Valentine Week at Clay Nation

VALENTINE'S WEEK -- Clay Aiken fans celebrate important occasions with outstanding art like this animation graphic by Amazing_CA.

A Splash of Rewind

Valentines, 'Spamalot' on Tap

Borrowing a page from American Idol Rewind, this St. Valentine's Week blog takes a look back while keeping an eye on current affairs as they revolve around Clay Aiken and his growing fan club at Broadway's Shubert Theatre.

According to nightly recaps shared on various message boards, Clay seems to be in his element with the "Spamalot" roles, each performance revealing greater confidence, spontaneity, and his inherent improvisational skills. Not to mention the ever-present powerful set of pipes!

Whooping laughter and rousing ovations are the norm from the very appreciative audiences comprised mostly of the "Not Just Us" variety. The breakdown is usually more men than women, and weekend shows are often Standing Room Only.

Following this weekend's shows, Tiggy2winkle wrote, "There is a definite buzz going through the audience about Clay Aiken. A man a few rows in front of us was talking about him and I heard him say, 'That Clay Aiken is AWESOME!!!'

He got lots of laughs at his funny lines and cheers and lots of applause for his big numbers. He got the most rousing cheers as each actor comes out in the finale, and this is really something considering that almost the whole audience is NJUs and the quality of the other actors performances."

Here is a link to Clay's Monday Spamalot blog: What do you think it will be like performing on Broadway vs. in concert?

PHOTO INTERLUDE -- Celebrating Clay's success in "Spamalot," as well as this week of hearts, are these five graphics by Amazing_CA, photos by Toni7babe, 1 and 2; Sally, photo by Toni7babe, 3; ACA, photo by Irishbookgal, 4; and Claysmelody, photo by Katy4Clay, 5.

AI2 Rewind Spotlights Motown

This week's edition of American Idol 2 Rewind features the Motown songs of Lamont Dozier. Clay sang "I Can't Help Myself," and the songwriter-judge had this to say after his performance:

"Clay, you look live you've already arrived. You look like a professional, and you look like you've been doing this for years; and that's the look of a star!" -- Lamont Dozier, celebrity guest judge, Motown Week

In the show's current interview, Clay talked about how exciting it was to perform before a live audience for the first time in the competition and to see his name on several signs throughout the hall.

Motown Collage
by Fountaindawg

If you missed the Saturday-Sunday telecast, here is a Sendspace download of Clay's Motwon performance: I Can't Help Myself.

Want to know what's coming next? Take a peek at Fountaindawg's American Idol wallpapers on the Clay Aiken Kids site. Here is a link for the collection in slide show form.

Take Me Back to the Sixties

You never know what gems are coming your way via email. This link for Take Me Back to the Sixties is a perfect example. With much appreciation to Grams4242, I hope you enjoy the rewind or -- for you "young thangs" -- a brief introduction to a very interesting decade.

The accompanying art is from Clay's very popular Jukebox Tour of 2005. The graphics by Amazing_CA and Cindilu2 feature photos by Tasapio.

Valentines Old and New

Continuing the theme of "looking back," my Sunday afternoon scroll through older Photobucket folders netted a memorable medley of Valentine art from previous seasons.

VALENTINE REWIND: Featured in this collection of graphics are the designs and photos of six visual artists, including Katt45, 1; Cindilu2, 2; ABeautifulMind, 3; ABM, photo by Scpkym, 4; and Amazing_CA, photo by KarenEh, 5.

Of course, in our family grandson Kai is the new Valentine. I think he looks right at home in the midst of all those candy hearts.

Graphic by Sally

Where There's a Will ...

One of my high school piano students ordered a boat load of Evanescence music for her March birthday. Near the end of her lesson Wednesday, her mother told us the music had been left by the mailbox on a day of constant, heavy rain. Her parents promptly contacted the company about the water-logged delivery, and a new set of music was already on its way.

They didn't have the heart to tell their daughter until her mother let the news slip at our lessson. The student immediately made plans to apply her hair dryer to the soaked music. She has her driver's permit, and I don't doubt she and her mother were home in record time that night.

