Showing posts with label press release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label press release. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Clay Aiken T&T Album Buzz Builds


BACK TO BASICS - Clay Aiken photo by Vincent Soyez.

Aiken Fans Remember Yollie950

T&T Buzz on 20-Day Crescendo

Scroll down for May 13 birthday party!

Twenty days from the June 1 Decca release of Clay Aiken's "Tried & True" CD, and the promotional buzz can only be described as a steadily building crescendo!

From USA Today to Etonline, the headlines herald the June 1 release of the singer's fifth studio album -- "Clay Aiken Goes Back to Basics," "Clay Aiken Sings 'Tried and True' Favorites," "Clay Aiken Comes Full Circle."

Never have fans observed such a well-planned promotion of a Clay Aiken album and event. In addition to the barrage of press releases, sneak previews of three tracks were played exclusively at Clayonline, the singer's official fan club site.

Facebook, MySpace, Feature Tracks

Clay's pages at Facebook and MySpace now feature full versions of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and "Misty." Other sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Clay's page at Decca are among the many poised to post tracks or snippets from the CD any day now. (UPDATE: B&N previews are LIVE now!)

Snippets of all 11 tracks are available on iTunes. Pre-order the T&T album there and receive a bonus track, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me."

Meanwhile, International Media's second upload of CLAY AIKEN: TRIED & TRUE - LIVE! today has gone over 10,000 views.


CLAY AIKEN: TRIED & TRUE - LIVE! PBS Special Promo

Fans play an important role in the promotional roll-out by watching the video at YouTube, rating it, and adding comments at the site. Here are three:
Invisible926: There is nothing like Clay Aiken live! I'm so happy that International Media and PBS will make it possible for more people to experience the magic that Clay's fans have enjoyed for 7 years.

hoganna: Clay is one fantastic singer, performer and true humanitarian. I'm glad I discovered him on YouTube in time for 2010!

Suereu: Thanks for capturing the magic!

Below are opening graphs of four press stories. Link to these sites -- and others listed below -- to read the complete release and leave a comment.

Etonline: Clay Aiken Goes Back to Basics: New Album Details

Clay Aiken is making a musical comeback with a new album, and ET has all the info on his fifth studio album, Tried and True!

Clay chose the title Tried and True because the album will be filled with timeless classics.

"There are a lot of elements to this album that are about me returning to what I'm comfortable with," he says. "To me, older songs are more melodically appealing and beautiful. So doing this album was an opportunity to just be myself."


USA Today: Clay Aiken sings 'Tried and True' favorites
Clay Aiken is releasing his fifth studio album, Tried and True, on June 1. The new CD is comprised of songs Clay grew up listening to, from the '50s and '60s.

Tried and True is the title because Clay feels the songs have stood the test of time, says the release. "To me, older songs are more melodically appealing and beautiful," he says. "So doing this album was an opportunity to just be myself."

Highlights include: Can't Take My Eyes Off You, made famous by Frankie Valli; Misty, the Johnny Mathis hit, and a soulful rendition of Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds.

MSN Music News: Clay Aiken Goes Back to Basics

Clay Aiken is making a musical comeback with a new album, and ET has all the info on his fifth studio album, Tried and True!

Clay chose the title Tried and True because the album will be filled with timeless classics.

"There are a lot of elements to this album that are about me returning to what I'm comfortable with," he says. "To me, older songs are more melodically appealing and beautiful. So doing this album was an opportunity to just be myself."

The album will include old-time favorites such as the swinging album opener "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," made famous by Frankie Valli; "Misty," the Johnny Mathis hit, and a soulful rendition of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." The album also features two songs Clay sang while on "American Idol": "Mack the Knife" and "Unchained Melody."

Tried and True is set for release June 1.

SKOPE: Clay Aiken Comes Full Circle
Clay Aiken has never sounded more at home than he does singing the lushly arranged classics on his fifth studio album Tried and True — the international pop phenomenon’s first album for Decca Records.

Showcasing Aiken’s powerful voice and considerable interpretive gifts, the new CD is comprised of songs from the ’50s and ’60s that Aiken grew up listening to as a child. The platinum-selling artist and idol to many has arguably never sounded better. Tried and True will be available everywhere on June 1st.

Other sites featuring the release include:

Just Jared

ZAP 2 It

The Insider

Pop News Daily

Idol Gossip

LALate (scroll down)

No doubt many more sites will feature Clay's Tried & True CD release during the roll-out of the next 20 days. Daily checks at
Google and other search engines will provide fans a list of sites to visit and leave positive comments.

In the past, many Not.Just.Us or casual fans have caught the "Aiken fever" through comments at websites and YouTube. The "Tried & True" Aiken fog is not far away!


On My Way Here/I Survived You - Cancer Tribute
Montage by Yollie950, vocals by Clay Aiken

Fans Mourn Loss of Yollie950

Sunday night the Clay Aiken family lost a very special member when Yollie950 (Dorian Limon) lost her battle with cancer and passed away quietly with the same grace and dignity she has shown during her nearly two-year struggle with the disease.

When her doctors gave her little hope a few weeks ago, she made the decision to abandon therapy and asked for prayers that she pass peacefully.

Yollie will be remembered for her compassion for others and her talent in creating montages. Constantly amazed that her YouTube Channel brought joy to Clay fans around the world, Yollie delighted in the entire process of creating montages, and she faithfully responded to those who commented at her site.

According to close friends, her loves for dance, music, and theater are reflected in her personal favorites among the many montages she created:
Rudolph Nureyev-Dedication-In Memory of a Great Dancer, a pictorial piece accompanied by Clay singing "Lover All Alone," and In Memory of Patrick Swayze, a dance video backed by Clay's "Broken Wings" track.

