Idol Face Off – Open Arms
November 9, 2007 by Jeanne
It’s Friday which normally means there is a Face Off with Clay Aiken in it… and today’s no different. Clay faces off against Elliott Yamin. This is a hot one because both American Idol cuties sing “Open Arms” in very different styles. I love them both!
Which will you choose?
Clay Aiken
Elliott Yamin
{democracy:100}
Tags: clay aiken, elliott yamin, face off, open arms, vote, poll, video, idol stalker, idol, american, american idol
Elliott fan here. I liked Clay’s better. But to be fair, the audio on Elliott’s video is very bad. I listen to it on mp3, and a different video, and it’s just beautiful.
No one’s voice has EVER moved me like Elliott’s does. Listening to him is PURE BLISS.
Clay is the best! His voice is pure and sweet, unadulterated. He’s excellent. He has a passion and an energy that comes across in every note he sings. Every note that comes out of his very soul is perfection itself. I am not putting down Elliot, he has a good voice and he can sing, but Clay creates a magic when he sings that is a gift we don’t see often. That is why he has such an immense following. His fans come in all ages and gender and from all over the world.
I think Elliott is a good singer but I can’t stand the bleating vibrato from any singer. Daughtrey does that too. I like Josh Groban but don’t like it when I can hear vibrato like that. Elliott is a very sweet guy but I don’t see sexy with him. I wish both Clay and Elliott well. They are very talented.
Dear Voice Expert – As a huge Clay Aiken, I have to agree with you. LOL! Some of Clay’s fans do much more harm for his career than good. They attach any negative comments no matter how well intended and turn “would-be” or “once-were” fans off. I did note that you said SOME and did not group all of us together. Thank you. I am a fan of many of the Idols (Clay being my favorite and I doubt even the more rabid “crazies” will ever turn me away). I really like Elliott and think he did a fine job with this song and I like his CD. I prefer the classic Clay. I also think Clay will be great on Broadway and consider comments like “he has a Broadway voice” to be a complement. Not too many mediocre voices are asked to join award winning productions. We may see Elliott there one day like Fantasia, Diana, Anthony and others. We all love the guy and are really tired of all the lies and those that just can’t stand the good and decent soul that is Clay Aiken. However, as someone else correctly said, Clay IS good enough to stand on his merits. He doesn’t need so much ‘help’.
Clay’s voice does things to me that no -one else’s can. Stops me in my tracks, it is just phenomenal. Elliot version in comparison leaves me cold, though I do like him.
I listened to both versions carefully, Clay`s version left me wanting to shut it off 1 minute after hitting play. I am not impressed. Clay has a great voice but seriously lacked the emotion and vocal talent needed for this piece. Elliott on the other hand owned this song. Smooth vocals, emotionally connecting to the song gave him the edge. My vote goes to Elliott Yamin.
Just wanted to say that I voted for Clay and like I said before Elliot sings really good! But it’s that vibrato in Elliots voice that really turns me off… however I cannot deny his talent.
-philly
Let me state first and foremost that I am a HUGE Clay Aiken fan, but this is my least favorite of his performances. I didn’t like it when he did it in concert with Kelly either. I didn’t like them together. That being said, after listening to both of them, I guess I would say they were equal. I still would give Clay the edge, because of the strength of his gorgeous voice.
I like Elliott, he has a good voice, but this wasn’t his best either. Too much vibrato.
Like I said, Ellliott has a very good voice, …..Clay has an outstanding voice, that curls my toes, when he is really “on”. He and only “he” can make me weep, because of the beauty of his voice, and the emotion that he can express through it.
There hasn’t been another singer in this time that has affected my this way.
Open Arms belongs to Steve Perry, who is one of my all time favorites, with such a unique voice. I miss him.
I voted Elliot.
I am not a “fan” of either, but listened to both videos. Clay is off key at times. I don’t like his phasing. Elliot has a very nice vibrato as do all Great Vocalists.
It’s Clay in a landslide. He has never been off key in his life, and I have seen him sing live more than once. That vibrato of Elliot’s is just awful, and he was so weak at the end, it was a blessing the song was over.
Elliott had some good nights on Idol, and I admire the fact that he can sing at all with his medical problems, but he was in no way ever as good as Clay Aiken, and he surely lacked stage presence on top of it.
Chris should have won that year for his excellent rocker sound. Katharine had a pretty voice and drop dead good looks. Maybe, Elliott should have been ahead of Taylor.
I am a Big Clay Aiken fan and absolutely love anything he sings. LOVE him….but I also think Elliott has a great voice and I only wish him the best.
What I hate, is these polls, that seem to bring out the worst of each fan base. If you don’t like Clay singing this song, that’s ok and the same with those that don’t care for Elliott’s version. I just hate to see both fan bases being mean to each other and saying mean things about the other singer.. I just don’t get it.
