Top 20 'Idol' Contestants of All Time - 7: Clay Aiken
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- January
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The most successful “American Idol” runner-up of all time, Season 2’s Clay Aiken, eclipses all but two of its contestants (Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood) in total album sales.
And while Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson dug the gawky kid’s initial audition, the judges viewers didn’t have the foresight to automatically include him in that season’s Top 12. It took the subsequent and now-defunct “viewers’ choice” vote in the semifinal round to propel him to that point.
Aiken’s subsequent make-over might have been the series’ most dramatic in history. Physicality aside, his voice impressed so many fans that he spawned the series’ first militant contestant fan-base, the Claymates. And for as much unintentional comedy as there was when singer Neil Sedaka described him Kimberley Locke as “ear-delicious,” it was downright touching to see the pro tear up when Aiken soared on Sedaka’s “Solitaire.”
“I have lost my song forever to you,” Sedaka said. “It will always be a Clay Aiken song.” I can count the number of times I remember anything like that happening on the show: One.
And let’s just face it: No offense to Ruben Studdard, but Aiken was robbed in the Season 2 finale.
Off the stage, the man who had worked with a 13-year-old autistic boy before getting his big break on “Idol” recently founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to raise awareness and improve services for people living with special needs.
Aiken’s ambiguous sexuality has made him a favorite target of tabloids, probing reporters and comedian Kathy Griffin, but Aiken continues to thrive despite the adversity. The proof is in the numbers: Aiken has gone on to sell starts his run on Broadway as brave, brave Sir Robin in “Spamalot” this Friday.
Not bad for a guy the “Idol” viewers nearly dismissed before he had a chance to shine.
Also see:
– Top 20 ‘Idol’ Contestants of All Time – Epilogue-No. 1: Kelly Clarkson
-No. 2: Carrie Underwood
-No. 3: Chris Daughtry
-No. 4: Jennifer Hudson
-No. 5: Sanjaya Malakar
-No. 6: William Hung
-No. 8: Fantasia Barrino
-No. 9: Blake Lewis
-No. 10: Tamyra Gray
-No. 11: Jordin Sparks
-No. 12: Melinda Doolittle
-No. 13: Bo Bice
-No. 14: Elliott Yamin
-No. 15: Ruben Studdard
-No. 16: Katharine McPhee
-No. 17: Taylor Hicks
-No. 18: Diana DeGarmo
-No. 19: Frenchie Davis
-No. 20: Lisa Leuschner
-Top 20 intro and criteria/Honorable Mentions (Nos. 21-31)
(Photo courtesy of FOX.)
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on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am by Chris Serico.
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Just a few corrections.He is also the most successful non-winner and the most successful male.
"Off the stage, the man was a Special Education teacher and had also worked with a 13-year-old autistic boy before getting his big break on “Idol�. He founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation in 2003 to raise awareness and improve services for children with special needs.
The proof is in the numbers: Aiken has gone on to sell no fewer than 7 million records, according to Forbes magazine in 2006. To top it all off, he starts his run on Broadway as brave, brave Sir Robin in “Spamalot� this Friday."
The reason Jericho is leading in your poll on the right of this page is because it is Clay's favorite show. Clay asked us in a blog to save his favorite show "Jericho" from cancellation. We joined in a letter writing campaign to CBS to save the show. Not only Claymates are responsible for renewing "Jericho" but a huge part of Clay Aikens devotees are. What does that say about the kind of man we believe Clay to be? What would you do to have a fanbase as dedicated as Clay Aiken's? And I won't even go into his humanitarian efforts with the Bubel/Aiken Foundation or his Ambassadorship for UNICEF. We came for the Voice. We stayed for the man!
Worst picture and 5 years old. Please put up a recent hot photo. Please!!!!!!!!!!
Aiken’s subsequent make-over might have been the series’ most dramatic in history.
You're right..so far as make-overs go….but THE most dramatic moment on American Idol was when Clay appeared on AI5 looking as hot as a firecracker and,shocking not only Michael Sandecki, his pseudo-look-alike, every journalist in the nation who had previously put him down but, also, the rest of the idol viewers…all over the world. Even Elvis didn't match that moment at any point in his entire career.
Clay will always be Number 1 as far as I'm concerned. He has more talent in his little finger than all the other idols put together. For the record, AI also passed up on another outstanding talent..Quiana Parler…who's now starring in Dreamgirls in Raleigh..and who has toured with Clay for the past four years…summer and winter. Clay also has enough class to allow his backup performers to shine brightly during his own headlining tours. What a man!
