Clay Aiken: Let's Talk About the Music
One thing has made itself clear in the past week: Clay Aiken would rather be talking about the music. With a new album in stores -- a collection of classics near to his heart -- he's enthused and almost boastful about his latest.
Clay, who has been dogged by insensitive, personal questions ever since he made it big, tries to remain private and on-point throughout, but that task is difficult.
Aiken made headlines this week when he shot back at Diane Sawyer for asking if he was ready to come out and say he's gay. In the same interview, Aiken openly discussed taking Paxil to deal with his anxiety. So where does he draw the line?
"I think it's something that can benefit somebody else," Aiken told MTV News on Thursday about the medication. "[Knowing] who I'm dating and what kind of cereal I eat ain't gonna benefit anybody else. That kind of thing is not important. I think there's a distinction."
Aiken said he's never been interested in other celebrities' personal lives, even when the stories came right from the sources, like Lance Bass' coming out or fellow Idol Fantasia Barrino's illiteracy.
"Half those things I don't remember hearing about," Aiken said. "People have different opinions on that type of thing. I told you what mine is, and I think for each person, you do what's right for you."
"For me, part of the reason that I have anxiety is the fact that I feel like people are always staring at me. So it's important for me to make sure that I have my friends and vacation, and what I do at home with my family and that type of thing [stays private]."
Aiken said coming to fame on American Idol has made privacy even more scarce.
"When you think of a movie star, you don't necessarily think of the person, you think of the character they play," he said. "Whereas on any reality TV show, you don't think of them as the character. You actually think of them as the person. And there's always that whole 'boy-next-door' quality. You can relate to them because they are the people."
While some celebrities have tried squashing rumors by just coming clean, Aiken (who has repeatedly asserted that he is not gay over the past few years) is not so sure that's effective.
"Most celebrities, after awhile, get used to the fact that no matter what you say, people are gonna believe one thing or believe another one, so it kinda becomes a waste of your time to even attempt to deal with it anymore," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
What Aiken does want to discuss is his new album.
After the smash success of his debut album, Measure of a Man, and a holiday album, Merry Christmas With Love, Aiken was poised for his own Breakaway -- Kelly Clarkson's aptly-titled sophomore CD that made her a megastar.
Yet Clay opted for an album comprised mostly of covers.
"It's something that a lot of people went, 'Huh? Why would you do that?'" Aiken said. "But what's interesting, what we found while we were doing them, is not only do they not write songs like they used to anymore, [ones with] really good melodies, but these are all songs that are right for me."
While A Thousand Different Ways, which was released last week, lacks the personal accounts of an original album, it's still very close to Aiken's heart.
"If anything, this is the first time that I've been able to do something that I think sounds like me. And I've been able to put my thumbprint on it, because I was involved in it from minute one, from the beginning to the end," he said.
It was actually BMG Chairman and CEO Clive Davis' idea for Aiken to make a covers record, but the singer and executive producer Jaymes Foster worked with the mogul on the choice of songs.
"We each made a list of songs that we thought were the greatest love songs of the past 30 years... and we found that there were a number of songs that we all shared in common," Aiken said.
"So we went out and did those first, and then we each picked from each other's lists to just try to make sure that we were [covered]... And regardless of how different they might be, we tried to make sure that we brought them all together and did something consistent."
Aiken was hands-on through the recording process, even deciding to cut a few of the songs.
"We attempted 'Midnight Blue,' the Melissa Manchester song," Aiken said, reciting a line from the song. "I went in and I sang a verse and a chorus of it and I was like, 'Ehh, I don't think this is gonna work.' Same with 'Baby Come Back' by Player."
On the songs that did work, which range from Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" to Bad English's "When I See You Smile," Aiken tweaked arrangements and sometimes the melodies to make them his own. With Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings," he added a spoken-word part.
"I can't even remember what gave me the idea, you know that Evanescence-type sound, but I thought, 'I'd love to do something like that with one of these songs,'" Aiken said. "We didn't know if it would work, so we just went in the studio and we hired a singer to just sing the demo of the high part and we would later maybe hire someone else to do it.... It sounded so great that we didn't change anything."
While A Thousand Different Ways certainly has its fair share of big songs -- like Celine Dion's "Because You Love Me" and his first single, "Without You" (a 1972 hit for Harry Nilsson that was also covered by Mariah Carey in 1993) -- the album also shows a different side of Aiken.
"Most of what people expect from me is 'Ahhhh' [singing operatically], you know, big stuff," Aiken said. "Which I like to do, but people haven't heard me sing just a soft, laid-back, chill type of sound. So certain songs like 'Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word' and 'Here You Come Again' [show that]. We wanted to make sure that it had a kind of rise and fall to it, at least vocally."
Aiken plans to support the new album with a tour of theaters timed near Valentine's Day "when it's cold and people wanna warm up," he said.
September 30th, 2006 9:01 AM
Bravo! Great to finally read an article about Clay that reports facts accurately. Thank you.
A Thousand Different Ways is playing on my stereo (again!) as I write. This album may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it and obviously so do many others since the sales debut was excellent...in spite of low promotion for it.
Cover songs or new, they're all beautiful and enforce Clay's fantastic range and ability. I know all the covers but his arrangements of them make them new...and better than the originals.
Thanks again for your well written story.
September 30th, 2006 10:21 AM
FINALLY., an article that is factual and fair and honest. Thank you. I will send this article to all my friends so they can get the true story.
September 30th, 2006 11:19 AM
Good article. A lot of questions were answered about why he/RCA chose this type of album. I love this album and it really shows off his amazing voice.
