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.
Weight of the World
Clay Aiken Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ever felt this way before
Like the world is spinning
Much too fast
And you're falling through the floor
Struck by lightning
It's so frightening
When the morning feels like war
(Don't you wish you were)
Unbreakable
[Chorus]
So, when you fall
Down, down, down
Don't get down on you
Don't you know that
Everybody gets
Down, down, down
Why you trying to
Carry the weight of the world
Some folks say that
We've been blessed
And I know deep down
They're right
But when you're feeling cold
Alone and desperate
And can't get through the night
It seems the only time
You test your wings
You're crashing through the sky
Unbreakable
(Don't you wish you were)
Unbreakable
[Chorus]
Has anybody else but me
Ever felt this way before
[Chorus: x2]
I know its hard to see
The way you are right now
I know it's hard to breathe
Just let the world go round
And, round, round, round
Why are you trying to
Carry the weight of the world
(Down, down, down)
The lyrics of Clay Aiken's "Weight of the World" is about feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of life. The song opens with the artist asking whether he is the only one feeling the way he does with the world spinning too fast, feeling like he is falling through the floor. The fear of being struck by lightning is equally frightening, and mornings become a battleground. In the midst of everything, there is a voice that says, "Unbreakable" and wishes he were so.
The chorus encourages listeners not to get down on themselves when they fall, pointing out that everybody falls sometimes. The line, "Why you trying to carry the weight of the world?" is a rhetorical question aimed at everyone who feels overwhelmed. The second verse acknowledges that life can sometimes be very lonely and make it difficult to spread our wings, and that trying to fly can result in a crash. The chorus repeats before the song ends, reminding everyone that it is hard to see and breathe when we are carrying the weight of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Has anybody else but me
Have others experienced this feeling or is it just me?
Ever felt this way before
Have others felt overwhelmed like this?
Like the world is spinning
Feeling like everything is moving too fast
Much too fast
Everything is moving at an unmanageable pace
And you're falling through the floor
Feeling like you're losing control and everything is falling apart
Struck by lightning
Something unexpected and traumatic happened
It's so frightening
The situation is very scary
When the morning feels like war
Even the beginning of the day feels like a battle
Unbreakable
Wishing to be able to withstand what life throws at you
(Don't you wish you were)
So, when you fall
When things go wrong
Don't get down on you
Don't let it affect your self-esteem
Don't you know that
Everybody gets
Everyone has tough times
Why you trying to
Why are you trying to shoulder it all?
Carry the weight of the world
Trying to bear all of life's burdens alone
Some folks say that
People often say
We've been blessed
We have good things in our life
And I know deep down
I recognize that
They're right
What they say is true
But when you're feeling cold
When you feel unwanted or unloved
Alone and desperate
Completely alone and having nowhere to turn
And can't get through the night
Having trouble making it through the day or the night
It seems the only time
The only instance
You test your wings
You try something new or take a risk
You're crashing through the sky
The attempt ends in failure and disappointment
I know its hard to see
I understand that it's difficult
The way you are right now
Feeling overwhelmed and out of control
I know it's hard to breathe
Feeling suffocated and not able to take a breather
Just let the world go round
Just try to relax and let life happen
And, round, round, round
Why are you trying to
Why are you trying to do it all by yourself?
Carry the weight of the world
Trying to hold up the weight of everything on your own shoulders
(Down, down, down)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KASIA LIVINGSTON, HENRIK KORPI, MATHIAS SALOMON WOLLO, FRANNE GOLDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind