1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: I am all in again. 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: Oh, I guess you. 3 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: I Smell Pop Culture with Easton Allen and iHeart radio podcast. 4 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 2: Oh. 5 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: I love the smell of pop culture in the morning. 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: That's right, it's Easton Allen. I am your host today 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: on I Smell Pop Culture. Scott Patterson has given me 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: the code to this podcast. I have taken over the 9 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: feed for this one day, this short little period of time. 10 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: Thank you for downloading this episode. Thank you for not 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: deleting this MP three. I really need this, everybody. I 12 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: need this so bad. Here's what we do on I 13 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: Smell Pop Culture. We love Gilmore Girls, right, we love it. 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: We love Gilmore Girls. We want to live in stars Hollow. 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,959 Speaker 1: The cool thing about Gilmore Girls is that they exist 16 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: within the same universe as us. It's so funny, it's 17 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: so crazy. Every episode is just loaded floor to ceiling 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: with pop culture references from the real world. It's such 19 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: a cool thing. And so what we're going to do 20 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: here on this podcast, We're going to take those moments. 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,479 Speaker 1: We are going to distill them. We're going to boil 22 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: them down so that it's a gelatinous paste, and we 23 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: are going to put it on under a microscope. And 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: look at what makes this pop culture moment, what makes 25 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: this reference? What are the atoms that build up these references? 26 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: And who are the people that made them real? Who 27 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: are the people behind them, the ones that wrote the songs, 28 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: the ones that are in the movies, the ones that 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: wrote the books. We're going to talk to them all 30 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: here on Imo pop Culture and this week, oh man, 31 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: we are going back to a show that defined pop 32 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: culture for an entire generation. If you ask me American Idol, 33 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: do you know American Idol? I am acutely aware of 34 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: American Idol. I work with Ryan Seacrest on a daily 35 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: basis here in Los Angeles, and if he is listening, 36 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: American Idols my favorite show that has ever existed. I 37 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: love American Idol. I would die for American Idol. But 38 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: here's the thing. In the world of Gilmore Girls, which 39 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: we have established exists in the same universe as us, 40 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: there's a character who is not that big of an 41 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: American Idol fan, our friend Lane Kim. She does not 42 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: appreciate the musical stylings of our friends on American Idol. 43 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: And if you want to follow along with me here, 44 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: we're going to season four, episode eighteen Tick tick boom. 45 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: We are going to dive into this moment between Lane 46 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: and Rory. So here, I'm sitting in a stage for you. 47 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: Close your eyes, everybody, close your eyes. Visualize this with me. 48 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: The town is getting ready for the Flower Show. There 49 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: is a search party underway for the missing fifty nine 50 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: Easter eggs that are rotting across Stars Hollow. Kirk hid 51 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: hundreds of Easter eggs, but only only a few. Not 52 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,839 Speaker 1: all of them were found. Not all of them were found. 53 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: We left fifty nine out there. There's a terrible smell 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: that is just wreaking havoc on Stars Hollow, and everyone's 55 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: sick of it. So we once we determine the source 56 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: of the smell, we got to go find those eggs. 57 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: Everyone's looking for him. Lane and Rory are walking through 58 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: the middle of town. We joined them. Mid conversation, Lane 59 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: is talking about the death to Disco movement in the 60 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: late seventies. When we got rich, we decided we were 61 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: done with disco, and Rory says, there's no disco to 62 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 1: kill anymore. They wiped it out. It's the last of 63 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: the buffalo. The disco's gone. But Lane replies, there are 64 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: other things that need wiping out, phony rappers, most techno, 65 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: alt country, Christian rock, anything fusion, classic alternative radio world 66 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: they do is play the same Nirvana song over and 67 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: over again, the Rubens, the Clays, the Clarksons, and then 68 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: Rory says it's going to be a bloodbath. Okay, Lane, 69 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: I'm going to disagree with you. I don't want the Rubens, 70 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: the Clays, and the Clarksons run out of town. We 71 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: like Ruben, Clay and Clarkson. And in case you missed 72 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: that when you saw this on TV and you didn't 73 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: know who they were talking about, we were talking about 74 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: Rubens Suttered, Clay Aiken, and Kelly Clarkson. Those are the 75 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: superstars of the first two seasons of America Idol. We 76 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: know that Kelly Clarkson is the first Idol. She won 77 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: season one season two. It was such a tight race. 78 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: A lot of people believe the phone system at Idol 79 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: was not equipped to handle the sheer volume of calls 80 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: that came in to vote for Clay aichin for Ruben Stuttered. 81 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: Ruben Stutter took home the trophy in season two. He 82 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: was the winner, but Clay Aiken was a close second 83 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: and he went on to have an incredible career, releasing 84 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: seven albums. He's an incredible this guy. He didn't just 85 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: become a musical superstar. I mean he ran for public 86 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: office in North Carolina. He was on Broadway. This guy's 87 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 1: done at all And we are going to talk to 88 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: Clay Aiken, the legendary Clay Achen. I had to pinch 89 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: myself if this is happening. I'm just like so excited 90 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: about this. We're such big fans of you. 91 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: Oh well, thank you. 92 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 2: When people say the word when people use legend or legendary, 93 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 2: just makes you feel old. 94 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: No, that's what they do when you're. 95 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: Old, Clay. Do you know how many babies are legendary 96 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: that exists? That does not mean old, That just means impact. 97 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: That means, uh, you're iconic, that this is a that Yes, exactly, Okay, 98 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: Clay Achin. I mean we got to talk American Idol, 99 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: like season season two, American Idol runner up. It's one 100 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: of those things where I always say this, and I'm 101 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: not trying to like dis Idol by saying this, but 102 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: like if you walk down the street, if I walk 103 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: down the street right now and I say, like, pull 104 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: a random person, I say name people from American Idol, 105 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: they will say Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aikin, Ruben stuttered. I 106 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: guarantee it like those Carrieantasic further down the list first 107 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: four seasons. Yes, yes, but like you were, You and 108 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: Ruben were such memorable parts of this show's entire legacy. 