), then sharing the spotlight with 10-year-old Fenton resident Connor Foley, who sang his signature hit "This Is the Night"(see related story), much to the delight of the crowd, which grew more boisterous as the show progressed.

With fewer gimmicks and a more focused performance, the second half was much stronger, bringing the enthusiastic but relatively restrained crowd on its feet. The intimacy of the venue, where there isn't a bad seat, fit perfectly with the personal touch Aiken bring to his audiences. He must have welcomed the chance to sing to 3,140 people who were almost in his lap.

His biggest weakness is some of the material he's been given to sing. About half the songs, from "Measure of a Man," like "Run to Me" and "Perfect Day," are fluffy, assembly-line pop that are beneath his abilities. Though his voice has held up well after all the touring he's done, it did sound a bit flat and tired on the rare occasion, notably a version of show closer "Invisible" on which he sounded a bit flat (not to worry, he rebounded impressively on an encore of "Solitaire").

It may not be cool to like Clay Aiken. Neither Aiken nor his adoring fans care. Clay Aiken is living a dream and it's easy for his fans to live that dream through him.

After all, he was a college student studying special ed just a couple of years ago. A Clay Aiken concert is a celebration of the inner geek in everyone. There's nothing wrong with that.
M LIVE


Quote
It was Clay's concert, but Connor's night

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Sunday, August 22, 2004
By Doug Pullen

Friday was the night for Connor Foley.

The 10-year-old Fenton Township resident auditioned in advance, so he knew Clay Aiken was going to pick him out of the crowd of 3,140 people to sing his hit "This Is the Night" onstage Friday at the Clio Area Amphitheater. That explains why he wore a tie to the concert.

But he didn't know how it would feel to be onstage with his American idol.

"It felt pretty good," the Linden Central Elementary student said after the show, fresh from signing his first autograph.

Young Foley did have butterflies shortly before one of Aiken's security guards escorted him to the stage, but he handled his moment in the spotlight like a seasoned pro, receiving a huge ovation from the crowd and a ringing endorsement from his hero, who knelt beside him and sang harmony.

"In 15 years I'm gonna come here and see you on this stage," Aiken predicted.

"It felt like I was dreaming," said the young star-in-the-making, who said he sings mostly at Fenton Church of the Nazarene.

Aiken makes a practice of singling out a young singer at each of his shows. A member of his entourage conducts auditions the afternoon of the concert.

Foley found out about it from an aunt, who'd seen information posted on Aiken's Web site. He practiced the song just in case. Foley's mom, Jill Ridenour, had a feeling he'd get picked.

"He prayed the night before," she said.

When he wasn't singing, Foley enjoyed the concert with his mom, stepfather Jeff Ridenour, sister Hannah Foley, 14, and friend Sam Henderson, 14.
M LIVE
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:16:13 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #29 on: August 14, 2004, 08:40:15 AM » 

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METRO CENTRE ROCKFORD IL PREVIEW


Quote
Achin' for Clay
Rockford fans can't wait to see idol perform here

ROCKFORD -- They're known as Claymates and Clay maniacs, the scads of devotees who dote on all things Aiken.

They scour the Internet for the latest kernel of information on the TV contestant-turned-pop music phenomenon. They flock to as many of his concerts as their budgets and schedules allow.

They range in age from prepubescent to post-retirement. Mostly, they're women. Guys dig him, too, but they're a rare breed and generally more subdued. The founder of www.theclaydawgs.com -- a "male haven" for Aiken addicts -- reportedly lives in Roscoe, but attempts to contact him through female fans were unsuccessful.

Whatever their stripe, Aiken aficionados will be out in full force Monday when the skinny North Carolina teacher and second-place "American Idol" competitor takes the stage at the MetroCentre.

More than 100 fans -- some coming from as far as California -- are expected to descend on the Capri restaurant for a private, preconcert party and fund-raiser.

Fans began the Penny Lane charity drive with the start of Aiken's first solo tour in July. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring change to the parties; the money goes to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to assist children with disabilities.

The effort depends on a volunteer organizer stepping forward in communities on Aiken's tour schedule. Beth Riffle, a 32-year-old stay-at-home mother of four, accepted the challenge here.

"Clay is living out my dream," said Riffle, a former wedding singer, reflecting one of the keys to Aiken's appeal.

Local fans told us they're also drawn to Aiken because he's clean-cut, self-deprecating, earnest and unaffected. But as much as anything, they're bowled over by his raw talent.

"I have the tape of him singing 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters,' which was his last song on 'American Idol.' It sends chills up my arms when I listen to his version of that song," said Linda Galbraith, a 55-year-old office worker at a Rockford manufacturing firm.

Galbraith saw Aiken perform at the United Center in Chicago with 2002 "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson in March. Before that, she hadn't bought a concert ticket since her senior year at Guilford High School in 1966, when she saw The Doors in Las Vegas.

That's another common thread among Aiken fans. Few ever have been infatuated with a music star before.

"Not since Elvis," said Carole Dolan, a development officer for SwedishAmerican Medical Foundation.

"But Elvis didn't have the personality Clay has. Clay's the whole package. He's got the voice, the brains and the personality."

As Aiken fans go, Riffle, who's in charge of the Capri party, considers herself low-key, more mainstream. But she's met the kind who "jump over chairs to get to the stage. The ones who find out what hotel he's staying at and camp out in the lobby just to get a glimpse of him, that's extreme."
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR


METRO CENTRE ROCKFORD IL REVIEW


Quote
Music review: Aiken delivers 'polished' performance for 4,700

By GEORGETTE BRAUN
Rockford Register Star

A lady wearing a reddish sweater jacket and black pants shook her tush so well in the audience Monday night that "American Idol" star Clay Aiken invited her to strut her moves on stage.

A 22-year-old woman from Cary, Ill., sang a duet -- "Without You" -- so richly with Aiken after being auditioned right before the show that he hugged her and hugged her and hugged her again. Aiken is 25 years old.

Other women and young girls in the crowd of 4,700 people at the MetroCentre in Rockford also tried to get the attention of the skinny, spiky-haired crooner as he sang wholesome pop songs. One woman in the third row wore a T-shirt with the words "Wink at me, Clay" printed in bold letters on the front.

The shenanigans didn't overshadow Aiken's polished delivery during his two hour show of middle-of-the-road songs with lyrics that are easy to understand, such as "I Will Carry You" and "Run To Me" off his debut and only album, "Measure of a Man." And his big heart showed as his work on behalf of disabled children played on big video screens on both sides of the stage.

It was a comfortable feel for the fans and Aiken, who became a big celebrity a year ago when he was runner-up on Fox's popular "American Idol" singer elimination show. But the really crowd lit up when Aiken sang his angst-ridden "I Survived You."

"Why is it everybody gets excited when I get ticked off?" the big-voiced North Carolina Christian who wears a "W.W.J.D." (What Would Jesus Do) bracelet asked as he smiled slyly.

Another harder-edged moment came when Aiken's lead guitarist showcased his grinding for just about seven seconds or so.

Largely, though, Aiken's likable, boyish self, was was everybody went to see. And they got what they paid $38 for -- a genuine, geeky looking guy who sings at full throttle.

Aiken wore jeans and button-down Oxford shirts or a geeky, striped jacket during many songs. But he and his three back-up singers donned all-white clothing for the gospel song, "You Were There."

Aiken covered several recognizable songs, including Toto's "Rosanna" and Mr. Mister's "Kyrie." Those paled in comparison, though, to his encore performance of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."

Girls in the audience screamed his name as he was lowered down a hatch in a two-story staircase.
ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:20:22 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #30 on: August 14, 2004, 08:40:50 AM » 

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SCENE PAVILION CLEVELAND OH PREVIEW
Quote
Aiken works to build career beyond 'Idol'
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Gary Graff
Special to The Plain Dealer

Clay Aiken is one Idol who hasn't been idle.

The slender North Carolinian has been in constant motion since finishing as the runner- up in the second season of "American Idol" in May 2003 - a near photo finish with Ruben Studdard, the soulful Mutt to Aiken's emotive Jeff. Aiken has toured with the other "Idol" contestants and watched his first single, "This Is the Night"/"Bridge Over Troubled Water," top the charts and become the best-selling single since Elton John's 1997 "Candle in the Wind" remake.

Rolling Stone magazine put Aiken on its cover - even before Studdard - and all manner of other media latched onto the for mer special-education teacher from Raleigh, whom "Idol" made over from a bespectacled, self-declared geek to a confident heartthrob with a lusty legion of fans - Claymates - and scores of fawning Internet sites hopping on the Clay train. "I haven't exactly skimmed below any spotlights," Aiken, 25, says with a laugh.

Oh yeah - he made an album, too, which has only kept those spotlights burning brighter. "Measure of a Man," which came out in mid-October, logged two straight weeks at No. 1 and went platinum in its first month on sale. It's now moved nearly 3 million copies - the top-seller by an "Idol" contestant - and launched the hits "Invisible," "This Is the Night," "The Way" and "I Will Carry You."

And with the album's success, Aiken hopes that "Measure of a Man" - which was overseen by RCA Records chief Clive Davis and "Idol" creator Simon Fuller - has established him as a durable talent independent of the show, closer to inaugural "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson than bust Justin Guarini, Aiken's direct predecessor.

"I don't want to be 'American Idol' runner-up Clay Aiken the rest of my life," he acknowledges. "I don't necessarily feel like I have something to prove. We just want to make sure that there's growth and there's change, and you'll hear that on the album.

"But it's also important that we don't alienate the people that watched ['American Idol'] and put me there. If it weren't for that show, I would not be in the place that I am now. It would be a mistake to forget that."

From the classroom to the TV cameras

Raised by his mother and grandmothers after his parents divorced, Aiken - who subsequently took his mother's maiden name - never craved a career as a singer, though he did sing in his church choir and in school-theater productions. Mostly he was happy to teach his grade school students and even planned to get a master's degree in administration.

That all changed when some of his students' parents, who had heard him sing, encouraged Aiken to try out for "American Idol." He stumbled his way through the audition process, finally getting a spot on the show via a wild card round for those who had been previously axed. There, as his appearance morphed, Aiken quietly won the support of the voting fans and the "Idol" judges - even acerbic Simon Crowell, who derisively dubbed Aiken's "This Is the Night" as "American Idol: The Musical."

"Y'know," Aiken says, "in all honesty I came into this whole experience not really expecting to ever be a recording artist or to have an album. It's not like I had some kind of grand vision for how my big recording career would pan out."

He does, however, bristle at those who want to position him and Studdard as rivals - and give Aiken the upper hand in the battle because of the Rolling Stone cover (the mag's best-selling issue of 2003) and the fact that the "This Is the Night" single far outsold Studdard's "Flying Without Wings"/"Superstar."

"Yeah, I sold more singles than Ruben did, but his single got more airplay than mine," Aiken notes. "It's not that either one of us beat the other on anything. He's great at what he's great at, and I'm good at what I'm good at. And we're not even competing in the marketplace, 'cause we have two completely different markets.

Not in competition with Ruben Studdard

"So it's almost a moot point, this competition thing. He and I are not competing with each other at all. We're friends. We support each other." More than that, even; Aiken would ask Studdard to knot his tie before going onstage during the "Idol" tour. "He can do that better than me, too," Aiken says.

Being the runner-up, however, did give Aiken a chance to finish "Measure of a Man" quicker than Studdard made his debut, "Soulful." Aiken says that "the basic feel is pretty much the same" as what he did on the "Idol" telecasts; "I like songs that need to be sung, that you have to emote on," he explains.

But, he says, "there's definitely been a progression. These songs are a little edgier. We've made them more radio-friendly. They're definitely more modern types of songs than I sang on the show, more modern than 'This Is the Night.' "

Aiken has a Christmas album slated for November, but he's really looking forward to getting into the studio again for his next album of pop songs - primarily to leave no doubt that he can succeed beyond the "Idol" aura.

"I don't think I have anything to prove at this point," Aiken says. "I hopefully won't have to prove anything. We just want to make sure that there's growth and there's change. I did that on ['Measure of a Man'], and I want to keep doing that on everything that I do."

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER


SCENE PAVILION CLEVELAND OH REVIEW



Quote
Nice-guy Clay Aiken thrills his fans

Pop cover versions fill out nearly 2-hour show for Scene Pavilion crowd dominated by women.

Clay Aiken may not be the pop-culture phenomenon he was shortly after he was named runner-up in the second season of American Idol, but the faithful "Claymates" and their husbands/significant others and chaperones still love the nice boy from North Carolina enough to have sold out the Scene Pavilion on Tuesday night, and to scream at his every word in his nearly two-hour set.

The obvious question is how can a guy with only one album, clocking in at less than 80 minutes, perform for two hours?

The answer is that since he came from a glorified karaoke show, he was free to liberally pepper his set list with other folks' already-famous songs.

He entered from beneath the staircase in the middle of the stage, singing U2's Where the Streets Have No Name (without all the pathos that Bono gives it) to a positively giddy crowd of overwhelmingly female admirers. The count was so high that Scene Pavilion staff members were forced to transform a men's room into a women's room with the help of carefully applied neon orange duct tape.

Those women made sure that Aiken knew they love him, and he in turn made sure they knew that he appreciated their ardor, repeatedly thanking "the wonderful people who made all of this possible.''

Aiken's double-platinum debut, Measure of a Man, is full of pleasantly bland pop music, and that safe, family-friendly blandness is part of Aiken's allure.

"He's like a breath of fresh air,'' one fan said.

Presumably the covers were songs that Aiken loves and loves to sing, and his choices showed that he is definitely a fan of pop music. He applied his malleable tenor to Mr. Mister's Kyrie, Orleans' Still the One, and a medley of James Taylor tunes, including Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James and How Sweet It is (To Be Loved By You).

If Aiken's nice-guy persona is a pose, he's darn good at it, because aside from his aw-shucks stage banter, he gave up stage time so that his five-piece band could turn Toto's Rosanna into solo spotlights. Aiken also introduced each band member and several members of his road crew (by name!) and brought fans onstage to dance and sing a duet with him.

For all his nice-guyness, Aiken is a shrewd performer. He closed the show with several songs from his CD, including the stalker anthem Invisible, the title track, Measure of a Man, and This Is the Night, and he knows what gets his fans' collective panties in a bunch.

So there were plenty of dramatic crescendos, and Aiken standing legs akimbo, arms spread wide, to elicit screams. Interestingly, many of the biggest screams came when he rubbed against one of his female backup singers.
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL (registration required)



Quote
Aiken show offers fans a man who measures up
Thursday, August 26, 2004
John Benson
Special to The Plain Dealer

Clay Aiken was anything but "Invisible" Tuesday night when the "American Idol II" runner-up crooned as the nearly sold-out Scene Pavilion swooned.

With more homemade signs than a PTA bake sale, the mostly female, sea-of-pink audience - a mother-and-daughter thing (with nonchalant Dad occasionally singing along) - got what it wanted: fun, by-the-numbers pop music with Clay leading the way.

