Clay performs during taping of PBS Special.
Graphic by Fountaindawg/photos by Jim R. Bounds
Readers Share Mic in Mailbag
Media Promos Clay Aiken Special
International Media posted a teaser on Facebook about Clay Aiken's PBS Special Wednesday and, in typical fashion, the latest news tidbit roared through the nooks and crannies of CA Cyberspace at breakneck speed.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA: American Idol Superstar alumni CLAY AIKEN’s first Public TV special reaches back into the romantic past of the 50’s and 60’s, featuring many of the most iconic love-songs ever written! Check your local listings to experience it for yourself!
Another Wednesday media release concerns the merger of several publishing companies, including the Universal Music Publishing Group:
With over 70,000 copyrights, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing owns the world's largest Christian music publishing catalogue as well as the second largest evangelically-styled choral music catalog.
Its songs have been recorded by virtually every major singer in the Christian music industry as well as by such renowned artists as Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Amy Grant, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Alicia Keys, Clay Aiken and Trace Adkins.
The most highly anticipated news by the fan community will come in an announcement heralding the availability of "Tried & True" track excerpts at Decca Records and other online outlets.
The singer's first CD with the Decca label is scheduled for release June 1. Rest assured, the snippet patrol is on duty around the clock!
Comments Augment Blog Topics
The comments visitors leave augment or complete the dialogue set in motion by a blogger. As one who frequently includes montages and graphic designs by other CA fans, I appreciate the props many write for the featured artists.
No doubt I am the only person who reads all the comments in any given blog entry (they arrive in my email box as well as at the bottom of the post), so occasionally I like to spotlight some of the many thoughtful remarks shared by Carolina On My Mind and Clayonline readers with a mailbag entry. Headlines link back to the original posts.
The previous entry celebrated the 145 countries represented by Carolina visitors since December 2007. Readers whose comments are highlighted below hail from North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Linked screen names take you to the person's blog.
Facebook Teams with Feedjit
Visits to the Carolina site are registered via Feedjit and ClustrMap. A recent Feedjit addition is the ability to link to the Carolina blog with one's Facebook profile photo.
In the past five entries, readers have expressed their views on a variety of topics: Clay's upcoming Tried & True CD, this summer's Timeless Tour and current "ticketmaster tangos," the PBS Special, plans for CD release parties, National Inclusion Project and NC Theatre fundraisers, montages, graphics, and even a brief spring recital update.
Graphics by Fountaindawg, AmazingCA, and LovesClaysVoice are included. Recently-featured montages are by gerwhisp, SueReu, and LovesClaysVoice.
First official T&T press photo by Vincent Soyez
Graphic by Fountaindawg
Clay Aiken CD Buzz Goes Global: April 25, 2010Stephanie: WOW!!! I love how there are Clay fans all around the world. Makes my heart smile. So, so excited about the new CD. I plan on playing it til it wears out, and then buying another copy, playing that until it wears out, buying another copy. It's an endless, beautiful cycle!
Anonymous: I am so glad that info about Clay gets all over the world. I do know that Clay has a lot of fans in Asian Countries that would love to have him come there. Maybe this time he really will. musicfan: It is so much fun to see visitors from all over the world. It just proves that CLay needs to tour internationally.
Sandy: We have some of the world's best graphic artists! The pictures are stunning! Congratulations to Fountaindawg and Cotton! How exciting for you to see visitors viewing your blog from all over the world. I bet you are getting a good Geography lesson looking up all these places!
anaturegirl: It is exciting to see there are fans of Clay Aiken's in so many countries. Love the new graphics. Thanks for sharing them. These are exciting times for both Clay and his fans. Decca is sure doing things right with him. So refreshing that the new label "gets him" like we do.
Sharrie: I am so impressed on how your blog is reaching fans all around the world. Just imagine how your talents have touched so many lives in so many languages in the single language of Clayish in Claytown!
I love all the buzz on Clay's upcoming CD, DVD, concerts and PBS specials. We are all riding on the Claytrain.
'Tried & True' CD cover graphic by AmazingCA.
Aiken Fans Set CD Parties: April 22, 2010
SueReu: Lots to look forward to! Love Gerwhisp's video and the great graphics by AmazingCA and Fountaindawg. The CD planning website looks like fun!
Pam Bassett: Thanks so much for showing our website here! For all those fans who want to attend the Hollywood, California CD Release Celebration, please register soon. Payment is not due until May 12, 2010, but we need to let the venue know asap how many will be attending!
Lisa1068: The MGM tickets went on sale this morning at 9am and boy it was tough to get anything good. You can buy through Ticketmaster or Foxwoods/MGM Grand websites. Front row Mezz row A available right now but nothing showing up for Orchestra.
barb55: Thanks for sharing the montage by gerwhisp and all of the links, as well as the clickables. I had not seen that interview before. It was great to see Clay again. He seems happy and excited.
vibajajo (Clayonline): I think this is my favorite cover of a CD. Kind of vintage yet classic. Just like the music. Can't wait for the new music!
