tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277760702024-03-13T18:56:22.249-04:00The ConCLAYveYou may have heard about the play by John Ford Noonan, <i>A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking.</i> Well, we're not necessarily white and we're not necessarily chicks, but we are sitting around talking. About music, theater, politics, love, life and sometimes Clay Aiken. Different contributors. Different Perspectives. Different Voices. Join us.The ConCLAYve-Nanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08373684206492175397noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-90524316486454066772015-02-02T17:22:00.002-05:002016-10-08T18:00:54.445-04:00Measure of a Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We laid my dad to rest today. In the middle of a snowstorm that was after a postponement from last week's big snowstorm-after dealing with two funeral homes to get him from Florida to Massachusetts. The man who hated funerals had a 12 day service! But he was with us in spirit as his Patriots won another Super Bowl and I'm pretty sure he whispered into Pete Carroll's ear last night to pass the ball with 30 seconds to go.<br />
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I wrote this eulogy the night he died but because the snowstorm forced us to cancel the final memorial at the funeral home that usually precedes the Mass at church-I didn't get to read it. <br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t even
know where to begin when describing my dad to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was strength personified yet bawled like a
baby at weddings, births and 4<sup>th</sup> quarter interceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
serious and dedicated in his work and totally goofy at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shot a hole in one four times after he
took up golf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cheated at
Monopoly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad coached every sport we
played between the ages of 8-15 and won championships in three sports for both
boys and girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 35 years
later, former teammates that I run into will tell me they have fond memories of
him as coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like my
grandmother before him, he was a practical joker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are hilarious stories of our
childhood that probably would get him in trouble with child services today!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We started
to think of some of the best ones to describe him:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first
one that comes to mind is the Anti-Valentine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every year on Valentine’s Day we would be called to the table for dinner
and on our plates would be these homemade Valentines from SalMark Cards, which must
have been a black ops division of Hallmark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were always made on his company's graph paper and
hand drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they included everything
that deserved snarking about you that year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For instance, the year my sister was 13 with teenage acne and braces was
especially brutal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet we loved them
and looked forward to them every year because it meant he was really in tune
with our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mentioned to him a few
Christmases ago that I wished that I had saved them and then the next
Valentine’s Day, my anti-valentine came in the mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny, I just found it last Sunday when going
through my desk.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our kids
worshipped him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
One thing I will never
forgive him for was teaching my then second grade daughter how to spell
Negotiate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he left for Florida
later that summer, he reminded that impressionable 8 year old girl that
everything is negotiable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Dad,
I’m still paying for that bit of advice 15 years later.<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When my
brother was old enough to go out drinking with his friends, Dad used to torture
him when he came home on the weekends a little on the intoxicated side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One night he put a life size cutout of Rambo
complete with gun and vest of bullets right on the inside of his bedroom door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brother screamed like a girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another night, Dad hid under his bed and when bro stumbled in and collapsed on the bed, Dad reached his arm up from under
the bed to grab him-the manifestation of every kid’s nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a wonder my brother never ended up in
therapy!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This past
summer when Dad was in the hospital, he wasn’t eating much because he said the
food was awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister started giving him
a hard time about eating so he said he would eat if she could be his official
taste-tester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to close her eyes
while he fed her what was brought on his tray and if she could correctly
identify what the food was supposed to be, he would agree to eat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, she agreed that he didn’t have to
eat the thing they had labeled mashed potatoes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dad loved to
make up names for Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day he just started
calling her “ Ichiro. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told her that
was Japanese for little lotus flower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
year or so later they were at Dina’s house <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>watching a game on TV where the Red Sox were playing
Seattle and Ichiro Suzuki (a Mariner at the time) came up to bat and Mom was
all happy and explained that was her nickname from Dad and it meant little
lotus flower. Everybody laughed and Dad confessed that he really started
calling her that because when she cleaned, she used to pull the front of her
hair up in a vertical ponytail and it reminded him of a Sumo wrestler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He absolutely loved telling that story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They bought a dog after that and named him
Ichiro.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn’t all fun and games though,
so I started to make a list of things I learned from my Dad</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#1 Nothing
is more important than Family and when you are Italian that means all your
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very blessed to have a
very connected extended family for so long thanks to the 8 crazy brothers and
sisters that our grandparents raised. It gives me comfort to know that all ten
of them are together again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#2. Practice,
practice, practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember going
next door to Grandma’s backyard where he would hit groundballs to me for what
seems like hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would finally stop
after one of us was exhausted or Gram stuck her head out the window and yelled
at us in broken English about hitting her house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#3. It’s OK
to round <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the nearest dollar when recording
expenses in your checkbook and that Mom would understand that the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>entry marked Stop and Pee was actually this
week’s groceries from Stop and Shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he just wanted to make her laugh
to forget that the checkbook never balanced.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#4 Little
White Lies are OK, like when he took us out to dinner to celebrate when Mom had given birth to my sister and when Mom called from the hospital to see how we were, dad was cool as
a cucumber and said “fine” when in reality my brother and I were throwing up in
the sink from food poisoning from the dive he took us to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#5 Sports
teaches you about life, whether you are a spectator or a player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There actually IS crying in baseball as he
was the first person I called after the Red Sox finally broke the curse in 2004
and we cried tears of joy together. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#5B,
If mom is downstairs in the basement doing laundry and the team made a good
play, do not let her upstairs under any circumstances to avoid jinxing
anything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#6 When you
turn 16-find a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually think my
16<sup>th</sup> birthday greeting consisted of Happy Birthday-get a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But between school, sports, band and that
job-boy did I learn time management and responsibility.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#7 You never
know if you are an alcoholic until you take your first drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now obviously with the aforementioned story,
my brother never had that talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
it was probably just his way of scaring me away from doing what every teenager
does but it really worked because to this day, I don’t drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wish he had somehow related that to
avoiding chocolate instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">#8 Girls can
be anything they want to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may
not seem like a big deal to those of you under 35 but back in the 1970’s it was
unusual and very inspirational to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of my favorite Dad stories was during my freshman year in
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was finals time and some clueless
person in the registrar department thought it was OK to schedule three of my finals
within one 24 hour block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired
and stressed so he came up to the school to take me to lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we sat there, he pointed over to another
table which was obviously a business lunch and said “see that, that’s going to
be you someday and this will all be worth it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And that finals week lunch became a tradition for those four years and
taught me how to deal with pressure just like sports did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, that restaurant was also a dive
and it went out of business soon after.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My mother
always says that she raised three very different kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think those of you who<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>know us will agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years people have often jokingly
labeled us since we are so very different from each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister is the funny and kind one, I'm the
"smart" one (although my sister tried to cross that out and write the cheap one) and my brother is the good-looking, charming, debonair, athletic one with great hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Dad told me recently that my greatest strength
was my confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he seemed to
worry most about me when my confidence waivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That in itself often helped me to find it
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if he ever knew that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They say you
become what you learned from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
in thinking about my dad, I think about an old 90’s power ballad. (And no, I’m
not going to sing it. Dad used to joke that Mom and I never changed notes, we
just got louder).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ended with the
lines</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You gave me strength, cuz you
believed</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m everything I am, because<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you loved me.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And in the
end, those two lines are all you <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>really need
to know to understand who dad was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When we tried to think of a song to play at the end of the wake, we didn't want anything maudlin. Dad would have hated that. So, we chose a celebration of his life instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_LOZGJGkxw" width="560"></iframe> </span></div>
Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-3129021739691826322013-08-02T19:57:00.000-04:002013-08-02T19:57:38.005-04:00Any Dream Will Do...But I Like This One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYk7CBB_ck4GJQTr6NrfadvwFApFbppLNtKqd2nXyPYgIMigIXmSAYgqTX3PUZO4r7zII0Np0vGXp8DdqbkAwjsyC3HFVCosZyMAePnEaZnuhyCtpoPRrF5KgnU_qxm2SH65m/s1600/CED+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYk7CBB_ck4GJQTr6NrfadvwFApFbppLNtKqd2nXyPYgIMigIXmSAYgqTX3PUZO4r7zII0Np0vGXp8DdqbkAwjsyC3HFVCosZyMAePnEaZnuhyCtpoPRrF5KgnU_qxm2SH65m/s320/CED+Picture.jpg" /></a></div>The historic Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine is running a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this month. Clay Aiken is playing Joseph with Keala Settle as the narrator. I’m thrilled that Clay is spending part of his summer in New England and that I can make the drive there next week.<br />
<br />
For the first half of this year, I found I was getting frustrated with limited public communication (especially since he’s very funny on Twitter) and not attending important industry events like the Tony Awards, etc. It was really because I was hoping to see some direction, some plan, something other than what felt like professional ambivalence hidden within the roar of silence coming from Raleigh.<br />
<br />
Perhaps, he was doing some soul searching about what it is he wanted in this difficult industry, or if he still wanted an entertainment career at all. (I still think we’ll lose him someday to politics, the banner on this page is from his appearance on Face the Nation.) Maybe, as some have mused, being cast in the lead in The Drowsy Chaperone at North Carolina Theater alongside Tony Award winning Beth Leavel, sparked something in him because it was more than an ensemble of first quality players like when he was in Spamalot. He had to carry Drowsy in a role that was 99.9% acting, not singing. From what I've seen of it, his part was the glue that held the whole thing together. And not only did he excel in it, maybe he felt the joy again. Maybe he felt the thrum that fans feel when we see him perform.<br />
<br />
I still want to watch him perform pop music on stage again, someday. His voice is well suited to good pop. But doing theater is what surprises people with the breadth of his talent. Doing theater is where he gets some of the best promotion. Doing theater lets him sing (in most cases) but also requires him to stretch. He does his best work when he stretches out of his comfort zone, in my opinion. In a recent interview, he said this role did just that.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeJeYsoaunU9F6rjAJjSybzbT-vxzHtBFPjHiJilcUtdItvWDCmVvmQiJRrVQcd2cG_IlST0jzkrSgHAHvp_pIhF8zKrzFiqmcLu37p9TqVpJTWXttmiGmFn6H9AJhMraK4-y/s1600/tn-500_clayaiken-cast_joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeJeYsoaunU9F6rjAJjSybzbT-vxzHtBFPjHiJilcUtdItvWDCmVvmQiJRrVQcd2cG_IlST0jzkrSgHAHvp_pIhF8zKrzFiqmcLu37p9TqVpJTWXttmiGmFn6H9AJhMraK4-y/s320/tn-500_clayaiken-cast_joseph.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And I like that he's dedicated to whatever decision he appears to have made to do something like this. A challenging part, a lead in a musical, nine shows a week with a short time to rehearse with people he's never met before. And maybe it's not only his yellow brick road back to Broadway but his side door back to recording the pop music that was made for his voice and that created the most success and the largest breadth of fans.<br />
<br />
But for now, I’ll spend a long weekend on the coast of Maine watching him perform in a part that was made for his voice, made for his stage presence and made for his love of working with a “family”. My friends and I will travel from various parts of the country to watch new people experience that too. That’s always a perk when Clay performs in a new region or with a new project. Patrons may walk in with a mixed bag of anticipation, reluctance and uncertainty but they almost always walk out a fan.<br />
<br />
I'm a planner, probably to a fault. Heck, planning is in my title at work so it's how I'm wired. I know that for Clay's career one plus one will never equal two and even though I struggle to see the plan sometimes, I’ve mostly come to accept it. For Clay’s career, one plus one often seems to equal the square root of a mango. But what I like right now is that he seems to be taking a great big bite of it.<br />
<br />
Get tickets <a href="http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2013season/joseph">here</a> at Ogunquit Playhouse. Joseph will be running through August 25th.<br />
Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-19666283280433549762012-06-01T07:16:00.000-04:002012-06-01T07:22:34.595-04:00Come Sail Away<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA91-tpCEESRrkKNNB0cL6jL6s9JehlzH8W4aYdwCtksHTjxW8tSgWK0mrQ8LQepLqOvAY6_Q5SkMAwE10IE9IJ8sA__hUpWyerlrT70KSd6rd5sAHdpbP7HfTWVv1RLN3VoIi/s1600/Graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="133" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA91-tpCEESRrkKNNB0cL6jL6s9JehlzH8W4aYdwCtksHTjxW8tSgWK0mrQ8LQepLqOvAY6_Q5SkMAwE10IE9IJ8sA__hUpWyerlrT70KSd6rd5sAHdpbP7HfTWVv1RLN3VoIi/s200/Graduation.jpg" /></a></div>Three years ago,I wrote a blog called <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2009/06/landslide.html">Landslide</a> chronicling the conflicting emotions of seeing my daughter graduate and prepare to go off to college. It was bittersweet to write; a kaleidoscope of emotions ranging from pride and anticipation to one of pending separation where the phrase “coming home” becomes temporary. She’s handled herself well and has worked very hard to graduate this December, thereby finishing her Public Relations degree one semester early.<br />
<br />
But there was never a feeling of complete finality that there is now as her brother (and our youngest) begins that same journey. I loved spending more time with him after she went off to school, even though in typical teenage boy fashion he preferred to retreat to his mancave in our bonus room; a digital and music superdome filled with every possible video game console, Blu-Ray for streaming episodes of Breaking Bad, an electronic keyboard, a beginner’s drum set (both instruments that he taught himself), double chocolate muffins and a never ending gallon of “Arnie Palm”.<br />
<br />
He’ll make that same walk to Pomp and Circumstance tonight, and I’ll look for him in the sea of white and green. He bears a passable (and much taller) resemblance to Daniel Radcliffe right down to the scar on his forehead. His scar splits his left eyebrow in two-the result of a nasty fall when he was not quite 3 years old.<br />
<br />
He’s very smart in a casual yet confident way. I’ve often said that I learn more from him when watching a documentary than I do from the narrator. Sometimes his freakish memory for facts and his love of debate can be annoying, like when he wants specific and defend-able reasons for why he should clean his room. He also expects others to be as smart as he. His sister laughed at me when I called him an intellectual snob, mentioning something about apples and trees. She should talk. She has my identical skill sets and her father’s exact irreverent personality and stubborn streak. <br />
<br />
He’s as funny as he is smart and he really “gets” people. When he first started focusing on a possible political science major, he made it clear that he wanted to learn more than just policy. He wanted to know what makes people tick or what makes countries tick. So, he will enter his freshman year at his new college as an International Relations major. It requires a semester abroad so this separation will seem more permanent to me. It also requires a minor in a language. I should probably study with Rosetta Stone once he makes his choice. He’s thinking about Italian. È la tua stanza è pulita?<br />
<br />
A job shadow at the FBI has steered him in the direction of a possible FBI/CIA career. The funny thing is that I’ve told him since he was little that he should be a “spy”. He used to love to sneak from room to room as quietly as possible, trying to see how long he could remain undiscovered. (Of course, that backfired on him when he overheard us discussing where to hide the Easter candy.) I think I gave birth to Jason Bourne.<br />
<br />
He’s become a very different person in many ways as he struggles for his adult independence. He was voted Most Changed in the high school yearbook which can be attributed to the gain of six inches in height and the loss of 20 pounds of “baby fat”. His round face with braces has been replaced by a long jawline and deep thinking eyes. (He still has the longest lashes I’ve ever seen.) He went from hating music to being a connoisseur of classic rock and an avid Beatles fan. His most wonderful memory of a recent trip to England was crossing Abbey Road with three friends. He was George.<br />
<b><br />
<i>I’m sailing away. Set an open course for the virgin sea. Because I’ve got to be free. Free to face the life that’s ahead of me.</i><br />
</b><br />
His college of choice is a classic New England private college that is right on the water about two hours from here. I knew he would end up there after the first tour as his demeanor was so different from the 7-8 other schools we visited. It was like he was “home”. He’s never wanted to be in the water but rather <i>on</i> the water. Maybe that’s because he is on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces. I think back a few years ago as we took a passenger boat from a beach back to a cruise ship. Almost everyone was sitting down and he was at the front looking out over the water, with his face tilted toward the sun. I remember thinking at that moment that it would not be the last time that I saw that picture<br />
<b><br />
<i>On board I’m the captain, so climb aboard. We’ll search for tomorrow on every shore.</i></b><br />
<br />
As he rounds this corner into early adulthood, he wants to be called by his real name and not his nickname. This manchild is looking to sail away in more ways than one. I just hope he cleans his room first.<br />
<br />
Last year, I found a poem by Kahlil Gibran called “On Children”. It really touched me and I actually bought a print and keep a framed copy in my office. I’d like to offer it to all the parents out there, especially to my dear friend Peggy and those whose sons and daughters are part of the high school or college Class of 2012.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Your children are not your children.<br />
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.<br />
They come through you but not from you,<br />
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.<br />
<br />
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, <br />
For they have their own thoughts.<br />
You may house their bodies but not their souls,<br />
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, <br />
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.<br />
You may strive to be like them, <br />
but seek not to make them like you.<br />
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.<br />
<br />
You are the bows from which your children<br />
as living arrows are sent forth.<br />
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, <br />
and He bends you with His might <br />
that His arrows may go swift and far.<br />
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;<br />
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, <br />
so He loves also the bow that is stable.</blockquote><br />
Happy Graduation Day, my baby boy. Fly far and high. And remember what your heroes wrote…<br />
<br />
<b><i>In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.<br />
<br />
In my life, I love you more.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wf3ywfnMUKk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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</i></b><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6lOTMA6LVMU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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<br />Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-74313703660120531082012-05-21T19:35:00.001-04:002012-05-22T19:31:55.991-04:00A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words<br />
I’m not one of those fans who thought there was anything super fishy about the AI2 final results of Clay vs Ruben other than simply not enough phone lines to allow all the votes to get through. It was the same number of lines as the year before when there were no issues. The following year, they had three phone lines per finalist and the total number of votes was still less than Season 2. It was just one of those things.<br />
<br />
But I can’t help and think about the results of this season’s Celebrity Apprentice and wonder about so many things. I can't wonder this much in 140 characters or less...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIg8frLGzYUBOHj_bquJ3byvXrHF5XhNGSr_lMp9WiKr6w242aQrXnyuZSeRO2r75fReOuAVSOmnkvshH0nbAlQKKO2CsEr72Lon0SZrlieVFtALGh1WbGvxodrz3h0wJLpFg/s1600/Reaction+TCA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIg8frLGzYUBOHj_bquJ3byvXrHF5XhNGSr_lMp9WiKr6w242aQrXnyuZSeRO2r75fReOuAVSOmnkvshH0nbAlQKKO2CsEr72Lon0SZrlieVFtALGh1WbGvxodrz3h0wJLpFg/s320/Reaction+TCA.jpg" /></a></div>*I wonder why this picture shows that the vast majority of the non finalists are staring down in silent protest or anger when Arsenio Hall’s name was announced. <br />
<br />
*I wonder why five have been bold enough to immediately come forward and say they were shocked and Clay was robbed.<br />
<br />
*I wonder why another stated on a radio broadcast a few weeks ago that Clay should win unless the fix was in. Why even bring something like that up? <br />
<br />
*I wonder why they never showed the post task boardroom where, according to contestant Adam Carolla's <a href="http://www.adamcarolla.com/">podcast</a> of 5/21, Trump polled the contestants about who should win and every person said Clay. <i>Even those on Arsenio's team.<br />
</i><br />
*I wonder if the multibillion dollar deal reported by the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/02/comcast-to-launch-magic-johnson-cable-channel-aspire.html">LA Times</a> that Magic Johnson signed for a new network with the parent company of NBC (same network as Apprentice) may have nudged the producers of this show in a certain direction. Not in a Quiz Show way mind you but more in a “radio payola is illegal” wink wink sort of way. And I’m still waiting for a journalist with balls to ask about it.<br />
<br />
*I wonder the same as a few other bloggers/recappers as to why Lisa Lampanelli can claim she’s a good friend of Clay’s but can’t distinguish between a nightclub filled with her fans and a nationally televised broadcast in terms of what is appropriate material and what simply lacks class. I wonder why super project manager Arsenio allowed it at a charity event. (Not to mention there were children in the audience.) I doubt her disrespectful vulgarity was worth $10,000 to Clay’s family sitting there watching the broadcast last night. <br />
<br />
*I wonder why NBC saw fit to air Lisa’s tasteless gay joke at Clay’s expense given that they had plenty of other footage. Poor GLSEN. You got some great exposure on this show for your efforts in anti gay bullying with the “what not to do” provided by celebrities .<br />
<br />
*I wonder just how Arsenio's Hollywood Rolodex contains real friends when you figure he raised no money in the guidebook challenge and subtracting donations from his teammates (including $50,000 from Lampanelli and cash from the Andretti family) he raised less than $100,000 for the final task. 20 years in the business, eh? Clay's grassroots campaign raised over $300,000 in 24 hours.<br />
<br />
*I wonder if Trump thinks nobody owns a calculator when he claims Arsenio was “hired” because he raised the most money when in fact, if you subtract the amount he won for being “hired”, not only did Clay raise more but so did Paul and Dee.<br />
<br />
*I wonder if Trump realized how much he screwed Patricia Velasquez and her very important charity (<a href="http://wayuutaya.net/">Wayuu Taya</a> Foundation), not just that one time but probably for a long time because she tapped into all her donors only to see her money go elsewhere. Patricia should have cried, Trump seems to hand over $10,000 for crocodile tears. Such a dignified, classy woman.<br />
<br />
*I wonder if Trump realizes how bad his spin is when he says Arsenio won by 2 tasks to 1, conveniently leaving out the final task that Clay clearly won. Then it would be 2-1 for both of them and just like a final exam, the final task should have more weight. Not to mention Lisa won 2 tasks before the final and that didn’t seem to matter.<br />
<br />
*I wonder what Eric, Ivanka and Don, Jr. would have said if asked for their true opinion outside of parental or corporate influence. I know marketing well enough to recognize true spin. What their dad is doing isn’t even good spin.<br />
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*I wonder if Clay’s truly impressive appearances on MSNBC, CNN and Face the Nation were too impressive.<br />
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*I wonder if Clay knew he had no chance. Part of me wishes he did know and just worked very hard because he knows no other way but to give his all.<br />
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*I wonder if Arsenio knows deep down that he coasted to a win he didn’t earn. I wonder if he looks at the picture at the top of this blog and knows that many others who played with him know it too. He seems so desperate for a comeback that he literally sold his soul to the devil in some rather gag worthy television moments. <br />
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*I wonder if it is too petty to say that I think Clay is easily funnier than Arsenio.<br />
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Look, I know this is just a reality show but there’s more at stake here than just a mirror ball trophy or an oppressive record deal. Patricia can’t finish a school for her project and $250,000 would help several hundred of Clay’s children. $250,000 is a rounding error for what Magic Johnson Foundation has earned in 20 years. But when it came to the finals, I think the charities were not even considered by those making the decision.<br />
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I love marketing. I’ve spent the last 15+ years of my career in marketing or business strategy roles. Every year I volunteer to mentor second year MBA students in their final marketing practicum projects. I guess you could say they are <i>my</i> apprentices. Ideally, I should love this show but I don’t like it when I feel duped or see bad marketing rewarded for the sake of good television (or something else entirely) in such a transparent way. <br />
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And I don’t like it when a person who claims to be a great businessman makes a decision based on bad business performance and then tries to excuse it in a way that insults my intelligence. If you only need third grade math to prove the spin wrong, that means the issue you’re spinning is too weak to stand on its own merit. It’s interesting that the last episode was called Transparency on the NBC site. Because I can see right through you, Trump.<br />
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Finally, I wonder if the members of Vy Higgensen’s Gospel for Teens choir (great job, guys) realized they were in the presence of vocal greatness last night during the performance of Lean on Me. If you watch them look at Clay for the last minute of this video, I think they did.<br />
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But before you watch, please donate to the National Inclusion Project at <a href="http://www.inclusionproject.org">inclusionproject.org</a> and look for information on the site describing their upcoming annual gala scheduled for October 20th in Washington, DC. I've never left a gala without crying at least once. <br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4B1AP_3tyiU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Photography by Douglas Gorenstein/NBC<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Arsenio+Hall" rel="tag">Arsenio Hall</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Magic+Johnson" rel="tag">Magic Johnson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Celebrity+Apprentice" rel="tag">Celebrity Apprentice</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dee+Snider" rel="tag">Dee Snider</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Face+the+Nation”rel="tag">Face the Nation</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/NBC" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ivanka+Trump" rel="tag">Ivanka Trump</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Eric+Trump" rel=tag">Eric Trump</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Patricia+Valasquez" rel=tag">Patricia Valasquez</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Vy+Higgensen" rel=tag">Vy Higgensen</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Aubrey+ODay" rel=tag">Aubrey O'Day</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Wayuu+Taya" rel=tag">Wayuu Taya</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Donald+Trump" rel=tag">Donald Trump</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/National+Inclusion+Project" rel=tag">National Inclusion Project</a><br />
<br />Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-26558441272214958482012-05-13T17:35:00.001-04:002014-01-05T10:35:48.194-05:00Destiny's Child 4-More Than Meets the EyeHave you ever looked at a colleague in a meeting or a somewhat familiar face at a party and formed an opinion despite having never met them? This opinion probably developed over time and included all kinds of things about their personality, their intelligence, their skills, maybe even their character. All of this is based only on casual encounters, comments from others and your own filters. Some of this may include certain prejudices that you didn't know you had based on half truths passed along as fact. And yet, when you finally get to meet this person and see them for who they really are, you could be stunned that they are the opposite of what you had heard was "gospel". Sort of how pretty women in business have to try harder. Or how gay pop singers who came into the public eye through a TV competition have to overcome all kinds of preconceived notions about..., well just about everything. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9DGKTzArxPifPYhyphenhyphen2i8_M_O4IuT0v7q-s7AlgEAIdzlRtrKEZ-V-gHwVyqAlvQhotCXpF6dzQmyN5IU5glA9l8etEjm6fbwGiY7nnx6UxniCujsNIME-8fw6lPFCRCG3J269/s1600/Face+the+Nation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="213" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9DGKTzArxPifPYhyphenhyphen2i8_M_O4IuT0v7q-s7AlgEAIdzlRtrKEZ-V-gHwVyqAlvQhotCXpF6dzQmyN5IU5glA9l8etEjm6fbwGiY7nnx6UxniCujsNIME-8fw6lPFCRCG3J269/s320/Face+the+Nation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It's been an interesting few months to be a fan of Clay Aiken, culminating this week in watching him go toe-to-toe with some professional political pundits on many major networks including CNN, MSNBC and just this morning on CBS' <b>Face the Nation</b>. He stood up against the nonsense spewed by professional bigot Tony Perkins on <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7408408n&tag=mg;ftn">Face The Nation</a> and some guy on <b>Piers Morgan</b> show the other night that resembled a modern day Archie Bunker in both appearance and position. Clay was articulate, prepared and knowledgeable. THIS was the face of equality, an American citizen just asking for the same rights as those sharing the screen with him. The tweets that followed after @FacetheNation was aired offered a sense of both pride and amusement. Pre-show eye rolls in the twitterverse turned to praise and admiration, often from the same skeptics. The long time fans sat back with a satisfied smile that comes from knowing the truth about someone. <br />
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So, how did we get here? It all kind of started when the cast for this season of <b>Celebrity Apprentice</b> was announced at the beginning of the year. The show brought two things to the forefront. The first was Clay finally taking to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/clayaiken">his Twitter</a> and showing his funny side. The second was the predictable posturing from colleagues, friends and bloggers about how Clay was going to be eaten alive in the first few weeks. What they failed to realize is that not only is this man smart, savvy and skilled but he's also very determined and when he is focused on something important-there is no stopping him. <br />
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Many celebrities go on the show for the exposure to help their careers or to support a charity. Clay went on this show to support <i>his</i> charity, as in the one he started and originally bore his name. Entertaining is what Clay does. The <a href="http://www.inclusionproject.org">National Inclusion Project</a> is who Clay is. I think there are some bloggers and even current contestants who still don't understand that. As he is poised to potentially become the <a href="http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/clays-take/">Celebrity Apprentice,</a> the rest of us observed the changes in perception with the knowledge that we knew all along what this man is capable of. If I used emoticons, I would have found one that said I told you so. <br />
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As the weeks have gone by, it's been fascinating to watch opinions change. The same sites that mocked him are predicting him to be a finalist or even win. (They are in the Final 3 as I type this.) He's a natural on Twitter (just like I knew he would be) but he's used it in a very strategic way. He's making connections with people like <b>Brooke Baldwin</b> on CNN which ultimately put him on her show and probably led to the other political appearances this week. But what has been really fascinating is watching him take on the idiots. These people who hide behind the quasi anonymity of a keyboard and don't think twice about showing 30,000 people just how ignorant and bigoted they are as they hurl insults and gay slams his way. The amusing part is watching Clay swat these online morons as easily as a clean-up hitter creams a hanging curveball. (Sorry for the sports reference, Clay.) The man really should try a side business as a heckler consultant to stand up comedians. Fifty2Thirty Comebacks, LLC? When asked why bother with them, he commented that he wants to expose their stupidity. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTjB8Pxt37gsUi_3Ln-lkFkxOv80ymtM1e037cQiEt46W6NX_ImPjGS3rhR57rR4ZP3dzVjmEBpuXqdXJvWqah8JVNL28Ap8C7BhcG4cKaic9neU9DCe90JlbwtIq8Ad0z6aW/s1600/Dee+and+Clay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTjB8Pxt37gsUi_3Ln-lkFkxOv80ymtM1e037cQiEt46W6NX_ImPjGS3rhR57rR4ZP3dzVjmEBpuXqdXJvWqah8JVNL28Ap8C7BhcG4cKaic9neU9DCe90JlbwtIq8Ad0z6aW/s320/Dee+and+Clay.jpg" /></a></div>Musically, I didn't think he could surprise me. He always had the best male voice out there and one of the best overall voices. Even when I didn't like the genre he chose for an album, I could never deny the talent. I always thought he had more in him, he teases us with it every now and then. When he compares himself to Perry Como, I want to stand on my chair and yell "Wrong Perry!" Clay, to me, has always possessed the range of Steve Perry, former frontman to Journey. Steve sang ballads, pop and pop/rock. Clay shows all of these sides in concert. But that knowledge still didn't prepare me for the Clay I heard on the new album, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dee-Does-Broadway-Snider/dp/B007JU1RBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336951117&sr=8-1">Dee Does Broadway</a>.</i> <b>Dee Snider</b> of Twisted Sister fame just released an album of Broadway songs done in metal style and he invited Clay to duet on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luck-Lady-Tonight-feat-Aiken/dp/B007XT1L04/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336951117&sr=8-2">Luck Be a Lady</a> from Guys and Dolls. The song is the best reviewed track on the album with article after article citing Clay's vocals. His performance has been compared to the lead singers of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. That's right folks, <b>Ozzie Osbourne</b> and <b>Rob Halford</b>. He reached for something more and exceeded all expectations. Paging Mark Platt! If you are still looking to remake the film of Jesus Christ Superstar, look no further than Clay Aiken. <br />
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Nan said today that this is a rather strange convergence of things but that it feels right. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Clay's biggest successes will never be linear and obvious but rather circular and perhaps only obvious after the fact. Maybe a PBS special of crooning standards was too linear and too obvious. Sometimes obvious may not be interesting enough to a public with the attention span of a 3 year old. Today, he is poised to possibly win a very tough, business based reality show run by a man who couldn't be farther away politically than Clay's positions. Yet, this show caused him to use his voice via Twitter, which opened up new contacts, which likely resulted in his invited political appearance on CNN. And the first domino fell.<br />
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As I sit here staring at my computer screen with my biologically unnatural blue eyes staring back at me (are you listening Tony Perkins), I realized that 2 plus 2 will never equal 4 when it comes to Clay's career. There are just too many facets to him and too many perceptions to change. But perceptions can change in the right forums and he's finding those forums. Actually, they seem to be finding him now. I plan on watching him in his more traditional place on the concert stage when he tours this fall and winter. I know that I will enjoy that rare combination of vocal talent and comedic improv that many saw during Apprentice. His concerts provide music for the soul and laughter for the smile. But even if Clay's career more closely resembles an equation of 2 plus 2 equals the square root of a mango, success will taste that much sweeter. <br />
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(For those just discovering or re-discovering this talented man, I'd like to suggest the album <a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-Way-Here-Clay-Aiken/dp/B00130973W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1336951422&sr=1-1"><i>On My Way Here</i></a>.) <br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/CNN" rel="tag">CNN</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brooke+Baldwin" rel="tag">Brooke Baldwin</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Celebrity+Apprentice" rel="tag">Celebrity Apprentice</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dee+Snider" rel="tag">Dee Snider</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Face+the+Nation”rel="tag">Face the Nation</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/NBC" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Piers+Morgan" rel="tag">Piers Morgan</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/gay+marriage" rel=tag">gay marriage</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ozzie+Osbourne" rel=tag">Ozzie Osbourne</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Judas+Priest" rel=tag">Judas Priest</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mark+Platt" rel=tag">Mark Platt</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bob+Schieffer" rel=tag">Bob Schieffer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Donald+Trump" rel=tag">Donald Trump</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-8524236186393786112011-10-10T20:39:00.002-04:002011-10-10T20:45:49.938-04:00The Savannah SevenSometimes life throws you a curve and you have to be resourceful to hit it back up the middle. And sometimes strangers cross your path that make you smile and see all that is good in the human race.<br />
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A few weeks ago, I lost the planner that I use for both work and major home events. This planner has important work meetings,notes and some non routine home events and commitments. I was NOT happy about losing it.<br />
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I received a call about 5 days later from a woman who said her husband had found it on the road about a half mile from my work. I must have driven off with it on my roof. She gave me her address and said I could pick it up after work. I drove to their home, which was in a rundown neighborhood full of duplex homes that had seen better days. I knocked on the screen door and saw a rather cluttered home at first but the smiles of the occupants quickly took over my view. I told them my name and they knew why I was there. A petite woman with full sleeve tattoos came out and handed me the planner. She said they knew it must have been important and that the owner was probably looking for it. (I had put my name and cell phone number in it.) I couldn’t thank her enough and walked back to my car with a smile on my face and a spring in my step that two people who couldn’t be more different from me had just gone out of their way to help a stranger. I’m going to drop off some toys for the children.<br />
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This past weekend, two friends and I began what was a girls’ weekend in Savannah. We’d planned it earlier in the year using vacation days that we typically save for concert trips. We’d even planned it so that we could leave from three different home airports, connect in Charlotte and take the same flight to Savannah. <br />
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On Thursday morning, I headed to Hartford airport ready for a fun four days. These two friends came into my life through our mutual interest in Clay Aiken but they have become dear friends and we get together even during non concert times. It’s hard with homes in Massachusetts, Alabama and New Orleans but we’ve managed to always find a way to meet in the middle. <br />
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The bad news started when USAir gate agents announced that instead of beginning our boarding, we were going to be looking at a long delay because apparently our aircraft hadn’t left Charlotte yet to take us back there from Hartford. (We won’t get into how incompetent you can be to not realize that the plane you are supposed to be preparing for boarding your passengers in ten minutes was 300 miles away.) The delay kept getting longer and longer as I texted with Peggy, who was on getting ready to take off. Thank goodness for my tech savvy mother who was at home receiving text messages from me and trying to find information on later flights to Savannah. (Here is when I seriously started considering buying an iPad or Motorola Xoom tablet as trying to do this on a smartphone when I'm aggravated just wasn't working.)<br />
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Miraculously, we finally began to board and it looked like I was going to be able to make it. A last minute text from Peggy, now in Charlotte announced that not only was our flight to Savannah canceled but all flights to Savannah have been canceled. I frantically texted to her and TechMom to find a one way car rental.<br />
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The rest of the afternoon was a wonderful experience that resulted from what could have been disastrous. Peggy and our other friend, Cissy managed to find four other women (all strangers to us and each other) who were in the same boat. I guess we all made a quick mental assessment and ruled out serial killers and decided to go for it. We rented a large Grand Caravan, picked a driver and a navigator (me, as I had my GPS) and boarded the airport rental bus for Alamo while beginning introductions. We crammed seven suitcases into the van, programmed Savannah airport into the GPS and headed out.<br />
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What followed were four hours , 250 miles and seven women getting to know each other; sharing interesting stories, personal stories and fascinating stories all while cheering for important highway signs. In many ways, we were very different but found a lot of intersections in our lives from colleges to mothers facing terminal illness. I wonder why God/fate/karma brought us together and safely brought us to our destination. We even debated whether we would have made the trip if it had been six women and one man who wanted to take the trip with us. That debate took a funny turn when Chelle told the story of attending college in Florida and meeting Ted Bundy! (We wanted to rub her head for good luck.)<br />
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So, any other cars driving along the highway toward Savannah that day would have seen these seven women:<br />
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Marilyn-A nurse who decided to pursue her passion and is now in cooking school training to be a pastry chef (and on her way to visit her daughter in college in Savannah)<br />
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Cori-A business person working at a famous company (with free samples in her bag) but whose crime stories of her CSI forensic police detective husband were a matter of greater interest<br />
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Cathy-An obstetrician who also devotes a lot of time to her sorority at the national level. She voted for Ruben but we won’t hold that against her. In fact, we’ll send her some videos from the Timeless Tour.<br />
