Clay Aiken still holds the record for sales

Sometimes, even when you don't want to, you have to give credit where credit is due. Clay Aiken still holds the record for first week album sales by an American Idol runner up.

Way back when, in the dim and distant past, women were referred to as "the weaker sex." It's a new day, baby. Female solo artists account for eight of the top 10 albums on The Billboard 200. Susan Boyle leads the pack as I Dreamed A Dream debuts at #1 with sales of 701,000. That's the biggest one-week sales total of 2009. It beats Eminem's Relapse, which sold 608,000 copies in its first week in May. It's also the biggest first-week sales tally in Nielsen/SoundScan history for a debut album by a female artist. It tops Ashanti, which opened with sales of 503,000 in April 2002.

Two male solo artists (Andrea Bocelli and Adam Lambert) round out the top 10. This means that groups and duos are completely shut out of this week's top 10. (The highest-ranking group or duo is the contemporary Christian group Casting Crowns, which dips to #17 with its Christmas album, Peace On Earth.)

Only one debut album in Nielsen/SoundScan history has sold more copies in its first week. That's Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle, which opened with sales of 803,000 in December 1993. I Dreamed A Dream posted the biggest one-week sales tally for an album by a female artist since Alicia Keys' As I Am debuted with sales of 742,000 in November 2007. It's the biggest tally for an album by a British artist since Coldplay's Viva La Viva Or Death And All His Friends started with sales of 721,000 in June 2008.

I Dreamed A Dream sold more copies in its first week than several hit albums have sold in their entire runs so far, including Andrea Bocelli's My Christmas, Carrie Underwood's Play On, Keith Urban's Defying Gravity and The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack.

Boyle's album also debuts at #1 in the U.K. The album features a wide range of material, from the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" to the traditional hymn "Amazing Grace"; from the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" to "I Dreamed A Dream," which is from the musical Les Miserables. This rich diversity of source material is also central to the appeal of Glee. The first Glee album includes everything from rap hits by Kanye West and Young M.C. to Broadway songs from Cabaret and Wicked.

This trend to a dizzying range of material owes a lot to the success of Baz Luhrmann's 2001 film, Moulin Rouge! The movie's centerpiece "Elephant Love Medley" featured everything from the Four Aces' lush, ‘50s ballad "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing" to U2's ‘80s rock classic "Pride (In The Name Of Love)." All of these albums, and others like them, reflect the iPod culture that we're living in. This is a terrific music trend. Fans are being exposed to music outside of their comfort zones.

This week's top two albums, I Dreamed A Dream and Andrea Bocelli's My Christmas, are squarely in the adult contemporary mold. Both artists are right around 50. Boyle is 48. Bocelli is 51.

Boyle, who was runner-up to Diversity on Britain's Got Talent, proves that it's not the end of the world to come in second. So does Adam Lambert, who finished behind Kris Allen on American Idol. The two singers were icons before those talent competitions concluded. Boyle was the plain Jane with the heaven-sent voice; Lambert, the singer who brought glam rock and a hint of danger to prime-time.

Lambert's For Your Entertainment debuts at #3 with first-week sales of 198,000. This surpasses Kris Allen's Kris Allen, which opened at #11 last week with first-week sales of 80,000. This marks the first time that the debut album by the Idol first runner-up has gotten off to a faster start than the debut album by the winner since 2003, when Clay Aiken's Measure Of A Man started with sales of 613,000, compared to a 417,000 start for Ruben Studdard's Soulful.

While Lambert's total is impressive, it falls short of the 280,000 start that greeted David Cook's David Cook in November 2008. Cook received only a fraction of the media hype that Lambert has gotten, but he has quietly sold a lot of albums. David Cook is up to 1,257,000. I expect Cook to be in the running for a Grammy for Best New Artist when the nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards are announced tonight. (If you missed my column previewing the nominations, here's a link.)

Another Idol alum makes big news this week. Carrie Underwood this week surpasses Kelly Clarkson as the Idol alum who has sold the most total albums. Underwood has sold 10,539,000 albums, to 10,428,000 for Clarkson. The rest of the all-time top five Idol alums are Daughtry, which has sold 5,356,000 albums; Clay Aiken (4,910,000); and Ruben Studdard (2,532,000).

Rihanna's Rated R debuts at #4 with first-week sales of 181,000. It's her third album in a row to debut in the top five. Rihanna has had, or been featured on, 11 Hot 100 hits since the release of Good Girl Gone Bad in July 2007. But Rated R sold only 19,000 more copies in its first week than Good Girl Gone Bad did (162,000). Of course, any increase over a previous album's opening tally is good news these days.

Lady Gaga has two entries in this week's top 10. The Fame Monster eight-song album debuts at #5. And the full-length The Fame Monster album (which combines sales of the standard and two-disk deluxe versions of the album) vaults from #34 to #6. This is the album's first appearance in the top 10 since Aug. 2. If Nielsen/SoundScan had combined sales of the full-length album and the eight-song album, Lady Gaga would be #2 this week, with sales of 325,000. Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" is #1 on Hot Digital Songs for the second straight week. It sold 218,000 copies this week, bringing its five-week total to 807,000.

Taylor Swift's Fearless has set a lot of records, but this may be the most impressive one of all. As of this week, it has sold more copies than Swift's smash 2006 debut album. Fearless has sold 4,510,000 copies. Taylor Swift has sold 4,454,000. Also this week, Fearless logs its 27th week at #1 on the country chart, which ties Carrie Underwood's 2005 blockbuster Some Hearts for the longest run at #1 in this decade by a female artist.

Each of the top 12 albums on this week's chart sold more than 100,000 copies. It's the first time that's been true since last December 21.

Shameless Plug: Andrea Bocelli's My Christmas, which holds at #2 for the third straight week, is virtually certain to become this year's #1 holiday album. On Friday, I'll have a Chart Watch Extra in which I recap the top-selling new holiday albums of each year of the Nielsen/SoundScan era. All the acts you expect (Kenny G, Celine Dion) are in there, along with a few that may surprise you (Hanson, Clay Aiken). Check it out on Friday.

Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 albums.

1. Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream, 701,000. This new entry posts the biggest one-week sales tally since AC/DC's Black Ice sold 784,000 in its first week in October 2008. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "I Dreamed A Dream," which bows at #33.

2. Andrea Bocelli, My Christmas, 218,000. The album holds at #2 for the third straight week. This is its fourth week in the top five.

3. Adam Lambert, For Your Entertainment, 198,000. This new entry's sales tally is in between the first-week tally of David Cook (280,000) and David Archuleta (183,000). Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "For Your Entertainment," which leaps from #75 to #35.

4. Rihanna, Rated R, 181,000. This new entry is Rihanna's fourth consecutive top 10 album; her third in a row to make the top five. Three songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Hard," which debuts at #12.

5. Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster, 174,000. This new entry gives Lady Gaga two listings in the top 10. The eight-song album is also #1 on Top Digital Albums, with sales of 65,000 digital copies. Seven of the eight songs are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Bad Romance," which holds at #1.

6. Lady Gaga, The Fame Monster, 151,000. The full-length album rebounds from #34 to #6 in its 57th week. This is the album's 23rd week in the top 10. Eleven songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "Bad Romance," which holds at #1.

7. Miley Cyrus, The Time Of Our Lives, 150,000. The EP, a Wal-Mart exclusive, rebounds from #29 to #7 in its 14th week, thanks to a $5 sale tag last week. This is its ninth week in the top 10. "Party In The U.S.A." holds at #10 on Hot Digital Songs.

8. Taylor Swift, Fearless, 125,000. The former #1 album rebounds from #10 to #8 in its 55th week. This is its 46th week in the top 10. Four songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "You Belong With Me," which dips to #29.

9. Carrie Underwood, Play On, 124,000. The former #1 album holds at #9 in its fourth week. "Cowboy Casanova" dips from #21 to #24 on Hot Digital Songs.

10. Norah Jones, The Fall, 110,000. The album slips from #3 to #10 in its second week. No songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. Jones is very much an album artist.

John Mayer's Battle Studies fell from #1 to #13 in its second week. This is the second week in a row that an album has taken a big tumble from the top spot. Last week, Bon Jovi's The Circle dove from #1 to #19. It's the first time that albums have fallen from #1 to out of the top 10 in back-to-back weeks since December 2006, when it happened three weeks in a row with albums by Incubus, Ciara and Young Jeezy. It gets very competitive at this time of year.

Five other albums drop out of the top 10 this week. Casting Crowns' Until The Whole World Hears dives from #4 to #24, 50 Cent's Before I Self-Destruct drops from #5 to #20, Justin Bieber's My World drops from #6 to #14, Michael Jackson's This Is It slips from #7 to #11 (but is the #1 soundtrack for the fifth straight week) and The Twilight Saga: New Moon slips from #8 to #12. The movie of the same name finished #1 at the box-office for the second weekend in a row.