For nearly two hours, including an intermission, the North Carolina native performed two-thirds of his triple-platinum debut "Measure of a Man," along with half a dozen cover songs and a momentum-killing James Taylor medley that left the youngsters in the audience learning how sweet it isn't when your favorite singer digresses into oldies music.

Not completely squeaky clean, Aiken was as wholesome as he was cool. He also possessed a relaxed stage presence that belied his relatively short-lived celebrity, which merely dates back to May of 2003, when he finished second to Ruben Studdard in the sophomore season of "American Idol." So cool was Aiken that on this hot and humid evening, the 25-year-old performer appeared to be the only one in the outdoor venue not breaking into a sweat.

Whereas "American Idol," for good or bad, is perhaps critically perceived as nothing more than a glorified karaoke contest, Aiken transcended this notion by turning in a pop performance of middle-of-the-road material that never offended.

As with other mega-selling pop stars such as Michael Bolton and Celine Dion, Aiken's material speaks to the heart. What it may lack in breaking new ground is justified by the overwhelming response provided by his fans. From the sincere "When You Say You Love Me" and the R&B-lite leanings of "I Survived You" to the breezy "Shine" and the anthemic "This is the Night," the singer sold the material with impunity.

Buoying his set perfectly were Aiken's numerous cover songs, including U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," Mr. Mister's "Kyrie," Toto's "Rosanna" and Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."

Not billed as a Christian artist, Aiken displayed his faith numerous times throughout the evening in subtle (wearing a WWJD bracelet) and not-so-subtle fashions (singing gospel song "You Were There" while dressed in reverent choir white). Perhaps answering the question of what would Jesus do if he were onstage, a benevolent Aiken invited two lucky audience members to sing and dance with his eight-piece band.

For the most part, Aiken's performance delivered what it promised: a derivatively wholesome "American Idol" celebration of music and overcoming great odds to achieve success. While losing the novelty moniker that currently shadows his career will be tough, Aiken effortlessly tackled a variety of material in a down-home fashion that confirmed that his vocal talents are definitely a cut above those of a karaoke singer.

Ultimately, the Darwinian nature of the recording industry with fleeting careers in pop music will be the "Measure of the Man." But on this night, Clay was everybody's idol.

Opening the show was pop singer Cherie, who was warmly received by the audience but appeared a bit stiff onstage. Supporting her recently released self-titled disc, the French performer offered up a set of adult contemporary songs that showcased the possibilities of her vocal talents.

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:26:17 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #31 on: August 14, 2004, 08:41:23 AM » 

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MINNESOTA STATE FAIR ST PAUL MN PREVIEW
Quote
He's just a dork … but don't tell his fans

BY ROSS RAIHALA
Pioneer Press

Clay Aiken is a dork.

Now, all you Claymates, don't start writing angry letters quite yet. "Dork" is Aiken's preferred term to describe himself.

"I'm just a dork," the "American Idol" runner-up said during a phone interview from a tour stop in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm a normal dork like everybody else. I'm like the guy next door."

More like the tremendously, almost inexplicably, famous and adored guy next door, but still, he's on to something. After three blockbuster seasons of the televised karaoke contest, Aiken — who performs live tonight at the Minnesota State Fair — has emerged as the most popular "American Idol" to date.

Despite coming in second to Ruben Studdard, the 25-year-old North Carolina native can already boast some impressive stats. His album, "Measure of a Man," entered the Billboard charts at No. 1, selling 613,000 copies in its first week — the biggest numbers for a debut record since Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle" a decade earlier. Aiken's song "This Is the Night" was 2003's best-selling single.

And then there are Aiken's fans, the Claymates. Kids love him. Young women love him. Moms love him. Dogs love him. Young men love him — well, not so much.

How does Aiken account for such adoration?

"Oh, I don't know," he said with his high-pitched, snorty and, yes, dorky laugh. "I really don't know. I think it's just been a long time since there's been a celebrity who looked like me. There weren't any celebrities who acted like me and dressed like me. I think people can relate to me, because I'm just a dork."

But that's not stopping the man who topped the National League of Junior Cotillions' list of the "Best-Mannered People of 2003" from writing a book. Due in stores by Christmas, "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life" is filled with inspirational stories about chasing your dreams, achieving your goals and the like.

"I really haven't had a life yet, I'm only 25, so I don't have much to talk about yet," Aiken said. "But the book is an opportunity to share stories about things that have happened to me; it's about people who have helped make me who I am. It's about how I found my voice and the people who helped me do that."

In addition to writing his book, Aiken has a disc of holiday music in the pipeline and plans to release another new album in 2005.

What does Aiken do when he's not performing live, writing books, crooning carols or being an all-around polite, gracious and swell young man?

"Usually, I sleep," he said. "That's pretty much all I ever do. That and play with my dog, Raleigh. She's gotten used to life on the road."

Anything else?

"Not much, really. Sometimes if I'm bored, I'll Google my name and see what's going on," Aiken said. "See, I'm really a normal guy."

Yup, a dork. We've got that.

TWIN CITIES


MINNESOTA STATE FAIR ST PAUL MN REVIEW

Quote
A likable Clay Aiken brings freshness to the State Fair
Jon Bream,  Star Tribune
August 27, 2004 
   
Clay Aiken, "American Idol's" most enduring singing force, set two records Thursday night at the Minnesota State Fair:

• He was the first grandstand headliner in fair history named after two counties in Minnesota.

• He established a mark for the most tunes during which a big-name singer broke into laughter in mid-song -- three.

In all seriousness, Aiken set a standard for all idols -- American or just plain teen, performing with a freshness and enthusiasm that was so genuine that it made him so genuinely likable.

Aiken, 25, a former North Carolina special-ed teacher, was friendly, funny and spontaneous. Making his third local appearance in 13 months, he seemed much more comfortable onstage than in April at the Xcel Energy Center (the last show on his tour with "Idol" Kelly Clarkson) or in July 2003 (his first show ever, with the other finalists of the second season of "AI"). This time, he commanded the stage, moving without awkwardness or self-consciousness (though he admits he can't dance), singing eye-to-eye with his backup singers and making eye contact with his fans. Most of all, he was having fun -- and so were the 6,873 grandstand-goers, most of them female.

When he brought a young woman from the audience onstage to duet with him on "Without You," Aiken was flying without a net. The overly excited woman said she flew in that morning from Arizona for the show and she wondered whether her sister could video the duet even though the security guards had banned video cameras.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Aiken asked. "Make a list. ..." A music business major at a community college, she held her own vocally, as a giggly Aiken gazed into her eyes as they sang.

After the bundle of energy exited, the heartthrob said: "She flew in from Phoenix. I don't think she used a plane."

The drummer forgot to hit a rim shot.

Aiken didn't miss a step during his 80-minute performance, except when he inexplicably burst into giggles during "I Survived You," one of his many big, serious ballads. His theatrical voice is well-suited to the kind of Broadway pop he favors (think Barry Manilow-meets-Michael Crawford with a hint of Art Garfunkel), but the material from his best-selling CD, "Measure of a Man," is unremarkable, save for his hits "Invisible" and "Solitaire."

His covers -- oldies by Toto, U2, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Mr. Mister, Orleans -- were more an exercise in karaoke than imaginative interpretation. And his rendition of the Christian praise song "You Were There" was a heavy-handed detour.

Nonetheless, Aiken had the star quality, stage craft and unstoppable charm to transcend his material and to suggest that he will have opportunities to establish more records at the state fair and elsewhere.
MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE



Quote
Clay Aiken has unerring knack for selling a tune

BY ROSS RAIHALA
Pioneer Press

Clay Aiken wasn't about to let a little rain dampen his soft-rock party from kicking off the Minnesota State Fair Thursday night.

Between intermittent showers, the second-season "American Idol" runner-up belted out selections from his double-platinum debut "Measure of a Man" and well-chosen cover versions in front of a well-mannered, politely appreciative crowd of 6,873.

Barely a year into this whole showbiz thing and Aiken already possesses the assured demeanor of a seasoned veteran — when he opens his mouth to sing.

While not quite as technically adept as some of his "American Idol" co-stars, the 25-year-old has an unerring knack for selling a tune, whether it's one of the bloodlessly professional songs written for him ("I Survived You," "Perfect Day") or a light-rock radio staple like Toto's "Rosanna" or Mr. Mister's "Kyrie." This guy could sing the back of a milk carton and have the tweens melting in their miniskirts.

His banter between numbers, meanwhile, is Aiken's real secret weapon. He speaks in a sort of high-pitched, Southern squeal — punctuated by nasal giggles — that makes Aiken seem all the more, you know, normal. A major key to Aiken's success is approachability, or at least the illusion thereof, and he knows it.

Thus Aiken endlessly bantered with the audience between songs, telling lame jokes and chumming around with his bandmates and crew. Yet it all felt casual and genuine, rarely studied. His off-the-cuff responses to the overly excited young woman he pulled on stage for a quick duet even suggest a future in improv. To be sure, the kids ate up every word and even the most cynical audience members couldn't help but be at least occasionally charmed by the guy.

And if Aiken's chattiness wasn't enough, there were his eyes. Those eyes. Clearly the result of being a contestant on a televised talent show, Aiken was constantly aware every moment a camera was pointed in his general direction. And he worked it — flashing not so much bedroom eyes as perhaps family-room eyes.

See, another reason the squeaky clean Aiken has done so well is that he knows how to appeal to both young women and their moms. That's why he sang knockout versions of his own hits, like "This Is the Night" and "Invisible," while finding time to include such boomer-friendly diversions as a medley of James Taylor tunes. He even threw in a full-on contemporary Christian number, "You Were There," complete with a montage of biblical imagery that was far more Hallmark card than "The Passion of the Christ."

It's going to take a lot more than a cloudburst to stop this guy.

TWIN CITIES
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:30:55 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #32 on: August 14, 2004, 08:41:59 AM » 

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US CELLULAR CENTER MILWAUKEE WI REVIEW
Quote
Measure of a runner-up American Idol
Aiken bonds with crowd that already knows it loves him

By TIM CUPRISIN
Aug. 27, 2004

Clay Aiken was perfectly fine in his first Milwaukee concert appearance Friday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The runner-up from the second season of Fox's "American Idol" had a good crowd for a 90-minute concert that benefited from a professional five-piece band and three powerful backup singers who filled the gaps in his understandably limited repertoire.

Aiken hasn't been performing long enough to do it alone, and he wisely let the singers take over, as in a set of James Taylor songs. He sang the lead on the opening song in the set, "Sweet Baby James," although his somewhat nasal voice didn't work well with the tune.

But it was the songs off his album that the enthusiastic audience came to hear, and they got good renditions of what they'll find on his CD, "Measure of a Man."

The 25-year-old Aiken was at his most effective and confident on "I Survived You" and the concert's climactic "Invisible," both off the album.

His lone encore number, "Solitaire," was an audience favorite as well. And his Christian song, "You Were There," complete with a dramatic video track on the screens at either side of the stage, momentarily created a revival atmosphere.

Aiken was substantially weaker in covers, like Toto's "Rosanna" and Orleans' "Still the One" and his opener, U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."

Beyond the singing, Aiken bonded well with an audience that already loved him.

He was relaxed and conversational on stage and did a few bits that warmed up an already toasty crowd, including bringing one guy up to dance with a backup singer and getting a young woman from central Wisconsin - who showed where she was from by turning her hand into a map of Wisconsin - to sing a duet.

As for the crowd, there was the expected contingents of "Claymates," the tweens and teenage girls who got to know Aiken during his run on the second season of "American Idol." But there was also a sizable number of middle-aged women, showing that he's not necessarily the conventional pop idol that the show aims to create.

After 90 minutes of listening to Aiken, it's clear that he has a future in music, although it may not be as a pop star.

He has a personality and a stage presence - along with a singing style - that would serve him well on Broadway.

Right now, though, there's enough of an "American Idol" afterglow to keep him belting out pop tunes for at least a little while longer.

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:32:06 PM
stellium
Guest
  IL. State Fair concert review
« Reply #33 on: August 14, 2004, 07:21:07 PM » 

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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 4:25 pm    Post subject: Illinois concert review     
 
This is the review this morning in the Springfield, Illinois, State Journal Register newspaper, by the same journalist who conducted Clay's great interview a few days ago about Kimberley cooking breakfast !

Clay Aiken delivers formidable performance at Grandstand

By NICK ROGERS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

If a man is measured by his generosity, Clay Aiken is one of the heftiest guys around.
Aiken is no vocal slouch; his trademark is a formidable vocal tone that belies his skinny stature. But he was more of a singing straight man Friday night, as Aiken created powerhouse four-part harmonies with his backup singers throughout his concert at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand.

A crowd of 5,171 watched Aiken and company roll through an 85-minute set of material from his "Measure of a Man" album and as eclectic a collection of covers as a pop singer can churn out.

The evening began on a wobbly note, with the pre-recorded shill for Disney (the tour sponsor and the studio for whom Aiken recorded "Proud of Your Boy" for an upcoming "Aladdin" DVD) and the unveiling of the same sort of set every pop concert has these days - two tiers of stage separated by a shiny metal staircase.

But instead of him running out and down the staircase, it lifted up to reveal Aiken, whose Bono bombast was credible on the show-opening cover of "Where the Streets Have No Name." Though some of Aiken's biggest fans weren't even born when that song was released, those screaming for him ate up the song, which came complete with a copy of the cascading light scheme U2 uses.

"We can smell the funnel cakes, the hot dogs," Aiken said of the state-fair venues he's played frequently on this tour. "But tonight we're smelling something a little different down here on the horse track. Maybe they left a little welcome gift for me."

Aiken conversed with the crowd many times during the night, pacing the stage with his hand in a pocket and putting forth a chummy Southern-buddy vibe. But a couple of interactive crowd-pleasing ideas backfired a bit.

He sought someone with "innovative dancing talent" to come on stage during "When You Say You Love Me." But the woman from Cape Girardeau, Mo., he brought up apparently didn't feel comfortable doing the eye-catching dance on stage that inspired him to lure her up there.

And the shyness of a 5-year-old girl whose prayer every night was to sing with Clay Aiken (and got her wish) made for prolonged silences, during which Aiken was patient and joking with her. When she started singing "Invisible," it was a cute moment - but that song, with its sanitized stalker lyrics underneath a sunny beat, is creepy enough when sung by an adult, let alone a small child.

Those were only slightly shaky moments, though, in a concert that was otherwise hugely enjoyable.

For starters, Aiken earned kudos for pulling some rarely heard '80s chestnuts out of the cover box.

He and backup singer Angela Fisher tore up the Aretha Franklin-George Michael duet "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me," which is a rarity even for 1980s flashback radio programs. And Aiken allowed his band mates to turn a spirited rendition of Toto's "Rosanna" into a remarkable jam session.

Plus, Aiken sort of resembles the singer for Mr. Mister, so why would he not do "Kyrie," let alone lend an admirably nerdy opening dance to it?

Aiken had tremendous backing power from Angela Fisher, Jacob Luttrell and Quiana Parler, with whom he created unshakable walls of sound all night. Watching the quartet perform was like a professional, wholly on-key version of a group-sing on "American Idol" - with no one preening to the camera in a plea for votes.