Graphic by AmazingCA/photos by Jim R. Bounds.
Clay Aiken Fans Solve CD Puzzles: April 20, 2010
fivegoldens: Enjoyed the blog, but realize I'm really slow at puzzle solving! So happy to see ACA doing graphics again, she's one of the best!! It's nice to see Anoop supporting NIP. He seems like a nice guy.
MissSally: What a delight to open your blog and see ACA's creativity on display. Welcome back, T, we've missed you. LovesClaysVoice's beautiful design really caught my eye; graphics like this are not easy to make. I really like the way she seamlessly placed Clay's image in Times Square.
AmazingCA: Thanks so much for all the kind comments. I miss doing my graphics, but I'm sure that I'll be back with more especially with all the upcoming events with Clay. It's so good to know that Anoop will be singing at the fundraiser. He was my fav last year in AI.
Sandy: Love all the Clay news coming our way lately! [Switching to the hockey playoffs] Second period is about to start ...could be the SENS last game! We are down 3-1 in the best of seven series. Hard to come back and win 3 games in a row during playoffs. Wish us luck!
reneti46 (Clayonline): Wonderful! I checked out the link to Carolina on my Mind. Loved all the pictures of Clay and the pic of Anoop. Good luck with the recital!
Timeless Tour - Graphic by Fountaindawg
Aiken-Studdard Finale Still Tops: April 17, 2010
SueReu: I absolutely adore watching the AI5 video of Clay Aiken and his surprise entrance. I can watch it over and over and NEVER get tired of it!! I'd say that is the best moment on American Idol, period and maybe the best moment in all reality TV. It was amazing.
CLAYCOLOMBIA: Like Sue and surely many fans of Clay, I love this Clay Aiken participation in AI5. In Colombia transmitted the show two weeks later that United States. I knew the details, but to see for the first time ... it was too exciting!
zanyforclay: My heart still races when I see that AI5 clip. I keep it on my desktop and still watch it a few times a month!! It was absolutely breathtaking and the biggest highlight to date on AI. Thanks for all the info and SueReu's great montage!! Can't wait for the tour to begin.
Sandy: I just love it when I see the figures showing how many people were turned into the AI2 finale! These figures will be hard to match! In fact I can almost guarantee they will never be matched or topped!
Sharrie: Thanks so much for sharing the great videos of Clay and Ruben. They are such a great team. As for the AI5 performance, words can't even describe the excitement in the audience. I love knowing that Clay and Ruben finale is still #1. Looking forward to all the great things Clay is bringing our way!
Cindy: Such amazing memories this blog invokes! I've only been truly stunned by Clay a couple times over the years (and don't you know the most recent time was just a few weeks ago in Raleigh!); but when those doors opened and he walked out on the stage during the AI5 finale, I literally gasped. What and experience that was!
I don't believe AI will ever top the excitement of the Clay/Ruben showdown. And isn't it wonderful - and a testament to both men - that they remain such steadfast friends today? We are lucky, lucky fans, and I LOVE Clay Aiken. Can't wait for their reunion. If their act in Raleigh is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!
Lisa (Clayonline): That is so cool that AI2 is the most viewed! I think that Season 2 had the most talent in the Top 10 altogether. They all set the bar pretty high. Of course, two of them set it REALLY high!
Lois: I think this is one of your most exciting blogs ever. Our favorite AI moments, and the new tour all wrapped up together.
oana: This blog really helps me to stay in touch with everything that's new regarding Clay and his music since I'm so so far away from you.
Graphic by LovesClaysVoice
Aiken To Bring Broadway Home: April 13, 2010
MissSally: "Bringing Broadway Home" looks like another winner for Clay; hope we get some primo clack! Our singer man is definitely keeping himself busy these days. Founaindawg's graphic is beautifully done. I enjoy all of her work, but this one really caught my eye!
anberwa: I wish I could go. This sounds like it will be a wonderful night of music.
ImGranny: This sounds like a great concert. I too hope they film this concert and sell a DVD of it for a fundraiser!
IamMesmerized: Oh how I'd love to go back to Raleigh for this event but with the summer tour coming up, it just ain't happening!
barb55 (Clayonline): Glad to hear that Clay will be one of the headliners for raising money for the NC Theatre Group in Raleigh. Dancing Like the Stars is a neat idea to help raise funds for the National Inclusion Project.
Lisa (Clayonline): I am more than ready for June 1st to come!
Below are clickables of the featured graphics: Fountaindawg, 1, 2, 5; AmazingCA, 3, 4; and LovesClaysVoice, 6.
Many thnx to all who contribute to the Carolina blog. Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!
Caro