Regular readers of this blog know that I’m not exactly Kathy Bates to Clay Aiken’s James Caan, and that I had some reservations about the American Idol runner-up’s choice of the oft-covered "Without You" as the first single off his long-awaited new disc, A Thousand Different Ways. Yet even with lowered expectations in tow, I’m still finding myself disappointed by Clay’s adequate yet utterlypredictable interpretation of Badfinger’s ballad, which is now streaming for free at his official website (click here).
Sure, the dude can sing — and in an era where Paris Hilton is a top 20 act, actual vocal ability is, well, hot — but Clay’s "Without You" sorely lacks the anguish of Harry Nilsson’s Grammy-winning rendition, nor does it have the sheer melodrama of Mariah Carey’s. Worst of all, though, Clay doesn’t take any chances with the song’s phrasing or melody or arrangement (the way Kelly Clarkson did when she tackled "Without You" during the first, Dunkelman-assisted season of Idol); as a result, Clay fails to (in the words of Paula Abdul) make the song his own. I wish Clay had tried stripping it down and slowing it down — to turn it into a heartbreaking dirge. Or perhaps attempted to infuse it with an ambient, loungey vibe. As it stands, though, his "Without You" inspires neither love nor loathing, just a shrug of this blogger’s shoulders. What do you think of Clay’s new single? Let ‘er rip in the comments section below.
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Mmm…Agreed, Slezak. Could have been better. Clay has a great voice, but most of his songs don’t really grab the listener. I also wish he’d do fewer ballads. Maybe that’s the case with the new CD, although the first single isn’t encouraging.
First off, can someone please tell Clay his hair looked better when he was doing the Ryan Seacrest?
AND There is so much computerized overlay on that track I’m not sure Clay actually sang it…
I do not care for Aiken’s music, but I like his new look. Sort of new wave a la the Killers/Panic! At The Disco going on.
Sharp!
Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take for the Claymates to start spamming this entry?
I disagree with you. I like the song and Clay makes it his own. I believe you alrealy pre-judged his new CD. You should go back, close your eyes and listen to this song one more time. That’s Clay’s song, his own unique voice making this song his own!
“Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take for the Claymates to start spamming this entry?”
Um, judging by the post following yours, I would say approx. 30 seconds.
Slezak! Don’t you remember what happened the last time you dared to mention that name on PopWatch?? We weathered a Claymate attack that lasted for 4 days! I can hear the stampede now….
Slezak, you forgot to mention you can download a poster of Clay to plaster the walls at your very own listening party!
I think I’ll use mine to wipe up the vomit…
YIKES! I haven’t heard his cd or the single (and if there is any justice in this world, I will never HAVE to!) but in the picture accompanying this article, Aiken looks like an anorexic k.d.lang. Couldn’t he have been a bit more gender specific?
Mariah’s was full of melisma and I can’t even listen to the end. I see a very different interpretation with Clay’s versus Nilsson’s. Nilsson’s had one kind of anguish, Clay’s sounds more forlorn at first, almost like he doesn’t believe she’s leaving. Then he builds up to the crying out, like it just hit him. I like both the Nilsson and Aiken versions very much and I do believe Clay did bring something new to the song.
So much irony here, I don’t know where to begin…
“The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities:
Clayton Aiken, of North Carolina”
Taken from:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060905-10.html
I think your title says it all, “Snap Judgement” and you made it before actually listening and upon seeing the name Clay Aiken. You went into listening with the same preconceived notions you always have about Clay.
Oh goody, an “unprejudiced” review by one of Yelly Slutson’s fans.
Your review does not really surprised me . You have always been biased when it comes to Clay Aiken. His version is more moving and grab you in.His voice is surperb and crystal clear in the song. If you going to be a critic you should be fair and partial.
Happy to see that k.d. lang is back with a brand new look. Who’s this Clay person they keep talking about?
Gee, one positive comment after four negative ones after a negative judgement is spamming? And it happened to be a relevant comment actually about the single, which the poster had actually heard.
I, too, have heard the single and love it. So that makes me a Claymate? And I’m spamming? I’m writing this because the closed mindedness and prejudice displayed disturbed me. People have rights to like or dislike any music and singer and to express their opinions.
I’ve never been a fan of the song, regardless of who’s singing it. Nice piture of k.d. lang though. She looks so young.
Dude, when was the last time you had your ears checked?
Clay Aiken sounds great, as always. My girlfriend says he gets her in the mood, so I’m planning to buy this CD for her, and enjoy the benefits.
Have not heard it….don’t want to hear it!!
I think I prefer the “Original Clay Look”to WHATEVER he/she is trying to look like now.
You know, I really really love Kelly Clarkson, but I don’t see how her note-for-note copy of Mariah’s Without You was so earth-shatteringly unique. It was great. I don’t see why you have to relate it to Clay Aiken’s version, which is also wonderful.
What amazes me are the people here who seem to spend more of their time looking for places on the internet to make fun of Clay Aiken. Says a lot about their lives, don’t you think? And Mr. Slezak, your bias is showing. You’ve always been partial to not liking anything Clay does, so who would have expected it to change now.
And having some Clay Aiken fans post is not spamming. That cracks me up. When the known haters come out in force, they are just trying to educate us, right? They aren’t spamming though?? But the fact that Clay has a large fanbase means nothing. Believe me, if spamming were happening, there’d be thousands of comments, not a handful.
p.s. LOVE the new look on Clay.
crap crap big warm steamy crap
Slezak is stirring up drama and I love it … cant wait to see how many people start going crazy on this board.
Just what I like to see an unbaised opinion by someone with a tin ear.
“Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take for the Claymates to start spamming this entry?”
The question should be “How long will it take the 5 Haters to start spamming this entry”
the answer was…as soon as you posted..you haters are so predictable..sigh…
“Without you” great sound, great voice.. loved it and it made me cry. Nuff said
Great country America, EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION.
Slezak, I love you…but I don’t know why you want to subject yourself to the coming onslaught that happened last time you dared to have an opinion on Clay.
That being said, I agree, his rendition is pretty uninspired. When I can sing the previous versions of the song from memory and be in line with every word, inflection, and the tempo then Clay has not made it his own. People who just want to hear Clay sing anything will be satisfied, but he isn’t going to gain any new fans be this.
For those coming on here and telling Slezak he needs to get his ears checked, maybe you should get your eyes checked because he really did write the following:
Sure, the dude can sing — and in an era where Paris Hilton is a top 20 act, actual vocal ability is, well, hot…
It’s interpretation being criticized here people, not ability.
Oh, how great. Another “critic” flaunting his bias for everyone to see.
Come on, admit that you had this review written months ago, and just waited for the name of the single to plug into it.
First off – I am unbiased when it comes to Mr Akin – I liked Invisible and What are you doing New Years Eve is a new x-mas staple for me. In regards to this song – sorry but Mariah’s version is 100x better. I don’t know why you would release this as a first single especially since it will end up being compared to Mariah’s #1 hit over and over and over again – why not These Open Arms or Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word as the first single. These would be unfamiliar songs and would grasp attention to the new album instead of everyone commenting “Ughhh not another remake”
Interesting that one would drag up a 1 minute performance four years ago to compare a new single to. Clarkson may have pipes, but her perormance mirrored Carey’s. No interpretation there whatsoever.
I have seen enough disparaging remarks from Sleezek to know the bias. Why bother? Simply insignificant and trifle.
Claymate? None here. But I won’t diss just because it’s supposedly kool. The Lang comments are also telling. Grow up.
I like Clay, but I’m not blown away by this single. It’s all right, I suppose, but I think he’s capable of doing more. I also think it’s dangerous doing an album of covers. I like the original version of this song better – will the whole album be that way? I hope not, because again, I like Clay.