I just ate a 2 oz. bag of Cheetos, and am currently experiencing dangerous levels of self-loathing.
In other cheese-related news, Clay Aiken has released a ballad-heavy track list for his long-awaited third disc, A Thousand Different Ways, due in stores Sept 19. (Don’t hate, Claymates, I didn’t say there was anything wrong with cheese. Per se.) The CD will contain 10 covers and four new songs (one co-written by Jon Bon Jovi!), and will, according to a press release from RCA, showcase ”a more relaxed style” for Clay, one that shows ”a different, sexier side.”
(Crickets.)
Anyhow, here’s how I’d classify Aiken’s song choices:
-Shamefully Delicious: Mr. Mister’s ”Broken Wings”; Foreigner’s ”I Want to Know What Love Is” (which always makes me think of Ellen DeGeneres’ Mr. Wrong)
-Just Plain Shameful: Bryan Adams’ ”Everything I Do (I Do It for You)”; Celine Dion’s ”Because You Loved Me”; Richard Marx’s ”Right Here Waiting” (Oceans apaaaaarrt… day after daaaay… No.)
-Totally Inspired: Dolly Parton’s ”Here You Come Again”
-Totally Tired: Harry Nilsson’s ”Without You” (Seriously? Who hasn’t covered this?)
-Right Artist, Wrong Song: Bad English’s ”When I See You Smile” (wouldn’t English lead singer John Waite’s ”Missing You” have been better?)
-Right Song for a Different Artist: Oh Clay, don’t you know Fantasia already owns Elton John’s ”Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”?
-Meh: Paul Young’s ”Everytime You Go Away”
Okay, PopWatchers, Claymates, and those of you who sit at the divine intersection of those two groups, that’s my take on Clay’s material. Now release your inner Hasselbots and tell me how you really feel.
Forget this ballad-heavy crap. Grab a couple of guitars and do covers of Green
Day or White Stripes.
“When I See You Smile” is by Bad English. John Waite was the lead singer.
I like Clay… but these songs just seem, well, boring all put together on one album. Maybe they’ll be better in the shuffle on the ol’ iPod.
Right you are, AS — thanks!
John Waite. Interesting choice, but if he wanted Waite with power, then he should have chosen,”Every time I think of you” by John Waite and the Babies. PS: “When I see you smile” was John Waite and Bad English.
Michael Slezak,
I love you.
“…one that shows ‘a different, sexier side.’…
(Crickets.)”
That’s hilarious.
yuk. bad songs choices. bad timing. A cd of Soul classics would even be better. It would be a ‘take that’ to Ruben. But nooooo..had to go the cheese route. So wrong.
Without You sounds great in the short clip I’ve heard. Yeah it’s been covered alot. But a lot less talented voices. I would have loved Missing You but I haven’t heard his version of When I see You Smile. Michael Ball does a great cover of Because You Love Me. I have a feeling Clay’s will be less Celine and more Michael. I’m just looking forward to hearing what he does with them. Can I tell you what I think AFTER I listen? Or do we have to make up our minds right now?
You are certainly allowed an opinion on the song choices, but why don’t you wait and listen to the songs and arrangements on the CD before you pass judgement? Just seems fair to me.
Clay doesn’t have an artistic direction. C’mon, covers of overdone love songs essentially aimed at his middle-age-Claymates. This CD should’ve been titled “Supermarket Muzak Vol. 1″
I bet after this CD of 80s karaoke, there will be “Clay Aiken’s Supermarket Muzak Vol. 2″
With a voice like Clay Aiken has, he can sing any d@mn song he wants. He’s going to OWN these.
I have to admit that I have some concerns over the “ballad-heavy” aspect of the CD. And a few of these songs just make me laugh because of personal memories. However, I think that Clay’s voice is well-suited for all of them, and I’m sure that when I finally get to listen to them, I’ll be very, very pleased.
Sometimes the biggest risk for an artist is doing what someone has already done well before. I applaud that risk-taking.
Oh, and you can’t beat ANYTHING that manages to combine Bon Jovi and Clay Aiken though really…would it have killed Clay to do “Bed of Roses”???
This new CD is going to blow everyone out of the water. Sales of this CD are going to amaze everyone. Just watch and see.
Well, love or hate the song choices, Mr. Aiken will sing the stuffing out of them. I reserve judgement until hearing the album. It seems to be off to a good start sales wise on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com presales. I can not wait to hear the Elton John cover and the Richard Marx song. If it is cheesy..I guess I like extra cheese. Oh well.