Aiken Nation Recalls Pala Concert

CALIFORNIA MEMORIES -- A highlight of the memorable 2007 CA 4-fer was Pala, featured concert on our current virtual tour. Graphic by Amazing_CA, photos by Invisible926.

Pala Popular with Aiken Fans

Flat Clay Headlines Virtual Tour

A Clay Aiken Virtual Tour would be incomplete without Flat Clay's appearance during the Pala Concert, part of the California 4-fer of the Soft Rock Hard Place Summer 2007 itinerary.

Inclusion of Pala's Flat Clay, a life-size cardboard version of the singer, was among the most popular suggestions for the Carolina journal's trip through memorable tour moments. During the past six years, Flat Clay has attended countless concerts, fan gatherings, and TV tapings.

Featured in the player below, the cardboard's cameo appearance at Pala during When I See You Smile is also posted at YouTube by Noritager.

The video begins with the closing scat singing of "I Want To Know What Love Is." At 3:50 during banter between songs, backup singer Angela Fisher directed Clay's attention to his cardboard counterpart overlooking the show from a hotel window.

As the history of the cardboard replica unraveled, the discussion included audience member-fan Artquest, who explained Flat Clay is always along for the ride. "We just fold him in half and hit the road."

Due to back problems, Artquest's husband had returned to their room during intermission. Clay & Co. proceeded to serenade Flat Clay, whose dance in the window promptly became a permanent fixture of CA fandom lore.

Clay & Co. sing to Flat Clay at Pala Concert

Clayverted Cellist 'Goes Greek'

Attending her second CA concert ever, Luvmysalsie reported a discussion she had with a cellist following the Palomar Starlight Theatre (Pala) performance:

You know that look Clay fans have after seeing him live -- bright eyed, animated, joy written all over our faces. That is the look the cellist had, plus she was talking a mile a minute, just like we fans do.

She said that Clay really has the "chops," meaning his voice is incredible; but what really makes him special is the magical interaction with the audience. He had us eating right out of his hand, and that is what makes him a great entertainer.

Anyone can sing, but not everyone can have that relationship with an audience. She said it felt great to hear the applause because most of the time, they don't even know if their audiences are awake. The orchestra really seemed to enjoy Clay, as they were laughing right along with all his jokes; and he was in rare form tonight.

I asked the cellist if she was a Clayvert? Of course, she didn't know what this meant. I explained to her after seeing Clay in person that most people fall in love with him.

She said, "Oh yes! I'm going to go out and buy his CD's and bring my children to his concerts." Her children had asked her to get Clay's autograph, but he was surrounded by people backstage and she couldn't get close enough.

According to my friend Sally, who attended the California weekend's third event at The Greek, the Pala cellist followed through. She purchased tickets and attended her first concert as a member of the Clay Nation!

The CA 4-fer Slide Show below includes a glimpse of the four California concerts: San Diego, Pala, Los Angeles, and Indio. At the site, you can opt for "original" or "gallery" views.

Photographers represented are Invisible926, Toni7babe, Lindylo, FiveGoldens, Riversend22, Mad4Clay, and SmartyPantsSuz.

New Fans Join Clay Nation

In recap after recap, fans reported "Clayversions" of nearby concert goers. Lovethatguy posted this report at Clayversity:

Gareem and I met two girls who had won tickets to the show from the local radio station -- one of those "we loved him on AI but had no idea what he has done since."

One of the girls noticed my Clayversity badge; so, of course, we launched into the whole explanation of our message board, the Internet, Clay Nation, etc. By the time we said goodbye, Gareem had her e-mail address, and they were very pumped. I am positive they had a great time.

A newbie couple sat next to us at Pala, too. They loved the concert! After hearing that Clay was playing at The Greek and Indio next, they said they were going to get tickets to those concerts also.

In her Pala recap, Saltwaterdog described "newbie" experiences of couples sitting near her and her husband.

One couple had seen an AI 2 show, but this was their first Clay Aiken concert. They were enjoying themselves from the beginning of the show; but when Clay spotted the Flat Clay cardboard cutout in an upper hotel window, they were hooked.

During WISYS, Clay sang to the image as if it were his true love. Quiana and Angela added similar theatrical gestures. At that point, the folks in front of us joined in the fun as if they were longtime Clay fans.

They laughed at Clay’s jokes and snuggled during the sweet songs. One of the men even kept a close eye out on Flat Clay all evening.