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Cissy-A small business owner and one time college English professor<br />
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Erin-A former ballerina who chose to teach dance after an injury and who works for a recruiting company<br />
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Chelle-The almost Ted Bundy victim who now rides in biking marathons all over the country (including Alaska)<br />
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Peggy-A single mom who works in schools assessing young children for behavioral and learning disabilities so that they can get the help they need at an early age<br />
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One of the girls asked us how we had met. It seems silly to say we met on a Clay Aiken message board in 2003, but we did. And he’s taught us about inclusion of children with disabilities, the plight of the night walkers in Uganda, how the simple acoustic version of a song by a great voice can soothe what ails you and how a common interest in a singer can not only bring you three wonderful friends but indirectly introduce to you, even for a few hours, four other extraordinary people that shined a little light into what had been a dismal day.<br />
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We grabbed a guy at the rental drop off to take a quick snap with an iphone in bad light!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKwHjchXIP5zTczFc0JeCSVyfDyNTJ8b4gW6sZS3f3GzvbCFNOhLQVuILEFRIMKKsvlVIOqSPgEVBgCVazb7Nn29T3bw9NBdhTIUfE2YpHJY8seP3K2GZCuZlKp-3p8tNaBuf/s1600/Savannah+seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKwHjchXIP5zTczFc0JeCSVyfDyNTJ8b4gW6sZS3f3GzvbCFNOhLQVuILEFRIMKKsvlVIOqSPgEVBgCVazb7Nn29T3bw9NBdhTIUfE2YpHJY8seP3K2GZCuZlKp-3p8tNaBuf/s200/Savannah+seven.jpg" /></a></div>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-4118724478921939142011-02-12T08:33:00.006-05:002012-05-13T17:36:40.232-04:00The Natural<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmfkupMQxVdQBIHvwJINvhhCzHQAObuTfY4X8gsP79hU18vaTddWElOkHlkO9TAgcPfWsK5fdMJoqyBM1u1yL4xrJ-cjZ5TRF9NrGgwFwBqclY506XVro6UoD2zh2JXvkHqpr/s1600/Orlando+Clay.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmfkupMQxVdQBIHvwJINvhhCzHQAObuTfY4X8gsP79hU18vaTddWElOkHlkO9TAgcPfWsK5fdMJoqyBM1u1yL4xrJ-cjZ5TRF9NrGgwFwBqclY506XVro6UoD2zh2JXvkHqpr/s200/Orlando+Clay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572803980546456626" /></a> Last night I attended Clay Aiken's concert at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando. It was the second show of his tour supporting the Tried and True Album. I had a second row seat so I knew I would enjoy the show but I honestly didn't know how much because my preference is for his pop performances.<br /><br />
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The Hard Rock is not raked and they jammed those seats so close together, I felt like a model on Tyra's show where they bend their shoulders forward in that weird pose . It was tight but oh so close to the stage, which was very high and did not afford a good look at his shoes until he sat on the stage.<br /><br />
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The music began with the curtain down and he started to sing softly <span style="font-style:italic;">“Where do I begin”</span>. He sang a few lines like that and then the curtain opened. It sounded like he stumbled just a bit, maybe he was mouthing “why is the curtain still down!”<br /><br />
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I can’t describe that song. The original Andy Williams version is kind of overly lush. He started this one out softly, the way he did Home the other night. But it built up into a vocal tour de force that seemed to lift me out of my seat like I was weightless. It was an amazing way to open the show. It was almost as if he threw down the gauntlet to all the rest of the pop crap out there. If Ben Cohn did that arrangement, I salute him because it blew me away. I almost grabbed my phone to simply type Holy.Shit. to Nan. I tweeted that it was Steve Perry-esque. I'll add a youtube of it when the video is ready. <br /><br />
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We went through training at work about how to hold a great meeting. One thing is “hook them from the start.” Well, damn you Clay, you hooked me from the start. I was so hooked I would have even welcomed It’s Impossible without complaint. (With that said, I was thrilled he tossed it and substituted some great stuff.)<br /><br />
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The band was really far over to the sides-Ben and his mini Radio Shack with new guitar prodigy Adam Fallen on one side, and my favorite drummer man Felix Pollard and a new bassist, Del Atkins (?) on the other. There was a giant white screen as a backdrop, presumably used for videos and other special effects for other shows. I wish it had been another velvet curtain. That would have been perfect.<br /><br />
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He did Kind of Hush and Can't Take My Eyes off of You with a little groove to his body. I don’t think he realizes that his body moves naturally like that, the man has dance in his limbs if he just lets go.<br /><br />
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He talked to the audience quite a bit, talked to a woman who had her share of bloody Marys, they kept count as the concert went on. He talked about Aguilera's Super Bowl and how “sometimes it just happens”. He mentioned that he had a really hard time at the Miami concert with a bad echo and that tonight’s sound was good so he already felt like we were really together in this.<br /><br />
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He was wearing a lighter gray sweater with white shirt and what looked like a white/gray tie. Jeans and shoes that sometimes looked gray to me and sometimes more of a mixture of tan/gray. Very stylish. The hair looked just fine in profile but had a ton of gel in the front and was straight up, almost at perfect attention. Profiles were all cheekbones but it's really atrocious straight on. Knowing Clay, I think he’s doing it to toy with us. Just comb it over to the side Clay. It will look better and will be less work.<br /><br />
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He left off It’s Impossible which is my least favorite song so I was happy. I can’t remember if he did Moon River or Breaking Up is Hard to do then or later but he really does an exquisite job on Breaking Up. I loved it in Chicago and I loved it tonight.<br /><br />
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You know how Clay often sings to a camera when someone is taking a picture. Well the people on either side of me were taking still pictures so it felt like he sang the entire first verse of Moon River to me. <br /><br />
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The medley was clever, although some of it started to all sound the same to me. Invisible is really quite fun in that style, especially with our “secret handshake” aka the tug. Quiana Parler was in great voice as usual and I’m so glad she went back to the shorter hair that she has now versus that long weave she had over the summer. This haircut frames her beautiful face. I also have always wondered if she has perfect pitch. They remind me of a doubles tennis team; always knowing where and what the other one is doing or going to do.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
I think the can’t remember the name of fan favorite album On My Way Here is part of the tour schtick. Tonight he called it A Thousand Different Ways, which was two albums ago! (Come to think of it, I think that’s when he talked about Aguilera). <br /><br />
<br /><br />
He does a very interesting section of the show where he shows that you can autotune anything and make it sound like music and that's how some people get on the radio today. (Look for a more editorial blog on that topic later.) He said that every night, Ben will not tell him which lyrics they will give him. They did Lady Gaga's Bad Romance and it was very funny to hear Clay say Rah Rah, etc. Before they did that, he asked who people listen to and someone said Bieber. He said Quiana listens to him in her dressing room. Quiana, girl. I thought you had more taste than that. Another person said Kei$ha and he made her stand up. He said something about having a dollar sign in her name (I was impressed he knew). I have some comments on Kei$ha too but that's definitely for my editorial blog. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
He talked to the audience a bit more and then came over by us and sat down on the stage. He sang Sammy's What Kind of Fool am I and Misty right there. An older couple in the second row about 6 seats down from me were filming and he asked the man about it. The man said Misty was their song. It was so nice that it worked out that way. A woman in the front row was filming him and he commented about it and assured her that she wouldn’t get thrown out. He then started talking again and said “I feel like I should talk to the camera” and proceeded to do it like a TV interview for a few seconds. He asked her what her screen name was and she wouldn’t tell him. He said “you guys don’t tell your screen names?” and my friend Cissy said “not to you”. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
He said that they were going to put in Who's Sorry Now but realized that it was a lot of slow songs in a row and that was the slowest. He asked for song genres and the first one was Disco. Quiana sang most of it while Clay did the Travolta move. Someone said country but he said it was a country song already. When someone said rock and roll, he thought for a minute and whispered an idea to Quiana. They were both talking and nodding and then he grabbed that mic and did a Quiet Riot version of WSN. He rocked that mic back and forth, he was freaking awesome. The crowd went mental. He said later that it was tough on his voice.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JGvj5fp2IcA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />
<br /><br />
He sang Mack the Knife and mentioned that he sang the same verse four times last night. He did pretty good tonight, only messing up one small place. It’s a hard song to sing because the words aren’t really “normal” in some cases. The end was great.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Quiana did her second solo and then he came out to do Crying. He looked at her with such tenderness and at the end, he said how great she was and he didn’t know what he would do without her. She had left the stage by then and came back carrying her (kick ass)shoes. He mentioned that she’d done 8 tours with him because she didn’t do one Christmas. Then he introduced the band again and he and Felix discussed how many tours they were together and Clay said he hoped that Felix would be back with them again. Each time he talked about one he mentioned that he hoped they would be back with them again. Couple that with mentioning that he had toured with Ruben Studdard about four times and it is things that make you go hmmmm.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
He talked about Unchained Melody and he mentioned Dave Novik three times, twice just as Dave as if the audience was supposed to know who that was. He said when Ben sent the new arrangement of UM, he didn’t know what it would sound like since he can’t read music. So the first time he heard it was when he went to London to have the symphony record it. He said he called Ben from London because he almost cried at how good it was.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
When he started UM, that first verse where he sings “are you, still mine? And he usually just sings it as a pretty ordinary semi long note. Well tonight, he started it soft and then got louder and louder with it. Not changing the note itself like in the airplane note, but in a way that showed just absolute amazing control. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
He left the stage and we all stood and clapped until they raised the curtain again. He was sitting in an office type chair and sang IML without any mentions of teachers. Then he told a story about Rita in the M&G who had won last summer but couldn’t make it so they got her in today. She was with her granddaughter who wanted a picture of herself with Clay since Rita had replaced all the family pictures in the house. She asked him for Solitaire and he said he didn’t tell her that it was already planned anyway. He sang it and he played with the melody a little, singing lower in some cases, minor key all in all making it even more interesting. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
The crowd jumped to its feet again and the lights came up. And I exhaled for the first time in almost two hours.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
The venue was perfect for this type of show. The set list was great between the songs and the banter and I liked this set list 1000X more than Miami. I really wonder what kind of album he could have had if he took away some of the older songs and replaced them with Where Do I Begin, Both Sides Now, In My Life, Breaking Up and added some up tempo. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
And I want him to write and have Ben do the arrangements.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Vocally, he surpassed himself. It’s funny, but no matter how much clack you watch in between tours, it simply doesn’t compare to seeing him perform live and even then, it’s still almost shocking at how well he can sing. He hit some low notes tonight that vibrated within me. <br /><br />
<br /><br />
I’m a big baseball fan. Robert Redford made a baseball movie years ago called The Natural in which his character, Roy Hobbs is asked how he wants to be remembered. He said he would like to be walking by someone on the street years from now and hear “there goes Roy Hobbs, the best there ever was.”<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Tonight, I saw Clay Aiken…The Best That Ever Was<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Orlando" rel="tag">Orlando</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ben+Cohn" rel="tag">Ben Cohn</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiana+Parler" rel="tag">Quiana Parler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Felix+Pollard" rel="tag">Felix Pollard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Adam+Fallen”rel="tag">Felix Pollard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Connie+Francis" rel="tag">Connie Francis</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Steve+Perry" rel="tag">Steve Perry</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Concert" rel=tag">Concert</a>,<br /><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiet+Riot" rel="tag">Quiet Riot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Robert+Redford" rel="tag">Robert Redford</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/The+Natural" rel="tag">The Natural</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hard+Rock" rel="tag">Hard Rock</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Justin+Bieber" rel="tag">Justin Bieber</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Christina+Aguilera”rel="tag">Christina Aguilear</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kei$ha”rel="tag">Kei$sha</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Gaga”rel="tag">Gaga</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bad+Romance”rel="tag">Bad Romance</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tyra+Banks”rel="tag">Tyra Banks</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruben+Studdard”rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a><br /><br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-style:italic;">Thanks to dc4clay for the photo and Scarlett for the crystal clear video.</span>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-60961002441511190712011-02-08T13:31:00.001-05:002011-02-08T16:28:30.129-05:00Broadway Backwards: Oh What A Night!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr1wsRdGMtcU_bf-edEqjvNUfVcoJdSAlMP8XM4dZ47SFYhy8VpH7LKnzdy3_u4x_WRc5bDaL6pe4DcIll_mJ5vzthd9cuzdWnFGvPKNNCFUNLo-cFx9iIGqvePHirnsXcFRj/s1600/clayBB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="238" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr1wsRdGMtcU_bf-edEqjvNUfVcoJdSAlMP8XM4dZ47SFYhy8VpH7LKnzdy3_u4x_WRc5bDaL6pe4DcIll_mJ5vzthd9cuzdWnFGvPKNNCFUNLo-cFx9iIGqvePHirnsXcFRj/s320/clayBB.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I wanted to put my thoughts together about last night's <b>Broadway Backwards</b> and <b>Clay Aiken's</b> participation. It's a little hard because they are more feelings than thoughts and also kind of jumbled.<br />
<br />
I love the theater. As a child - ever since I was 6 years old, my parents would take me to see a musical. My first Broadway show was <u>Mr. Wonderful</u> with<b> Sammy Davis Jr</b><i>.</i> I went to Performing Arts HS and lived in Manhattan since I was 14. I used to second-act shows, get student tickets, do standing room. Whatever I could. I think I saw <u>Half a Sixpence</u> with <b>Tommy Steele</b> 9 times and <u>Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd</u> with <b>Anthony Newley</b> at least a half dozen. I know, compared to Claymates and Spamalot - I was a slacker. But still. . . College and beyond - not just musicals. I loved dramas. Half-priced tickets were cheap back in the 60s and 70s. I saw <i>Zero Mostel</i> in <u>Ulysses in Nightown</u>, sitting in the balcony for $17. I remember the first time I ever saw <b>John Malkovich and Joan Allen </b>in <u>Burn This</u> - I was overwhelmed by their brilliance. Went four times and took everyone I could find. The original <u>Equus</u> with <b>Anthony Hopkins and Peter Firth </b>(first time I had ever witnessed Anthony Hopkins) took my breath away. <u>Agnes of God</u> with <b>Elizabeth Allen, Amanda Plummer and Geraldine Page</b> - spellbinding. Long way of saying that I am bewitched by the theater, find Broadway (and Off Broadway and regional and every form of theater) magical. <br />
<br />
So I was excited to be going to Broadway Backwards - whether Clay was a part of it or not. I've lost so many dear friends to AIDS and have heard so many stories from my gay and lesbian friends of their journey, I've been supporting organizations like God's Love We Deliver and Broadway Cares for years. So this was a special evening for us to be in the audience. From the first number with <b>Alan Cumming</b><i>s</i> singing <i>"Don't Tell Mama"</i> from <u>Cabaret</u> - I was so happy to be a part of this incredible event. <br />
<br />
Each number was strong and each performer was charismatic and exciting. When<b> Hinton Battle </b>came out to sing <i>Will I ever Tell You?</i> from <u>Music Man</u> . . . oh my goodness I was ecstatic. That man is amazing.<br />
<br />
<b>Debra Monk</b> followed him to sing an emotionally captivating<i> On The Street Where You Live</i> and exited to thunderous applause.<br />
<br />
At this point, I turned to MrNan and said "I'm nervous for Clay". It's not that I don't think Clay has a gorgeous voice and tons of charisma. It's just that the performers on that stage were so full of confidence and owned the stage. Their voices were incredibly strong. They moved with such assurance. And most of all, their ability to tell a story with their voice and body was intense.<br />
<br />
<b>Dan Butler</b> and <b>Kirsten Wyatt</b> (also the hosts) performed <i>I'll Never Be Jealous Again </i>from <u>Pajama Game</u> - a song I used to sing (out of tune always) with my father -- and were sheer joy.<br />
<br />
Then <b>Lillias White</b> (from Fela) tore it up with a Ray Charles arrangement of <i>Some Enchanted Evening</i> from<u> South Pacific</u> and was followed by <b>Brian Charles Rooney's </b>impassioned version of <i>One Halloween/But Alive</i> from <u>Applause</u> to close the first act with a bravura performance.<br />
<br />
By this point I was more than nervous. I was worried. These people were such pros. So much talent on that stage. Everything about this show was first-rate. The orchestra was wonderful. The staging of the numbers were great. The dance ensemble was perfect. It was everything I love about live performance. The audience knew these performers. They had seen them in shows. There was so much respect. Every time they brought a standing microphone out onto the stage - I grabbed MrNan's hand thinking . . . "this is Clay".<br />
<br />
The second act started and I fell in love with <b>Bobby Steggert</b> who (along with <b>Robin De Jesus</b>) sang <i>The Trolly Song</i> from <u>Meet Me In St. Louis</u>. I just read he's going to star in the 2012 Broadway show of Disney's Dumbo. This young man is a-mazing.<br />
<br />
So next they bring out the standing mic - hand grab - but it's <b>Len Cariou</b>. I have seen that man in countless shows - the first time in <u>Applause</u> with <b>Lauren Bacall</b> and most recently in last season's Damages on tv. He is the epitome of a professional to me. He blew me away with <i>Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered</i> from <u>Pal Joey</u>. What a story teller. Touching, funny, poignent.<br />
<br />
The mic stayed there and I almost didn't want it to be Clay because I didn't want him to have to follow the applause Len Cariou got. Someone I was not familiar with at all walked out, <b>Tituss Burgess</b> and he sang a song I was not familiar with called <i>Stars and the Moon</i> from a show I'm not familiar with -- <u>Songs For a New World</u>. He originated the role of Sebastian in <u>Little Mermaid</u> and he's got a high tenor voice. He was mesmerizing. The song started and I wasn't sure where it was going and he had such amazing voice control and then there were punchlines and funny stuff and his timing was brilliant and the end hits you with an emotional pop. Wow.<br />
<br />
They clear the mic away for <b>Bebe Neuwirth </b>to kill on <i>All I Care About Is Love</i> from <u>Chicago</u> - and at this point I'm thinking . . . "maybe Clay is sick and he can't perform".<br />
<br />
<b>Tony Yazbeck</b> blows the audience away with <i>The Music and the Mirror</i> from <u>Chorus Line</u> and <b>Brooks Ashmanskas</b> and <b>Denis O'Hare</b> are totally adorable doing <i>Marry The Man Today</i> from <u>Guys and Dolls</u> and it's getting late. But now they bring the mic out again and I grab MrNan's hand.<br />
<br />
Previously, for every performer - Dan and Kirsten give a short introduction with what shows they did or are doing on Broadway and what Tonys they have been nominated for or won. But now they start talking about a young gay woman who committed suicide and the plight of LGBT youth and said the next song is dedicated to her. Then simply, Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Mr. <b>Clay Aiken</b>. And BAM. He sold it. His voice has such nuance. It's not a straight "Broadway" voice. There's a bit of "pop" to it. But he had power and range and beautiful texture to it. I remember thinking when they announced his name - there was nice applause but not the kind of name recognition and excitement you got when Len Cariou or Bebe Neuwirth were announced. Or Debra Monk or Karen Oliva (from West Side Story). This was a Broadway crowd. They weren't excited that it was Clay. They were waiting. <br />
<br />
My fandom has changed over the last year or so. I adore Clay but I don't listen to him as often as I used to. I'm happy when his songs come up on my iPod but I don't usually seek them out. I don't download clack very much. But when I see him live and he delivers like he did last night - I remember how he touches my very soul. He reached that audience. He sang for that young woman and all all the youth who have been bullied or felt alone and wanted to know there was a safe place called <i>Home</i>. He made a believer of those people sitting in the audience and when he was done they showed him their love and appreciation - not just for his talent - but for his story as well. And I felt it all over again.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pmo7f-9QCxo" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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No video does justice to live performances. Support the arts. <br />
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* * * *<br />
Please support <a href="http://www.broadwaycares.org/home">Broadway Cares</a> and thank for them for wonderful work they do.<br />
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* * * *<br />
Thank you <b>toni7babe</b> for the photo and <b>gingerscarlett</b> for the video.<br />
