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Clay Aiken to Re-Release 22-Year-Old Song He Recorded as a 'Closeted Gay Man' to Give It New Meaning (Exclusive)

Clay Aiken exclusively talks to PEOPLE about his decision to re-release his debut single "Measure of a Man" 22 years later to give it new meaning. The 'American Idol' alum originally recorded the song as a "closeted gay man" and is giving it new life from the perspective of being a father to his teenage son Parker.

Clay Aiken is re-releasing his debut single "Measure of a Man" 22 years later to give it more of a personal twist The American Idol season 2 finalist tells PEOPLE that when he first recorded the song, he didn't relate to its romantic message as a "closeted gay man" Aiken came out as gay in 2008 on the cover of PEOPLE I think, especially, a lot of fathers and sons have that in this period of development and I realized that I could kind of tweak the lyrics of the song and talk about how sometimes it’s difficult to put into words your emotions and how sometimes I may not be able to say it, but it doesn’t mean I don’t love you.” Aiken, who shares Parker with longtime friend Jaymes Foster, praised his son for the ways “he’s not like” the singer, saying, “He seems to have a little more inner calmness than I do, and I appreciate that.

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