March Madness Invades Schedule

The NCAA Selection Committee forgot to check with me, and Carolina's 2:50 opener against Radford hits my Thursday teaching schedule head-on. DIRECTV to the rescue, as the game will be recorded while I teach four violinists, at least one of whom shares my enthusiasm for the Tar Heels.

We are preparing for a May 17 Spring Recital with a few twists. My piano and string students will perform at 2, and my sister's woodwind students at 3. In the interim, our strings and winds will present varied selections with harp accompaniment. For many, this will be the first time to be up close and personal with a harp; and they are very excited about that.

The two combined selections are definitely varied: "Ashokan Farewell" from the PBS Civil War special and "Star Wars" by John Williams. I didn't think any of my young charges would even remember the latter, but my seventh grade violist informed me we are "current," as a new triology of Star Wars films has recently been released.

Who knew? But Viola Man said, "We are good to go!"

Below is a clickable of Amazing_CA's opening graphic:

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation! Go, Tar Heels!

Caro

Thank you for putting the Carolina blog on your itinerary. Your visits
and comments are very much appreciated.

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, When I See You Smile, 2007 Summer Tour, CA 4-fer, Pala, Flat Clay, Clayvert, March Madness, Carolina Tar Heels, music students, Spring Recital, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

A Little Bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day

ALL THINGS GREEN -- Clay Aiken graphic by Amazing_CA.

March Honors Irish Traditions

Everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day. This blog commemorates the week with "Spamalot" green, signature color of Sir Robin, Clay Aiken's recent role in the hit Broadway musical.

The most well-known March observance is St. Patrick's Day, honoring the patron saint of Ireland, the man who brought Christianity to the Irish in the 400's A.D. March 17 is truly a day for celebrating Irish history, ancestry, traditions, and customs.

Around the globe, St. Patrick's Day festivities are generally themed around all things green and Irish. The secular version of the holiday is marked by wearing green or orange, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink (usually Guinness), and attending parades.

Irish colonists brought St. Patrick's Day to North America. The event was first commemorated in the 13 colonies in Boston, MA, in 1737.

A Month of Varied Observances

Besides this Irish tradition, March lauds everything from Music in Our Schools and women's history to foot health, frozen foods, furniture, hamburgers and pickles, humorists, noodles, peanuts, the Red Cross, science, and youth art. For a full listing, see March Observances.

An amusing listing, Bizarre and Unique March Holidays, reveals this month kicked off with National Pig/Peanut Lover's Day on the lst. There's a day for just about everything, including Old Stuff, 2nd; Be Nasty, 8th; Everything You Do Is Right, 16th; National Goof-Off, 22nd; Chip and Dip, 23rd; and I Am in Control, 30th.

Everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

INTERLUDE IN GREEN: Sir Robin's penchant for green lends itself to a clickable St. Patrick's Day interlude. Included are graphics by Amazing_CA with photos by Joan Marcus, 1; Betsy, 2; and Toni7babe, 4; Claystruck, photo by Disneydeb84, 3; and Ambassador or Love, 5.

No One As Irish As Barack Obama

More than 34 million Americans are of Irish descent, nine times the population of Ireland. Among them is US President Barack Obama, whose maternal great-great-great grandfather Falmuth Kearney was born in Moneygall, a tiny village in central Ireland.

Between 1845 and 1851, more than a million people left Ireland on 'famine ships' to escape mass-starvation caused by potato blight; and, according to documents unearthed by an Irish vicar, passenger lists show Falmuth Kearney was among them, arriving in New York in 1850 before settling in Ohio.

Screen cap links to animated montage.

The song "There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama," which was written by Hardy Drew and recorded by the Corrigan Brothers, helps fill in the blanks about President Obama's 3% Irish heritage. The concert and animated versions can be viewed at YouTube.

Everyone's a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

Accompanying this timeless Irish blessing (graphic by Sally) is a special wish for a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, St. Patrick's Day, Spamalot, Barack Obama, Falmuth Kearney, Corrigan Brothers, Hardy Drew, Irish traditions, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Kai, our clan's pot o' gold, is 18 months old today!
Clickable graphic by Ashes

Aiken Tour Rewinds SRHP Finale

Photo by Irishbookgal from Orlando IWTKWLI.

SRHP Bows with Exquisite Trio

Virtual Tour Rolls Into Orlando

The Carolina blog's virtual tour rewinds time to the August 2007 Orlando Concert in which a beatufiul duet evolved into a magnificent trio by Clay Aiken and backup singers Quiana Parler and Angela Fisher.

The closing bow of the Soft Rock Hard Place Summer Tour, the Orlando-Hard Rock performance is also remembered for the singer's moving rendition of "Measure of a Man" and the predictable, playful antics of a final show.

First, here in a nutshell are current headlines and the promise of a new photo for grandson Kai's "fan club."

Clay To Present Award to Tyra Banks -- Singer-actor Clay Aiken will present the Excellence in Media Award to Tyra Banks at the 20th Annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards in New York City on March 28. See the story at Broadway World.

UAH Student Supports TBAF -- After reading about The Bubel/Aiken Foundation's mission of inclusion on a Clay Aiken CD jacket, Kelsey Thacker, University of Alabama-Huntsville student, started an ink cartridge recycling program at UAH to help raise money for the organization. Full story in The Exponent.

Clay To Cameo on '30 Rock' -- What do Mary J. Blige, Clay Aiken and Elvis Costello have in common? All three are the latest celebs to make cameos on "30 Rock." See The New York Daily News.

Countdown to 'The Very Best' -- Selected remastered tracks from four CA albums -- Measure of a Man, A Thousand Different Ways, On My Way Here, and Merry Christmas With Love -- will be released March 31 on the highly anticipated The Very Best of Clay Aiken CD.

Pre-order at Amazon for $9.49; AmazonCA, CDN $15.99;Target, $9.49; CD Universe, $9.00, among other sites.

I Want To Know What Love Is

Goose Bumps in Any Language

The Orlando-Hard Rock venue was packed with faithful fans and newcomers alike, while thousands around the globe listened via cellstream to an entertaining but emotional SRHP finale.

Throughout the tour, Quiana and Angela had cleverly teased Clay as to which would be his singing partner on the "I Want To Know What Love Is" duet. Each night Clay sang the opening phrase but had to guess which backup vocalist to face for a reply.

In Orlando, they both answered. As soon as Clay committed to singing with one partner, the other vocalised the next phrase. In the process, the trio spun gold, ending with Clay improvising low register riffs with Quiana and soaring into high altitudes scats with Angela.

In this memorable rendition of I Want To Know What Love Is, posted at YouTube by kb0326, Singerman renamed his backup singers "Heartache" and "Pain." You can download the audio and video by Spotlightlover with these Sendspace links.

Fan Reports NJU Exchanges

In the long line waiting to get into Hard Rock-Orlando, Platinum spoke with a Jamaican foreign exchange student who had attended the concert alone. He had seen Clay on American Idol, thought he had a fantastic voice, and wanted to see him in concert.

Later in the handshake line, she met fans from Venezuela who had come to the US specifically to see Clay. The wife didn't understand English, so her husband translated.

He told me his wife downloads all of Clay's videos off the Internet and watches him on YouTube, too.

Through her husband, the wife told me she loves Clay and thinks he is beautiful. I asked what she thought of the concert, and she grabbed at her arm in an up and down motion. This must be the universal sign for goose bumps.

She only has "A Thousand Different Ways," so I got her e-mail address and will send her some of the extras I have at home. I can't tell you how thrilled she was to get a handshake!

The above Orlando Slide Show features photos by Invisible926, ClayGlo, Toni7babe, and Brightstar. To view the pictures in gallery form, click on the "View All Images" button.

Orlando provided the perfect ending for the Clay Train's amazing ride during the Summer of 2007, but this 2009 virtual tour will continue spotlighting memorable performance moments.

Upcoming stops have been suggested in reader comments. A virtual tour is not hindered by the restraints of consecutive order. Hang onto your hat -- this clack will definitely skip around!

March Madness Takes Over

March Madness and conference rivalries have not just taken over my life (i.e., with no ties to either school, I watched the UCONN-Syracuse six-overtime game into the wee hours of Friday morning), but it has also infiltrated the nation's capital.

Listening to the Thursday afternoon daily press briefing while preparing to teach lessons, I did a double take when Press Secretary Robert Gibbs opened with, "Let the record show that the N.C. State alum let a Carolina Tar Heel ask the first question."

My teaching schedule and the Carolina-Virginia Tech game at noon Friday forced me to devise a Plan B -- watch until I just had to leave at 2, mad dash to the car on a time-out, listen to the remainder on the radio while driving to Wesleyan.

