Six Years and Counting

Today is the 6th anniversary of "Take"--the first time many of us heard Clay sing in the Atlanta audition episode on American Idol. To commemorate the occasion, here is this lovely retrospective montage by hosaa:





For other wonderful blogs on Clay Aiken, visit Carolina On My Mind and Clayigraphy: In Honor of the Sixth Anniversary of "Take"....


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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken Atlanta Audition Take Somewhere Over the Rainbow montage retrospective American Idol

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

~~Graphic by fountaindawg

Four years ago, we first heard Clay Aiken sing a fantastic rendition of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" in the wildcard round of American Idol 2. In fact it was so good that everyone else competing in the wildcard round came off as a complete amateur. (totally unbiased opinion of course *g*)He looked really beautiful too.



Here is the performance:


~~Wildcard Night March 4, 2003~~

Transcript of the Judges' Comments:

Paula: Clay, this is what this competition is about, this is what the wild card is about... big fan, I love your hair, you changed your hair...
Clay: a little...
Paula: you raised the bar, we talk about raising the bar ... you've surpassed the bar, you're a star and you've got this confidence about you that is quiet and subtle, that's not intimidating and you welcome everybody in - great job!
Clay: Thank you
Simon: Did you like him?
Paula: You know what - what I'm trying to say -- yeah, I liked ya, a lot.
Randy: Did you really like him, Paula?
Paula: I really did.
Simon: Get off the fence, here, Paula I wasn't sure about that...
Paula: Come back to me on that one...
Simon: OK.... undecided....
Randy: Clay, man, you're lookin fly, you got your look together, you went away, worked, did whatever you did... it was really, really, good, I gotta give you your props, I gotta stand up for ya man... right song for the right guy, did your thing, came back, did your homework, I love that!
Clay: Thank you very much.
Randy: That's what this is about, we hope people will come back and do the work, and I still say, where is that voice coming from?
Paula: It's unbelievable
Randy: God, dude!
Simon: Clay.
Randy: Simon Cowell over here...
Paula: He's in a good mood!
Randy: Cowell, what's up baby.
Simon: Wow. Wow. I was really impressed. And you know what's interesting is... I mean that was a fantastic performance, really, really, fantastic,
Clay: Thank you.
Simon: ...is I think the fact that you don't look like the conventional pop star actually in a way is probably a good thing because you are so memorable, and you're sort of looking better each week....
Randy: Yeah, man...
Simon: it was great,
Clay: Thank you very much.
Simon: really, really, great,
Clay: Thank you very much.
Simon: well done.
Randy: Yeah, yeah, good job, man

The other performances of the night were:

1. Kim Caldwell- "I Feel the Earth Move"
2. Clay Aiken- "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
3. Nasheka- "Wind Beneath My Wings"
4. Carmen Rasmussen- "Can't fight the moonlight "
5. Olivia Mojica- "Because You Loved Me"
6. Janine Falsone- "We Belong"
7. Chip Days- "Rock With You"
8. Aliceyn Cooney- "Angel"
9. Trenyce- "Let's Stay Together"

Honestly, I don't remember a single one of the other performances. Once Clay sang, it was pretty much over. Nigel Lythgoe did say in an interview once that Clay received 80% of American's vote. I'm not quite sure what was up with the other 20%. *g*


Related Tags: Clay Aiken, Wildcard Round, American Idol, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson

A Single-lar Anniversary

June 10, 2003 is the anniversary of the release of Clay's first single, "This Is The Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water.

The single spent 11 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Singles Chart.

It was on the chart for an amazing 45 weeks.

It sold 393,000 copies according to SoundScan.

As of 5/9/04, 958,664 copies were sold.

TITN/BoTW had the biggest first-week sales of any single since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind (1997).

It was also the best-selling single of 2003 by far.

Here is an article from MTV.com on first week sales.


Clay gave some amazing performances of both songs. View the video of "This Is the Night" from the Miss America Pageant, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon:


"Bridge Over Troubled Water"


"This Is The Night"

Related Tags: Clay Aiken, Billboard, Number 1 Single, Bridge Over Troubled Water, This Is the Night, Best-Selling