Clay Aiken Fans 'Use Their Voice'

Clay performs during taping of PBS Special.
Graphic by Fountaindawg/photos by Jim R. Bounds

Readers Share Mic in Mailbag

Media Promos Clay Aiken Special

International Media posted a teaser on Facebook about Clay Aiken's PBS Special Wednesday and, in typical fashion, the latest news tidbit roared through the nooks and crannies of CA Cyberspace at breakneck speed.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA: American Idol Superstar alumni CLAY AIKEN’s first Public TV special reaches back into the romantic past of the 50’s and 60’s, featuring many of the most iconic love-songs ever written! Check your local listings to experience it for yourself!

Another Wednesday media release concerns the merger of several publishing companies, including the Universal Music Publishing Group:

With over 70,000 copyrights, Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing owns the world's largest Christian music publishing catalogue as well as the second largest evangelically-styled choral music catalog.

Its songs have been recorded by virtually every major singer in the Christian music industry as well as by such renowned artists as Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Linda Ronstadt, Amy Grant, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Alicia Keys, Clay Aiken and Trace Adkins.

The most highly anticipated news by the fan community will come in an announcement heralding the availability of "Tried & True" track excerpts at Decca Records and other online outlets.

The singer's first CD with the Decca label is scheduled for release June 1. Rest assured, the snippet patrol is on duty around the clock!

Comments Augment Blog Topics

The comments visitors leave augment or complete the dialogue set in motion by a blogger. As one who frequently includes montages and graphic designs by other CA fans, I appreciate the props many write for the featured artists.

No doubt I am the only person who reads all the comments in any given blog entry (they arrive in my email box as well as at the bottom of the post), so occasionally I like to spotlight some of the many thoughtful remarks shared by Carolina On My Mind and Clayonline readers with a mailbag entry. Headlines link back to the original posts.

The previous entry celebrated the 145 countries represented by Carolina visitors since December 2007. Readers whose comments are highlighted below hail from North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Linked screen names take you to the person's blog.

Facebook Teams with Feedjit

Visits to the Carolina site are registered via Feedjit and ClustrMap. A recent Feedjit addition is the ability to link to the Carolina blog with one's Facebook profile photo.

In the past five entries, readers have expressed their views on a variety of topics: Clay's upcoming Tried & True CD, this summer's Timeless Tour and current "ticketmaster tangos," the PBS Special, plans for CD release parties, National Inclusion Project and NC Theatre fundraisers, montages, graphics, and even a brief spring recital update.

Graphics by Fountaindawg, AmazingCA, and LovesClaysVoice are included. Recently-featured montages are by gerwhisp, SueReu, and LovesClaysVoice.

First official T&T press photo by Vincent Soyez
Graphic by Fountaindawg

Clay Aiken CD Buzz Goes Global: April 25, 2010

Stephanie: WOW!!! I love how there are Clay fans all around the world. Makes my heart smile. So, so excited about the new CD. I plan on playing it til it wears out, and then buying another copy, playing that until it wears out, buying another copy. It's an endless, beautiful cycle!

Anonymous: I am so glad that info about Clay gets all over the world. I do know that Clay has a lot of fans in Asian Countries that would love to have him come there. Maybe this time he really will.

musicfan: It is so much fun to see visitors from all over the world. It just proves that CLay needs to tour internationally.

Sandy: We have some of the world's best graphic artists! The pictures are stunning! Congratulations to Fountaindawg and Cotton! How exciting for you to see visitors viewing your blog from all over the world. I bet you are getting a good Geography lesson looking up all these places!

anaturegirl: It is exciting to see there are fans of Clay Aiken's in so many countries. Love the new graphics. Thanks for sharing them. These are exciting times for both Clay and his fans. Decca is sure doing things right with him. So refreshing that the new label "gets him" like we do.

Sharrie: I am so impressed on how your blog is reaching fans all around the world. Just imagine how your talents have touched so many lives in so many languages in the single language of Clayish in Claytown!

I love all the buzz on Clay's upcoming CD, DVD, concerts and PBS specials. We are all riding on the Claytrain.

