During the finale to the second season, Randy Jackson, I believe, said to Clay that when he first heard This is the Night (prior to Clay's performance) he didn't like it. Then, upon hearing Clay sing it, with perfect vocals and impressive poise, he Jackson changed his mind. He said something like, "Dog, you made it your own." Even Simon liked it.

Then Clay sang Bridge Over Troubled Water. Simon and Garfunkel are no slouches, but Clay's live performance, I'm sorry to say, topped them, and for the first time, Clay didn't seem remotely awkward on stage. He was at home, this was his element, and he ended the song with such potent punctuation that I find myself choked up and speechless. He threw himself into that performance with more gusto than I'd ever seen him muster during the season - and mind you, I was rooting for him from the beginning, and even if he was awkward on stage from time to time, I really didn't care. Still, this performance was astonishing. Simon himself said, "I think with this song you may well have won this competition". I was surprised and disappointed that he didn't. It would have been nice to see Clay's face in the opening credits of the third and fourth seasons of American Idol rather than Ruben with his ridiculous hat. (Just doesn't look good on a guy his size. Sorry.)

I was very happy that Bridge Over Troubled water was included on this CD, although I must admit that I wish it had been the live performance. Still, while the live performance topped Simon and Garfunkel, the recorded version was still excellent and did Simon and Garfunkel proud.