Does it ever seem like Lil Wayne is featured on every other song you hear? It will after you read this item. Shakira's She Wolf bows at #15, becoming the Colombian singer's fourth top 20 album. "Give It Up To Me" (featuring Lil Wayne) jumps to #19 on Hot Digital Songs...Birdman's Pricele$$ opens at #33. "Money To Blow" (featuring Lil Wayne and Drake) inches up to #40 on Hot Digital Songs...Jay Sean's All Or Nothing debuts at #37. "Down" (featuring Lil Wayne) rebounds to #11 on Hot Digital Songs. Memo to Lil Wayne: At some point, you're going to have to say "no." Many artists have suffered from overexposure.

Two rock veterans who have been around since the ‘70s debut this week with live albums. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, which first charted in 1977, open at #51 with Live Anthology. Tom Waits, who first charted in 1975, bows at #56 with Glitter And Doom Live. This is Petty's second live album to make the chart. It's Waits' third.

"Party In The U.S.A." this week pulls ahead of "The Climb" to become Miley Cyrus' biggest hit to date. The frisky pop smash has sold 2,525,000 digital copies, to 2,477,000 for the earnest, inspirational ballad. Both songs rank among the year's 10 best-selling digital hits. "Party" is #7. "The Climb" is #8. "Party" logged six weeks as the #1 digital sales hit. No song has ever logged that many weeks as the top digital seller without also hitting #1 on the Hot 100. (I hope that pointing this out doesn't make me a "Party" pooper.)

Song Scorecard: Justin Bieber's "One Time" tops the 1 million mark in paid downloads. It's his first song to reach this level. Britney Spears' "3" and Boys Like Girls' "Love Drunk" also top the 1 million mark.

Heads Up: R. Kelly will take aim at a possible sixth #1 album next week with Untitled. Also due: Allison Iraheta's Just Like You, Juvenile's Cocky & Confident, Enya's The Very Best Of Enya, Alvin & the Chipmunks' The Squeakquel soundtrack, The Bravery's Stir The Blood and the Just Dance 2 compilation.

Useless Information: Rihanna's Rated R isn't the first album to have a title that borrows from the Motion Picture Assn. of America's iconic ratings system. The rap duo Top Authority and the rap trio Fifth Ward Boyz both charted in 1995 with albums titled Rated G. The R&B trio Perfect Gentlemen charted in 1990 with Rated PG. R&B veteran Johnnie Taylor charted in 1977 with Rated Extraordinaire, which was a play on Rated X. (Rihanna and Perfect Gentlemen were doing a play on their initials.)

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Clay Aiken comes in at #6 for top idol earners for 2009

No. 1: Carrie Underwood

$14 million The Muskogee, Okla.-born country girl used Idol to launch a massively successful recording career. A three-time Grammy country vocal winner, Underwood has sold 9.6 million albums.

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No. 2: Jennifer Hudson

$5 million The multi-talented singer-actress won an Oscar in 2006 for her role in Dreamgirls. Her 2008 self-titled album has sold over 750,000 copies. Hudson was chosen to sing the national anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl.

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No. 3: Kelly Clarkson

$4.2 million Idol's original queen has sold over 10 million albums. Her latest single, "All I Ever Wanted," hit No. 1 on Billboard charts.

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No. 4: Jordin Sparks

$3.1 million The season six winner broke out with "No Air," a duet with R&B crooner Chris Brown. She has toured with Alicia Keyes and is now on the road with tween sensations the Jonas Brothers.

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No. 5: Kellie Pickler

$2.3 million Like fellow Idol alum Underwood, Pickler is more cowgirl than diva. She has sold 1 million records since the show. She is paid to endorse Sexy Hair products.

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No. 6: Clay Aiken

$2.2 million The Raleigh, N.C., native maintains loyal following six years after finishing second on Idol. He has sold 4 million albums and penned a New York Times best-selling memoir. Aiken recently finished a run in Broadway's "Spamalot."

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No. 7: Chris Daughtry

$2 million One of the first Idol rockers to reach the final four, Daughtry's debut album sold over 4 million copies. His follow-up is slated to hit stores this July.

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No. 8: David Cook

$2 million Once a small-town songwriter, Cook has a top-selling album and a lucrative endorsement deal with Skechers.

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No. 9: David Archuleta

$1.3 million Edged out in the seventh season by Cook, baby-faced Archuleta has gone on to release a successful album of soulful pop. The self-titled debut record has sold 700,000 copies. The 18 year-old has played more than 100 live shows since Idol.

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No. 10: Taylor Hicks

$300,000 Prematurely gray-haired soul master Hicks charmed Idol audiences and won the fifth season. He's now playing Teen Angel in a national tour ofGrease.

