After slamming Idol runner-up Adam Lambert on his personal fan site, Clay Aiken is making amends! It’s a little bit apology, a little bit self-realization (“God knows, I am SURE there are PLENTY of people who can’t stand to hear me sing either”), and at least one reference to penis. Way to recognize an opportunity to keep yourself in the public eye, Clay!
From one homo to another:
I’ll be the first to admit that my opinion is just that, only my opinion, but for as much as some of the bloggers seem to dislike me and care so little about my thoughts, they sure can waste a lot of their space on what I say! If only many of them took the time to pay attention to important things like the US economy and the welfare of the world’s children. But… nah… I could blog about that type of stuff anytime and most wouldn’t think twice, but let me say something that they can pick and choose quotes and misinterpret me… and it’s showtime! I never assumed my opinion mattered so much! I guess I may have been wrong.
That said, since my previous blog got dissected like a biology lab frog, i suppose I should clarify and even retract some of what I wrote. I am sure that some were upset by my choice of words describing my opinion of a performance I heard from Adam Lambert. I hope no one actually believed that blood truly poured forth from my ears when I heard him. I obviously meant it as a colorful statement to imply that I did not enjoy what I heard. Any performer hopes that their music will appeal to all people, but no singer realistically expects it to. God knows, I am SURE there are PLENTY of people who can’t stand to hear me sing either. I wouldn’t dream of assuming that, and I am sure that far worse things have been said about my performances than I would even venture to type here. To me, that’s fine. I don’t expect unanimous, nor even majority support for my music. But, my guess is Adam doesn’t either. I would not venture to make judgements [sic] on the personality or demeanor of anyone I don’t know, so none of what I said in my previous blog was directed as a ‘slam’ on Adam as a person. At the same time, I wouldn’t dream of slamming him as an entertainer. He does what he does, because he enjoys it, and he obviously has many fans who enjoy it as well. If what I said in my previous blog regarding my impression of a single performance from Adam upset or offended any of his fans, I expect that the mature ones will realize that it was simply a poorly worded metaphor describing my personal tastes. The only person I would really dream of apologizing to is Adam. And the irony is, if he’s smart he couldn’t give a crap what I think of his ‘Ring of Fire’ performance. As an entertainer, Adam knows that one person’s opinion of one performance really matters a little less than zero, in the grand scheme of things. He could not have gotten on Idol (nor made it as far as he did) without an immense amount of talent. He surely doesn’t need my approval to know he has a gift. At the same time, he realizes that amazing talent doesn’t always equal universal appeal. (I could NEVER have the amount of skill and talent that ballet dancers have! that’s talent! But, I don’t particularly enjoy it!) I am sure that I will have plenty of opportunities in the coming years to hear Adam sing. I imagine he’ll be around for years to come. But in the meantime, I definitely don’t want to stoop to the level of so many negative freaks on the internet… so, I do apologize to Adam for my colorful (and negative) choice of words. I hope he can forgive me. I imagine he doesn’t give a d—! God knows he shouldn’t.”
Fred
Clay who?…..Adam who?
Kirk
I’m glad he apologized. He’s right. An opinion is just an opinion. I’m not sure why his was made into such a big deal.
ZeeLee
@Fred: OMG!!! You DON’T KNOW Adam Lambert??? He’s like the hottest thing on this side of the planet. Singer, also gay, was on American Idol and came second in this season. Seriously. Look him up on Youtube. Check out “Black and White” by him, exceptional.
Don’t know the Clay dude tho. Anyone care to have a shot?
sal(the original)
blah
Robert
Where’s the penis reference?
dgz
@Robert:
i have no idea. i couldn’t find it, either.
__________
in other news, holy stream of consciousness, batman! he goes from “save the children,” to “damn the bloggers,” to… i think there’s something akin to an apology in there, somewhere. way to bury the lede, gayken.
mary ann
I am glad that Clay Aiken had some good manners left to apologize and explain. He should know that he is a public figure and shouldnt say things like what he said, especially about a fellow singer. There is such a thing as ethical conduct.
madie
Do you know, Mr. Clay Aiken, that i liked you when you were in American Idol? I thought you were a person to look up to. But I guess I was wrong. I guess Adam is the better person. He always has the best words to say about people. And Mr. Clay Aiken, if you didnt like Adam’s performance, you should have said it in a way that wouldnt hurt anybody. That would have been fine with the Adam fans.And giving out “colorful statements” like yours is in very, very bad taste. But I think you know that, Mr. Clay Aiken. You were just being very insensitive!
rick
Hundreds of thousands of glbtsq people tortured and murdered around the globe and this is what you devote so much space to?
Paul
A has been trying to stay in the light. Can someone reach over and turn the queen off?
Albert
@ZeeLee: American Idol?..WTF is that?
jim
i didn’t think aiken’s orig comments, from a membership site, were so horrible to begin with, i read’em as simply his opinion, based on seeing/hearing one performance. the only reason it’s all any sort of deal is that blogs like this one appear (lately) so desperate to fill space that they seem to be hunting for the smallest negative thing to sensationalize.
dgz
@rick: three words: general interest blog. are the writers not allowed to comment on anything but horror? maybe you shouldn’t eat tonight; there are hungry people in Ethiopia.
CHICK
Beyond doubt, Clay Aiken is fishing for best vehicle to get his name out there again. He is hungry for free publicity. He took the opportunity to tagged his name with Adam Lambert who is the talk of the media. The only thing is, he did it in a harsh way and that he unveiled his jealous being of Adam Lambert’s celebrity status. Clay Aiken, you’ve got my pity. You are so pathetic!
michael
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz………………
rich
I don’t watch AI. Don’t care who won or who didn’t. But I do know Clay Aiken is an asshole.
Remember the Kelly Ripa debacle? (There’s no excuse for putting your hands on someone you’re working with. None.) Remember the Newsweek “Spamalot” debacle? (The interviewer brought up a topic Aiken didn’t like, so he was pissy and insulting for the rest of the interview.) And remember the Claymate phenomenon? A sizable number of Aiken’s fans were overtly homophobic, and Aiken did nothing to discourage that attitude.
Of course, he’s entitled to his opinion. But he’s a jerk for expressing it the way he did, because he did it in such a way that was guaranteed to draw attention from the current finalist and winner. It’s bad form.
Oh, but he’s such a martyr! He did a terrific job of putting himself up on the cross with his non-apology apology. Anyone want to volunteer to hammer in the last nail?
Casper O
adam lamberts version of ring of fire was utter shit anyhow
Nick
Oh please he just did that for some media attention..
yawn
Mia
@Robert: it’s right at the end when he says that Adam Lambert doesn’t give a dick about his opinion >.< which is so true.
Alexa
@Mia: The word Clay used was damn not dick. Good lord.
DavidfrankRay
Clay’s talent was limited to start with. And his fans were mainly housewives that he suckered along for as long as he could to make money. After finally admitting he was gay he lost most of his fans and earning power.
Now Adam who has a lot more talent, is more open about being gay, and still has a huge fan base, is in the spotlight and Clay is jealous.
BradSA
@DavidfrankRay: Adam is dodging the big question just the same as Clay did. I think it is contractual. Clay came out within days of his contract expiring last fall. Adam is a screamer, if that’s your thing, fine, but it isn’t great singing. He’s a freak show. Nothing more.
BradSA
Adam should thank Clay for firing up his crazy fans and getting Adam more attention than he otherwise would have had as a runner up. After the last few days its Kris who? All anyone talks about is poor Adam and that big meany Clay who didn’t like his ROF. Guess what folks. Most of you hated it too.
dgz
@BradSA: i have no problem with the fact that you don’t like adam, or think he’s a freak show. but i think gokey’s dream on performance made it very clear that there are “screams” and then there are SCREAMS. dirty falsetto does not a scream make. technically speaking, the guy’s a Singer — find me another male singer who’s demonstrated a middle voice/mixed register.
BradSA
@dgz: “find me another male singer who’s demonstrated a middle voice/mixed register”
Did you just make that up? Next you’ll be spouting off about his passaggio.
dgz
@BradSA: no, i learned it from my voice professors. here’s a yahoo!answer thread from someone who shared your question, although i can’t claim credit for the answer. hope that helps!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090109011354AAT8ta2
BradSA
Is there some fancy eye-talian word for that gasping wheeze Adam does every time he takes a breath?
dgz
@BradSA: i find that annoying, too — in my experience it’s a musical theater thing. some mic control (i.e. pulling it away when he takes a catch-breath) will hopefully be something he learns on the AI tour. not that i’ll be going or anything. i swear.
jo
For those who think that Clay Aiken came up with the ultra-insult of Ring of Fire, check back on what Simon himself said, and it was far worse. As much as I have read about the top two’s performances I don’t think I saw one good review for that particular arrangement/performance, EXCEPT from his fans. I understand that. They are not looking for the beautiful sounds of a true crooner like Clay Aiken. That, too, is understood. I just do not condone or understand the hatred spread so thick.
JD
“[sic]”?
Queerty dear, you’re one to talk.
And I agree with Aiken – I certainly can’t stand to hear him sing.
Dray
Clay and BradSA can both blow it out their asshat.
richard
i want to see some penis