So many of us are thinking of you today! Hope you're having a good one!
Love always and forever,
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Happy 30th birthday, Clay!
To the amazing man with talents galore and a heart of gold:
So many of us are thinking of you today! Hope you're having a good one!
Love always and forever,
So many of us are thinking of you today! Hope you're having a good one!
Love always and forever,
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Presenting... Celtic Thunder!
Hello fellow Clay fans,
During my recent summer vacation, I discovered - completely by chance, on a local PBS station, while channel-surfing - an amazing new musical group called Celtic Thunder. Now don't me wrong, Clay is still my absolute favourite musician around, of course! But when I happened to fall upon Celtic Thunder's show, well, let's just say it was love at first listen.
I am of Scottish and Irish heritage (a few generations back), so I must have Celtic music running through my veins. It has always been a form of music that moves my soul in a very fundamental, to-the-core way.
Celtic Thunder is made up of five men - one Scot and four lads from Ireland - who range in age from 15 to 40. They sing both together and solo, traditional Celtic songs as well as music from a modern repertoire with an Irish take. Each of the five has a tremendously beautiful and powerful voice, and the sum of the five is something else to hear. Listen for yourself! Their Website offers this widget, which gives us a chance to hear so many of their songs, in full-length versions - not just snippets! Amazing. Next chance I have to get near a record store, I'm getting their CD, that's for sure.
They are all over YouTube as well, of course. So you can go check them out there and see them performing the songs you will hear. I quickly learned their names and voices by heart - they each have their own distinct, unique tone and style which are quickly recognizable, but their five voices blended together are overwhelmingly lovely.
Do you have (a) favourite(s)? I do... George Donaldson has a sensitive depth to his baryton voice, which I love. And tenor Paul Byrom, what can I say? Simply stunning. He brings tears to my eyes.
Lucky those of you in the United States (and in Toronto, Canada), because they will be touring near you this fall! They won't be coming to Montreal, unfortunately, so I won't see them live. Hopefully I will at some other time in the future.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying the songs here. Hope you do too!
-- ClayKat
During my recent summer vacation, I discovered - completely by chance, on a local PBS station, while channel-surfing - an amazing new musical group called Celtic Thunder. Now don't me wrong, Clay is still my absolute favourite musician around, of course! But when I happened to fall upon Celtic Thunder's show, well, let's just say it was love at first listen.
I am of Scottish and Irish heritage (a few generations back), so I must have Celtic music running through my veins. It has always been a form of music that moves my soul in a very fundamental, to-the-core way.
Celtic Thunder is made up of five men - one Scot and four lads from Ireland - who range in age from 15 to 40. They sing both together and solo, traditional Celtic songs as well as music from a modern repertoire with an Irish take. Each of the five has a tremendously beautiful and powerful voice, and the sum of the five is something else to hear. Listen for yourself! Their Website offers this widget, which gives us a chance to hear so many of their songs, in full-length versions - not just snippets! Amazing. Next chance I have to get near a record store, I'm getting their CD, that's for sure.
They are all over YouTube as well, of course. So you can go check them out there and see them performing the songs you will hear. I quickly learned their names and voices by heart - they each have their own distinct, unique tone and style which are quickly recognizable, but their five voices blended together are overwhelmingly lovely.
Do you have (a) favourite(s)? I do... George Donaldson has a sensitive depth to his baryton voice, which I love. And tenor Paul Byrom, what can I say? Simply stunning. He brings tears to my eyes.
Lucky those of you in the United States (and in Toronto, Canada), because they will be touring near you this fall! They won't be coming to Montreal, unfortunately, so I won't see them live. Hopefully I will at some other time in the future.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying the songs here. Hope you do too!
-- ClayKat
Friday, August 08, 2008
Congratulations to new Daddy Clay!
Hello everyone,
We all heard the rumours, back a few months ago. Tabloids and gossip TV shows were saying that Clay's executive producer and friend, Jaymes Foster, sister to the famed David Foster, was pregnant - with Clay's baby. It quickly became a moot point on Clay's Online Fan Club, since people became passionate about different aspects of the rumours, and speculation and judgment ran rampant in all directions.
Was Clay or not the father of Jaymes Foster's baby-to-be? Had Clay and Jaymes wed, or were they planning to do so? Was the baby conceived in vitro or through traditional means? No matter the answers, everyone had an opinion. Me? I figured it was Clay's life, and not my business. I found some of the discussions somewhat distasteful, and especially, intrusive. I was thrilled with the idea of Clay becoming a father this year, because we know that for many years now, he has said that he is ready to take on that role, and we are sure he will be an amazing daddy.
I decided to sit and patiently wait, in case Clay let us know something in August. Eventually, most fans and our Websites became very quiet over the summer, waiting for August, hoping we would find out the truth at some point then.
I wasn't even thinking that we are now in August, what with the excitement over the Beijing Olympics, and on a personal note, hubby and me recently moving into our first real home together (we love it!).
And then, wham! We heard this morning - from Clay himself! Yes, he blogged on his Online Fan Club, and told us about the arrival into our world of little Parker Foster Aiken, this very morning! At 8:08 a.m., just minutes after the beginning of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies, Clay's little boy was born. And what a time to be born: 8 minutes after the 8th hour, on the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year of the millennium! I know I'll never forget the time of this little one's birth, since 8 is my favourite number.
Welcome baby Parker, and congratulations to Clay and Mommy Jaymes! My warm, sincere wishes for a wonderful, healthy and happy life together. Parker is one lucky baby, with amazing, generous, loving and talented people as parents. This is truly a happy day in the Clay fandom, and my thoughts go to Clay and his family as they celebrate the first day of life of this new little one!
-- ClayKat
We all heard the rumours, back a few months ago. Tabloids and gossip TV shows were saying that Clay's executive producer and friend, Jaymes Foster, sister to the famed David Foster, was pregnant - with Clay's baby. It quickly became a moot point on Clay's Online Fan Club, since people became passionate about different aspects of the rumours, and speculation and judgment ran rampant in all directions.
Was Clay or not the father of Jaymes Foster's baby-to-be? Had Clay and Jaymes wed, or were they planning to do so? Was the baby conceived in vitro or through traditional means? No matter the answers, everyone had an opinion. Me? I figured it was Clay's life, and not my business. I found some of the discussions somewhat distasteful, and especially, intrusive. I was thrilled with the idea of Clay becoming a father this year, because we know that for many years now, he has said that he is ready to take on that role, and we are sure he will be an amazing daddy.
I decided to sit and patiently wait, in case Clay let us know something in August. Eventually, most fans and our Websites became very quiet over the summer, waiting for August, hoping we would find out the truth at some point then.
I wasn't even thinking that we are now in August, what with the excitement over the Beijing Olympics, and on a personal note, hubby and me recently moving into our first real home together (we love it!).
And then, wham! We heard this morning - from Clay himself! Yes, he blogged on his Online Fan Club, and told us about the arrival into our world of little Parker Foster Aiken, this very morning! At 8:08 a.m., just minutes after the beginning of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies, Clay's little boy was born. And what a time to be born: 8 minutes after the 8th hour, on the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year of the millennium! I know I'll never forget the time of this little one's birth, since 8 is my favourite number.
Welcome baby Parker, and congratulations to Clay and Mommy Jaymes! My warm, sincere wishes for a wonderful, healthy and happy life together. Parker is one lucky baby, with amazing, generous, loving and talented people as parents. This is truly a happy day in the Clay fandom, and my thoughts go to Clay and his family as they celebrate the first day of life of this new little one!
-- ClayKat
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
I love On My Way Here
Hello fellow Clay fans,
Well here we are - May 6th! I needed a break from work and have many overtime hours anyway, so I left early this afternoon to go for a nice walk and pick up my copy of On My Way Here, then spend the evening enjoying it.
I loaded the CD into my iTunes file on the computer, and lo and behold, something funny occurred: it decided the album is called On My Way There! Hilarious! I haven't corrected the mistake yet - who knows, if I'm the only one with this bug in the title, it might be worth something some day. ;-)
I really like this album, more than the last one, A Thousand Different Ways - the overall sound is stronger, more mature and powerful, more... true to Clay and who he is. That golden voice, powerful and resonant. Lyrics which speak to Clay and what he has been going through over the past few years. I love it! I need to listen to the songs over and over to really get them in my mind and my heart - and to decide which one(s) I love most.
Do you have a favourite already? Let me know by participating in this poll:
-- ClayKat
Well here we are - May 6th! I needed a break from work and have many overtime hours anyway, so I left early this afternoon to go for a nice walk and pick up my copy of On My Way Here, then spend the evening enjoying it.
I loaded the CD into my iTunes file on the computer, and lo and behold, something funny occurred: it decided the album is called On My Way There! Hilarious! I haven't corrected the mistake yet - who knows, if I'm the only one with this bug in the title, it might be worth something some day. ;-)
I really like this album, more than the last one, A Thousand Different Ways - the overall sound is stronger, more mature and powerful, more... true to Clay and who he is. That golden voice, powerful and resonant. Lyrics which speak to Clay and what he has been going through over the past few years. I love it! I need to listen to the songs over and over to really get them in my mind and my heart - and to decide which one(s) I love most.
Do you have a favourite already? Let me know by participating in this poll:
-- ClayKat
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Getting excited about May 6th!
Hello fellow Clay fans,
I'm generally very patient whenever I have to wait for something. When it's for something not so fun - a doctor's appointment delayed, for example - I figure it will come eventually, so no big deal. I read, think, write and wait. When it's something pleasant, I tell myself it will be a pleasure whenever the big day is actually here, so I just look forward to it in a general way. I don't waste time and energy thinking things like: "I wish it were xyz date already!"
Now, as we know, May 6th is the date that Clay's upcoming album, On My Way Here, will drop. We have known this for a while, and I was very zen about it all, until just recently. Thinking - "right, early May, well, that's nice". Then... Amazon.com put online snippets of all 12 songs from the new album... and all of a sudden, I'm so excited! Looking forward to May 6th, planning when and where I will go to get my copy of the CD. Listening to the snippets over and over again. Deciding which ones are my favourites. Falling for Clay, once again. He never ceases to amaze me - and yes, in my opinion, he is still absolutely, far and away the best male vocalist of our times.
Amazon.com had the right idea - just giving us enough to enjoy and long for The Voice once again... teasers! On My Way Here is giving me chills of happiness, and so far, it feels like it might be my favourite Clay album yet. There is something hauntingly beautiful and moving about each of the songs on this album, as well as the overall album itself. It works. It holds together well, is mature and wise, though somewhat sad, in my opinion. From what I know of Clay these days, the message of this album truly reflects where he is and who he has become. It feels like Clay is speaking to us, generously sharing his feelings, his thoughts, his fears and hopes. In some ways, it almost feels like it's too intimate, as though I were seeing right into Clay's heart and soul. Because of that, I feel the need to protect him and this album, such that I don't want to hear negative feedback about it. I want to avoid like the plague, sources of anti-Clay talk or negativity. Clay is a beautiful soul and he's giving us a gift with this album. That's all I need.
One of my favourite lines, from the title track, is: "faith has conquered fear". It seems to me, from what I know and have heard of On My Way Here, that phrase sums it all up. Clay has dealt with a number of horrendous, challenging situations in the past few years, as well as good things like the love from us fans. He went through a time of great sadness and a sense of fear and overwhelm. He is still looking and longing for true love. And he has grown from all these experiences and feelings, moving through and beyond these challenges to reach a certain serenity. What a Measure Of a Man is our Clay!
Many of the songs on the upcoming album pull at my heartstrings, whether through the lyrics, the music or both. In particular:
-- ClayKat
I'm generally very patient whenever I have to wait for something. When it's for something not so fun - a doctor's appointment delayed, for example - I figure it will come eventually, so no big deal. I read, think, write and wait. When it's something pleasant, I tell myself it will be a pleasure whenever the big day is actually here, so I just look forward to it in a general way. I don't waste time and energy thinking things like: "I wish it were xyz date already!"
Now, as we know, May 6th is the date that Clay's upcoming album, On My Way Here, will drop. We have known this for a while, and I was very zen about it all, until just recently. Thinking - "right, early May, well, that's nice". Then... Amazon.com put online snippets of all 12 songs from the new album... and all of a sudden, I'm so excited! Looking forward to May 6th, planning when and where I will go to get my copy of the CD. Listening to the snippets over and over again. Deciding which ones are my favourites. Falling for Clay, once again. He never ceases to amaze me - and yes, in my opinion, he is still absolutely, far and away the best male vocalist of our times.
Amazon.com had the right idea - just giving us enough to enjoy and long for The Voice once again... teasers! On My Way Here is giving me chills of happiness, and so far, it feels like it might be my favourite Clay album yet. There is something hauntingly beautiful and moving about each of the songs on this album, as well as the overall album itself. It works. It holds together well, is mature and wise, though somewhat sad, in my opinion. From what I know of Clay these days, the message of this album truly reflects where he is and who he has become. It feels like Clay is speaking to us, generously sharing his feelings, his thoughts, his fears and hopes. In some ways, it almost feels like it's too intimate, as though I were seeing right into Clay's heart and soul. Because of that, I feel the need to protect him and this album, such that I don't want to hear negative feedback about it. I want to avoid like the plague, sources of anti-Clay talk or negativity. Clay is a beautiful soul and he's giving us a gift with this album. That's all I need.