'Tried & True' CD cover graphic by AmazingCA.

Aiken Fans Set CD Parties: April 22, 2010

SueReu: Lots to look forward to! Love Gerwhisp's video and the great graphics by AmazingCA and Fountaindawg. The CD planning website looks like fun!

Pam Bassett: Thanks so much for showing our website here! For all those fans who want to attend the Hollywood, California CD Release Celebration, please register soon. Payment is not due until May 12, 2010, but we need to let the venue know asap how many will be attending!

Lisa1068: The MGM tickets went on sale this morning at 9am and boy it was tough to get anything good. You can buy through Ticketmaster or Foxwoods/MGM Grand websites. Front row Mezz row A available right now but nothing showing up for Orchestra.

barb55: Thanks for sharing the montage by gerwhisp and all of the links, as well as the clickables. I had not seen that interview before. It was great to see Clay again. He seems happy and excited.

vibajajo (Clayonline): I think this is my favorite cover of a CD. Kind of vintage yet classic. Just like the music. Can't wait for the new music!

Graphic by AmazingCA/photos by Jim R. Bounds.

Clay Aiken Fans Solve CD Puzzles: April 20, 2010

fivegoldens: Enjoyed the blog, but realize I'm really slow at puzzle solving! So happy to see ACA doing graphics again, she's one of the best!! It's nice to see Anoop supporting NIP. He seems like a nice guy.

MissSally: What a delight to open your blog and see ACA's creativity on display. Welcome back, T, we've missed you. LovesClaysVoice's beautiful design really caught my eye; graphics like this are not easy to make. I really like the way she seamlessly placed Clay's image in Times Square.

AmazingCA: Thanks so much for all the kind comments. I miss doing my graphics, but I'm sure that I'll be back with more especially with all the upcoming events with Clay. It's so good to know that Anoop will be singing at the fundraiser. He was my fav last year in AI.

Sandy: Love all the Clay news coming our way lately! [Switching to the hockey playoffs] Second period is about to start ...could be the SENS last game! We are down 3-1 in the best of seven series. Hard to come back and win 3 games in a row during playoffs. Wish us luck!

reneti46 (Clayonline): Wonderful! I checked out the link to Carolina on my Mind. Loved all the pictures of Clay and the pic of Anoop. Good luck with the recital!

Timeless Tour - Graphic by Fountaindawg

Aiken-Studdard Finale Still Tops: April 17, 2010

SueReu: I absolutely adore watching the AI5 video of Clay Aiken and his surprise entrance. I can watch it over and over and NEVER get tired of it!! I'd say that is the best moment on American Idol, period and maybe the best moment in all reality TV. It was amazing.

CLAYCOLOMBIA: Like Sue and surely many fans of Clay, I love this Clay Aiken participation in AI5. In Colombia transmitted the show two weeks later that United States. I knew the details, but to see for the first time ... it was too exciting!

zanyforclay: My heart still races when I see that AI5 clip. I keep it on my desktop and still watch it a few times a month!! It was absolutely breathtaking and the biggest highlight to date on AI. Thanks for all the info and SueReu's great montage!! Can't wait for the tour to begin.

Sandy: I just love it when I see the figures showing how many people were turned into the AI2 finale! These figures will be hard to match! In fact I can almost guarantee they will never be matched or topped!

Sharrie: Thanks so much for sharing the great videos of Clay and Ruben. They are such a great team. As for the AI5 performance, words can't even describe the excitement in the audience. I love knowing that Clay and Ruben finale is still #1. Looking forward to all the great things Clay is bringing our way!

Cindy: Such amazing memories this blog invokes! I've only been truly stunned by Clay a couple times over the years (and don't you know the most recent time was just a few weeks ago in Raleigh!); but when those doors opened and he walked out on the stage during the AI5 finale, I literally gasped. What and experience that was!

I don't believe AI will ever top the excitement of the Clay/Ruben showdown. And isn't it wonderful - and a testament to both men - that they remain such steadfast friends today? We are lucky, lucky fans, and I LOVE Clay Aiken. Can't wait for their reunion. If their act in Raleigh is anything to go by, we're in for a treat!