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<div align="right">Technorati Tags:<br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway+Backwards" rel="tag">Broadway Backwards</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Equity+Cares" rel="tag">Equity Cares</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Alan+Cummings" rel="tag">Alan Cummings</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hinton+Battle" rel="tag">Hinton Battle</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Debra+Monk" rel="tag">Debra Monk</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dan+Butler" rel="tag">Dan Butler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kirsten+Wyatt" rel="tag">Kirsten Wyatt</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lillias+White" rel="tag">Lillias White</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brian+Charles+Rooney" rel="tag">Brian Charles Rooney</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Steggert" rel="tag">Bobby Steggert</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Len+Cariou" rel="tag">Len Cariou</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tituss+Burgess" rel="tag">Tituss Burgess</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bebe%20Neuwirth" rel="tag">Bebe Neuwirth</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tony%20Yazbeck" rel="tag">Tony Yazbeck</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brooks+Ashmanskas" rel="tag">Brooke Ashmanskas</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Denis+O'Hare" rel="tag">Denis O'Hare</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Gods+Love+We+Deliver" rel="tag">Gods Love We Deliver</a> </div>The ConCLAYve-Nanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08373684206492175397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-19049393705412592102011-01-31T18:52:00.006-05:002011-02-01T15:00:15.722-05:00Skate Where The Puck Is Going To Be<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaKk_YL_Y6mp6SKiLR5aPn22g-2W5qhlfzH05LeOHUlYXtJycGVAQqeY5zQTjs3ARQaNTM-HYeO3V9Nh9gL_JgOoPCerCvpnaoyO6YwARYBYnBscZpGtVCVASr5jrZZKuqbEr/s1600/wayne-gretzky-21.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaKk_YL_Y6mp6SKiLR5aPn22g-2W5qhlfzH05LeOHUlYXtJycGVAQqeY5zQTjs3ARQaNTM-HYeO3V9Nh9gL_JgOoPCerCvpnaoyO6YwARYBYnBscZpGtVCVASr5jrZZKuqbEr/s200/wayne-gretzky-21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568506063448217058" /></a> Wayne Gretzky once said that he doesn’t skate where the puck is, but rather where it is going to be. He anticipated the next move, took the risk and that is what made him stand out from his peers.<br /><br />Singing the Star Spangled Banner is a risk in and of itself as most singers who have attempted it will tell you. It’s a densely written poem that doesn’t lend itself to easy memorization of words or cadence and its got a few killer notes sprinkled amongst the 1.5 octaves of the song. The Urban Dictionary calls it the “sorting hat” of songs as it separates the great vocalists from the flash in the pan pop fad of the moment. Many contemporary singers change it up because they simply can’t sing it as written. Singing the anthem at a sporting event is even tougher because it is often done a cappella. Of course if you’re in an indoor venue, you have the lovely challenge of a 2-4 second audio delay so your voice reverberates back in your face. You’re singing one verse yet hearing another. I’ve had to give a presentation with that problem, it’s massively confusing and all I had to do was read the PowerPoint slides, not get my vocal chords to stretch in ways that probably make them angry. So a tip of my hat to all who sing it and sing it well.<br /><br />But those are the known risks. And those should be all there is, especially when you’re singing in your hometown. The hometown where you grew up and where you returned despite hitting the big time and it probably behooves your career to live in LA and NY instead. The hometown where you intend to educate your child. The hometown where your support local arts and local children's charities. Yet, in the case of the NHL All-Star game, that very scenario actually created risks. Risks of being booed, risks of people being so full of themselves who think that standing there in a protest as tiny as their…..ears…and not applauding somehow makes anyone look bad but themselves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuwCGyJgE1NARsMBPGu5pPPU3ryy74-4lDyXeAdIkrN28Lx7IA7QcnNE3IvzjbC7pkHN3nh8ntPdIZvVOsZ0rSM8AEHkh8HekyyU2RwmLcci1wa-NPQJOpr9V6mkJxHooJO1r/s1600/SSB+lumberjack.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuwCGyJgE1NARsMBPGu5pPPU3ryy74-4lDyXeAdIkrN28Lx7IA7QcnNE3IvzjbC7pkHN3nh8ntPdIZvVOsZ0rSM8AEHkh8HekyyU2RwmLcci1wa-NPQJOpr9V6mkJxHooJO1r/s200/SSB+lumberjack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568510235009533970" /></a>So Clay Aiken skated where the puck was going to be. He walked out, tall and proud and sang that ridiculously difficult song-the one ironically (or perhaps fittingly) about persevering while under fire. And he nailed it like Zdeno Chara nails a slapshot. And the vast majority of the fans in the audience applauded; for the song, for the singer and for their gladiators on the ice. And then he walked out with his head held high to prepare for a charitable event on Broadway next Monday and his tour which begins on February 10th. The same tour where VIP packages are being auctioned off at every venue and he’ll give up part of his personal time to raise money for his children’s charity. <br /><br />I’m no Pollyanna. He’ll drive me crazy at times when he digs in his heels against things that are good for him. I was as relieved that he didn’t have unflattering mile high spikes as I was that he sang so well and had just the right amount of stubble. But I know a good man when I see one. And I saw one yesterday standing on the RBC ice.<br /><br />On a secondary note, I need to follow hockey again. Most of the guys I remembered when I followed the Bruins didn’t look as good as those guys yesterday. Besides, I need something to watch until baseball season starts, right?<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RRsXE3qyUd0" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/NHL" rel="tag">NHL</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/All+Star" rel="tag">All Star</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Carolina+Hurricanes" rel="tag">Carolina Hurricanes</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/National+Anthem" rel="tag">National Anthem</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/RBC+Center”rel="tag">RBC Center</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/NBC" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Zdeno+Chara" rel="tag">Zdeno Chara</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Wayne+Gretzky" rel=tag">Wayne Gretzky</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-22724822094960036112010-12-13T22:19:00.008-05:002010-12-14T22:05:51.212-05:00Dear Mark Burnett,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zPqHXqlhIcHiiQ_ITDXOLQMjemdXlKsA6RmzSfzhgdjSV8uXhhjwkuvu3-krsX0M95B9VFg254ocMxamEHMUal9CX6i_3PXsMuUsOCLErhmQ9cpmFJV0EiqTG1Ea3uk_Im0f/s1600/mark-burnett-picture-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zPqHXqlhIcHiiQ_ITDXOLQMjemdXlKsA6RmzSfzhgdjSV8uXhhjwkuvu3-krsX0M95B9VFg254ocMxamEHMUal9CX6i_3PXsMuUsOCLErhmQ9cpmFJV0EiqTG1Ea3uk_Im0f/s200/mark-burnett-picture-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550377891922334338" /></a> I was reading my news online this evening and noticed an <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40647380/ns/today-entertainment/">article</a> by Reuters about a new singing competition show that is being produced by Mark Burnett for NBC. The same Mark Burnett that brought Survivor, The Apprentice and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader to TV.<br /><br />The article notes that in this case, the judges would also serve as coaches and would be four currently popular performing artists. The cool thing about it is that the contestants would have to perform while the coaches had their backs to them; because in the end you have to have the <span style="font-style:italic;">voice</span> before you have anything else. Hence, the title of the show is The Voice.<br /><br />It would be great to actually find singers who can sing live. So many of today’s most popular singers are pro-tooled within an inch of their life. So, as soon as I read that article I wanted to find Mark Burnett’s phone number and text him four letters…C L A Y. But something tells me that Mr. Burnett’s number is unlisted so in today’s electronic age, I am composing this internet plea.<br /><br />Dear Mr. Burnett,<br /><br />*You will need a recognizable name to both the music audience and the television audience. Who better than the person who helped put American Idol on the map in 2003 and became a household name? And how sweet would it be to give Idol a run for their money with one of their own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AFSVm4UDrhDgoyQP59wOFAaavpSpn6JbHc9ANigmqFeMFos8UIBfBP80P_YGy1WQBRhXrC2TQfzJ5Hgyacrr5j-f1h0ZrqV3AZqOK0L5x6w9U7K5nH3WRUFI-PCl1EDrf66o/s1600/nice+profile.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AFSVm4UDrhDgoyQP59wOFAaavpSpn6JbHc9ANigmqFeMFos8UIBfBP80P_YGy1WQBRhXrC2TQfzJ5Hgyacrr5j-f1h0ZrqV3AZqOK0L5x6w9U7K5nH3WRUFI-PCl1EDrf66o/s200/nice+profile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550378060271283426" /></a>*The article states that the coaches will have to perform too. How about a guy who had to sing live under pressure for sixteen weeks? Have you seen some of the music award shows lately and heard these people without their autotune? He’s got the years of experience performing on live television as an entertainer, a talk show guest with comedic flair and even a co-host.<br /><br />*You’ll need someone to bring ratings and Clay Aiken brought pretty big ratings to your Fifth Grader show when he was on during celebrity week. Think of the buzz of him competing against the show that gave him his start.<br /><br />*You need someone who can help your contestants as both a judge and a coach. Clay served in this role for David Foster’s Star Search and did a great job. He was funny, he was insightful and he gave sound advice from a perspective that only one performer can give to another. Plus, who better to help them go from being an ordinary citizen to handling sudden fame?<br /><br />*He’s a touring machine and could offer exposure to your contestants as a potential opening act.<br /><br />As an added bonus, you’ll get a fandom that is very organized, tech savvy and loyal. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwdrCFyIrxLDuAw0eByywdaIik8xLx9Vw1vVFS-2gdWMiBCMUI4cxc4nM9yEYC7JM0D155rA2_WAPg1uRgttSDAuqNX864TbzdO6OqyyZy9oZixD3L3eYrQarcqmN8XFD5hm/s1600/stoopclay.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwdrCFyIrxLDuAw0eByywdaIik8xLx9Vw1vVFS-2gdWMiBCMUI4cxc4nM9yEYC7JM0D155rA2_WAPg1uRgttSDAuqNX864TbzdO6OqyyZy9oZixD3L3eYrQarcqmN8XFD5hm/s200/stoopclay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550378350395584258" /></a><br />All I ask is that you give him a stylist who has a personal aversion to spiked hair. This look will do.<br /><br /><br /><br />How 'bout it, Mark?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Survivor" rel="tag">Survivor</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mark+Burnett" rel="tag">Mark Burnett</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/The+Voice" rel="tag">The Voice</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Roma+Downey" rel="tag">Roma Downey</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/The+Apprentice”rel="tag">The Apprentice</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/NBC" rel="tag">NBC</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Donald+Trump" rel="tag">Donald Trump</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/coach" rel=tag">coach</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/pop+music" rel="tag">pop music</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fifth+Grader" rel="tag">Fifth Grader</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jeff+Foxworthy" rel="tag">Jeff Foxworthy</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Foster" rel="tag">David Foster</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Paul+Telegedy" rel="tag">Paul Telegedy</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-49573684641849537002010-10-17T00:01:00.018-04:002010-10-17T09:58:26.029-04:00Breathe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY9Xj8XSoFLHlMH8Y1kLBbJndvM6OQ8OmxgKMWuReOwParSmo1cN-xNVzTKZBYlX3S6EOlyGcsM0iXqe-dosXWZDFv8Rpqfhd6CVVsrMAp3mWEafyhv45Xwok0CyNwu6yMjlj/s1600/Listen+to+music.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY9Xj8XSoFLHlMH8Y1kLBbJndvM6OQ8OmxgKMWuReOwParSmo1cN-xNVzTKZBYlX3S6EOlyGcsM0iXqe-dosXWZDFv8Rpqfhd6CVVsrMAp3mWEafyhv45Xwok0CyNwu6yMjlj/s200/Listen+to+music.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528860425563608194" /></a> <br />Every now and then, a singer whose voice fills my every sense, will offer a performance that stands out from all the others. Sometimes it is a rocking performance that gives you chills for the power and control, like the ones I have shown in my last few blogs. And sometimes it is a ballad where you don’t breathe until it’s over. There have been a number of both kinds of performances over the years. They fill my memory bank and trickle into my days on long drives or whisper to me in quiet moments before I drift off to sleep.<br /><br />I can hear him and I can picture myself, right down to where I was sitting. <span style="font-style:italic;">In My Life</span> from the PBS taping in March, 2010. How do you sing with a lump in your throat? Meadowbrook in Gilford, NH (2005) where I cried silent tears for an acoustic version of <span style="font-style:italic;">I Can’t Make You Love Me</span> that he sang directly in front of me from about the 10th row. The Mann Center in Philadelphia in 2006 where we heard <span style="font-style:italic;">Lover All Alone</span> for the first time, and I rubbed Nan’s back as the song took hold of her. Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2004 for <span style="font-style:italic;">Measure of a Man</span> that the audience sang <span style="font-style:italic;">to</span> him, followed by the most tender version of <span style="font-style:italic;">Fields of Gold</span> imaginable. You could almost see his voice as if it was a summer breeze caressing the tops of wheat stalks bending gently to the music.<br /><br />This weekend was the annual fund raising gala for Clay Aiken’s <a href="http://www.inclusionproject.org">National Inclusion Project.</a> As with all the galas, they offered awards to those Champions for Inclusion and auctions to raise money for this incredibly worthy cause. He ends the event with a short performance as a way of thanking the donors. He’ll sing from whatever album is out and and then add a song we've never heard from him before. At this gala he added a special song, a Joni Mitchell song made his own through changes in key, tempo and melody. A song beautifully signed by volunteer Deb Leicey and he positioned her right beside him, because inclusion is always in his heart. Her hands became another instrument on the stage.<br /><br />Those songs that were classified as pop (or folk) back when pop wasn't a four letter word thanks to today's singers who can barely sing, are as suited to him as the pop/rock style of Alone. I heard someone say recently that he has a theatrical quality voice that sings contemporary pop better than anyone. And it is so true. I felt like I heard <span style="font-style:italic;">Both Sides Now</span> for the first time on Saturday. Granted, I was in elementary school when it was released but I remember vividly my twenty-something mother sitting on an orange shag carpet in the living room trying to learn the chords on her guitar. I can’t wait to send her this clip.<br /><br />I know there are people out there who can still write like this. He’s one of them. I hope someday soon, he’ll believe it too. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x6bvaB6xrT8?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x6bvaB6xrT8?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Visit those other performances here:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P277MdNJBPY">In My Life</a></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNZMf9ihTNw">I Can't Make You Love Me</a></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtcVtAfszVk">Lover All Alone</a></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Njjmalj2M">Measure of a Man/Fields of Gold</a></span><br /><div align="right"><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Videographer:Canfly172</span><br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/ballads" rel="tag">ballads</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Joni+Mitchell" rel="tag">Joni Mitchell</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beatles" rel="tag">Beatles</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bonnie+Raitt" rel="tag">Bonnie Raitt</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fields+of+gold" rel="tag">Fields of Gold</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tapestry" rel"tag"="">Tapestry</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/pop+music" rel="tag">pop music</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/National+Inclusion+Project" rel="tag">National Inclusion Project</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Pepsi+Challenge" rel="tag">Pepsi Challenge</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Novik" rel="tag">David Novik</a></div>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-53564055049894452852010-09-24T20:05:00.007-04:002010-09-24T20:15:35.077-04:00Stretch Armstrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5BussAtetRwYdh9tJrjspL0MXkJo2yWmWJEGxqQFLh2vn5-nj0UeXPKwbwgSp4rsg2CpNq24WczSBYGt1B361Tk944r5b_GgmZQBxsG0-zVShQFolZUE0HW_grDF2ukFPMHl/s1600/Singing+hard.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5BussAtetRwYdh9tJrjspL0MXkJo2yWmWJEGxqQFLh2vn5-nj0UeXPKwbwgSp4rsg2CpNq24WczSBYGt1B361Tk944r5b_GgmZQBxsG0-zVShQFolZUE0HW_grDF2ukFPMHl/s320/Singing+hard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514709195657704322" /></a> Can being too good be a bad thing? Clay Aiken noted in an interview this summer that his most recent album was recorded in Germany and he did 15 full vocals in 3 days. The songs were comfortable for him and he found it easy to sing them. Some might find this rather impressive, after all there are a few songs on the album that not every singer can do. The odd thing is that I found it left me with a rather unsettled feeling.<br /><br />I don’t necessarily want him to sing songs where he’s too comfortable. Why? Well personally, I think he sounds best when he’s stretched. Listening to Clay sing old standards reminds me of watching a major league baseball slugger playing in a minor league ballpark. Sure, he’ll hit it out of the park-but so what. He should. And after 4-5 home runs in a row, even though you're impressed with the skill, it risks losing its punch.<br /><br />Of course, I don’t want him to sing where he straining his voice. But are those few notes in Boston’s <span style="font-style:italic;">More Than a Feeling</span> much different than the entire last chorus of his <span style="font-style:italic;">All is Well</span> Christmas encore song?<br /><br />He’s stretched when he sings pop rock songs and simply he nails them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxEXU3hpX1wmmWHXFIuZ4la0HMao4A6XgxotEJUFjJph2OmTYSExUk4hUJ4mpOBtHBhw1lsVUlWQ-oDtqnE-Ht7_5ry4d5GANMY0Usiaz1veIqiaq9mKvzsRQ1wwGLE6jSFx0/s1600/stretch_armstrong_toy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxEXU3hpX1wmmWHXFIuZ4la0HMao4A6XgxotEJUFjJph2OmTYSExUk4hUJ4mpOBtHBhw1lsVUlWQ-oDtqnE-Ht7_5ry4d5GANMY0Usiaz1veIqiaq9mKvzsRQ1wwGLE6jSFx0/s200/stretch_armstrong_toy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520628405035259730" /></a>He's stretched when he sings funky/bluesy sounding songs like <span style="font-style:italic;">Everything I Don’t Need</span>. He even described how the song was a stretch for him but his performance at the 2008 Gala for his charity was one of the best performances of any song I’ve ever seen him sing.<br /><br />He’s stretched when he dances a little; until you watch him on stage and you realize how naturally his body moves to the music and how he can’t really help it.<br /><br />So, why should he stretch?<br /><br />Because he can. Because a talent this big deserves something better than songs half the world has covered and that are somebody else’s signature song.<br /><br />Because it makes for a more interesting performance.<br /><br />Because after awhile, it won’t be a stretch any more.<br /><br />I’m sure I’m projecting personal preference here but I saw more joy and fun when he was on stage singing songs that weren’t standards. When he’s singing contemporary music, it’s all about the performance where singer and song matter at least equally or if anything the vocal ability matters more. When he’s singing standards, it seems to be more about the song itself. Like, "Listen! Isn’t this song timeless?"<br /><br />They say those songs can stand the test of time. But at what point does a standard become just an old song, sounding dated rather than timeless. (I'm talking the song here, not the performance. The man can sing like no other.) His interviews talk about how nobody will be singing today’s songs in 50 years. My response is why do they have to? Why can’t we just enjoy them now? Sure, there’s a lot of auto-tuned crap on the radio right now, but there’s still good material there. He’s already proven he can write with the best of them. His song Lover All Alone is probably one of the best written and most haunting ballads in the last decade.<br /><br />In three weeks, I’ll have the privilege of sitting in a Chicago theater as I enjoy a PBS fund raising concert of songs from his album of standards, Tried and True. I’ll enjoy it immensely, as watching him sing is a complete extra sensory experience. I was at the taping of his PBS special for Tried and True, Live! and it was a magical night. I've got tickets for three shows of his full <a href="http://www.clayaiken.com/events">Tried and True Tour</a> next February. <br /><br />But on the flight home, I’ll set my ipod to contemporary songs that made him reach beyond his comfort zone and proved just how good he is. Here's a little taste, courtesy of Scarlett's video from Hampton, New Hampshire.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeAXVnSvaEQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KeAXVnSvaEQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJqIYyWDx7tD5hJ1eo4NQ4R2QSrBiku_9auXFE0Q-VCvy9yIef4E0lJ3p0XpRP8E7gG4rNQfrosh6aELf9k7msbh1-rgRPtw-334AAHxqr9ZZjIl2J2oI4-yTZyTltYxyyXYg/s1600/Reach+yellow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJqIYyWDx7tD5hJ1eo4NQ4R2QSrBiku_9auXFE0Q-VCvy9yIef4E0lJ3p0XpRP8E7gG4rNQfrosh6aELf9k7msbh1-rgRPtw-334AAHxqr9ZZjIl2J2oI4-yTZyTltYxyyXYg/s320/Reach+yellow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514709314882002306" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Reach, Clay.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right">Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Spamalot" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tom+Schotz" rel="tag">Tom Schotz</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brad+Delp" rel="tag">Brad Delp</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiana+Parler" rel="tag">Quiana Parler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruben+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fate" rel="tag">fate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Timeless" rel"tag"="">Timeless</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mister+Mister" rel="tag">Mister Mister</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tour" rel="tag">Tour</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/U2" rel="tag">U2</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/pop+music" rel="tag">pop music</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/More+Than+a+Feeling" rel="tag">More Than a Feeling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Still+The+One" rel="tag">Still the One</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Casey+Thompson" rel="tag">Casey Thompson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chicago" rel="tag">Chicago</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chaka+Khan" rel="tag">Chaka Khan</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Nancy+Wilson" rel="tag">Nancy Wilson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/variety+show" rel="tag">variety show</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Novik" rel="tag">David Novik</a></div>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-77053698289678142812010-08-13T19:59:00.025-04:002010-08-14T18:53:41.868-04:00Born to be Wild<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtWo0I4M_6X2zYi-PgN7vxuH0-yhiRcXfzZbYw0hpNLjEqI2j2zggu3_AToTtygSHet9xiBJBTShcjoIwVP7AVpo21-mssFu1LP9jyDQmtKPdPf1o180_1PVkYwQ4_ON9XfXq/s1600/Clay+yellow+shirt+profile.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505090858129511298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtWo0I4M_6X2zYi-PgN7vxuH0-yhiRcXfzZbYw0hpNLjEqI2j2zggu3_AToTtygSHet9xiBJBTShcjoIwVP7AVpo21-mssFu1LP9jyDQmtKPdPf1o180_1PVkYwQ4_ON9XfXq/s320/Clay+yellow+shirt+profile.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 310px;" /></a>I spent most of the last week on the road to see Clay Aiken’s Timeless Tour, put on for appreciative crowds with good buddy Ruben Studdard. I saw three shows in three very different venues and left each one with three different memories. And images that I cannot get out of my head.<br /><br />Before I tell you about these images and thoughts, I’d like to thank the rest of the gang who worked tirelessly on this show that was part walk through the history of music, part variety show and part night club dance.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ruben:</span> I never knew you had such a mischievous funny bone in you. Your voice is like smooth, chocolate silk and even though no one can replace Karen Carpenter’s version of Superstar in my heart, I do recognize the passion that you bring to it. Thank you for loving him and letting it show.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLf8dHwoslnJ4fTYZpaYS9-OJMzfnSyfMaJNdqBiCnyPSTzCCWssY3ArfUc9bx4Tzr5nh4s8ujiKqxRdeZsW3IJvwlSI1ZlW9Kk2NuXz-TE88hcKDu5_tZouuh9j-F6cO-3LL/s1600/Quiana.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505090102153356642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLf8dHwoslnJ4fTYZpaYS9-OJMzfnSyfMaJNdqBiCnyPSTzCCWssY3ArfUc9bx4Tzr5nh4s8ujiKqxRdeZsW3IJvwlSI1ZlW9Kk2NuXz-TE88hcKDu5_tZouuh9j-F6cO-3LL/s200/Quiana.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Quiana</span>: Effortless singing with perfect pitch combined with just the right amount of sass. I can’t imagine a Clay Aiken tour without you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Casey:</span> Welcome to controlled chaos. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh-rP5TXZxnNdxd7qVXyAMPxBLZEoC36LNG4tc1uiPuIRbEEYq5Mdkezc2n-Irz1AuW3_9AMDi56TnqFAuAF_ioMSLntDKw4XLosEQEvfihZxnj5tLAQHZNAw7x9ljBB_f83j/s1600/Clay+Casey+kiss.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505089286483241266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFh-rP5TXZxnNdxd7qVXyAMPxBLZEoC36LNG4tc1uiPuIRbEEYq5Mdkezc2n-Irz1AuW3_9AMDi56TnqFAuAF_ioMSLntDKw4XLosEQEvfihZxnj5tLAQHZNAw7x9ljBB_f83j/s200/Clay+Casey+kiss.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a> It’s hard not to hate you for being a size 1.5 when you are up there singing your heart out with a sense of wonderment on your face. I hope you enjoyed it too. Oh but we do have to hate on you just a little bit for this.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnwdBywVqejOp3TCWdMKU_oGeIhoncIdqoMGMgdIsnDgRx3MfHkkWt9AIP_E2oXN1MuHYAIuEmDB-S_vOVCOSTK0UrhGALF_N5ArsDsDZOjPtE3IweGGsREyDyMIpJidUpl-s/s1600/Felix.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505090292825111522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnwdBywVqejOp3TCWdMKU_oGeIhoncIdqoMGMgdIsnDgRx3MfHkkWt9AIP_E2oXN1MuHYAIuEmDB-S_vOVCOSTK0UrhGALF_N5ArsDsDZOjPtE3IweGGsREyDyMIpJidUpl-s/s200/Felix.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Band:</span> With a little bit of Ruben ( bass, guitar and keyboard) and a little bit of Clay (musical director, drums and backup singers), you guys were great. And a special thanks to <span style="font-style: italic;">Felix Pollard</span>, one kick-ass drummer and the best Clay has ever had. You make every song better. We’ve missed you!<br /><br /><br /><br />So back to my concert memories.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Foxwoods:</span> I brought my husband who isn’t a “fan” but does think Clay puts on a great show. This venue was large, packed and just a little bit sterile. Maybe because the ceilings are so high but it’s not small enough for an intimate concert and not large enough for that loud arena feel. My husband liked the melodies but the sound was not great where we sat and he had trouble hearing the comedy. He did hear enough to say that Clay talks very fast! Funny thing for a life long Northeast man to say about a guy from the South. Clay proved once again that he can pick a situation in the audience and make comic gold out of it, by finding a man in the front row who appeared to be sleeping and running with it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Hampshire:</span> A day driving along the Maine coast ended with seeing this concert in a “large, dark and divey” venue that was filled to the brim. It’s amazing that this venue gets some well known acts every year. The bad news is that we were packed in there. The good news is that my fourth row seat at a table meant we were six feet from the stage. We saw the smirks, the asides (Ruben saying to Clay “I can’t hear, man”) and how they worked to make the set-up something you forgot about when the first note was played. The venue felt like it had quite a large percentage of the non core fanbase and we managed to find a way to dance in our tiny little cracks of space in between tables. There is something about seeing that face up close when he is performing that increases my joy at a concert about 1000 fold. And I scooped a drumstick left by Felix at the end of the show.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York:</span> A screw-up by Live Nation/Ticketmaster of biblical proportions because they messed up the seating arrangement on Ticketmaster when they sold the tickets (by stating the non orchestra was standing room only, which was not only false but likely deterred ticket sales) and again by changing the venue at the last minute to one that could not possibly accommodate the amount of tickets sold nor the configuration in which they were purchased. Our seating was disappointing but the guys seemed to know that there were many unhappy people and they cranked it up a notch. The gold lame Hammer pants were a nice touch. When Ruben walked out, the crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative in our applause but when Clay walked out the crowd was on their feet en masse. Decca Records was there. I hope they noticed that. Actually, I hope it was one of many things they noticed that night.<br /><br />Clay can sing just about anything and he does it even better live. (The production on his latest CD is quite good but there hasn’t been a sound engineer yet who has been able to capture the magic of his live performance. ) <br /><br />He’s had me dancing and snapping my fingers to a big band version of <span style="font-style: italic;">It’s Only Make Believe</span>. He’s had me holding my breath through a wistful version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Moon River</span>. But , he sings with his whole body when he is singing contemporary pop and pop/rock. And by contemporary I don’t mean the Pro-Tooled crap that is out there now, just not standards of a bygone era. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jYByb8vJEsA5XXX7skclt0hsscTE6BQOyRv2u7wkaW9-UA9mB038O7mrPFrfLH8PVHmt0HlpKnLZ6DtwCmeZsG9nqNt4efPMeuM1aG3jA-oZ2X1SgYSgVXfuwOBGh0zxaaC9/s1600/Clay+wailing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505091287411156114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jYByb8vJEsA5XXX7skclt0hsscTE6BQOyRv2u7wkaW9-UA9mB038O7mrPFrfLH8PVHmt0HlpKnLZ6DtwCmeZsG9nqNt4efPMeuM1aG3jA-oZ2X1SgYSgVXfuwOBGh0zxaaC9/s320/Clay+wailing.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 240px;" /></a>I’ve already written a blog about my ecstasy over Boston’s <span style="font-style: italic;">More Than a Feeling</span> (and would love to hear <span style="font-style: italic;">Long Time</span> too, he can leave off the <span style="font-style: italic;">Foreplay</span> if he wants ;-) But he also just nailed it on Heart’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Alone</span>, Chaka Khan’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Through the Fire</span> or Kenny Loggins’ <span style="font-style: italic;">Footloose</span>. When he sang Footloose with a growled “you’ve got to turn me around”, it just got my heart pumping faster than it already was after dancing in my 3 inch Anne Klein heels. Wednesday night they had the crowd dancing so hard, I thought we were going to stomp our way right through the seven stories of that old Hammerstein Ball Room.<br /><br />If he can nail such recognizable covers like that, why can’t someone write songs for him with that same spirit? Ballads and uptempo songs that can appeal to many generations with a contemporary sound. Aren’t there any other songwriters out there besides Rob Thomas who can write for a strong male voice?<br /><br />I said in my Boston blog that I’ve had my taste of it after watching video and I can move on. <br /><br />I saw three shows live. <br /><br />I lied. I want more of it.<br /><br />Decca Records was there at the New York concert. I hope they saw it all. They love of the fans, the incredible vocal talent and stage presence. The way the fans love to move to Clay prowling around the stage, moving to the beat. The way Clay seems to love it too.<br /><br />So while David Novik is out looking for songs and songwriters to make my wish come true, I’ll just wait for my local PBS station to show Clay’s concert special and hope some smart TV producer puts Clay and Ruben on a summer variety show in 2011. <br /><br />Heck, they could also show commercials of Clay selling Armani suits. Hasn’t any one noticed this man wears a suit as good as any model out there?<br /><br />In the meantime, go ahead and watch this and I dare you not to head bob toward your monitor and tap your finger against your mouse.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ipJM3qr71gY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ipJM3qr71gY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUzoc0I5e32jCuDomyNgC0z8C0RrOdqe9Mw0JtO024jELDtRWMS5HD9MX51hrjnG-XqkAO6G2eIfg4bD_tqKqtu5ENRcfSpI5lNuM57m5LGO-wl8IaReaW6mcAaAXkeALkYb8/s1600/Ruben+small+stool.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505089072442539714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUzoc0I5e32jCuDomyNgC0z8C0RrOdqe9Mw0JtO024jELDtRWMS5HD9MX51hrjnG-XqkAO6G2eIfg4bD_tqKqtu5ENRcfSpI5lNuM57m5LGO-wl8IaReaW6mcAaAXkeALkYb8/s200/Ruben+small+stool.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 186px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a>Thanks, Clay. It was a blast. You can let Ruben have the bigger stool now. Yours is going to be so tall, you might get a nose bleed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right">Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Spamalot" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tom+Schotz" rel="tag">Tom Schotz</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brad+Delp" rel="tag">Brad Delp</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiana+Parler" rel="tag">Quiana Parler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruben+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fate" rel="tag">fate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Timeless" rel"tag"="">Timeless</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mister+Mister" rel="tag">Mister Mister</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tour" rel="tag">Tour</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/U2" rel="tag">U2</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/pop+music" rel="tag">pop music</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/More+Than+a+Feeling" rel="tag">More Than a Feeling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Still+The+One" rel="tag">Still the One</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Casey+Thompson" rel="tag">Casey Thompson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Rob+Thomas" rel="tag">Rob Thomas</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chaka+Khan" rel="tag">Chaka Khan</a>,,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Nancy+Wilson" rel="tag">Nancy Wilson</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Karen+Carpenter" rel="tag">Karen Carpenter</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Armani+suit" rel="tag">Armani Suit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/variety+show" rel="tag">variety show</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Live+Nation" rel="tag">Live Nation</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Novik" rel="tag">David Novik</a></div>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-56396886003660076492010-07-27T19:32:00.014-04:002010-07-28T22:33:28.085-04:00More Than a Feeling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6rHfw53a22GRSkQdr2y8f5D9oHqULiW8AbARPko8XLyovx8OflFKv4XKm8gWmnB5fWaDEBs5vNuXk0v1I9Mfv-puP36ceKkJ36puY2EkS8i7eJfF0BWR-G928absxsPbJwsQ/s1600/Timeless+Jeans.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6rHfw53a22GRSkQdr2y8f5D9oHqULiW8AbARPko8XLyovx8OflFKv4XKm8gWmnB5fWaDEBs5vNuXk0v1I9Mfv-puP36ceKkJ36puY2EkS8i7eJfF0BWR-G928absxsPbJwsQ/s320/Timeless+Jeans.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498740306274452610" /></a> The first time I heard that voice, I had more than a feeling that something good was going to happen to him. His voice is distinctive, strong and rich with texture. I suppose if I drank coffee, I could compare it to some blend but all I know is I’ve never heard anything like it. And seven years later, it’s even better. Maturity in both age and wisdom have enriched it. Experience has provided even more control. <br /><br />People have said that they would pay him to hear him sing the phone book. I like to think I’m a little more discriminating than that, I always want to hear hear that voice wrapped around a good song.<br /><br />But I think they use the phonebook example to demonstrate that he can really sing just about anything. And he probably can with the little quirks that are so very Clay Aiken. The fact that he sings the word love as <span style="font-style:italic;">low</span> or that his accent creeps in when he sings Orleans' "Steel" the One. I find I sing along with his unusual pronunciations in my head, to the point where if I heard someone else sing it, I would feel that they were singing a stripped down version of the same song. What’s the matter with them? Don’t they know that last line of Crying is suppose to be sung Crah-ying?<br /><br />We’ve heard him sing pop, with either a ballad like his hit Solitaire or more uptempo stuff like Invisible. We’ve heard him take a pop song and give it a more new age production, like his haunting version of Broken Wings off the 2006 album, <span style="font-style:italic;">A Thousand Different Ways. </span>. He offered up a wonderful blend of many contemporary genres with the original album <span style="font-style:italic;">On My Way Here.</span> And this year, he’s bringing a big band sound to <span style="font-style:italic;">Tried and True</span> classics like Mack the Knife and It’s Only Make Believe. (Even a rap parody he did in 2007 of OPP was actually pretty decent for a tall, skinny white guy.)<br /><br />He's also written and recorded the very indie sounding Lover All Alone. I’ve referred to this song as heartache in the form of a poem set to music. <br /> <br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gtcVtAfszVk&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gtcVtAfszVk&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />But a part of me has always wanted him to rock out a bit every once in a while. Not for a whole album or even in a new direction, his voice is too distinctive to compete in the Hinder Nickeldaughtry space. It would be a waste of talent. But he teased us a bit in 2004 by opening a concert with a U2 song and he nailed it. It left me hungry for just another taste, like that last dessert before the diet that you will finally conquer. The pop and pop/rock songs are more to my liking than a standard like It’s Impossible, even if it is sung by the best voice in the business.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2wZPpYOG_MkXA8cFEYsNE8eoYCQz10BIsrk6SOiNYLlKW6kpoVdXom-zEdw0UKv4sk7vng5yZepyIP2pPn0aEsPaGjaWzHq5lab8xc8oqE13oIi7-pq5Jy1aNwVVIsEJB0n3/s1600/Cluben+Timeless+Tour.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2wZPpYOG_MkXA8cFEYsNE8eoYCQz10BIsrk6SOiNYLlKW6kpoVdXom-zEdw0UKv4sk7vng5yZepyIP2pPn0aEsPaGjaWzHq5lab8xc8oqE13oIi7-pq5Jy1aNwVVIsEJB0n3/s320/Cluben+Timeless+Tour.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498741062125864642" /></a><br />Currently, he’s on tour with Ruben Studdard in a show that has brought the house down every night. They take the audience through four decades of music, combining solos and medleys with a comedic camaraderie that’s as funny as it is charming. <br /><br /><br />Last Friday, about two-thirds of the way through their set, it happened. They were in the middle of the 70’s medley, after a bunch of dance music. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-ThXiBEw0wOouhpPvfMxnLNPHIPunSKHp6VSXZwdbvV9BC54JKxAjgUnJMd1SfNReZZnTf7r15jx5xYhoeC6s0gaxedhZpwnkJJoEcJEtRQ5tpoo1f8BWm5jOVWu4l8IqnDB/s1600/Boston+album.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-ThXiBEw0wOouhpPvfMxnLNPHIPunSKHp6VSXZwdbvV9BC54JKxAjgUnJMd1SfNReZZnTf7r15jx5xYhoeC6s0gaxedhZpwnkJJoEcJEtRQ5tpoo1f8BWm5jOVWu4l8IqnDB/s200/Boston+album.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499102964540623154" /></a> Wait! Is that Boston I hear through my headphones as I watch a piece of captured video? The volume button on my computer is begging for elevation. I have this album on my ipod and I still have the original vinyl. He starts More Than a Feeling and manages to hit an extremely low note before three seconds later transitioning into falsetto and then a full fledged Tom Scholz would be proud Drift Awaaaaaaay rock sing/scream! Holy vocal chords, Batman! <br /> <br />Tell me which male singers out there can sing Boston, Lover All Alone and Mack the Knife and do it all well, and where it’s just about the music. One Voice. Live. No spare parts needed.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lh6Zw9A2V1w&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Lh6Zw9A2V1w&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />OK, I’ve had my taste. And what a taste it was. It was like those breakapart Tollhouse cookies right out of the oven where you need to keep the milk handy because you’re eating the cookies while they are too hot. And you don’t even care about the stomachache that is headed your way or the chocolate all over your face. This Massachusetts girl is happy.<br /><br />The concert plays until August 14th, with cities listed <a href="http://www.clayaiken.com/events">here</a> and some potentially additional ones to be announced in the fall. I still have to wait until August 7th to lose myself in a familiar song. In the meantime, I’ll watch the video, close my eyes and slip away.<br /><br /><br /><p align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Spamalot" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tom+Schotz" rel="tag">Tom Schotz</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brad+Delp" rel="tag">Brad Delp</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiana+Parler" rel="tag">Quiana Parler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruben+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fate" rel="tag">fate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Timeless" rel"tag">Timeless</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Boston" rel="tag">Boston</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mister+Mister" rel="tag">Mister Mister</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tour" rel="tag">Tour</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/U2" rel="tag">U2</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tollhouse+Cookies" rel="tag">Tollhouse Cookies</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/More+Than+a+Feeling" rel="tag">More Than a Feeling</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Still+The+One" rel="tag">Still the One</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Casey+Thompson" rel="tag">Casey Thompson</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-19902023865164273942010-06-25T18:54:00.000-04:002010-06-25T18:54:24.399-04:00Traveling the Tried & True Path on Pandora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a3eBbD8SCmdyZgYT9ymZvsahal_y0f0nU1Kkt5ZMUUzfJ5vh8bq9n3Fm_CG-KY5RMxvh9YgAuIitL_CbrqgX2WxSY4lF1iiJKAjw66dIhA3rBH06InM_42Fj8TbfaSRWLj7c/s1600/clayaiken_ditl_1040_65_060910%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0a3eBbD8SCmdyZgYT9ymZvsahal_y0f0nU1Kkt5ZMUUzfJ5vh8bq9n3Fm_CG-KY5RMxvh9YgAuIitL_CbrqgX2WxSY4lF1iiJKAjw66dIhA3rBH06InM_42Fj8TbfaSRWLj7c/s320/clayaiken_ditl_1040_65_060910%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>You all know how much I adore<a href="http://www.pandora.com/"><b>Pandora Radio</b></a> and the whole idea of discovering music based on what your own likes and dislikes are without any "genres", "user ratings" or what's considered "cool" or "radio-friendly". Back in 2006 I first explained how Pandora works in <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2006/07/music-genome-project-or-follow-clay.html">Follow The Clay Path To New Music</a> and since that first blog I always did at least one from each new Clay album: <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/search?q=pandora&updated-max=2006-10-17T19:25:00-04:00&max-results=20">A Thousand Different Ways</a>, and then two for One My Way Here <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2008/06/pandora-path-on-my-way-here.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2008/06/continuing-down-pandora-path-on-my-way.html">Part 2</a> - and imagine my excitement when Pandora added in <b>Clay Aiken's</b> <b><u>Tried And True</u></b>.<br />
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To refresh your memories - from Pandora's About page:<br />
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<blockquote><i>When was the last time you fell in love with a new artist or song?<br />
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At Pandora, we have a single mission: To play only music you'll love.<br />
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To understand just how we do this, and why we think we do it really, really well, you need to know about the Music Genome Project®.<br />
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Since we started back in 2000, we have been hard at work on the Music Genome Project. It's the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Together our team of fifty musician-analysts has been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every song. It takes 20-30 minutes per song to capture all of the little details that give each recording its magical sound - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics ... and more - close to 400 attributes! We continue this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.<br />
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With Pandora you can explore this vast trove of music to your heart's content. Just drop the name of one of your favorite songs or artists into Pandora and let the Genome Project go. It will quickly scan its entire world of analyzed music, almost a century of popular recordings - new and old, well known and completely obscure - to find songs with interesting musical similarities to your choice. Then sit back and enjoy as it creates a listening experience full of current and soon-to-be favorite songs for you.<br />
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You can create up to 100 unique "stations." And you can even refine them. If it's not quite right you can tell it so and it will get better for you.<br />
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The Music Genome Project was founded by musicians and music-lovers. We believe in the value of music and have a profound respect for those who create it. We like all kinds of music, from the most obtuse bebop, to the most tripped-out drum n bass, to the simplest catchy pop tune. Our mission is to help you connect with the music YOU like.<br />
We hope you enjoy the experience! </i></blockquote><br />
So I decided to start my second exploration with one of the songs I've become addicted to on Tried And True - <i>It's Only Make Believe</i>. A quick check of the attributes for this song, Pandora lists:<br />
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<ul><li>jazz influences</li>
<li>acoustic rhythm piano</li>
<li>intricate melodic phrasing</li>
<li>busy horn section</li>
<li>thru composed melodic style</li>
<li>acoustic sonority</li>
<li>major key tonality</li>
<li>mid-tempo swing feel</li>
</ul><br />
And right off the bat, the first song Pandora chose to get a feel for what I like was a song by the <b>Brian Setzer Orchestra</b>. I love Brian Setzer! This song was <i>Love Partners In Crime</i> and the attributes they list are: jazz influences, demanding instrumental part writing, intricate melodic phrasing and busy horn section. Starting off great - thumbs up for me!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx7d8uTvQNUF-IxQ7QVk52emr6909FxN0R4z922-dv2umqcyQvlGSFMpuByHqU4UWwCR_XVfr91QV_XosOA1pCuwd6G9nqbTjWzZztCpKfpvCor_CJJZW93jZct37DnNej41N/s1600/album-magic-time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx7d8uTvQNUF-IxQ7QVk52emr6909FxN0R4z922-dv2umqcyQvlGSFMpuByHqU4UWwCR_XVfr91QV_XosOA1pCuwd6G9nqbTjWzZztCpKfpvCor_CJJZW93jZct37DnNej41N/s200/album-magic-time.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Next came - <b>Van Morrison</b>. Now everyone who knows me knows how I feel about Van Morrison - but who'da thunk he'd be the second song on my Clay Aiken <i>It's Only Make Believe</i> path? They suggested <i>This Love Of Mine</i> from Van's <i>Magic Time</i> album and it was one of two covers he did on that eclectic album. It's also one of the few songs Frank Sinatra wrote the lyrics to. I can definitely hear the similarities to <i>It's Only Make Believe</i>. A quick check of the attributes and sure enough - it's got<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">: jazz influences, mid-tempo swing feel, major key tonality and busy horn section</span> </i>but it's also adding in:<br />
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<ul><li>blues influences</li>
<li>dynamic male vocalist. </li>
</ul><br />
Pandora does this to see what other attributes you might like so it can suggest additional music for you. One person may give this a thumbs down and after enough thumbs down to a blues influence, Pandora won't suggest any more. But for me? I'm a blues fan so of course, thumbs up! A quick click on the song title and it brings up additional information about <i>This Love Of Mine</i>. Similar songs . . . well in addition to<i> Pick Up The Tab </i>by <b>Chris Cain Band </b>and <i>Ain't Gonna Worry No More</i> by <b>Wayne Hancock</b> and <i>How Sweet It Is</i> by<b> Michael Buble</b> . . . two <b>Clay Aiken</b> songs show up . . . <i>There's A Kind of Hush</i> and <i>Mack The Knife</i>. Be still my heart . . . Clay and Van. Now that's a connection most people won't make but that's what is so fabulous about Pandora. <u>It's about the music. Not the hype</u>.<br />
