//American Idol Countdown: Revisited: Clay Aiken – To Love Somebody//
January 11, 2009 by Story Gilmore
Filed under American Idol
Think back to season two of American Idol with me. We had Carmen Rasmusen, the blonde kid with the shaky voice that somehow kept making it through week to week with unsavory performances. Kimberly Caldwell, probably best known for her TV hosting duties and dating current Idol David Cook than her stint on the talent show. The velvet teddy bear, winner Ruben Studdard, who oozed soul and made you just want to hug him!
And then there was Clay Aiken. He resembled the guy from high school that would get stuffed in the lockers. But like your mother used to always say, don’t judge a book by its cover. Clay opened his mouth to sing and the incredible voice that poured out amazed everyone.
One of his strongest performances came from the Bee Gees theme week. With so many amazing songs to choose from, Clay opted for To Love Somebody and gave one of, if not the best performance of the night.
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Thanks for the memory……that was an unbelievable performance. Clay knocked our socks off every week. I still think to this day had AI had a better phone system to take votes he would have won it hands down. I love Ruben, too, but there was something special about Clay. AI owes Clay and Ruben everything because season 2 propelled AI to be the number one show every season.
Thank You so much for bringing back this AWESOME performance by Clay Aiken. A man with a Golden Voice, a Warm and Caring Heart, Great Comedic Timing, and a
sincere Love for his Fans. AI should be so PROUD of this contestant but 51/2yrs. later and they still don’t give him the accolades he so truly deserves. I hope his Star continues to shine for years to come!
His star WILL continue to shine. Not to worry.
Clay is indeed a very talented performer. No one has ever graced on that stage like CLAY. Clay’s presence will always be felt because of his certain charisma. I know God will continue to bless him. We love you, Clay… always and forever!
Clay has a good voice but I think he helped perpetuate the image of American Idol as a cheesy family show with no relevance in the music industry. Also, thanks to the claymates, fans of American Idol have a bad reputation.
Jennie – You must be living on a different planet.
Your statement about Clay’s music not being relevant is irrelevant.
And to suggest his dedicated fans are problematic – huh??? Celebrities would kill to have fans that are so dedicated – and many celebrities do – you just are not aware of them.
Clay is here to stay – get over it.
A fanbase that has a reputation of buying 50 copies of an album to make someone apppear successful? A fanbase that has turned off most radio DJs because of the constant spamming? I do agree with one thing. Clay is here to stay…interpret that sentence as you wish.
Cheesy Jennie? No relevance in the music industry? Wow, you really know nothing about the show or its contestants do you? Not only is Aiken one of the top sellers from idol, He has expanded and proven himself in acting and the broadway stage. More talent in the mans pinky than say ‘Timberlake’? Carrie has proven to be one of the top country singers of our time. Kelly sold more cd’s than most of todays pop singers combined.
AI not relevant? I think you have been watching the wrong show.
I believe Jennie has a problem with jealousy lol.
Oh I think Kelly, Carrie and Daughtry are fantastic. Wasn’t talking about them. Unfortunately, even with their success, American Idol still hasn’t managed to overcome its image.
For what it’s worth, I’m a big fan of Idol, but I didn’t start watching it till the later seasons..so I am just trying to give my perspective of the show before I started to watch it. No jealousy or ulterior motives here. If I was going to be jealous it would be over Carrie who sold over 6 million albums…or Daughtry who has sold over 5 million. Both these artists, including Kelly, Jordin and the Davids, actually get radio play. And I’m not a Ruben fan. Sorry.
jennie, Do you believe everything you read on the internet? Fans buying 50 copies of Clay’s CDs? It’s a myth! Do the math!Clay and Kelly both stopped getting radio play when they toured teogether. Kelly got her’s back after the tour ended, Clay for some reason didn’t.
Carol-that’s why the VERY NEXT SEASON-AI gave each finalist 2-3 phone lines and 4 hours of voting time. They didn’t want the debacle of Season 2 to repeat. 2 producers admitted-on video-that Clay received EIGHTY PERCENT of the vote EVERY SINGLE WEEK he was on. Then why would Ruben suddenly out-vote Clay??? Ruben’s mother got in 200 votes for him-Clay’s only 2—whose line was busier????? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened that night. MOST people ‘get it’. Clay proved before the year was over he was true winner and the ‘REAL’ American Idol. It was noted by Marilyn Vos Savant (highest recorded IQ in the world and columnist for Parade Mag)-that ‘the loser most likely beat the ‘winner’ by MILLIONS more votes’-but the phone system was totally inadequate!!