Lisa (Clayonline): That is so cool that AI2 is the most viewed! I think that Season 2 had the most talent in the Top 10 altogether. They all set the bar pretty high. Of course, two of them set it REALLY high!

Lois: I think this is one of your most exciting blogs ever. Our favorite AI moments, and the new tour all wrapped up together.

oana: This blog really helps me to stay in touch with everything that's new regarding Clay and his music since I'm so so far away from you.

Graphic by LovesClaysVoice

Aiken To Bring Broadway Home: April 13, 2010

MissSally: "Bringing Broadway Home" looks like another winner for Clay; hope we get some primo clack! Our singer man is definitely keeping himself busy these days. Founaindawg's graphic is beautifully done. I enjoy all of her work, but this one really caught my eye!

anberwa: I wish I could go. This sounds like it will be a wonderful night of music.

ImGranny: This sounds like a great concert. I too hope they film this concert and sell a DVD of it for a fundraiser!

IamMesmerized: Oh how I'd love to go back to Raleigh for this event but with the summer tour coming up, it just ain't happening!

barb55 (Clayonline): Glad to hear that Clay will be one of the headliners for raising money for the NC Theatre Group in Raleigh. Dancing Like the Stars is a neat idea to help raise funds for the National Inclusion Project.

Lisa (Clayonline): I am more than ready for June 1st to come!

Below are clickables of the featured graphics: Fountaindawg, 1, 2, 5; AmazingCA, 3, 4; and LovesClaysVoice, 6.

Many thnx to all who contribute to the Carolina blog. Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

Aiken Fans Set CD Release Parties

TRIED & TRUE - The vintage 1950's green hues in this album cover graphic by AmazingCA help the Carolina blog celebrate Earth Week.

First Official Press Photo Revealed

Fans Plan T&T CD Celebrations

With countdown clocks steadily ticking toward the June 1 drop date for Tried & True, Clay Aiken's first album with Decca Records, fans have begun organizing parties to celebrate the new CD.

Pulling out all the stops is the Hollywood CD Release Party with a website coordinated and designed by Pam Bassett. The above link and double clickable image below will take you to "The Celebration Team 2010" page where you will be greeted by Clay singing "Mack the Knife."

Fans planning to attend the Hollywood CD Release Celebration should register as soon as possible. Payment is not due until May 12.

Double click on image to see Hollywood party website.

In the early planning stages, other CD release parties listed at Clayonline (Anything Clay >> Clay Soiree) include Raleigh and Southeastern Michigan (May 31) and Toronto, Ontario (June 5). More will be listed as plans are posted.

To set up a celebration website Hollywood style, click on this link and get started. You can choose from 2,000+ templates; customize the site with your own logo, graphics, text, domain name; and publish to the web with a click of a button.

Easy-to-use tools include point-click-drag images and text with no HTML required. Following a 30-day free trial, the fee is only $4.99/month.

Are You Ready for Clay Aiken 2010?
Montage by gerwhisp

In Are You Ready for Clay Aiken 2010, her latest montage, gerwhisp combined an earlier CA favorite, "Here You Come Again," with excerpts from the singer's March interview in Raleigh and promotional images from the PBS concert taping and upcoming Timeless Tour.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Featured are double clickable T&T and Timeless TourAmazingCA (1, 3) and Fountaindawg (2).

Tour Ticket Sales Dates Revised

Despite conflicting reports, Timeless Tour tickets for the MGM Grand Foxwoods (Marshantucket, CT) venue are on sale through Ticketmaster now. For more information, check with the venue (866-646-0050) if you want to attend the Aug. 7 concert. This is the promo for Clay and Ruben from the MGM site:

Since coming to national attention on the second season of American Idol in 2003, where he was the unexpected runner up, only to become the biggest selling male artist the show has ever featured, Clay Aiken has evolved into a versatile and beloved popular entertainer.

