Clay Aiken

Fans of American Idol will be glad to know this golden-throated AAA poster boy got a record deal despite placing second in the top-rated show. In fact, thanks to that voice and a selection of winning material marked by Aiken's easy confidence and undeniable charm, Measure of a Man is ruling the charts right now.

Who would have thought in 1981 that the influence of soft-rock kings Chicago would still be
felt in 2003? In interviews, twenty-four-year-old Clay Aiken cites Chicago singer Peter
Cetera as a vocal idol, and the painstakingly measured ballads collected on his debut,
Measure of a Man, make that clear. For everything wrong with Aiken -- his unremarkable
phrasing and delivery, his old-man self-importance in a young man's body -- he's... More >

Thank "God, the Alpha" and "Jesus Christ, the Omega." Also Clive Davis, the Phi Beta Kappa. Plus several people named Simon. After whom come Chris Braide, Danielle Brisebois, Gary Burr, Andreas Carlsson, Jess Cates, Desmond Child, Cathy Dennis, Kara Dioguardi, David Eriksen, Jeff Franzel, Pete Gordeno, Jimmy Harry, Darren Hayes, Wayne Hector, Enrique Iglesias, Ty Lacy, Dennis Matkosky, Steve Morales, Aldo Nova, Rick Nowels, Lindy Robbins, David Siegel, Shep Solomon, and Reed Vertelney, who among them somehow managed to write all of this would-be idol's 12 songs. (Grade - D)