Today I received an email that she did indeed rescue all but two pieces and will bring Evanescence to her next lesson.

I hope I can report the same about my dishwasher that spewed soapy water all over my kitchen floor early Thursday morning. After fixing the disposal problem, my plumber said the dishwasher's gaskets are shot. Well, they are 14 years old!

Meanwhile, I'm washing dishes the old-fashioned way. I wonder if a hair-dryer could weave some magic here, LOL!

Below is a clickable of Amazing_CA's opening graphic:

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, American Idol 2 Rewind, Valentines, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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Dresser Meets Aiken Fans

STAGE DOOR COLLAGE -- Clay Aiken greets fans following each "Spamalot" performance at the Shubert Theatre. Graphic by Fountaindawg, photos by Toni7babe, Invisible926, and Scrpkym.

At Shubert Stage Door

Clay Intros 'Spamalot' Dresser

At the post show stage door gathering after Wednesday's performance of "Spamalot," fans got a little more than autographed playbills, pictures, and video from Clay Aiken when he introduced "the lady who takes my pants on an off."

According to Morganette, Clay entered Shubert Alley with his arm around a red-headed gal, introduced her as his dresser, and suggested they pass the word to the message boards all over the Internet.

Thanks to AustenFan, here is a Sendspace download of Wednesday’s stage door scene. Karma4Clay posted a snippet of the video on You Tube: Clay and His UnDresser. Such a tease!

In her recap, AustenFan wrote: Clay got great applause when he appeared in the "All For One" number. His "Idol Of Our Age" and yodeling to the super high held note got huge applause. People laughed big time at that moment.

In the full video, you can hear someone from the crowd saying more than once, "Clay, you rock!" Read any recap, and you know he does! Rock on, Clay!

Carolina Geer No Guarantee

Despite the fact that Clay wore his Carolina hoodie during Wednesday's stage door appearance and, as previously planned, grandson Kai had donned his Tar Heel jersey, UNC lost the big basketball game to Duke.

My "morning after" started with the dishwasher draining all over the kitchen floor. I came very close to running the cycle during the game. For once, procrastination paid off!

Carolina and Duke will meet again. Hopefully, my plumbing problems will be solved by Friday morning. Meanwhile, I am washing dishes the old-fashioned way.

And you never know what to expect at the Shubert's stage door!

VALENTINE GRAPHICS: Visual artists have been celebrating Valentine's Day since Feb. 1. Represented in these graphics are Amazing_CA, photo by Toni7babe, 1; Amazing_CA, 2 and 4; ABeautifulMind, photos by KarenEh, 3; and Ambassador of Love, 5.

Grandson Kai has the spotlight in this special "Be Mine" Valentine graphic by Ashes.

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, Schubert Theatre, stage door, Schubert Alley, dresser, Carolina, Duke, Tar Heels, Blue Devils, Valentines, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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Carolina-Duke Week and Spamalot, Too!

Kai takes a break before the big game. Photo edited by Sally

Props for Clay's Performances

Kai Ready for UNC-Duke Game

In one of the most intense rivalries in all of basketball, the the first of two Carolina-Duke games this season is slated for Wednesday, and predictions for an outcome either way are already running rampant along Tobacco Road.

With the Duke Blue Devils and UNC Tar Heels ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the country, this year promises lots of spine-tingling play to accompany all the nail biting by fans on the sidelines. Carolina fans may have an edge on the latter, as our starting point guard, Ty Lawson, suffered a sprained ankle in the previous game.

Wearing the right colors during the game is of utmost importance; and I have already enlisted my grandson Kai to do his part. Soon after he was born, Grams4242, a Canadian Clay fan who knows well my love for Carolina basketball, sent Kai a Tar Heel jersey, Size 5-T.

The toddler size is just a minor problem as you can tell by the photos. Two weeks shy of five minths, Kai had quite a time getting into the jersey and keeping it on. I sent my Canadian friend some of the pictures last weekend; she laughed and emailed back that there's a plus to all of this.

