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.
Touch
Clay Aiken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue is cool September skies
As a lonely waterfall
Red is the fire in your heart
For the passion and love that we make as the sunset is fading away
Angel, heaven starts here tonight in you arms
While I drown in your body get lost in your charms
Let's keep the mood nice and slow
All I want is your touch
All I want is your heaven right here by my side, every night
All I want is your touch
All I want is your tenderness here in my life, every mornng and night
Girl, 'cause your touch is so right
Yes, I've been thinking about you
I've imagined the feel of your body and how it will be when we move
Darlin', magic's alive tonight in your arms
While I drown in this moment get lost in your charms
Now that you're here, don't move too fast
Let's make the moment last
All I want is your touch
All I want is your heaven right here by my side, every night
All I want is your touch
All I want is your tenderness here in my life, every morning and night
Girl, 'cause your touch is so right
I don't want nobody else
And you'll see that my body is aching, I'm hopeless taken by you
All I want is your touch
All I want is your heaven right here by my side, every night
All I want is your touch
All I want is your tenderness here in my life [Repeat x2]
Every morning and night
Girl, cause your touch is so right.
The lyrics to Clay Aiken's Touch are a romantic plea from the singer to his lover. The poet compares the deep blue of his lover's eyes to the vastness of the ocean and the calmness of a September sky. He feels alive and overwhelmed in her arms and compares her touch to magic that has come alive tonight. The words paint a vivid picture of a tender and intimate moment between two people in love.
The poet blends sensuality with romance as he talks about the passion and love that they make as the sun fades away. He begs her not to go and asks her to keep the mood nice and slow, hoping to make the moment last. He imagines the feel of her body and can't wait to move and feel her. He asserts that he doesn't want anyone else because he is so hopelessly taken by her.
Touch is an exquisite love song that expresses both physical and emotional desire. It captures the sublime beauty of a moment shared between two people in love. The song's romantic lyrics, tender melody and Clay Aiken's emotive performance make Touch a memorable song.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue is the ocean in your eyes
I see endless possibilities and depths in your eyes.
Blue is cool September skies
As calm and beautiful as a clear blue sky in September.
As a lonely waterfall
As I stand alone in wonderment, just like a waterfall flowing solo.
Red is the fire in your heart
The intense passion and love you possess burns like fire in your heart.
For the passion and love that we make as the sunset is fading away
The love and passion we share is as beautiful as a sunset, and worth savoring till it's no more.
Angel, heaven starts here tonight in your arms
As I hold you in my arms, it feels so much like a piece of heaven.
While I drown in your body get lost in your charms
I'm completely lost in you and enjoy every bit of it.
Now that you're here, angel don't go
Please, stay with me and never leave me.
Let's keep the mood nice and slow
Let's enjoy the moment and take it slow.
All I want is your touch
All I want is to feel your touch.
All I want is your heaven right here by my side, every night
All I want is to have you by my side, providing me with endless love every night.
All I want is your tenderness here in my life, every morning and night
All I want is to experience your gentle touch every morning and night of my life.
Girl, 'cause your touch is so right
Your touch is perfect for me, and I can't get enough of it.
Yes, I've been thinking about you
You are always on my mind.
I've imagined the feel of your body and how it will be when we move
I imagine what it will feel like to physically connect with my body when we're together.
Darlin', magic's alive tonight in your arms
Being in your arms tonight makes me feel like I'm experiencing magic.
Now that you're here, don't move too fast
I want us to take it slow, and savor every moment together.
Let's make the moment last
I want to enjoy every second with you, and make it last as long as possible.
I don't want nobody else
I don't want anyone else but you.
And you'll see that my body is aching, I'm hopeless taken by you
Being physically and emotionally connected to you makes me yearn for you more each day.
All I want is your tenderness here in my life [Repeat x2]
All I want is to have your gentle touch in my life every day.
Every morning and night
I want to experience your gentleness every morning and every night.
Girl, cause your touch is so right.
Your touch is what I need, and it feels so right with you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CATHY DENNIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind