The Official Clay Aiken Discussion Thread

[Kimberle]

Thanks, Kylene,

Atlantic City is way to far for me. I'm still "holding out" for Radio City! I just know we'll see him there soon!! He sold out MSG theator which is slightly bigger than RC.

 

[scarlett873]

hey everyone...i was at clay's site the other day and saw that he was going to be on dr phil on apr 19...not sure what it's about or anything...but thought i'd share!

 

[disneychrista]

Any shows on the west coast? He sure seems to favor the east coast

 

[Fantasmic303]

Not yet, Christa.

But I'm still really hoping he schedules something for Disneyland. Although my family is in BIG trouble if he decides to do any shows during our vacation on the West Coast!!!

 

[disneychrista]

But I'm still really hoping he schedules something for Disneyland. Although my family is in BIG trouble if he decides to do any shows during our vacation on the West Coast!!!

That woudl be AWESOME for him to do something for/on the 50th. I would be in heaven and my teenage daughter would die of embarrasement.

 

[Kimberle]

http://rdu.news14.com/content/your_news/raleigh/default.asp?ArID=67607

Clay Aiken to discuss bullying on "Dr. Phil"


(RALEIGH) - Multiplatinum-selling singer Clay Aiken will talk about his own experiences with bullying with Dr. Phil McGraw on the syndicated "Dr. Phil" show this week.

The show airs in the Raleigh area, where Aiken was raised, on
Tuesday morning.

A publicist says Aiken was bullied throughout elementary and junior high school.

Aiken's mother, Faye Parker, confirmed that he was picked on but said she doesn't know to what extent.

Besides accounts of bullying in his book, "Learning to Sing," Aiken has occasionally recounted the rougher aspects of his school days in magazine interviews.

He tells Cosmo Girl that he was teased for the way he dressed, his "Coke-bottle glasses" and his "atrocious" hair.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Bumping for the Dr. Phil reminder.


OH! And, also, another show was added: Darien Lake, NY on July 30.

Any takers??

 

[Kimberle]

darn! I can't believe I forgot to set my VCR this am.

I hope you ladies can fill me in.

 

[Fantasmic303]

darn! I can't believe I forgot to set my VCR this am.

I hope you ladies can fill me in.

So did I, Kim. Thank goodness for Spring break - my sister (who teaches) is home this week and I was able to catch her to set the tape for me. *phew*

 

[disneychrista]

I don't even think we get Dr. Phil here, at least I have never come accross it.

 

[padisneyfan]

I forgot to tape. Anyone have a recap.

 

[Kimberle]

I found a transcrip on Dr Phil's site:

http://www.drphil.com/show/show.jhtml?contentId=3143_cyberbullies.xml

 

[lsyorke]

You can download the video here:It's a pretty big file for those who are on dialup. Took about 10 minutes on cable.

http://www.allthingsclayaiken.com/videos.html

 

[2bemarried]

Thanks for the show clip. Clay's always great at being inspirational no matter what the subject matter is.

 

[lsyorke]

I loved this article

"BACKING AN IDOL

DR. MICHAEL M. KROP SENIOR'S LIGHTNING SINGERS GOT TO SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT WITH FORMER AMERICAN IDOL STAR AND MULTIPLATINUM ARTIST CLAY AIKEN

BY BEN TORTER

btorter@herald.com


Every performer dreams of that lucky break that catapults them into the big time.

That spotlight shone Saturday night for the Lightning Singers of the Dr. Michael M. Krop High School Magnet program when they performed with famed, multiplatinum American Idol recording artist Clay Aiken.

The vocal music students said the experience was nothing short of inspirational.

The high school chorus belted out with smiling confidence every note of Paul Simon's Bridge Over Troubled Water in front of a packed ballroom at the Florida Voices for Change gala at the Broward County Convention Center.

''I think Clay is so nice and I can't believe we actually had the opportunity to sing with him,'' 17-year-old Krop senior Jennifer Milton said. ``I'll never forget it.''

The $200-a-ticket gala was organized by Today's Caregiver magazine and benefited Aiken's Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which provides grants, services and inclusive programs to children with special needs.

The event was emceed by Deco Drive anchor Louis Aguirre and facilitated by dignitaries like Miss Florida Jenna Edwards, Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman, State Rep. Susan Goldstein and Broward County Commissioner Lois Wexler.

Dr. Michael M. Krop High School Music Director Lawrence Davidson was nonchalantly confident when he explained how his chorus secured the gig.

''One of the parents was in a conversation with people from the Aiken Foundation, and she suggested us and we were invited,'' Davidson said.

That was right before spring break, which gave them only about three weeks to prepare. ''That's the entertainment world,'' Davidson said. ``Sometimes you have very short notice.''

The kids rehearsed with Aiken for the first time the afternoon of the show.

''It was unworldly,'' 18-year-old Krop senior Natalie Schapiro said. ``It was so cool.''

She said Aiken's personality made the experience all the better.

''I was pleasantly surprised with Clay Aiken,'' said Schapiro, who has been accepted to Florida State University's School of Music to study opera. ``There are 30 of us and he shook all our hands. That's how I want to act when I'm famous.''

Simply being a member of the Lightning Singers didn't earn a spot on stage with Aiken. He could only take 30. The Lightning Singers are 90 students large, so Davidson held an audition.

They were judged on pitch, accuracy, dynamics, tone quality and memorization. Given the talent pool, the choice was difficult. The Lightning Singers all recently received straight superior (the best) ratings at the Florida District Music Assessments.

The teenagers lounged around backstage before the show. Some slept, others played cards and still others sat on the floor in their tuxedos chatting about school and what it will be like when they're famous.

If any were nervous, they wouldn't admit it.

''If you love what you do, there's no fear,'' 18-year-old Krop senior Christopher Clark said.

They held up that fierce attitude onstage before a crowd of serious Aiken fans.

''Claymates'' is a term coined to describe diehard Aiken fans.

One of them, Donna Cusolito, flew in from Plaistow, N.H., to see her 20th Aiken performance. She once sent Aiken's dog a hat.

''The kids were great,'' Cusolito said. ``You could tell Clay and the kids really connected.''

After the show, Aiken, a former special education teacher and mentor, led the students through a couple of more verses of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

It was that one-on-one rapport they developed with the pop star that seamed to have the greatest affect on the high school students.

''He's not like regular pop stars,'' 16-year-old Krop sophomore Ron Barhai said. ``He treats us like regular people, like adults.''

For others, like 18-year-old senior Gaby Jacobo, who has been accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston, the admiration was more technical.

''He knows the fundamentals of music, and that's so important that he doesn't just yell into a mic,'' Jacobo said. ``It was exhilarating.''

 

[Kimberle]

Great article! Thanks!

 

[Fantasmic303]

Clay's coming back to Connecticut!!

Mohegan Sun on Friday, July 29!!



We went up over the weekend for my mom's birthday, so I figured I'd check out the news from the box office. It hasn't been "announced" yet, but it's definitely true - I saw the guy pull up the info.

Tickets will be on sale through Ticketmaster on Friday, May 13.


By the way - that's exactly the year anniversary of his visit last summer!!

WHOO HOO!!

(I was waiting till today to report to you guys, since I thought the Clay thread seems to be most active during the week.)

 

[lsyorke]

FYI!!!

www.journalstar.com/artic...158489.txt

Oprah promotion makes Lincoln stop
By The Lincoln Journal Star

Oprah's Wildest Dreams bus made a stop Monday morning in Lincoln.


Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



It wasn't Oprah Winfrey on the bus, but Clay Aiken, a 2003 American Idol runnerup, said Harpo Productions spokeswoman Carly Ubersox.

And the stop at Lincoln East High School was to make a dream come true for Britney and Bethany Wekesser, senior twins.

Ubersox would disclose no more about the visit Monday, but said the show will air some time in May.

 

[Kimberle]

I don't know what Opera's bus thingy is, but it sure sound like OMC is up to *good* again!

Cool about the MS show. Unfortunatly it's on the opposite side of the state for me. Plus, I don't think it'd be a good place for my 6yo.

I'm still wishing & praying for Radio City!

 

[Fantasmic303]

Heads Up, guys!!


The Oprah with Clay will air TOMORROW, May 10. The show will also include a segment with Derek Jeter (which my sister is all but giddy about - it's a big day for fantasy crushes in our house!!)!!!


By the way, just as a sidenote, especially for CT fans:

The show is also going to feature John Tartaglio for the Derek Jeter segment. You may have seen the news about this high schooler from Milford. He battled a serious disease last year that was some sort of flesh eating infection (or something along those lines). Doctors weren't sure he'd make it, and they were forced to cut off his legs. People were doubtful that he'd walk again, but he's a determined miracle - he plans to be walking to receive his diploma from Foran High next month!! A co-worker's son played basketball with him a couple years ago and has been keeping us up to date with all the excitement - Derek actually was at the school a couple days after Clay did his Oprah bus appearance!!

Just a little excitment for everyone!!