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Continuing with the blues influence, the next song in Pandora's selection was <i>You Are My Sunshine</i> by <b>Marva Wright,</b> the Blues Queen of New Orleans, and she's terrific. But Pandora is smart - and they move closer to the attributes we started with by now suggesting <i>I Love Being Here With You</i>. I know this song from one of my Diana Krall albums . . . but this was <b>Queen Latifah's</b> version and no hesitation - thumbs up for sure. I wasn't familiar with her album <i>Trav'lin Light</i> but a quick stop at iTunes added this terrific version to my iPod. Checking in on the song I can see we're back to the jazz influence, busy horn section and mid-tempo swing feel that I found irresistible in<i> It's Only Make Believe</i>.<br />
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<i>Sugar Pie</i> by <b>Nelson Adelard </b>is next up and keeps with the attributes originally discussed but also adds some r&b stylings. I've never heard of Nelson Adelard before but with Pandora it's easy to find out background information on the singers they have selected. Wow - how did I miss him? I love this guy but can't find anything on Amazon or iTunes . . . luckily I found his <a href="http://www.nelsenadelard.com/">Official Website</a> and was able to pick up some songs there. Now you see why I love Pandora? How else would I have ever heard of Nelson Adelard?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCYsvScwR4LbTl4-NrvMWA8eOl6zSVlPInW8pKcgatJ95CzjzfvcNOV2a4EZHa72NhYOhL2s3Z4bGwUaiIL1Wwt99DbPllWA2KH3p1cIOWyvUOqYJbIUoq1oxLEQdDA9mALa8/s1600/roomful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCYsvScwR4LbTl4-NrvMWA8eOl6zSVlPInW8pKcgatJ95CzjzfvcNOV2a4EZHa72NhYOhL2s3Z4bGwUaiIL1Wwt99DbPllWA2KH3p1cIOWyvUOqYJbIUoq1oxLEQdDA9mALa8/s200/roomful.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Roomful of Blues</b> brings more blues and electric instrumentation to the mix and I love this next song, <i>Jona Lee</i> Again, it's a group I'm not familiar with (shame on me!) - so I clicked on them to find out more: A nine-piece outfit for the majority of their existence, Roomful of Blues was founded in Westerly, RI, all the way back in 1967, by guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley. I really love them - and downloaded the whole <u>Standing Room Only </u>album from iTunes. What a great find!<br />
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Obviously there's a reason why I love <i>It's Only Make Believe</i> because song after song is getting a thumbs up and the next one is no exception . . .<b>Duke Robillard</b>. Guess what? He's a founding member of Roomful of Blues! OK - this is making sense. I couldn't buy <i>When Your Lover Has Gone</i> on iTunes but I was able to buy the mp3 from Amazon off the album, <u>Swinging Session with Duke Robillard</u>.<br />
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So my path is heading in a very interesting direction and because it's MY path - and mine alone - I'm probably going to get presented with different songs than another person might - even though we'll both start at<i> It's Only Make Believe</i>. It's all based on what I've given a thumbs up or thumbs down to. But I have to admit - I'm way more thumbs up than down on this ride I'm taking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2qwNFsPk3lxYUy218B3sPcdJfVA0XWccDzLm0Je_58W1wNvqiEaP4yVwl5V7QDcJXbnZfp8wjS5evfeOBvojLk5xY0e4ZEStyVTGiATJGx1-rqIvXFtC5uABinAIQqyYUFie/s1600/Keb-Mo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2qwNFsPk3lxYUy218B3sPcdJfVA0XWccDzLm0Je_58W1wNvqiEaP4yVwl5V7QDcJXbnZfp8wjS5evfeOBvojLk5xY0e4ZEStyVTGiATJGx1-rqIvXFtC5uABinAIQqyYUFie/s200/Keb-Mo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Next song with a big thumbs up was <b>Keb' Mo'</b> and<i> Wake Up Everybody</i>. This brought back some more r&b influences (and another trip to iTunes) to pick up the entire <u>Peace...Back By Popular Demand</u> which is an album of 10 protest and peace songs from the 1960s and 1970s. For me, a hippie who participated in my fair share of protest marches - this album as a gorgeous rending of some important songs like <i>The Times They Are A Changing</i> and <i>Imagine</i> with some wonderful soul-jazz-funk added to them. Am I glad to have discovered this gem!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkrcaQqQ2MM5LtfMaQsHgm75_LDYDF_M8dkgQ-1Lig93P8CKZXhtzPH_1TjDv2qfJXFeeTFfZV3Gf6X9IbRCGoKXXpkUIvEy_4UMMAI9MBhX_b4AMrhGQS28giIZTZdqB3YTE/s1600/clayaiken_ditl_1040_10_060910%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkrcaQqQ2MM5LtfMaQsHgm75_LDYDF_M8dkgQ-1Lig93P8CKZXhtzPH_1TjDv2qfJXFeeTFfZV3Gf6X9IbRCGoKXXpkUIvEy_4UMMAI9MBhX_b4AMrhGQS28giIZTZdqB3YTE/s320/clayaiken_ditl_1040_10_060910%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After my quick trip to iTunes I'm about ready to try another song off Tried and True. I chose <i>What Kind of Fool Am I</i> - which in general terms seems quite different from<i> It's Only Make Believe</i>. But a quick check of the attributes of this song and I see that there are many similarities as well:<br />
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<ul><li>jazz influences</li>
<li>laid-back swing feel</li>
<li>intricate melodic phrasing</li>
<li>through composed melodic style</li>
<li>prominent percussion</li>
<li>acoustic rhythm piano</li>
<li>major key tonality</li>
<li>orchestral arranging</li>
</ul><br />
So my journey starts with <b>Ketty Lester</b> and <i>Lonely People Do Foolish Things</i>. Ketty Lester is a wonderful singer who had a hit in the early 1960s with <i>Love Letters</i> but who's career never really took off. What a treat for Pandora to start off with this little gem who's additional attributes were: r&b influences and vocal-centric aesthetic<br />
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Next up is <b>Brian Setzer</b> (remember him from my previous path with <i>It's Only Make Believe</i>?)! This song is<i> Lonely Avenue</i> from the album <u>Songs From Lonely Avenue</u> . . . A Soundtrack to an Unwritten Film . . . an ode to film noir - great album. Lots of similar attributes and of course, thumbs up from me. I love his version and the guitar solo is fabulous.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>Beyond the Sea</i> - but not Bobby Darin's version - is up next. <b>Matt Belsante</b> - that's a name I'm not familiar with. He's a young man - only 26 now and this song is from his album <u>Blame It On My Youth</u>,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4zE2ocSNj4wvxdUQczXhIUkz3CN1RpHXSel2gq4lrgL73mE7bStfkHlFncc-PgUcZGWZ8VmRh5puwqCIJEywx8NhuXMPEq4BvrmWoTmlXa7hoSaxCWhy35w1QVET-CS8nmQO/s1600/l_53aab8469dfe0f0a413c821abd7e2732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4zE2ocSNj4wvxdUQczXhIUkz3CN1RpHXSel2gq4lrgL73mE7bStfkHlFncc-PgUcZGWZ8VmRh5puwqCIJEywx8NhuXMPEq4BvrmWoTmlXa7hoSaxCWhy35w1QVET-CS8nmQO/s200/l_53aab8469dfe0f0a413c821abd7e2732.jpg" width="200" /></a> recorded when he was only 23! He has a kind of Michael Buble feel to him but I find his voice and style more authentic. I picked up a couple of tunes off this album from iTunes.<br />
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Ohhh - this is fun . . . <b>Harry Nilsson </b>singing <i>Makin' Whoopee!</i> off his<i> A Little Schmilsson in The Night</i> album and just terrific. It's got the usual attributes but also some new ones: <i>string section beds; a light swing groove and orchestral arranging</i>. I just had to pick up this tune!<br />
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Oh look . . .<b> Linda Eder</b> is up next singing <i>This Time Around </i>from her <u>It's No Secret Any More</u> album. Yummy - Linda's version was one my father absolutely adored and played all the time. He discovered her late in his life and her music brought him great pleasure. No hesitation - thumbs up for me! I guess possibly because Linda's voice is theatrical - the next suggestion is a bit too Broadway for me with Pal Joey's Happy Hunting Horn - but that's an easy fix. Click thumbs down and move on to <b>Bonnie Raitt's </b><i>Everything That Touches You.</i> This song adds to the jazz influence and string bed attributes with acoustic rock instrumentation and acoustic rhythm guitars. Thumbs up and I'll be eager to see what this new song does to my path . . . but not tonight as I'm ready to close Pandora down for the evening.<br />
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I know I'm going to be continuing on these musical journeys discovering fabulous old and new music - old and new artists -- familiar and unfamiliar singers -- all from the kernels there were<i> It's Only Make Believe</i> and <i>What Kind of Fool Am I</i>. And what better way to end this blog than a performance of <i>What Kind of Fool Am I</i> by <b>Clay Aiken</b> at <u>Bringing Broadway Home.</u><br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fYkYylTDzG4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fYkYylTDzG4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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Next trip down Pandora I think I'll check out where <b>Unchained Melody</b> and<b> Mack The Knife</b> lead me. This is addictive!<br />
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<i>DISCLAIMER: The photos of Clay Aiken have nothing, zero, nada to do with Pandora or singing these songs or anything . . . they are just simply gorgeous and begged to be used! Thank you to <b>Diana Levine</b>, photographer.</i><br />
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<div align="right">Technorati tags:<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clay Aiken</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Music+Genome+Project" rel="tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Music Genome Project</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+true" rel="tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tried And True</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/It's+Only+Make+Believe" rel="tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's Only Make Believe</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span> <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/What+Kind+Of+Fool+Am+I" rel="tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What Kind Of Fool Am I</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>The ConCLAYve-Nanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08373684206492175397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-35596791327744721882010-06-23T21:10:00.014-04:002010-06-24T07:20:00.651-04:00Destiny's Child Part 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw0UmsTEswIYjUFt74M6ZHtQs1ylxkY8iXSMISpv12HMc1ihZxs6bWMV3KudmCpp-jlq5M58z7KT6XiQ5E8tSVsH0XvMANrLys8UumHb3a6mZ-DTKi4lBnXpAcDI7-hNtIHH7/s1600/Clay+singing+BBH.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw0UmsTEswIYjUFt74M6ZHtQs1ylxkY8iXSMISpv12HMc1ihZxs6bWMV3KudmCpp-jlq5M58z7KT6XiQ5E8tSVsH0XvMANrLys8UumHb3a6mZ-DTKi4lBnXpAcDI7-hNtIHH7/s320/Clay+singing+BBH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486149297032250034" /></a> Two years ago when I started the Destiny’s Child blog that has turned into a Destiny’s Child series, I marveled at what some may think is just a bunch of coincidental events. While I do believe in the occasional coincidence, there’s something to be said for a series of intertwined events, days apart or even decades apart that set your life on a path of higher learning or bigger experiences. I believe life is a series of fateful events influenced by our own decisions and commitment. That feeling of coincidence is really just reinforcement of the fate that awaits you. Or there may be an event that seems like part of every day life that will eventually reveal itself as a connection between past and future.<br /><br />A few months ago, I decided to change jobs. I had heard of a new job opportunity at an iconic international company that would allow me to work in an industry that has always fascinated me. The word on the grapevine was that it is extremely difficult to get hired at this organization. I networked hard and was able to secure a phone interview which ended with an appointment for an onsite interview. Thirty minutes after I hung up the phone, I received a call from my daughter at college. She is studying Public Relations and had to create a mock press release based on an assigned company and she had emailed it to me for review. I opened my email and saw the logo of the company that had just invited me onsite. I had four more events like that happen to me in a ten day period of time. Coincidence? Or was this my own personal version of The Force? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN__1yZFUvm5fbB0s8ImGkZ0vUfwMxnUGm5ReP3J5pV8sXpKQh7MzApHJCkHnORuP3SPeqoE-3rwrRnnNGU0MzWsy70tJQVM96cG5C6KVH-2rocrTeAMqfud2s0LbKFdCWT5tg/s1600/All+cast+BBH.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN__1yZFUvm5fbB0s8ImGkZ0vUfwMxnUGm5ReP3J5pV8sXpKQh7MzApHJCkHnORuP3SPeqoE-3rwrRnnNGU0MzWsy70tJQVM96cG5C6KVH-2rocrTeAMqfud2s0LbKFdCWT5tg/s200/All+cast+BBH.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486148855315342818" /></a> Earlier this week, a number of entertainers who were either native to Raleigh, North Carolina or who had a deep connection to the North Carolina Theater in Raleigh performed at a benefit concert. Performers included Broadway legend (and former NCT director) Terrence Mann along with Broadway singer/actress Lauren Kennedy. Also in the “cast” were actress Sharon Lawrence, and singers Quiana Parler and Clay Aiken-Multi-platinum recording artist, Broadway actor and Raleigh’s unofficial tourism ambassador.<br /><br />He opened the show singing Home from The Wiz. How appropriate. He talked about sitting in the Memorial Auditorium for the first time, while watching a production of Big River starring Marty Moran as Huck Finn. Years later Clay was invited to play Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot on Broadway. The actor preceding him? Marty Moran. I discussed that Circle of Life in Destiny’s Child Part 1. <br /><br />There was a lot of talent in this benefit concert that night. But in the video and audio of the show, a few things were clear to me. First, Clay can sing anything. Fans have always laughed that he can sing the phone book but he seemed determined to prove it. He dueted with various performers and easily slid from Broadway singer to pop singer depending on song and partner. As Nan said, she watched three different Broadway songs from three different shows and saw three different singer/actors. He embodied the song and morphed that embodiment to suit the mood. He sang traditionally and then he played with his voice as if it was an acoustical guitar and a trumpet all rolled into one. In Those Magic Changes from Grease, he seemed to be having a jamming session with himself and all of the Clays were thoroughly enjoying it. <br /><br />And then there was his performance of Mack the Knife. This is such a strange song, it’s about a killer sneaking around slitting people’s throats and yet it's performed with this jazzy flair. What does this have to do with Destiny? Clay sang this song on American Idol in 2003 in the show that put him in the final. He needed to nail the performance, they had changed the words to his previous song at the last minute and he had stumbled a bit. That night found a young man on stage who was feeling the pressure to nail it.Sing it big and they will like it. This week it was the seasoned professional who sang a sadistic song with a sassy, grooving ease. He felt no pressure to nail it because he owned it the minute he opened his mouth.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q-BByPuoOGg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q-BByPuoOGg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />As an aside, what is UP with his voice? The man has always had a voice better than 90 percent of the singers out there and it improves when he’s live on stage. But 2010 Clay? His voice is even better technically and the notes are effortless as always but there’s something more there now.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0Eca-BMFiKL0krT1-ZZZpusL6erzYhfXFC7-fO5SR5tYbrJweiO7oWIo-_DL9USj3yWdNmIkhiLk9wbjXGknNjyZNis14RqwIHp6IxNe29AEpWGYbQoIi_FUGWtIovyQCSER/s1600/Clay+BBH+thoughtful.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0Eca-BMFiKL0krT1-ZZZpusL6erzYhfXFC7-fO5SR5tYbrJweiO7oWIo-_DL9USj3yWdNmIkhiLk9wbjXGknNjyZNis14RqwIHp6IxNe29AEpWGYbQoIi_FUGWtIovyQCSER/s200/Clay+BBH+thoughtful.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486149017594996130" /></a> I feel a joy and abandonment in his singing that I haven’t seen in a few years. I was thinking about it today as I was driving home from work (at that iconic new company that ultimately hired me last month). He sings with a sense of freedom to explore and experiment. He sings with no pressure, likely born from working with a new record label that finally, in his own words, <em>gets him</em>. He sings with hope. Does he sense the hand of destiny too?<br /><br />So what else did our sister Destiny have in store for him this week? Sure, he stood on that very stage three months ago as he recorded a PBS special that had a smashing premiere in Chicago this month and will be airing on PBS stations nationwide in August. Interesting, but by itself probably a mere coincidence at best. But the memory, the event, the intersection of dream and reality began a lot earlier. It began when a 17 year old Clayton entered a regional performance competition and stood on that Raleigh stage in a sparkly blue vest and sang a song that was too big for most adults. He sang it with little nuance, just the “all in” naiveté of a teenager, but the judges rewarded him for the raw talent of it all.<br /><br />Fast forward (or flashforward as Clay said that night) fourteen years to that very spot where the untamed wild pony had impressed a group of local educators and parents. He’s a household name now, about to embark on his ninth <a href="http://www.clayaiken.com/events">tour</a> in seven years. He returned to sing that same song, not because he had a choice but because there was no other choice. He had to close that circle. I’m sure Miss Destiny has a few more waiting. I wonder if he has an aunt named Emmy.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xo7b42ukKrA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xo7b42ukKrA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><em>Many thanks to GBB, Fountaindawg, Brightstar and toni7babe for their talents and treasures in the pictures and film clips on this blog.</em> Check out Destiny’s Child <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2008/01/destinys-child_18.html">Part 1</a> and Destiny’s Child <a href="http://conclayve.blogspot.com/2008/08/destinys-child-part-2.html">Part 2</a> to see this amazing life. <br /><br /><p align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Spamalot" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lauren+Kennedy" rel="tag">Lauren Kennedy</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Terrence+Mann" rel="tag">Terrence Mann</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Quiana+Parler" rel="tag">Quiana Parler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Broadway" rel="tag">Spamalot</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruben+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/destiny" rel="tag">destiny</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/fate" rel="tag">fate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/North+Carolina+Theater" rel"tag">North Carolina Theater</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Grease" rel="tag">Grease</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Sharon+Lawrence" rel="tag">Sharon Lawrence</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Star+Wars" rel="tag">Star Wars</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Martin+Moran" rel="tag">Martinn Moran</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raleigh" rel="tag">Raleigh</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-16670596854527357222010-06-07T22:19:00.004-04:002010-06-11T23:00:06.262-04:00The Classics - and The Classy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kp5jELfzSgx6T3t6RFkq_8MjibhR-fbZVwobA6YK0oTBOZ5BOTCDGF9ENmxU15aGOaJxLUCnapCHV6Dgnq_-X6WJIZa8kZln09kz9YJB9_D9SlFWN3C0f-oPmGvbrvOrTTP5/s1600/storkclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kp5jELfzSgx6T3t6RFkq_8MjibhR-fbZVwobA6YK0oTBOZ5BOTCDGF9ENmxU15aGOaJxLUCnapCHV6Dgnq_-X6WJIZa8kZln09kz9YJB9_D9SlFWN3C0f-oPmGvbrvOrTTP5/s320/storkclub.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>Everyone knows I have eclectic taste in music. I like my rock to really rock (not the Daughtry-kind) so I still play <b>Ten Years After</b> and P<b>ink Floyd</b> and <b>The Doors</b>. I still go to cafes to listen to folk music and I see <b>Tom Paxton</b> every single time he's playing near me - even as recently as a few months ago and at 72 he's still funny, warm and emotionally touching. And over the holiday weekend I was thrilled to be sitting in a wine bar in my little town, sipping a martini and listening to the fabulous jazz guitarist and legend, <b>Bucky Pizzarelli </b>still dynamite at 84 years young. I don't know why it is that I don't gravitate to one kind of music only but I feel fortunate that I don't. I know music is subjective and some people simply don't "feel" anything but pop or classical strikes them right. I have a million moods and a million songs to fit them. I think I'm lucky that way.<br />
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I've been thinking a lot lately about how musical history gets diluted by a constant drumming of media spin. Voices that were once called "golden" or "legendary" now can be sneered at by using the two dreaded words "easy listening". Is listening supposed to be hard? Sure there is music that sounds like it belongs in an elevator. Hey, the Beatles music has been converted into that. And some singers do have ordinary voices or predictable phrasing and aren't very interesting - some from the 50s and 60s . . . and even some from the "contemporary 2000s". All one has to do is turn into American Idol every now and again to be convinced that there are hundreds of ordinary voices out there.<br />
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I do realize that many people simply do not like "standards" or "those kind of arrangements" or "that kind of voice" and I understand as I've never understood the appeal of Madonna or much pop music for that matter. Or rap. Give me blues and rock any day but I have zero interest in hearing Shakira or Katy Perry. And while I love r&b - it's the voices of <b>Sam Cooke</b> or <b>Otis Redding</b> I long for - not much of what is contemporary r&b. So I do understand when people listen to standards and just don't care for it. But I also think that many others simply don't really know the music they are quick to dismiss. Sometimes sounding "easy" is really really difficult and takes considerable talent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbyyoyqpOjYdqtOFkhmD2q6OsgHzTAgWnHOX0PZRlsYmZ4F3hJR8RiGe3rKNDmMBKIKew8bQR7lL_ErMzEyfzqMV4sSsekoEXZmAaX8m5Ewbk25Zt92QS7Gex8eQRP4RhyW5j/s1600/20100607ClayAIkenLiveDVDCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbyyoyqpOjYdqtOFkhmD2q6OsgHzTAgWnHOX0PZRlsYmZ4F3hJR8RiGe3rKNDmMBKIKew8bQR7lL_ErMzEyfzqMV4sSsekoEXZmAaX8m5Ewbk25Zt92QS7Gex8eQRP4RhyW5j/s200/20100607ClayAIkenLiveDVDCover.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>I've been thinking a lot about this particularly since<b> Clay Aiken's</b> new album <i>Tried and True</i> arrived at my doorstep. Now I love Clay's voice but I've never been one who's said "he can sing the phone book and I'll be happy". I have zero interest in hearing the phone book sung by anyone - including a voice as interesting as Clay's. Music matters to me. I wasn't happy when I heard he was singing "covers" but I became much more interested when I heard he was singing "standards". I never tire of hearing <b>Ella</b> sing<i> "They Can't Take That Away From Me"</i> and <b>Kenny Rankin's</b> version of <i>'Round Midnight</i> will be on my deserted island. So I was excited about this album - and it didn't disappoint me at all. And Clay's rendition of <i>Misty</i> keeps inching over on <b>Sarah Vaughan's</b> which shocks the heck out of me!<br />
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I intend to write more about<i> Tried and True</i> later, especially since it includes some amazing arrangements -- and <b>Linda Eder's</b> vocals on<i> Crying</i> and <b>David Sanborn's</b> sax on <i>What Kind Of Fool Am I</i> (two artists I adore) - but today, listening to some recent interviews with Clay about why this album means so much to him and why he wanted to sing what he has been calling "singer's songs" - I've been drawn to hearing some of the voices Clay has mentioned: <b>Andy Williams</b> and <b>Johnny Mathis</b>. WHAT?????? Snoozy Andy in his cardigan? Boring Johnny of the lush romantic elevator music? Nope. Not those people because I don't know who those people are. I've been thinking and listening to the real Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis. That's right.<br />
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Andy Williams, the man who in the 1960s was one of the most popular vocalists in our country. The man who, at the time, was signed to the biggest recording contract ever and who earned more gold records than any man other than Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and . . . oh yeah, Johnny Mathis. Andy Williams, who's television variety show ran for nine years and won three Emmy's. That Andy Williams. So I relistened to some Andy Williams music and remembered why he was so popular. The ease of his vocals, the smoothness, the control. His lovely vocal ability shines in this version of <i>Scarborough Fair</i> with <b>Simon and Garfunkel</b>: <br />
