Clay has once again taken my breath away. Okay asthma was an issue but I'm starting to consider Clay an asthma trigger. I think the Physicians Desktop Reference should officially list him as one.
I've been posting sporadically but I did want to keep up the blog. Well mostly because I just like thinking that people are blogging anywhere in the worlds. It lifts my mood on the Clog silence post AI5.
And more to suit my post AI5 mood is my reaction to the AI5 appearance as I posted in the board threads.
Hang on, you may need several cups of coffee. Which is fine as the sharpened attention just helps you contemplate Clay's sexiness all the better.
Here goes:
I think Clay's AI appearance was brilliant marketing. Clay was creative and warm and funny and playful and original. He has the stage presence of a superstar and it showed. Not easy after what he's gone through the past three years.
When Clay walked out and was taken aback by the imitator's over the top response he stopped and smiled warmly. He stopped singing for a second to lean over and shake the guy's hand and made this guy who was genuinely thrilled, feel good about himself. There was a kindness to Clay that people couldn't miss. That in a guy who was also smart and funny and hot. And he looked so happy and playful. Very sexy.
That AI gave him an opportunity to shine right now - well they've done that before and dissed him and underpromoted him the next minute. Talking out their mouths for so many years mean I take nothing for granted. No, they did something nice so I'll take my guard down. I will not buy any products from these companies until I know for sure that Clay gets a quality original album and full promotion. If there are covers fine, but as part of an original album and not featured as such. Otherwise I consider that as doing wrong by Clay.
The AI appearance worked great. Was that the intent? Whose intent, if so? I don't know. Who leaked what and when and why? It's a live show. What was planned? What was the people on stage driving the tone. And if planned, who planned it? Team Clay has people from RCA and people who work for him independently. And each person with a different job in the same company has a different status. Who did what - I don't know and have no way to know. I do know what happened and that was Clay blowing people away.
There are conflicting interests there with Simon working for AI and Sony BMG and selling competing shows to AI. There may be many more conficting interests within those businesses with some helping Clay and some hindering depending on the individual.
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me was a brilliant choice. Clay sang the heck out of it. And in the middle of being confident and playful and sexy was another profound moment. The Wildcard was the time when after having done great and not getting chosen twice already - Clay had a last chance. And he blew people away. And he was singing 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me while he was having that chance. Just amazing. And that's the memory this performance brought back. That vision of Clay that all the false images tried to take away and make people forget.
It was his one unadulterated moment of glory during and maybe even since AI - where nobody tried to undercredit or pick at him. No jealousy showed. People were in awe. Clay was the standout and they let him know - for once. And Clay's joy showed us how unexpected and how much that meant to him. I remember Randy saying 'wow' to himself even before the performance was over. And when Simon praised him next day, Randy was talking over him to say 'incredible'. One of the few spontaneous reactions I've seen on that show. I think that helped Clay get those emotions back as well. And after this year, I think that song means all the more.
As for the dreck given to the AI5 finalists, I'd guess if they selected from among 150 pieces of on the cheap, in house written by my brother in law's cousin - dreck - I don't find that surprising.
Clay, on the other hand, previewed four songs that were good to great. With all four better than anything I hear on top 40 radio and one the best radio friendly top 40 potential smash - Back For More - I've heard in years. The proof of the dreck is in the pudding. And the pudding Clay showed us during the JBT - fantastic. Rocking, edgy songs with good melodys and catchy chorus'. Back For More is not only smart and witty, but in many ways a profound statement about art and entertainment. That one line 'selling emotions to foolks like me' says it all. That's brilliant.
According to Clay he had enough good material to fill several albums and was picking the best of the best. The original material is commercial and radio friendly. There's NO GOOD reason not to put those songs on a pop rock album that tends to sell more and get more buzz than a cover album. Especially something marketed as love song classic covers. Covers can satisfy fans who like them without being heavily featured. The Christmas tour can be an outlet for more traditional concert material. With pop tours more focused on rock.
As for themes? I could care less as I suspect most album buyers really don't care. I buy albums for good songs. Period. Sting did a concept album or 'instruments from around the world'. The songs didn't sound good. Hardly anyone bought it. So unless the theme of the album is 'RCA chooses crap' - I'd say Back For More and all the tour songs fit just fine. And given that the Time mention of vanilla got fans to ship Vanilla ice cream to RCA, I'd say that particular theme would be unwise. And if it doesn't fit a theme? I say 'who gives a flying 'f@@k'?
There's no honest reason I can think of to keep those great songs off Clay's new album unless there's an album full of originals that are as good or better. With Back For More I doubt that's possible. And I'm loving 1000 Days more and more with each listen. 1000 days is also a 'song for singers'. The vocals are incredible on that.
With 5 songs good enough not only for album cuts but hit radio play, with 4 fitting right in with the driving rock so popular on top 40 radio today - there is NO REASON to fill an album with covers. Most hit albums I've heard have less than five good songs. And to market to pop/rock all you need is a few songs good enough for singles. If buyers stopped buying albums because other than the singles, the rest of the album was filler, I think I could count on one hand the albums that would sell. Maybe not even that much.
That the AI5 finalists got dreck or that artists like Nickelback or Jessie McCartney says nothing about the material on Clay's album. Only Clay and his music can speak to that. And I heard those four songs with my own ears. No way, was there not enough material for an original pop/rock album. That's based on the four songs I heard. And given what Clay said about all the good material and picking the best of the best, only two weeks before it seemed there was a shortage of material - I'd say there were a whole lot more good and great songs.
And yes, I still expect that great original material, including the tour preview songs to be on the album. I expect heavy top 40 radio play and Hot AC and AC and MTV videos and VHI and award shows (both appearances and awards) and high profile television appearances and well promoted concert tours. Good shelf placement and endcaps and posters in stores. Sales to induce more buyers. Nothing less will satisfy me that Sony BMG and 19 and Fox are behind Clay and acting honestly to do their best by him. NOTHING less.
I don't think 19 or Sony BMG or Fox are doing anything for any reason other than self interest. The mess stories were first spread by Fox owned paper the New York Post and overseas by Simon C's publicist. What happened at the finale doesn't change or erase that.
AI has tours and albums and merchandise to sell and Clay fans to keep. It doesn't change all the innuendo and put downs by them. I'm glad Clay got this chance. but nobody except Clay gets any props from me until the deal is done and I know Clay has been treated right.
I do think Clay overshadowed the other performers and the main event. Ace Young was interviewed on my local Fox station (NY) and was asked the highlight of the show. He first response was 'Clay Aiken' and the reporter said 'That was awesome'. And they talked about the wannabe and how it was hilarious. Clay did great and the appearance was brilliant. I'm waiting on that brilliant original album and promotion to match.
Clandy
nyama
claysbabygurl316