Clay Aiken – “He’s a musician in every sense of the word.”

Monday morning, I had reason to be going through some of the Clay Aiken “history” that is stored on my computer.  Yes, I am a “right-click-save” addict.  I have pictures, videos, concert and TV show reviews and even some album reviews.  It didn’t take long before I forgot my project and started reading some of the album reviews.

I got stuck on the reviews of “A Thousand Different Ways.”  I had forgotten how many wonderful things were written about that CD.

Mitch Velez at American Idol Magazine said:

This 14-track collection of memorable love songs from the past 30 years receives the classic Aiken touch of tender rearrangements, lilting melodies, and a voice from heaven that continues to grow and dazzle. Which is a good thing: For this effort Clay leapt off the cliff to cover songs by icons (Celine Dion, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, and Dolly Parton) and a host of former chart-toppers by familiar names among the over-35 crowd (Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Paul Young, Harry Nilsson, Richard Marx and Mister Mister).

Numerous songs stand out on this CD. Clay’s rearrangement of “Everything I Do, (I Do It for You)” caught my ear because instead of trying to emulate Adams’ raspy voice, he deepened the feeling with a wonderful Celtic sound. His rendition of Dion’s “Because You Love Me” serves the song very well, while he gives us plenty of range in terms of both sensitivity to material and vocals with “Everytime You Go Away”, “When I See You Smile”, and “I Want to Know What Love Is”. These songs might have started out in your parents’ collections, but Clay just made them your songs. Buy them now.

Shipwreck Island Studios said:

● Clay Aiken – A Thousand Different Ways (Island Preview – First Reaction):
I was privileged to listen to Clay’s album today and I have to say he’s got a winner on his hands. I was a bit put off by the idea of another covers album but he’s pulled it off nicely. A classic track such as Bryan Adams “Everything I Do” which I felt couldn’t be redone properly is completely retooled and sounds amazing. I’d say the best reinvented track has to be the Celine Dion song “Because You Love Me.” I didn’t care for the original version but Clay sped up the song and added his own flavor to it making it his own. Now when I first heard about this disc the one song that stood out to me was the Bad English song “When I See You Smile.” I read some pretty harsh comments from some fans that in a nutshell said that Clay couldn’t pull off this classic track. While it’s not quite was redone as other songs, Clay’s vocals fit perfectly and with a violin backing really allows the song to breath a bit more. To me Clay pulled this track off with no issues at all.

Honestly, I’m shocked over how good this disc turned out. 17 days to go until it’s release but I’ll have an album review up before its release. Everyone is in for a real treat with this release. – Tony

Tony wrote more when the album was released:

Are the new songs any good? I’ll go one better, these songs are going to set the tone as to how Clay’s career goes. I firmly believe that if he sticks with this soft blend of material and intertwines a few pop tracks he’ll be one of the most successful singers in music history. There are very few mainstream musicians that capture me the way Clay does. He’s a musician that when there’s word of new material on the way people go crazy, that’s a good thing. With songs like Without You & A Thousand Days Clay has opened the door to greatness. Some might be put off by this album’s soft tones and if that’s the case you’re not following what Clay is trying to accomplish. This disc is all about not only reliving the past but reviving it. Clay has set a course toward the future and with time I think fans of all genres will notice this release for its original material as well as the reinvented cover tunes.

This is a career setting album for Clay but not his best, as his best is still to come. You could hear throughout this release how completely in love he is with the classic material and as a listener it’s nice to hear an artist actually appreciate the material being put forth.

Hopefully with the right push from his label and fans this disc will see success not only in sales but in terms of overall play. I am hoping some of these songs show up on Movie/TV soundtracks.

The only thing missing was 1 more original song. I say that because I’m sure some fans were looking for a full pop album from Clay. There are hints of pop throughout the disc on the cover tracks that should keep those fans happy but I do see the point as some are looking for something that was a bit more familiar.

Overall this is a brilliantly done album that one can sit back, listen to and just drift away. Clay is much more then just some kid from a realty show, he’s a musician in every sense of the word. The best is still to come and what is scary is that this disc is so good how can he possibly top it?

Bill Lamb is a music journalist specializing in pop music. He has been covering the world of pop music on the web since 1999.  He said:

As it has been since American audiences were first introduced to him auditioning for American Idol, Clay Aiken’s voice remains a marvelous instrument. His most successful tunes here resist temptations to over-emote and simply allow the song to shine through with his clear, resonant voice. Without the bombast of Celine Dion’s performance, Diane Warren’s “Because You Loved Me” reveals itself as an irresistibly romantic pop classic. A stripped down and reduced tempo version of “Here You Come Again,” originally a top 10 pop hit for Dolly Parton, reveals a melody that instantly sticks in the mind sounding like it was written for Clay Aiken….