Workday an Unexpected Gift

A "heads up" email alerted me the school had scheduled a teacher workday for Friday. Thursday night I called the father of my first student to make sure she would be at her lesson. In the past, we have easily made up a missed appointment by adding 15 minutes for two weeks.

Hopefully, Dad didn't detect the huge grin and accompanying fist pump when he suggested my own remedy. Hence, I was able to watch the entire Carolina game. A big toe injury has our starting point guard in a boot, so all fingers are crossed for tournet's remaining games.

For two days and nights, my West Virginia friend, xxx4clay, and I have cheered for her Mountaineers and my Tar Heels via virtual pom poms and real-time emails. Good shots, bad calls, you name it -- we have made cyber cheering almost like being there.

Even though WVU lost Friday night, the team is assured an NCAA tournament berth. You can bet I'll have my blue and gold pom poms ready!

Kai enjoys the view from his special hangout.
Photo edited by Sally

For all the "Cyber aunties" who have been hinting for pictures of Kai, here is one I just received. A new USB connection finally ended the month-long drought -- but not before several friends suggested online possibilities for a replacement cable.

Grandson Kai, I am told, enjoys the view from the kitchen cabinet, especially when a meal is prepared or dishes washed. His mother snapped the shot of her son in his very own vantage point.

Have a wonderful weeknd, Clay Nation! Go, Tar Heels!!!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, A Thousand Different Ways, 2007 Summer Tour, Soft Rock in a Hard Place, Hard Rock-Orlando, I Want To Know What Love Is, Quiana Parler, Angela Fisher, Tyra Banks, GLAAD Excellence in Media Award, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Kelsey Thacker, ink cartridges, 30 Rock, March Madness, grandson, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Aiken Tour Tops Fan Wish List

MEMORABLE REPLAY -- The Sterling Heights Concert from the 2007 Soft Rock Hard Place Summer Tour takes another spin in this graphic by Ambassador of Love, photos by LynninNJ.

'Listen' Duet Opens Rerun Series

Clay Aiken Tour Leads Wish List

Despite a CD countdown closing in on the March 31 remastered "very best" collection, the one thing Clay Aiken fans crave most is another live tour by the North Carolina singer.

A quick scroll through any of the thousands of message boards, websites, and blogs dedicated to CA happenings proves the point. During the wait, I decided to create a replay series of memorable moments from the six successful tours Singer Man has already notched.

This could be fun, and readers are welcome to offer suggestions for future stops. First on my list is the impromptu "Listen" duet by Clay and Quiana Parler on July 23, 2007.

Impromptu Performance Magical

Whether seated in the Freedom Hill Amphitheater at Sterling Hills, MI, or connected via a cellcert stream thousands of miles away, fans immediately recognized that the unscheduled duet by Clay and Quiana would long be remembered as one of the most incredible, magical moments in a long line of stellar performances.

Subbing for the ailing Angela Fisher, who nightly sang the "Dream Girls" song in concerts, the unrehearsed duo brought down the house and elicited exclamations that continue to this day wherever fans gather. Totally unrehearsed, the glorious vocals soared with beautifully balanced harmonies.

At the conclusion, music director Jesse Vargas joined the amazed audience in a spontaneous standing ovation.

Photo by MeganAiken links to 'Listen' duet on YouTube.

Goldarngirl and Luckiest1, known throughout the fandom for their concert montages, compiled one for the Sterling Heights Listen Duet that incorporates several videos of the performance, a split screen of the singers, and much of the banter preceding and following the song.

You can download the 93MB Listen montage with this Sendspace.

The montage Let's Listen by malgosia19 highlights several Summer 2007 concerts, accompanied by the Clay-Quiana duet.

Amazing_CA's graphic links to Sterling Heights Slide Show.

Slide Shows Recalls Michigan Memories

The Sterling Heights concert was filled with many special moments. Photographers ClayIzzaQT, LynninNJ, Fivegoldens, Shamrock, and MeganAiken are featured in the above slide show from the 2007 performance.

Almost two years later, the Freedom Hill Amphitheater website still showcases An Evening with Clay Aiken, a slide show of photos by Larry Garcia accompanied by a medley of CA songs.

The next tour stop is already in the que, but please suggest your favorites when leaving a comment. Here's to many more memories in this special replay!

Bubel/Aiken Makes a Difference

Announced last week, a $40,000 grant from The Mitsubishi Electric Foundation will help fund a a joint venture between The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopikins University, expanding summer learning opportunities for all children.

