photo by RCA Records
Monday night found me sitting in a tropical downpour at the fabled Wolf-Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia.
The occasion? One Mr. Clay Aiken and his Jukebox Tour.
Having only been able to score lawn tix the traditional way, the day of the show I rang up the friendly dude at the box office and inquired, in a friendly way, about the possibility of upgrading.
His heinous laugh was deafening.
He was like, dude, you're on the phone and peeps have been camped out here since at least 9:00 this morning, which, he informed me, was when he arrived at work.
Besides intimating that I was thoroughly insane, he further informed me that I should feel exceedingly lucky to have gotten tickets at all and that, please, the in-house tix sold out in---quote---"like, thirty seconds, I'm not kidding you."
How he found time to provide me with this exceedingly detailed oral history---what with all the apparently clamoring, desperate throngs of Claymates at his window---I know not. But there you have it.
So, the lawn it was. Which, from a professional blogger point of view, actually has advantages because it allows one to conduct research on several conversations and fan groups simultaneously.
Such as the lady who turned to her friend and asked, quite sincerely, "Why is everyone screaming?"
True, since the concert hadn't even started, one might legitimately wonder.
Except that, people, this is CLAY AIKEN, after all. The man whom I once described [here] as turning even the Fox people into blubbering wierdos every time he appeared.
Then there was the girl who turned to her BF and said, "It's intermission and he hasn't sung one Clay Aiken song yet."
(Not true if she was talking about songs Mr. Aiken had recorded: though literally interrupted by a bolt of lightening, he had sung "Solitaire," which most definitely is a Clay Aiken song. Even Neil Sedaka said so.)
But my point is: Lady, it's called the "Jukebox Tour," and that means . . .? Hmmm . . . ??
Of course, she was the one who was lamenting that they'd not brought any dinner (a Wolf-Trap tradition) because she'd gotten confused and thought the concert was tomorrow night, but then she heard the concert advertised on the radio and, lo and behold---SCREECH BRAKES AND MAKE U-TURN---it actually was tonight, and well, it was all very tumultuous.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jo Ann Edwards
Great article, we all know what a wonderful performer and entertainer.Clay Aiken is...he can do more than just sing...but the radio people have to have money from a promoter of an artist ....in order to play them...and Kelly got promoted to death...she also changed her whole look as well, Clay's People have not promoted him as well...but he is doing great anyway..5 sold out concerts in 2 years...not too shabby...and this time he has no warm up act...with Clay Aiken ...we don't need to be warmed up...he is soooooo HOT....Thank you for a well written article...Jo Ann
2 - Dianne Melton
Thank you very much for such an well-written, fact-based, intuitive, insightful, articulate and well-written article, one that was actually based upon personal observation, experience and research. Thank you.
3 - Cindy Harrison
Thanks for the article about Clay Aiken. It was very well written and the point you made is so true. I just went to my first Clay Aiken concert, but it will not be my last. WOW! He could sing everything! I hope they put it on a DVD. Radio was so important when I was younger. That was the only place to hear new music. Then it went to TV. Now you can hear new stuff in lots of new ways. Radio just isn't keeping up.
4 - Linda
Thank you for the very insightful comments regarding Clay Aiken's music. He can sing the pants off of any song given in any genre of music...and there are not too many artists who can do that.
As you stated with the technology today the Radio industry had better watch there step. The public does not need them anymore to hear the music they want...but Radio does still need the public to survive.
It will be interesting to see what airplay Clay's sophmore CD will get since we know he already has one surefire hit on it. But then again I don't need Radio to tell me what is worth listening too!
5 - Joyce
I want you to know that I thoroughly appreciated your article. It is refreshing to read your funny yet insightful comments. In my younger years, the radio was playing constantly. The music was great and the DJs were entertaining. Today, I have a choice and I choose to play the music I want to hear on my CD player and my iPod.
Yes, Grandma does have an iPod. If it weren't for classical music stations or NPR, radio could take a flying leap.
I didn't follow AI4 so don't know Bo Bice but I love Clay Aiken.
If you make friends with a Claymate, I betcha they could score you a better seat.