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. . . or the way he can mix it up with the likes of <b>Antonio Carlos Jobim</b> in <i>The Girl From Ipanema</i>:<br />
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And then I thought, I haven't really listened to Johnny Mathis in a long long time. I mean everyone made out to Johnny Mathis music - but had I really listened? I admit I don't own any Johnny Mathis songs. I wasn't a fan although I recognized his beautiful voice. So I needed to really listen. And once I did I had my "aha" moment. Put that voice together with a great song like <b>Michel Legrand's</b> <i>Pieces of Dreams</i> and I'm lost in it. <br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vNuYzHeVogs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vNuYzHeVogs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>.<br />
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And it's perfection when connecting so emotionally to a song like <i>99 Miles From LA</i>: <br />
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<br />
So Clay - if you want to show your wonderful vocals and your sublime interpretative skills singing "singer's songs" - like you did in this version of <i>Unchained Melody</i> on The View - please do.<br />
<br />
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<br />
I know a great song by a great singer will never go out of style.<br />
<br />
<align=right>Technorati tags:<br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/standards" rel="tag">standards</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ella+Fitzgerald" rel="tag">Ella Fitzgerald</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kenny+Rankin" rel="tag">Kenny Rankin</a><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Otis+Redding" rel="tag">Otis Redding</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Linda+Eder" rel="tag">Linda Eder</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Crying" rel="tag">Crying</a><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/What+Kind+Of+Fool+Am+I" rel="tag">What Kind Of Fool Am I</a><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Johnny+Mathis" rel="tag">Johnny Mathis</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Unchained+Melody" rel="tag">Unchained Melody</a><br />
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<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Pieces+Dreams+" rel="tag">Pieces of Dreams</a><br />
<a href="http://technorati.com/tag/99+Miles+From+LA" rel="tag">99 Miles From LA</a><br />
</align=right>The ConCLAYve-Nanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08373684206492175397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-50118832277369602152010-05-18T19:34:00.017-04:002010-05-27T22:09:24.549-04:00What a Difference a Decca Makes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnWcwVjVtEnMwRaoPsbQLuyY69APsYTI6gj1WXTIK8N-87cNAj1Tq-VEOELLG7ipWQS_IAclxTOCXQauoU10gHDKDtGqdmtoQHvd4rU8jDo-3j8-iRjTz9_K9IfKyIPDQO2bc/s1600/PBS+Profile.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnWcwVjVtEnMwRaoPsbQLuyY69APsYTI6gj1WXTIK8N-87cNAj1Tq-VEOELLG7ipWQS_IAclxTOCXQauoU10gHDKDtGqdmtoQHvd4rU8jDo-3j8-iRjTz9_K9IfKyIPDQO2bc/s320/PBS+Profile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472762256422646530" /></a> As we countdown to Clay Aiken's album dropping on June 1st, I think most fans are still trying to get used to all these constant teasers of songs, tidbits of information, firsts class PBS special, beginnings of videos for viral marketing and just overall respect from his record label. And the full scale promotion hasn't even started yet. I can now forget he who shall not be named and the old label that I've always said should be a Harvard Business Review case study in how to boot the marketing of a sure thing. <br /><br />Why?-because someone finally gets it. And pretty soon the whole world is going to get it, again. They are going to remember why they liked Clay Aiken in the first place. They are going to wonder why he hasn't had been allowed to explode in song like this before, probably because they never even know about his last album.<br /><br />Here's a taste of some of the music, the great arrangements and the voice that launched a thousand redials on my cell phone just about seven years ago this month. (If you get a Rufus Wainwright video, just hit refresh.)<br /><br /><embed src='http://bandtools.nabbr.com/bandtools/media/players/player2.swf?bandId=254&playerId=254&autoPlay=0&affiliateId=&showCodes=&instanceId=0b34dc21aeeea2bd8d189b02dbe34a04' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowDomain='any' allowScriptAccess='always' width='300' height='300' flashvars='pageurl=_'></embed><br />Clay said in that video that they chose songs from the best singers of our time. Perhaps that's because he's the best singer of HIS time.<br /><br />Want to pre-order the album? You've got all kinds of options.<br /><br />Go to itunes and hear snippets from the tracks plus a bonus song of You Don't Have to Say You Love Me. If you're like me, you want instant gratification at midnight on June 1st.<br /><br />Go to <a href="http://www.store.livenation.com/Product.aspx?pc=MUDD4208">Live Nation</a> and pre-order the album and get an immediate download of Suspicious Minds. <br /><br />Go to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=clay+aiken+tried+and+true&x=0&y=0">Amazon</a> and have your choice of an album, a deluxe album with two bonus songs or a DVD.<br /><br />The album is up on other sites including <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Clay+Aiken%3A+Tried+%26+True+-+DVD/9911035.p?id=2105847&skuId=9911035&st=clay%20aiken&lp=1&cp=1">Best Buy</a> and <a href="http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Clay-Aiken-Tried-True/e/602527394374/?itm=1&USRI=clay+aiken">Barnes and Noble</a> too.<br /><br />Thank you, Decca. Thank you for fulfilling a lot of my wish list blog back in October right down to the non use of that Claymate tag. Thank you for the foot tapping at my desk when I can't get a 30 second snippet out of my brain. Thank you for the smile that lights up Clay's face more than usual. Thank you for getting it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE 5-27-2010</span><br />Check out the new (and very nicely done) Clay Aiken fanclub site. It has three full songs from the new album and snippets from all of Clay's albums.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.clayaiken.com">www.clayaiken.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p> <align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television+special" rel="tag">television special</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chris+Walden" rel="tag">Chris Walden</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oldies" rel="tag">oldies</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Misty" rel="tag">Misty</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/International+Media" rel="tag">International Media</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/concert" rel="tag">Concert</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Sanborn" rel="tag">David Sanborn</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Vince+Gill" rel="tag">Vince Gill</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Linda+Eder" rel="tag">Linda Eder</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Unchained+Melody" rel="tag">Unchained Melody</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Roy+Orbison" rel="tag">Roy Orbison</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/rat+pack" rel="tag">Rat Pack</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beatles" rel="tag">Beatles</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Frankie+Vali" rel="tag">Frankie Valie</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Suspicious+Minds" rel="tag">Suspicious Minds</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Connie+Francis" rel="tag">Connie Francis</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Willie+Nelson" rel="tag">Willie Nelson</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Michael+Buble" rel="tag">Michael Buble</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-81170954423059298882010-05-16T21:08:00.006-04:002010-05-16T21:32:28.396-04:00The Smell of Lilacs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSYeg9mWhxXyXWEHFkXLpUjjXHQL11qQNOCvlwcXOzLUf44ZM1fPv94_8bZ5SKwbTwM_iiQ_0zImQZU8nnh48CZk7ugB5aKN0Uz1EWypdo911igkchkkxHz_3RcDrpDrhpqzVLw/s1600/lilacs-10340.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSYeg9mWhxXyXWEHFkXLpUjjXHQL11qQNOCvlwcXOzLUf44ZM1fPv94_8bZ5SKwbTwM_iiQ_0zImQZU8nnh48CZk7ugB5aKN0Uz1EWypdo911igkchkkxHz_3RcDrpDrhpqzVLw/s400/lilacs-10340.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472040762499287410" /></a><br />I arrived home from work last Friday, eager to see the nice new landscaping for which my condo association had collected all those exorbitant special assessments. And it didn’t disappoint. Rusted-out iron fence gone, new sod, freshly planted flowering shrubs, trees trimmed back. Everything looked great. I walked up my front steps, put my key into the lock, and burst into tears.<br /><br />Now, I guess you couldn’t be blamed for chalking it up to one of those hormonal things. Maybe that was part of it. But mostly, it was the smell…<br /><br />…of lilac bushes. New ones, on either side of my front door.<br /><br />Lilacs were, hands down, my mother’s favorite flower. My grandmother’s, too. For as long as I can remember, there was a big lilac bush monopolizing our front patio, the product of one of my mom’s few successful forays into the world of horticulture. (I’m reminded – as I’m sure my mom would be -- of the famous Dorothy Parker adage <i>“You can lead a horticulture, but you can’t make her think.”</i> That phrase was pretty much the sum total of our collective knowledge on the subject, because in that one respect, I'm a chip off the old block.)<br /><br />Just about everything my mom planted quickly died. Her tomatoes shriveled on the vine, her peonies laid their rosy heads in the grass and gave up the ghost, her lilies held their own funeral. Her attempts to maintain an herb garden were a running joke. About the only vegetation that seemed to thrive, ironically, was poison ivy. Our house would have made a great “before” picture for <i>Better Homes and Gardens</i>.<br /><br />But that lilac bush was truly a triumph. Even my father’s occasional clumsy slips with the lawn mower couldn’t vanquish it –- it bloomed faithfully every year with zero effort on my mom’s part, making it the ideal plant. Its scent would get stronger and its branches fuller and purpler until one day my mom would gleefully venture out with a basket and a pair of shears and cut herself some nice big bouquets that perfumed the entire house for at least a week. I think this made her as happy as it was possible for her to be; she felt genteel out there cutting her own flowers, Jane Austen-style. Those lilacs were evidence that despite what she evidently saw as her miserable fucked-up life, she had created one thing that was really beautiful.<br /><br />A couple of decades sped quickly by; my mom fought cancer and lost. Her beloved lilac bush survived her, but somehow it seemed to sense that its biggest fan was gone forever – it hung on but was never quite the same. My dad sold the house and moved across town, and the new owners decided to demolish it to make room for one of those huge ubiquitous “McMansions” springing up all over suburbia. A corner lot that had once comfortably accommodated a smallish ranch house with a horseshoe pit, badminton court, sandbox, picnic table and numerous fruit trees would now only have room for this aluminum-sided behemoth with its golf weathervane and lawn jockey, laughably out of place alongside the flat cookie-cutter stucco houses populating the rest of the block.<br /><br />A few days after our old house was razed, my dad and I bravely drove over to take a look. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to see your childhood reduced to a surprisingly small trench in the ground, surrounded by nothing but piles of dirt. Not a trace of our lives there remained -- no grass, no trees with our initials carved into them, no handprints in the cracked sidewalk leading up from the driveway, not even the cracked sidewalk! And no lilac bush. It had, finally, taken a big yellow bulldozer to put an end to its hardy existence. As I stood with my father contemplating that dusty vacant lot, I was thinking that in many ways I mourned its loss most of all.<br /><br />We heard a happy shout and swung around to see Hank and Marian, our former next-door neighbors (and my parents’ weekly bridge partners) ambling toward us. Marian had been a beautician who worked out of her kitchen – when I was a child, my mom used to funnel her seven bucks every few months to give me (bad) pixie haircuts. Hank was a retired cop who was missing a finger – he always claimed, thrillingly, that he lost it in an armed robbery at a liquor store; my dad privately slipped it to us that an accident with a circular saw was the real culprit.<br /><br />After we exchanged pleasantries, shared a few pithy comments about the stark change in the landscape and joked about the monstrosity to come, Marian made a touching confession:<br /><br />“I hope you don’t mind, hon,” she said, giving my shoulder a friendly squeeze, “but the night before your house was knocked down, Hank and I came over for a last lil’ look-see, and we ended up digging up your mom’s lilac bush.”<br /><br />I was speechless for a second. Swallowing hard, I croaked, “You did?”<br /><br />“Yeh, well…it was just gonna get plowed under anyways, and I figured your mom wouldn’t mind. So we—“<br /><br />“Where is it now? I asked.<br /><br />“Over there,” Marian replied, pointing. We walked a few yards toward their house, and sure enough, there it was next to their back fence, its purple blooms nodding at me in the breeze. I wanted to throw my arms around it.<br /><br />“You don’t want it, do ya, hon?” she asked, concerned. “’Cause if ya do, I can stick it in a pot or something and ya can plant it somewheres else.”<br /><br />“No,” I assured her. “It’ll be much better off with you. Knowing me,” I told her with a shaky laugh, “I’d probably kill it.”<br /><br />Marian let out her unique gravelly three-packs-a-day chuckle. “Hey, if your <i>mom</i> couldn’t kill it, NOBODY could.”<br /><br />Good point. Still, it looked content where it was, so I left it. I hope it got lots of sun and Marian enjoyed it as much as my mom had.<br /><br />My dad and Hank and Marian are all gone now – I like to picture them, and my mom, as they were back in the 1960s – playing bridge on Hank and Marian’s screened-in porch on a hot summer evening, knocking back Miller High Lifes and happily chain-smoking their Parliaments.<br /><br />And me? I have a lilac bush next to my front door again. I think my mom would have loved that.Pink Armchairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238443548709671946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-74012630631226969682010-05-06T20:24:00.012-04:002010-05-08T10:22:42.161-04:00Back in Town<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY9QpNBkTdt6ZXdMCdpLcLNq4hL_ZbdigiaVJTEw3lLad5Oo2gXmb4n7067u-jiHnVS-L7krw5hAkFZSExLFXpkinAzdxjk2PB4TVjWQcKFyS7vajCy8c8-tyiqtXng4d-ipg/s1600/PBS+big+note.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY9QpNBkTdt6ZXdMCdpLcLNq4hL_ZbdigiaVJTEw3lLad5Oo2gXmb4n7067u-jiHnVS-L7krw5hAkFZSExLFXpkinAzdxjk2PB4TVjWQcKFyS7vajCy8c8-tyiqtXng4d-ipg/s200/PBS+big+note.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468325121042314258" /></a> You know when you have a great experience and you try to hold the memory in your mind as time tries to erase it? The more time that elapses, the more it fades and at some point you wonder if it was even as good as you remembered it. Was I just caught up in the moment? Did I have a bad week and that was just something better than everything else?<br /><br />Back in March, I wrote a blog describing a trip to Raleigh where we saw the taping of Clay Aiken’s PBS Tried and True: Live! concert special, which will air in August of this year. Fans have described it as the OMG concert because that’s the phrase that punctuated the Memorial Auditorium in words, thoughts and exhausted but excited chatter well into the early morning hours back at the hotel.<br /><br />I tried to focus on the fact that the album drop date is right around the corner on June 1st. I focused on the Ticketmaster Tango for his upcoming Timeless tour with friend, Ruben Studdard. I must have done a pretty good job of describing the Raleigh event and its sound of big band with a modern twist because my husband agreed to attend the show in Foxwoods. <br /><br />But every few days, someone who wasn’t there asks us to describe the concert. What was that new note like in Unchained Melody? How did Clay and Linda Eder sound in their duet of Crying?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMuaK8lN0mUL5vPis9ZH7Ezuijv81fS0XYFPGSnkxtkkrlYoHoyuYGzGJ-edUa-6LZ1xa8sS4jrUogPiynMle0A_yz-P7o7VE-9jDhu2ZNz2ERdUiZqvtetxYF9HkpTF6Bcbh/s1600/PBS+Profile.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMuaK8lN0mUL5vPis9ZH7Ezuijv81fS0XYFPGSnkxtkkrlYoHoyuYGzGJ-edUa-6LZ1xa8sS4jrUogPiynMle0A_yz-P7o7VE-9jDhu2ZNz2ERdUiZqvtetxYF9HkpTF6Bcbh/s200/PBS+Profile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468325365969770018" /></a> People who know Clay has a great voice figured we were exaggerating when we say he never sounded better.<br /><br />International Media is producing the PBS special for Decca Records. Today, they gifted us with a three minute montage of some of the highlights. (They did not include the aforementioned songs; it might be too much to handle.) What I love is that the band is just as into it as the audience. Hang on to your headphones and give a listen. <br /><br />Oh and Clive? Who’s Sorry Now…<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7MT7vyxzxEY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7MT7vyxzxEY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><p> <align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television+special" rel="tag">television special</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chris+Walden" rel="tag">Chris Walden</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oldies" rel="tag">oldies</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raleigh" rel="tag">Raleigh</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/International+Media" rel="tag">International Media</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/concert" rel="tag">Concert</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Sanborn" rel="tag">David Sanborn</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Vince+Gill" rel="tag">Vince Gill</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Linda+Eder" rel="tag">Linda Eder</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Unchained+Melody" rel="tag">Unchained Melody</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Roy+Orbison" rel="tag">Roy Orbison</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/rat+pack" rel="tag">Rat Pack</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beatles" rel="tag">Beatles</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruban+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Suspicious+Minds" rel="tag">Suspicious Minds</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Connie+Francis" rel="tag">Connie Francis</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Willie+Nelson" rel="tag">Willie Nelson</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-21597742575524202292010-04-04T10:43:00.000-04:002010-04-04T10:43:39.888-04:00Male Call - A Clay Aiken PBS Concert<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MMmNlGlDZIU/S6bYzHlVHSI/AAAAAAAAAAM/36eT3Haz638/s1600-h/capt_4c3740164efe4db2ae38ab93b51b08a1-4c3740164efe4db2ae38ab93b51b08a1-0.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451282771699113250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MMmNlGlDZIU/S6bYzHlVHSI/AAAAAAAAAAM/36eT3Haz638/s320/capt_4c3740164efe4db2ae38ab93b51b08a1-4c3740164efe4db2ae38ab93b51b08a1-0.jpg" /></a><br />
It was going to be a stormy ride down to North Carolina for the PBS concert last week with my wife and NY/New England friends in more ways then one. Not only was the weather going to be a factor on the drive, but my confidence for what we were going to witness wasn’t all that high either. Could it be the result of my faith in any record label was non-existent? After all Clay had recorded what I believe was the best music I had ever heard on the cd <em>On My Way Here </em>and got no promotion by that old label (I refuse to use their name) and no air play. I bummed out further knowing that I would probably never hear any of those songs sung live and never get to feel the excitement and energy Clay infuses in his songs and delivery when on tour.<br />
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I was more concerned Clay had hit his musical plateau. I couldn’t blame him after the past few years of struggle he’s endured with his career. He’s been subjected to a label that wouldn’t support him, negative press and little promotion of his music. I knew the guy could take a punch both metaphorically and physically but after hearing he had to have his jaw broken twice to correct a very bad situation, I could understand a desire to hang up the vocal chords. I fell into that Andy Williams, <em>Moon River </em>trap, and I was sure he was going to sing sappy middle of the road songs that I doubt I would like or ever want to buy. How does that make his new label Decca Records any different from the last? Ok his press had taken a sudden turn positive lately and he was finally getting the opportunity to put his music on tape, and PBS no less. But covers? No please not covers.<br />
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So on the night of the concert I didn’t have the usual excitement I feel when seeing Clay live. Sure some of the spark was still there but more worry than anything else. You could feel it in the crowd as we gathered prior to the opening of the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Things didn’t get better either. When we got to our seats, right in front of us at eye level was a huge PBS floor camera. Oh yes, the night was going downhill quickly.<br />
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Convinced by others to do something about our seats I made my way down to the usher now talking with a couple of people. Using all the charm and sex appeal this guy could muster I informed her of our plight and asked if she could do anything for us. She had a few envelopes with tickets of people able to move seats, but we weren’t listed and it ended up I would have to go to the box office and throw myself on their mercy to see if they could relocate us. As I was moving towards the door to go to the box office the usher ran up and said hold on I have seats for you and took me to a young lady with a bright orange t-shirt. She was dealing with someone else and said hold on, so I waived to my wife to come down and we began a long walk down the side aisle of the dress circle. My heart sank, she was going to seat us in one of the side sections of the dress circle, when all of a sudden we got to the first row and turned. I’m convinced she was an angel of mercy because she took us to the 3rd row where there were open seats and said in a pure angelic voice, “Sit where you want to”. Ah, excuse me but any seat and she replied “yes”. We ended up third row, dress circle, center seats. Great the best seats we had ever had for an indoor Clay concert and he was going to do standards. It was like fate was saying “you’re going to hate this and I’m going to rub it in your face”.<br />
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Then the curtain came up. The 10 piece jazz band burst into the opening number (with 2 cellos & 2 violins) Clay with his back to the audience, turned, approached the microphone and that voice that’s sweet to the ear, blew me away for the next couple of hours. A totally new sound and direction, this is the start of something good.<br />
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So what have we learned so far? Never underestimate Clay Aiken. I knew that. How did I let myself forget it? Never again!<br />
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My hats off to <strong>Decca Records</strong>, to Clay’s positive management, to those amazing arrangements, and some of the most outstanding lighting I’ve seen. The staging and song selection was unique and the jazz band behind Clay was oh so sweet. Don’t miss this PBS special when it airs this summer and do pick up Clay’s new cd Tried and True when it releases in June. These “standards” are anything but standard.<br />
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Oh and Clay sang the dreaded <em>Moon River </em>so simply and wistfully, it still haunts me.<br />
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Should a known!<br />
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UPDATE: For a look at Clay Aiken's new album cover, check out this blog: <br />
<a href="http://blog.albumartexchange.com/2010/04/clay-aiken-reveals-retro-album-cover.html">Albumartexchange</a><br />
<p><align=right>Technorati tags:<br />