September 30th, 2006 11:32 AM
Finally,an article that I can enjoy!!! Clay put his heart and soul into this album..and it shows..a masterpiece for the ages..
September 30th, 2006 1:03 PM
I'm glad Clay is going in the direction he wants to go, and isn't being pushed. I love the album.........
September 30th, 2006 2:17 PM
Brillant article--and ACCURATE. Thanks for the good reporting. This is written with class and consideration of Clay. You used the facts, which to me are much more important than just making a 'shocking' story. The truth is all I want to hear.. and this is the truth! Thank you.
September 30th, 2006 2:17 PM
Great article.
September 30th, 2006 4:48 PM
AMEN! This article speaks the truth....something that seems to be lost in a sea of assumptions and wild gossip.
What a remarkable MAN Clay Aiken has become.
His wisdom and strenght of character speaks volumes of exactly how very fortunate we are as a nation to have someone like him in the bizz!
Thank you for an article that DARES to speak the TRUTH!
September 30th, 2006 5:24 PM
I loved the CD. Thanks for this article. The critics of ATDW have not been very positive. HOwever, I will buy and denjoy what I like and so will many others. This CD has brought the love back.
September 30th, 2006 8:55 PM
I love Clay and I love this album. Anyone that appreciates his voice will love it too. It has an assortment of beautiful ballads on it and the background music is fabulous. I particularly love Here You Come Again, Broken Wings, and Everything I do. If you can get to hear the 2 not on the cd, If you don't know me by now and Lover All Alone, you will be equally as pleased. Both are outstanding and I just have to add that this music is just what we need in this world that has been overtaken by hip hop.
September 30th, 2006 8:58 PM
Clay's voice simply dazzle's me. I love every song on it, but the best song is the one he wrote the lyrics to. It is on the bonus tract at Itunes. I will play this Cd for many years to come. It is every thing I wanted.
September 30th, 2006 9:19 PM
I know that Lover All Alone, which is the i-tunes song is absolutely fabulous, this guy has talent that needs to be used. I haven't got to hear the k-mart one yet, but the other 14 are an A instead of an A+
September 30th, 2006 9:38 PM
Great article and an awesomeCD. Clay's voice is front and center and the production quality is excellent. Jaymes did a great job as EP on this one.
September 30th, 2006 9:53 PM
I'm hoping he will warm us up in February with the K-Mart bonus track "If You Don't Know Me By Now" live in concert, and that the clack goddesses will be allowed to video this masterpiece.
September 30th, 2006 10:00 PM
This is a great album. Showcases that pure voice in wonderful ways. Clay Aiken has a lot of different sounds, and I'm glad this one is showcasing a different one.
The backgrounds are good too, and although beautiful, they don't destroy the vocals.
Many artists have done cover songs recently, and these are some of the best covers I've heard.
I highly recommend this album, and the downloads from KMart and iTunes are brilliant too!
September 30th, 2006 10:11 PM
I love Clay's new album - what a fabulous voice he has - I have heard Lover aLL Alone which is great, however in Canada we do not have K-Mart so do not have "If You Don't Know Me By Now" on my CD which is a bummer!
Way to go, Clay!! Great article!
October 1st, 2006 8:19 AM
I wish Clay would continue to promote his new CD in all the top-rated TV shows. He does not have the luxury of his songs being played on the radio. Therefore, he has to market his music through another medium.
October 1st, 2006 9:54 AM
It would just be nice if you could actually find this CD in most stores. It's just not available in some places, and for some reason, not enough product was stocked. Something smells here. This is unbelievable.
October 1st, 2006 12:46 PM
From Croatia, congratulations Clay
October 1st, 2006 5:04 PM
Thank you for the great article and the truth. I cannot stop listening to ATDW. This is a wonderful CD (plus the 2 downloadable tracks) truly showcasing Clay's beautiful voice and range. I was fortunate enough to see him at the Jimmy Kimmel Mini-Concert and the songs are even better in concert (they always are).
October 1st, 2006 9:47 PM
I personally loved his album. Yes, it was not what originally hoped. More upbeat, but his heart and soul shows in the songs.
There is nothing else to say but this man has such a huge heart and wants to bring joy and music to us. How can anyone be negative about this?
I am so looking forward to what he invisions next and I don't think we will be disappointed.
Well done Clay... I am along for the ride and can't wait to see what you do next. Because I have seen you rock out... and I know you have that in you. I have seen some of the best performers in the last 30 years and you are right up there with them.. so go Clay. We are waiting and the best of everything in your talent, your heart, and your music.
October 2nd, 2006 7:04 AM
hey there i didn't read the article i just went down here to post a hey message i guess well anyways i will get back to this very shortly when the time comes after school okay bye
October 2nd, 2006 5:41 PM
Congratulations on a positive article.
I cannot stop listening to A Thousand Different Ways. The tribute to his fans included in the album is outstanding, it makes me feel a very special part of the Clay Nation. Clay is even better in person, and is the ultimate entertainer, he definitely has the IT factor. I hope to be able to see him in one of his upcoming concerts soon.
October 3rd, 2006 8:54 AM
Many thanks for the wonderful article about CLAY's BEST ALBUM,EVER, "ATDW." My long quest of meeting him in person was finally realized at GMA,the 19th of SEPT. He's such a WONDERFUL PERSON and a CLASSY/DIGNIFIED PERFORMER.I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.
October 5th, 2006 4:54 PM
Great article about a great album and SUPER-GREAT GUY and FANTASTIC vocalist! He's a man of dignity, humility and faith and that is why millions of people love him. Never change who you are, Clay - - we need someone like you to light up the darkness in our world, and you do. Please give us your next ALBUMS much sooner! Love ya, always.