He has also toured nine times, written a New York Times bestselling memoir, sold more than six million albums, produced and hosted television programs, starred on Broadway, and devoted considerable energy and resources to improving the lives of children all over the world.

After Idol, Ruben Studdard released his first single, "Flying Without Wings" and it debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Advance orders for his debut album, Soulful, topped the 1 million mark before it was released and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Studdard received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R & B Vocal Performance and in March 2004, Ruben won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist Award.

Other public ticket sales for the Clay Aiken-Ruben Studdard 17-city summer tour slated for Friday, April 30, include the following venues:

The Hammerstein - New York City, NY (Aug. 11 concert): Phone 212-279-7740. American Express Pre-sale Thursday, Aug. 22, 10 a.m. EDT - Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m. EDT; live nation pre-sale Tuesday, April 27, 10 a.m. EDT - Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m. EDT; general public, Friday, April 30, 10 a.m. EDT.

**Horseshoe Casino - Hammond, IN (Aug. 13 concert): Phone 866-711-7463. (Originally set for April 30, tickets will be on sale through Ticketmaster and at the box office on Friday, May 21.)

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL (July 26 concert): Phone 727-791-7400, 800-875-8682. Ticketmaster and box office April 30. (Check back for time).

The coast to coast tour, which has been added to Clay's Decca site (under "Events"), begins July 23 in Asheville, NC, and ends in Biloxi, MS.

Clay Aiken Official T&T Press Photo/Vincent Soyez

A few minutes before I started teaching Friday, Clayonline added the final piece of the T&T photo shoot puzzle. Below are clickables of full-length and cropped versions of Clay on the train at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC.

Clickables of official T&T press photo.

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

Aiken Fans Tackle Ticketmaster

Clay Aiken PBS Special

Fans Tango with 'Ticketmonster'

Armed with a host of helpful hints, lucky charms, and good wishes from Internet friends, Clay Aiken fans prepared to tackle the unflappable idiosyncrasies of "Ticketmonster," one of the more printable nicknames for Ticketmaster.

The goal: two prime time seats in Memorial Hall of Raleigh's Progress Energy Center for the March 12 PBS taping of "Classic Memories," during which the singer will unveil material from the upcoming "Clay Aiken: Tried & True," his first album with Decca Records.

The one-night-only special event will be a full production filmed for national television. Seating is exclusive and limited.

Clickables of Raleigh's Memorial Hall.

Ticketmaster Downbeat at Noon

Beginning at noon Tuesday, Official Fan Club members were to login into the Clayonline Appearances section to secure the pre-sale ticket code. From there, they began the "Ticketmaster Tango" with multiple degrees of angst, torture, and success.

Early morning message board posts provided a snapshot of pre-sale stress, suggestions, and some very enthusiastic cheerleading encompassing Clay Cyberspace:

I am so nervous that I was almost thinking of buying a ticket to something cheap to see if my account works.

Have Ticketmaster open in another tab. Then when you click on Appearances, you should be already signed in.

I plan to have my desktop computer turned on and ready to go just in case this one crashes. It doesn't happen often, but I was a Girl Scout and do believe in being prepared.

TICKET DAY: Had a dream before I woke up, nightmare of course. Time came to buy, the instructions were confusing, and it was hard to find the code. When I went to Ticketmaster, there were SIX places to enter a code; and it wasn't clear where it should go. Of course, before I woke up, I never did get it figured out or get tickets. I will be glad when this is done!

HEADS UP FROM ME: I plan to log out of everything except the OFC and TM when the time gets close. I don't want anyone here to think either my computer or I died. I'll be back as soon as I have tickets, either to moan about the so-so seats or crow about the great seats!

As soon as y'all get your tickets, get back here and tell us what happened and what you got. I will expect that at 12.01 EST. Okay, maybe 12.02 EST. But no later!

May the ticket gods smile on us today!

Clayonline fan club members have been given the first opportunity to purchase tickets in the pre-sale from 12 noon EST Tuesday (Feb. 16) through 10 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 18). Tickets will be open to the general pubic at 12 noon Friday (Feb. 19).

