Monday, July 23, 2007

The Most Joyous Thing

This article recently appeared in the Oakland Press:

It's been four years and three albums since Clay's runner-up turn on "American Idol." But the North Carolina-born singer says he's still trying to find his place in the pop world.

"I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I want to be and where I want to go," says Aiken, 28, who finished behind Ruben Studdard in "Idol's" second season. "I think the difference between someone like Kelly (Clarkson) and I is she really has found her niche and pushed herself beyond the 'Idol' kind of thing.

"But there are so many different things I like."

For now, Aiken is promoting his latest album, "A Thousand Different Ways," which features 10 covers - including love songs by Richard Marx, John Waite, Elton John, Bon Jovi and Dolly Parton - and four originals. It's an outgrowth of Aiken's 2004 summer show, which focused on his personal favorites from the '50's through the present day. But Aiken says it's not necessarily a direction he'll stay in beyond this album - and he even has designs on doing more than just music.

"I think people like to put (performers) in a box and categorize them somehow -'This person is an actor. This person is a singer,'" Aiken explains. "It's very rare you'll find somebody who's known for more than one thing.

"So right now, I think people see what we do as singing. I'd love to change that a bit to kind of branch out and be known as other things."

Well yeah Clay, people do see what you do as singing! Because well, that's what you do. I don't really care what else he does, as long as he continues to sing.

He has mentioned several times, many times really, that he wants to do a talk show.

I don't watch talk shows, hate them really; but I wish him luck if that's the course he decides to take. I might tune in for the singing parts.... OK, I'll definitely tune in for the singing parts!

If he does Broadway, I'll never get to see him, and that would be sad.

Acting in movies would probably drive him crazy, he just doesn't realize it yet. All that standing around...I don't think he could stand that!

He could do stand up - seriously, he could. He is just that funny.

I know it's his life, and I know he deserves to be happy and make his own choices, and I would never deny him that privilege.

But....please Clay - please never stop using your voice. You said in your book that "singing is the single most joyous thing a person can do."



I hope you still feel the same way.

touchstone (n) a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated









©touchstone 2007
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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

A Commentary on Self Identity and Pop Culture

Hello!

It's been a while since I've been on here yakking about Clay. Not because I lost interest, quite the contrary! It's just that sometimes, right as we start having fun, life has other plans for us.

Anyway, I have been keeping up with Clay, and checking this blog occasionally for comments, and I read one in particular back in April. It was posted on the very first blog I wrote on this site, a year ago this month. It was called "Debunking the Myth of the Claymates."

I stewed over it for a little while, then promptly forgot about it. But for some reason, it came back to me the other day; out of the blue, for no good reason.

So, I am compelled to address it. Here it is, posted as a comment under that very first blog.

Anonymous said...
Its a shame that it has come to this. Why do you have to defend yourselves? You are accomplished, multi-faceted, multi-cultural, diverse women. Its makes no difference whether your hair is blonde, blue, brown, grey, black, red, purple, green or whether you're 18 or 80. Society's double standards have caused the blog author to spend valuable time setting up a place for all of you to waste energy justifying why you are a fan of Clays'. Life is too short Ladies. You don't owe anyone anything, especially, the media, people you don't even know. Instead focus on this bond that is so clearly shown in your comments. Don't let the media accomplish its mission to divide and conquer. Stay true to yourselves and united to and with the one thing that brought all of you together in the first place: Clay. Nothing else matters. Why is personal and should only be shared if you choose to do so. I have yet to see him live and I do hope that will change very soon. In the meantime, I will say, more than anything that I look forward to and welcome the opportunity to meet the exceptional women that make up the Claynation. God Bless you all. Have a Heavenly Day.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 7:50:00 PM

Oh honey. Oh sweetie. Oh darlin...au contraire!

It's not a shame; not at all. That blog was not written a year ago to provide a place for Claymates to defend themselves. That blog was about empowerment, denying media labels and reversing pop culture stereotyping. It was about encouraging fans to speak out, and to show the world that Clay's fans are just what you said - "accomplished, multi-faceted, multi-cultural, diverse women." It was about proving that the media was dead wrong.

I consider that to be healthy and liberating, not a "waste of energy." It's a way to use my voice. Saying nothing implies approval, or at least tolerance. It says I have no problem with the media's characterization of me. But I do. I have a big problem with it.

Does it affect my ability to have fun in this fandom? Oh heck no!

You say that the reasons "we" like Clay are personal - not for me they aren't. But I surely respect your own need for privacy in the matter, and others who may feel the same. I am not embarrassed, or ashamed, or hesistant for anyone to know that I admire and respect Clay Aiken as a person, as an artist, as a humanitarian. He's smart, funny and talented. What's not to enjoy?

You say we should share only if we choose to do so. Well, I choose to do so. That's why I created this blog. That's why I wrote that first entry....that's why I'm using my voice.

Allowing others to define how I enjoy Clay, or any other artist for that matter, is what I consider to be a waste of energy.

There are other things too; but that's another blog.

touchstone (n) a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated

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Thursday, July 12, 2007

UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken Visits Afghanistan

UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken visits Afghanistan

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Make a difference in your own life, in your own way, in your own time.

touchstone (n) a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated









©touchstone 2007
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