Oh,I forgot to add, To Love Somebody is one of the BEST Idol performances EVER. Clay was incredible that night. I can never choose between it and Bridge Over Trouble Water.
buying 50 albums might be a myth, but there is definite truth to some of the crazy things clay’s fans do. i work at a theatre (won’t say the city or the name) but we were constantly hounded by clay aiken fans by emal and phone asking when, if, how we were booking clay’s holiday show. they felt if they put the pressure on us with their spamming, we’d book him for sure. it only turned us off.
I Love how Clay sings this song.
Keep up the good work, Mr. Aiken. You are doing just fine, kiddo! You are blessed! Keep singing!
Well as usual Clay stirs polar emotions in people. I like the guy, can’t help it. I have always thought he was the best male talent idol has produced. Maybe his records sales have not been the best and maybe his over enthusiastic fans have caused it, I don’t really know. But he has proven to be a talented performer in concert and on Broadway. He also has kept his word since idol to do some “good” with his fame, that is enough for me to think he represents what an Idol should be.
One more thing, his performance of “To love somebody” is still one of my favorites of all the seasons and I have watched them all. That is what the discussion is suppose to be about. Oh my comment above about record sales, I actually meant radio play combined with record sales. I still find it strange that he doesn’t get radio play except at Christmas. He really has produced some beautiful recordings.
Speaking of cd sales,Clay has sold more cd’s than any other male American Idol contestant, as of this date. And he did it with -0- radio play. His lst album sold 3 million the first year. Check the statistics.
If your whole musical perspective is focused on Top 40 radio, then you may believe that Clay has no relevance. But there are many brilliant artists, Clay included, whose genre does not conform to Top 40 & they don’t get played. There will always be a place for Clay’s unique style & glorious voice, not so much with the poptarts, cookie-cutter rockers & hip-hop clones that dominate Top 40 these days. I’m betting Clay will be the one getting lifetime achievement honors when he’s older, not Daughtry or Clarkson who will be gone with trends.
so completely tired of Clay’s fans getting all the blame of what is wrong in the world.
I am a fan. Have been since 2003 and I bought ONE copy of each of Cd’s. Never called ANY radio station. barely ever comment on articles and there are more fans like me than the one’s Jeannie stated.
Thought this article was about Clay’s performance of To Love Somebody?
I loved that performance. Clay sang it wonderfully.
He/she/it is a glorified “lounge” singer. As far as the music industry is concerned, he’s tiny blip on their radar screen – no relevance whatsoever. Bless his teensy heart!
American Idol is back, and can we forget that it has brought us the best.
Kelly Clarkson is my favorite Idol. Idol fans will also be happy to know that Justin Guarini is back blogging for Fancast this season. Check it out- http://thebiz.fancast.com/2009/01/justin_guarini_returns_to_fanc.html
i remember the first time i herd clay sing to love somebody amazing thanks for that memrory americin idol has returned season 8
I wonder what Jennie es doing in this website if she dislikes Clay and his fans so much. I don’t think she knows what she is talking about! and I also wonder why she hates Clay. She might be one of those bitter persons who met Clay at school and considered him a loser, and now they can’t stand his success and knowing that so many people love him.
Wow, that was super and all the judges are so complimentary. And Paula – that’s the best critique I have ever heard from her. What happened to THAT Paula?? Clay has a great voice and I agree with the judges. Brilliant!
I forgot to say that Clay is the cutest Idol I have seen, no wonder why people got crazy about him, by the millions.
To Krok..Tiny Blimp..excuse me? He has been out there for 5 years getting probably the most press of any Idol ever. The guy is just plain interesting. You may not like him but he has an interesting portfolio compared to the rest. He is not just a concert singer and entertainer which most Idol’s are, he can sing, dance, speak with intelligence, contribute to society on children’s issues is much more than the others. Like him or not he has a broader personality than most.
Another stunning performance by Clay Aiken. This is from the “..remember when” series.
To: Lynn
Honey, you are soooooo delusional. What are you on? Work those party favors, tired ole t*at!
Clay Aiken – Video “To Love Somebody” American Idol, 2003
Clay doing TLS — one of my favorite performances! I wish he’d recorded the full song, maybe he will someday. Thanks much for giving us another listen.