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'American Idol' Power: Neil Diamond crushes Clay Aiken on the charts
Apparently a two-night guest mentor gig on American Idol is worth more than a brief clip package.
According to media reports, Neil Diamond has scored the first No. 1 album of his career, selling 146,000 copies of his Home Before Dark CD. Considering that Diamond has placed 15 albums in the Top 10 and 46 in the Top 200 in his legendary career, it's interesting that it took a two-night stand on American Idol to put him over-the-top.
American Idol Season Two runner-up Clay Aiken may be wishing he'd spend less time talking about how his reality show roots are something in his past. The Spamalot co-star, whose only Idol appearance this season was a behind-the-scenes tour of his Broadway show, saw his fourth album, On My Way Here, debut at No. 4, selling only 94,000 copies.
Aiken was all over the dial in recent weeks, promoting the new album on daytime and late night shows alike, but considering his first three albums all sold more than 200,000 copies in their first weeks in release, this has to be considered a bit of a disappointment.
Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Clay Aiken was on Broadway in Spamalot until two days before his album release, so if you've seen him "all over the dial" for weeks, you may need to have your eyesight checked. How nice of American Idol to promote his competition instead. Clay's new album is great, BTW. Listen on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/clayaiken
After listening to Clay Aiken's songs from this album I am betting he stays in the top for awhile. I am not a fan of any of the Idols but I heard Clay's song Everything I Don't Need and HAD to have it!!! The album is HAWT! I played it for my bff's and they got it to. WE SAY IT'S SWEEEEEEEET!
Gee, you'd think American Idol would be proud of their graduate, and stand behind him, and his success. As far as his sales for this CD go, all CD sales are low, across the board. While I love Neil Diamond, he's been a big name for a long time, and even he didn't see close to 200,000. I think Clay's new CD On My Way Here, is an exceptionally great CD. There are enough ears out there for all kinds of music. You go, Clay! You are awesome!
Your review comes off sounding like a middle school fight or something. Kinda like "Gotcha last."
Gee, I saw Aiken on exactly 1 late night show & a couple of morning programs, not even singing. Is that all over? If the producers of Idol hadn't refused him performing time this month to promote his new CD (yeah, they were actually afraid he'd make their Chosen One Archuleta look bad), he could have easily gotten to #1. But with no video, no single being supported to radio by his label, no print interviews or covers & little TV music promo, including nothing in prime time, what can you expect? Throw in the lousy economy & the fast declining state of the retail music market & it's a recipe for disappointment.
All I can say is: what ARE YOU trying to say. I think everyone above me has stated some actual "facts" while you are just "spinning". Whatever happens with Clay he is a talent. The music biz, unfortunately, seems to be a tight spot. Congrats to Neil for making his 1st career #1. Congrats to Clay for coming in at #4.
There's no way AI was going to allow Clay Aiken be the water cooler moment again. Any Clay appearance always produces a lot of buzz and no one seemed to talk about Taylor Hicks being the winner and even the legend Prince wasn't mentioned as much as two minutes of Clay Aiken surprising a fan.
AI is desperate to create the excitement that the Ruben and Clay produced on AI2. AI manipulated a guy versus guy this year. Do you think they are going to allow Clay Aiken to upstage the chosen two?
Don't think so.
As to CD sales, yes, as a fan,
94,000 is not what I hoped but then when I see all the promo Neil Diamond received and he took the #1 spot with only sold 146,000, well that is just another example of a music business that's on its last leg.
Crushed you say? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. It took Neil 40 years to finally buy himself a number 1. Good for him but he didn't crush anyone.
I guess anyone can be a critic nowadays. Just listen here to a song off the new Clay Aiken CD. This song is better than anything on radio now.....http://youtube.com/watch?v=TdrZFJDDBmE
I'm no fan of Clay, but I would hardly call 94,000 sales in one week and a debut at #4 on Billboard as being crushed. Both will probably fall from their positions next week, but Neil will fall further down the chart than Clay.
Clay's latest album is awesome. I bought 4 copies for family members.
Neil Diamond's album is good, but, as you stated, it took him many, many years to hit #1. You guys should give Clay a break and ***ess his music instead of your "tongue-in-cheek" competitive remarks.Thank you!