One of the most interesting reviews was from Ken Barnes.  Writing for USA Today, Ken was not afraid to ask a lot of questions that so many wanted to understand.

Overall, I just don’t understand the reasoning behind this album. In the immortal words of Carl Wilson describing the Beach Boys’ modest Smiley Smile album salvaged from the ruins of the ambitious Smile, it’s a bunt instead of a grand slam. The label had an artist coming off a highly successful first album, in easily the best position for growth outside of Kelly Clarkson before her second album (and maybe even stronger than that, considering the intensely loyal fan base Clay had generated).

They encouraged Kelly (or agreed at Kelly’s insistence) to branch out in a new direction, add more contemporary rock to the Idol pop/pap formula, write more songs, etc. — and saw a huge payoff. Kelly’s sold more than 5.5 million, gets Grammy nominations and is taken seriously as a leading artist now — a considerable achievement for someone who had to overcome the “manufactured pop star” image of an Idol winner.

So why not try something similar with Clay? I don’t mean he should have hired the guy from Evanescence to co-write songs and set the decibels blasting (although he does have Jon Bon Jovi, Mick Jones and former rockers Desmond Child and Aldo Nova in his songwriting credits). But a contemporary pop album, minus the hip-hop trappings Justin Timberlake adopts but a mix of up-tempo songs and ballads with a modern sound, would have given Clay a chance to catapult to the top ranks of today’s hitmakers.

Instead, he releases an album with 10 covers, leaning heavily toward middle-of-the-road ballads of a certain age, plus four new songs, all of which are ballads. I could be wrong on this, but I don’t hear anything on the album that a top 40 station (Kelly’s main bastion of radio support) would be likely to play.

I just don’t get it. I’ve mentioned this before, and so have some of you, but it seems as if Clay’s almost being abandoned. Instead of having him record an album that could be his springboard to general superstardom (as opposed to cult idol status, however massive his cult is), it’s as if he’s doing a side project at a crucial juncture of his career. This album is the kind of thing he should be doing in 2014, after he has five big contemporary albums under his belt, not now. There’s no need to consign Clay to the nostalgia market so early in his career. This feels like an aging, or past-his-peak, artist’s album.

A Thousand Different Ways is a beautiful album.  Every reviewer recognized the brilliant singing and musicianship that Clay demonstrated on the album.  And many agreed with Ken Barnes.  It was a questionable choice for a sophomore album.  I really don’t care.  Clay’s voice soars and I still have many of the songs on my favorite playlist.

If you have made it through all these words, you need a reward. The following video is a wonderful performance of Because You Love Me.  It not only shows off Clay’s wonderful voice, it shows his love and appreciation of his fans. This was filmed at his last concert stop in Orlando on 8/19/07.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDs-rfQIFJk


Clay Aiken News Network is an unofficial fansite. We are not affiliated in any way with Clay Aiken or his management. This website was made by fans for fans and makes no impression or impersonation of the official site, which can be found under the domain clayaiken.com.

23 thoughts on “Clay Aiken – “He’s a musician in every sense of the word.”

  1. What a fantastic reminder. ATDW is a great album even if RCA basicly abandoned Clay. I really loved watching the video. Thanks for another great article.

  2. We certainly do know that Clay Aiken was abandoned by his label, but fortunately he is free of them now.

  3. The artistry that Clay Aiken displays in his music is astounding. He interprets so beautifully. The production on Broken Wings from ATDW is spellbinding. He did something totally different.

  4. I believe Clay Aiken’s album On My Way Here is crafted so well and has several songs that should be radio friendly.

  5. When Clay Aiken announced A Thousand Different Ways, and said it would be covers of love songs I gotta admit my initial reaction was huh? I went as far as to say if a certain performer was covered, I just couldn’t buy it. Of course, that performer was covered…..

    I heard ATDW before it was released via first listen and was absolutely stunned. I loved it and purchased it the day it was released.

    One track in particular has captured my heart. As background, I thoroughly disliked the original version of Broken Wings and, in all honesty, skipped this particular song on ATDW my first few listenings. I was in love with the arrangements of the other songs and I decided to give it a try. The first time I listened to it I got chills. IMO Broken Wings is the best song on this CD. The arrangement is stunning, the spoken word, which could have been cheesy, is beautifully done and fits the song perfectly.

    Now I gotta go listen to it – I never get tired of it, or the other songs on this CD. This is coming from someone who started out skeptical at best. While I do not believe that RCA made the right choice for Clay’s sophomore CD, what was done with the material is lovely (and who can argue with Clay’s voice and his range – especially when he hits those lower notes on Without You and Here You Come Again).

    Thanks for putting this together!!! It’s great to revisit (and re-listen – over and over and over again)

  6. Musicfan,

    WORD to your entire post! I have quoted several of these reviews in Carolina entries. I especially like your own paragraph below:

    A Thousand Different Ways is a beautiful album. Every reviewer recognized the brilliant singing and musicianship that Clay demonstrated on the album. And many agreed with Ken Barnes. It was a questionable choice for a sophomore album. I really don’t care. Clay’s voice soars and I still have many of the songs on my favorite playlist.

    Thnx for a great blog and for your kind words at the Carolina site.

    Caro

  7. Thanks so much for this article. With the release of “On My Way Here”, which I can’t get enough of, I had sort of let “A Thousand Different Ways” slide by the wayside. Reading this article has reminded me of all the reasons I love ATDW, as well, and now I am off to listen to it for the first time in months.

  8. I love this article, and I definitely agree with the folks who gave strong reviews to Clay Aiken’s gorgeous album “A Thousand Different Ways.” Clay took familiar songs and updated them beautifully. I listen to this CD several times a week and I still love it now, just as much as I did when it was first released.

  9. ATDW certainly wasn’t the best choice for Clay’s sophomore album, but he did an amazing job on it. I have to agree with Suerue that BROKEN WINGS is magnificent. Should have been played on the radio along with many more of these songs. But, of course, RCA abandoned Clay, which is quite evident. Now, I’m glad that Clay abandoned them.

    Also the video of his last concert in Orlando, Fl at the Hard Rock was a wonderful concert. I was privileged to be at this concert and BYLM was brilliant. Brought a tear to my eye to see this concert again. Clay needs to tour again soon.

  10. Thanks for the great blog. I LOVE all the songs on the album, but Broken Wings is my favorite. Clay Aiken is one of a kind. What a talent!!!!

  11. Thank goodness for email notices! This is a wonderful blog. I loved ATDW when it was released and still do. Clay Aiken made every cover song sound better than the original. The few new tracks were delightful too. Clay is a truly talented artist.

  12. That is the beauty of Clay..He can take any song and make it better than the original….He just does…

    I love ATDW…I love them all MOAM and especially OMWH.
    Clay has a voice like no other…and his feelings for his fans just shows through…..

    Love you Clay!!!

    Hugs,
    Judy

  13. I loved every song on ADTW and still play it in my car. I think many of the songs would have been radio friendly, including These Open Arms, Lonely No More, and Lover All Alone. Broken Wings is not an original, but Clay’s version with the spoken word is better than the original, IMO. My favorite is Everytime You Go Away.

    I also love the background music on this CD, it’s fantastic.

  14. I made it through all your words, musicfan! Thanks for this great article. I had never read Ken Barnes’ review. And, even though I love ATDW, I agree that a covers album at that point in his career was a questionable decision. If only Clay Aiken had been allowed to release his original concept, wonder what difference that would have made for his future recordings.

  15. Ken Barnes recognized that Clay Aiken was being abandoned by the label, but why? I will never understand it.

  16. I loved ATDW right from the first listen. It was great reading those reviews again.

    Loved the video–SRHP was such a fun tour. This is an excellent version of BYLM.

    Sure hope we get another tour one of these days.

  17. It was interesting to see all the reviews of ATDW. Clay’s musicianship really shines through on that album.

    Thanks for all the info.

  18. This article made me pull out ATDW and give it a listen. There is a lot to like on the album.

    It really is a shame that RCA messed up so much with Clay. If they had done a good job, things would be very different.

    I look forward to finding out what is next for Clay.

    Thank you for this well-written blog!!

  19. When it was announced that Clay’s next album would be a cover of different songs, it did not really bother me personally because I was positive he was going to make these songs his own! However, it dawned on me, how about the rest of the Claynation and those unregistered fans who follow Clay’s career? Would they buy this album? What if? Well, it made Gold and that’s a good thing. He is the only artist I know (I’m sure there’s a lot out there)who can interpret a song so beautifully. I love ATDW and I still listen to it. I love OMWH as well. I look forward to the day that Clay’s music will dominate the airwaves when some of today’s “music” has “retired” and “archived”. Looking forward to it, really.
    So, Clay if you’re lurking, time to get to work, buddy! Give us some top-of-the-world music that everyone will enjoy!

Leave a Reply to shyeyewitness Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.