Nice article, for the most part, but his sexuality isn't "ambiguous." He says he is straight, so he is. What more do people want? He doesn't need to "prove" anything.
The man gives and gives to UNICEF, to the Bubel Aiken Foundation, to the YMCA, and to schools. His Christmas concerts are a prayer in song. He concerts are fun and he connects with the audience. He is going to see how he does in "Spamalot" and I will bet it will be just as great as everything else he does.
When someone is the "real deal" and a genuinely wonderful person, we should appreciate just how rare that is, support his causes if we agree with them, and stop bringing up old lies or insinuations. There is so much MORE to Clay Aiken than the lame remarks that continue to pop up.
Reporters need to just look at what he is really doing not try to figure out what he isn't doing.
Clay Aiken won AI Season 2-
we all know it! Phone companies involved admitted that they were not ready to handle the flood of calls for Clayso in effect, the magnitude of his votes didn't register and Roooo-ben "won" by defaultwhat a debacle! As to Clay's "ambiguous sexuality" you mention, boy are you wrong. This man loves the ladies-he's all man, albeit a metrosexual southern gentleman. Just because he doesn't go around screwing every Brittany or Jessica (or groupie that follows him), it doesn't make him any less a man. He was brought up by women and he has a great respect for women. I love this man! Lucky the lady who finally nails this beautiful man. He'll be a great husband and father.I LOVE him. I don't care who he happens to love. Clay's the best entertainer to come along in a very long time. He's been on several very successful tours in the past 4 years and keeps busy with his philanthropic endeavours including heading his foundation and as a UNICEF ambassador. He'll always busy because he is open to new experiences and challenges such as trying Broadway soon. He is also one of the wittiest and naturally funny celebrities anyone can find.
Good artice, but Clay has sold close to 7 Million CD's when you include his Christmas CD and Singles. And, his greatest CD is yet to come this year, with all new original songs. Hopefully, the song he wrote last year and the one he co-wrote won't be the last that he writes, but if they are, his singing is enough for me. It doesn't get any better than that.
He is clearly the most versatile of all the winners on AI.
This is what I have found in his sales:
ATDW 522,000 Gold
MCWL 1,400,000 2/Platinum
AIW 53,000
The Way/Solitaire 500,000 Gold
This is the Night 1,000,000 Platinum
MOAM – 2,800,000 3/Platinum
DOWNLOADS – 446,000
TOTAL 6,721,000
How does one vote in the poll for most significant contestant? And does that mean the one who is the best role model and all around entertainer???? If so, I suggest that Clay is winner, hands down!
Clay is one of the most exciting performers to come along in a long time. Not only a golden voice but an all around entertainer proven by his Christmas 2006 concerts. The best ever. Please use a picture of Clay from Christmas 2006, you won't recognize him – hotter than ever!!!!
Clay Aiken. This guy impresses me. With all the adversity he faces you rarely see the guy without a smile on his face. He is a gentle man, true to himself, respectable, giving, hard working and certainly talented. President Bush appointed him to an advisory committee on education, former President Carter praises him for the work he quietly does away from the cameras and entertainment media. I recall his wanting to "give back" comments during his early days with American Idol along with the "sounds like Miss America" humor followed by "but that's who I am". It is who is he. A very talented, giving, honorable man. Who cares if he sometimes act a bit cocky, shows his feminine side occasionally and every now and again gets a bit testy. The good far, far outweighs any negative smears slung his way. Keep on keeping on Mr. Aiken. You make us all proud by just being you, the Idol.
I just wanted to say that I'm not a Clay Aiken fan and I voted for Jericho because it's the best show on TV. American Idol just bores me to tears.
Can you talk about things more current with Clay Aiken? And, since your photo collection is so far behind the present, you need to ask a Claymate for some help.
He is definitely the best of the best!
CLAY AIKEN is a unique talent that comes along once in a lifetime !
He is a born entertainer showcasing his pipes of perfection and hilarious wit , always leaving his audiance wanting more !!!! To top it all off he is a humanitarian with a selfless heart that just keeps on giving !
Great write-up! Clay has to be one of the shows top finds; THE top for my taste. It's astounding to think that the Voter's Choice category that got him into the Top 12 on that show has been eliminated…might be part of the reason the show has pretty much jumped the shark (IMO).
That Neil Sedaka moment really was one-of-a-kind. His comment that he'd "kill" to write and produce Clay's first CD was, too. I think the "ear-delicious" comment was actually to Kimberly Locke, though. I think he compared the quality of Clay's singing to Andre Agassi's tennis, though i don't remember the exact quote.
Actually, Neil Sedaka's comment to Clay was "you sing like Andre Agassi plays tennis"....and he was so right. Clay puts out a monster show which he's done in 8 tours in 5 years ~ I believe he's made $40 million in tours alone ~ far more than any other idol. His involvement with UNICEF has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars from his fans (more than $110,000 in a few weeks before Christmas for the Mexico flood victims)and more thousands to his Bubel/Aiken Foundation. He's the REAL DEAL!
You definitely need to put up a more recent pic! That one is five years old and does not depict the amazing man Clay has become!
Here is a recent pic from last week at his Golfing For Inclusion charity event for his foundation.
One of these links should work!
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f14/psbintl/?action=view¤t=Clay-Golf-2.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f14/psbintl/Clay-Golf-2.jpg
Frankly I think Clay should have ranked #1 or 2. Maybe since it has been 5 years, people forget the buzz that Season 2 had, or the firestorm that occurred when Clay lost. When his single came out, I had to visit 6 stores to find one that hadn't sold out. The AI Tour was basically the Clay Aiken ad Friends Tour. Women and girls were in tears meeting him. Whenever he appeared on stage the audience went wild.
He has went on to selling nearly 6 Million CD, has Headlined 8 National Tours, appeared many times on TV. The smallest thing he says gets major headlines.
Heck, even an unannounced appearance during an AI Finale, eclipses eveyone on the show.
I'm not downplaying the success that Kelly, Carrie, or Chis have had since the show ended. If you are talking about the sheer Star Power during the show, you can't beat Clay Aiken.
The fact that Clay has succeeded so well since the show, is directly related to his talents and the love his fans have for him. If you remember back to 2003, it was all about the winner and a lot of roadblocks were put in his way so that he wouldn't eclipse the winner. It didn't work.
I'm trying to figure out who are considered #'s 1-6. I imagine Carrie and Kelly and 1 and 2 because they have sold the most albums, but Clay should definitely be #3 at the very least. Where is this list of these supposedly superior singers to Clay? I'm not buying it, but I'd like to see the list for a giggle.
Clay is the best idol that came out of AI. Not only does he has the best voice , but the biggest Heart.
he is brillinatly witty, very entertaining, funny and wow that voice is amazing
How did you come up with Clay being number 7. In my world he is number one. And he did not even win.
He has the biggest followers since the beatles and he has made the biggest difference in the lives of many children and adult. For me that makes him a winnner
2002-2003 changed my life!!! what or who brought about that change??? a tall man with a voice that melts your heart and lifts your spirits!!!The man I'm referring to is none other than Clay Aiken.. A voice as pure as heaven that reaches deep and brings joy and inner fulfillment!!! The man is so multi talented that charisma flows through his body and consumes anyone who succumbs to it's magnetic pull and his powerful presence. Clay not only has raised the bar where true talent is concerned.but he has a heart to match..Clay is #1 hardworking..dedicated..compassionate whitty and so charming..
Get a new picture and look up some more FACTS about him first before you write. His sexuality shouldn't even be a question. Who cares anyways? He is totally a ladies man if you knew anything about him at all. A classy guy with a wonderful heart and soul and definitely beats William Hung and everyone else by a mile!
Now that I've seen who is #1-6, I just have to laugh. In what universe is William Hung OR Sanjaya even belong in the Top 10. William Hung was nothing but a circus act, and where is he now? Sanjaya was cute, but does not belong there either.
I just have to say that memories fade of the hysteria over Clay Aiken during and after Season 2.
Chris and Jennifer have done very well, but let's see what happens five years from now. At least for now, Clay is more successful than Chris. If you want to go strictly by who is the most successful, it would be #1-Carrie, #2-Kelly, #3-Clay #4-Chris, and #5 is Jennifer.
Get a new pic for goodness sake!
Please do your homework before writing an article about Clay Aiken! He has earned it!
Success should be measured by a lot more than who sells the most CDs or has radio play. I can see claims for Carrie being extremely successful with her sales of her CD, her tons of awards and great success touring, even though she tours with a huge group of country acts which help. Also Kelly has obviously done well with Cds sales, awards, radio and some headlining tours. Then you have Daughtry—sorry he is down the list. While his radio and CD sales are going good, and he is touring fairly well, I also remember his touring to small bar type venues of a couple of hundred. The others NEVER played such small venues. He is also not well known beyond that world of rock music listeners.
Then you list some that are laughable including William Hung and Sanjaya—who are definitely the best "jokes" to come from the show and gain some semblance of fame.
Clay falls into a totally different category. He has great CD sales of around 6-7 million, he has headlined 8 tours bringing in well in excess of $30 million. He has written a NY Times best selling book. His TV appearances are top ratings getters every time he appears on Kimmel, Leno, The View, etc. He has been requested to appear in several TV type acknowledgement shows with huge stars (and NO nobodies) such as the AFI series of shows. He is a favorite talk show guest. He has guest appeared on a couple of TV shows. And he is getting ready for Broadway this week, in one of the biggest hits and specifically requested (several times) by one of the best producers on Broadway, TV, and movies.
Then there is the whole "intelligent and humantarian" side that NONE of the other idols has even come close to. Being a Unicef Ambassador, a McDonald's Ambassador, a spokesperson for Salvation Army Toys for Tots, a spokesperson for NEA, a spokesperson for Arthur Educational ventures, a spokesperson for Caregivers, and an appointee to a Presidential Commission. That's all in addition to starting his own charitable foundation that has received great acclaim from some major corporations and the federal government. Gee, sorry that success doesn't seem to overshadow ONLY SINGING and selling CDs.
You can be sure that the Claymates who report Clay to be straight do. not. know. him. They really should stick to promoting him as a singer and not a "ladies man". Besides….don't you have to date a woman now and then to be called a "ladies man"?? He isn't misleading anyone, but they are. I hope he puts out a GREEEEEAT CD next go round. He IS one of the best American Idols of all time – VERY entertaining.
SKJ,
Why do you even care if he is straight or gay, or what fans think?
It is about his wonderful voice and his humanitarian efforts, is it not?
I'm a Claymate and I don't care whether or not Clay is straight…I'm not going to get to marry him, am I?
I think he has done everything in his power not to say he is straight… What does it matter? The guy is insanely talented and entertaining. I can't wait to see him in Spamalot.
I'm a Claymate and I don't care whether or not Clay is straight…I'm not going to get to marry him, am I?
I think he has done everything in his power not to say he is straight… What does it matter? The guy is insanely talented and entertaining. I can't wait to see him in Spamalot.
He does love the ladies in his own special flirty way. I just can't get enough.
QUOTE
"One thing I've found of people in the public eye," Aiken says, "either you're a womanizer or you've got to be gay. Since I'm neither one of those, people are completely concerned about me. They're like, 'What are you then?' I'm sure it has to do with being raised by women. I wouldn't want somebody gawking at my mom and grabbing her butt and catcalling at her, trying to hook up with her at a bar. I'm not saying I'm not going to look. Hello! But you know what I mean?"
The judges were well aware he had won the viewer's choice before they made their pick; they had four more people to get from the wild card show and couldn't have made their personal choice the viewer's choice because it would not have then added up to four. Clay easily was the judges and the public's unanimous choice from that wildcard round.
Why is Clay Aiken so far down on your list? None of the others on this list have done even half of the things that Clay has done. Even without promotion or the winning "title", Clay far outshines any artist out there (through AI or otherwise):
He started his own foundation to help children with disabilities even before the season was over, has helped several other foundations earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, has traveled to several countries and natural disaster sites to help victims hands on and promote relief efforts, has been appointed to a position by the President of the United States, has saved a cancelled tv show, has written a best selling book, has participated in at least 8 tours in just a few years term, has made multiple tv and radio interviews & appearances, has the largest and most supportive fanbase of all idols put together, had the highest opening record sales of any idol, and is now headlining an award winning Broadway Show.
Not to mention, Clay has always remained true to himself and his fans. He is humble, witty, gracious, and extremely talented in all areas. He is a true example of all that is good in the world, despite all the rumors and bad publicity.
Clay has said on several occasions that he is not gay, I would get fed up with the constant insisting of reporters and haters too, anyone would. And, even if he was, it wouldn't change all the positive things he has done in his life to help others. He is a sweetie with a gorgeous voice, big heart, and great sense of humor. Focus on that.
What else does Clay have to do? Nothing, in my book, he will always be #1 in any category. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now when AI is just a fading memory, and Clay is still doing charity work and amazing his fans in every way, still as popular as ever, maybe with a few movies under his belt, and finally settling down, taking over Oprah's position as favorite talk show host, the media will give him the credit he has been due all along. I for one will definitely be along for the ride.
This has to be a joke. 'The top 20 idol contestants of all time', the poll must have been hidden. There's no way that Clay Aiken would come in below William Hung and Sanjaya if the poll was legit.