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Clay Aiken turns 31

Clay Aiken, who's under investigation for voter fraud, turns 31 today. Happy Birthday, Clay.

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I am not...

Definitely a song that needs to be covered on any future album.

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Thanksgiving Day wishes on behalf of Clay Aiken

On behalf of Clay Aiken, I would like to wish the Claymates a very happy Thanksgiving Day.

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Clay Aiken may be banned from voting in Wake County

From the News & Observer:

The chairman of the Wake County Republican Party is challenging Clay Aiken’s right to vote in the recent school board election, one week after the pop singer called the victorious GOP candidates ” selfish idiots.“

In a press release, Claude E. Pope Jr. noted that Aiken voted in Wake’s fall election while living in a mansion in Chatham County. The singer’s mother resides in Raleigh.

“All citizens and all political parties have an interest in rooting out instances of voter fraud,” Pope said, “and for that reason I have filed this challenge in order to prevent Mr. Aiken from any future attempts to vote in a place where he is not legally a resident.”

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Contact Clay Aiken

38 Topaz Jewel Court, Durham, NC. 27713

Before the 2010 election, I would encourage all Wake County voters to contact Clay Aiken and ask him personally how they should vote. We most certainly wouldn’t want we Wake County voters to make an idiotic mistake by voting the wrong way.

Clay Aiken can be contacted at his home located at 8608 Langtree Lane 38 Topaz Jewel Court, Durham, NC. 27713. You can also send your apology letters to Clay apologizing for being such idiotic voters.

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Clay Aiken fans wrong about Clay's residency

Click pictures to enlarge

Clay Aiken fans are attempting to defend for committing voter fraud by spreading false rumors that he owns the home his mother lives in in Wake County. Tax records and the Deed say otherwise. Clay's mother, Faye Parker, is the owner with 100% ownership according to the Deed. This world renown, international blogger will keep on top of this story.

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Clay Aiken commits voter fraud, outs himself

Click picture to enlarge

Recently Clay Aiken posted a blog calling the newly elected Wake County School Board members idiots. You can read the blog here. Clay went on to write that, "i hope we can get rid of them as soon as possible before they ruin my school system. Idiots".

Here's the problem, Clay Aiken doesn't live in Wake County. In fact, he lives at 38 Topaz Jewel Court, Durham, NC. 27713 in Chatham County. Public records, however, show that Clay Aiken voted in Wake County.

Could the real dumba*s in this saga be Clay Aiken who just outed himself for voter fraud?

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Clay Aiken blogs 11.12.2009

Table scraps
11/12/09 19 Comments

So, it has been brought to my attention that I haven't blogged recently. True! I have been really bad. So sorry. I think sometimes I don't have anything to say, and then by the time I do have something to say there's just so much that I can't figure out what exactly to talk about. So here are the table scraps that have been piling up in my brain for the last several weeks

Thanks SOOOOOO much to all of you who were able to attend the NIP Champions Gala. It was great fun and a real success. I think we raised the bard this year and i look forward to making it a huge hit in years to come.

What happened to Wake County Schools?!?1 Now that i have a kid i am so much more invested and I am EXTREMELY disappointed that so many selfish idiots ran and won seats on the school board. i hope we can get rid of them as soon as possible before they ruin my school system. Idiots.

Been traveling a lot lately to work on the album. I am very excited about it. Recording orchestras in London. Working on song arrangements and such in New York. Will be headed back to london and then on to Germany in the coming weeks to do more orchestra stuff and to do vocals. I am quite happy with what we are doing this time, and extremely satisfied with the direction we are headed in on this album. It is going to be fun.

Looking at trying to do a PBS special for next year to go along with this album. I think it may work out. That will be fun, and it will target an audience that I really hope to target this time. We'll keep you up to date.

While in London last time I went, with Hannah, to see Sister Act: the Musical. I went because I thought it would be a disaster and I wanted to see how bad it would be. I was SOOO WRONG. It was incredible. REALLY great. The sets were some of the most amazing I have EVER seen on a stage and the music was SPECTACULAR. Alan Menken, who wrote Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast and MUCH more, wrote the music for this... it was SOOO good. Makes me REALLY want to do hunchback of Notre Dame (which he also wrote) on Broadway. Anyone know anyone at Disney Theatricals? Wanna pull some strings?