One of my favourite lines, from the title track, is: "faith has conquered fear". It seems to me, from what I know and have heard of On My Way Here, that phrase sums it all up. Clay has dealt with a number of horrendous, challenging situations in the past few years, as well as good things like the love from us fans. He went through a time of great sadness and a sense of fear and overwhelm. He is still looking and longing for true love. And he has grown from all these experiences and feelings, moving through and beyond these challenges to reach a certain serenity. What a Measure Of a Man is our Clay!
Many of the songs on the upcoming album pull at my heartstrings, whether through the lyrics, the music or both. In particular:
- - On My Way Here - "I wouldn't change what I've been through... I did what I had to, on my way here"
- - Ashes - "...so I can rise up from the ashes"
- - Falling - "trying to hold on to something for so long"
- - The Real Me - "but you see the real me"
- - Weight of the World - "everybody gets down, down, down"
- - As Long As We're Here - "As long as we're here, alive on this earth, I'm gonna love you, for all that it's worth"
- - Grace of God - "there's gotta be some rhyme or reason why we turn away"
- - Lover All Alone - "on my own, it's hard to tell my heart it'll be all right"
- - the snippets on Amazon.com.
- - on Clay's offical Website, listen to the full title track from the album, On My Way Here
- - a video of Clay in studio singing "On My Way Here"
- - and for your viewing pleasure: pictures from the album photo shoot, online at Clay's MySpace page. I love the wistful picture of Clay from behind, with him looking out over the Hudson river and New York City. But my favourite picture is still the album cover picture, as I wrote in my last blogpost
-- ClayKat
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Clay's new album is "on its way here"!
Hello everyone,
By now, most of us have heard that Clay's upcoming album is scheduled to drop on or around May 6th. We have also heard that it might be called "On My Way Here". Well, now we have confirmation of the album title! In the last 48 hours, the Amazon.com listing for Clay's new album started posting an album cover image. And here it is:
I was chatting with other members of the Online Fan Club last night, and for many of us, seeing this picture is making it that much more real - the new album is really on its way into our lives and our hearts. And what a beautiful picture of Clay on the cover. Though I'm not a huge fan of the super-blond hair he has been sporting since late December, I find that it looks very natural in this picture; it suits him. The expression on Clay's face is also quite whimsical and pensive - reflective, I think, of what Clay wants to share with us through this album.
To me, the picture shows Clay's maturity. He has been through a lot these past few years. Much of it good - I believe he truly does appreciate and care for us fans, and he sees the love and admiration that we hold for him. But there have also been many dark times: the ridiculous made-up story some guy (who will remain nameless) told publicly about him and Clay; the fabulation of a female "fan" and her supposed relationship with Clay (not). There really are some sick people in this world, sadly, and as a celebrity, Clay has been directly confronted with some of them. In very personal ways.
These are all experiences that while lived, are extremely draining on an emotional level. Clay himself has told us that he was taking antidepressants for a while, and that he occasionally has anxiety attacks. But if one can move beyond them, these challenges make a person stronger, more mature and fuller as a human being. I see Clay as having done that. He is wise beyond his years, always has been. And now, he is growing into a man with an even richer, multi-layered personality and outlook on life and humanity.
Clay, I'm watching you - and I'm so proud!
-- ClayKat
By now, most of us have heard that Clay's upcoming album is scheduled to drop on or around May 6th. We have also heard that it might be called "On My Way Here". Well, now we have confirmation of the album title! In the last 48 hours, the Amazon.com listing for Clay's new album started posting an album cover image. And here it is:
I was chatting with other members of the Online Fan Club last night, and for many of us, seeing this picture is making it that much more real - the new album is really on its way into our lives and our hearts. And what a beautiful picture of Clay on the cover. Though I'm not a huge fan of the super-blond hair he has been sporting since late December, I find that it looks very natural in this picture; it suits him. The expression on Clay's face is also quite whimsical and pensive - reflective, I think, of what Clay wants to share with us through this album.
To me, the picture shows Clay's maturity. He has been through a lot these past few years. Much of it good - I believe he truly does appreciate and care for us fans, and he sees the love and admiration that we hold for him. But there have also been many dark times: the ridiculous made-up story some guy (who will remain nameless) told publicly about him and Clay; the fabulation of a female "fan" and her supposed relationship with Clay (not). There really are some sick people in this world, sadly, and as a celebrity, Clay has been directly confronted with some of them. In very personal ways.
These are all experiences that while lived, are extremely draining on an emotional level. Clay himself has told us that he was taking antidepressants for a while, and that he occasionally has anxiety attacks. But if one can move beyond them, these challenges make a person stronger, more mature and fuller as a human being. I see Clay as having done that. He is wise beyond his years, always has been. And now, he is growing into a man with an even richer, multi-layered personality and outlook on life and humanity.
Clay, I'm watching you - and I'm so proud!
-- ClayKat
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Saturday, March 01, 2008
What Clay and I have been up to
Hello fellow Clay fans,
It has been too long! I have to write when I'm inspired to do so, and for the past month or two, I have been busy and somewhat preoccupied with a number of things in my personal and work lives. Mostly good things, such as buying a first home with my sweetie! But also challenges, such as dealing with the fact that a long-time co-worker was recently fired - and in my opinion, unjustly fired... Lots of emotional events and issues to deal with. But overall, life is good, so I'm dealing well.
I have been pretty much keeping up with news about Clay and what he is up to. Now, we all know he has been acting in the Broadway musical Spamalot, since January 18th. He's on a run until May 4th, and it is keeping him very busy. Many people seem surprised at how well he is doing, playing a number of parts, the biggest one being that of Sir Robin (check out Clay's Spamalot blog). It doesn't surprise me at all, to hear that he is doing well. Clay is a consummate performer, a multi-layered talent, a resourceful and dedicated artist, and a hard worker. He can do whatever he sets his mind to - even dancing! I would love to see him on Broadway, but it's not going to happen, and that's ok. I enjoy reading the stories fans share with us of their experiences at the show, and at the backstage door, where Clay has been greeting fans and autographing playbills. Check out Clay's Daily Double's ongoing coverage of Clay in Spamalot, and especially, the thread called "What's Hot From Spamalot". The stories and pictures will put a smile on your face!
Clay has told us that he is taking advantage of the fact that he is in New York City to finalize recording for his next album. He says it should be launched on or around May 6th. I'm very much looking forward to this album, for a number of reasons. The most important being that this album will be the most true to Clay himself, his values and his tastes, of all his albums. He has said as much himself. Just check out the video called "Clay Aiken Spills the Beans About Upcoming Album" on Raleigh, North Carolina's WRAL news' Website, which has a special section on Clay called "Claymania".
It seems fairly sure that the album will be out this spring, in any case. And we know what that means... summer tour! I certainly hope that he will tour this summer, and I hope that I will be able to be there. Maybe he'll return to somewhere in eastern Canada (please, please, Clay?).
In the meantime, those of you who are seeing Clay in Spamalot, enjoy! And tell us all about it!
-- ClayKat
It has been too long! I have to write when I'm inspired to do so, and for the past month or two, I have been busy and somewhat preoccupied with a number of things in my personal and work lives. Mostly good things, such as buying a first home with my sweetie! But also challenges, such as dealing with the fact that a long-time co-worker was recently fired - and in my opinion, unjustly fired... Lots of emotional events and issues to deal with. But overall, life is good, so I'm dealing well.
I have been pretty much keeping up with news about Clay and what he is up to. Now, we all know he has been acting in the Broadway musical Spamalot, since January 18th. He's on a run until May 4th, and it is keeping him very busy. Many people seem surprised at how well he is doing, playing a number of parts, the biggest one being that of Sir Robin (check out Clay's Spamalot blog). It doesn't surprise me at all, to hear that he is doing well. Clay is a consummate performer, a multi-layered talent, a resourceful and dedicated artist, and a hard worker. He can do whatever he sets his mind to - even dancing! I would love to see him on Broadway, but it's not going to happen, and that's ok. I enjoy reading the stories fans share with us of their experiences at the show, and at the backstage door, where Clay has been greeting fans and autographing playbills. Check out Clay's Daily Double's ongoing coverage of Clay in Spamalot, and especially, the thread called "What's Hot From Spamalot". The stories and pictures will put a smile on your face!
Clay has told us that he is taking advantage of the fact that he is in New York City to finalize recording for his next album. He says it should be launched on or around May 6th. I'm very much looking forward to this album, for a number of reasons. The most important being that this album will be the most true to Clay himself, his values and his tastes, of all his albums. He has said as much himself. Just check out the video called "Clay Aiken Spills the Beans About Upcoming Album" on Raleigh, North Carolina's WRAL news' Website, which has a special section on Clay called "Claymania".
It seems fairly sure that the album will be out this spring, in any case. And we know what that means... summer tour! I certainly hope that he will tour this summer, and I hope that I will be able to be there. Maybe he'll return to somewhere in eastern Canada (please, please, Clay?).
In the meantime, those of you who are seeing Clay in Spamalot, enjoy! And tell us all about it!
-- ClayKat
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Always and Forever, Clay
Here's a bit of eye candy for those of us Clay fans. These pictures cheer me up as we go through this grey winter.
-- ClayKat
p.s. click on the montage to get a larger version
-- ClayKat
p.s. click on the montage to get a larger version
Technorati tags: Clay Aiken
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