Pictorial Essay Cheers on Fans

To cheer on fans trying for tickets, Bottlecap prepared a pictorial essay with clickable Clay Aiken concert photos by Kareneh, fivegoldens, and Invisible926.

Fingers crossed



that your ticket search will go well,



that you can successfully bend TM to your will,



and that you emerge triumphant!



Play-By-Play Reveals Trials, Triumphs

Representing three message boards, these posts between noon and 2 p.m. describe a range of "tango" experiences from trauma to jubilation. They also exemplify perseverance, heady excitement, and special friendships as American fans assisted Canadians unexpectedly blocked by a system glitch.

In a nutshell, the Ticketmaster experience is never boring -- but then neither is being a Clay fan ...

12:06 p.m. -- I got my tickets!!!

OMG, this is soooooooooooooo STRESSFUL! I got the WHITE PAGE of NEAR-DEATH at TM for a couple of seconds!!!

My heart feels like it's beating out of my chest.

Me, too, and now my cat wants attention!

Twice I got offered tickets in the balcony, but it won't even let me buy them!

First I put in the max ticket price -- none found.
Second (any price) - got back balcony
Third (any price) - got mezzanine.
I'm in da house!!!

12:46 p.m. There are 802 signed into the OFC right now.

Do you think Ticketmaster wasn't ready for us?

I'm excited, and I'm not even going. Next concert in Raleigh -- I will be there!

EEEEEEEEE -- I'm in da house!!! I got NOTHING AVAILABLE forever, but reentered my code, and it went through!

12:16 p.m. The best laid plans and all that -- eBAY already has a set of tickets in the front for $599.

12:19 p.m. YEAH! I got Orchestra section. I told the guys here at work that I'm taking lunch at noon and not to bother me 'cause I was on a mission.

12:21 Clay says in his latest answer that there's not a bad seat in the house. It's funny he's answering questions while we're all stressing out buying tickets!

If you get "none available," reenter your code.

I was just able to pick up a single ticket in Section B! I phished for half an hour and was offered progressively worse seats. I then went back after a break, phished some more, and a ticket in the Dress Circle came up! I didn't even really plan on going, and now I may have to reconsider!

I agree with Clay. I live in Raleigh and I've been at Progress Energy Center many times. He is right that there isn't a bad seat in the house. I've sat in dress circle, orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony. I've been happy in all those seats. We'll all have a great time, and we are getting to see Clay again!

Ticketmonster more than earned its unprintable nicknames when Canadians could not process a purchase. Passwords were PM'd, and US friends stepped forward and secured seating for many international fans. [TM and the OFC are working on a solution to the glitch for the remaining sale dates.]

BWAHHH! One of my security words to type in was "assesses." I immediately laughed and said to myself that yes, TM is/are asses. At least, that's what it looked like at first glance. How apropos!

We got seats 30 minutes after the frenzy. I am exhausted.

Clay just posted on the OFC and Facebook that the Canadian problem is solved.

In the door and pleased ...

Have a great week, Clay Nation. May the ticket gods smile on Clay Aiken fans throughout the TM adventure!

Caro

Aiken-Kimmel a Valentine Tradition

VALENTINES OF NOTE - Previous Clay Aiken-Jimmy Kimmel Valentine Night shows have become rewind favorites among the singer's fans. His second mainstram album, A Thousand Different Ways, is the perfect accompaniment for this weekend. - Graphic by A Beautiful Mind, photos by Scrpkym.

Team Clay Delivers 2010 Valentine

Aiken-Kimmel in Classic Rewind

February 14 traditions centuries old continue throughout the world this weekend, but none closer to the hearts of Clay Aiken fans than the Valentine Nights the singer appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show.

In the host's words, "Valentine's Day is Clay Aiken Day." Clay and Jimmy celebrated Valentine's 2005 together, and the CA fandom literally took charge of the stage decor, sending flowers, stuffed animals, balloons in the shape of hearts, and enough pizza for the crew and half the audience.