-I also saw Precious (the movie)... UNBELIEVABLE. It was so real and so gritty and so horrifying. Yet, at the same time, there were amazing glimpses of light in it. Several times the entire audience laughed out loud. It was really great. When it opens in your city, you must go! Mo'Nique MUST win the Oscar for supporting actress. You will NOT have a dry eye when you see this film.

Yippee! The News & Observer is now on my Kindle!
One of my contacts fell out today and it took forever to put it back in. Then, once I got it in, it hurt. So, I tried to take it back out and it didn't want to come out. What is that all about? Why do they fall out when you want them in, and stay stuck in when you want them out? ? ? So now my eye is all red, and I'm on to glasses again for a while.

Did you see Larry King last night? Carrie Prejean is a complete dumbass!
That's all my brain can regurgitate for now. Miss y'all. See ya soon!

c

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David Foster throw's Clay Aiken a crumb

Clay Aiken sang “Unchained Melody” as a surprise guest at David Foster’s Hitman concert in San Jose California last night (11/06). Foster’s sister, Jaymes is the mother of Clay’s son, Parker Foster Aiken, born in August 2008.

It was nice of Clay to drop by Uncle David’s show!

Also featured in the hitman lineup are Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard and Season 7 Idol, Michael Johns.

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Clay Aiken is spotted looking for sunglasses

What happens when Clay Aiken visits San Francisco? He goes to SF Optics to get some stunner shades so he can disguise himself! This American Idol legend stopped in today and we styled him into a Mykita Bruce in black with grey gradient lenses, and into a Robert Marc 736 color 251.

Clay Aiken at SF Optics Wearing his new Mykita Bruce

Do you want a look that can be idolized? Give us a call to order one of these frames:

Mykita model Bruce

Robert Marc model 736

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Clay Aiken's 'Invisible' voted one of worst songs of 2003

Vote for the Worst Presents: The Worst Songs of 2003

Posted by thefunnystone on November 4th, 2009 at 9:34 PM

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• Other Show Updates
• Worst Songs of 2003
• Worst Songs of the Year

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Each week, we'll be featuring the worst songs from each year this decade. We'll be counting down the absolute worst songs to come out each year from 2000 to 2009, and we'll be bringing back all of the songs you wish you'd forgotten. These are the songs that people just can't seem to believe exist, because they're just so terrible. There is a good mixture of guilty pleasures (the awfully funny) and complete crapfests (the awful with no merit). At the end of the 10 weeks, you'll have an opportunity to vote on the worst song of the decade.

2003 was a year for songs that were so bad, they're good. So many guilty pleasures came out of this year, as people apparently were trying to be terrible to sell records. It worked! Here's a recap of the songs that made 2003 a terrible year for music.

10. Amanda Perez - Angel
Some people get record deals because they sing well. Some get record deals because they're attractive. Some get record deals based on buzz. Then there's Amanda Perez, who has none of the above. How she became famous, and how this horribly written and horribly sung song became such a hit on the radio is a mystery. Showing how one note she is, Amanda released a second single called "I Pray" which sounds almost identical to "Angel". Thankfully, Amanda never repeated the success of her first song.

9. Kelis - Milkshake
Kelis's tuneless song about booties quickly turned into a pop culture phenomenon and a pop culture joke. But what a joke it was. The song took on a life of its own and became a guilty pleasure for many and the bane of other people's radios. The chorus stuck in your heads for days, for better or worse. Kelis hasn't followed up this song with anything nearly as successful, and is now just known for her divorce from ex-husband Nas.

8. Nelly - Air Force Ones
Nelly enlisted all of his rapper friends on his record label to come together and release a song... about how much they love the new Nike Air Force Ones shoes. The song is a 4 minute advertisement that makes sure to tell you, if you scuff up your Air Force Ones, "you fuck up your whole night." Brilliant marketing. So you might as well buy 10-20 pairs just in case. My favorite part of the song is the deadpan woman with no inflection to her voice saying, "Kyjuan, where you getting them colors, are you dying them?" Even she can't get excited about this terrible song.

7. Fannypack - Cameltoe
The growing epidemic of frontal wedgies on women, also known as cameltoe, needed an anthem to really shed light on the issue. The only lips these girl want to see are the ones that sing, and they aren't afraid to say it. Because if your pants are looking for a snack, you need to check yourself. The song may be deliberately silly, but there's no denying that it's terrible. Terribly genius.

6. The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love
People either love or hate this song, but there's no in between. Bringing back the glam rock sound and singing the entire song in falsetto created an irresistible guilty pleasure. The video only made the song seem even sillier, with the lead singer humping something furry, singing into a salami, and fighting space creatures. You can't help but think of VFTW while watching.

5. Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love
When a song starts out with the lyrics "What's wrong with the world, mama? People livin' like they ain't got no mamas", you know it's just going to be bad. The Black Eyed Peas probably meant well writing a song about loving one another and ending world problems, but the lyrics are so poorly written that the song sounds asinine. Also, the chorus isn't sung by a woman with a bad voice... that's actually Justin Timberlake. The Black Eyes Peas also proved their commitment to world peace with their later works "My Humps", "Don't Phunk With My Heart", and "Boom Boom Pow".

4. Kelly Osbourne - Shut Up
It was truly a travesty that Kelly Osbourne got a record deal. The culmination was her single "Shut Up". Kelly just can't sing, so anything she did would be terrible, but coming off as a bratty girl who wants everyone to shut up makes it doubly annoying. Watching her band attempt to rock out as if they actually like the song and aren't just doing this because they're broke is immensely satisfying.

3. Clay Aiken - Invisible
American Idol started to terrorize our television sets in 2002. It only took until 2003 for someone to release a hideous song, and that honor goes to Clay Aiken. "Invisible" is a stalker anthem about wanting to watch someone in their room as if you're not there. The crowd in the video doesn't seem to mind that Clay's a pervert, maybe they want him to be a "fly on their wall." Beyond the awful lyrics, the singing and tune is just so uncool and miscalculated, that it's no wonder this song dictated Clay's (lack of) future career: invisible.

2. Cheeky Girls - The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)
Speaking of songs that came from terrible reality shows, the Cheeky Girls were bad auditioners for the UK show Popstars. Yes, the song is clearly tongue in cheek (pun intended), but that doesn't mean the song isn't hilariously awful. The Cheeky Girls put together one heck of a cheeseball anthem about themselves, and no real explanation is needed.

1. Lumidee - Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)
One of the more irritatingly overused beats in 2003 was the Diwali Riddim. It was used in Sean Paul's "Get Busy", Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go", but the worst version was Lumidee's "Never Leave You". Apparently trying to capitalize on the rise of Hispanic artists, Universal signed Lumidee. The only problem? Lumidee can't sing. The vocals are so painfully off key while she's singing that no instruments are used besides drums, because Lumidee would probably be incapable of staying on key. Yet this song was unavoidable on the radio and then yielded a remix with Busta Rhymes and Fabolous (above). It's truly one of the most off key vocals ever recorded, and the worst song of 2003.

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I would like to thank my friend, musicfan123, for this blog:

12

Clay Aiken – Raleigh Is My Home

By musicfan123

The National Inclusion Project will be held this coming Saturday, October 17^th, 2009. For that reason, there will many fans traveling to Raleigh from all over the United States to support Clay Aiken and his Project.

If you are one of the lucky one to attend the Gala, perhaps you will have some extra time to be a tourist and see the sites of the community.

Listed below are a few of the recommended sites that you might want to visit. I live in California and, although this will be my 3^rd trip to Raleigh, I am certainly no expert on the area. The following suggestions were found at tripadvisor and Yahoo Travel.

NC State Fair
From October 15^th to the 25^th, Raleigh will be home to one of North Carolina’s most entertaining and memorable events, the 2009 N.C. State Fair. With rides, competitions, exhibits and entertainment galore, the N.C. State Fair is always a great time, attracting visitors from all 100 counties!

The State Fair’s motto, “A Whole Lotta Happy”, pretty much sums up how everyone will feel once they’ve experienced this fun-filled event. As always, there will be a wide array of exciting rides that everyone can enjoy. In between rides, take a break to enjoy one of the many concerts that will take place at Dorton Arena. This year’s entertainment line-up includes Jason Michael Carroll, Kellie Pickler, The Temptations and Eric Church, just to name a few. You can also stop by one of the many exhibits that will be going on, such as Green NC or Field of Dreams.

Historic Oakwood
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Oakwood is an enchanting neighborhood of restored and carefully maintained Victorian and Antebellum homes. It offers an ideal view for a stroll. Lovely anytime of the year, Oakwood is truly at its finest at the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour and again in the spring, when the gardens put on their best show. Bordered by Franklin, Watauga, Linden, Jones and Person Streets. It is close to the Executive Mansion. Sidewalks and trees line the quiet streets, making it an ideal place for a walking tour during an afternoon visit.

Address: Franklin Street Raleigh, NC 27601
Tel: 919 733 3456

The Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion, often referred to as the Governors Mansion, is a monumental building located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is currently home to North Carolina's governor, Bev Perdue. The mansion on Fayetville Street in downtown Raleigh has not always been the residency for North Carolina state governors; in fact, it is the fourth official house that has been selected.