RALEIGH, NC – The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) has announced $360,000 in new and continuing grants, raising the total investment in the Foundation’s five-year Inclusion Initiative to $3.2 million.

The newest inclusion project is a joint venture between The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF) and the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University.

Building on a three-year partnership, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the National Center for Summer Learning will create a distinct and powerful new force for change in the field of summer learning for all children, especially those with disabilities.

The partners will expand access to high-quality, inclusive summer learning opportunities for young people by developing a summer learning curriculum to help summer camps fully include youth with disabilities.

"We are very pleased to incorporate this project into our Inclusion Initiative, expanding inclusion outreach to the critical area of summer learning," said Rayna Aylward, MEAF’s executive director.

"The Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the National Center for Summer Learning add valuable experience and focus to the inclusion mix, and their collaboration will enrich the lives of many thousands of youth with and without disabilities."

The complete article can be read atTBAF website.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: This clickable interlude features graphics by Amazing_CA with photos by Katy4Clay, 2, and PermaSwooned, 3. The middle pictures are from January's TBAF Golfing for Inclusion fundraiser, and the third includes a quote from Clay's March PSA recorded for Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM).

UNC Game Vies with Schedule Again

If you stopped by this corner last weekend, you know Carolina fans are celebrating a regular season basketball championship with the team heading to the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in the Georgia Dome as the No. 1 seed.

Sunday's game with Duke coincided with my flute choir rehearsal, and Friday's first appearance is also playing around with my schedule. I plan to watch 3/4 of the game, grab my music books and dash to the car during a commercial in time to listen to the end of the game on the radio as I drive to the academy for an afternoon of music lessons.

The flute choir will perform at two services Sunday morning, but I'll be home in time for the 1 p.m. championship game tip-off, hopefully watching the Heels again. Life is never dull!

Below is a clickable of the opening graphic by Ambassador of Love:

A special thank you to all who drop by the Carolina blog regularly and leave a note. Enjoy the memories of the rewind series, and have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, 2007 Summer Tour, Sterling Heights 'Listen' Duet, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, The Mitsubishi Electric Foundation, National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University, summer camps, grant, Carolina Tar Heels, Atlantic Coast Conference, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Carolina-Duke in Final Showdown

DEAN DOME -- Carolina hosts Duke in the regular season finale in the Dean Smith Center, affectionately known as the Dean Dome. - Tarheel Blue Photo

Heels Honor Hansbrough, Seniors

Carolina, Duke Close Season

CHAPEL HILL - Tyler Hansbrough scored 17 points in his final home game to help North Carolina beat Duke 79-71 Sunday and win the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title. Carolina led most of the second half for its sixth win in seven meetings.

Among the Carolina faithful on hand were alums Michael Jordan, Raymond Felton, Sean May, Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown, former Senator John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth.

March Madness is here!

Tyler Hansbrough, National Player of the Year as a junior and one of the most decorated basketball players in Tar Heel history, closes the regular season chapter of his college career as Carolina hosts Tobacco Road rival Duke in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown Sunday.

The second of two regular season games between the two teams alternately embraces tradititional Senor Day festivities for one of the schools. The 2009 finale unfolds at 4 p.m. in the Dean Smith Center, home court of the Heels (26-3, 12-3), who hold a one game lead over the Blue Devels (25-5, 11-4). NOTE: Senior speeches can be viewed at Tar Heel Blue.

The ACC title is on the line, and a win would clinch the top seed in next week's league tournament in Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

Sunday marks the final game for one of the winningest classes in Carolina basketball history that also includes regulars Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and Michael Copeland.

Typical Hansbrough dunk in Louisville game.

Special Celebration in Chapel Hill

In A national title would seal legacy, David Ely, senior writer of the Daily Tar Heel, describes the afternoon's events and goal of a national championship.

When Tyler Hansbrough grabs the mic for his Senior Day speech after North Carolina’s game against rival Duke on Sunday, it will mark a celebration of the rarest order.

A once-in-a-lifetime player, Hansbrough holds nearly every record of substance at UNC. Most points in a career, most double-figure scoring games, most free throws made in the NCAA. And that doesn’t even include the UNC career rebounding title and the ACC career scoring mark he’s about to claim for himself.

The list of his statistical accomplishments could go on forever. But there is one small hole in his otherwise over-packed trophy shelf. A hole that, if filled, would cement Hansbrough in the Mount Rushmore of the college basketball world.

A national championship.

