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.
This Is The Night
Clay Aiken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could take all the time I had
But I'm not gonna wait
When a moment can vanish so fast
Cause every kiss is a kiss you can never get back
Lift me up in your arms
If you told me that's where heaven is(Well, you'd be right)
I've been waiting forever for this
This is the night
When the answer to all my dreams
Is as close as a touch away
Why am I here holding back what I'm trying to say
Lift me up in your arms
If you told me that is where heaven is
(Well, you'd be right)
Hold me close to your heart
I will go with you to the end of the Earth
(And we'll fly)
I've been waiting forever for this
This is the night
This is the night where we capture forever
And all out tomorrows begin
After tonight we will never be lonely again
Lift me up in your arms
If you told me that is where heaven is
(Well, you'd be right)
Hold me close to your heart
I would go with you to the end of the Earth(And we'll fly)
I've been waiting forever for this
This is the night
The above lyrics are from Clay Aiken's hit song "This Is The Night". The song is essentially about the joy of finding love and the realization that time is fleeting and every moment should be cherished. The song begins with the singer reflecting on how he used to take his time in life but now that he has found the right person, he is not going to wait anymore. He realizes that every kiss is special and cannot be taken back once it passes. This is why he urges his lover to lift him up and hold him close to his heart, as heaven is in the arms of his lover.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that the answer to all his dreams is just a touch away and wonders why he has been holding back all along. He implores his lover to hold him close as they embark on a journey together. He knows that the night they spend together will be one that will last forever, even after they are gone. He reiterates his desire to be held close and to be lifted up into his lover's arms.
Overall, the song conveys a powerful message about true love and the importance of living in the present moment. It reminds us that time is fleeting and every moment should be cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world was in upside down
Back when things were chaotic and unstable
I could take all the time I had
I used to have all the time in the world to wait for the right moment
But I'm not gonna wait
But now I'm not going to wait any longer because life is too short
When a moment can vanish so fast
When opportunities can slip away in an instant
Cause every kiss is a kiss you can never get back
Because every moment of love is precious and can never be repeated
Lift me up in your arms
Hold me tightly and show me your love
If you told me that's where heaven is (well, you'd be right)
If you said that being in your arms is like being in heaven, I would agree
I've been waiting forever for this
I have waited a long time for this moment
This is the night
This is the moment I've been waiting for
When the answer to all my dreams
When everything I've ever wanted
Is as close as a touch away
Is within reach, just a touch away
Why am I here holding back what I'm trying to say
Why am I hesitating to express my love and desires
Hold me close to your heart
Embrace me and keep me close to you
I will go with you to the end of the Earth (and we'll fly)
I will go anywhere with you, including places beyond imagination
This is the night where we capture forever
This moment is so special that we will remember it forever
And all our tomorrows begin
A new chapter of our lives starts from here
After tonight we will never be lonely again
After this moment, we will always have each other and never feel lonely
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALDO NOVA, GARY BURR, CHRIS BRAIDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thedarknesswithin761
Number one song when i was born and it's amazing
@timothycapati8005
Same haha
@ayanidavilar7092
Wait June 23 2003?
@thedarknesswithin761
Yea
@scottthomas8475
Me to babe
@rosiejoseph3072
Same
@rubellite7841
#1 billboard song when I was born
@SpicyDirtREAL
Same.
@okage_
same reason i came here for lol
@angelh8383
same