The Official Clay Aiken Discussion Thread

[shamrock bunch]

Originally posted by Kimberle
For those of you lucky enought to be attending his Christmas concert, dress up & bring a toy!

I just read an article. Clay is now the spokesman for the Marine Toy's for Tots toy drive and will be collecting toys at each concert.

Thanks for the info. I hope they make a local announcement when he comes here.

 

[phisigprincess]

ha ha, I just read the "turkey and pumpkin pie" post exactly at that point in the song!!! Weird!! I love this CD. I think it's going to be nonstop at our house this christmas... let's just see if we can get my parents to give up their Kenny G christmas!!

 

[Fantasmic303]

I have nothing more to add to this conversation at this time. The man has rendered me speechless, and that's a daunting task few have accomplished.

Well, ok, actually, I will add, just to let you all know that I echo your sentiments about everything. I bought the cd before work on Tuesday, and it started skipping yesterday. Someone asked how many times I had listened to it - I asked how many times it's mathematically possible to have listened to a 40 minute cd since Tuesday.

Luckily, I ordered an extra copy from Amazon that arrived with my book yesterday to tide me over until I had an "expert" fix my cd from skipping anymore.

The book? I devoured it last night, though I didn't intend to. I just sat down and couldn't close it. I paused to watch The OC and Prince Harry on Primetime Live, but other that that...it was all Clay. All night. And I didn't sleep till I finished it.

Today, I found the audio book for a lot cheaper than I expected, and I'm enjoying that as well. I love to hear his voice, whether he's talking or singing. It just makes me smile.



Ok, and, in other news....


Did someone on here at some point say they needed tickets to the Sewell, NJ show? I have an extra pair, if someone needs them. I'm not looking to make money on them, and they're pretty decent seats. I just want to cover the face value plus Ticketmaster fees. I know a few Clay message board where I could get rid of them, but I thought a DISer might give them a better home and enjoy the show the way I would have.

I had made a promise to sell them if I got front row tickets to the CT show (never thinking I actually would), so I guess I have to keep that promise, lest I tempt my Clay karma.

If anyone wants them, just email or IM me at Fantasmic303@aol.com .

 

[scarlett873]

i just read this on yahoo!

Clay Aiken Challenges America to Take His Hand in Support of Children Around the World by Participating in McDonald's World Children's Day
Friday November 19, 4:13 pm ET


STUDIO CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2004--As part of his philanthropic efforts with children's organizations, multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken is working with McDonald's to better the lives of children around the globe through the "Give a Hand" program. Aiken is urging Americans to purchase $1 paper cut-out hands at participating McDonald's locations on Nov. 20, World Children's Day. The proceeds from all hands purchased will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
"As a former special education teacher, I'm uniquely aware of children's needs," states Aiken. "I'm grateful to McDonald's for allowing me to work with them to champion causes that make positive differences in kids' lives."

As part of the program, Aiken also donated an autographed cement imprint of his hand to be auctioned off on EBay. Currently, the bid on Aiken's imprint is more than $10,000. The winning bidder of the Clay Aiken handprint will be awarded the signed cement handprint from Aiken personally at one of his holiday concert tour stops this year. Aiken's Holiday Concert Tour, sponsored by McDonald's, kicks off Nov. 21 and goes through Dec. 23, 2004. Aiken will also be seen on Jan. 1st riding on the first float McDonald's has ever entered in the Rose Bowl Parade.

Aiken's own organization, the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF), an organization committed to funding inclusive programs that connect children with special needs to their typical peers, will be celebrating World Children's Day with an art event at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Aiken, a former special education teacher and mentor, will join 30 developmentally-disabled children and 30 non-disabled children in art workshops on Nov. 20.

Aiken earned his degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The formation of TBAF was based on an independent study project Aiken created while in college.

To learn more about the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, visit the website at: www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org.

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is a 501 ( c ) (3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Federal EIN #20-0146446. L.A. Police Commission Charitable Services Section Information Card No. R1417.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation
Francis Skinner-Lewis, 312-346-0826
or
Shepley Winings Diamond Public Relations
Hope Diamond, 818-760-7131
hdiamond@shepwinpr.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: The Bubel/Aiken Foundation

 

[Tess]

I finally got out to get the CD this a.m.--what can I say--it's terrific, but I expected no less.