Just another day at the office.

Jersey No. 50 Slated for Rafters

Tyler's No. 50 jersey will eventually hang in the rafters with those of Lenny Rosenbluth, Michael Jordan, and James Worthy; but his goal is to win a national championship like these Tar Heel legends.

At the beginning of his sophomore season, the most decorated freshman in Carolina basketball history was asked why he decided to return to college instead of opting for the NBA as so many do.

After explaining to the reporter that he wants to accomplish more with his team and individually, he added, "I've never really known a player to spend another year with Coach Williams and get worse."

Network Still Beams to Popular Bluff

In 2006, I wrote a blog about Tyler's hometown radio station, KAHR-FM, which picked up the Tar Heel Sports Network feed and broadcasted UNC basketball to their native son's supporters. In Year 4, the Poplar Bluff crowd is still tuning into games 634 miles away from the UNC campus via KWOC-AM radio.

Like many North Carolinians, I will be watching the 4 p.m. televised game from Chapel Hill. A 4:30 p.m. flute choir rehearsal almost played havoc with my plans, however. Fortunately, my sister, the director, is trusting me to practice at home and join the group for next Sunday's performance.

That's a good deal. I doubt Carolina and Duke would have changed today's game time, LOL!

Season 7 American Idol David Cook will sing "Heroes" before the ACC Tournament games at the Georgia Dome later this week. A Clay Aiken fan, I would have preferred Singerman; but I'll be there cheering David on.

Have an awesome week, all! Go, Tar Heels!!!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Carolina Tar Heels, Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference, Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, Mike Copeland, Roy Williams, Poplar Bluff, Clay Aiken, David Cook, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Cyber Countdown for Aiken CD

The Very Best of Clay Aiken 2009 - Montage by Yollie950

Wildcard, 300th Blog Celebrated!

Fans Spread News of TVBOCA

Accompanying fan excitement and Cyberspace countdowns to the 3/31 release of "The Very Best of Clay Aiken" are sharp upturns in plays of the singer's previous performances of the 14 tracks at YouTube and via audio/video links throughout Twitter, Facebook, and the blogosphere.

Yollie950 featured concert and TV performances of the 14 songs in her new montage TVBOCA 2009. The video can be viewed in the above player and on YouTube where it is being rated, favorited, and shared in a whirl of emails spreading the word about the upcoming album.

Popular with fans, the playlist will be loaded with remastered highlights from Clay's mainstream and holiday albums -- Measure of a Man, A Thousand Different Ways, On My Way Here, Merry Christmas With Love -- and singles. They include:

Ashes
A Thousand Days
The Way Bridge Over Troubled Water
On My Way Here
This Is The Night
Solitaire
Here You Come Again
Measure Of A Man
The Real Me
Something About Us
Invisible
On The Wings of Love
Mary, Did You Know

Readers Choose Top Tracks

As soon as the CD was announced, the Carolina blog set up a sidebar poll for fans to vote their favorite choices for the new CD. Overnight the tracks were revealed, and our unscientific survey became even more inconsequential, ending at 7 p.m. Tuesday with 68 participants.

Many thnx to all who voted in the Carolina poll, the results of which are quite interesting and support the choices made by Clay and Sony-Landmark. Seven of the Carolina survey's best vote getters are also on the CD playlist. In order of popularity, they are "Solitaire," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Ashes," "Measure of a Man," "Something About Us," "Invisible," and "This Is the Night."

The seven tracks completing the new CD's playlist include "A Thousand Days, "The Way," "On My Way Here," "Here You Come Again," "The Real Me," "On the Wings of Love," and Mary Did You Know.

Carolina pollsters would have completed TVBOCA playlist with these seven songs: "Lover All Alone," "Everything I Don't Need," "Where I Draw the Line," "Broken Wings," "Lonely No More," and "Falling."

You can pre-order the CD at Amazon for $9.49 (eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25; Target, $9.49; and CD Universe, $9.00, among other sites.

If you want to know just how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds remain until the CD drops, a countdown widget now graces our busy sidebar. The art is cindilu2's graphic of the cover photo.

Here's to the "very best" of Singerman ... SOON!

Graphic by Amazing_CA, photo by PermaSwooned

NJU Associates Discover Clay

Always fan favorites, "Not Just Us" stories usually appear like a dessert near the end of an entry. This one, however, serves as an excellent transition between the current CD excitement and a 2003 event we honor this week. Chenoa shared this NJU incident at Clayversity last week:

I've just returned home after dropping at the airport three ladies who attended a three-day seminar here at our corporate office. I had picked them up at the airport Sunday night and while getting reacquainted with them on our 40-minute drive to their hotel, I had forgotten that my On My Way Here CD was still playing softly in the background.

