He started out as a visual joke at the sometimes comical American Idol 2 auditions. A shock of red hair, ill fitting clothes on a lanky body, granny glasses framing a pasty white face that hadn't been exposed to the sun since the early days of the Clinton administration - one Clay Aiken confidently approached the audition judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Both had their fill of wannabes and never wills at this Atlanta audition, and didn't seem too impressed by the confident Raleigh, North Carolina native's boast that he was "the next American Idol". Then he sang.
An acappella rendition of Heatwave's Always and Forever made the two judges take immediate notice of this freak of (musical) nature. As Cowell would say - that Aiken "doesn't look like a pop star, but has a great voice", and Jackson was puzzled as how THAT voice came out of, as Aiken interrupted with "A skinny white boy..". With that, the judges agreed that he should move on to the Hollywood auditions.
Forward several weeks, many reincarnations of the "style" changes that Randy Jackson emphasized that Aiken had to make, and you have one of the more unlikely sex symbols in recent music history, as the anomaly that is Clay Aiken has taken over chat rooms, message boards, and the hearts of (mostly) women fans from 12 to 50! Still considered "geek chic" by many followers,(who wouldn't have it any other way), there is more to the allure of Aiken than any Hollywood makeover could accomplish.
According to many Aiken fans, one group described as "The People's Republic of Clay", that besides musical talent, it's Aiken's small town values, perceived kindness to others and gawkiness that sets the hearts aflutter of young and old alike. Whether it's the pubescent glee of Aiken being described as a "hottie", or the maternal instincts of some of his more mature fans, Aiken seems to have created a fan base that may last long after American Idol is history. That brings up what may be Clay Aiken's future in the usually fickle business that is music.
Like previous musical cult idols Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond, one could see the same sort of following for Aiken, throngs of devotees who would make it a point to travel to several different venues a year to catch a Clay Aiken concert. First of all, Aiken needs to establish just what sort of music he wants to devote himself to, as he's been described as being too "Broadway", too "Christian", too "Vegas-y", all of which have their niche in the entertainment world, but may be moot IF he wins the American Idol 2 competition. However, considering the way previous winner Kelly Clarkson's career is molded and delayed by 19 Entertainment, being in the final three contestants may be the better long term advantage, career wise, than being the winner.
Surrounding himself with the right kind of industry people will be an advantage. Great lyricists and composers, righteous agents, listening to himself instead of all the latest style and trend gurus will ensure that Aiken will grow in the industry, yet keep the allure that has many fans already captivated.
As someone who, as a teen, kept the Manilow albums well hidden behind the Led Zeppelin albums, one sure sign of possible future stardom is the (mostly) male influx of ridicule towards the singer, mostly due to their jealously of their significant others fawning over, and devotion to, their favorite singer. Sexual innuendo usually flows from the more immature males, as they can't take the "competition" they perceive, and often view this "threat" as a slight in their relationship, but in many cases, find themselves as closet fans, begrudgingly admitting to liking the singer to their loved one (maybe not to "the Guys"), but a fan, nonetheless!
Clay Aiken has all the potential to be a star of some endurance, if he follows the right path, doesn't forget his fans, and, in the words of American Idol's Randy Jackson, "Keeps it Real".
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