Along with the tribal-sounding "Kyrie," Aiken showcased Fisher, Luttrell and Parler on a medley of James Taylor covers - "Sweet Baby James," "How Sweet It Is," "Fire and Rain," "Your Smiling Face" and "You've Got a Friend."

Of Aiken's own material, standouts included "I Will Carry You," with an uplifting chorus that showed off Aiken's vocal power; "Invisible," which, despite the spooky lyrics, still has an undeniably catchy melody and vocal line; and "Solitaire," his encore number.

All in all, this was the rare show where the onstage dancing and interaction between singers and musicians felt like a genuine extension of the fun they were having. And it translated well enough to the crowd that everyone there became a "Claymate," if only for about 90 minutes.

Opening the show was French singer Cherie, whose wardrobe of a bandanna and oversized football jersey didn't seem to match her measured, precisely sung pop tunes.

Cherie's voice is good enough, without being overpowering, that only rarely did she reach for syllable-extending histrionics or warbling high pitches. The highlight of her set was "Older Than My Years," a tender ballad with coos and breathy pauses a la Celine Dion, without the dramatics.
**********
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:33:02 PM
stellium
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #34 on: August 17, 2004, 07:53:25 AM » 

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Two letters appear in the Springfield State Journal Register letters to the editor section this morning, in the center with a picture of Clay singing in an intense moment with the microphone in front of the jumbo screen. One good, one not. (I believe this is important because this is the state paper with a huge circulation in Illinois.)
First, the negative..

FANS SHOULD HAVE 2ND CHANCE TO MEET AIKEN

"As I write this letter, my daughter, Erin T.........., is sitting in the Grandstand of the Illinois State Fair with a broken heart. She and her mother were lucky winners of tickets to a VIP party and backstage passes to meet Erin's idol, Clay Aiken. They arrived at the fairgrounds at the WDBR tent at 5:30 p.m. While they were there, a young lady in a wheelchair was awarded the same prize. Needless to say, she was elated. WDBR staff then escorted the lucky winners to the VIP party at the Grandstand.

When the group arrived, a gentleman from Fox 55 informed them that because of "security issues", none of them would be allowed backstage to meet Clay. He also told them that he had been there since 9 a.m. trying to iron things out. The decision not to let anyone meet the performer had been reached at 4:30 p.m.

My daughter was crushed. The blow could have been lessened if the individual from Fox would have contacted the WDBR people and informed the winners that, in fact, they would not be meeting with Mr. Aiken.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for my wife and daughter. I sincerely hope that the people from Fox 55 and WDBR make arrangements with the Clay Aiken tour management to make good on their promise to allow these winners the opportunity to meet him. Clay will be performing several more times before summer is over. It would be only fair if they provided these fans with another chance to meet with Clay."

Daniel Ten...........
Springfield

and the good ....

SEEING AIKEN PERFORM LIVE SURPASSED ALL ELSE

"I just had to give my opinion of the Clay Aiken concert on Friday night. I have rarely enjoyed a show as much as I did this one. As always, his voice was strong and held your attention. The review in the paper was mostly favorable; however, the reviewer felt he had to mention the not-so-good moments. The opening about the Disney Aladdin stuff was disappointing for the reviewer, but as Disney is the sponsor, it was most likely necessary.

I loved the fact that Clay, who has not been in the business for too long, wanted to involve the audience. The little girl was cute, and she will remember that moment for the rest of her life. I enjoyed his performance and found that hearing him in person was better than live television, even though the equipment at the fairgrounds probably could use some upgrading.

His voice was strong and true, and the backup singers, or should I say the singers who sang right along with him, were wonderful as well. I really enjoyed Clay's performance and would see him again and will look forward to what he does in the future."

Debbie Tur.........
Springfield


 I like the fact that the girl's father is blaming Fox 55 for this and not a word against Clay personally. The upset man  obviously is confused about the entire situation and at a loss why this decision was made.

The second letter is a general opinion of the fans around here who are not die-hard Clay fans but came to see him because they liked Clay on the Idol show.   They have not had the exposure to Clay's personality that we have had,  and just a few opportunities on TV shows and his records to get to know him better.   This live show helps introduce them to the personal side of Clay Aiken,  and I could tell in the audience how charmed and pleased everyone was with him Friday night,  in a crowd of 5171.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:34:34 PM
HavinaClayAffair
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #35 on: August 17, 2004, 08:01:24 AM » 

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Thanks Stellium!! I hope thay are able to meet Clay but we all know there seemed to be something going on that day that ended without a bass player. I wish them luck and hope the station has success is making those arrangements.

Lora-Ohio
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:35:00 PM
mrs. c.
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #36 on: August 17, 2004, 08:25:19 AM » 

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You know, Clay will make it right, he always does!!!!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:35:23 PM
clayfannj
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #37 on: August 17, 2004, 09:54:15 AM » 

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I am more concerned over the fact that the meet and greet had to be cancelled.... I hope there was no threat made to Clay.. If the security people felt the need for this session to be cancelled..THAT WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORT... AND THAT is what HAD to be done...  Although I don't like to disappoint a child either..the parents  of this child should be a little less self involved and perhaps look to see behind this uncommon request..  Life has disappointments...Perhaps that is what those parents should have explained to their..13 yr old  "crushed" child rather than whining to the newspaper..

    Clay's SAFETY  or a pre teen's not getting her way????


               DUH!!!!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:36:00 PM
dudley5
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #38 on: August 17, 2004, 10:41:59 AM » 

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I AGREE WITH CLAYFANNJ.........CLAY HAS NEVER ALLOWED ANY OF THE MEET AND GREETS TO BE CANCELLED......THAT TELLS ME THAT SOMETHING WAS DEFINITLY WRONG WITH SECURITY THAT DAY......AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ALSO THE SAME NIGHT SOMEONE SAID WITHIN SECONDS AFTER HE FINISHED HE WAS ON THE BUS WITH A POLICE ESCORT LEAVING THE GROUNDS......

THIS IS A MEAN CRUEL WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN NOW......AND THEIR ARE NUT CASES RUNNING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE........CLAY IS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERYDAY AND HIS SAFETY IS OF UPMOST IMPORTANCE.......EVERYONE WHO LOVES OUR CLAYTON SHOULD JUST BE GRATEFUL THAT JEROME....THE POLICE....AND EVERYONE THAT IS TAKING CARE OF CLAY WERE ON THEIR TOES THAT DAY........ AND EVERYDAY.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:36:42 PM
Claymaniac2000
Clay's safety
« Reply #39 on: August 17, 2004, 11:44:27 AM » 

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As soon as I read that there was 15 state troopers there that night and that the bus had a police escort out of the stadium, I came to the conclusion that there had possibly been threats on Clay's life, and his safety is of paramount importance. I am sorry the M & G was cancelled but I am so glad that he has so many people looking out for his safety. Especially Jerome. I don't think anyone has ever had a better bodyguard. THANK YOU JEROME. WE ALL LOVE YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OMC.  
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:37:15 PM
Clayforlife
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #40 on: August 17, 2004, 12:13:51 PM » 

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That is very sad for the girl that missed the opportunity to meet OMC when she had come so close.  If I put myself in her shoes, I would have been heartbroken too.  Having said that, though, I think that there was obviously something going on.  They worked all day trying to iron things out.  It scares me to think that this could actually happen more often.  Clay is a superstar now and while I think I speak for most of the fans, we would never cause any harm to Clay.  Having said that, I know there are some crazy people out there who for whatever reason would cause harm to Clay.  Celebrities live a different lifestyle whether they want to or not - including Clay.  It might explain why he chooses to stay away from the chaos that goes along with stardom and hang out at home or in his hotel room, where there is nothing to fear.  I do feel bad for the people who lost out on the chance to meet Clay, but perhaps if Clay gets wind of the the letter the girl's father wrote, he will do something to make it up to those fans.
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:38:11 PM
ClaysMelody
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #41 on: August 17, 2004, 12:29:49 PM » 

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I totally agree with the fact that Clay would never,ever have cancelled a meet and greet unless it was absolutely necessary.  It has never happened before even during the IT when he was having trouble with his voice and couldn't even talk during the meet and greet.  He could have easily just let Kelly do it alone those nights.  But he didn't.
With everything that is going on in the world today people should understand the importance of security concerns.  I am sure that Clay probably did not even have part in the decission to cancell the meet and greet.  I can understand the little girl's disappointment, but parents - grow up!

Melody
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:38:35 PM
mrsaiken3504
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #42 on: August 17, 2004, 02:55:00 PM » 

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thanks for posting this- I feel really bad for the little girl and her mom- she was probably looking forward to it for a long time. We know Clay will fix it! He always does! Im just curious about what the "security" issues were.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:38:55 PM
outthereforclay
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #43 on: August 17, 2004, 03:39:53 PM » 

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Clayforlife....your avatar mesmerizes me! I'm a "mouth" person and Clay's absolutely sends me to places I can't describe on this thread...

(post a lot, ok? : )
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:39:18 PM
claysjoy
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #44 on: August 17, 2004, 03:50:51 PM » 

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I am heartbroken! ( I've been so busy, that I've been out of the loop lately. ) I know how upset everyone was not getting to meet him after planning on it, but along with everyone else, GET OVER IT!  There are thousands of us who want to meet him and don't.  but to think someone did something to cause that much security problems, makes me sick at my stomach.  I know that celebs have stalkers and such, but how could anyone harm CLAY?  It just does not make sense to me.  All the boy does is try to bring happiness to so many, it's like threatening Santa Claus.  This world is really sicker than I thought.  Man, I feel sorry for the person who thinks they can get away with hurting him.  Is that the kind of talk that makes one sound crazy?  I just know as devoted as us fans are, if someone hurt him, they might meet a few of the more rabid fans.  POOR CLAY, he is just a sweet innocent guy, trying to be there for us, and he gets his life taken away, having to hide from the world.  I wonder if he has any regrets yet?
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:40:14 PM
Clayforlife
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #45 on: August 17, 2004, 04:31:19 PM » 

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Quote
Clayforlife....your avatar mesmerizes me! I'm a "mouth" person and Clay's absolutely sends me to places I can't describe on this thread...

(post a lot, ok?  )


OutthereforClay - as much as my avie mesmerizes you, yours mesmerizes me and for the very same reasons.  Glad you like!  I will try to post more, just for you!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:40:43 PM
Shakin4Aiken
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #46 on: August 17, 2004, 05:06:26 PM » 

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Thanks for the articles Stellium! I met that lady in the wheelchair that was mentioned in the 1st article. She was so excited to get the chance to meet Clay. I wonder what was up with security because from where I was sitting Clay was barely off stage and I saw the buses leaving. I think Clay's safety is more important than a M&G even if people are disappointed. What about all of us who can only dream of what it would be like to meet him?
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:41:35 PM
stellium
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #47 on: August 17, 2004, 06:58:40 PM » 

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I was there,  too,  Shaiken,  with a good view from the Grandstand 4th row up.   As soon as his lift lowered him after "Solitaire", while we were still screaming and applauding, the Police and State Trooper lights began flashing and Clay's bus flew out of the field behind the stage.   It wasn't more than 30 seconds after he disappeared from the stage.

    I have talked to three other people there and we all agree there was a rather subdued vibe that night.   Clay was not the giggly,  silly guy he was in the Kelly-Clay concert in St. Louis.   And the audience had a more serious feel to it.   People loved him and gave him standing ovations and screamed and cried,  but they didn't stand the whole time or dance,  and the biggest applause where even the older people around me stood was for "You Were There".   A conservative audience,  a more mature Clay,  and a shockingly fast exit. 

        Everyone said there were more state troopers around than usual.   I counted several back by the bus that we could see the front of with our binoculars even though it was hidden behind a long trailer truck,  there were at one time 8 troopers on the track behind Standing Room Only,  and many more around the building.   

         But Clay would not have brought the little five year old girl up to sing with him if there was a danger on that stage.   I keep reading rumors from reliable sources that have been posted that say his bus had been broken into at MusicFest,  and his bass player fired before this show Friday, so it was something else,  but I don't know what.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:42:05 PM
heater
Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #48 on: August 17, 2004, 08:24:22 PM » 

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Thanks for the articles, stellieum.  I can understand why the girl and her mother were dissapointed, but I think that the only reason that Clay would ever cancel a M & G is if he didn't feel comfortable.  Something was obviously wrong that night and unfortunetely the M & G had to be cancelled.  Above all else Clay needs to be safe and if that means cancelling the M & G, then that was the right decision!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:42:24 PM
sarahdebarah1109
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #49 on: August 17, 2004, 09:56:01 PM » 

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Thanks for the articles.  Thats so awful that anyone might even think about hurting Clay or anyone for that matter.  I'm sure there was a serious reason that he left so quickly and all.  I'm glad he's safe and luckily he has people looking out for him all the time to keep him safe from those creepy people out there.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:42:47 PM
ydebi
articles
« Reply #50 on: August 17, 2004, 11:41:23 PM » 

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So sad that something was wrong and caused a m&g be canceled.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:43:11 PM
stellium
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #51 on: August 18, 2004, 07:34:27 AM » 

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The reporters at the paper have investigated this with Clay's management.  I"m posting now  their article in this morning's State Journal Register .   Everyone is claiming "miscommunication".
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:44:07 PM
Shakin4Aiken
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #52 on: August 18, 2004, 10:24:19 AM » 

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from: stellium

 
Quote
  I have talked to three other people there and we all agree there was a rather subdued vibe that night.   Clay was not the giggly,  silly guy he was in the Kelly-Clay concert in St. Louis.   And the audience had a more serious feel to it.   People loved him and gave him standing ovations and screamed and cried,  but they didn't stand the whole time or dance,  and the biggest applause where even the older people around me stood was for "You Were There".   A conservative audience,  a more mature Clay,  and a shockingly fast exit.

 
I do agree about him not being all giggly. I don't really recall one moment where he laughed a lot. He did make some jokes, but nothing like he usually does.


 from: stellium
       
Quote
Everyone said there were more state troopers around than usual.   I counted several back by the bus that we could see the front of with our binoculars even though it was hidden behind a long trailer truck,  there were at one time 8 troopers on the track behind Standing Room Only,  and many more around the building.

 
You're right, there were many state troopers milling around. There was a bunch on the track. Something must of really been up.   


 from: stellium
     
Quote
But Clay would not have brought the little five year old girl up to sing with him if there was a danger on that stage.   His bus had been broken into at MusicFest,  and his bass player fired before this show Friday, so it was something else,  but I don't know what.


His bus got broken into!? I did not hear about that. I'm glad he chose that little girl to come up on stage with him because she was just so adorable!
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:44:47 PM
stellium
Guest
  Letters published about Clay at IL. State Fair
« Reply #53 on: August 18, 2004, 03:42:31 PM » 

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That wasn't very responsible of me to repeat that his bus got broken into a Musicfest just because I've read it by so many different people, but I have no official proof of that.   I'll go back and say rumors have been posted and not disputed.    Sometimes when these things are posted by people we have always found to be reliable and good sources of info in the past,  we tend to give them more weight,  as I did with that one.