It wasn't until one of the girls said, "OMG, who is that singing? He has the most beautiful voice. Please play that song again. It was "Sacrificial Love," and she commented that she was at that very point in her life.

She knew of Clay but had not followed his career and had never bought any of his albums; in fact, none of the girls had. They were all aware of his success on Broadway, his trips abroad for UNICEF, his Christmas album, but knew very little about his other albums.

Every time we got in the car to go to dinner or back to their hotel, we had to listen to "Sacrificial Love" and "Ashes." Just before boarding their plane I handed each one an OMWH album (which I was fortunate to find at WalMart) and encouraged them to follow Clay's career because, in my view, great things are on the horizon for this talented young man.

Clay performing at AI2 Wildcard Show in 2003.

Wildcard Returns to Idol Stage

A magical ingredient of American Idol and one CA fans hold dearly returns to center stage this week with Season 8's version of the Wildcard Show. Dropped for the past sevearl seasons, the Wildcard will be revived on the Fox show Thursday night.

Were it not for the Wildcard Show, in which selected contestants are given a second chance to make AI's Final 12, the planet would probably not have experienced the singing and acting talents, as well as the worldwide philanthropic endeavors, of Clay Aiken from Season 2 and Jennifer Hudson from Seasons 3.

In Clay's season, he came in behind Ruben Studdard and Kim Locke in his group and was sent home. As a Wildcard selection, Clay was invited back, returning to the AI stage where his rendition of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" earned him the American public's vote to continue in the competition.

The rules are a little different; but Thursday night when AI reinstates the Wildcard Show, I'll be watching ... and remembering Clay's Season 2 performance of DLTSGDOM:

Clay advances to finals in AI2 Wildcard Show.

You can read more about American Idol's Wildcard phenomenon in these blogs: Clay Aiken News Network, There Was a Man, Truth Rules, and Shyeyewitness and Friends.

This marks the 300th entry of the Carolina On My Mind journal. Since the initial post on July 13, 2006, visitors from 105 countries have found their way to the blog. Thank you for your visits, the many kind comments you leave, and those who follow or link to the Carolina journal.

Below is a clickable of Amazing_CA's graphic:

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, countdown, montage, poll, On My Way Here, A Thousand Different Ways, Measure of a Man, Merry Christmas With Love, American Idol, Wildcard Show, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Aiken PSA Lauds Music in Schools

WHY MUSIC? -- Singer records PSA for "Music in Our Schools Month" festivities. Graphic by Amazing_CA, photo by Katy4Clay.

Weather Aids Movie Marathon

Clay Aiken Celebrates MIOSM

Throughout much of North Carolina, March is roaring in like a lion as students -- and teachers, too --are reviewing rarely used snow dance steps in hopes that schools will be cancelled on Monday.

Thnx to my recent intallation of DIRECTV and the oncoming weather pattern, my weekend movie marathon has a "3-5 inch" probable chance of a one-day extension. More on this in a bit.

Learning music opens up the mind like nothing else. -- Clay Aiken

That is really the lead, and this musician/private instructor could not have said it better: Learning music opens up the mind like nothing else.

A former band and orchestra teacher, I am proud that North Carolina singer Clay Aiken is helping in the March celebration of Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM). One of four new spokespersons for 2009, Clay has joined a host of pop, country, and classical musicians recording special radio messages -- Why Music? -- that remind all of the importance of the arts.

Other newcomers to the roster include Steven Van Zandt, singer, songwriter, producer; Mark O'Connor, fiddler, composer, author; and Mary Stuart, platinum mandolin artist.

Download/listen to Clay's PSA at the above link. Here is what he says:

Wanna know one of the best ways to help your kids do better in school? This is Clay Aiken from Monty Python's "Spamalot." I visit a lot of schools both at home and when I'm on the road, and I hear too many students say school is boring. But what about music class? You know, learning music opens up the mind like nothing else.

Performing in a school music ensemble is fun and challenging for kids. It encourages creativity while instilling self-discipline. And learning music even develops something called spatial I.Q., which helps students tackle the challenges of other subjects like math and science.

