Posted on 12/11/2004 7:23:11 AM PST by OESY
Clay Aiken glided into the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night to give voice to a Christmas wish that we can all relate to: a world without flash photography.
"Gimme a camera and I'll flash it at you," Mr. Aiken purred, smiling wide so no one could mistake his offer for a petulant threat. This was a night when theater ushers, too often hidden behind a drab facade of jacketed professionalism, got a chance to perform backup vocals for the guy onstage. As Mr. Aiken crooned "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," the ushers contributed a gruff basso ostinato. "No flashes, please," they barked. "No flashes."
Mr. Aiken, beloved by distinctly prepubescent and exceedingly postpubescent listeners across the country, earned his fame in 2003, when viewers declined to vote him America's Idol. (Like Senator John Kerry, the St. Louis Cardinals and, while we're at it, the Confederate Army, he finished a strong second - to the singer Ruben Studdard.) Since then, he has emerged as a brazenly anachronistic pop star, a titillation-averse singer with a warm vibrato and an affinity for big, mushy ballads.
Of course, he's not so old fashioned that he can't interrupt a Christmas concert to plug a television special. "Who watched 'Lost' on ABC last night?" he asked, and those who applauded got a snack-size helping of scorn: they should have been watching NBC's "Clay Aiken Christmas," instead. Soon, Mr. Aiken drifted back to a favorite topic. "I imagine the people who watched 'Lost' last night are the same people who can't find the off button to the flashes on their cameras," he said, but the flashers bravely pressed on.
"American Idol" fans usually love their notes long, loud and high; that's how you can tell a singer is really good. Yet the concert's brief first half didn't give fans much to cheer about: Mr. Aiken waltzed through a nimble "Sleigh Ride," and a woozy, post-eggnog-ish version of "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," one of the few Christmas songs that sound a bit sheepish about their own Christmasiness: "Although it's been said many times, many ways/ Merry Christmas to you."
Mr. Aiken had been onstage for about 40 minutes when it came time for a 25-minute intermission. When he returned, the show became a lot more energetic and more interesting. The preamble was over, and now it was time for everyone to discover the True Meaning of Christmas.
Don't worry: this second act wasn't some vague celebration of friends and family and fun. Since Thursday was the third night of Hanukkah, Mr. Aiken turned his second act into a celebration of Jews. Well, one Jew: Jesus. Whereas other seasonal gatherings evoked a secular or multifaith "holiday spirit," Mr. Aiken's concert was one party where the birthday boy got all the attention.
This spirit of evangelism made the music more exciting: the gospel-inflected second act used two youth choirs (one from a high school, one from an elementary school) more effectively, and there were more long, loud, high notes for the Idol-aters.
The songs grew more intriguing, too. Mr. Aiken sang "Mary, Did You Know" as if he were a kind but ruthless police investigator, asking for information he already had. "Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?/ When you kiss your little baby, you kissed the face of God." His voice was low and spooky, evoking not just a true believer's shivery faith but also a new mother's bewilderment.
By the time the show was over, Mr. Aiken had held forth on the importance of "keeping the Christmas spirit throughout the year" (does that mean we have to stick to the Christmas playlist, too?), sung a tender "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (de-emphasizing the unsettling last line: "If only in my dreams") and reappeared for a lovely encore, "Good News." As he sang the incantatory lyrics, a choir joined him, half-hidden by a gauze scrim and illuminated by bright, pulsating lights.
And so Mr. Aiken had his revenge at last: it was just like staring at a giant flash camera.
I particularly was offended by their underhanded mention of the "Confederate Army", an obvious slap at Clay, a North Carolina young man who is much classier than the columnist.
I find it amazing that anyone reads or cares about the New York Times.... It's so.... so, "un" (as in untruthful, uncool, underhanded).
"he finished a strong second - to the singer Ruben Studdard"
Ruben who? His Christmas special was a GIGANTIC flop..no mention of that.
And no one ever mentions the fact that Ruben's own mother bragged about voting hundreds of times, while the phone lines in North Carolina were shut off. Ruben finished second in a recount of all votes.
Thanks for the link. I wasn't going to buy the album because I can't stand secular Christmas music.
Thanks for the link to Mary Did You Know
That was beautiful
Apparently, the NY Times believes Christmas concerts should have nothing to do with the birth of Jesus Christ. Have a merry Hanuramakwanzmas!
WOW! I am buying that CD today. Sorry I missed the special.
I just read of Aiken apparently having a bad attitude towards fans at a high school appearance he made in not signing autographs and no photographs. Let's hope he isn't one of those.
Sounds like it was a great show, except for the parts Clay Aiken was in.
NYT - Just can't help themselves. Gotta be snide and demeaning. Sorry I missed Aikens TV special. Must've been good.
The purpose of this "review" was not to tell Slimes readers what the Clay Aiken show was like. The purpose was to revel in the Slimes' and the Slimes reader's shared contempt and open hatred of country music, Christmas and performers from "Jesusland." Just as importantly to them, this "review" gives the Slimes and its readers yet another chance to curl up their lips and sneer at the gap-toothed, Jesus humpin' rednecks who enjoy Christmas and Clay Aiken, and who put "Chimpy" back in office in November.
This kind of mocking bile serves NYT readers perfectly. The last thing these "sophisticates" would want would be a positive review of this show.
Are you talking about that Punch and Judy slap hitter, Clay "My Assets" Aiken? I hear he's a demon at shagging flies.
Writers who desperately try to engender political relevance from a Christmas concert have a profound sickness...
MaryFromMichigan,
I am proud to admit I am a Claymate. I attended his concert in CT last night. What a refreshing change from the current trash we are subjected to. I'd also note that this years disgusting Billboards presentation received very low ratings and it was opposite Clay's Christmas Special. Everytime I attend one of his concerts, buy a CD or his book, I consider it a vote against Rap Crap.
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