Friday, December 24, 2004
this is special bcs.... it's written by a man! not giggling swooning women...
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Clay Aiken spreads spirit of the season in solemn Christmas show
Thursday, December 23, 2004
John Benson
Special to The Plain Dealer
Clay Aiken fanatics, dressed in holiday style, lined the city sidewalks to enter his sold-out show Tuesday at Playhouse Square's Palace Theatre.
It's been more than a year and a half since his second-place finish to Ruben Studdard in the second season of "American Idol," and this North Carolina native shows no signs of slowing down. The affable Aiken, whose geeky-chic style and down-home charm have created quite a pop-star following, scored a yuletide trifecta this year with his recently released debut holiday album, "Merry Christmas With Love"; his NBC-TV special, "A Clay Aiken Christmas"; and the "Joyful Noise Tour."
Unlike the nonstop swooning screams and homemade heart-shaped signs that dominated Aiken's Northeast Ohio visit this past summer, his Christmas show was a subdued affair more in line with a Harry Connick Jr. performance, replete with a full orchestra, backing singers and the vocal support of the Cleveland Municipal School District's All-City Elementary, Middle School and High School choirs. The two-plus hour show began with a traditional set filled with holiday classics such as "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" and "Silver Bells."
You could sense the gregarious audience was on its best behavior when, near the end of the first half, Aiken cautiously tested the fans' self-control by taking a step down the stairs into the first row. When he wasn't rushed from all sides, the tentative singer proceeded to the aisle, giving those fans lucky enough with orchestra seats a moment to remember. The once-in-a-lifetime experience, however, belonged to a woman who was personally serenaded by Aiken during his rendition of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
The second half began with a dapper and solemn Aiken in a full tux leading his congregation through a handful of spiritual and sacred songs that offered the feel of a midnight Christmas service. On "O Holy Night," the 26-year-old solitary figure let loose proving to the audience - and thus preaching to the proverbial choir - his vocal abilities are much more than that of a second-place finisher.
Throughout the evening, a Christian contemporary music atmosphere was palatable, but Aiken was careful to steer away from preachy territory.
The show ended with Aiken asking his audience to forget about usual New Year's resolutions, which was met with a great response. Instead, he asked the 2,700 fans to remember yearlong fellowship with a version of "Don't Save it All for Christmas Day."
American idol to many, this pop star did his best to eschew any worldly titles and provided a Christmas show filled with lasting memories for the whole family.
Benson is a free-lance writer in Cleveland.
To reach John Benson:
music@plaind.com
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