Some night this week sit down as a family and play your kids some music you really love. Then listen to what your kids like and compare notes. Even better, sit down at the piano and sing some songs together. Help your kids learn to love music.

Like those of the many participating artists, Clay's bio is compressed but impressive:

Born in Raleigh, NC, Clay Aiken sang his way up from school choirs to the American Idol stage. Since then, Aiken has released five well-received albums, and has appeared in the role of Sir Robin in the Broadway musical Monty Python’s Spamalot.

A current ambassador for UNICEF, Aiken has pursued his mission of bringing primary education to all children. Throughout his career, Aiken has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for children in need.

World Concert Highlights MIOSM

First celebrated in 1973 by the state of New York, MIOSM has expanded into a national month-long occasion raising awareness in the importance of music education for all children. A cornerstone MIOSM event since 1985, the World's Largest Concert (WLC) is a sing-along linking up to six million students around the world in recent years.

Slated for 1 p.m. EST March 12, the 2009 WLC can be viewed on most publc access TV stations. In the Age of Technology, teachers link to downloadable sheet music and mp3s to teach students the songs. For more info and the 2009 song list, see this WLC link.

Coming from a long lineage of music teachers, I believe the artist PSAs and MIOSM emphasis are wonderful reminders to the public -- parents, young people, and school board members quick to slash arts programs -- that participation in music class is key to a student's education.

Ancient Greek philosophers believed music to be essential and beneficial in learning other subjects. In addition to the joys of singing or playing an instrument, music class is where students discover their own creative voice, learn about cooperation and how it feels to make real harmony.

Creativity, cooperation, harmony, and beautiful music -- what the world needs now!

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Graphics by Amazing_CA (1, 3, 5) and cindilu2 (2, 4) are featured in this clickable set with photos by PermaSwooned, 3, and Katy4Clay, 5. Widescreen versions of cindilu2's March calendar and graphic are available on her Yuku page.

Potholes of a First Time Pollster

When I posted the previous blog entry, the March 31 drop date for The Very Best of Clay Aiken had just been announced. Based on past history, most longtime CA fans agreed it would be a while before fans learned the album's tracklist.

Never having created a poll with Blogspot's gadgetry before, I decided this might be an excellent first time. To establish a consensus of "favorites," I asked a few friends to send me their wish list, the most popular titles of which made the poll.

For spacing and an assortment of other double-checks, I always test a new entry in a private duplicate blog before uploading the post to the Carolina site. True to form, I set up the poll on the dummy site, too. Everything worked like a charm ... until I routinely moved the works to the Carolina site.

One Little Check Mark

Even before I could ping the blog, frustrated readers began commenting that they were only allowed one choice rather than the stated multiple votes. Unfortunately, I inadvertantly missed checking that option in the final upload.

I immediately learned you cannot change a poll once participation begins, so I promptly posted that voting was on hold until I could replace the survey, this time with the multiple vote option checked. After that, everything clicked along smoothly with a steady stream of song selections in the side bar.

Around midnight, tradition broke rank and the actual playlist for TVBOCA was released, making the Feb. 24 Carolina poll somewhat obsolete. The saving grace is that voting, which continues in the sidebar song list and via reader comments, will provide a comparative list on March 3, Blogspot's pre-dermined closing date for the poll.

Reckon I will think twice before setting up a poll again? Knowing me, probably not!

Movie Marathan Rolls On

Even if there is no snow day in this area Monday, I have certainly enjoyed a weekend of back-to-back movies. So much so that I received several emails and PMs asking why I wasn't online.

I like a wide variety of genres -- drama, mystery, comedy, romance. I think I have even programmed a western. So far, in my short time with DIRECTV, some of my favorite films include:

The Great Debaters
Freedom Writers
The Touch
21
The Visitor
Bounce
Mad Money
Miss Potter
No Reservations
Music of the Heart

Among those recorded but not yet viewed include:

The Bucket List
Beyond the Sea
Becoming Jane
The Producers
Resistance
Taking Chance
Mrs. Brown
Copying Beethoven
A Mighty Heart
Babel

Most often, once-viewed movies are not immediately deleted from my cache. Perhaps that's the reason my DVR scheduler is already down to 75% available space. Oops, there goes another orange light -- make that 74%!

Below is a clickable of Amazing_CA's opening graphic:

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, Music in Our Schools Month, MIOSM, Why Music? PSA, Music Educators National Conference, MENC, World's Largest Concert, WLC, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, poll, DIRECTV, movies, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation