Today is May 24th. Clay Aiken fans probably don’t have any trouble thinking back to May 24, 2006. It was one of the most talked about performances that Clay Aiken has had in his entire career.
Need a hint? Think Michael Sandechi…you remember…the young man who impersonated Clay. Michael won the Golden Idol Award for the Favorite Impersonation. He thought himself an impersonator of Clay
I don’t think I will ever forget the night. I watched as Michael started singing. Then, I watched the doors behind him open and realized that Clay Aiken walked onto the stage. Clay was the star of the night. It was so much fun to see Clay treating Michael with respect, but at the same time making sure that the entire world knew that he was far-removed from the “geek” memory of “Idol Clay.”
American Idol wanted a joke. Clay Aiken gave them an event!!
I thought it might be interesting to post some of the many reviews of Clay’s appearance on the American Idol Finale in 2006
Rickey’s AI Blog
CLAY CLAY CLAY CLAY CLAY CLAYCLAY!!!! CLAY!!! CLAY!!!!
THIS IS THE MOST AWESOME SHOW EVER!!!!
WOOHOO!!!!
CLAY AIKEN IN THE HOUSE!!!!
The Idols sing Burt Bacharach songs… don’t they do this every year?
But my god, nothing can top the Clay Aiken moment. Next to Kelly he’s the biggest star this show has produced. Go Clay!
Realitytvmagazine.com
…there was one shining moment that will likely go down as one of the funniest moments in American Idol history….People Magazine On-line
But the biggest showstoppers were Clay Aiken, who debuted a jaw-dropping new hipster hairdo, and Prince, who performed two songs solo before an ecstatic audience.
Topix.net
But the show did hit one perfect note when Clay Aiken surprised an off-key Clay Aiken-wannabe on stage for a wonderfully impromptu duet.
Fox News Online
Perhaps the biggest laugh of the night, however, came during an appearance by Michael Sandecki, a sensation from an early audition episode (sensational only for how bad he was), who did a “surprise” duet with Clay Aiken.
They performed “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and it really was akin to watching a before and after video, with Sandecki playing the role of the younger, naive Aiken, almost too enthusiastically.
Access Hollywood
The moment everyone is talking about around here is the reemergence of Clay Aiken. Folks here have dubbed his new look a cross between KD Lang and the Beatles. Inside the theater, he sounded amazing but I don’t think he wasn’t expecting shocked auditioner, Michael, to start trying to duet with him on the song At one point off-camera the stage manager came out and told Ryan to sit him down. That’s why the chair was brought out and you see Ryan place him there.
Baltimore MIX 106.5
“So who won Idol? Katherine, Taylor? No, it was Clay Aiken’s haircut.”Yahoo Buzz
Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken made a victorious return to the “Idol” stage, sporting a new look that helped him pull in more buzz than last year’s champ Carrie Underwood. And a surprise appearance by Prince stirred up searches on the funk legend—precisely the point. Gotta love the “Idol” publicity machine.
FOX-5 NY just read MY e-mail to segue into their Clay clip!
The best non-Taylor moment was the Return of Clay Aiken. He looked fabulous, sang better, and gave his awe-struck ‘impersonator’ an unforgettable surprise!”
I doubt that there will ever be a night like that again. Clay Aiken was and always will be, a Super-Star!!
I so remember that night – it was Electric ! I had my VCR recorder ready just incase Clay made
an appearance that night. Gosh, did he ever make an appearance. He just looked and sounded so
amazing! I swear he was glowing!
His StarLight really shined that night!
Clay is definitely a superstar! I won't ever forget that amazing night. Fantastic! 🙂
What an exciting time. Clay was all the "Buzz". Thanks for this wonderful blog and sharing that montage
The most amazing entrances on TV…It was a moment that will never be topped, unless of course Clay makes another appearance on AI. TO SING. I've always like that montage because of all the information on it…. I would love to have that montage without all the singing of "Buzz, Buzz" all through it… Everyone knows Clay, and when you can go by a first name only…You are definitely a "Superstar".
OH what a night that was! I remember it like it was last night, thanks for the video.
Clay Aiken won season 5 of American Idol as well as season two in my mind!
Amazing night!! I had stopped watching that season about half way through, but had read the rumors that maybe Clay would appear. I watched long enough to be AMAZED and then went to bed. The next day, I returned to the Message Boards after a three year absence and, well…..
Clay is, and will always be, the BEST!
I certainly remember THAT night. They said Clay would be appearing on AI…but, I never thought he would come out of that Stage Door. All I could say was OMG…Is that Clay? When I realized it was him..then it dawned on me how HAWT he looked. All the Buzz was about Clay for weeks after. Yes, he certainly is a Super Star.
Clay owned the Idol stage that night and his appearance was the best thing to happen during season 5.
The Season 5 finale was so much fun. It was so amazing that Clay's bit of the program was the highlight of the show by almost everyone.
Thanks for finding all the press remarks…..it was fun to see them again.
Another great blog….thank you!!