Proud of Your Boy - Clay Aiken
Today is Obscure Disney Song Friday and to finish off American Idol Week I have chosen a deleted song from Aladdin that was featured on the Platinum Edition DVD.
Proud of Your Boy was an important song to the staff of Aladdin. It was written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin, the composing duo who also wrote the music for The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The song focused on Aladdin's relationship with his mother and Ashman said that it was his favourite song in the film.
In the middle of Aladdin's production Howard Ashman died of AIDS. It was tough for the staff but it became even tougher for Alan when the decision was made to take the mother out of the story. The cut meant taking Proud of Your Boy out of the film which now Alan had become very attached to since the death of his friend.
You can hear the original demo put to storyboards from the scene on the DVD as well as a new recording of the song by American Idol second season runner-up, CLAY AIKEN
Aiken won second place but only barely. The votes were very close but Ruban Studdard still won. But what really matters is what happens after that! Clay's career has been ten times Ruban's career. He has recorded three albums and an EP. His three albums all debuted in the Top 5 making him the fourth artist ever to have his first three albums debut in the Top 5!
He has toured the world, sang the national anthem at the World Series, won many awards, has been on countless TV specials and is currently playing the part of Brave Sir Robin in the Monty Python's Spamalot! Broadway musical!
Even though I can't really stand his music, you have to admit that he has done pretty well for himself.
 | Pround of Your Boy Clay Aiken 2004   |
Labels: adult contemporary, aladdin, clay aiken, disneymania 3, obscure, pop, proud of your boy
posted by Kurtis at
10:36 AM
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6 Comments:
Loved the song when I first heard Clay's recording! But...Clay WON AI2 - not Ruben. The one line and 2 hours of voting was not enough to handle the millions of more votes Clay was getting over Ruben. Clay received 80 percent of the vote every week he was on -per 2 producers of AI- so it was impossible for Ruben to 'win'. Ruben's mother got in 200 votes which proves his line was NOT very busy compared to Clay-whose mother got in only 2 votes. Clay was clearly the much bigger talent from the very start and TPTB of AI knew that, too! How much more can Clay do to convince the ones who think he 'lost' that he really won?? What has Ruben done to prove HE won???? NADA. ZILCH. ZIPPO!!
I don't know exactly what it is about Clay's music that you cannot stand or why it's so important for you to tell everyone that fact, but millions of people can actually "stand" it quite well. Clay actually can -- and has -- sung almost every genre of music on his tours. His live performances are much different from his recordings, which have been mandated by Clive Davis and RCA. "Proud of Your Boy" is a wonderful recording.
I'm glad you posted this! I'm glad you found good things to say about Clay Aiken even if he isn't to your personal taste because you're right, he has done very well for himself, and a person can't expect everyone to like him.
I first heard Proud of Your Boy because of Clay, but stumbled across the storyboard version and the whole tale of Howard Ashman. It's very sad and touching, and it's nice to see more written up about it even if it's just spreading the word. I love both versions of the song, knowing that they each have a special meaning for both Ashman, Menkin and Aiken.
Thanks for writing this!
Clay's version of Proud of Your Boy is not a cover. He is the first to record it for Disney so he is the original artist. The demo doesn't count.
You're right! I never realized it but this song isn't a cover! Should I take it down?
Jasmine: He's just not my style I don't quite like the selections that he usually sings. Maybe it's because I've only heard a few songs but he ranks up there with Josh Groban and Charlotte Church in the Too-Adult-Contemporary-For-Me category.
Nieded: Thanks for your comment. I recognize that Clay is a great singer and I do really appreciate the fan base that he has.
I love getting comments! Keep 'em coming!
Please do not take it down!!!
It's a great song, and the arrangement is soaring as well.
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