Since its initial construction in 1882, few major changes have been made to the building's structure. Porches on the north and east sides have been enclosed to expand kitchen and security facilities. The 14 foot high ceiling fits a huge Christmas tree in which the governor traditionally turns on the lights after Thanksgiving. As you walk in you see a huge red carpet given to the house and state for its 100th anniversary.

Overall, the house is very historical and interesting. If you ever have a chance to visit the North Carolina Governor's Mansion then you should go.

Address: 200 N Blount St Raleigh, NC 27601
Tel: 919 807 7950

Mordecai Historical Park
This park is located on a former plantation that was owned by Joel Lane who donated his land to the city of Raleigh. The house on this property was built in 1785 which makes this the oldest house in Raleigh on its original foundation. The land around the house was originally a plantation that was 5000 acres. Most of the buildings on this property were unfortunately built sing slave labor. Also on this property is the building that Andrew Johnson was said to be born in. The park is open 24 hours a day. Guided tours are available on Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 1pm to 4pm

Address:
One Mimosa St. Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: (919) 857-4364

The State Capitol
The State Capitol looks much the same today as it did back in 1840. Originally built between 1792 and 1796, it burned in 1831 and the government set out to build a new, more majestic, Capitol. Today it stands proud on Union Square, one of the best-preserved examples of Greek-Revival style architecture in America. The centerpiece of the impressive rotunda is a statue of George Washington dressed in a Roman tunic. The building's history is a colorful one, with stories of ghosts roaming and secret spy rooms. Free guided tours.

1 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1011
Open Hours8am-5pm Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm Sat; 1pm-4pm Sun

City Market
City Market, built in the early 1900s, still holds a lot of old world charm. Converted in 1988 to house shops, art galleries and restaurants, the original cobblestone streets, accented with period lampposts, are dotted with park benches. There is a festival atmosphere on the weekends, when the trees are lit in the evenings and live music plays on the streets. Couples holding hands stroll by while children dance and older folks sit tapping their toes. A trolley runs Thursday through Saturday nights, offering free transportation to other downtown locales.

303 Blake Street
Raleigh, NC 27601-1801

Other Place to Visit:

Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones St. Raleigh, NC 27601

JC Raulston Arboretum
Department of Horticultural Science
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
(919) 515-3132

Duke University
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 684-8111

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From Clay Aiken to U2, Raleigh BBQ joint the best

RALEIGH Debbie Holt was ready to close Cooper's BBQ for the day when she got a call. From U2.

Well, from U2's private jet services coordinator, a man she knows only as Maurice.

Holt, who co-owns the landmark Raleigh barbecue joint with her husband, Randy, was shocked early Saturday evening when she got a call from Maurice, requesting enough food for 25 people: barbecue, pork rinds, five fried chickens, ribs, cole slaw, hush puppies.

The band was 30 minutes away from landing at RDU and then dashing to its performance at Carter-Finley Stadium, but could she please have the food ready for them at 10:50 p.m. sharp, just before the band's scheduled departure?

Why, yes, Holt said calmly.

The band had heard all about Cooper's, Maurice said, and they were hoping to get some of what they'd heard was the nation's best barbecue before they left town. Would she take a credit card?

Nope. Cooper's doesn't take credit cards, Holt said. The cost of the order would be $276.77, including a $50 delivery fee.

Maurice said he'd check to see if there was enough cash on the plane and call her back. A few minutes later, he called back, still airborne, and said the food mission was a go. He hung up, and Holt screamed.

"I had to be a grown-up on the phone, but I haven't been grown up since," she said.

Holt and her husband scrambled to cook everything fresh and fried to perfection. Randy Holt and cook Chess Smith heated the chopped, Eastern-style barbecue and made sure the hush puppies were properly greased.

"We close at 6 every day," said Holt, who once managed the restaurant for an owner who bought it from the founder of the place, the late Clyde Cooper. "But when U2 calls you, you do what you have to do, honey."

They threw in fresh banana pudding for good measure.

Debbie Holt and her 14-year-old daughter, Ashley, took their van to the private lot at RDU where U2's jet was waiting.

"I screamed like a little girl," she said.

The pair was escorted by eight security guards into the back of the jet, near ovens and kitchen space. They worked in the tight confines of the jet while the band was roaring through the final moments of their stadium show.

Debbie Holt was still holding on to a pan when guitarist Dave "The Edge" Evans appeared, fresh from the show, standing six inches in front of her. He was the only band member they met.

"He said, 'Hi, how are you? Did you bring me food?' I lost it when I saw him," she said. "If I would've known he would move that close, I would've kissed him."

The Edge and staff members tore into the pork skins and loved the banana pudding, said Holt, who has co-owned the restaurant with her husband since the summer of 2008.

This isn't the only time Cooper's, which opened on New Year's Day in 1938, has seen celebrity attention. The Rolling Stones, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and the Allman Brothers have visited the restaurant, Debbie Holt said. Just last week, Clay Aiken dropped by for a bite, she said.

Holt and her daughter left the jet after about 20 minutes. Maurice handed them $300. Not much of a tip.

"But U2 is something else, honey," Debbie Holt said. "I don't care, and I've been a crazy woman ever since. I'd much rather serve them than go to the concert."

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Clay Aiken's National Inclusion Project

OCT

01

Clay Aiken – National Inclusion Project & Cookies

By suereu

Clay Aiken and Christie Cookies – what could be better? How about raising funds for a very worthwhile foundation, the National Inclusion Project. Here are a few reasons why.

The mission of the National Inclusion Project is:

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them. We support communities and programs in creating awareness and opportunities for full inclusion where barriers break and doors open. It is our goal to create an environment for children where inclusion is embraced.

How does the National Inclusion Project work toward full inclusion? The following is just a sampling:

Let’s All Play:

This program provides recreational sites with an inclusive model and the needed training to include children of all abilities.

K-12 Inclusive Learning:

A detailed inclusive class curriculum for elementary, middle and high school levels. The curriculum culminates in an inclusive learning project that benefits the community.

Our Friend Mikayla, in its second printing, was written and illustrated by third-grade students. The book chronicles their reaction to a

classmate with a disability, their barriers to acceptance, and the friendship

they formed with Mikayla.

The above are only a sample of what the National Inclusion Project has to offer. For more information, please visit their website at National Inclusion Project.org

Here is some additional food for thought: The odds of being diagnosed with autism is One in 150. The most common form of Muscular Dystrophy affects about 1 in every 3,500 (boys). The Incidence of Downs Syndrome is about 1 per 800 to 1,000 births.

These are real children and real families having to deal with a world where inclusion is not the norm. The National Inclusion Project is working toward making the dream of inclusion a reality. All children deserve the chance to play, the chance for an education and the chance for acceptance.

Here is a chance to help – please vote for National Inclusion Project at the Christie Cookie Charity Competition. One vote per valid email address. Your vote helps thousands of children – children with physical disabilities, children with mental disabilities and also typically functioning children. With education and exposure, fear and intolerance disappear.

Visit: JohnPaulus.com and EntertainmentChatter.com

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Clay Aiken poses with Decca Record's executive

Tonight, I find myself acquiescing to the prodding, pleadings, and quite frankly, the whining of the Claymates. And because of that, I am posting the Twitter picture of Clay Aiken.

Visit JohnPaulus.com for more.

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Clay Aiken signs record deal with Decca Records.

Join the discussion at:

www.JohnPaulus.com

More excitement! More talk! More ME!

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40th Month Anniversary

Today marks the 40th anniversary of ClayAiken411. Join me now at my own blog at:

www.JohnPaulus.com

More excitement! More talk! More ME!

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Please visit www.JohnPaulus.com

It's official JohnPaulus.com is now ready. And you know what that means- ClayAiken411, while it won't be deleted, it will not be updated on a regular basis unless there is significant Clay Aiken news.

August 3rd 2009 will mark 40 months that I have operated ClayAiken411. During this time, I have forged many long and close relationship with many of you. I have truly enjoyed the sharing of conversations, the rantings, and the back-and-forth that we have engaged in. I hope to continue that with you at JohnPaulus.com.

When we sit back and think about our history together, it's truly pretty amazing. We've been together when the Clay Aiken webcams were published; the fake Clay scandal; footgate; handgate; the Diane Sawyer and Larry King interviews; the Clay Aiken "cellcerts"; Manhunt rumors; the Cary concert; the debut of 'A Thousand Different Ways' and 'On My Way Here'; Clay's entrance into Broadway; the baby rumors and eventual birth; Clay's coming out; the boyfriend rumors... the list goes on.

As Clay Aiken's career comes to an end, thus comes the deficit of news. And that is the reason I have decided to launch JohnPaulus.com - a site where we can continue our relationship while not being tied to the specific subject of Clay Aiken. So please, join me at JohnPaulus.com where together we can interact with new people and opin on a variety of thoughts and subject. Meet you there!

Best,

John Paulus

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