       In the article in the paper today by Nick Rogers,  the Springfield media people say when they called Clay's management team all day on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.,  things kept getting stranger,  something strange was what they felt from their contacts.    So we will probably never know the full story,  other than it was not Clay's fault.

That's all I need to know.
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:45:08 PM
stellium
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #54 on: August 24, 2004, 07:39:21 AM » 

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is a nice headline on page 2 this morning of the Springfield, IL. State Journal-Register, by our friend Nick Rogers
*************

CLAY AIKEN FANS GET SECOND CHANCE TO MEET POP STAR

For several Clay Aiken fans in Springfield, Monday was the night.
The 10 contest winners for an Aiken meet-and-greet at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand that never happened were to be driven to Rockford in a Harmony Limousine, fed Godfather's Pizza, given free tickets to Aiken's performance and allowed backstage access to the singer.

Dave Daniels, program director at WDBR-FM 103.7, said after a mix-up between Aiken's managagement and booking agent resulted in the state fair meet-and-greet being scrapped, plans were made to remedy the situation.

"We actually went through the record label, RCA, and they were very cool in moving very quickly for us," said Daniels, whose station was a partner in the original promotion with WRSP Channel 55.

The local fox affiliate has helped cover the expenses for the Rockford trip, Daniels said, and the winners were notified of the plan Friday.

Kathy T. and her 13-year old daughter Erin, were two of the disappointed fans who arrived to learn the meet-and-greet had been cancelled for "security reasons". Tebrugge said she feels the work done to send the winners to Rockford has made up for the problem.

"Erin has school at 7:10 a.m. (today) , so she'll go and she'll be tired, " Tebrugge said. "She's very excited, but she's just a little leery. She's not sure it's going to go off without a hitch."

Nick Rogers can be reached at nick.rogers@sj-r.com
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:46:02 PM
stellium
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #55 on: August 24, 2004, 07:41:29 AM » 

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We first heard of this family when Ein's father wrote a Letter to the Editor during the concert that his daughter had just called him from the fair sobbing and broken hearted because she couldn't meet Clay after all.

His letter did not blame Clay at all,  it called for the radio/tv stations who sponsored the contest to make arrangements to allow the winners to meet Clay later,  and this is what they did,  with RCA's help.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:46:24 PM
HavinaClayAffair
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #56 on: August 24, 2004, 07:49:04 AM » 

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As fans..we had hoped there was a remedy and there was. Great JOB!! Positive press to back it up! I hope all things went well!

Lora-Ohio
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:46:47 PM
mrs. c.
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #57 on: August 24, 2004, 08:17:26 AM » 

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I knew knowing Clay this would be made right!!!  He is so appreciative of his fans, and wouldn't let this slip!!  Clay I love you for that!!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:47:11 PM
ChrisieD
 Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #58 on: August 24, 2004, 09:25:36 AM » 

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We were talking about this and we knew that Clay would make it all right somehow and of course he did. He would NEVER let his fans down.  Way to go Mr. Clay Aiken !!!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:47:34 PM
bisi
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #59 on: August 24, 2004, 10:01:39 AM » 

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Hope someone told those rude policemen about this.  God Bless OMG -- did anyone doubt it would be fixed?
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:48:03 PM
lorraine
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #60 on: August 24, 2004, 10:14:59 AM » 

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THAT IS REALLY GREAT NEWS.  OF COURSE WHEN CLAY HEARD WIND OF IT HE CARES ENOUGH ABOUT HIS FANS AND MADE IT RIGHT.


LORRAINE
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:48:23 PM
playingclay
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #61 on: August 24, 2004, 10:41:29 AM » 

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Way to go Clay!!
Any bets he was ticked off at somebody for the mess up?
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:48:46 PM
stellium
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #62 on: August 24, 2004, 11:09:20 AM » 

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Playing,  I totally agree that Clay was not happy when he heard about the mix-up.

   Can't you hear him getting on the phone to different people in charge of his schedule and saying "FIX THIS !"
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:49:05 PM
lovinclay
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #63 on: August 24, 2004, 12:46:31 PM » 

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CLAY ALWAYS SEEMS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, DOESN'T HE?
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:49:27 PM
ClayBuf
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #64 on: August 24, 2004, 02:07:02 PM » 

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That's our Clay! Fans first. :

I also find it amusing that the TV station helped pay the expenses for the fans' trip to Rockford. It was their promotion, after all.

We all knew this would come to an amiable conclusion. He just never lets us down. 8)

~Buffi
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:49:57 PM
heater
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #65 on: August 24, 2004, 06:47:54 PM » 

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We all knew that Clay would go out of his way to right the wrong and he didn't dissapoint!  Way to go Clay!   :D
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:50:20 PM
Invisible Touch
Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #66 on: August 24, 2004, 08:28:46 PM » 

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I am also impressed that the remedy to this situation was printed in the paper.  Many times it is just the initial bad situation that is reported and then when things get worked out they don't report it.
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:50:56 PM
stellium
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #67 on: August 24, 2004, 10:42:48 PM » 

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Invisible Touch,  I agree that we are lucky to have reporter Nick Rogers sympathetic to this situation from the very first,  after he first of all gave us that delightful interview where Clay talked about Kimberley cooking breakfast,  and then he reviewed Clay's concert so glowingly. 

Since then, he has written the page two article about miscommunication being the cause of the mix-up of the meet and greet, and now this follow-up of it being take care of.    So this is his fourth article about Clay in this large state newspaper with a huge circulation in central Illinois. 

  I wrote him and this newspaper twice before all of this by him,  the first time an email to him describing Clay after he announced Clay would be coming to the fair, and the second was my Letter to the Editor that was published in early August urging people to buy tickets for Clay,  giving lots of good things that families would appreicate in his performance.   So I hope I contributed a little to Nick Rogers understanding Clay's loyal and loving fanbase as well as his excellent qualities as a sensitive performer.
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:51:11 PM
STEPHANIE1130
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #68 on: August 25, 2004, 01:05:18 AM » 

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clay is great! :D
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:51:28 PM
sarahdebarah1109
Guest
  Newspaper: "...Aiken fans gets second chance"
« Reply #69 on: August 25, 2004, 09:00:59 AM » 

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I'm glad the problem was resolved.  Yay Clay!!
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:52:13 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #70 on: August 29, 2004, 11:31:13 AM » 

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NUTTER CENTER DAYTON OH REVIEW


Quote
To be honest, I went into the Clay Aiken concert Saturday at the Nutter Center not a huge fan. I hadn't caught the American Idol bug when it was going around, and I only knew the words to his single Invisible.

But after Saturday it is easier to understand the Aiken phenomenon: he was charming, had great interaction with his fans, and played music much better than expected.

Though his time on Idol is over, Aiken's career continues, and so does the support of his crazed fans, the "Claymates."

Claymates come in all shapes and sizes, and there were plenty of them. Nutter Center was nearly full. Fans from elementary-school-age children to retirees showed their frenzy for Aiken with signs on neon posters and handmade T-shirts. One group of three young women wore white T-shirts emblazoned with pictures of Aiken and the word "Yummylicious," and matching pink shorts with Aiken's pictures ironed on their backsides. Four women wore neon yellow shirts, with the letters C, L, A, and Y boldly on the front and back.

Aiken pointed out a man in the crowd whose shirt read, "My wife did not drag me here."

One woman held a sign that said she had bet $300 she could get a hug from the singer. In between songs, Aiken hopped off the stage with the help of some security guards, saying "they'll get me back up here somehow!" He walked into the crowd and hugged the elated woman.

His songs were good, too. His nearly two-hour set included his favorites as well as several covers of James Taylor songs.

But it was his interaction with the Claymates that made the evening special. Aiken brought a girl up on stage to be the "dance captain," and presented her with a lei when she left the stage. Next he brought up Megan, a girl about 12, who sang one of his songs, and he joined her in harmony. Before she left the stage, he posed with her for a picture for her mom, who was in the crowd on the floor.

The Claymates went wild from the time when the 24-year-old redhead walked out on stage. In jeans, a casually untucked red striped shirt and a red tie, Aiken flashed a huge smile at the roaring crowd. He was charming, and was definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Aiken sang the title track from his album, Measure of a Man, as well as Run to Me and I Survived You. A typical fan was 9-year-old Fallon Cooper of Centerville: she knew the names of all of the songs and sang along to each one from the stands. She was delighted when Aiken sang her favorite song, Perfect Day.

Aiken's band included two guitar players, a drummer, a keyboardist, and his three backup singers. Toward the end of his concert he sang The Night, "the song that started it all," and showed a video of the highlights of his growing career.

Lastly, he thanked his fans, and sang Invisible. Everyone was on their feet, singing along, and he encored with Solitaire. The Claymates roared as their beloved Aiken descended into the stage on a platform one final time. 

DAYTON DAILY NEWS
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:54:40 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #71 on: August 29, 2004, 11:32:28 AM » 

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MEMORIAL COLISEUM FT WAYNE IN PREVIEW
Quote
Carolina crooner in town tonight

By Steve Penhollow
The Journal Gazette

Clay Aiken is often described as “elfin.”

There was a time when this sort of adjective, when applied to anyone who was not the Elite Modeling Agency’s “Look of the Year” or anyone who was not cheating on Frank Sinatra with Robert Evans (or vice versa), was an automatic insult.

But we live in days when elves are played on screen by dreamboats like Orlando Bloom, so “elfin” is in.

So is Clay Aiken.

He’s a sex symbol, and the unlikeliest one since Dud-ley Moore joined John Gielgud in that big mansion in the sky.

There are people who can’t quite believe Aiken is a sex symbol, but the biggest skeptic by far is Aiken himself.

The thousands of women who scream nightly for the “American Idol” celeb have done little to convince him.

“That does not make me think I’m a sex symbol,” Aiken said, in a phone interview.

“It makes me think, ‘What is wrong with these ladies?’?”

Aiken performs today at the Memorial Coliseum.

There is little about Aiken’s ascendance that isn’t slightly implausible, except his irrefutable talent.

With his Peter Pan face, his Pee Wee Herman frame, his Richie Cunningham charm and his Anthony Newley voice, Aiken seemed unlikely to survive into the final rounds of the insanely popular and absurdly picky talent showcase.

But Aiken came in second and then proceeded to surpass that season’s winner, Ruben Studdard, in album sales and consumer interest.

There are some fans who still believe a conspiracy was at the heart of Aiken’s silver medal status.

Aiken rubbishes those rumors, however.

“Anyone who was on that show will vouch for the fact that, from our seats, everything was very honest. There was nothing rigged about it

“It was a close call. I kind of say, ‘If it was in the cards for me to win, I would have won.’ In some regards, it was better for me that I didn’t win because the expectations were lower for me.

“I’m proud of him, and he is proud of me. I don’t care whether I won or not.”

Headlining his own tour (something Studdard is also doing, but not without a little gimmickry and added incentive for potential ticket buyers) can hardly be described as a consolation prize for Aiken.

He made the ultimate touring faux pas not too long ago, giving a shout out to South Dakota when he was in North Dakota.

“Hey I’m from North Carolina,” he says, “and if someone had yelled out South Carolina to me, I would have thrown something at him.”

But Aiken has been getting generally good marks from critics for his stage presence, patter and pizazz.

There is nothing like touring the country to help a nascent star understand that his days as a small-town Southern boy are over.

There are few places Aiken can go anymore where he isn’t mobbed.

“It is a little difficult to go out and go shopping,” he said.

“I recently went to a mall in New Hampshire. It had been a long since I’d gone to a mall. It was all right for a while, and then my friend turned to me and said, ‘I think we’re about to wear out our welcome.’ Within minutes, people were chasing us around.

“It is a downside. I talk to my friends back at home, and I tell them, ‘When you’re done with work, you go home. The only time I’m off is when I’m in my house and no one is around.’?”

Not that Aiken is complaining. In fact, the only time the notoriously nice guy got ever-so-slightly agitated during the interview was when the reporter suggested he might have a legitimate excuse for being not-so-nice to the more insistent type of fan.

“You are making it sound like it’s easier to be rude than be nice,” he said. “You make it sound like being nice takes more effort.”

Being nice takes more effort for most, but it’s clearly a cakewalk for Aiken.

The qualities that have caused all nations to call Aiken blessed were unobstructed by the phone lines: his sweet nature, his “aw shucks” humility, his occasional goof-iness.

And, of course, there’s that laugh: like a flock of shocked chickens bursting from the henhouse.

The laugh erupts when Aiken compares and contrasts the first three seasons of “Idol.”

“Kelly and I both argued about which season was best,” Aiken said, “her season or my season. I’m sure Fantasia (Barrino) would argue that her season was the best.

“But we all know that the only person who is right would be me,” Aiken said.
FT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE



Quote
Aiken makes his first solo headlining tour

By Ashley Smith
nsfeatures@news-sentinel.com

Ah, the life of a superstar — screaming fans, million-dollar contracts and sold-out concerts. When the tour bus is your home and the road is your back yard.

“It’s kind of something I’ve gotten used to,” former “American Idol” star Clay Aiken said during a phone interview from Knoxville, Tenn.

The 25-year-old from North Carolina began his rise to fame on the second season of Fox’s popular singing contest. He missed the “American Idol” title by 134,400 votes, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the next big American pop star.

Not only did he grab the interest of the American public, but he also captured the attention of magazines such as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Teen People and TV Guide.

His first and only album, “Measure of a Man,” topped The Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks in 2003. His first single, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”/“This is the Night,” certified platinum in less than five weeks, and his newest single, “Solitaire”/“The Way,” did the same, a feat unmatched since Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997.”

The rise to stardom may have come quickly, but not unexpectedly for Aiken and his fellow American Idols.

“(Stardom) was something we kind of expected (with the show),” Aiken said. “The jolt was when we were taken off the show. There were a lot of things to get used to.”

Things such as screaming fans, less anonymity and his first solo headlining tour that rolls into Fort Wayne at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., for a family-friendly performance.

“We’ve got music from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and this decade. It’s got a lot of variety,” Aiken said. “We’ve also got a lot of stuff from the album. We try to make it for everyone in the family.”

His variety has also helped him keep a broader fan base.

“It’s not that we market ourselves to a broader audience,” Aiken said. “It’s a lot of the stuff that I have an opportunity to record . . . it appeases a broader range. It’s one of the things that baffles me all the time.”

With the huge success of his first album, Aiken hopes to begin work on a second album sometime after the completion of his headlining tour.

“We would love (the album) to be out the first half of next year,” Aiken said.

But before he begins work on a new album, Aiken plans to release a Christmas album and an autobiographical inspirational book titled, “Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life” in early November.

“(The book) is an opportunity for me to thank people who have helped make me who I am or who have played a major role (in my life),” Aiken said. “I talked about things that I have gone through with relationships and things that I have learned. You can take different lessons from each experience. It’s just a chance for me to talk about those lessons.”

And for those you of striving to be the next “American Idol,” Aiken has a little advice for you.

“I think you have to go in there and know what you want to do. You can’t go into it not knowing that it’s a competition. Know that you’re there for a purpose.”
FORT WAYNE NEWS SENTINEL



 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 01:59:04 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #72 on: August 29, 2004, 11:33:27 AM » 

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COLORADO STATE FAIR PUEBLO CO REVIEW


Quote
Aiken leaves faithful crowd wanting more -- originals

by J. Adrian Stanley
Colorado Springs Gazette

Clay Aiken seems like an unlikely star. He's small, shy and just a bit goofy.

But it is these qualities that have made him the darling of his fans.

Aiken has prevailed against the odds, and there is something endearing about his awkwardness in the limelight.

When Aiken took the stage at the Events Center at the Colorado State
Fair, a large crowd was waiting to welcome their hero. Armed with signs and plenty of energy, fans old enough to be grandparents and fans still looking forward to high school flooded the auditorium.

Aiken began with a cover of U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," that was soulful, if not creative. The cover was followed by "Perfect Day," which Aiken performed with more passion than he does on his album, "Measure of a Man."

Although Aiken's stage presence lacks the style and command of more polished pop artists, his charm and earnest nature earned him plenty of points with the crowd.

What is striking about Aiken is the personal relationship he has with his fans. Aiken paused frequently during the show to tell the audience stories and even chat as if he were sitting with a group of friends.
In fact, Aiken spent almost as much time talking as he did singing.

After the first two songs, Aiken paused to initiate a dancing contest between one of his band members and the audience. The prize?
A lei given to him by fans from Hawaii.

After a couple more songs, including "When You Say You Love Me," Aiken brought a young audience member on stage to sing a duet with him. Like family members at a talent show, the audience cheered the girl on.

Much of the rest of the concert consisted of covers, performed by Aiken, a backup singer or as a duet with a backup singer. It's not surprising that Aiken, who has one album, would rely somewhat on covers, but the extent to which he used others' material is a bit unusual.

Apparently James Taylor's biggest fan, Aiken sang no less than four of the older artist's songs, and his backup singer sang "Your Smiling Face" with enough passion and soul to draw attention from the main attraction.

Aiken's voice is perfectly suited for Taylor's songs. His voice especially shined on "Suzanne," which featured vocal acrobatics at the finale.  [Note: Fire and Rain, sung by Jacob]

Although the audience was eager to hear more material from Aiken's album, the singer's voice was showcased far better by the other material. A cover of "Chain of Fools," done as a duet, was the highlight of his performance, allowing Aiken to extend his voice to its limits.
No link - not online. Transcribed at RHT.com



Quote
American Idol Aiken worth the wait for fans

By PETER ROPER
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Sometimes you have to wait on an idol.

But that didn't seem to matter much to Clay Aiken's fans Thursday night as they waited through an unannounced opening act at the Colorado State Fair before their favorite crooner took the stage 45 minutes after the scheduled starting time.

The crowd of more than 4,400 waited patiently through an opening band called Ben Jelen - a four-member group which delivered a series of plodding songs - until the Events Center lights went off again, signaling Aiken's arrival.

And Aiken didn't disappoint - particularly the many young women who were on their feet cheering from the moment he came down the flashing steps of his stage set to sing U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

Aiken, who launched his singing career with a second-place finish on the television program "American Idol," is riding a wave of popularity based on his CD titled "The Measure of a Man."

The proof of that were the screams from the crowd that greeted Aiken's first image Thursday night. Before he sang a note in person, the crowd sat through a video of Aiken plugging a new Disney version of the Aladdin movie, the proceeds from which will benefit handicapped children. And then Clay came down the stairs and the concert was off .Ê.Ê. although it would be a short one. Aiken was scheduled to sing for just an hour.
PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Quote
Clay Conquers Colorado

by Betty Jo Tucker

An article about Clay Aiken on a movie-related site? Sure. After all, Aiken will be singing “Proud of Your Boy” in a new DVD version of Walt Disney’s Aladdin scheduled for release in October. Approximately 5000 fans cheered a commercial for this DVD as it played on giant TV screens before their American Idol finally appeared at his Colorado State Fair concert on September 2, 2004.

Emerging from a tunnel covered with flashing lights, Aiken charmed the screaming audience with his unique voice -- which someone once called a wonder of nature. Selections ranged from ballads like “Measure of a Man” to a spirited medley of songs by James Taylor. But he saved the best for last. As an encore, Aiken stood in the spotlight on an otherwise darkened stage and sang his heart out in a dramatic rendition of “Solitaire.”  That’s the Clay Aiken I love the most -- no flashing lights, no one else on stage, no choreography. Just a man and his song.

In between numbers, Aiken projected his trademark friendliness as he thanked all his fans or joked about the many “I love Clay” signs raised in his honor (“Yours is upside down”) or complimented his talented back-up singers, band members and production crew. When introducing two youngsters chosen to sing and dance with him, he appeared genuinely interested in their performances.     

It’s a treat to watch Aiken’s fans. They come from all age groups. Gazing around the audience at the Events Center, I saw middle-aged folks, twentysomethings, senior citizens, teenagers, and pre-teens wearing “Clay Aiken” T-shirts or sporting “Clay Aiken” buttons. Aiken is truly an artist who has broken through the age barrier with his inter-generational appeal.       

Because my husband and I are avid Aiken fans ourselves, we were thrilled to attend this concert. In fact, we ordered our tickets on the very first day they became available. I stayed on the phone for hours to get the best seats possible. The Events Center at the Colorado State Fair offers seating on the floor of the Center and in the bleachers surrounding the floor. I asked for seats fairly close to the stage in the floor section, and that was a big mistake. Aiken’s most enthusiastic fans seemed to be sitting in that section, but they really weren’t “sitting” (except through the Ben Jelen opening band act).  They stood up during Aiken’s entire program! So, in order to see what was going on, we had to do the same. Although I suffered a back ache the next morning, who cares? That's a small price to pay for such an entertaining evening.
REEL TALK REVIEWS
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:02:43 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #73 on: August 29, 2004, 11:34:10 AM » 

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NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR ALBUQUERQUE NM PREVIEW


Quote
'Idol' Star Clay Aiken is Still Baffled by Fame

By Leanne Potts
Journal Staff Writer

Nice guys don't always finish last. In Clay Aiken's case, the nice guy finished second— and still ended up on top.

Aiken, the elfin runner-up from season 2 of the reality show "American Idol," turned out to have as much star power as rotund winner Ruben Studdard. The former special education teacher from North Carolina has seen his debut album "Measure of a Man" go platinum, inspired a slew of worshipful Web sites dedicated to following his every move and has a legion of smitten female fans who call themselves "Claymates."

The 25-year-old also has been on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and he is in the middle of his third national tour. He will play at the New Mexico State Fair tonight.

Aiken called last week from Buffalo, N.Y., to chat about all things Clay. Here is an edited version of his comments.

On his being named the sexiest male singer of the year by the readers of InStyle magazine:

I don't know what's going on with people! Two years ago, people didn't even know my name. People didn't even pay attention to me. I don't get it. I really don't. It's very confusing to me. I think it's a joke half the time. I saw that thing (about being named the sexiest singer) and I thought I was being punked.

On why so many women are so crazy about him:
It's my musk, I think. Make sure you quote me on that.

On the instant celebrity that resulted from "American Idol":
It's something that takes a lot of getting used to, and I'm not quite there yet. Not long ago I would have been able to go anywhere. Now just to go to the grocery store or the bank or the gas station is quite a procedure. If I want to do something I have to get a security guy to get prepared for this and that and the other, and to get the car ready.

I'm still definitely not used to going out to dinner and having five people come up and interrupt dinner. It puts you in a tough spot, because I have to realize if it wasn't for these people asking for my autograph, I would never be here.

On keeping in touch with his "Idol" competitors:
I talk to Ruben about once a month. He's doing a gospel album right now. Kim Locke is my roommate in L.A. I talk to the others whenever I get the opportunity, so we kind of stay in touch. We're kind of a family. We worked together. We lived together. We went through the same stuff. We'll stay close forever, I'm sure.

On the waning popularity of "Idol" in its most recent season:
I'd like to think it's because the talent wasn't as good. I'm kidding. I think a lot of it is based on who the contestants are— not whether they can sing or not, but who they are. Ruben and I, our finale— I'm not trying to toot my own horn here— but it was much more suspenseful than either of the other seasons. Season 1, it was very obvious that Kelly was going to win it. Season 3, it was obvious Fantasia was going to take it. Next season, season 4, if they can pull two people in it who are neck and neck at the finale, they'll do just as well.

On whether or not he would do "Idol" again:
Hmmmmm. I'm happy. I do love what I'm doing. I do miss being a teacher. I do miss North Carolina. I do miss having that freedom that comes with being unknown.

I kind of like to think that I'm here for a higher purpose than my own stuff. I talk to people every night who said that this song made a difference to them, or that song did something for them. If I think about it that way, it would be selfish to say I wouldn't do it again.

I have to remember who put me here, and why I'm here, and what I need to do in order to make God happy, and to make the public happy. I have to realize there's probably more good coming out of me signing 10 autographs at dinner than I know
.
No link - Albequerque Journal - subscription required.
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:05:33 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
 MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #74 on: September 05, 2004, 04:58:29 AM » 

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RELIANT PARK HOUSTON TX PREVIEWS


Quote
Clay Aiken's voice bigger than his self-esteem

By JOEY GUERRA

Its OK to be a loser sometimes. Just ask Clay Aiken.

The Raleigh, N.C., native narrowly missed clinching the American Idol 2 title from Ruben Studdard by 130,000 (out of more than 25 million) votes. Since then, Aiken's success has equaled -- or surpassed -- that of Idol alumni Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray and poor, poor Justin Guarini.

Aiken's first post-Idol release, This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water, was the only platinum-certified single of 2003. It spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.

His debut album, Measure of a Man, sold 613,000 right out of the gate, the highest first-week total for a new artist in more than 10 years. (Snoop Dogg matched that figure in 1993). The album has moved more than 2 million copies since its October 2003 release.

On top of that, Aiken was named one of People magazine's sexiest men alive and one of Rolling Stone's People of the Year. He also co-headlined the wildly successful Independent tour with fellow Idol Clarkson earlier this year. Aiken's current solo tour touches down Tuesday at Reliant Arena.

Not bad for a self-professed nerd who doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"Lord! I would not get that worked up over me at all. It's all very baffling to me," says Aiken, 25. "I guess that's why it's so hard to wrap my mind around it when people are waiting outside the venue after a concert and cheering. I'm amazed that they're actually doing that because I would never do it. I especially wouldn't do it for some skinny little dork." 
 
Self-esteem issues notwithstanding, Aiken's appeal lies in his ability to offer a little something for everyone. His clean-cut looks make him an ideal pin-up for excitable teens, while his aw-shucks image and soaring voice endear him to mothers and grandmothers.

"Luck. That's all I can figure," Aiken says about his cross-generational appeal.

But much of it has to do with Aiken's effortless genre-switching on Idol, during which he credibly tackled big-band, country and pop classics. He was one of the few contestants who seemed at ease almost every week.

Measure seems designed to make the most of that audience. Hit singles Invisible, I Will Carry You and The Way are poppy enough to attract the TRL set and appropriately breezy for the older, at-work crowd.

Aiken promises more variety next time around. He plans to release a new album next year.

"This last album I like everything on it, really, but a lot of the songs are kind of sappy, heartbreak songs. I don't need to keep oozing heartbreak," Aiken says. "I think I'd like to find some stuff that's a little more upbeat and up-tempo and also a little more positive."

Also on tap is a Christmas album and Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, a book of inspirational thoughts and musings Aiken says have helped him reach a peaceful place in his life. Publishers were initially interested in an autobiography or a behind-the-scenes Idol story, but Aiken balked. He eventually came up with the inspirational book idea.

Aiken sees the project as an extension of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which he founded to help children with developmental disabilities. Aiken has a degree in special education and was a camp counselor/substitute elementary school teacher prior to his musical success.

For now, Claymates (as Aiken's most rabid fans call themselves) will have to make do with seeing their idol up close and personal onstage. Aiken's tour runs through October, and he pads his shows with covers of songs by U2, soft-rock outfit Orleans and Christian-pop phenom Avalon.

You can expect the night to be an all-out squealfest. Has Aiken ever been as star-struck as his fans are about him?

"I guess I got a little star-struck when I met Oprah because she's the media giant. I don't think I could ever get star-struck about anybody else," Aiken says. "I think I was ... You know, I think I ... gosh. I guess that answer is no."

Spoken like a true dork.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE


Quote
Next time you're looking to burn a couple of work hours tooling around on the Web, do yourself a favor and double click a few Clay Aiken fan sites. Any one will do -- www.aikenforclay.com, www.forever-clay.tk -- even the tragically misnamed and misleading www.claymatesmansion.com. Each of them offers insight into a world of unabashed dork-worship so utterly devoted it makes a Trekkie convention look as hip as the crowd at a Franz Ferdinand show. On these sites you can browse through the "Dictionary of Claybonics," which -- much like Klingon -- is a made-up language. "Claymaniacs" insert the singer's name into everyday words to alter their meanings. (Example: Anticlaymatic -- When everything seems disappointing in contrast to seeing or hearing Clay.)

Once that gets boring, surf over to www.claytonaiken.com/readingroom and try the Claykespeare's Midsummer Night's Claydream link. There you can peruse Clay-related original poetry, prose, journal entries and artwork by these nuts. Stories run the gamut from the twisted Kidnapping Clay by Clayfan#1 to the well-intentioned but unfortunately titled Number Two by Beth. If you're worried about being caught by office Internet activity tracking, don't be. Females can expect to be pitied by their higher-ups, who will let it slide. Males? Your suspected insanity will render supervisors impotent. If worse comes to worst and someone does push the issue, just tell them you're seeking help for your addiction in Alclayholics Anonymous.

Tuesday, September 7, at Reliant Arena, 8400 Kirby, 713-629-3700.

HOUSTON PRESS
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:09:04 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
 MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #75 on: September 05, 2004, 04:59:45 AM » 

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NOKIA LIVE GRAND PRAIRIE TX PREVIEWS



Quote
Mr. Heartthrob himself seems puzzled by the adulation

Tuesday, September 7, 2004
By DARLA ATLAS / The Dallas Morning News

Sinatra. Elvis.

Clay.

To the rabid fans of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, that progression is not a stretch. And his magnetism seems to be growing. The North Carolina redhead, who will be in North Texas for a show Sep. 8, was named sexiest male singer this month in an In Style magazine readers' poll, beating out more conventional hotties Usher and Justin Timberlake. That doesn't surprise Annette Knecht, a 48-year-old Arlington resident and executive director of Texas Clay Fans.

"It's like there's a glow about him that draws us," says Ms. Knecht, who spends about six hours a day working on her fan Web site and other projects on Mr. Aiken's behalf. Since early 2003, when she and the other Claymates first saw him on Idol, "we knew he was the next Frank Sinatra, the next Elvis Presley, that he could change everything."

Mention this to Mr. Heartthrob himself and he laughs. Uproariously.

"Lord, no!" Mr. Aiken says in recent phone interview to promote his concert tour, which comes to the Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie tonight. "Let's be real: Elvis and Clay Aiken? No."

Pressed to come up with comparisons – what about his onstage charisma? – he says, "We're both Southerners. We have that in common." He thinks some more, then laughs and says, "I'm done."