Sometimes I think they set up these polls, just to get the results we see here.
I come from the era of Sinatra, Como, Bennett, etc, at the risk of dating myself it doesn’t matter, my point is that a “Clay” comes along few and far between. Someone who can sing from the soul, from a pure heart, it’s something that is just there you can’t explain it but Clay has that gift. He doesn’t just reach young women like my granddaughter but older women like myself as well. He can make us dream and feel the romance, the magic again. He has a purity, a charisma when he sings, it’s beautiful. God Bless him.
Bebe,
To say Clay is off key is a misnomer! The two never go together. People may want to say many things about Clay Aiken, but in four years of listening to him sing in ANY performance he has NEVER been off key!
He has spot on perfect pitch!
If you feel the need to DISS Clay, at least DISS honestly for goodness sake!
I have never heard any of the “great vocalist” having a quivering vibratto.
Oh my, Telling bebe she wasn’t honest would be like me saying to you “if you feel the need to be a fanATIC of Clay, as least be honest”.Bebe thinks he has been off key, thats her honest opinion . He is very talented, for sure, but I think he has been off key. I know love is blind sometimes. There are many that think he was offkey, but that’s o.k. He has all of you that thinks otherwise.
Well, oh my, Clara. You may be the one for whom love is blind.
Elvis Presley the King had a very pronounced vibrato.. His music today has stood up to the best . I never heard anyone say that Elvis had too much vibrato and he was King of vibrato on many of his best songs. The sound of vibrato gives a rich and full sound adding energy and feeling to a song. To have a rich vibrato is a plus.
Elvis did not have a vibrato that sounded like a goat bleating. I was a fan of Elvis and if he had sounded like a goat I would have hated it. And I like goats but not their sound coming out of a singers mouth. Too many people heard it from Elliott when he was on idol. My daughter-in-law was an Elliott fan until she heard it. Some people like a quivery vibrato, I guess. So enjoy it if you do.
Listen, Elliott is ok but not to my taste. It is ok with me if Clay is not to your taste.
Wow, haven’t done one of these in a while!
And this one will be hard….
I absolutely adored Elliott on AI. His personality and his voice won me over big time. His version of Open Arms is so freaking good – lots of emotions, voice on the verge of cracking, showing he’s pushing and giving it his all. I love his voice.
And Clay. It’s no secret here that Clay is far from being my favorite. I don’t like his tone, and while I recognize his talent, I just don’t like him. But I have to be honest here, and say I got goosebumps from his version. I think the fact he’s only got a piano with him helps – makes the version of this overdone and ovesang song different.
So yeah… I’ll vote they were both good…..
Elliott has a song that went top 40 and crossed over to all formats. the song is a smash hit. I doubt if a guy who sounded like a goat could do that with a song. Clay fans are really pushing it. Even though Clay is a nice guy some of his fans are the ones that sound like animals.
Seems to me most Clay fans here have been very complimentary of Elliott. Most have said he is talented, sweet and nice. I said that earlier in a post. Just saying that he does have that sound at times. So do some other singers. Some people don’t care for it. How is that pushing it? I have heard that from people who don’t like Clay. They just happen to not like Elliott either.
I think you really do not understand what I mean when I say a bleating sound. Maybe you don’t hear it. Could be Elliott has stopped sounding that way. I hope so. Then I will give his songs a listen.
Really nice of you to say Clay fans sound like animals when I am really the one that has talked the most about the sound. You say Clay fans are pushing it? How? Because we say we like Clay’s version better?
BTW, I am happy for Elliott that his song is doing well.
My mother was a voice teacher and I grew up with hearing all the proper singing technique phrases over and over again. A “rich” vibrato and a “fast” vibrato are two entirely different things. A rapid vibrato (which many singers have) is usually a sign of an untrained voice and most vocalists try to lose that with proper breathing methods. Actually I have heard Elliott’s songs from his CD and he has worked on losing that sound. It bothers some people and doesn’t bother some, especially to the untrained ear. Daughtry is getting mega radio play and he also has the fast vibrato. So it’s jut a matter of preference. Technically speaking, Clay has the more controlled vibrato and breathing techniques, and his vibrato would actually be called the “rich” vibrato. I like both Clay and Elliott. Just passing on first-hand information as the daughter of two professional singers, one of whom later became a voice teacher.
Also, I’m glad Elliott is getting air play on the radio, but really that just means that he’s getting good support from his record label. It has nothing to do with requests called in. The DJ’s play whoever they are told to play. Case in point, Kelly Clarkson’s latest CD which has gotten zero support from Clive Davis, head of her record label, thus no radio play.
Both Clay and Elliott have a lot of talent and a lot of charisma as evidenced by this poll and the passion of each of their fans.
Daughtry has a very strong vibrato.Three hits in a row and Dj’s play what the people want to hear. Ever hear of Call out? The so called bleating sound that Jen so hates is really loved by the masses !
Too bad Clay doesn’t have it!!
Clay could use some energy in his voice. Not much there but control and his tone is very bland. Not distinct enough . Actually if Clay sounded more like Rick Ashley then he would have more style and sound. But Clay doesn’t.
It will always be Clayfans that get the blame, it really is funny. Clayfans have learned to take it. The same old, same old “too Broadway” what Simon said etc etc. Not everyone is going to like Clay, we get that.
However to say he is off key and we are blind (deaf) in this case is funny. You are either on key or off. Funny it is the Elliott(Like Elliot) fans who hear this, and call us blind. Pot calling the kettle black???? Honest opinions are not always right, or well informed, and ignorance does not stop us forming very strong ones.
The reason people think one is off key, and the others fans,think the other is off key, is the way they sing the song, Clay always chooses the top notes. We get used to it and it sounds wrong when sung differently. My explanation and I am sticking to it.
Great Vibe Girl… So the DJ`s play what everyone wants to hear?. The record companies pay for what the DJ`S play. The best has never been top of the of the radio`s play list, not now days anyway. They influence us by playing the easy to market stuff that all sounds the same. I do not listen to radio any more, it all sounds the same to me. Certainly not the best, but who listen to radio today anyway??? not me.
Artists have big hits because of radio play, not because they are so talented, Paris Justin Britney whatever, the best singers??? Yeah.
Thanks to Toby’s mom for saying what I was trying to say.
I am a rock fan but never liked Daughtry.
I love both performances, and I love both guys. There’s just something so charming and endearing about both these talented young men, but my vote goes to Clay on this one. Since this was the first song I ever heard Clay sing on American Idol, his version is especially appealing to me. It was a unique experience for me to be so awestruck by the richness, depth, and multi-layers in his voice. He captured my heart back then, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Because Clay sings with so much passion, emotion, and sincerity, he stirs my senses and enriches my spirit like no other singer can. Both guys are amazing singers who deserve the very best in life, but I have to give this one to Clay for making my heart skip a beat, my flesh fill with goosebumps, and a hopelessly devoted, goofy expression appear on my face everytime I hear him sing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQna0zXU36o
That’s all I’m sayin’.
WOW
What happened to my post? you edited it make to look like I actually liked Elliot? That WOW was a He needs enhancements on his voice and that Video Cathy posted shows it.
Ok Cathy – not impressed. Was a struggle to watch the whole thing. Maybe you had to be there?
Here’s a novel idea, you watch your idol, and I’ll watch mine.
Why don`t you youngins go somewhere else to play? The adults here are trying to respect each others opinions without listening to you bicker and call each other names. Grow up.
For the record, I enjoy both singers but Elliott gets my vote.
Thanks Cathy for the video of Elliott. I have always appreciated his voice, his talent, and his style but for me, my preference is still Clay’s voice, talent, and style.
It doesn’t take anything away from Elliott, it just means that different people have different preferences. Having said that, I am glad to know that Elliott is doing so well. Best wishes!
Cathy, I loved seeing Elliott again in that video. He is just the sexiest, most natural singer out there today! Did I mention that he is the most gorgeous, also.? WOW, for sure!! None better, thats a fact!
Sorry Cathy, doesn’t do it for me either.
Cathy what was that? I was waiting for Elliot to “get on with it already” just not my thing. Based on these two clips though, while Elliott was Ok, Clay was still better. Voted for Clay
CLAY AiKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
:]
i just don’t get the comparison. has anyone here heard the original???? i think clay and elliott are both talented. clay’s voice is thin and sweet…..elliott’s voice is gritty and full of soul. just how do you compare the two!!!! you do not!!!!!! elliott’s voice fits the song. clay’s does not. so much for these face offs !!!!!!!
Well Evie, that is your opinion. That and $4.00 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks
Its CLAY for me.
“clay’s voice is thin and sweet…..”
Clay’s voice is “thin”?!!!!! You’ve got to be kidding Evie!!!! Clay has one of the strongest voice in the music industry with one of the widest range. He can blow any song off the roof with his strong vocals!!!! And that is my opinion.
i like both elliot and clay. i thought elliot should have won ai 5 and clay should have won ai2
but clay has it hands down.
just a little piece of information. clay was born with a collaspe lung.
Hmm, a tough one here. I love both singers’ voices but not these performances. I voted that both were equally good, just to be more positive than voting that both were equally bad.
Journey’s “Open Arms” is very much a Clay-type ballad so right away, he has the advantage over Elliott, whose comfort zone is in R&B and soul. However, Clay’s tempo seemed rushed to me so I cannot endorse his performance. Clearly, voters on that night agreed because that was the performance that placed him behind both Ruben Studdard and Kimberley Locke in the top 32 during AI2. Of course, Clay eventually made it to the top 12 via his mesmerizing performance of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” in the wild-card show.
Meanwhile, during AI5, I (and probably many others) firmly believed Clive Davis tried to sabotage Elliott’s chances on Top 3 week by having him sing “Open Arms” as his judges’ pick. And if Clive Davis didn’t choose that song with ill intent, then it’s a good thing he passed on signing Elliott. If he couldn’t see how unsuitable power ballads were for Elliott’s vocal style, imagine what a disaster it would have been for him to have input on Elliott’s CD! As it was, Elliott did about as well as he could singing “Open Arms”, probably my least favourite of his Idol performances.
Btw, whoever said Elliott sounds even better live is correct. He puts on an incredible show. Here are videos I recorded from a live show I had the privilege to attend recently:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=296972F1D93A82F7
And FYI, toby’s mom, Elliott’s record label is himself (i.e. he has no major label backing – he’s independent). I doubt he has the resources to pay radio stations to play his songs.
It’s pretty funny reading these after a couple of months have past. I would willingly bet that people who say Clay needs studio help have NEVER seen or heard his live. Same for those saying his voice is thin, he sings with no feeling, it’s planned etc. Anyone who has been to one of his EIGHT concert tours knows the man sings with so much feeling, emotion, control, and range that it can never be captured in a studio. He finished an amazing Christmas tour and went from the solemn gorgeous songs such as O Holy Night, to a jazzy fun medley of upbeat great songs, with a WOW ending, to full beauty and a huge range in All Is Well. Open Arms may be the worst song he has ever performed — not that I thought it was bad by any means. But there has to be one that is not at the level of others or that just doesn’t do the same. This one was it.
But to compare a season opening song, with no real studio or audience, with a piano only, and extremely short amount of time, to a version where Elliott sings with a full audience, a huge amount of time on the show (the last week as opposed to first) and with great music accompanient is just crazy. That’s like comparing the first time a child sings a song to the seasonsed professional singing it.
Elliott has a nice voice, some songs are really good. But many times on that show he was off key and had trouble singing. Saying he was the best is BS and Simon DID NOT say it for the girl who loves to keep implying he did. He said POTENTIAL. Well heck, anyone good on the show might have the POTENTIAL to someday be the best. I’d advise you to watch the show again. Also watch all Simon’s other comments over the years to every other artist. He praises one week and crucifies the next.
I read somewhere that ” most people love Clay, but the Claymates , not so much”. I guess the Claymates are starting to get a reputation for being quite snarley, if someone gives an opinion that doesn’t agree with theirs, the claws and sharp tongues come out. Just watch, I will now be crucified!
Clara. I beg to differ. That is very true with ’some’ claymates. but the majority appreciate other voices as well as Clay’s. I love Clay’s voice but also love Elliots, Kalans, Taylors, Buckys and many others.
I think (at least for myself), Clay was the underdog that season and the mother instinct came out in many of us, and as so many mother’s will do, we defend him sometimes to the point of being ridiculous. As far as I’m concerned, his talent really needs no defense. It is what it is. I feel its wrong to get so defensive about Clay. He’s a great entertainer but so are many other “Idol” alumni, and there will probably be many others to idolize and defend. Thanks for your insight.
Bev, I want to thank you so much for your comment . You made complete sense and made me see where some are coming from. I really did not watch Clay’s season on idol. I had one sister that adored him, and one that didn’t. I really had no opinion. The first time I saw him was at the sesason 5 finale when he surprised that guy that “sorta” looked like him, and I must tell you, I loved his singing. I also thought he was cuter than heck. I went and bought one of his c’d’s as well. And I honestly think he definately sings better than Ruben. It warms my heart to know that Clay has some good followers like you. I am sure he wouldn’t appreciate the way some people act on his behalf. You are a good ambassador for him.
I listened to Elliotts first and thought wow that really sounds good. Actually it surprised me. Then I listened to Clays version and thought wow, wow, wow that was great. There is just no comparison when you hear Clay sing a song done by someone else. It is the same with Karen Carpenter. I’ll hear other women sing and think wow that was really good. Then I’ll karens magical voice and know there is just no comparison. I don’t particularly care for much vibrato and Elliott just has too much for my taste. Elliott sounds like alot of other singers but Clays voice is totally unique. No one has a voice close to his. Its always goosebump time when I hear him sing.