Breaking or Fitting the Mold
Before the hit television show American Idol ended its second season, one of its contestants had already cut a record deal with RCA Records and the notorious Clive Davis. Clay Aiken put out his first CD on October 16, which shot to number 1 on the Billboard charts and has lasted at the top spot longer than previous winner, Kelly Clarkson. To date, he leads the album lists with the likes of 50 Cent, Marilyn Manson, John Mayer and Luther Vandross. He also released his first music video on MTV's Total Request Live, Thursday, October 30.
Aiken, 24, was the runner-up Fox's aforementioned show, and seems to have the right formula for the makings of a true American idol, or does he? Is he just like every other pop star? Not really. How many pop stars do you know start out as special education teachers, have their own charitable foundation for children with developmental disabilities and truly believe in its cause (and not just to sponsor a charity for the reason that it looks good on paper, it's good PR and what else are millionaires going to spend all their money on?), and can actually sing? Another point is that you don't have to look too hard to see that he doesn't prance around wearing leather chaps and hooker boots, and you don't have to listen too long to his new CD Measure of a Man to find out that he isn't singing about "pimpin' out" and "getting it on." His songs that were written by a team of writers and producers, including Desmond Child, Chris Braide, Clif Magness, Steve Morales Jimmy Harry and Shep Solomon, were aimed at a safe, neutral zone. No profanity, no crude innuendos, no sex,
Aiken's album has a lot of songs that sound very similar, including his recently released single "Invisible." If you listen to the words "I am nothing without you, just a shadow passing through," you can tell that this guy is being forced to sing these words, not because of his talent, because Aiken sure has talent, but rather the cheese-dripping, ewwy gooey, corniness of the songs. Don't believe that he has talent? Watch his live performance of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" from the final round of AI2. Now there is a challenging, song only worthy to those with superb talent.
The CD includes a pull out mini-poster for all you heart-Aiken Clay fans, and a song from his previously released single, This Is the Night. I can see it now, high school dances and proms half a year from now will play this original song, which was written by Aldo Nova, Gary Burr, and Braide.
Overall, Aiken's 12-song CD is a nice change of tune from the mainstream pop that some of us are getting sick of hearing. I suggest checking out track 7, "Shine." I feel that this song is one of the album's better, less weepy ones. Again, some of it is cheesy in titles and lyrics, but it is still a very good production.
By the way, if you're wondering, "What happened to the 'Velvet Teddy Bear'?" The winner of AI2 and good buddy of Aiken, Ruben Studdard releases his album Soulful December 9.
