Whether you love or hate this guy, this performance was flawless. It showed the power in his voice and let's not forget that this was LIVE. There is no voice male wise in Idol that can sing this powerful. Anyone who thinks otherwise is lying to themselves. Listen to his work and you will see that he can hit notes others can only dream about hitting.

BTW, just saw him in concert with Ruben on 10/27/23. It was wonderful and I had a front row seat. 😊😊😊

"some people move on, but not us" .. still here after all of this years.

Wow. This dude can really sing. How come he didn’t win? 2023 still watching. Congrats

I fell in love with Clay's voice the first time I heard him sing at his audition! His Voice is Platinum! How dare he be judged by looks in a singing competition, to begin with! Then we wonder why teens are having anorexia problems and wanting botox injections at a very young age! Kids get bullied in schools if they don't look or act in ways society says they should! It's wrong on every level!

He was born to sing!! I love you Clay!!! You should have won, baby!!

May 2023, I am still watching this fantastic performance.

He is just a complete NATURAL. He has total control over his voice. Superb. I wish I had a gift like that. I'd go around singing to myself all day. :)

Clay has a best voice ever. He hits the high notes so well and clear. A great performance on all the old songs as if I listen to them for the first time

There is no way to deny.. He has absolutly 1 of the best voices to ever grace the IDOL stage !!

THE absolute best performance on American Idol ever!!

Clay won over America with this Wild Card performance! What a voice!

One of the best to come out of American Idol. Love his voice!

so amazing. gives me goosebumps every time he sings. I don't care if he didn't win anymore, he is still amazing and you don't need a title to prove that...you have record sales for that! go clay!

This guy can hit some of the most incredible notes I've ever heard. He hit one note in this Christmas song of his and it was damn high. No AI performer would come close to being able to hit it that I've seen over the years.

best voice to ever grace the idol stage

Still gives me chills. One of my favortie performances by him.

The guy can really sing...damn good.

I have always loved Clay the first time he sang l knew he was going to be GREAT AND STILL IS. HE should of won, but no matter he is a STAR AND ALWAYS WILL BE. HE CAN SING ANY SONG AND MAKE IT GREAT LIKE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS EVER SUNG. I JUST LOVE HIS VOICE AND HIM. He is one of the BEST SINGER'S TO HAVE COME OUT OF AMERICAN IDOL.

I think clay Aiken went through a remarkable personal metamorphasis on this show [outside and inside]. With this song, he did what the judges try to get all the contestants to do: he made the song his own. I think he outdid the legendary Elton John and HE now set the standard for Don't Let the Sun.......

The best of Idol! I miss him. The best singer. 💕❣️

Perhaps one of the best discovered talents of our lifetime. thank you Clay Aiken.

(Reflections years later) After Clay sang this song I felt that he was the American Idol.

I always thought he should've won. This was one of my favorite performances of his.

Clay should have won Idol.. Love, love, love Clay AIken

First time my jaw dropped, and my mouth hasn't closed since!!!! He is and was one totally fantastic singer.

Clay has a certain kind of magic and charisma that just gets under your skin and never leaves. THAT VOICE is unreal. I've been having fun finding his channel on KZfaq and watching all of these wonderful performances. I loved Ruben, but Clay, IMHO should've won. I love the fact that they are still close after all of these years.

Still the absolute best performance EVER on Idol

I never watched American Idol after Clay didn't win. Kelly CLarkson, Carrie Underwood and whoever else have nothing on this guy. He is the best!!!

Something very special about his voice.

I'll never forget hearing this for the first time when I was 15. I was truly amazed and felt chill bumps.

I remember him singing "Open Arms" in the semi-finals and loving him then, but this performance here was when I officially became a "Claymate." Perfection!!!!!

clay has one of the best male voices ever..he is amazing

His voice is incredible!!! What a powerhouse of an entertainer!!!

He looks better here than he does now. Love him! Love His Voice!!!

what a wonderful voice,

I agree... He's absolutely great!

I also wanted to add, that Simon was right on the money!!! Fantastic performance. Clay is so memorable. And America has proved it by buying so many of his cds.

this guy is better than any other american idols

Without a doubt, the best male voice I've ever heard. Unbelievable! Clay Aiken is truly a gifted singer.

I was in "Pieces of Gold" with him. He sang "This is the Moment" from the musical "Jekyll and Hyde" and I will never forget it. He was 17 and amazing. My mom liked his number better than mine, lol !

the greatest singer of all times!!! luv his voice! =DD

STILL gives me goosebumps.

Amazing. Love going back and watching him from time to time. So so amazingly unique and strong.

the best idol ever. you all must agree to this eventhough you have your personal favourite.

WOW! His voice just goes right through you!! I get chills hearing him sing.

really really good indeed...you are the right winner ever

That voice still sends shivers up and down my spine!!! What an awesome entertainer!!!

2018 still love him❤

Clay is the best singer to ever be on American Idol, I would like for him to put out some new music.

incredibly powerful voice. i think this was one of the best vocal, if not the best, performance on american idol ever :)

In the history of AI, this is, without a doubt, the greatest performance they've EVER had.

I love Clay's rendition of this song. I am an Elton John fan--but I like Clay's version even better.

If he came back in Season 11 .. he would blow all the others off the stage and win lol.

Bravo! Unbelievable! This is one of his best performances ever. He is one incredible performer! Miss him terribly. WHAT a voice!

WOW! Incredible performance!!! That voice is just out of this world!

Amazing singer!!!

I missed this performance when it originally aired, and I am shocked to hear Simon be so nice to anyone, lol. Clay is an awesome performer...I hope to see him perform live someday. There hasn't been an "idol" contestant before or since who consistently delivers at this level.

I totally agree, michelle. Randy's lauding of Archie's performance as "flawless" made me want to throw up. And when Paula mentioned goosebumps, I said, "Yeah I got those too...five years ago when CLAY killed this song. Judges have shown their motives in no uncertain terms this year.

Look how close he was to not being famous. This one song changed his life forever

"And..you're sorta looking better each week." God, that was such a priceless line from Simon. Still gets me somewhat emotional thinking just how much Clay grew not only as a performer, but as a person over AI. Clay, you're amazing, rock on

I love this version, he is so clever to sing the ending in the way he did. Fantastic :)

very very very good, his voice was just unbelievable

The most amazing thing - Clay's voice has just gotten better and better with age. The guy is amazing!

Had to come listen to Clay's version of this song again. No one can sing it like him, IMO. He's the best! His recent tour was great -- and his voice is even better.

As of today I still love every performance Clay has done! This one was my favorite! Love love Clay.

I keep forgetting how much I like Clay Aiken. And I own a couple of his CDs.

Wow! What a wonderful performance. He has a one of a kind voice...awesome.

This is awesome, love his voice. Can't wait until 2010 when we get a new album! Woooooo...

just what i have been thinking !!! he has that presence and confidence and the voice to go with it, a truely rare combination

holy heck!!! what a powerful performer and entertainer!!!! we love ya Clay!!!!!

I love Clay Aiken! He has touched my heart forever.

Jasmine Trias sung this in Season 3 during Elton John Week on Tuesday, April 6th, 2004. Clay should have won Idol.. Love, love, love Clay AIken

Still Excellent!

By this time the sexy man in him was there. What a talent.

I agree. Great voice and one of the best voices on IDOL. Yes, he should have won that year.

OMG he is so talented with a great voice

I seriously believe that Clay Aiken during American Idol... he was the best male singer I had and have ever heard EVER. unfortunately no one nowadays on idol is as flawless as him seriously how could he do better? no he's perfect flawless amazing CLAY you are my inspiration

I miss him so much!!!

loved him on idol. such a lovely voice.

Agree! Perhaps ppl should stop comparing David to Clay although for anyone to sing anything that Clay sang invite comparison. Clay has the overall advantage in voice, maturity & style. He sings beautifully & effortlessly. He was already a star when he first auditioned. A brilliant performer came out of AI, season 2--Clay Aiken!! Much luv!!

Bar none! The best male singer to come off Idol!!!

Brilliant!!!

He's definitely has THE BEST and purest voice ever to be in idol. He may not be the best selling artist in this era but he definitely has the best voice.

Clay has so matured now -- although the talent and that voice was always there! Check out his new CD: On My Way Here -- every song is enjoyable from uptempo to the softer ballads. There is something for everyone.

What a voice... he's simply amazing. ♥

Very impressive!! wow totally wow!

Omg I love this song but only when Clay sings it

And that's not a bad thing to me, because I'm an 80's guy and I love Martin Short for the movies "the Three Amigos" and "Inner Space." I'm glad you saw it too, lol.

Me too it is beautiful and strong.

Phenomenal singer

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊awesome 👍

Gosh What a great performance this was! Love Clay Aiken's gorgeous voice xoxox

Wow! Clay your so talented!

Beautiful Voice and great performer.

He went from American Idol star to a bigger flamer then a Forest fire😂😂😂

Wow, love hearing this fabulous voice again on this, one of my fave performances -- thanks for sharing!! Clay, when you're ready to do another concert, we're right here waiting...

Have been a fan since day 1. ❤ him

Agree with Randy and Simon 100%. Ah...Paula too. She just felt in love with Clay's voice from the beginning-like many others.

I’m a firm believer that he would have won any other year, but Ruben had that extra likability factor.