But that humility is part of his appeal, of course. Mr. Aiken, 25, refuses to cop an egotistical attitude, preferring to stay the same guy he's always been.

As for his ever-shrieking fans, "I really don't get it," he says. "The more people scream for me, the more I think it's a joke."

It's no joke. Ms. Knecht, a married grandmother who works part time for AT&T Wireless, says she and her cohorts "are dedicated to 'Clayverting' people every day. As long as we're devoted and dedicated to what we're doing, he'll continue to make it big."

Why is this important to her? For one, she says Mr. Aiken's music brings her joy. She also appreciates that he's squeaky clean.

"Instead of listening to a song where every word is a curse word, there's a light at the end of the tunnel," she says. "Clay is our light."

While Mr. Aiken appreciates the support, the adoration can be a little overwhelming. Although one of his friends from back home is on the road with him, Mr. Aiken says they have trouble finding things to do in his free time.

"If we go to the mall, it's a big deal; if we go to the movies, it's this big production," he says. "Unless I'm in a fat suit and completely disguised, I'll get recognized."

If fans do spot him, he has but one request: Don't call him Clayton.

That's the name he went by before his fame, he says: "I kind of save it for my mom and the friends who were there before this whole thing happened."

Speaking of those friends, he says he has a rule for them, too: Don't get all weird.

"The only ones I hang out with are the ones who won't treat me any differently," he says. "Actually, my best friends don't even ask me about it anymore. They'll just call and say, 'Hey, I'm having a computer problem – can you help?'"

There's something even Elvis couldn't do.

DALLAS NEWS (registration required)


NOKIA LIVE GRAND PRAIRIE TX REVIEWS




Quote
Fans true to Aiken at Idol turned pop star's Nokia show

By DARLA ATLAS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

Clay Aiken fans, in a way, are a lot like Grateful Dead fans.

While they don't partake of mind-altering substances or practice free love, they do follow their leader across the country and back, some reportedly seeing their idol 70 times in the past year. That was evident at Mr. Aiken's concert Wednesday night at Nokia Theatre, where devotees - many of child-bearing-or-beyond years - filled the arena almost to capacity....

The ex-dweeb commanded the stage with confidence in his two-part set, which was a bit flashier than his appearance here last spring when he co-headlined with Kelly Clarkson. Opening with "Where the Streets Have No Name," he then peppered his act with lots of laid-back, personal chatter with the crowd....unscripted chattiness was a big part of the show. At one point, Mr. Aiken even showed home movies of himself and the crew screaming during a catapult ride at Six Flags Over Texas.

But there was also singing to be done. Mr. Aiken's booming, buttery voice was in fine form during his show, which included "Measure of a Man," "Kyrie," "Perfect Day" and "I Survived You," the latter of which he poured his heart into. Afterward, the crowd roared its support.

His onstage appeal went beyond the voice -- his talent alone is not what has these women racking up their frequent-flier miles. It's the voice, the sense of humor, the I'm-a-good-guy charitable soul and the cutie-pie face, topped with his secret weapon: the heavily lidded gaze. Mix it all together, and it can get the butterflies stirring.

And for his most devoted fans, the effect is as powerful the first time as it is the 70th.

DALLAS NEWS (registration required)


Quote
Feat of Clay: Aiken's Nokia performance has audience singing along

By Stefan Stevenson
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Early in his performance at Nokia Live on Wednesday night, Clay Aiken showed why the crowd of 3,500 in attendance and millions around the world have taken to the American Idol alum so strongly.

He's at ease onstage, with banter that seems genuine and heartfelt. He offers no put-upon pop star poses. Oh, and he can sing.

The crowd was made up of mostly females of all ages. There were some men, too, including some devoted husbands and cool dads sprinkled throughout.

By the uplifting finale Solitaire, they were all singing along, or at least tapping their toes.

Aiken appeared from beneath the middle of the stage as a riser lifted and floodlights backlit his entrance for his show-opening version of U2's Where the Streets Have No Name. Wearing a blue button-down dress shirt (untucked, of course), a loosely tied orange tie and gray slacks, Aiken strolled the stage, reading poster-board signs that fans held up while he belted out songs from his album Measure of a Man, such as Shine, When You Say You Love Me and I Will Carry You.

Aiken set the tone early when he challenged the audience to be louder and better dancers than his previous audience in Houston.

Halfway through When You Say You Love Me a young woman appeared onstage dancing enthusiastically. She was celebrating her 18th birthday and trying to prove Dallas-Fort Worth had the better dancers. Meanwhile, Aiken and his three backup singers and five-man band could hardly finish the song they were laughing so hysterically. The crowd loved it. And the birthday girl got a big hug from Aiken, a big ovation and a Clay Aiken thong.

Aiken's performance was undeniably charming, even if '80s-style power ballads are not your thing. His stage presence and good-natured ribbing of his bandmates kept the show loose and fun.

Opening singer-songwriter Ben Jelen and his three-piece band provided a more somber, edgier contrast to Aiken's upbeat set with piano and acoustic-guitar-driven songs. His take on Tracy Chapman's Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution fit in well with his own material, such as Come On from his debut album Give It All Away.


DALLAS FT WORTH TELEGRAM
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Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:13:50 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #76 on: September 05, 2004, 05:00:53 AM » 

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KANSAS STATE FAIR HUTCHISON KS PREVIEWS


Quote
Clay Aiken: Electric interview

A lightning-fast talker and a self-proclaimed big nerd, Clay Aiken is bringing his solo act to the Kansas State Fair

By Jan Biles
The Capital-Journal

Multiplatinum recording artist Clay Aiken talks at the speed of lightning.

In 10 minutes -- and speaking with a Southern drawl that surely helped him win InStyle magazine's "Sexiest Singer" title -- the 25-year-old pop star will give you the scoop on his 50-stop solo tour; his inspirational memoir, "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life," out this fall; his untitled Christmas CD, also out this fall; and the Bubel Aiken Foundation, which he founded a year ago to provide opportunities to bring together typical children with children who have developmental disabilities.

A self-professed nerd from North Carolina, he'll tell you about one of the things he does that drives his tour mates crazy. And he'll dispel rumors: No, he hasn't done any screen tests for the movie version of "Rent."

Aiken, who has moved beyond his "American Idol" roots and seems unaffected by his celebrity, also has a reputation for having a wicked sense of humor. Aiken will appear Sept. 10 at Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson.

Here are excerpts of an interview done before his Aug. 19 concert in Buffalo, N.Y.

How would you size up (the tour) so far? What's been the biggest challenge for you?

I think there's a lot of pressure that goes with being on your own. I had a whole bunch of other people with me on the "(American) Idol" tour obviously. Then with Kelly (Clarkson), it was just she and I, so if something went wrong, I could always blame it on her. (Laughs.) Being on your own, all the pressure's on you, right? So if I mess up, it's all my fault.

You do the same material most every night. How do you keep the performances fresh for you, and the backup singers and the band?

Well, usually I make fun of them onstage. (Laughs.) ... We change the songs up a little bit, too. We've been on the road for a little over a month. ... We just added a new song this week ("Chain of Fools"). It, you know, keeps it fresh and new when it's something kind of different.
 
Let me ask you about the book that's coming out this fall, "Learning to Sing."

Well, I kind of had the opportunity to start to work on it about a year ago. ... I kind of put it off. I didn't want to do a book about a biography or a behind-the-scenes process of "Idol." And so I wanted to make sure we had a real thing to write about, something that was worthwhile. Allison (Glock, with Elle magazine,) came out a few times when we were on tour, and she kind of helped me piece it together.

What do you hope people learn from it?
 
You know, I think a lot of people have similar experiences in their life. ... There are people who are stepchildren. There are people who were picked on when they were in school. I was one of those. It's just an opportunity for me to kind of share those experiences and what I've learned. I had a mother and a lot of other friends and family who were big on making sure I took the positive lesson from everything.
 
The Christmas CD's coming out. Describe that, and does this mean we'll see you on a lot of holiday specials this season?
 
It's a very classic Christmas album. We didn't want to do anything that would be dated in a few years. I'm sure I'll be on some specials ... at least on "Good Morning America" and that type of stuff.
 
Let's talk about the foundation. A year now in existence. What would you like to see happen in the second year?
 
You know, it's really exciting to see (our) camp programs (for typical kids and kids with disabilities) that are being successful in Kansas City, and in Charlotte and in Raleigh (N.C.). ... We've had success with Youth Service America, giving out grants to individuals with disabilities who are giving their time and their effort to help to do community service projects in their communities. That's been exciting to watch. There's just been so much more success in one year than I ever thought there would be. Of course, I'd love to see that continue to grow.
 
You've said you're, you know, a big nerd. So what's the nerdiest thing you've done lately?
 
Oh, lord. The nerdiest thing I do traditionally is ... when we get to a city, I usually grab the magazine in the hotel room. You know, there's a visitor magazine that tells a bunch of stuff about the town? ... I always do the research on the town. I want to know when it was founded and how it got its name. I want to know all that sort of stuff (laughs), and then when we get on the bus, I tell everybody. (Laughs.)
TOPEKA CAPITAL JOURNAL


Quote
Aiken goes one-on-one

By Jan Biles
The Capital-Journal

Here is a transcript of the interview done with singer Clay Aiken before his concert Aug. 19 in Buffalo, N.Y.:

Aiken: Hello?
C-J: Hey, Clay, how ya doing?

Aiken: Is this Jan?
C-J: It is.

Aiken: How are ya?
C-J: I'm OK. How are you?
Aiken: Pretty good.

C-J: Where are you calling from today?
Aiken: Ohhhh, Buffalo, N.Y.

C-J: Buffalo, OK. Well, I want to ask you about the tour, and the book, and the new CD, and all of this sort of stuff.
Aiken: OK.

C-J: Now, the tour's about halfway through, right?
Aiken: Right, I think we're right at the halfway mark.

C-J: How would you size it up so far? What's been the biggest challenge for you?
Aiken: I think there's a lot of pressure that goes with being on your own, to some extent. ... On the two other tours -- I had a whole bunch of other people with me on the "Idol" tour obviously. Then with Kelly, it was just she and I, so if something went wrong, I could always blame it on her. (Laughs.) Being on your own, all the pressure's on you, right? So if I mess up, it's all my fault. There's a lot of pressure to make sure everything's (going right).

C-J: Now, the Topeka concert was canceled and, of course, we were all upset over that. But your ticket sales have been going pretty well, haven't they?
Aiken: To the most part, yeah. We've had a lot of success. We're doing the show in Hutchinson at the state fair.
C-J: Right.
Aiken: So I think that had a little to do with why sales in Topeka we're not so hot. We actually had initially scheduled two shows in North Dakota, two shows in Kansas, and some of the more rural, smaller states have trouble selling two shows.

C-J: So I was wondering, you do the same material most every night --
Aiken: That's right.

C-J: So how do you keep the performances fresh for you, and the backup singers and the band?
Aiken: Well, usually I make fun on them onstage. (Laughs.) Just last night, we were driving to Toronto to see a friend of mine from "Idol" -- she was Vanessa Olivarez, from the top 12 of my season of "Idol." She's the lead in "Hairspray" in Toronto. So I thought I'd drop by and see her up there.

And Quiana (Parlor), one of the singers from the show with me, we were driving up to the Canadian border, and she said: "Oh, I don't have my passport. They're not going to let me through. They're not going to let me through." And I said, "Well, you don't need a passport to get into Canada, you just have to have your ID." And so she was like, "Yeah, you do." And I said, "You'll see. You don't worry about it, you'll be fine." And she said, "What about when we go to New Mexico this summer, are we going we have to use a passport?" I said, "You've got to be kidding me. We don't need a passport there." (Laughs) So I make fun on them onstage.

We change the songs up a little bit, too. We've been on the road for a little over a month, about a month and half now. I kind of try to -- we just added a new song this week ("Chain of Fools") that Quiana and I sing on the show. ... So the show changes every night to the most part. We rarely do the same show every night simply because it, you know, keeps it fresh and new when it's something kind of different.

C-J: Well, let me ask you about the book that's coming out this fall, "Learning to Sing." You've been working with Allison Glock with that, is that right?
Aiken: Right.

C-J: Tell me about the process of writing this book. When in the heck did you find time to do it in the first place?
Aiken: Well, I kind of had the opportunity to start to work on it about a year ago. ... I kind of put it off. I didn't want to do a book about a biography or a behind-the-scenes process of "Idol." And so I wanted to make sure we had a real thing to write about, something that was worthwhile. So we started the whole process -- started working on it in April. And, yeah, there's not too much free time involved.

So I'd think about working on some stuff, and then Allison would come out. Allison came out a few times when we were on tour, and she kind of helped me piece it together. A lot of the stuff that I had was in the wrong places and didn't flow so well, kind of a bunch of crazy thoughts here and there, kind of mushed together and it didn't flow at all. So she would come out, she came out a few times, and, you know, (her) expertise in writing kind of helped me get it all in order.

C-J: OK, so she helped with organizing and ...
Aiken: Well, she helped with writing, as well.

C-J: What do you hope people take from the book, you know, after they've read it? What do you hope they learn from it?

Aiken: I kind of feel like it's an opportunity for me to share some experiences. You know, I think a lot of people have similar experiences in their life. ... There are people who are stepchildren. There are people who were picked on when they were in school. I was one of those. It's just an opportunity for me to kind of share those experiences and what I've learned.

I had a mother and a lot of other friends and family who were big on making sure I took the positive lesson from everything, whether it was good or bad.

It's just a chance for me to talk about that, and if people come away from it saying, "You know what? That's the same thing I went through, and I can learn the same thing and that's a good way to look at things," then great. If they can read it and think it's funny and entertaining and like to find out a little more information about me, that's fine with me.

C-J: OK. Is this something you think you'd like to do more of in the future -- writing books?
Aiken: Writing?

C-J: Yeah.
Aiken: It's not so easy (laughs), not at all, so I don't know whether it's something in the near future, you know. Maybe in 30 years, if I do have a biography, we'll put it together, but right now I don't think so.

C-J: The Christmas CD's coming out. Describe that a little bit, and does this mean we'll see you on a lot of holiday specials this season?
Aiken: The Christmas CD, we have to finish. We have to do a few more songs on it at the end of the month. We just have to finish wrapping it up and put a lid on it. It's a very classic Christmas album. We didn't want to do anything that would be dated in a few years, like with a lot of original stuff, lots of original production. It's very classic, with orchestral arrangements ... compare it to an Andy Williams' type album that can be sold year after year, you know, and people can put it on and it feels like Christmas and feels like the holiday.

And so, that's what we've done. ... I'm sure I'll be on some specials every once in awhile, at least on "Good Morning America" and that type of stuff. Other than that, I'm not really sure what's in the works. All that stuff kind of comes with when the album comes out and you see what's available.

C-J: OK. I also wanted to ask about your relationship with Disney. I know they're sponsoring the tour and you've got the "Aladdin" DVD coming out. Do you have other projects in the works with Disney?
Aiken: Right now, the biggest project we have with them is their sponsorship of, their work with the foundation. They're partnering with the foundation on some of our initiatives and helping us get the word out, helping us do quite a bit of marketing with the media, strategizing I guess, to make sure we get the information out about the Bubel Aiken Foundation and some of our stuff.