In a few years, Kai will already have a fine-fitting Carolina jersey. Have you noticed Clay Aiken sporting a variety of Tar Heel geer at his stage door gatherings after "Spamalot" performances?

Go, Heels!!!

Photo links to Clay's 'Spamalot' blog.

Clay Outlines Theater Experience

Clay Aiken's success in the Sir Robin role of the Broadway musical "Spamalot" continues to make headlines in the media and assorted blogs across the Internet.

In his own weekly blog Monday, he was asked the question: Did you ever act in plays/musicals in school, or in your local community growing up?

Interestingly enough, I got cut from my high school musical my senior year, and wasn’t necessarily one of my 10-12th grade choir teachers “favorites,” so my experience in my younger years was limited to local productions.

The North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh is a pretty reputable regional theatre that puts on some great shows in the area. But, it is so professional that it casts most of its performers with very experienced New York actors and musicians.

They staged a production of 1776 in 1995 and put out a casting call for 21 year olds and older. I was only 17, but a good friend suggested I audition anyway to gain experience. I did and was the only person under 21 who did.

Terrence Mann, the Broadway star, was directing it and chose to take a risk on a young kid, so I made it. I remember thinking I was such a star because I got to work with real professional performers. I did a few shows at North Carolina Theatre in addition to 1776 before I went off to college. I still try to catch as many of their productions as possible.

Rosenhaus: 'Clay Surprisingly Good'

Steven Rosenhaus included comments about Clay's performance in his blog Monday: SPAMALOT. In addition to this excerpt, the entire Live Journal entry is an excellent read.

Yes, I know that because of the book Writing Musical Theater that my co-author Allen Cohen and I are considered experts in musical theater. And I also know that as such there is an expectation to see Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway shows with cynical eyes and ears.

But sometimes I just want to be audience, and just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show without thinking about it to any great depth. I can always to do the deep thinking later . . .

Clay Aiken: Yeah, the guy from American Idol, playing Sir Robin, Guard 1, and Brother Maynard. Surprisingly good.

Stage Door Scene
Clickable by Toni7babe

Kudos from 'OC Register'

Across the country in the Orange Country Register in California, Paul Hodgins wrote in the "The Arts Blog," Clay Charms His Critics:

Whatever you think of Aiken as a performer, you gotta love his devotion to his audience. That’s him last month, above, braving 19-degree weather to mingle with his ”Spamalot” fans.

Would Live Schreiber or Frank Langella stand out in the cold just to mix and mingle with the hoi polloi? Not when it’s cold enough to freeze the ink in autograph-seekers’ pens.

In another Live Journal blog, I like to push the pram-a-looooot, Coyotegrrl gave Clay props for his performance:

Clay Aiken (one of the first American Idols) was playing Sir Robin, and I didn't think anything in particular of it going in. But he was awesome - I think he stole the show.

Singer-Actor #6 at Lycos

Despite Super Bowl XLII Weekend, Clay moved up to #6 in his 238th consecutive week on The Lycos 50 listing:

Clay Aiken
Broadway Star

Keep searching with Lycos, Clay Nation!

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Spamalot" and Valentines are the central themes of this clickable interlude. Included are designs by Amazing_CA, 1; Amazing_CA, 2, photo by Toni7babe, 2; ABeautifulMind, 3; Ambassador of Love, photo by Karen Eh, 4; and MNmeesh, 5.

WRAL Features UNICEF Trip

Raleigh's WRAL website currently features a story about Lynda Loveland's TV interview with Clay on his Christmas UNICEF trip to the flood-ravaged areas of Mexico, Clay Aiken Reflects on Charity Trip to Mexico:

Raleigh — Before making it to the finals of Fox TV's "American Idol," Raleigh native Clay Aiken gave a good deal of his time to helping local kids with disabilities. Since American Idol, he has been helping kids worldwide.

WRAL Anchor Lynda Loveland sat down with Aiken about his trip to Mexico with UNICEF.

Photo links to WRAL interview.

The above photo links to the WRAL video. Here is a Sendspace download of the interview, the first in a weekly series.

The lead photo does not entirely reflect all the trouble grandson Kai went through to get ready for the Duke-Carolina game, but these clickables do. In the photo at left, his head is barely visible as he wrestled into the new Tar Heel jersey.

Go, Tar Heels! -- Photos edited by Sally

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, Carolina, Duke, Tar Heels, Blue Devils, basketball rivalry, Tobacco Road, The Lycos 50, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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Clay Nation Recalls Wildcard Week

It's St. Valentine's month and Wildcard Weekend on "American Idol 2 Rewind"! - Graphic by ABeautifulMind

Clay Triumphs on 'AI2 Rewind'

Fans Celebrate Wildcard Week

I have a 30-minute drive to and from the academy where I teach music lessons on Mondays and Fridays; and I often use the down time to catch up with my MIL, an ex-officio member of the Clay Nation.

For the past two weeks, my seemingly terminal bout of laryngitis has played havoc with these conversations because I have either been trying to save my voice or, on the backside of the teaching day, had nothing left.

Knock on wood, I think I turned the corner this week; so I dialed MIL on Friday afternoon's return trip.

After catching up on our favorite Kai, MIL asked, "So what's happening with Clay?" An earful summary of the singer-actor's first two weeks in the Broadway show "Spamalot" ensued, followed by this weekend's big event - not the Super Bowl, but Wildcard Night" on American Idol Rewind 2!

The promo for AI2's "Wildcard Night" has graced the airwaves several times this week. If you missed the plug for the Saturday-Sunday telecast, here is a Sendspace download: Wildcard Promo.

Check your local listings for the telecast time. In my area, Time-Warner carries the show twice. CA fans everywhere can relive the singer's triumphant return to Idol with a new "fly look" and the same glorious voice singing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." Clay also continues his narrating gig in this edition.

Wildcard Remembered Annually

Wildcard Night has been celebrated by CA fans every year since 2003. Here are two commemoration collages by Fountaindawg from previous annual remembrances.

Clickable Wildcard graphics by Fountaindawg

Set your VCR, DVR, Tivo, or whatnot. Following Saturday's airing, there will be video downloads in clack vaults everywhere - maybe even right here!

ADD: Since Saturday's telecast has aired, here are clips from Clay's portions of the show: Wildcard and Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

TBAF Raises $25k in Challenge

Even though The Bubel/Aiken Foundation did not qualify for a $50,000 grant in January's Parade Magazine Challenge, supporters helped raise $25,000, according to Aron Hall, Director of Services. Here is an excerpt from his TBAF post.

Thanks to your support we were able to raise over $25,000. We are unofficially in 6th place - official results will be announced on or about February 21. Due to your efforts we will be able to provide at least 2 summer camps that are opening their doors to being inclusive.

The four US-based charities that received the most donations ($10 minimum) will receive a $50,000 grant from the Case Foundation and coverage Parade Magazine.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Featured in this clickable collection are graphics by Amazing_CA, Sally, and two February desktop calendars by Cindilu2.

CD Listing Tops Groundhog Report

According Groundhog reports on Saturday morning, we apparently are in for six more weeks of winter -- that is if we are taking the word of a rodent.

The fact that a new Clay Aiken audio CD is now listed on Amazon.com has the Internet fan community buzzing. No title, no date -- but there it is: New Release - 2008. Check it out!

Clay Nation graphic artists will also keep us warm -- or at least turn our thoughts to more pleasant topics with their special designs.

Amazing_CA and Ashes2 did just that for me this week with Valentines featuring my favorite fellows.

Friday I emailed family and friends a couple of grandson Kai's Valentine graphics with a link to "his" Photobucket. OK, so there were three!!!

My former editor, also a good friend, responded, "You are so funnnnyyyy! Tell your daughter to make a note in the baby book that you sent the Valentines on Feb. 1, GRANNY!!!"

Guilty as charged, LOL!

Below is a clickable of ABeautifulMind's opening graphic:

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation! Happy Valentine's Day ... early!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, Spamalot, Broadway, Wildcard Week, American Idol, American Idol 2 Rewind, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Parade Magazine Giving Challenge, Let's All Play Camps, Valentines, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

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