109 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: I mean, what when you if we can go back 110 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: to what two thousand and three, when you were auditioning for, 111 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: like when you first became aware of American Idol, what 112 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: was going through your head, Like did you think this 113 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: was going to amount to anything? Did you think like, no, no, no, 114 00:05:59,000 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: none of us. 115 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 3: In fact, I mean. 116 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: We were the start of the show. Really, I don't don't. 117 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: Obviously Kelly's done very well, but season one I think 118 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 2: like nine million viewersh I didn't watch it. 119 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 3: I did not even see the season. I didn't see 120 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 3: season one at all. 121 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 2: It was a summer series, which is part of why 122 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: because I was not I was doing other things during 123 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 2: the summer, and so I think it was just it 124 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: just got enough viewers for Fox to be like, Okay, 125 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 2: we'll do it again. And the only reason I auditioned 126 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: is because I had been home that summer in Raleigh, 127 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 2: and I went back to Charlotte for the school year, 128 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: and the mother of one of the kids who I 129 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: worked with had seen it and said, oh, you should 130 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 2: audition for that. 131 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 3: And I was like, no, I don't want to do TV. 132 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 3: I mean I had not seen it or anything, and 133 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 3: so she essentially just said no, you gotta got it. 134 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: And I finally said, Okay, I'll do it. If you 135 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 2: stop nagging me, I'll do it. And I wouldn't have 136 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: auditioned it. I wouldn't have even done that if there 137 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 2: hadn't been an audition in Charlotte, so I didn't have 138 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: to go anywhere. 139 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 3: And so it was, and that was. 140 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: It was two thousand and two when we auditioned and 141 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: I didn't make it in Charlotte. I didn't make it through. 142 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 2: And I am just one of those there's nothing that 143 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 2: will motivate me more than being told no. I mean 144 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 2: you anything, anything in the world you could beg me 145 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: to do, and buddy, you tell me no, I'm getting 146 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: that now. And so that since I got told no, 147 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: it was like, screw it, and so I did. I 148 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 2: drove to Atlanta the next week and I camped out 149 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: on the street for two nights because I was like, 150 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: be damned if you're gonna cut me on the first day, 151 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: and so I uh so I was stubborn and insistent 152 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 2: then and went back. But at the time, even then, 153 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: so I had to camp out. It was a huge, 154 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: huge thing in Atlanta. Now, I think there were like 155 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: two thousand people in line, which sounded at the time huge, 156 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: whereas season three and season four, I think they had 157 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: tens of thousands in line in every city. But even 158 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: then on the street, none of us knew that. A 159 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: of course in Atlanta, I didn't know that it was 160 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 2: going to change my whole life. And I also did 161 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: not realized the show was going to be a hit, 162 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: right because nine million viewers it was enough at the 163 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: time to get a pick up again, But it wasn't. 164 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 3: It was not a juggernaut. 165 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 2: It was not the And I say to people, I 166 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 2: think that has a lot to do with why Kelly 167 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: and myself and Ruben and Fantasia connected with audiences better too, 168 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: because we didn't expect it. Like in subsequent years later 169 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: season five and beyond, they. 170 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 3: All knew what it could do. 171 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 2: Kelly had won Grammys, Fantasia had won Grammys, and I 172 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 2: had not, but the people can knew what they were 173 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 2: getting when they showed up to auditions, so they came 174 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: more prepared and polished, and I came looking a miss 175 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 2: because you know, we didn't we were prepared. We did 176 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 2: not realize that there was what the stakes were, and 177 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 2: I think so for that reason, all of us, all 178 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:13,959 Speaker 2: of us in season two, were wide eyed and fascinated 179 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,599 Speaker 2: by this and we didn't even know it was a 180 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 2: huge hit until I didn't realize it was a hit 181 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: until the show was season was almost over. 182 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: Wow. 183 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 2: We knew that we were going to get to be 184 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: on the cover People magazine at one point, like we 185 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 2: knew that was happening because we had to go to 186 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 2: the photo shoot for it. But we were very sequestered. 187 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 2: We lived in the house together. We would go out 188 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 2: once a week to go shopping for our outfits, and 189 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 2: outside of that, we lived at the studio and we 190 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 2: didn't really know what was going on. They had they 191 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: had were pretty strict inside the idle house as to 192 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 2: what we could see from the outside world. We weren't. 193 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 2: We didn't have the internet back then. We had a computer, 194 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 2: had dial up on it, and nobody wasted time to 195 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 2: go down there and deal with it. So we didn't 196 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 2: realize it was a big deal. We didn't have the 197 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: entertainment tonight in the house. We didn't know that it 198 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 2: was the biggest show in the country. And all we 199 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: saw every week were the fact that there were three 200 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: hundred people in the studio watching and cheering. And I 201 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 2: was convinced that some of the signs that they were 202 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: holding were being made for them by the production, like 203 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 2: here they were handing them out to everybody. 204 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 3: I didn't like. We did not know. 205 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 2: And until this episode, I guess week thirteen or something 206 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: like that. Fourteen, the week of the Top three, they 207 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 2: flew Reuben and kim Lock and I back to our 208 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: hometowns to because you know, homecoming, and I we flew, 209 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 2: we got fly private. Was very exciting, all right, And 210 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 2: when we got to Raleigh, they took me from the 211 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 2: airport directly to the helicopter for the local news station, 212 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: and the helicopter for the local news station then flew 213 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: me to the baseball stadium where I was going to 214 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 2: throw out the first pitch and I just assumed it 215 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: and there were fifteen thousand people there screaming, and I 216 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 2: it was like, Holy, this show is big. I did 217 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: not know. We had no idea how big it was. 218 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: I didn't know that you guys were like sequestered during 219 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: this That's wild to me. So it's almost like you 220 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: almost had like a big brother like real world situation 221 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: going on too, right. 222 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it didn't happen like that in later seasons. Season 223 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 2: one had happened, had been, like I said, enough to 224 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,559 Speaker 2: get them back on TV. And so season two they 225 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: had this idea that they were going to have us 226 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: all live in the same house together and they were 227 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 2: going to also film sort of the behind the scenes 228 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 2: footage for bonus content, and they never ended up doing it. 229 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,319 Speaker 2: They just didn't have time in the episodes to get 230 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 2: that and they didn't need to, so they put us 231 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: all in the house, and I think, I don't remember. 232 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 2: I feel like we're the only season. Season one might 233 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 2: have also, but I feel like we might have been 234 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 2: the only season to live in a house together like that. 235 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 2: And I say sequestered because part of it was intentional. 236 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: You know, they didn't want us, they didn't want us 237 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: getting in our heads about who might be doing better 238 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 2: than others. 239 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,719 Speaker 3: But largely we were. 240 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 2: Just so busy and we were constantly busy, and they 241 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: did not want to give us. They didn't give us 242 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: access to shows like Entertainment Tonight and that kind of 243 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 2: thing because they didn't want us know. They didn't really 244 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: want us know what was gone. But like I said, 245 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: we didn't have the internet back then. I mean we did, 246 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 2: but it wasn't what it is now. So we we 247 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 2: were sequestered by time at the time too, in the 248 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 2: same way we all were sequested in the eighties and nineties. 249 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 2: We just didn't have access to the information. So I 250 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: mean we saw the like they brought us copies of 251 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: the People magazine when we were on the cover of it. 252 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 2: You know, we saw them, but we didn't know that, 253 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 2: Like we didn't see the overnight ratings like they were seeing. 254 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 2: The production was seeing that, you know, they had gone 255 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 2: from nine million i'm a finale of season one to 256 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 2: like twenty five million an episode in our season and 257 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: then forty million for the finale, and we had no clue. 258 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: It's so crazy now during the finale, the moment you 259 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: find out that you did not win, I mean, how 260 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: did that? 261 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 3: What? What? 262 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:29,200 Speaker 1: Like I just can't imagine things are so again, like 263 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: this is the only thing you're doing you're so focused 264 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: on it, you want it more than anything. Then you 265 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: find out you got second Like, what was going through 266 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: your mind at that moment? 267 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 2: Oh, well, I knew before I had seen the card backstage. 268 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 2: We were standing backstage behind the big screen before we 269 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 2: went out the commercial and Ryan Seacrest was kind of 270 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 2: standing next to me. Ruben and I were talking and 271 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 2: I looked over and Ryan had pulled the card out 272 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 2: to look and I saw it over his shoulder. 273 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 3: So I knew that Ruben had won. 274 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 2: So if you go back and watch the episode and 275 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: that moment, you actually see that I'm staring at him 276 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 2: during it. 277 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 3: I'm not even looking forward. 278 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 2: I'm staying staring at him because I knew because I 279 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: had told myself all I want to see his face 280 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 2: when he survives out even went one. 281 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: So so that sort of spoiled it a little bit. 282 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: But also neither one of us we just weren't again, 283 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 2: we didn't know what the stakes were. Yeah, we didn't 284 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 2: realize even in that finale. I think by the finale 285 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 2: we had kind of realized that it was a big 286 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 2: show because we had been home by that point, and 287 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 2: I they even did a satellite uplink to Raleigh back 288 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 2: then of and they had like nine thousand people in 289 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 2: the arena watching live. 290 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 3: So I was like, oh, this is big. 291 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 2: But we had already been told that we were both 292 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 2: going to get record deals. We had already been you know, 293 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 2: we'd also we were tired. Yeah, it was a very 294 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: rigorous schedule. So I was not competitive. Ruben says he 295 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 2: wasn't either. He was probably a little bit more than me, 296 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 2: but neither. 297 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 3: One of us. I think either one of us. 298 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 2: We would have been excited to just go onto the 299 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 2: next step and see what was next. 300 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 3: So, you know, I didn't find myself. 301 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: I didn't find myself being disappointed for having lost until 302 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 2: the next season when they did the opening package of 303 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 2: the show and it had a picture of Kelly on 304 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: it and then a picture of Reuben, and then I 305 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 2: was like, well, and so for like the next six 306 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 2: seventh season they had they had the winners, the earlier winners, 307 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 2: and they probably still do, I don't know, And I 308 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: was like, well, damn, I don't get mentioned. 309 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 3: That was the only time I ever cared. 310 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you're like kind of the poster child for like, 311 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: you don't need to win Idle to have a great career, 312 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: like like so like right after the season ended, I mean, 313 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: you get your record deal? Invisible is such. I love 314 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: that song. God, I love that song. It's so good. 315 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 2: Well, Dave all Day the dance got the DJ Dave 316 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: all Da just remixed it and just we just put 317 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 2: those out like a few weeks ago, which is like 318 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 2: this whole new resurgence of the song. I guess, so 319 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 2: now you have two more versions to listen to. 320 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, I was going to mention that a bit later, 321 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: but hey, let's jump to that. Actually, you you just 322 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: released this remix with day A Boy Day And how 323 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: what was it like? I watched the videos of you, 324 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: like going down to Nashville to meet up with them 325 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: and going to the studio and everything. What was it 326 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: like revisiting that song again to create this new version? 