At the heart of the "Climmel" happenings is a special friendship, complimented by a unique chemistry that has developed through the years. In 2008, Clay was performing in Spamalot on Broadway; and in 2009, he was on vacation. With Singer Man putting final touches on an upcoming PBS Special, this Valentine's Day isnt looking very promising.

NEWS BULLETIN: Fan club members, check your inbox! You probably have an email from Team Clay RE the March 12 "Classic Memories" PBS Special that starts like this:



GET READY RALEIGH...

We're happy to be able to put an end to the suspense and the waiting by finally letting you know about the exciting "mystery" event happening on March 12!

After a long wait for all of you, Clay will be "unveiling" the material from his forthcoming album, "Tried & True" in a live concert in his hometown at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium!

This one night only special event will be a full production filmed for national television so seating is exclusive and limited.

LINKS TO INVESTIGATE:

International Media
Progress Energy Center in Raleigh
Ticketmaster
Clayonline/Appearances
Clay Aiken To Perform One-Night Only Concert
Entertainment My NC
Clay Aiken's Raleigh Concert in March

Fan club members will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets in a pre-sale from 12 noon EST Tuesday, Feb. 16, through 10 p.m. Feb. 18. Instructions for the pre-sale code are in the email. Tickets will be open to the general pubic at 12 noon Friday, Feb. 19.

Meanwhile, see Clay's "Non-Scientific Survey" thread in The Man Forum at the OFC to assist with pre-sale ticket count.

If you have HBO, a Bill Maher Special taped this weekend in Memorial Hall of Raleigh's Progress Energy Center, will be televised several times Feb. 13-16.

The Aiken-Kimmel reunion on Feb. 14, 2007, was a classic and worthy of a rewind, which will easily fill this season's Valentine vacuum. Grab your popcorn; it's almost time for Clay's introduction ...

In addition to being a multi-platinum recording artist, the author of a New York Times bestseller, and tireless UNICEF ambassador, our first guest has been my Valentine for two out of the last three years running. Please welcome Clay Aiken!

Clay Arrives Bearing Gifts

As with past appearances, pandemonium greeted Clay as he entered bearing gifts -- a giant heart of red balloons, the Clay face shirt for his host, and special "Aiken 4 Kimmel" M&Ms. Jimmy immediately whipped off his jacket and put on his new shirt.

The two friends chatted about Clay's break, his upcoming UNICEF trip, his "enthusiastic" fans" ("Do you realize you command a larger army than Fidel Castro?"), some recent dental work ("I heard that you got a visit from the tooth fairy yesterday and had some work done on your teeth"), and what not.

Jimmy's hint that Clay had promised to compose a special Valentine's Day song was met with comical and toally convincing bafflement. As a pianist quietly started playing an intro offstage, Clay relented, "Well, I can make one up."

Valentine Song Lyrics

Mischievously eying the bowl of candy beside him, Clay began picking up pastel-colored hearts, improvising a song with the Valentines and tossing them over his shoulder after their usefulness. Miraculously, a microphone appeared; and the improvisational flavor of the song and skit progressed:

Love me ... true love,
Fax me ... got love,
You're so sweet ... yours forever,
You're so sweet ...
(speaking) I've got Stage 2 diabetes; that's not going to work!
(singing again) Angel ... dear one. (chuckles)
You're a tiger ... you're mine, Jimmy!!!

Back on the message boards came reports that, during commercial breaks, Clay picked up the bowl of candy and passed out sweets to audience members. Definitly a Valentine's Night to remember ... again and again!

Yollie950 incorporated these events into her montage Valentine's Day with Aiken & Bacon.

Valentine's Day with Aiken & Bacon
Montage by Yollie950

Throughout the seven Valentines fans have shared with Clay, graphic artists have provided special visual treats. In this artistic 2/14 rewind are clickable designs by Sally, 1; A Beautiful Mind, photos by KarenEh, 2; cindilu2, 3; AmazingCA, photos by Katy4Clay, 4; and A Beautiful Mind, 5.

The most recent Aiken-Kimmel Valentine get-together was featured in the annual My Favorite Things montage by SmartyPantsSuz.

Other events highlighted in the 2007 MFT montage were the Mike and Juliet Show, Clay's UNICEF trip to Afghanistan, another JKL appearance, summer and holiday tours, and his $300,000 win for the National Inclusion Project on Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.

My Favorite Things 2007 by SmartyPantsSuz
JKL grid links to MFT montage on YouTube.

Below is a clickable of A Beautiful Mind's opening graphic:

Have a very special Valentine's Weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

Aiken Fans Board 'Virtual Tour' Bus

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS -- Clay Aiken celebrates the finale of the Joyful Not a Tour with a performance in Greensboro two days before Christmas 2006. Photo by Shine in NC.

Vaulted Videos Celebrate Season

Music, Fun, Culture Define JNaT

Even though there are no Joyful Noise dates scheduled for 2009, Clay Aiken fans have enough videos in the vault from previous years to celebrate the holiday season with December rewinds.

The Carolina blog's "virtual tour" bus hits the road for a look back at the musical, comedic, and educational highlights of the December 2006 Joyful Not a Tour.

Memorable vocals are a given when Clay & Company are on stage. The singer's genuine gift for bantering with audiences assures spontaneity, humor, and grins. The educational segments of the holiday symphony tour were Clay's nightly lessons of "fancy Eye-talian" musical terms.

To relive the three-week tour, start with the first of Chardonnay's "Best of NACT Banter" montages. After viewing the opener, link to all 12 NACT videos at her YouTube Channel. The initial montage merges videos by Scarlett and jojoct from the Waukegan and Merrilville concerts.

Best of NACT Banter, Part 1 - Montage by Chardonnay

Snow Greets Tour Opener

Winter storms arrived in the Midwest for the opening curtain; but Clay, musical director Jesse Vargas, and the touring crew were soon treated to more pleasant weather as the entourage wound up and down the eastern seaboard Dec. 1 - 23, entertaining audiences on many levels.

Cousin Jamie Displays Word
Clickable by Cotton

Throughout the 2006 holiday tour, Clay returned to the classroom and taught fans a new musical term at each concert. The performances were beamed throughout Cyberspace, so the nightly lessons benefited fans in the theater as well as those listening at home.

The 18 musical terms introduced to JNaT audiences are listed below. With few exceptions, Clay's cousin Jamie walked across the stage holding up a sign bearing the name of the evening's "Eye-talian" term.

CAROLINA CROONER -- Clay dazzled the Greensboro audience and symphony musicians during the final JNaT concert. Photo by xxx4clay links to Spotlightlover's "Mary Did You Know?" video.

Violinist Shares Backstage Scenes

Since Greensboro is home base for me, I frequently play gigs with several of the symphony members performing in the final concert. The morning after the concert I talked with Jean, a violinist, about the orchestra's interaction with my favorite singer.

According to my friend, the Greensboro musicians really enjoyed working with Clay, who was "personable, professional, and lots of fun" during their rehearsal and dinner.

He arrived during the last half hour of the rehearsal and started singing where they were, checking sound and warming up. "He was very involved with the orchestra and sang to us during the rehearsal," she said.

Jean was surprised to learn the concert was beamed via cellcert throughout the US and Canada. As with most orchestras, Greensboro's JNaT audience was definitely out of the norm for symphony musicians.

Orchestra Players Pick Term

During dinner, Clay explained about the "musical term of the night" and asked for the orchestra's assistance in choosing an unusual definition. Every word they suggested had been used. Jean even knew about the "made up" term at the West Point Concert. When concertgoers began bringing music dictionaries to look up correct answers, Clay and crew "created" a term.

Talking amongst themselves, the Greensboro string section came up with flagioleto or flagioletto, which means "playing overtones with a slide touch of the string in the points where it is divided in two, three, and four equal parts." In the music, this is indicated with an "o" over the note.

A more recognizable description might be "playing harmonics." Basically, this happens by barely pressing the string while bowing versus firmly pressing the string on the fingerboard and bowing. The violin section demonstrated both sounds very effectively.