6 - Sandy
I like Bo and Clay. I think radio will be more accepting of Bo than Clay just because Bo fits better. Rock radio may not play him, but mainstream/top 40 will do just like they play Kelly Clarkson. Yeah I think Vehicle would have been great on the radio. I just don't think the record company wanted to push a cover on the radio, even if it did include Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi. Bo has a song with Santana that might get some airplay. I hear it's hot. Since other credible artists are willing to collaborate with Bo, I have a feeling radio will warm up to him.
Clay Aiken is a different story. Clay Aiken has a good voice, but his songs are not made for radio. The songs he puts on his cd are more adult contemporary and I really don't think they fit his personality at all. Clay doesn't reach to find good songs at all. Plus since other artists still have a hard time with Clay, I don't think the radio will warm up to him any time soon.
7 - Kristina
Thank you for writing such a wonderful article. There wasn't a point in it I didn't agree with. I myself have given up on the radio, and I find the only thing I'm listening to on the radio is Oldies music, simply because I can't stand to listen to any of today's music. And being that I'm only 16, I haven't been able to witness a great change in the quality of the music on the radio, but I know what's worthy of my listening to.
I, myself, can't wait for Clay to release his next single, so that I can give the DJ's a piece of my mind when they scoff at me. If the radio industry doesn't realize that Clay Aiken can "sing his face off" as Randy Jackson would say, then theier listening audience will soon be diminishing.
8 - Mike
Great article, Sticker, as always.
With the recent expose of the Payola schemes by Sony and the pending investigation of the other big record companies and their manipulation of radio it will be very telling if Clay's new CD is snubbed once again. I've heard his "Back for More" song on Radio Max Internet Radio and that song has hit written all over it. If it doesn't get played and go to #1 on top 40 the travesty that is the current system will be glaringly obvious to anyone who has heard the song.
His music is not AC and his voice is not merely good, its fantastic! The new song is irresistible. It makes you sing along at the top of your lungs and dance. A sure fire hit if I ever heard one.
9 - Sticker
Hello, to everyone---
More later, but many thanks for your comments and support.
Keep making a big enough brouhaha and maybe someone will listen!
I agree that "Back for More" should be spelled H-I-T. And, yes, it will be telling to see how radio treats that song.
But then there were several songs on MOAM that were worthy of airplay, if the consumer's opinion counts for anything.
Time will tell!
10 - Lori
The reason why Clay won't get played on the radio is because there are no hits besides Invisible. All the rest of the songs are ballady and not pop. And Bo Bice? Trust me, he is the male Kelly Clarkson. But Inside Your Heaven is not the type of music that Bo Bice will be singing. RCA does not want to promote Bo as a cover artist, so Vehicle f/Richie Sambora was not promoted as the A side.
11 - Jackee
I can't understand why radio won't play Clay. RCA won't promote his songs to radio is what I can think of. But I hear RCA will promote Bo to radio. Why do you think he is going to be on Santana's cd? Why do you think hitmakers like Better than Ezra and Nickelback are writing for Bo? I think they are waiting for original material.
12 - tita
clays fans are doing most of advertising for him.they are the best promoters. Isend some of his records to friends overseas to promote his songs. he is the best person ever inside and out.
13 - Sticker
Lori,
What songs are you referring to on Clay's cd that you think are "not pop"?
The ballad is a staple of both pop and rock radio. Take a look at the hair bands, for example: many of them had their biggest hits with ballads.
Take a look through Fred Bronson's book and check out how many songs might be classifed as "ballady."
This is my point: someone please DEMONSTRATE, not through the simple use of conclusions, that Mr. Aiken's music is so "not pop" that if it were on the radio, millions of people would sit up and scream, "what was THAT?"
Can't be done. For every Aiken song you can give me, I can find a song on the radio (now or in the past) that is not only quite similar, but often not as good.
Sounds like a fun parlor game, Claymates. Have at it.
14 - Sticker
Re Clay Aiken's music and radio:
For important research purposes for this professional blogger, I would like it if those persons who are of the opinion that Clay's music somehow doesn't fit on radio provided me with specific examples---specific songs from his cd and the individual's supporting analysis.
I would find this extremely interesting.
And P.S.: The fact that you, personally, don't like a song cannot be part of your rationale for concluding it should not get airplay.
There are loads of songs that loads of people despise, and the tracks still get airplay. Why those tracks and not others?
15 - judy reeder
Thanks for the great artical on Clay Aiken, I think his next CD will have a better selection of radio friendly music (at least I hope so), he is trying some new songs out on this tour. I am also a big Bon Jovi fan, and they had a lot of trouble in thier career, getting recogition for thier talent. And I think Have a Nice Day will be a big hit for them, I also think that if Clay includes " Coming back for more" on his next CD, it will get radio play. I have my fingers crossed. Thanks again.
16 - Lisa M
Great article on a number of levels! I live in Nashville & worked in the music business here for several years. Our local paper recently ran a piece on digital radio, & an industry insider was actually brave enough to go on record as calling it 'the last improvement to the buggy whip'. Commercial radio is a dying dinosaur, because of its head-up-A arrogance. How dare the unwashed masses make up their own minds? HA. Satellite & Internet radio are the future. Now if you'll excuse me, one more round of applause for you, dear writer, & I'm off to start packing for a drive next week to Indianapolis...to see Clay Aiken's Jukebox Tour for the 2nd time.
17 - Mike
One of the things I find ironic is that those critics who think that Clay belongs on Broadway (a compliment in my opinion) are saying that his voice is wrong for pop radio. They say that he should stick to AC and Vegas yet they are reviewing his concert and at the same time many are saying that he does a credible job singing all of those hits from the 50s through today. None of them are criticising his voice. He always gets credit for being a phenomenal singer. You can't have it both ways. He is proving that he can sing rock/pop/soul with the best of them.
18 - Linda
Thank you for saying "out loud" what so many of us have been saying for 2 whole years! Clay is an amazing entertainer, a fantastic vocalist, and a particularly admirable human being. Whoops, maybe the radio people don't want to know he's living clean and doing good for children. But he sure as heck can sing and this current tour is outstanding! Hope somebody is listening.
19 - Vern Halen
I don't know much about Mr. A, but I'd like to address the comment about rock music and the big rule book that decides who's in & who's out that was mentioned near the beginning of the articlle. Rock differs from pop in that it asks the listener for a different level of intellectual & emotional intensity than pop. Not to say that all rock songs are necessarily more intense or deeper emotionally than pop - there's lots of crossover. It's also about having an attitude that declares that this is rock, and having the listener buy into that attitude.
As I said, I don't know much about Clay Aiken, but I think that the perception is that he's a lightweight because he made it big through a TV show contest, and furthermore, he's considered to be a pop singer & not a rocker by general consensus. He also doesn't have 50 plus years of history to back up his songwriting, whereas even the lightest Elvis song is given the benefit of the doubt and considered to be rock 'n' roll by many people.
I think artists are starting to see their careers rise & fall faster than ever - here today: gone before the next TV season. Too bad, but they'd better get used to it, brcause that seems to be the way the business works nowadays.
20 - Sticker
Lisa M.--
Have a great time in Indy and do drop me a line with any observations you have about the show/crowd/etc.
Sticker
21 - Sticker
Mike--
Dude! You are so right! How can people say Aiken does a good to great job singing THE ENTIRE AMERICAN POP CATALOGUE and then somehow insist he can't sing pop.
Hello . . .
22 - Sticker
Vern Halen (any relation to Van?)---
My comments about rock radio were more about Bo Bice than Clay Aiken, although IMHO Mr. Aiken can also rock with the best of them because he's got the pipes to outdo STEVE PERRY. 'Nuff said.
I agree with you that rock asks its listeners to buy into some kind of attitude, but my take on that is that that is getting a little pretentious at this moment in history.
If rock radio wants to care more about a singer's backstory than his music, well, some rock fans may be okay with that, but it puzzles me.
23 - Sticker
Linda,
I do think that Clay's wholesome image is a turn-off for some people in the industry---imagine that!
Okay, fine. But doesn't an industry exist to provide products to CONSUMERS? If the consumers happen to like a singer's backstory, as well as his voice, who is radio to say, well, anyway, na-na-na, you can't have him?
The joke, my dear, will soon be on them, methinks!
24 - MJP
Great article Sticker.
If it had been given the chance, I always thought that Perfect Day would have done well on radio as well as a couple of other songs.
The same people on the internet who always said that there were no radio friendly songs on Measure of a Man are the same ones that are now insisting that Back for More is not a pop or rock song but only an AC song.
I think it could do well on CHR Pop and Adult Contemporary, what format do you think it would do well on?
25 - Natalie Davis
Probably both, but who really cares? Conventional radio, for the long run, is so over.