WITHOUT YOU - CLAY AIKEN
Why Clay Aiken chose to draw direct comparison between himself and Mariah Carey is confounding. After all, her 1994 top three cover of Harry Nilsson’s “Without You” was flawless in execution (not to discount the original, also definitive for its day). On its own, however, Aiken does indeed draw upon his greatest strengths: a flair for the theatrical, backed with a bombastic vocal that packs a wallop. He showcases his personality with novel phrasing here and there, while production swells and flutters with classic power ballad fanfare. Still, Aiken’s return in itself raises questions: It’s been quite a while, he has endured a good amount of negative press, and will his re-emergence be embraced or viewed as just another release from the increasingly less distinctive “American Idol” brigade? Should be intriguing to see the outcome, though not as fascinating as how Aiken will handle his cover of Dolly Parton’s “Here You Come Again” on upcoming “A Thousand Different Ways.” Sounds like a trip. Billboard