As with all concerts, Clay plugged the Greensboro Symphony's next performance, which was slated for Dec. 31. "What are you doing New Year's Eve?" he hinted to the local audience. "I'm not singing, just asking," he quipped, referencing the popular track on his 2004 Christmas CD, Merry Christmas With Love.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: The JNaT's final leg escorted Clay home for the holidays. Clickables from the tour's closing concerts are by photographers xxx4clay (1), All4Clay (2), Simonncharge (3), and ClaysCharlotteGirl (4), Greensboro; PinkCocoa/Ztilb (5, 6), Charlotte; and Clayzthe1, Norfolk, when Clay danced with his mother while singing "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" (7).

JNaT Terms Educate Audiences

Musical terms for the nightly pedagogical segments of the 2006 tour are listed below. How many do you remember?

1. CRESCENDO (Merrillville) - Soft to loud.

2. DECRESCENDO (Merrillville) - Loud to soft.

3. FERMATA (Verona) - Held note.

4. SFORZANDO (Engelwood) - A sudden burst of sound on a chord.

5. TREMOLO (Baltimore) - Tremble; a string player shakes his bow reeeeaaal fast on the string for effect such as in scary music. Another set of definitions: (a) A tremulous effect produced by rapid repetition of a single tone. ( b) A similar effect produced by rapid alternation of two tones. A tremolo performed on a piano would be two notes one octave apart played in rapid succession, i.e., low E high E low E high E.

6. PIZZICATO (Norfolk) - I-talian (™CHA) term meaning "pinching." It is used for string instruments to indicate that the strings must be pinched instead of playing with the bow.

7. COL LEGNO (Williamsport) - "Playing with wood"!!! Bwah!!!

8. PONTICELLO (Wilkes Barre) - Playing close to the bridge of a stringed instrument

9. GLISSANDO (Easton) - Rapid scale passage produced by sliding over keys or strings, e.g. piano, harp, violin, trombone.

10. BISBIGLIANDO (Hartford) – Whispering, i.e., a special tremolo effect on the harp where a chord or note is rapidly repeated at a low volume. A fluttering of the strings of the harp.

11. FLUTTER TONE (Greenvale/Long Island) -- Jaimie's sign showed 'flutter-tone,' but the terms dictionary had 'flutter-tongue.' In wind instruments, a "coloristic" effect produced by the performer rolling "R" sound while playing.

12. MALLANCAZZIO (West Point) - Playing with the mouthpiece only. (The night of the MADE UP term!)

13. RALLENTANDO (RAL-lin-TAHN-doe) (Red Bank) - A directive to perform a certain passage of a composition with a gradual slowing of the tempo

14. SCORDATURA (skor-dah-TOOR-rah) (Detroit) - The practice of tuning the strings of a stringed instrument differently than the standard tuning. Scordatura is generally used to extend an instrument's range, or to make certain passages easier or more possible to perform; it is also used to achieve certain special effects. Scordatura was popular between 1600 and 1750, and is used rarely now.

15. MARCATO (Grand Rapids) - With strong accentuation, strongly accented.

16. SALTANDO (Jacksonville) - Proceeding in leaps or skips. In bowed string playing, a saltando is a technique of bouncing the bow across the strings, producing a rapid, staccato arpeggio.

17. TACET (Charlotte) - Don’t Play. An indication in the music that a performer is to be silent for some time. Typically, for an entire section or movement of a composition.

18. FLAGIOLETO (Greensboro) - Playing overtones with a slide touch of the string in the points where it is divided in two, three, and four equal parts. In the music, this is indicated with an "o" over the note. A more recognizable description might be "playing harmonics." Basically, this happens by barely pressing the string while bowing versus firmly pressing the string on the fingerboard and bowing. The violin section demonstrated both sounds very effectively.

Hope you enjoyed the JNaT rewind. Keep your bags packed; with vaults full of Clay Aiken Christmas performances, our bus will hit the virtual tour trail several times this holiday season!

Have a wonderful new week, Clay Nation!