I thought I'd share this little anecdote. I was searching the CD selections and *GASP* couldn't find a single copy! I was a bit ticked (this is a Meijer store and for those who don't know what that is--picture a Super WalMart or Kmart store--the ones with groceries and general merchandise) and figured I'd have to run around in the rain to find the CD. Well, fortunately for me a customer service associate asked if she could help me locate something and I asked if she had the new "Clay CD". She promptly told me to run around the corner because she just put the last 5 out before encountering me. She went on to say that they couldn't keep it in stock! Sounds like our young man has another winner on his hands. . . It was my lucky day and I didn't have to traipse around in the nasty weather!

I'm loving:

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
"Mary Did You Know"
"Merry Christmas With Love" and
"Don't Save It All For Christmas Day".

It seems those songs lend themselves to better performances. I'm just anxious to hear him "let loose" on something though. . .

BTW, to the comment about Barry and Clay. Barry was to have been interviewed last week on WJR (out of Detroit), The Mitch Albom Show, but cancelled just 3 minutes before air time due to his illness. Unfortunately, the hosts were not very kind to him for cancelling with such short notice. I know this week alone, I've heard the Clay interviews and he's commented on them about being ill and unable to sing. He looked good even though he was sick!

 

[Kimberle]

Looks like Clay is going to be #5 on next weeks charts, according to HITS. 12.3% reporting. (ghee, I feel like I'm watching the election again! *LOL*)

1 1 EMINEM SHADY/INTERSCOPE 90,417
ENCORE

2 LIL' JON & THE EASTSIDE BOYZ TVT 35,205
CRUNK JUICE

3 DESTINY'S CHILD COLUMBIA/CRG 24,891
DESTINY FULFILLED

4 SNOOP DOGG GEFFEN 21,243
R&G (RHYTHM & GANGSTA)

5 CLAY AIKEN RCA/RMG 13,297
MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE

6 NOW THAT WHAT I CALL MUSIC! V.17 CAPITOL 9,609
VARIOUS

7 ANDREA BOCELLI UNIVERSAL 9,448
ANDREA

8 SHANIA TWAIN MERCURY NASHVILLE 9,139
GREATEST HITS

9 ROD STEWART J RECORDS/RMG 9,118
STARDUST...THE GREAT AMERICAN...

10 CHINGY CAPITOL 8,960
POWER BALLIN'

11 RAY! ATLANTIC/ATL G 7,723
SOUNDTRACK

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Did anybody buy the Clay calander yet? I saw one at the mall yesterday in those calander booths in the middle of the mall.

 

[lsyorke]

Final numbers!!!! Broke the highest sold Christmas CD record which was Celine Dion with 122,000.

1 1 EMINEM SHADY/INTERSCOPE 927,940 +26%
ENCORE
24 2 DESTINY'S CHILD COLUMBIA/CRG 505,002 +848%
DESTINY FULFILLED
36 3 LIL' JON & THE EASTSIDE BOYZ TVT 385,766 +1014%
CRUNK JUICE
-- 4 CLAY AIKEN RCA/RMG 265,535 --
MERRY CHRISTMAS WITH LOVE
2 5 SHANIA TWAIN MERCURY NASHVILLE 231,126 -56%
GREATEST HITS
-- 6 SNOOP DOGG GEFFEN 228,683


265,535

 

[Kimberle]

lsyorke, I was just going to post that! Big CONGRATS to OMC!!!

What does the "power number" at the end mean? The 265,535 for Clay. Is it the number of CD's sold during the week?

Billboard numbers probably won't be posted until Fri.

Clay has a GREAT CD!!

 

[lsyorke]

That IS the number of cd's sold in the first week!! Soundscan numbers should be higher since they report some additional sales figures that HDD doesn't. We're also hearing that Learning to Sing will make the New York Times Bestseller list. Not confirmed yet.

 

[lsyorke]

This is from the official Clay Aiken website:

"11-24-04 :: The Best Selling Debut-Week for a Christmas Album in SoundScan History! - "Merry Christmas With Love" made:
#4 on the Top 200 Chart
#1 on the Top Seasonal Chart
#1 on the Top Current Contemporary Christian Chart
Over 1.12 million shipped!"


Woo Hoo, platinum!!!

 

[avdeane]

I went to Walmart monday and they didn't have his Christmas CD. Hopefully I'll be able to get it soon!!!

 

[lsyorke]

PR Newswire
Clay Aiken Shatters Sales Record, Making History With the Biggest Selling Debut in the SoundScan Era for a Holiday CD
11.24.04, 9:00 PM ET

CD Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Holiday Chart; DVD of Christmas Special Released Dec. 14 LOS ANGELES, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Clay Aiken has had a phenomenal sales week. His new RCA Records Label release "Merry Christmas With Love," debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Holiday Albums chart. Clay's holiday CD made history by selling 270,10 units in its first week, making it the biggest debut week sales figure for a Christmas album in the SoundScan era. The CD debuts at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, the highest debut for a holiday album in six years since Celine Dion.


The new sales number is from Soundscan

 

[Fantasmic303]

So did anyone else read the concert review from last night??



Sounds like we've got a great show to look forward to!!

By the way, for anyone in the area of Sewell, NJ - I've still got my pair of tickets. I'm willing to negotiate a price so that a DISer can use them, but please email me soon at Fantasmic303@aol.com. They're great seats, and I don't want them to be empty!!!

 

[lynxstch]

would love to see it..have tickets for 12/8 and cannot wait~

 

[lsyorke]

Learning to Sing #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List for Non-Fiction!!

 

[Debi]

#2 for Learning to Sing! Way to go, Clay!! I knew he was going to shatter sales records with MCWL, but I didn't realize his book was going to do so well.

Multi-platinum recording artist AND bestselling author. Way to go, Clay!

 

[Kimberle]

11 pm Thanksgiving night, I picked up Clay's book and started to read. I did not put it down until I had finished the entire book! OMgosh! I was expecting "light fluff" (I am a fan, but he's only 25, how much "living" could he have done.) I was so blown away by his honesty. I never even knew he had a sister, let alone one who killed herself. And the chapter when he was asked to leave his Granny's funeral..... I went through so many tissues.

 

[scarlett873]

i still haven't finished the book. bad clay fan...i know! real life just gets in the way sometimes!!

right now i'm obsessed with baking and decorating cookies and candies for some christmas gifts. i spent all day yesterday baking two different recipes of sugar cookies to see which ones work best...then decorating them to see what looks best...ugh! although i do have to say that what i came up with looks pretty darn good! i'll be on a baking frenzy here within the next couple of weeks!!!

but while i was baking, i did pop in my MCWL cd and set it to play randomly and repeat. i listened to it ALL day!!! but i have to confess that by the 25th time i heard don't save it all for christmas day, i had tuned it out...lol

speaking of DSIAFCD...did anyone catch the american idol christmas special the other night with ruben, kelly, and fantasia? how on earth did ruben beat clay???? and why oh why does fantasia insist on the horrible vocal gymnastics???? and she is soooooooooooooo dramatic when she sings...i was laughing most of the hour watching her. but OMG...did you hear the ruben/fantasia duet of DSIAFCD? where's that barfing smiley when you need it? kelly clarkson was the only saving grace of that show in my opinion!

 

[Kimberle]

speaking of DSIAFCD...did anyone catch the american idol christmas special the other night with ruben, kelly, and fantasia? how on earth did ruben beat clay???? and why oh why does fantasia insist on the horrible vocal gymnastics???? and she is soooooooooooooo dramatic when she sings...i was laughing most of the hour watching her. but OMG...did you hear the ruben/fantasia duet of DSIAFCD? where's that barfing smiley when you need it? kelly clarkson was the only saving grace of that show in my opinion!

I flipped over a few times during commercials (The Batchelor). I thought the show was just awful. Why did they call it "Christmas At Home with KRF"? They weren't at HOME at all. I only heard that one Xmas song, DSIAFCD. Barf icon is right. It was terrible. They should have called it "Lets Promote our new Albums" show.

I do like Kelly. I think she's a good singer. She has to be careful not to "screatch", but she's getting better. I like Rub's voice. I just don't like his "style" of music. He's reported to have gained around 100 pounds since AI ended. He's going to die of a heart attack if he doesn't get himself together. It doesn't seem like his new CD is doing very well.

Why does Fantasia double over when she sings? Her "dance" resembles that of my 5yo's when she's got to go to the bathroom and has held it to long. I also hate her CD cover. What kind of example is that setting for young girls.

Don't forget, tomorrow Clay is singing on the Rocketfeller Tree lighting cermony in NYC. Tomorrow is also Clay's 26th birthday.