Clay is a Conundrum

I wrote this article for Beavers on Idol on October 31, 2004. Enjoy.

He's both simple and complex. He's open, yet he protects his privacy. He's a sexy beast on stage and a humble man off stage. He uses the royal "We' when speaking of his accomplishments, but everything he's done in this fledgling career of his, he's done by working his tail off, every day, day in and day out. He's goofy, yet incredibly appealing to all ages. He calls himself a nerd, yet his personality sparkles with wit and intelligence. When Clay Aiken talks, his fans listen.

Physically, he's one of the most beautiful creatures to ever walk the face of the planet. Just look at his face in pictures taken of him at his work. It is not only gorgeous, it radiates happiness and joy. This is a man who loves what he is doing. He has said, "To me, singing is the single most joyous thing a person can do." That sentiment shows on his face every time he sings. But more than just looks, it's the joy and love that radiate from his heart. A Raleighite said of Clay last weekend, "He's never met a stranger." That says so much about the kind of man he is. He's not perfect, he has his foibles and temper tantrums, he's quick to judgment, and maybe a tad impatient, but he seems to be a fair man, a good man, a decent man.

Clay loves kids. He wanted to be a Special Education teacher, helping children with developmental disabilities. He also loved singing. I wonder how much he was torn between his two loves? He ditched his last semester of college to audition for, and eventually appear on, American Idol. As he progressed into the show and experienced the effects of fame while doing something he loved, the singing part of his heart was satisfied, but what about the part of his heart that loved children? Clay saw the consequences of fame; he knew he could use his new-found fame for a higher cause than just being famous. He started The Bubel-Aiken Foundation.

You see, Clay wasn't idle during his down times on the American Idol 2 concert tour, he was finishing his college degree by taking long-distance courses. His project? To create a fictional foundation on paper and show a need for it. Not only did he complete his fictional project, he turned it into a reality - a very successful reality. He figured out a way to meld the two loves of his life, children and music.



Oh, and by the way,
he graduated college in December, 2003.






His fans want to know more about Clay Aiken; how he thinks, what he thinks. We want more details about his life. Clay has said that his life is an open book, yet his fans yearn for more, more and more. In November, his life will literally become an open book as he releases "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life." Clay has said the book is an inspirational book about the people who have influenced him in his life, about some tough times he's endured and how he's dealt with them. He said he hopes it helps kids deal with the same things he may have had to deal with.


Clay's Internet fans have already been given snippets of passages from advanced copies of the book. This book of his will have his fans trying to demystify the conundrum for months and months to come. His childhood, his upbringing, his faith, his music, his take on life both before and after American Idol. Because his fan base is so diverse, many fans will absolutely love everything Clay has to say. Others will find themselves nodding in agreement or shaking their head in denial. And yet others will find things to pick apart. All of us are grateful that Clay (along with Allison Glock) chose to write this book for his fans, and maybe, a little, for himself.


But no matter what he says, no matter how much we may roll our eyes at some of the things he will tell us, no matter how different his upbringing is from ours, we have that glorious voice to fill our hearts, hopefully, forever. And if he continues to be the kind of man I think he is, we will have our 'idol' for the ages.



Watch Clay sing "Measure of a man" in Wilkes-Barre from 2004.






This November will be an embarrassment of riches for Clay's fans. Not only will we see the book with an audio tape, he is also releasing a Christmas album, tentatively titled "Merry Christmas, With Love." His "Joyful Noise" Christmas Tour, with orchestra, is already selling out in many venues, and he has numerous television appearances scheduled. And next year, we look forward to getting his sophomore CD.


It is this author's humble opinion that what we've seen so far of Clay Aiken's talent is just a small part of what he is capable of doing. As he grows, both personally and professionally, his life experiences will influence his choices in both music and in how he lives his life. Those experiences and conundrums are what make Clay Aiken so fascinating and complex.
There's a quote by Douglas Adams that I've seen used as a signature by a poster on one of the Clay Aiken message boards. It seems to fit him so perfectly: "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be."

Addenum: I think that Clay's appearance on American Idol has made his fans even MORE anxious to see what's in store for us, both musically and personally. I know I am.

Related Tags: Clay Aiken, American Idol, The Bubel-Aiken Foundation, Learning to Sing, Allison Glock, Douglas Adams