327 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: Well weird in so many ways because I because it's 328 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 2: been a while, it's been right and so and I 329 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 2: don't again, I don't. 330 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 3: I don't really know that. I knew. 331 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,239 Speaker 2: There were there were other hits in two thousand and three, obviously, 332 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 2: but the genre that there were not many pop hits 333 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 2: back then, you know, like that in two thousand and 334 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 2: three was the r Kelly Era and the and when 335 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: it came to pop it was very avril lavine heavy 336 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 2: and that kind of stuff. So like the Bubblegummy pop, 337 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: there just wasn't much back in the early two thousands 338 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 2: as much in the early two thousands, so I think 339 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 2: that's why it might have endured a little bit better. 340 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 2: I didn't realize that though, But going back and singing 341 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 2: it again was wild, because you know, I don't I 342 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 2: don't remember how long it took to record it the 343 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 2: first time, but Desmond Child produced it, and he's a 344 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 2: perfectionist and it shows his work is incredible. But it 345 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 2: you know, we did it a lot to get it right. 346 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 2: But now having even though I it's been twenty three 347 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 2: years or twenty two years since I recorded it, I've 348 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 2: sung it seven thousand times right, So it was it 349 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 2: was a very different experience going in the studio to 350 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 2: record it now because it's so in my bones that 351 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 2: I kind of was able to sleep through it and 352 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,479 Speaker 2: just do it. I don't have perfect pitch. You know 353 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 2: those people who can pick you can say singing a flat, 354 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: and they can sing an a flat. 355 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 3: I can't. 356 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 2: I don't have perfect pitch except for the fact that 357 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 2: I can start invisible on the right note every time 358 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 2: because I've done it so much, so I guess maybe. 359 00:17:57,920 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 3: I do now. 360 00:17:59,640 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 2: So it was weird to go back in and record 361 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 2: it again. But it was even weirder because, like, I'm 362 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 2: not a dance music kind of person. Yeah, it's not 363 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 2: necessarily what people think of when they think of klay 364 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 2: Ach and right, So it was sort of surreal to 365 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 2: be in with the biggest DJ. 366 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 3: Really probably ever when it comes to remixing stuff. I mean, yeah, 367 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 3: he was the. 368 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 2: First and the he's the OG, and he's had like 369 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 2: one hundred and twenty five number one hits, So to 370 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 2: be in there with someone who was so very dance 371 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 2: music was a little surreal for me. It's not you know, 372 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: I said to people, it is not something that was 373 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: on my bucket list, nor even something I ever thought 374 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,560 Speaker 2: would happen. But I love what he did. I think 375 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 2: it's so fun. 376 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: I love it. And something I love about you and 377 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: like following your career, like you're you're never afraid to 378 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: step out of your comfort zone, Like there's so much 379 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: You've done so much stuff, and. 380 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 3: May be afraid of some of the things I've done, 381 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 3: but I'm never doing some of them again. 382 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:08,719 Speaker 1: But you try it, you know, you do? 383 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 3: You have to. 384 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 2: I also think I mean, listen, I went into this, 385 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 2: like I said, not knowing what to expect, not expecting 386 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 2: it to change my life. I didn't plan on being 387 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: a singer. I didn't plan on making a life and entertainment. 388 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 2: I was going to be a teacher. 389 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: Wow. 390 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 2: And so there were so many things in those early 391 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: years that were just like an opportunity that I never 392 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 2: thought i'd have, So let's do it. Like I sang 393 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: for the World Series and also not a sports person, right, 394 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: sang for Miss America, which I'm probably closer to. But 395 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: I never thought i'd get, you know, and spam a 396 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 2: lot doing Broadway and we chose spam a loot, my 397 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 2: manager and I at the time chose spam a loot. 398 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 3: There were several shows that had asked me. 399 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: To do them, but it's Mike Nichols, and it's silly, 400 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 2: and it's not something that people would expect. And I 401 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 2: found that doing things that people wouldn't expect tends to 402 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,399 Speaker 2: open up other doors for you. And so yeah, so 403 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 2: the I don't think I'm gonna do a dance album, no, 404 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 2: but it is something that is interesting and different, and 405 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 2: I like, you know when I when I die, I'll 406 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 2: be able to say I tried a little bit of 407 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 2: everything on my plate. 408 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: I love it. I absolutely love it. Is there is 409 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: there a genre of music or like a style that 410 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: you've always kind of wanted to play around it and 411 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 1: you haven't done it yet. 412 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 2: This is gonna make me sound so bad. I don't 413 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 2: know one genre from the next, to be honest. 414 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: With you, I love that. 415 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 2: If you opened up my my, you know the stuff 416 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 2: I listened to, there's zero rhyme. 417 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 3: I think. 418 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 2: I think that YouTube music is completely confused by me, 419 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 2: like it doesn't get uh. So, I mean I like singers. 420 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 2: I like I like songs that have to be sung. 421 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 2: That's why I do have always done. I've done a 422 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,280 Speaker 2: lot of ballads in the past, but there a lot 423 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 2: of great up tempo songs that have to be sung also, 424 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 2: So I gravitate towards anything that's got a melody that 425 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 2: I want to sing, and that can. 426 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:13,880 Speaker 3: Be Broadway R and B, jazz rock, you. 427 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 2: Know, I mean anything, And so I don't know, you know, 428 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 2: I am very recently, I have been very drawn to 429 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 2: these groups that are reviving some of the sounds of 430 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 2: the eighties, you know, the synth wave era, and I've 431 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 2: always loved that sort of I've felt at times that 432 00:21:35,640 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 2: I've was born too late or too soon one I 433 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 2: don't know, because you know the Peter Satara Richard Marks era, 434 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 2: that period in the eighties and early nineties when Balladier's 435 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 2: did had number one hits, big to all the time. 436 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,440 Speaker 2: I love that, so, I mean, I can't say I 437 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 2: haven't played around with it. I did a whole album 438 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 2: of songs from the eighties. But that's where I've That's 439 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 2: probably where I feel mo comfortable. 440 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:04,320 Speaker 1: Gosha, I love it. Clay Achine is hanging out with us. 441 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: It is I smell pop culture. We have to play 442 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: just a few commercials here. Everybody stick around. We'll be 443 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:19,960 Speaker 1: right back. It's I smell pop culture. My name is Easton. 444 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: I'm hanging out with Clay Achin. I can't believe I 445 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: get to say those words. I'm hanging out with Clay 446 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 1: Achin Season two of American Idol. Just one of the 447 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 1: coolest guys around too. As I've been hanging out with 448 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: him today. He's just the You did not disappoint you 449 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: exceeded every expectation. 450 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,360 Speaker 2: I'm always so much nicer when people say such nice thing, 451 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 2: so it makes it makes it easier. 452 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,439 Speaker 1: Okay, So unfortunately I have to I do have to 453 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 1: bring up you were referencing Gilmore Girls, and it's not 454 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: it's not mean, but it's also not super nice. I 455 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: just have to warn you. 456 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 3: Oh trust it, listen, I'm sure it is not the worst. 457 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 1: So at this moment in Gilmore Girls, there's a character 458 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: Elaine who's kind of like a music snob, and she's 459 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 1: walking with Rory the daughter and there and Lane is 460 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:06,879 Speaker 1: talking about the period in the late seventies when we 461 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,119 Speaker 1: kind of like decided we were going to run disco 462 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: out of town, like we're done with disco, and she's saying, 463 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: now a days, there's more music we need to like 464 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: kind of get out of town. And that includes phony, rappers, techno, walt, country, 465 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: the Rubens, the Clays, the Clarksons. So you Kelly and 466 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:27,480 Speaker 1: Ruben were kind of, yeah, never. 467 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 3: Can run there, don't ever run her out of town. 468 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 1: No, And obviously we want nothing but more Clay more, 469 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: Ruben more, Kelly, we want it all. But how did 470 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 1: you react to like, like there was a period I 471 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: remember where like it, you know, the it was like 472 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: cool to like clown on American Idol and the singers 473 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: that came from that. 474 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:50,479 Speaker 2: Have been in I have been in populations and groups 475 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 2: and democratic I have been a part, yeah, of all, 476 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 2: or many many of the most popular things to make 477 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 2: fun of. 478 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 3: So how did I feel about that? 479 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:02,439 Speaker 1: How do you handle that? 480 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 2: Well, frankly, it had I mean it depends on what 481 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 2: I don't know. I was the idle thing was nothing 482 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 2: compared to the gay jokes, right, so you learn at 483 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 2: some point. 484 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 3: I look back on. 485 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 2: Let me put it this way, I can't tell you 486 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 2: how I handled it in a moment. I'm sure I 487 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 2: did the stiff upper lip think and pretended it and't 488 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 2: bother me, And I'd be lying if I said it didn't. 489 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 2: But I can't remember it bothering me because now I 490 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: look at things and go, oh my god, jokes were 491 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 2: so much funnier when you were making fun of me 492 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: for being gay. 493 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 3: I mean, like, it's just not funny anymore. And I 494 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 3: did listen. 495 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 2: The gay jokes probably bothered me most during that period 496 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: when I was not out. 497 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 3: I didn't know I was gay myself. 498 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I didn't really realize I was gay myself 499 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 2: until I was on Idol. 500 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 3: It was halfway through the season that I. 501 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 2: Was like, oh wait a second, and so gay jokes 502 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 2: prior to that went right over my head, and gay 503 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 2: jokes after that probably only bothered me because I was 504 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 2: afraid my mom was going to hear them and believe 505 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,360 Speaker 2: them or that kind of thing. But looking but then 506 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 2: after when I came out public, I okay, go for it. 507 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 2: Who cares, it's what it is. And for better for worse, 508 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: you know my name because of them. Because I was 509 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 2: in the punchlines to to every late night show between 510 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 2: two thousand and three and two thousand and eight, there 511 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 2: was probably a gay joke. There was a period for 512 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 2: a while where I could hear a setup of a 513 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 2: gay joke coming in a show or a movie or 514 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 2: a stand up set, and I'd be like, oh my god, 515 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 2: it's gonna say my name. They're gonna say my name, 516 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 2: and bam they say it was always me. And I 517 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 2: actually found myself getting more impressed when you could surprise me, 518 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 2: because I wasn't surprised anymore. 519 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,159 Speaker 1: Wow. And when you when you came out, I know 520 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: you said you you lost so many fans when that happened, 521 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: and it was such a such a hard time to 522 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: be that open, and I just want you to know that, like, 523 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: I'm just so inspired by it, and it's so like 524 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: there's so many young people that look up to you 525 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,239 Speaker 1: and you're courage your bravery when that happened, I just 526 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: think it's just so important. And you know you'll lose 527 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: some fans, but like it's I don't know, I just 528 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: I found that so inspiring. 529 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 2: I think, well, I think everybody, I didn't do anything 530 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 2: any differently than anyone else who has to come out does. 531 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 2: I just happened to do it publicly, right, but everybody, 532 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 2: I mean. 533 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 3: It's it's it's it's not a public thing. It's a 534 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 3: very personal thing. 535 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 2: So absolutely the anxiety that I might have had doing 536 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:37,320 Speaker 2: it is absolutely no bigger than the anxiety that someone 537 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 2: has who's just coming out to one parent. Right, it's scaryish. 538 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 2: It's the same level of scaryish no matter what, because 539 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,879 Speaker 2: it's so personal. But I want to clarify I didn't, 540 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 2: you know, I think when I did mention that last 541 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 2: year at some point when I was talking about a 542 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 2: Christmas doing Christmas album press, and I mentioned that, yeah, 543 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 2: fifty percent, and people were skeptical of that, and I 544 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 2: think we had hard numbers apparently from sales at Spamalot 545 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: that literally got cut from eighty two percent to forty 546 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:10,120 Speaker 2: one the next week. 547 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 3: Wow. 548 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 2: But I do need to clarify that I don't really 549 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: think that that was about homophobia or people not liking 550 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:24,200 Speaker 2: me because I was gay. I mean, obviously that's happens everywhere, 551 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: but I've also seen myself prior to them, and if 552 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 2: you didn't like gay people, you didn't like me already. 553 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:35,520 Speaker 2: So I'm well aware now that everybody knew. I can 554 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: see it now, But but I think that there was 555 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 2: it was less about that, and it was more about 556 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: the fact that, you know, so many of the folks 557 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: who who followed me from Idol were you know, teenage 558 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,880 Speaker 2: girls who had some sort of idealization and a fantasy 559 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 2: that was maybe taken away or or killed in some 560 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 2: way at the time. And you know, obviously that's not 561 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 2: my intention. I didn't intend any of it. I didn't 562 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: intend for them to fall in love with me in 563 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 2: the first place, so I certainly didn't mean to upset them. 564 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 2: But so I just I say that to clarify because 565 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 2: it's the first time anybody has asked me about it 566 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,720 Speaker 2: since I did that, I said that that it wasn't 567 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 2: it wasn't about I don't think people left because they 568 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 2: had a problem with my sexual orientation. 569 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 3: I think that, you know, I it was. 570 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 2: A audience was looking for something that they weren't able 571 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,920 Speaker 2: to get anymore. And yes, people are gonna say, well, 572 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,119 Speaker 2: obviously they should have known they weren't gonna you know, 573 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 2: but it's you know, we have relationships with our we 574 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: have secret, private relationships with the celebrities who we love right, 575 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 2: who have no idea who we are, and we fantasize 576 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 2: about the day that we're gonna you know, I had 577 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 2: I used to have a crush. 578 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 3: I'm not even to say who was wrong, because I 579 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 3: do not have it anymore. 580 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 2: But I used to have a crush on some on 581 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 2: on some guy on TV, and oh my god, I 582 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 2: just like every time he. 583 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 3: Came on TV, I thought, I was like, he's speaking 584 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 3: straight to me. And I was like twenty eight at 585 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 3: the time. I'm embarrassed, but but still, I uh it. 586 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: You know, when that goes away, when you have that, 587 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 2: it's irrational, right, Yeah, And so there were there were 588 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: there were certainly there girls right now who have irrational 589 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: love for, you know, one of the Backstreet Boys, or 590 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 2: for Sewan Mendez, or for Harry Styles, and they love 591 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 2: him because they think maybe he'll look at them and 592 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 2: he'll it'll be like Mary, like Kate Middleton and Prince William, 593 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 2: you know, you get you'll get to be that one 594 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 2: and that can live forever. 595 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 3: But it got killed by me right when I came out. 596 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 2: And I think that was probably a bigger part of 597 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 2: why there was a drop off, because I don't think 598 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 2: that I don't think that it was about, oh, we 599 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 2: don't like gay people. 600 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 3: We had gay people. It was just because, oh, I 601 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:58,200 Speaker 3: can't marry you now. 602 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: Anyway, I appreciate that clarification, and you know, like I 603 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: think about it, and I remember when I don't know 604 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 1: how old I was, but like I think when I 605 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: was like twelve, I had had a huge crush on 606 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,760 Speaker 1: Posh Spice, on Victoria Victoria Adams at the time, and 607 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: then when she married David Beckham, I remember being depressed, 608 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: Like I was like actively depressed, and I was like, 609 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: I'm twelve, I live in a marriage. She's not going 610 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,480 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna be with Victoria Beckham. But like I 611 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: remember being sad and so I guess. 612 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, and I said it on that day, right, 613 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 2: or when that story came out, you know, when I 614 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 2: came out publicly and confirmed it with my own voice, right, 615 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 2: you know, I imagine thirteen and fourteen year old girls 616 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 2: all over the country having to go take my poster 617 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 2: off their wall, you know, not because they didn't like 618 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 2: me because being gay. But it's like, ugh, I can't 619 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 2: fantasize about that anymore. And it wasn't like it was 620 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,960 Speaker 2: a sexual fantasy. It was more of a oh my god, 621 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 2: I can bringing home to mom and dad. He's not 622 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 2: going to try anything funny and come a kind of 623 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 2: a fantasy. And I say, you know, it's interesting, now, 624 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 2: what has it been fifteen it's been seventeen years because 625 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:13,400 Speaker 2: my kids just turned seventeen and seventeen years later to 626 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 2: be having left music and coming back to it now 627 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 2: to say, you know, there's been space for any of 628 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 2: that hard there's the heartbreak to go away and now 629 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 2: you know the relationship is different, can be different. Those 630 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 2: any of those thirteen fourteen year old girls who had 631 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 2: to take the poster down, who had their heart broken, 632 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 2: maybe you know, now we've got some space, you've realized 633 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 2: that that was irrational. You don't need to be upset 634 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 2: and no, I'm your gay best friend, you know what 635 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:45,959 Speaker 2: I mean. Like, it's a different relationship, and it's so 636 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 2: it's kind of interesting to go back and see, especially 637 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 2: as we as Dave's put out these new invisibles, to 638 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 2: see some of these comments on Instagram or wherever. I 639 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 2: see people who are like, oh my god, this was 640 00:31:58,960 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 2: my jam, loved this. I'm so glad you're back, because 641 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 2: I think I bet some of those I bet some 642 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 2: of those girls hated me seventeen years ago. 643 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 3: They were pissed, but now they're they're like, it's like, 644 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:12,240 Speaker 3: come on home, let's do this again. 645 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: But you know, you know what I think about, though, 646 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: is how many for all the girls I had that, 647 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 1: you know, there with tears stream on their face, take 648 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: the clay can poster you down. I wonder how many 649 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: boys were watching you on American Idol feeling a certain 650 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: thing and then seeing you be honest about who you 651 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: are and and and come out publicly, and then they 652 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 1: proudly put the klay ak and poster up. I wonder 653 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: how often that happens I. 654 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 2: Don't think there are many people with klayak and posters 655 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 2: in their rooms anymore. But you know, listen, I I 656 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,920 Speaker 2: do hope that I'd love to believe that that happened 657 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 2: for for gay, gay boys, gay girls, you know, anybody 658 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 2: who felt a little bit misunderstood at the time to 659 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 2: see somebody do that. But you know, it was not 660 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 2: a Like I said, I it's weird to talk about that, 661 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 2: and I can logically understand how maybe that happened, But 662 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 2: like I said, it's such a personal thing. 663 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 3: Of course, no one who's doing it is or should 664 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 3: be doing it. 665 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 2: I didn't come out until I did because I didn't 666 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 2: want my grandmother to have to I didn't want to 667 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 2: have to tell my grandmother. 668 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: I mean that literally was my fear. 669 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 2: In August of two thousand and eight, before the story 670 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 2: came out, I was out to my mother, I was 671 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 2: out that pretty much everybody who I worked with, nobody 672 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 2: else spam a lot. I wasn't out, you know, I 673 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:33,320 Speaker 2: was out to people who I was around with no problem, 674 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 2: but I didn't want to say it out loud to 675 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 2: the whole public, mostly because I didn't want my grandmother 676 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 2: to have to read it and I mean, I went, 677 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 2: and I went and told her, drove to her house 678 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,440 Speaker 2: with my brother and took her out into the backyard 679 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:50,480 Speaker 2: because my grandfather was sick at the time and was 680 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 2: he didn't need to he yeah, So I took her 681 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 2: out and I told her, and I cried and cried 682 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:59,959 Speaker 2: and cried, and she handled it beautifully, wasn't bothered by 683 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 2: But to me, I never would have thought that would 684 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 2: be the way she would respond. And so it's so 685 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:07,920 Speaker 2: personal that you're not thinking about what it can do 686 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 2: for other people. But I mean, I would love to 687 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:14,759 Speaker 2: think that that that happened, and I hope it did, 688 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 2: and I hope that it continues. 689 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 3: To for for people. 690 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 2: You know, now, you know there's been there's been a 691 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 2: lot of people who've done it since me. So I 692 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: think there's a lot of example that folks have now 693 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:29,160 Speaker 2: better than me. 694 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: Perhaps Clay ak and you're the coolest guy in the world. 695 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 1: We have so much more to get into on I 696 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: smell pop culture, But for it's just a couple of commercials. Everybody, 697 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:38,919 Speaker 1: I'm in a jogging place while they play. Don't worry, 698 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: I'm not sitting back. I'll be here doing push ups 699 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:52,360 Speaker 1: and stuff. We'll be right back. It's ice smell pop culture. 700 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 1: My name is Easton. I'm hanging out with Clay Ach 701 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 1: and the legendary Clay Ache and from Season two of 702 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: American Idol. Think it means so open about this, Clay. 703 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,439 Speaker 1: I just want to mention really quick too, that I'm 704 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:08,799 Speaker 1: so inspired and fascinated by your political career. When when 705 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 1: you announced that you were running for office in North Carolina, 706 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: I was like, this is awesome thing. 707 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 3: I'm never doing it again, but okay. 708 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 1: I think to do that is just so incredible and 709 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,160 Speaker 1: it's so you know, it's so hard, it is it 710 00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:25,920 Speaker 1: takes everything from you, and but I just I'm so 711 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:27,680 Speaker 1: inspired by people who are willing to put all that 712 00:35:27,719 --> 00:35:30,440 Speaker 1: on the line to help their community. Like, like, what 713 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:33,360 Speaker 1: drew you to make that leap and to go for 714 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 1: public office? 715 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 2: Well, I was always more interested in that that I 716 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 2: was in music. I was very into politics when I 717 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:40,280 Speaker 2: was young. I was very into it in high school 718 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 2: and was I grew up in a I grew up 719 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 2: in a time that was much different than this one, right, 720 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 2: So you know I had people like the governor Jim Hunt, 721 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 2: who was the governor of North Carolina, who I just 722 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:58,720 Speaker 2: still think is a hero Terry Sandford, who was our senator. 723 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:02,399 Speaker 2: People who really went into it for public service, and 724 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:04,440 Speaker 2: there aren't many left, I mean, sadly. 725 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 3: There They are people who are who are. 726 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 2: In politics on both sides, who I like, who I 727 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,560 Speaker 2: think are fine, but I don't I still don't think 728 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:17,279 Speaker 2: they're necessarily doing it for the public good. Even the 729 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,000 Speaker 2: ones I like, I don't think they're really left. So 730 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,319 Speaker 2: I went into it thinking that it was an opportunity 731 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: to use the platform that I had from idle to 732 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 2: to kind of do something good. And yeah, I don't 733 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 2: think that's the case anymore. 734 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 3: So I didn't. I didn't hate the process of running. 735 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 3: I didn't mind. 736 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 2: I mean, it's constantly raising money, which is disgusting. That's 737 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 2: all to do was ask people, it's literally it has 738 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 2: to be banned. I mean, I'm not gonna say it 739 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 2: should be. 740 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 3: It has to be. We got to get money out 741 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 3: of it. But I didn't dislike that. 742 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 2: But I think that that's because you know, so much 743 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,840 Speaker 2: of politics, even about even in twenty fourteen when I 744 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 2: first ran, was very attack driven, right, there was a 745 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 2: lot of attack stuff, and I had been attacked already. 746 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 2: I mean, not just the stuff we've talked about, but 747 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 2: I mean, my first exposure to the public was Simon 748 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 2: Caroll telling me that I was awful, or that he 749 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 2: preferred me with his eyes closed, Like I was on 750 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 2: TV in front of thirty million people having someone insult me. 751 00:37:20,960 --> 00:37:25,640 Speaker 2: So my skin was plenty thick for politics. But what 752 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 2: disheartened me was just the fact that it became and 753 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 2: that was probably more evident the second time I ran 754 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,840 Speaker 2: in twenty two, that it really just was became for 755 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:40,720 Speaker 2: so many people about winning, not even about doing anything, 756 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 2: you know. 757 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:43,879 Speaker 3: And I liken it to sports, where. 758 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 2: We don't care if you have a team that you like, 759 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,800 Speaker 2: if you have a favorite, you don't you hate everybody 760 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 2: else because you're so loyal to them. And I don't 761 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 2: think that's what politics should be about it certainly, and 762 00:37:58,719 --> 00:37:59,800 Speaker 2: what I thought it was going to be when I 763 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 2: went in to it, and it becomes about just winning 764 00:38:04,719 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 2: and as long as I win and get the job, 765 00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 2: then I don't care what I have to do to 766 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,200 Speaker 2: get there, even if you go. And yeah, and I 767 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:14,799 Speaker 2: just frankly, I don't like either side now. I mean, yeah, 768 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:17,879 Speaker 2: I have a lean, have still lean, but I don't 769 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 2: I don't have. There are not many people that I 770 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:23,320 Speaker 2: in that in that world who I think are doing 771 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:26,880 Speaker 2: things the way they the founding fathers wanted us to. 772 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm with you there. You have such a great 773 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:35,640 Speaker 1: attitude about like coming being the runner up, coming in 774 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:39,200 Speaker 1: second place, like your Instagram says like American Idle runner up, 775 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,799 Speaker 1: apprentice runner up, political runner up. What advice do you 776 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 1: have for people out there that feel like they're constantly 777 00:38:45,920 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: like just out of reach of what they want, that 778 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 1: they're always coming in second or something like that. 779 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:51,759 Speaker 3: Own it. 780 00:38:51,920 --> 00:38:56,520 Speaker 2: I mean, that's and recalibrate your I mean, I'm not 781 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:58,879 Speaker 2: saying if you feel like you're just out of reach 782 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:03,640 Speaker 2: of what you want, I don't know that you should 783 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:06,080 Speaker 2: stop continuing to try. But you also got to find 784 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 2: you got to find success where it is because you 785 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 2: have a lot of it. 786 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:09,839 Speaker 3: Right. 787 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,839 Speaker 2: Every single person has wins every single day. But we, 788 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:18,279 Speaker 2: especially nowadays, we're choosing to find the losses, right, We're 789 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:22,719 Speaker 2: choosing to focus on them. So I don't say recalibrate 790 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 2: your I don't wouldn't suggest anyone to recalibrate their goals 791 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:29,239 Speaker 2: or lower their standards or lower their aspirations are but 792 00:39:29,520 --> 00:39:33,319 Speaker 2: find ways to be, you know, to be happy with 793 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:38,359 Speaker 2: what you've gotten and what you have been given. And yeah, 794 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 2: so I came in second on all those things and 795 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:42,359 Speaker 2: I find it, I mean, I find it funny. But look, 796 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,640 Speaker 2: twenty three years later after my first appearance on TV, 797 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:48,880 Speaker 2: I'm still able to make a career out of it. 798 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:51,560 Speaker 2: I'm still able to talk about the things that I 799 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:56,959 Speaker 2: want to talk about. And and that's and people still knowing, which, 800 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 2: ye is weird still, but it's the thing. 801 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 3: And so you just have I mean, I didn't go 802 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:06,080 Speaker 3: come winning. 803 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:09,960 Speaker 2: Idol, outside of having my face on the opening credits 804 00:40:10,239 --> 00:40:13,080 Speaker 2: for a few seasons afterwards, would. 805 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:14,120 Speaker 3: Have been no different for me. 806 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:16,239 Speaker 2: Than than coming in second. In fact, I got to 807 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 2: sell just as many, if not more than most people 808 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:20,959 Speaker 2: who've been on the show. 809 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 3: So you just I. 810 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 2: Think we've got to we've got to focus on the 811 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,080 Speaker 2: things that the wins that we have every day, and 812 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,479 Speaker 2: you may not you you only don't see them because 813 00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:35,839 Speaker 2: you're not choosing to look for them. And they may 814 00:40:35,840 --> 00:40:38,879 Speaker 2: not be the may not be the biggest win every day, 815 00:40:38,880 --> 00:40:41,279 Speaker 2: but there's one, there's some there's one there every single day. 816 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,880 Speaker 2: And if you go to bed happy about that, you'll 817 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 2: you'll wake up happier the next day too. 818 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: Such great advice from Quaig. And I have one final 819 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:53,719 Speaker 1: question for you before we let you go, and this 820 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: is a weird one, so I apologize. But what does 821 00:40:57,360 --> 00:41:01,560 Speaker 1: no such thing? What do does pop culture smell like? 822 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:02,080 Speaker 1: To you? 823 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:03,600 Speaker 3: Hush? 824 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:09,200 Speaker 2: How many people say that what does pop culture smell like? 825 00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:10,959 Speaker 3: To me? You're right, it is weird. I was wrong. 826 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:11,520 Speaker 3: There are. 827 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:16,399 Speaker 2: Pop culture Okay. When I hear well, maybe it's because 828 00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:19,279 Speaker 2: I mentioned bubble gum pop earlier, I think it's I 829 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,920 Speaker 2: think it smells like a little bit like bubble gum 830 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:25,880 Speaker 2: mixed with popcorn. Think, well, I'm thinking. I'm thinking, like, 831 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:28,279 Speaker 2: what is the movie theater smell like? But not the 832 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:30,600 Speaker 2: ones where they haven't cleaned the bathrooms, you know, some 833 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:34,360 Speaker 2: of them do smell You smell that popcorn and and 834 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 2: a little bit of bubble gum. 835 00:41:36,640 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't don't. 836 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:40,920 Speaker 2: Don't quote me on it because I could be wrong, 837 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:42,640 Speaker 2: But I also don't think you're gonna be able to 838 00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:44,240 Speaker 2: scientifically prove me wrong either. 839 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:47,239 Speaker 3: So exactly with bubblegum and popcorn. 840 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:51,279 Speaker 1: What a winning combo. Thank you so much, Klaike, And 841 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:53,399 Speaker 1: you're just the coolest guy in the world. I'm such 842 00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 1: a big fan and I'm just feel so honored to 843 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:56,680 Speaker 1: be able to speak with you today. Thank you so 844 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 1: much for your time. 845 00:41:57,600 --> 00:41:58,520 Speaker 3: Thank you very much. 846 00:42:27,320 --> 00:42:30,319 Speaker 1: Hey everybody, and to forget Follow us on Instagram at 847 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:34,759 Speaker 1: I Am all In podcast and email us at Gilmore 848 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 1: at iHeartRadio dot com.