On 10/05/04 Disney’s special platinum edition of Aladdin was released. Clay Aiken recorded Proud of Your Boy, a song that had been cut from the original movie. Proud of your Boy appears on the DVD, but was not a part of the soundtrack CD.
Proud of Your Boy was an important song to the creators of Aladdin. It was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin. This talented duo also wrote the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Proud of Your Boy focused on Aladdin’s relationship with his mother and Ashman said that it was his favorite song in the film.
In the middle of Aladdin’s production, Howard Ashman died of AIDS. It was a difficult time for all involved in Aladdin. It must have been even tougher for Alan when the decision was made to take the mother out of the story. The cut meant taking Proud of Your Boy out of the film. Since the death of his friend, Alan had become very attached to the song.
Clay Aiken became a part of the Disney family by singing Proud of Your Boy for the new DVD. Alan Menkin said that Clay fit the part perfectly and was very pleased that Clay was involved with the DVD. After the recording, Buena Vista Home Entertainment became the title sponsor of Clay’s first tour.
On September 30th, 2004, Clay Aiken attended the release party for the Aladdin (Disney Special Platinum Edition) DVD. His friend, Amber Nix, accompanied Clay to the party. They walked down the “Blue” carpet and Clay chatted with the press. Inside the theater, Clay performed the song, Proud of Your Boy.
There are four videos below. The quality is rather poor, but Clay is wonderful in all of them. The first two are professional videos provided by Disney. The last two are interviews that Clay gave during the Aladdin press junket on September 27th.