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</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-2479043076192980192010-03-15T20:00:00.011-04:002010-05-08T23:38:42.358-04:00There Are Places I Remember<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieB3OIJ5NiM4Cgqp4j7cg-95lQRjXOP-UTx-Mcp9voGuJa_hO7TBoI3812Dnvy1KapdWELc3xEt41zYVfGPwr_01Mv858GmT74-oYZ4aGjMtTsLXrl36yXiT_ZYEL8ARWQmkS-/s1600-h/ClayAiken-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieB3OIJ5NiM4Cgqp4j7cg-95lQRjXOP-UTx-Mcp9voGuJa_hO7TBoI3812Dnvy1KapdWELc3xEt41zYVfGPwr_01Mv858GmT74-oYZ4aGjMtTsLXrl36yXiT_ZYEL8ARWQmkS-/s200/ClayAiken-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449020215036916226" /></a> I’m back off the road again after a four day journey to see Clay Aiken’s special concert that was filmed for PBS. I will spare you the crazy adventures of three New Englanders and one New Yawker through parts of Virginia on the way down to Raleigh. <br /><br />I didn’t quite know what to expect with this concert. This era of music is not mine and was only partially my parents. We knew 3-4 of the songs by name and they really didn’t excite me. As I walked into the Memorial Auditorium, I just wanted it to be good. This was a very important concert for him.<br /><br />I shouldn’t have worried. From the minute the curtain rose and a debonair Mr. Aiken stood there with his back to us in a pose that can only be described as C to the OOL, my head was spinning. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6I2FE1Uz_UkVQVHIx9wbBaBj4NLkh-ZFkL8ztX2w1ABS-tQUwszHbuKggBg_9ZVC2YOrwAn85-HyUVaxXuHqA8nM6v6hxcusu5rKPZEZS7i8gA4NX0I-63h5M8BRdsekoX9u/s1600-h/rat+pack.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6I2FE1Uz_UkVQVHIx9wbBaBj4NLkh-ZFkL8ztX2w1ABS-tQUwszHbuKggBg_9ZVC2YOrwAn85-HyUVaxXuHqA8nM6v6hxcusu5rKPZEZS7i8gA4NX0I-63h5M8BRdsekoX9u/s200/rat+pack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449020363254169218" /></a> I think I described it later as OMG overdrive. I’m not sure I took the requisite number of breaths per minute for a person sitting down.<br /><br />He opened with Mack the Knife. I’m too young to remember Bobby Darin and to me this song was always something a cruise singer would do in some schmaltzy rendition in the all night lounge. How wrong I was. You couldn’t help but move your shoulders in a sort of sitting strut. The last note was so long that I think the seasons changed from spring to summer. <br /><br />The band was a mix of traditional and jazz orchestra. There were about 15 musicians on stage but the wall of sound that filled that Auditorium sounded like twice that number. They were really getting into it as well, which added a level of enjoyment to the show.<br /><br />Song after song from the 50s and 60s but with a twist. It was like being transported in the Way Back Machine but we’d landed in an alternate universe where they still sounded true to their era but with a side dose of 40’s big band/swing and a heaping teaspoon of the unique voice of Clay Aiken. Songs I was sure I would hate sounded like nothing I expected and that I must hear again. June 1st is just too far away. I feel like an addict on involuntary withdrawal.<br /><br />And he was in his element. The man belongs on a concert stage but this was something we’d not seen in his six years with RCA. First class production. Support from the highest level of the new record label. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkgy1gjeo2P8-NbZuB2Irm2IKc-ZeQmyWhePmlQo1ilqESFiraqB0ZRC09ZIDTkt6i7l_oKkvHOLDCiaj7NkBQrPcds9dJekSrjxzjBX2UWRt08a9SIU8kh0h29yz94YioJYL/s1600-h/ClayAiken+lighting.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkgy1gjeo2P8-NbZuB2Irm2IKc-ZeQmyWhePmlQo1ilqESFiraqB0ZRC09ZIDTkt6i7l_oKkvHOLDCiaj7NkBQrPcds9dJekSrjxzjBX2UWRt08a9SIU8kh0h29yz94YioJYL/s200/ClayAiken+lighting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449020540165258754" /></a> A lighting show that was like another instrument on stage. We didn’t get to see Vince Gill or David Sanborn, who are the musical guests on this album. But when Clay explained that he wanted to do a duet with the best female voice and he introduced Linda Eder, it made the circle of support complete. They sang a duet of Crying that made it my second favorite song of the night. He hit notes that sounded like they were just invented. Her voice was as smooth as maple syrup on a cinnamon pancake.<br /><br />The show had his usual moments of humor and a wonderfully nostalgic appearance by longtime friend, Ruben Studdard. I won’t spoil the special medley they sang, get yourself to one of their shows this summer.<br /><br />There was a special tribute to his teachers, many of whom were in attendance. He thanked them for their work and for their impact on his life and softly began a version of the Beatles’ In My Life, accompanied by a guitar and a single cello. His voice was a bow across my heartstrings. Many people were deeply affected. Probably because the line <span style="font-style:italic;">“there is no one compares to you</span>” meant him and meant us -because that night we were one.<br /><br />But there was one song that I can’t get out of my head. One song that I figured was a good idea for the album, even though I would probably skip the track since I’ve heard him sing it dozens of times in concert. When he introduced the song and said he had sung it his whole life and was so thrilled to have his own version, I thought he meant his own professionally recorded one. <br /><br />That wasn’t what he meant.<br /><br />He started the familiar refrain of <span style="font-style:italic;">"Oh, my love…my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch.."</span> But something was different. It was enough of the core melody to know the song but he was hitting different notes, minor key notes, lilting notes. When he got to the build up for the money note-that falsetto that defines whether the song owns the singer or the singer owns the song-well, I can’t put into words what happened. The voice, the band, the lighting all combined to create what I’ve heard described as an earthquake, an airplane taking off, a lightning bolt and a gunshot. We literally felt pushed back against our seats. He more than owned the song. He stole the song away from anyone who might ever try to sing it again. All of you singers with Unchained Melody in your set list? Don’t even bother anymore.<br /><br />The Tried and True album is scheduled to come out on June 1st and we hope they can edit this special to be aired around the same time, so that it isn’t delayed. I can’t wait any longer than I have to in order to “see” this album again. (Update: The special will air in August.)<br /><br />Tried and True was a great title when I first heard about it. It seemed to describe these songs. Good, familiar, safe. Now, I don’t think it fits. What he did with these songs was anything but familiar and safe. And it was so far beyond good, I’m going to write to Merriam Webster to ask them to create a new adjective.<br /><br /><p> <align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television+special" rel="tag">television special</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chris+Walden" rel="tag">Chris Walden</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oldies" rel="tag">oldies</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raleigh" rel="tag">Raleigh</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/International+Media" rel="tag">International Media</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/concert" rel="tag">Concert</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/David+Sanborn" rel="tag">David Sanborn</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Vince+Gill" rel="tag">Vince Gill</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Linda+Eder" rel="tag">Linda Eder</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Unchained+Melody" rel="tag">Unchained Melody</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Roy+Orbison" rel="tag">Roy Orbison</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bobby+Darin" rel="tag">Bobby Darin</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/rat+pack" rel="tag">Rat Pack</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beatles" rel="tag">Beatles</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Merriam+Webster" rel="tag">Merriam Webster</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ruban+Studdard" rel="tag">Ruben Studdard</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-75161703423779179432010-03-10T11:12:00.004-05:002010-03-10T11:18:58.805-05:00On The Road Again<span style="font-style:italic;">On the road again -<br />Just can't wait to get on the road again.</span><br /><br />Thursday morning after the tenth review of my packing list, I’ll load my suitcase in the car and head south. I might leave the music off for awhile and just absorb the sound of the road with the sound of my thoughts. It will take me about an hour and forty-five minutes to get to Nan’s house, depending on the ever present construction on Route 7. I met her in 2003 and they were working on Route 7 back then.<br /><br />2003. Hard to believe it’s been that long since we met up at a restaurant to plan a Clay Aiken fan get together. We’ve been to many places together either meeting up at some airport or driving to all parts of the northeast running on little sleep, caffeine, adrenaline and excitement. This time, we’ll wait for another good friend to arrive and start the trek south. South to Raleigh...affectionately called Mecca by many in the fandom.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">On the road again<br />Goin' places that I've never been.<br />Seein' things that I may never see again</span><br /><br />We weren’t going to make this trip. During these hard economic times of employment uncertainty, rising costs of healthcare and college tuition- sacrifices have to be made. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would get to watch this concert on PBS in June. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXGyV7Aa7vBq2bi-XNaHvMYWblisefaKf4N__jYMixxPvLFpIy8yJ6XsORSoqbpBWnpRnG9s2gayF-LQufqJNsijCZ7edGtU5TGGXrA6WHGLx0BVgQNeYLttXTSIirGUg5W8v/s1600-h/Snowflake_lighting.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXGyV7Aa7vBq2bi-XNaHvMYWblisefaKf4N__jYMixxPvLFpIy8yJ6XsORSoqbpBWnpRnG9s2gayF-LQufqJNsijCZ7edGtU5TGGXrA6WHGLx0BVgQNeYLttXTSIirGUg5W8v/s200/Snowflake_lighting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447039439338604578" /></a> I like to try to get to the “one-of-a-kind” events, like the snowflake lighting in New York City or the Sedaka tribute event. They each have special memories that can’t be duplicated in the way one show from a 30 city tour can, despite the fact that Clay’s extraordinary quick wit makes each concert unique. And a televised concert was on my wish list blog to Decca Records a couple of months ago. Sigh, this was going to be harder than I thought.<br /><br />Then something happened. A spark was lit and it made the thought of missing this concert/taping unthinkable. The spark was started by Clay himself with his arranging a special pre-sale for the fans and answering every question imaginable about the taping. It was so good to see him so excited. This was a big deal. How could we miss it? When Nan suggested that we drive the 10+ hours but break it up over a couple of days, I quickly decided that it was time to a cash in those American Express points that had built up over years of paying for concerts, hotels and flights. One concert was going to pay for another. The struggle that Clay had in keeping his recording career moving despite a lack of support from his label would be rewarded with all the support he deserves from this new label. And we need to be there to celebrate that as he unveils his new album for television.<br /><br />The message boards are in a pre-travel state. It’s the day before most begin their trips. It’s the “one more sleep” day. It’s funny but the chatter on the boards almost feels like real audio. Like you can hear everybody saying the words that they are only typing on a keyboard. It’s bursting through my monitor in sound bites (soundbytes?), the way the voices came through the television in Poltergeist. <br /> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">On the road again -<br />Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway<br />We're the best of friends.<br />Insisting that the world keep turning our way</span><br /><br />It’s a special man and a special voice that can create this bond amongst so many strangers. Some of us have been friends for seven years now. Some of us will meet for the first time. People are coming from nearly forty states and three countries on planes, trains, busses and automobiles. But all roads lead to Clay this week. Because Tried and True is more than an album title. It’s a bond between singer and fan.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The life I love is making music with my friends<br />And I can't wait to get on the road again.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUR4vAOLS9TZCP2YYRoQNpnm5Dh4agehJy7zb18DT08dKmnVYX2vpooTjWIP4dSXRfkZ1X0e5Cay_YJL4xI7wRSVvhrh2cCLCZ_yOeowYvYLEQ7IYiPz8_wbM_1UCoaS3-Ytt/s1600-h/License+framemc+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUR4vAOLS9TZCP2YYRoQNpnm5Dh4agehJy7zb18DT08dKmnVYX2vpooTjWIP4dSXRfkZ1X0e5Cay_YJL4xI7wRSVvhrh2cCLCZ_yOeowYvYLEQ7IYiPz8_wbM_1UCoaS3-Ytt/s200/License+framemc+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447039082554522354" /></a><br /><br /><p> <align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television+special" rel="tag">television special</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chris+Walden" rel="tag">Chris Walden</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oldies" rel="tag">oldies</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raleigh" rel="tag">Raleigh</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/International+Media" rel="tag">International Media</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/concert" rel="tag">Concert</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/PBS" rel="tag">PBS</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/travel" rel="tag">Travel</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/American+Idol" rel="tag">American Idol</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Willy+Nelson" rel="tag">Willy Nelson</a><br /><br /></p>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-29260275391066107472010-02-23T19:12:00.006-05:002010-02-23T21:14:48.247-05:00Tried and TrueTried and True…Tested and proven to be worthy and good <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(Merriam Webster)</span><br /><br />It has a nice ring to it. It’s one of the phrases that sounds like what it means. It’s also a contradiction in the feel of its sound. Kind of hard and soft at the same time. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccM-AKBxSBA1_Df37at6sq_PxCs_2n_U44FpX-YHSaoPAGBQPLk_z7gBJ7zQ5JPhmZfePWGKSdcb8qIcyldm8xRc-EbwiXlIIp8klcz_sYW4WO79CqDdno1QFYaPj2tiVULkH/s1600-h/Record+PlayerTNT.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccM-AKBxSBA1_Df37at6sq_PxCs_2n_U44FpX-YHSaoPAGBQPLk_z7gBJ7zQ5JPhmZfePWGKSdcb8qIcyldm8xRc-EbwiXlIIp8klcz_sYW4WO79CqDdno1QFYaPj2tiVULkH/s200/Record+PlayerTNT.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441596567776523122" /></a> Clay Aiken has announced that his upcoming album will be a collection of songs from the 50’s and 60’s. The songs like the album title are tried and true. To some people they are classics, to others “oldies” with memories. But to some, they will be new. In fact, thanks to the touch of Chris Walden, we may just be in for an audio version of “everything old is new again”.<br /><br />While my preference is for original music, I’m intrigued by what Clay and his collaborators can do with this music. He seems to be involved in every aspect of the album and on his last cover album, the song that had the most Clay influence was Broken Wings. And he made it completely new. I would expect that some songs will have a traditional arrangement but Clay has hinted that some of the arrangements are the most incredible he’s ever heard. <br /><br />And if that wasn’t enough to whet the appetite, the album is being previewed next month at a onetime only concert that will be taped for airing on national television, likely in the second quarter. In my wish list blog to Decca a few months ago, that type of promotion was right at the top. I can hardly wait for the general public to see Clay in his natural element. Capturing your senses with his voice in one minute and tickling your funny bone with the next breath. Most of the audience that discovered him on Idol knows he is a great singer but only those who have seen him in concert know of his frighteningly quick wit.<br /><br />The concert is being filmed in Raleigh, NC. I wasn’t planning on going but there’s something about Clay’s excitement for this project that sort of compelled me to agree to drive down from New England with some other crazy friends who also got caught up in the sensation of a new beginning. Fans are called it the new Deccade in honor of his new label, Decca Records.<br /><br />Clay and his team set up a special fanclub presale last week. It was funny to see Clay posting and answering questions during the time leading up to the pre-sale. I don’t think he ever realizes what we go through to get tickets for his shows. He probably doesn't realize that on the day of a Ticketmaster Tango, you wake up early with your heart beating. You review the seating chart and the buying strategy a hundred times. You panic when you momentarily forget your Ticketmaster password. You swear at the screen when the jumbled word requires the Rosetta Stone. (The real one, not the one that Michael Phelps used to learn Chinese.)<br /><br />You totally freak out when Clique doesn't put your password up on time and you have to get to work. So you back out of your garage while forgetting to put the garage door up. <br /><br />Not that I've ever done that or anything.<br /><br />So Clay’s excited, the fans are excited and the label seems excited. The promotion of Tried and True (or TnT as it will likely be affectionately abbreviated) will begin in the late spring. There’s magic in the air this time, not wishful thinking.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Tested and proven to be worthy and good</span> <br /><br />Seems to me it describes the singer as well as his album.<br /><br /><br /><p align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tried+and+True" rel="tag">Tried and True</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/television+special" rel="tag">television special</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/classics" rel="tag">classics</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Chris+Walden" rel="tag">Chris Walden</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oldies" rel="tag">oldies</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Raleigh" rel="tag">Raleigh</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/International+Media" rel="tag">International Media</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/concert" rel="tag">Concert</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27776070.post-20936448665611323192010-01-31T19:35:00.020-05:002010-01-31T21:19:06.420-05:0015 Minutes...times a few million<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAqQAerkuJi5I61TsHkKQmX19kkVEHSAtLwxWcotggVNTCbSIwmi19GlWjdSd-3pa9Q7lwKDZNWNPMg4zPHk6r91AGRBjXER_h20gSWT5sSD4hKCvwT1VfKET0UjQ-O_nt_cA/s1600-h/pro-tools.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAqQAerkuJi5I61TsHkKQmX19kkVEHSAtLwxWcotggVNTCbSIwmi19GlWjdSd-3pa9Q7lwKDZNWNPMg4zPHk6r91AGRBjXER_h20gSWT5sSD4hKCvwT1VfKET0UjQ-O_nt_cA/s200/pro-tools.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433080124021407794" /></a> I've been watching a lot of the live music shows this year; including the AMAs, Hope for Haiti concert and tonight, the Grammy Awards. My brother reminded me today that we always used to watch them as a family and my dad would growl "They're all on drugs". Not anymore, Dad. Now, they're all on ProTools.<br /><br />A couple of things have struck me as I watched these shows. First, a startling number of today's biggest names in music simply cannot sing live. They've relied on so much technology or the camouflage of the spectacle to disguise that basic fact. Gaga is one of the few that combines the flash with the vocals. (Black Eyed Peas, I'm looking at you. You couldn't even sing in step with your own music tonight.)<br /><br />The second thing that I noticed is that the same names are chosen to perform again and again at these events. Shakira performed at the AMA and Haiti benefit and she was just plain bad both times. Does the industry associate name recognition with talent? If that's the case, Spongebob SquarePants should open next year's Grammys.<br /><br />Is Beyonce really that good that her ass gets kissed everywhere she goes? I will give her the credit of knowing her audience and feeding them exactly what they want. But when I saw the scene with her and Jamie Foxx in Dreamgirls where he tells her character something like "your voice is just ordinary", I immediately thought to myself that he just described Beyonce. But she's treated like royalty by the industry regardless of whether she has a hit or a miss. I mean tonight she was introduced as one of the most "exquisite and compelling artists of our time". Oookay. The screeching my ears heard after that introduction begs to differ.<br /><br />Some hit it every time. Mary J. Blige always looks and sounds great. Taylor Swift deserves everything she has earned. Girl can't really sing that well live but she's so bright and fresh and her songs are important ones for her target audience. Her parents have earned my admiration. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4BkyxfRlVWBEGRaY8IA3rvTl_9Eo1W0JSuYlEkGLt_T3AdU0_geC8VCyxfqavPhpH6ByUqZstKi8N5YRKjMzPXyJuICovYSbx2dkuGk_BPtYDhkPmQP3gFZ1Bq4N3O52SVk1/s1600-h/grammy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 111px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4BkyxfRlVWBEGRaY8IA3rvTl_9Eo1W0JSuYlEkGLt_T3AdU0_geC8VCyxfqavPhpH6ByUqZstKi8N5YRKjMzPXyJuICovYSbx2dkuGk_BPtYDhkPmQP3gFZ1Bq4N3O52SVk1/s200/grammy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433080264920103394" /></a><br /><br />When it comes to the Grammys, I always think about Clay Aiken. One of the best voices in the industry and one that actually sounds even better live than recorded. My hope is his new album due this summer will be nominated for Best Traditional Vocal Album. I hope Decca works their magic. <br /><br />Recently, Clay asked his fans to help tally up his live performances on stage, along with his television appearances. I assumed the performance count would be high, he has toured nine times and starred for eight months on Broadway. But the overall number of total stage and television appearances was more than 750. I've been here for all of that and I was still impressed.<br /><br />Clay's entering his eighth year as a professional singer/actor. I chuckle at those who desperately have been proclaiming his fifteen minutes are over...for the last seven years. Most careers in entertainment should be so troubled.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5_QXmdhXlBoWz930LAzpXjjeudfZ0BcR5syFADEyH6CRxVoYX_MJFDuMQSAMNFIdIMhZawEceZkk6vfcojkvFzOTUnF0xyrPSmdm6PNbKVl20RvWShAw-NFKldN4v_cssKZC/s1600-h/Clay+BD+crop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 95px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5_QXmdhXlBoWz930LAzpXjjeudfZ0BcR5syFADEyH6CRxVoYX_MJFDuMQSAMNFIdIMhZawEceZkk6vfcojkvFzOTUnF0xyrPSmdm6PNbKVl20RvWShAw-NFKldN4v_cssKZC/s200/Clay+BD+crop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433082343689250034" /></a>Clay's latest blogs have been oozing excitement over what is to come this year, as he readies promotion for his first album with Decca Records. We've been promised news in a week and I have a feeling that it will match one of my longtime wishes for him. His label seems excited about what he's created too, with tweets about the album revealing a little bit each time. Now I'm no novice, I recognize planned, pre-promotion when I see it. But planned promotion, pride and primetime have been missing from his mix for so long that I almost forgot what it's like.<br /><br />So, I'll sit here tonight and watch the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences reward some very deserving nominees, ignore some equally deserving artists and rubber stamp award some that just make me wonder if they have naked pictures of the accountants that tabulated the votes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align=right>Technorati tags:<br /><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/record+label" rel="tag">record label</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Grammys" rel="tag">Grammys</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Grammy+Awards" rel="tag">Grammy Awards</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Clay+Aiken" rel="tag">Clay Aiken</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Taylor+Swift" rel="tag">Taylor Swift</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Promotion" rel="tag">promotion</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lady+Gaga" rel="tag">Lady Gaga</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Shakira" rel="tag">Shakira</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/new+album" rel="tag">new album</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Decca+Records" rel="tag">Decca Records</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mary+Blige" rel="tag">Mary Blige</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Protools" rel="tag">Protools</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Beyonce" rel="tag">Beyonce</a> <br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Universal+Music+Group" rel="tag">Universal Music Group</a><br /><a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Black+Eyed+Peas" rel="tag">Black Eyed Peas</a>Corabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16388557860226956180noreply@blogger.com5