A CA fan since American Idol, Yollie originally supported Ruben; but by the end of the series, she was pulling for the North Carolinian to win. She had hoped to attend a Clay/Ruben "Timeless Tour" concert this summer, but that was not meant to be.

A good friend, ymarie, shared these thoughts about Yollie:

Yollie was well-loved by everyone. She set a good example: live your life with passion and caring, don't sweat the small stuff, try to make someone else's life better. Fight the good fight; but when the fight is over, let go with grace and dignity and, hopefully, leave the best part of you behind in the ones who loved you.

Memorials, Donations Honor Yollie

Memorial messages abound at the
Yollie950 YouTube Channel, as well as message boards throughout Clay Cyberspace.

Fans are also lighting candles and writing remembrances of Yollie on the Gratefulness site. At noon Tuesday there were 100 candles from seven countries burning. Candles only last for 48 hours, and Internet friends may want to repeat the condolence messages for her family.

Among the special messages sent to Yollie's family are remarks from Clay's mother, Faye Parker:

Thank you for sharing your mom with the world too. She has been an inspiration to the fans of my son. Her beautiful montages have touched a lot of hearts. I truly appreciate her support over the last seven years.

It is people like your mom who make a difference in the lives of others. It is people like her that are not known nationally but are "Winds Beneath the Wings" of her family and loved ones and of the Clay Nation. She will be missed by many. May God give you strength and support during this time of sadness.

Yollie is at peace now. Friends like to think she has a front row seat for all upcoming concerts. Still, the Clay Nation will miss her friendship and artistic gifts, both of which she freely shared.

Have a special week, Clay Nation!

Caro

to Lia, #1 on 5/13/10!


Graphic by ABeautifulMind

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Decca Previews 'Clay Aiken T&T'


Clay Aiken Tried & True: LIVE! Promo

Decca Posts Press Release, Bio

PBS Video Renders Album Peek

Decca Records and International Media released glimpses of CLAY AIKEN - TRIED & TRUE: LIVE! Thursday afternoon, and the Clay Nation has been feasting ever since. Saturday's brand new promo link has been added to this blog.

This is the information on the International Media TV Channel at YouTube:

Tried and True, American Idol Super Star Alumni Clay Aikens first Public Television special, reaches back into the romantic past of the 50s and 60s, featuring many of the most iconic love songs ever written.

Shot at the Memorial Auditorium in Clays home town of Raleigh, North Carolina, Tried and True features a full orchestra and big band.

Clay is joined on stage by special guest and American Idol colleague Ruben Studdard, along with special guest Linda Eder, who is widely recognized as one of the best female vocalists of our time.

This special concert is the world premiere live performance of Clays forthcoming album, Tried and True, being released on Decca this Spring.

The video can be viewed full screen at the International Media YouTube channel, and hits/comments there are important. However, I know readers from some countries are unable to see YT videos. Here are Sendspace downloads for the T&T preview in video and audio formats.

Below are regular and widescreen clickable wallpapers of Clay's Tried & True: Live! preview by Fountaindawg:



Fans Embrace T&T Sneak Peak

So what do fans think of the sneak peak? Here are six, slightly edited comments from the YouTube Channel and this blog:

cindilu2: This needs to be on my TV NOW!!!! What a fantastic concert -- and this teaser is only the tip of the iceberg. Wait until you hear "Unchained Melody,"" Crying" (with the incredible Linda Eder). and all the fun with Ruben. Awesome!

vstreamer: Clay looks and sounds fantastic. He is in his element here; entertaining is in his blood. Oh, and the sound and lighting are also top notch.

GjpgD: I remember during Idol's Top 12 when Clay had to fill out a biographical form on the show's website. When asked his preferred genre of music from any era, he stated, "Big Band." Guess he's finally living his dream, thanks to a supportive label and fiercely loyal, tried & true fans. Rock on, Clay! You're a rock star of the heart and spirit, no matter what you're singing!

claydreamer: jhjujw45 5t rg5 ty 6 5t5 uhrg 5 t= !!!!!!!! That is from my four-year-old granddaughter who couldn't stop dancing as we listened to Clay sing! This is so wonderful. Clay's voice is always the best!

artz11: Yes, this is singing! The band and arrangements even in these small doses sounds incredible. A voice for now and forever!

Truth Rules: Full screen and headphones! I can't stop watching, and I was there! It's great that those who couldn't be in Raleigh that night finally get a taste of what we saw and why this got dubbed the OMG concert.

With special thanks to Bottlecap (1-5) and Cotton (6, 7), below are seven screen caps from "Mack the Knife," "Who's Sorry Now." and "Build Me Up, Buttercup." Click on the caps to enlarge.













Decca Releases T&T Story, Updates Bio

Decca Records has released a media story about the T&T album and updated Clay's bio. Both can be read in their entirety on the singer's site. See the NEWS and BIO headings on Clay's page at Decca:

Clay Aiken Comes Full Circle with Album
of Timeless Classics Tried and True


May 7, 2010 (New York, NY) -- Clay Aiken has never sounded more at home than he does singing the lushly arranged classics on his fifth studio album Tried and True — the international pop phenomenon’s first album for Decca Records.

Showcasing Aiken’s powerful voice and considerable interpretive gifts, the new CD is comprised of songs from the ’50s and ’60s that Aiken grew up listening to as a child. The platinum-selling artist and idol to many has arguably never sounded better. Tried and True will be available everywhere on June 1st.

For Aiken, Tried and True (so named because he feels the songs have stood the test of time) was about getting back to himself after a career performing more pop-oriented material.

"There are a lot of elements to this album that are about me returning to what I’m comfortable with," Aiken says. "To me, older songs are more melodically appealing and beautiful. So doing this album was an opportunity to just be myself."


Gif by LovesClaysVoice

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro