Gundersen Says Clay Aiken May Measure Up Long Term

Edna Gundersen of USA Today was quizzed about her thoughts on the rapid success of ‘American Idol’ runner-up Clay Aiken, who saw his ‘Measure of a Man’ debut clear over 600,000 copies the first week of its release. “Yep, quite a phenomenon,” she said. “He was already a success before his opening week bonanza, thanks to the remarkable sales of his single. The real question is, can he sustain it? Instant pop stars have a tendency to fade fast, though there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. Clay strikes me as the new Barry Manilow, a middle-of-the-road pop balladeer who’s ripe for ridicule but blessed with fiercely loyal fans.” Read more of her responses in an online chat with readers here.