They partnered with the tour -- with the foundation first actually, sorry, and then with the tour second after I sang the song on the "Aladdin" CD, or DVD, sorry. So right now, that's all that we have in the works. You know, if there's something I'd love to do at one point and if they're ever interested in wanting to see me voice some character from a movie, maybe I'd do it.

C-J: Well, speaking of movies, you know, there's some rumors out there that you've done some screentests for "Rent" and ...
Aiken: There's a lot of rumors.

C-J: Yeah.
Aiken: You are the biggest person I've spoken to in months on rumors. (Laughs.) ... I mean, I've heard the rumor, but there's no truth to it.

C-J: There's no truth to the fact that you are involved in any movies?
Aiken: Not right now.

C-J: OK, all right.
Aiken: Now, maybe in the future, I'd love to do it. Right now, I've been on tour. I've been on the road.

C-J: OK, well, let's talk about the foundation. A year now in existence, and it's done wonderfully. What would you like to see happen in the second year?
Aiken: You know ... it's really exciting to see (our) camp programs that are being successful in Kansas City, and in Charlotte and in Raleigh. And next year, we're signed up (to be in) other cities. Miami is one of them, one of the places where we could work with the foundation's summer camp program. We've had success with Youth Service America, giving out grants to individuals with disabilities who are giving their time and their effort to help to do community service projects in their communities. That's been exciting to watch.

There's just been so much more success in one year than I ever thought there would be. Of course, I'd love to see that continue to grow. I'd love to see that continue and then flourish and be successful, for obvious reasons.

I think it would be wonderful -- you know, I don't know how long I'll be doing this singing thing. I'm enjoying it and would love to do it as long as people let me, but I'm not so sure that I'll be doing it for 30 years. The foundation, what I'd love to see happening, is for it to kind of spread its own wings and take on a life of its own. And, therefore, in 30 years if I'm not, (or) in two years if I'm not doing this, that it will be able to be successful.

Aiken's personal assistant interrupts, saying there's time for one more question.

C-J: OK. Well, this is a silly question, all right?
Aiken: OK.

C-J: You've said that you're ...
Aiken: You're wasting your last question on a silly question?

C-J: This is a silly question, yes.
Aiken: (Laughs.)

C-J: I won't ask about InStyle, OK?
Aiken: (Laughs.)

C-J: Here's the silly question. You've said you're, you know, a big nerd, so what's the nerdiest thing you've done lately?
Aiken: Oh, lord. The nerdiest thing done lately, what is the nerdiest thing I've done. The nerdiest thing I do traditionally is -- everyone always makes fun of me about stuff -- when we get to a city, I usually grab the magazine in the hotel room. You know, there's a visitor magazine that tells a bunch of stuff about the town?

C-J: Right.
Aiken: I always do the research on the town. I want to know when it was founded and how it got its name. I want to know all that sort of stuff (laughs), and then when we get on the bus I tell everybody. And they get tired of that. (Laughs) So we know Buffalo ...

C-J: Thank you so much, Clay.
Aiken: You're quite welcome, and thank you.
TOPEKA CAPITAL JOURNAL



Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:19:40 PM
Quote
Clay Aken headlines grandstand acts at the Kansas State Fair
By Joyce Hall

Clay Aiken is having a spectacular year. His debut album, "Measure of a Man," has reached double platinum status.

Aiken, who is in his first ever headlining tour this summer, is humbled by all the attention.
"It's been pretty hectic," he said. "It's hard to believe it's only been a year."
Aiken, 25, will be the first performer at the 2004 Kansas State Fair at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

(snip)

It's been an amazing journey for the man born Nov. 30, 1978, in Raleigh, N.C. Aiken's musical talent was evident when he was just 3 years old. His mother, Faye, worked at the local Sears. Aiken was paid a dollar to stand up on the carpet samples and sing a song.
He grew up with an older brother, a younger brother and a younger sister, listening to the oldies and country radio stations that his mother liked. At age 7, he pasted a penny to a coupon and sent it away for 12 albums from a record club. His mother let him keep the Crystal Gayle LP, which he played on the Fisher-Price record player in his room, along with the first single he bought, "Meet Me in Montana" by Marie Osmond and Dan Seals.
His love for music and singing led him to join the Raleigh Boys Choir. By seventh grade he had joined his school choir. When that wasn't enough, he won roles in high school musicals, along with a dinner theater stint one summer.

(snip)

His meteoric rise to stardom continues at a hot pace. He is recording a holiday-themed CD, to be released for Christmas 2004.
With an easygoing charm, this honey-sweetened tenor has been obviously popular. He's still adjusting to a pretty hectic lifestyle and life on the road in a tour bus. Home for Aiken is Los Angeles, where he lives with his dog, Raleigh, a border terrier.

"I have tried to stay the same person," he said. "But now I'm more aware of my surroundings. It's different having to worry about being out in the public."

For now, Aiken will continue performing his songs that he said appeal to all ages - as long as his fans are happy.

"This is where God put me," he said.
No link. Transcribed at The Clackhouse.


KANSAS STATE FAIR HUTCHISON KS REVIEWS


Quote
The "American Idol" runner-up ranks first with the thousands who make a pilgrimage to the State Fair to exalt him.

BY DENISE NEIL
The Wichita Eagle

HUTCHINSON - Don't tell Chris Self that Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol."

Paying for $50 worth of T-shirts and programs at Aiken's Kansas State Fair concert on Friday, Self, a 34-year-old teacher from Lawrence, was still steaming.

The voting on the televised talent show is flawed, she said. Fans can't get through on the phone lines to vote for their favorite singers. She's even started an online petition in hopes of getting the system changed.

But on Friday night, Self was on a different crusade.

"My life's goal is to get my picture taken with Clay," said Self, admitting her chances didn't look too good.

Self was one of 4,595 Clay Aiken fanatics who crowded into the State Fair's grandstand for the singer's opening-night concert. The show could be heard across the fairgrounds, from the swine barn to the midway.

Aiken rose to pop stardom after finishing second on the second season of the popular Fox show "American Idol." A little bit geeky but a little bit cool, Aiken's every-guy appeal has since earned him more fans and more financial success than the show's winner, Ruben Studdard.

Studdard performed at the Wichita River Festival in May.

On Friday, Aiken's fans -- the majority of them families and women ages 30 to 60 -- screamed with delight at the site of the spiky-topped redhead.

He emerged ontothe stage from behind a set of stairs that rose up like a garage door. Aiken immediately set the tone for his cover-heavy show by opening with the U2 hit, "Where the Streets Have No Name."

The rest of Aiken's performance was as engaging as his voice was strong and clear. In between songs, the personable star chatted up the audience.

At one point, he invited an audience member -- Annie from Salina -- onstage to see whether she could out-dance the crowd members he'd just seen at Iowa's state fair.

"Your dancer beat Iowa's dancer," he said afterward. "You're on your way to Midwest domination."

Aiken also invited a pre-auditioned audience member on stage to sing a duet with him. The winner was a 62-year-old woman from Midwest City, Okla., who sang in perfect pitch with Aiken, much to the crowd's delight.

He also regaled the audience with tales of his Thursday night outing to P.F. Chang's restaurant in Wichita and showed footage of himself shot last week when he visited Six Flags Over Texas.

In between goofing around, he found time to perform a few songs from his album, "Measure of A Man," including "I Will Carry You," "When You Say You Love Me" and "Perfect Day."

Wichitan Jackie Palmer, an Aiken enthusiast who says she has taped every appearance he has made on television, said she was second in line the day tickets went on sale.

Aiken is so popular, she said, because he appeals to so many different ages.

"I like that he's clean cut," she said. "He's a nice guy, a role model."


KANSAS.COM
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:22:05 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #78 on: September 05, 2004, 05:02:53 AM » 

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ALLEGAN COUNTY FAIR ALLEGAN MI REVIEWS


Quote
Aiken fans cheer on their guy
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
By Lorilee Craker
The Grand Rapids Press

What can account for the massive appeal of the unassuming, moderately handsome Clay Aiken?

I'm told fan-club Claymates call it the "it" factor: When it comes to why you should be an adoring fan or not -- either you get "it" or you don't.

After an hour and a half of deafening shrieks and mostly feminine jubilation, it was clear the Monday night crowd -- some 3,200 strong -- at the Allegan County Fair got "it" in a big way.

When a stage platform area split open and Aiken walked out, well, God help anyone who got between the ladies and their beloved crooner. (And by the way, the ratio of men to women was about one guy to every six gals. Those are Michael Bolton-concert numbers, people!)

At 25, Aiken didn't come of age in the '80s, but that era is the source of many songs in his set list. The soaring chorus on "Kyrie," by Mr. Mister, spotlighted his lofty voice well, while tunes such as Toto's "Rosanna" and Orleans' "Still the One" were delivered with sass and relish.

Certainly, the Claymates -- and probably everyone else -- were on hand to hear Clay sing songs from his album "Measure of a Man," which, of course, he did to the delight of his enraptured fanatics.

"I Will Carry You," Aiken's new single, featured the kind of swelling chorus and emotional climax that works so well with his pipes and persona.

The CD's title song, meanwhile, was one of those overblown anthems "American Idol" stars are so fond of puffing up to deliver. Aiken was most engaging during shiny pop songs with glossy, hook-laden melodies, such as "I Survived You" -- probably a future radio hit -- and the show's closing smash, "Invisible."

Toward the end of the concert, Aiken and his outstanding backup singers -- including the incredible Angela Fisher -- changed into all-white outfits and shifted into a major praise mode.

His gospel-tinged "You Were There" was accented by big screens on each side of the stage showing a cross, pages of Scripture and other Christian symbols. This segment of the concert clearly meant much to Aiken, and probably to many of his fans, too.

The backup singers weren't just fantastic in the background, they were dynamite up front, too. They carried much of the marvelous James Taylor montage, singing to the stars on "Sweet Baby James," "You've Got a Friend" and "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You."

Aiken's banter and teasing with his band were genuine and added even more warmth to the evening. At one point, one of his singers scared Aiken with a rubber snake, smack dab in the middle of a song. One might assume a concert by an "Idol" veteran would be scripted to a T, but Aiken actually is very good at off-the-cuff jokes and responding to the crowd. His duet with an adorable girl named Hayley, from Okemos, was thoroughly charming.

Though it seemed impossible for the ladies to swoon more than they already had, Aiken had one more chance to make 'em melt: His encore, "Solitaire."

Yes, the screams could be heard in Kent County on that one.

All good things, of course, must come to an end, even for Claymates such as Cheryl Van Andel, a 40-something fan from Grand Rapids.

Van Andel said she had never joined a fan club before the Claymates, but there was something about Aiken that prompted her to sign up. What was it, exactly, about the spiky-haired songster that caused her -- and thousands more across the country -- to throw away the sensibilities of middle age and type away for hours with strangers in chat rooms about this man?

"Where do I start?" Van Andel asked, grinning. "Where do I start?"

MLIVE
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:25:55 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #79 on: September 05, 2004, 05:03:39 AM » 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROBERTS STADIUM EVANSVILLE IN PREVIEWS


Quote
'Claymates' rejoice! His tour stops here

By BILL MEDLEY Courier & Press staff writer 464-7519 or medleyb@courierpress.com
September 9, 2004

He's "Invisible" no more. Millions watched Clay Aiken's life change in an instant when he made the finals of "American Idol" last year.

And while the 25-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., lost the top spot to crooner Ruben Studdard, his connection with fans ensured he wouldn't be sentenced to obscurity.

Aiken is bringing his tour, including the hit "Invisible," to Evansville's Roberts Stadium Tuesday night. He'll likely get a warm reception here from the same legion of "Claymates" who have greeted him at concerts across the country.

It'll be Aiken's third trip to Indiana in what has shaped up to be a busy summer schedule. He's already made stops in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne between shows at state and county fairs throughout the Midwest. B16

"Beyond the singing, Aiken bonded well with an audience that already loved him," the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tim Cuprisin wrote after a performance last month.

After "American Idol" wrapped up its second season, Aiken's album, "Measure of a Man," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. He was also featured on the cover of Rolling Stone and was named one of the sexiest people alive by People magazine.

Not bad for someone who came in second. The outcome hasn't been as good for Justin Guarini.

Remember him? He was the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson during "American Idol's" first season. Aiken's album sales and name recognition surpassed Guarini's, even though both used the show to jump straight into America's family rooms.

The difference has been the fans. Aiken has been able to connect with people by promoting his "regular guy" image.

Aiken, who willingly admits in interviews that he considers himself a geek, probably embodies the essence of "American Idol" better than most of the performers.

The idea behind the show is for "normal" people to hone their talents before the three judges, who sometimes offer scathing critiques of the artists.

Idol contestants don't come much more normal than Aiken. While he was working toward a degree in special education in North Carolina, a family friend heard him singing and suggested he try out for the show's second season.

Aiken made the first cut but was voted out during the show's fourth week. Later in the season, though, he returned and qualified for the finals during a special "wild card" show.

After facing down the judges' constant scrutiny and comments about his style (or lack of it), Aiken seemed to hit his stride midway through the season, and struck a note with viewers, who kept him on the show week after week as they voted off other competitors.

With second place in hand and a blockbuster album about to take off, Aiken seemed to realize that his sudden fame could fade away just as soon as it came.

Shortly after the end of "American Idol," Aiken established the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which provides grants to developmentally disabled people.

"My ultimate goal is for this foundation to really make an impact," Aiken says. Aiken also says he hasn't ruled out a return to the work that consumed his pre-"Idol" life.

"I fell in love with working with individuals with autism, and I planned my life out. I was going to teach for six years, and then I wanted to go to William & Mary to get my master's in administration. I still would love to. I could still see myself as a school principal at the age of 50."

But it's probably a safe bet that his fans don't want him to head back to school anytime soon.

COURIER PRESS (registration required)
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:28:42 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #80 on: September 05, 2004, 05:04:22 AM » 

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YORK FAIR YORK PA REVIEWS


Quote
Screeching for Clay
Fans swooned over the 'Idol' runner-up at the fair.
By MIKE CAGGESO
Daily Record/Sunday News
Friday, September 17, 2004

Let's all be thankful Wednesday wasn't "free wine-glass night" at the York Fair, because the glasses would have broken from the insane amount of female screaming at the grandstand.

Clay Aiken walked on stage to the yelling of about 9,000 fans — most of them women of all ages — who clenched their hearts as Aiken cooed through his set list of ready-to-sell power ballads.

Sandwiched between Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd on the fair's concert lineup, Aiken's music and image were as wholesome and digestible as a granola bar.

Aiken made thousands of women scream by pointing at them. He broke hearts by rolling up his sleeves. Just by walking the stage at the pace of a slug, Aiken made a large pocket of people jump from their seats as if they were sitting on springs.

That kind of game with the ladies makes talking to them mighty easy.

"Man, I tell ya what York, Pennsylvania. You look good and you sound good," Aiken said in his syrupy Southern voice.

Musically, his nine-piece band didn't offer much more than elevator music. And Aiken's three backup singers lent their pipes for some of the higher and longer notes.

Aiken's show was loaded with cover songs, from U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," to James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" to Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)."

Aiken leaped to superstardom months before his first record deal, during the second season of "American Idol." Since the show began three years ago, a lot of similar-looking and similar-sounding singers have jumped from our televisions to CD players. None has made half the impact on their fans as Aiken.

Around the world and all over the Internet, a loyal following of "Claymates" host fan sites and chat rooms. One of those groups, the South Central PA Clay Fans, held a pre-concert party at the Yorktowne Hotel.

Collector's items such as autographed CDs, a Clay Aiken quilt and Clay Aiken pillow cases were auctioned off to the 200-some attendees. Proceeds were donated to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which provides services and assistance to integrate children with disabilities into everyday life.

Susan Gerald of Raleigh, N.C. — Aiken's hometown — unloaded $1,451 for a front-row ticket to Wednesday night's concert.

"I'll get to see a great show and I'm supporting a great cause," Gerald said, adding that she has been to several Aiken concerts already.

The party was emceed by a Clay Aiken lookalike from Baltimore, and entertainment was provided by "The Clayford Wives," a group of local women performing a skit on the little things they would do for Aiken if married to the chap.

Parties like this take place across the country before many of Aiken's tour dates.

"I feel when I go to a Clay concert, I'm going to a family reunion," said Leader Heights resident and party organizer Samantha O'Heren.
YORK DAILY RECORD


Quote
Aiken wows his 'Claymates' at York Fair performance

By Jade Kelly Solovey , Special to the Chronicle  09/23/2004
 
Reality television did not make Clay Aiken a singer, but it sure did make him a star. Unlike some of his American Idol finalist counter parts, he has the talent to back it up.

The flawless, sweet sounds of Clay carried through the balmy air when Aiken performed for a near-capacity crowd of 8,755 at the York Fair last Thursday night.
     
Even the singer's mom, Faye Parker, was on-hand for the show. Parker was put to work when, prior to the show, she selected a lucky, talented young lady to sing on stage with Aiken.
     
The evening started with a nod to the singer's sponsors via a video sneak peak at the new song Aiken has lent his voice to. The soon-to-be released Disney's Aladdin Special Edition DVD features a resurrected song from the infamous "vault" titled "Proud of Your Boy."
     
Aiken emerged from beneath a staircase met with the roar of the predominantly middle-aged and female crowd of Claymates. He broke into "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2, then transitioned into his own bouncy "Perfect Day."
     
The singer greeted his audience with a mix of humor and Southern charm.
"You look good, you sound good, York Pennsylvania," Aiken said. "I gotta be honest with ya ...you got 'em all whooped right here."
     
He then offered the crowd an opportunity to prove it, inviting two fans to dance onstage during "When You Say You Love Me," and to earn a Hawaiian lei now coveted by Claymates everywhere.
     
"You've got some people who can move," Aiken said, "some people who had a little too much sugar at the fair."
     
As the evening progressed, it was evident that Parker's boy has grown during the past several months on the road. Aiken is starting to overcome his reputation for being clumsy, tripping and occasionally dropping the microphone - certainly part of his Southern, boyish charm that keeps the ladies reeling. This powerful performance was even more solid and confident than some previous ones, and it was seriously rocking at times.
     
The evening's highlights included a video montage of Aiken's television appearances, accomplishments and experiences since the end of season two of American Idol. The crowd roared with approval at the sight of the Rolling Stone cover featuring Aiken - particularly a panning shot of the WWJD bracelet that he refused to remove for the photo shoot.
     
His show of faith did not stop there, as Aiken, adorned in choirboy white covered "You Were There," a spiritual ballad recognizing God's omnipresence. He received a resounding "amen" from the crowd upon singing the lyrics "You would rather die than leave us in the dark." It was a very poignant, powerfully-moving point in his performance.
     
Aiken and his band filled the show with covers like "Kyrie" by Mr. Mister, a rocking rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Signed Sealed Delivered," and a mesmerizing version of Toto's "Rosanna" that, in the words of Paula Abdul, Aiken "took and made his own."
     
The evening's performance also included a salute to James Taylor featuring back-up singers Angela Fisher, Quiana Parler and Jacob Litrell on lead for "Sweet Baby James," "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," "Yesterday Morning," and "You Got a Friend."
     
Aiken and company have taken to vocally challenging each other by seeing who can hold a note the longest. (It was Aiken, by the way.) The singer's talent, confidence and experienced showmanship emerged each time he stepped out of his comfort zone with a howl or a growl integrated into his phenomenal, standard performance.
     
Aiken also wowed 'em with his current single, "I Will Carry You," a particular favorite with the audience; "Measure of a Man"; "I Survived You"; and his first hit, "This Is The Night."
     
"That song means a lot for obvious reasons. It was a pivotal point in my life," he said.
     
"If you had asked me two years ago where I would be tonight, I would not have said York, Pennsylvania. [I'm] glad I'm here. I feel blessed to have the opportunity."
     
The singer dedicated "Invisible" to the crowd and sang the words "I am nothing without you" with particular emphasis as he pointed to his fans. He then disappeared under the stair, only to emerge atop the stage for an encore that featured "Solitaire."
     
Aiken provides a night of outstanding vocals and powerful simplicity - no lasers or five-second delays required.
HERSHEY CHRONICLE
 
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:32:30 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #81 on: September 05, 2004, 05:05:10 AM » 

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THE BIG E WEST SPRINGFIELD MA REVIEWS


Quote
Clay Aiken wows Big E crowd

Wednesday, September 22, 2004
By DONNIE MOORHOUSE Music writer

WEST SPRINGFIELD - "American Idol 2003" runner-up Clay Aiken headlined the Big E in West Springfield Sunday night, performing a 90-minute set of earnest pop music for a crowd of thousands, many of whom had lined up early in the day for a chance to see the television music star.

Aiken proved to be poised and polished, taking the lessons he learned from the talent competition known as "American Idol," and transferring them into a palatable stage show that ran flawlessly from pillar to post.

It was the final show of Aiken's 2½-month summer tour, and much of the time on stage was spent with band members looking over their shoulders and waiting for the next practical joke to fall. Aiken was victimized by a Vaseline covered microphone, while his guitarist was doused with a bucket of ping pong balls during his big solo.

Whether the practical joke theme was genuine, or part of a choreographed stage show, it was successful in keeping the energy level high on stage.

Only a year into his professional career, Aiken is an absolute marvel in the way he handles a performance. He appears as a seasoned veteran, at ease with the microphone, and capable of handling impromptu moments in front of a crowd of thousands.

Aiken was late coming to the stage, a full hour later than the scheduled 7 p.m. start time, and 30 minutes after opener Ben Jelen completed his set. Fans were understandably anxious, at one point raining boos down from the bleachers at the delay.

All was forgiven when Aiken rose on a hydraulic lift to a multi-tiered stage and offered U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." Children were immediately thrust upon the shoulders of parents to get a better view.

A dance competition brought "Amanda from Washington" up on stage to two-step with the back-up singers and give Aiken an enthusiastic embrace. The singer followed with another cover, this time working up Mister Mister's "Kyrie."

Aiken also delivered some cuts from his debut "The Measure of a Man," including the title track and the ballad "I Will Carry You."

He gave ample time to his three backing vocalists as well, allowing them to either duet or solo on a medley of James Taylor hits including "Sweet Baby James," "How Sweet It Is," and "Fire and Rain."

Aiken took control of the stage again with a rocking version of "Still The One," and a cover of Toto's "Roseanna." He closed the set with a rendition of "This Is The Night," and encored with a cover of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."

Ben Jelen had the unenviable task of opening for Aiken and quelling the anticipation of an army of Aiken supporters. He handled the task with aplomb, winning converts with his semi-rock piano ballads and a cover of Tracy Chapman's "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution."

MASS LIVE
 
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:35:06 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #82 on: September 05, 2004, 05:05:52 AM » 

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CAROWINDS PALADIUM CHARLOTTE NC REVIEWS

Quote
Aiken performs at Carowinds
10/17/2004 12:54 PM
By: News 14 Carolina
Aiken will perform at the State Fair in Raleigh on Monday.   

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken returned to Charlotte Saturday and performed before a packed crowd at the Palladium Amphitheatre at Paramount's Carowinds.

Aiken is no stranger to the Queen City, he graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2003.

Though many in attendance were locals, there were plenty from out of town. Fans from as many as 30 states and four countries visited the park. Among the out of towners were members of Penny Lane, a grassroots fundraising project which donates money to the Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

The group of Clay fans host parties in every city where he performs and raised more than $1,600 Saturday, oushing their grand total above the $20,000 mark.

Clay fans will continue to collect change in the Tar Heel State as they are heading to Raleigh next for the singer's performance at the State Fair on Monday.
NEWS 14 CAROLINA
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:38:41 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #82 on: September 05, 2004, 05:05:52 AM » 

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CAROWINDS PALADIUM CHARLOTTE NC REVIEWS
Quote
Aiken performs at Carowinds
10/17/2004 12:54 PM
By: News 14 Carolina
Aiken will perform at the State Fair in Raleigh on Monday.   

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken returned to Charlotte Saturday and performed before a packed crowd at the Palladium Amphitheatre at Paramount's Carowinds.

Aiken is no stranger to the Queen City, he graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2003.

Though many in attendance were locals, there were plenty from out of town. Fans from as many as 30 states and four countries visited the park. Among the out of towners were members of Penny Lane, a grassroots fundraising project which donates money to the Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

The group of Clay fans host parties in every city where he performs and raised more than $1,600 Saturday, oushing their grand total above the $20,000 mark.

Clay fans will continue to collect change in the Tar Heel State as they are heading to Raleigh next for the singer's performance at the State Fair on Monday.
NEWS 14 CAROLINA
Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:40:37 PM
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
MEDIA PREVIEWS & REVIEWS
« Reply #83 on: September 05, 2004, 05:06:45 AM » 

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NC STATE FAIR DORTON ARENA RALEIGH NC REVIEWS

Quote
Clay Aiken performs in a familiar arena
By Chick Jacobs
Staff writer

RALEIGH - The Claymates weren't quite ready to let their idol go - not just yet.

So while Clay Aiken wrapped up an exhaustive summer-long tour in his hometown, self-proclaimed members of Generation Clay swarmed the floor of Dorton Arena on Monday for one more up-close look.

The 26-year-old entertainer seemed to revive in their energy, at one point looking back to his singers with a "can you believe this?" look.

The scene wasn't anything new for the platinum-album singer. But standing in the arena, where he used to join his mom watching county concerts and circus acts, it had to feel strange to look out and see an ocean of T-shirts with his face on them.

"I used to come here and watch concerts, mainly because they were free," he told the 6,000-plus jammed into Dorton. "Too bad we can't do that now."

Aiken closed his 2004 tour on familiar footing and a familiar setting - swarms of mostly female fans who have taken an inordinate fancy to the Raleigh native.

Fans such as Robin Cassill drove down from Chillicothe, Ohio, for the chance to catch two Aiken concerts in one day. Francine Daoust made the trip from Montreal.

"He's an inspiration," Cassill said as fellow Generation Claymates nodded in agreement. "It's not just his singing, it's his life."

The group, all clad in their blue T-shirts with a lime-green likeness of Aiken, say his dedication to charities inspired them to send packages to servicemen in Iraq. It also leads them to reflect on their own lives.

"Just this afternoon, I found myself in a situation, and I wondered, 'How would Clay handle this?'" said P.J. Hickle of Pittsburgh. "He provides a role model for people of all ages - spanning the generations."

Certainly, the generations came together to see Aiken at his 3 p.m. show. And they came together quickly - tickets sold out in fewer than 15 minutes. Add the tickets to the evening show and Aiken sold 12,000 tickets in about a half hour.

"How many of y'all are from out of state and got tickets on the Internet?" Aiken asked. The response indicated that at least half the arena had done so.

"Man, there's a lot of ticked-off folks from Raleigh out there looking for you," he said with a grin.

Nobody sat anywhere for long.

When Aiken popped up from a hidden entry on the stage, the noise rivaled Cameron Indoor Stadium during the biggest Duke-UNC game.

Dressed casually in a striped shirt and jeans, Aiken opened with U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name."

Truth be told, he could have sung the Chinese national anthem and folks wouldn't have known it.

"I haven't heard noise like this since The Beatles," said Devon Cain. She had driven down with friends from Alexandria, Va., to celebrate her 60th birthday.

Like dozens of fans, she had a hand-painted sign begging Clay for a kiss, a wave, a wink. Some women were a little more forward, tossing panties on the stage.

But mostly people were there to embrace Clay, emotionally if not physically. His invitation for them to come forward and dance during "Perfect Day" would rival the altar call at a Billy Graham revival. There was something touching about grandparents holding up their grandkids or whirling in the aisles, just like you knew they did in front of the stereo at home. It was comfortable, just like a homecoming should be.

"Some people don't understand," said Daoust of her long trip to see Aiken's homecoming. "It's not just the voice, it's the man. It's what he stands for. It's all that. Fortunately, my husband understands."

FAYETTEVILLE ONLINE


Title: Re: SOLO TOUR MEDIA - PREVIEWS, REVIEWS & MORE
Post by: Marilyn on June 27, 2010, 02:52:42 PM
Quote
Aiken Thrills Fans At State Fair Concerts

POSTED: 7:35 pm EDT October 18, 2004
UPDATED: 3:46 pm EDT October 20, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The dizzying rides weren't the only attractions at the North Carolina State Fair producing shrieks of delight on Monday.

Singer Clay Aiken performed to two sold-out houses at the Dorton Arena on the fairgrounds, thrilling fans that came from near and far to hear the Raleigh native and former American Idol runner-up.

"I just feel like a whole person when I hear him and see him," said Karen Holf, an older woman from New York who attended the evening concert.

Hundreds of die-hard fans attended a Monday morning breakfast and silent auction of Aiken-related items at the nearby RBC Center. Volunteers from Aiken's charity, the Bubel-Aiken Foundation, also were on hand to raise money.

Fans thronged the fairgrounds all day and rushed into Dorton Arena when the doors opened for the afternoon concert.

Aiken initially planned to perform one concert at the State Fair, but when tickets went on sale last month, they sold out within 10 minutes. Because of the intense interest and a computer glitch that oversold the 6,000-seat arena by 700 tickets, the singer agreed to add an afternoon concert. That one sold out within 14 minutes.

Aiken was paid $100,000 for each concert.

Some local residents complained that Internet ticket sales shut them out of the performance, but dedicated fans were glad they had a chance to see their idol up close.

"We just like Clay," said Kala Splett, who drove 1,300 miles from Minnesota with her friends Christina Stangle and Kim Wagger to attend the concert. "He's an amazing man. He's a great man of God, and we are just kind drawn here to see him."

The trio said they had to leave immediately after the evening concert for the 20-hour drive back to Minnesota.

"We have to be back in class by Wednesday," Wagger said.
NBC 17 RALEIGH