Clay Aiken (born on November 30, 1978) is a popular American singer who ros… Read Full Bio ↴Clay Aiken (born on November 30, 1978) is a popular American singer who rose to fame on the American Idol television program, and who has become the most successful second-place finisher in that show's history, even handily eclipsing that year's "Idol" winner in sales. His first single, "Bridge Over Troubled Water"/ "This Is The Night" debuted at Number One, and became the best-selling single of the year — and he was just getting started.

Clay's first CD, Measure of a Man (Number One, Top 200), went triple platinum selling more than 613,000 copies in its first week. Including singles like "Invisible", "The Way," "I Will Carry You" and the Neil Sedaka cover "Solitaire," it was the subject of conflicting reviews. Billboard Magazine called it the best pop album of 2003. Many fans and some critics recognized and admired the pure pop sound ("so pure it floats") and top-notch production values while others heard only a manufactured sound, noting that the singer hadn't earned his musical chops but "merely" sang his way to the hearts of millions on television, a perceived unjust leap-frogging of "the true path of the true artist."

Aiken fronted a country band, Just By Chance, pre-Idol and recorded 3 demo CDs. As a young man he was a member of the Raleigh Boy's Choir and was in numerous musical productions in North Carolina Theater.

The National Inclusion Project (formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation) was launched in 2003, supporting the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers. In November 2004, Clay was appointed as a National Ambassador for UNICEF, with a mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.

In November 2004, Clay released Merry Christmas With Love (Number One, Top 200). His first Christmas album, it went platinum, won 2 Billboard Music Awards and spurred a yearly holiday tour and a follow-up EP, All Is Well - Songs for Christmas. 2004 was also the year Clay made #2 on the New York Times Best Seller List with his "inspirational memoir" titled Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life.

His next studio album, 2006's A Thousand Different Ways (Number Two, Top 200), was, through the direction of mega-producer Clive Davis, largely a covers CD. Ten of the fourteen cuts being well known melodic pop songs ranging from Richard Marx, Bryan Adams, Dolly Parton, Mister Mister, and Elton John. Two other songs, available only on digital versions of the album, are "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (through K-Mart.com) and "Lover All Alone" (through iTunes and co-written by Aiken himself). Many fans have wondered about the relative exclusion of the latter song, left languishing from the song list present on the physical CD, as its intimate emotional material and Aiken's own writing handiwork produce a spellbinding effect.

In May of 2008 Aiken released On My Way Here (Number Four, Top 200), his first album of original material since his 2003 chart-topping debut Measure of A Man. While searching for songs for this album, he fell in love with a song written by OneRepublic front man Ryan "Alias" Tedder called "On My Way Here." The message of the lyrics -- how the lessons we learn while growing up shape us into who we become as adults -- struck such a deep chord with Clay that it wound up inspiring the theme (and title) of his new collection. In addition to enlisting Grammy-Award winning British songwriter and producer Kipper, On My Way Here also included the talented musicians of none other then the Steely Dan band.

A fifth album, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, was released at the end of March 2009 on Sony's Legacy Recordings Playlist Series.

To date, Aiken has headlined 8 tours., one of them co-headlining with Kelly Clarkson.

Aiken made his Broadway debut playing the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python's Spamalot in January 2008. His first run ended in May. He rejoined the cast as Sir Robin in September and remained through January 4, 2009.

In August of 2008 Clay became a father to Parker Foster Aiken with producer Jaymes Foster, the sister of record producer David Foster.

Clay will release a brand new album, titled "Tried and True", on June 1, 2010 on the Decca Records label.

Clay also has made numerous TV appearances, guest-starring on everything from Scrubs to Days of Our Lives to the season finale of the popular show 30 Rock. He has earned a place on such talk-shows as Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman, Tyra Banks, Rachel Ray, Ellen and has cooked with both Martha Stewart and Paula Deen.

Though clearly, based on his television and concert appeal, a performing artist whose live presentations show consummate showmanship, bringing surprising dynamism to studio songs, Aiken has had to endure a persistent hammering from entertainment critics and a tenacious (not to say malevolent) interest on the part of some in the media relating to questions about his personal life.

Always full of surprises, fans look forward to the continued ways in which this multi-talented artist expresses himself and uses his voice in ways that will expand his appeal in and beyond the US.

My Girl
Clay Aiken Lyrics

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I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day
When it's cold outside
I've got the month of May

I guess
You'd say
What can make me feel this way?

My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
(My girl)

I got so much honey, yeah
The bees envy me
I got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees

Yeah, I guess
You'd say
What can make me feel this way?

My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
(My girl)

Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

Oooh, yeah

I don't need no money, yeah
Fortune or fame
'Cause I got all the riches, baby
One man can claim

Yeah, I guess
You'd say
What can make me feel this way?

My girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
(My girl)

I got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girl
I've even got the month of May with my girl
Talkin' 'bout my girl
(My girl)

I got sunshine on a cloudy day
I've even got the month of May with my girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Clay Aiken's My Girl are about a man who is in love with a girl and how she brightens up his life. The song is filled with positivity and happiness as he talks about how he has sunshine even on a cloudy day and he has the month of May with his girl. The lyrics also talk about how his girl is so special to him that he doesn't need any money, fortune or fame because he has all the riches he needs with her. He talks about how he's got so much honey that the bees envy him and how he has a sweeter song than the birds in the trees. He is so in love with his girl that it feels like nothing can bring him down.

The lyrics of My Girl are very descriptive and use imagery to convey the love that the man has for his girl. The sunshine on a cloudy day is a metaphor for how his girl brightens up his life even on the darkest days. The month of May is also symbolic of life and new beginnings. The lyrics evoke a sense of happiness and well-being that comes with being in a happy relationship. The song is a celebration of love and life and teaches us to appreciate the small things in life that make us happy.

Overall, Clay Aiken's My Girl is a feel-good song that celebrates love and life. The lyrics are about how being in love can brighten up your life and how love is richer than any wealth. The song is a great reminder to appreciate the people and things that bring happiness into our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got sunshine
I am very happy and cheery

On a cloudy day
Even when circumstances are gloomy, I still feel happy

When it's cold outside
Even during difficult times, I am still content

I've got the month of May
I have everything I could ever need to be happy

I guess
I suppose

You'd say
One might say

What can make me feel this way?
What could possibly make me so happy?

My girl
The person I love and care about deeply

Talkin' 'bout my girl
Discussing the wonderful person who brings me such joy

(My girl)
The subject of my affection

I got so much honey, yeah
I am very fortunate