"Ashes" by Clay Aiken (lyrics)

Ashes
written by Nichole Nordeman and Mark Hammond

Someone told me
What doesn't kill you only
Makes you stronger, sets you free
From all that held you down

With all my heart, I believed
The ember burning
Was a dream deep in me
When everything went up in flames
I still walked away

Chorus
Turn around and see what love's done for me
You would not believe the way I used to be, so cold
Maybe love requires, walking through the fire
To set me free, so I could rise up from the ashes

I was broken
A million pieces left to hold
I was frozen
My heart left out in the cold

Looking back I can see
How the voice of reason
Kept reminding me
I was never good enough somehow
Try and remind me now

Chorus

Bridge
Send it up in flames
Let it light the sky
Now that I know pain...I'm more alive. I'm more alive

Chorus

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Ashes, lyrics, Nichole Nordeman, Mark Hammond

American Idol on the Radio - Issue Date: 5/16/08

Here are the new Radio & Records chart rankings for the American Idol alumni:

CHR/Top 40
02 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
28 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-5)

Rhythmic
05 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (-1)

Hot AC
01 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (=)
15 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+2)

AC
08 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (+1)
15 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (=)
18 Kimberley Locke - Fall (+1)
29 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (NEW)
30 Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (-1)

Urban
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)

Country
10 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (=)
21 Josh Gracin - We Weren't Crazy (+1)
31 Phil Stacey - If You Didn't Love Me (-3)
51 Bucky Covington - I'll Walk (+5)

Christian AC
18 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (=)

Going For Adds:
Phil Stacey - Identity

Christian CHR
23 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (=)

Going For Adds:
Phil Stacey - Identity

Christian Soft AC/Inspo
17 Mandisa - Voice of a Savior (NEW)

Gospel
13 Ruben Studdard/Deitrick Haddon/Mary Mary - Love Him Like I Do (-1)

Canada AC
21 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (-2)
37 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (NEW)
42 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You (-5)

Canada Hot AC
07 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+1)
09 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-2)
43 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (-4)

Canada Country
07 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (=)
40 Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl (-3)

Canada CHR
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)

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Technorati Tags: American Idol, radio, Radio & Records, Jordin Sparks, Daughtry, Kimberley Locke, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Chris Brown, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey, Bucky Covington, Chris Sligh, Mandisa, Ruben Studdard, Elliott Yamin

Yahoo! Music Premiere of Clay's New Video for "On My Way Here"

Here is Clay's new video for "On My Way Here" that premiered yesterday on Yahoo! Music. I really like the behind the scenes, in the studio shots showing him working with the musicians and Kipper. Enjoy!

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, music video, Yahoo

"Something About Us" by Clay Aiken (lyrics)

Something About Us
written by Michael O'Brien, Scotty Wilbanks, and Regie Hamm

Stop the music
Play the song
And we'll dance together
all night long
The spotlight glows
Somehow it knows
That there's something about us

People smile
When they walk by
There's too much magic to deny
A Fool can see
We're meant to be
There's something about us
Something about us

The words on every poet's tongue
Every love song ever sung's
About us
It's about us
From Romeo to Juliet
To plays they haven't written yet
It's old and new
It's a classic tale of two
In a perfectly perfect love

You can see it in our way
And how we spend our nights and days
A crazy laugh
A photograph
There's just something about us
Something about us

The words on every poet's tongue
Every love song ever sung's
About us
It's about us
From Romeo and Juliet
To plays they haven't written yet
It's old and new
It's a classic tale of two
In a perfectly perfect love

Stop the music
Play the song
And we'll dance together all night long
We'll reminisce of moments like this
'Cause there's something about us
Yes there's something about us
Oh there's something about us

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Something About Us, lyrics, Michael O'Brien, Scotty Wilbanks, Regie Hamm

American Idol on the Radio - Issue Date: 5/9/08

Here are the new Radio & Records chart rankings for the American Idol alumni:

CHR/Top 40
02 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
23 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-9)

Rhythmic
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)

Hot AC
01 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (+1)
17 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+2)

AC
07 Daughtry - Home (=)
09 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (=)
15 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (+2)
19 Kimberley Locke - Fall (=)
29 Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (=)

Urban
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+4)

Country
10 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (-1)
22 Josh Gracin - We Weren't Crazy (-2)
28 Phil Stacey - If You Didn't Love Me (+1)
56 Bucky Covington - I'll Walk (+4)

Christian AC
18 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (=)

Christian CHR
23 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (=)

Gospel
12 Ruben Studdard/Deitrick Haddon/Mary Mary - Love Him Like I Do (+2)

Canada AC
19 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (+2)
37 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You (+3)

Canada Hot AC
07 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-1)
08 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (-1)
39 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (-6)

Canada Country
07 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (+2)
37 Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl (-1)
46 Kellie Pickler - Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind (-8)

Canada CHR
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
41 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (+2)

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Technorati Tags: American Idol, Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown, Daughtry, Kimberley Locke, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey, Bucky Covington, Chris Sligh, Ruben Studdard, Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Radio & Records, chart

"The Real Me" by Clay Aiken (lyrics)

The Real Me
written by Natalie Grant

Foolish heart looks like we're here again
Same old game of plastic smile
Don't let anybody in
Hiding my heartache
Will this glass house break
How much will they take before I'm empty
Do I let it show?
Does anybody know?

But you see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Reveal me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
No need to hold back my frailty
'Cause you see the real me

Painted on, life is behind a mask
Self-inflicted circus clown
I'm tired of the song and dance
Living a charade
Always on parade
What a mess I've made of my existence
But you love me even now
And still I see somehow

That you see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Reveal me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
No need to hold back my frailty
'Cause you see the real me

Shadows of shattered dreams
They've followed me,
they've haunted me
But you've taken the broken pieces of my life
And helped me to believe

You see the real me
Hiding in my skin, broken from within
Reveal me completely
I'm loosening my grasp
No need to hold back my frailty
'Cause you see the real me

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, The Real Me, lyrics, Natalie Grant

Listen to "On My Way Here" on AOL's Full CD Listening Party

You can now listen to the whole album "On My Way Here" on AOL's Full Listening Party site. I urge you to go and listen.

After reading some of the rather dismissive and snide reviews out there and then listening to this album... I am having a huge disconnect. What I am hearing in no way resembles what is being described by some of these critics. I am rather flummoxed by it, but I guess I am not really surprised. Music is definitely subjective, but some comments seem to come from a dislike of Clay Aiken himself and not really about his music... which is too bad since a music review should really be about... I don't know... music? Not the artist's personality, rumors or the fans. How much credence can you give a reviewer who gives somebody like Ashley Simpson (no disrespect to Ashley, but still) or Paris Hilton high marks for their albums, but trashes Clay's music. It does not compute.

In any case, what really matters is what you think of the music. Listen for yourself, and if you like it, buy the album! Personally, if my opinion counts for anything, it is well worth it. The album is meaningful and beautiful to listen to. It is lyrically driven and is not composed entirely of ballads. It is a well balanced album that has great hooks and very interesting production. Everytime I listen to it I hear something new.

If you plan on buying from iTunes, I think you only have a few hours left to take advantage of procuring the bonus track with your pre-order. Hurry and order it now!

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, AOL, Listening Party, iTunes, reviews

Send a Mother's Day E-Card from Clay Aiken

You can send a special Mother's Day e-card from Clay Aiken. There is a video of Clay wishing you a happy Mother's Day  and singing "On My Way Here" in the studio.

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Mother's Day, On My Way Here

American Idol on the Radio - Issue Date: 5/2/08

Here are the new Radio & Records chart rankings for the American Idol alumni:

CHR/Top 40
02 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
14 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-1)

Rhythmic
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+2)

Hot AC
02 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (=)
19 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (+6)

AC
07 Daughtry - Home (-1)
09 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (+2)
17 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-1)
19 Kimberley Lock - Fall (-2)
29 Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow (=)

Urban
08 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)

Country
09 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (+1)
20 Josh Gracin - We Weren't Crazy (+3)
29 Phil Stacey - If You Didn't Love Me (+1)
60 Bucky Covington - I'll Walk (New)

Christian AC
18 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (+1)

Christian CHR
23 Chris Sligh - Empty Me (+1)

Gospel
14 Ruben Studdard/Deitrick Haddon/Mary Mary - Love Him Like I Do (=)

Canada AC
19 Kalan Porter - Down In Heaven (-1)
21 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (=)
40 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You (+6)

Canada Hot AC
06 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (+1)
09 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
33 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (+4)

Canada Country
09 Carrie Underwood - Last Name (+4)
36 Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl (-10)
38 Kellie Pickler - Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind (-2)

Canada CHR
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air (=)
43 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight (-4)
49 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo (re-entry)

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Technorati Tags:
Jordin Sparks, Daughtry, Kimberley Locke, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Chris Brown, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey, Bucky Covington, Chris Sligh, Ruben Studdard, Kalan Porter, Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, American Idol, Radio & Records, chart

Clay Aiken on QVC

Just a reminder to watch Clay Aiken on QVC tomorrow, April 28 at 7:00 pm ET (that will be 6PM Central, 5PM Mountain, and 4PM Pacific time). Go here to see Clay's promo video for the QVC appearance. Just click on the "Show Details" link.

If for some reason you don't have access to the TV at the time or don't get QVC, you can watch a live stream. Just go to the QVC home page and click on the "Watch Live TV" in the menu bar to the left.

Also, you do not have to call in your order. Just set up an account with QVC here and you can do your ordering online at the time of the show.

In any case, you don't want to miss this show since Clay will be performing songs from his new CD On My Way Here.

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Technorati Tags:
Clay Aiken, QVC, On My Way Here

American Idol on the Radio - Issue Date: 4/25/08

Here are the new Radio & Records chart rankings for the American Idol alumni:

CHR/Top 40
02 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
13 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight

Rhythmic
06 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

Hot AC
02 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
25 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

AC
06 Daughtry - Home
11 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
16 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
17 Kimberley Locke - Fall
29 Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - Dance Like There's No Tomorrow

Going for Adds:
Clay Aiken - On My Way Here

Urban
08 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

Country
10 Carrie Underwood - Last Name
23 Josh Gracin - We Weren't Crazy
30 Phil Stacey - If You Didn't Love Me

Christian AC
19 Chris Sligh - Empty Me

Christian CHR
24 Chris Sligh - Empty Me

Gospel
14 Ruben Studdard/Deitrick Haddon/Mary Mary - Love Him Like I Do

Canada AC
18 Kalan Porter - Down In Heaven
21 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
46 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You

Canada Hot AC
07 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
09 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
37 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo

Canada Country
13 Carrie Underwood - Last Name
26 Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl
26 Kellie Pickler - Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind
39 Bucky Covington - It's Good To Be Us

Canada CHR
04 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
39 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight

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Technorati Tags:
American Idol, Radio & Records, radio, chart, Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown, Daughtry, Kimberley Locke, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh, Ruben Studdard, Kalan Porter, Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington

Clay Aiken News Tidbits

There are a bunch of news items about Clay Aiken to catch up on:

Clay on TV! May 15, 2008, Clay will be on Jimmy Kimmel Live. RockOnTv lists him as a panel guest and performance. Can't wait!

Walmart has "On My Way Here" with an exclusive bonus track of the song "Forget I Ever Knew You".

Clay will be on QVC! Be sure to watch him on Monday, April 28, 2008. Go here to check the schedule for when he will be on in your area. He will be performing select songs from the album and the offer includes a special 5-track bonus CD created just for QVC.

Amazon.com has video of Clay singing "On My Way Here". This is great. Be sure to watch it!

And, shhh!, if you go here, you can hear snippets from the album!

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Technorati Tags:
Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Jimmy Kimmel, QVC, Walmart, bonus track, video

American Idol on the Radio - Issue Date: 4/18/08

Here are the new Radio & Records chart rankings for the American Idol alumni:

CHR/Top 40
02 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
13 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight

Going for Adds:
Ace Young - Addicted

Rhythmic
08 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

Hot AC
02 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
29 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

Going for Adds:
Katharine McPhee & Elliott Yamin - Real Love

AC
06 Daughtry - Home
10 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You
12 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
17 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
18 Kimberley Locke - Fall
19 Daughtry - Over You

Urban
11 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air

Country
12 Carrie Underwood - Last Name
18 Carrie Underwood - All American Girl
25 Josh Gracin - We Weren't Crazy
31 Phil Stacey - If You Didn't Love Me

Christian AC
19 Chris Sligh - Empty Me

Christian CHR
30 Chris Sligh - Empty Me

Gospel
13 Ruben Studdard/Deitrick Haddon/Mary Mary - Love Him Like I Do

Canada AC
15 Kalan Porter - Down In Heaven
18 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
50 Elliott Yamin - Wait For You

Canada Hot AC
06 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
12 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
25 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo

Canada Country
18 Carrie Underwood - Last Name
19 Carrie Underwood - All American Girl
36 Bucky Covington - It's Good To Be Us
37 Kellie Pickler - Things That Never Cross A Man's Mind

Canada CHR
06 Jordin Sparks duet with Chris Brown - No Air
38 Daughtry - Feels Like Tonight
50 Jordin Sparks - Tattoo

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Technorati Tags: Jordin Sparks, Daughtry, Ace Young, Chris Brown, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Kimberley Locke, Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh, Ruben Studdard, Kalan Porter, Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler, American Idol, Radio & Records, radio, chart