By Ashley & Jenius Love

Clark will be happily playing any instrument he's given on the Idol Top 5 summer tour and was in good spirits about being the runner-up as he gives much praise to American Idol Winner Nick Fradiani and appreciates his time on the show. Here's what he had to say:

Reality Wanted: Out of the whole season what's the one piece of advice from the judges that you're going to take with you?

Clark: From Keith "Don't sing and don't play what you can. Play and sing what you must." I think that's the best advice from the judges that I got.

Reality Wanted: What was your favorite memory with Nick, who's this year's American Idol from the entire journey.

Clark: Oh, man. Oh, gosh so many great memories with Nick. Well, when it was the final three, when it was Jax, Nick, and me, in the Dolby Theatre we had our own dressing rooms, at least the girl, girls and guys were separated, and because there was one girl, Jax had her own room, and then I had my own room as well. Just a conversation we had there, like "Hey, man I think you're going to do great." And just the conversations when it was right at the end, cameras were off, doors were closed, just me and him in the room and those conversations that we had, just the rawness.

And I could tell, I can attest, Nick is, I'm so happy for him and I'm so glad that he is being lifted up in this way, because Nick is exactly who he is on and off camera. He is exactly the same person, truly. When he said the things that he said right before the announcement was made and when Ryan asked us if we had something to say to each other, he said those things to me off camera and on camera with the same sincerity. He's a very sincere, genuine person.
And I could not be happier with how everything went down, and so many memories with him. We all called him "Grandpa" that was because he was the oldest contestant on the show, and he's 29. And we were younger and we always called him "Grandpa." I don't know, it's a lot of great memories and more to come.

Reality Wanted: I want to talk to you about "Champion," the process that went into choosing it. That was actually, I thought, a good song for you. Did you feel comfortable singing that? Did you have any time when you had any trouble with that song? Did you have any choice in the matter with the songs, or did they give that to you?

Clark: For the whole season they were looking for songs for us, and we had the opportunity to just have some of the greatest writers in the world write for us, and they were looking for a song that was appropriate, that was a victory chant. After this long marathon of a journey that this American Idol experience has been they were looking for a song that's a victory chant and also a song that works for the World Cup, because the winner, their single is also going to be featured a lot in the Women's World Cup. So, they were looking for that and looking at a lot of things.

Musically, it's not the style of music that I am looking forward to doing in the future as far as an artist, but I think it was just the perfect song. I love the lyrics. I really, really, really love the lyrics of the song and the message. I think it was the perfect song for what they were looking for and what it was going to be used for, the Women's World Cup, and also for just the potential victory of the competition and just the final victory lap, final finishing chant at the end of this long marathon of a journey.

Reality Wanted: When you sang "Ain't No Sunshine," and I think we saw you blushing when JLo asked you who you were singing for. I was just curious if that performance was for anyone special?

Clark : Yes, I remember her asking that, and I was like, oh Lord, please do not ask that. But it's interesting because no, there's no one that I was singing that specifically to, and there's no one in my life in that way, in a romantic way. But it's funny because everyone is like, "Oh, who are singing to? Do you have someone?" The song's about the person being gone, so I don't think it relates to is there someone in my life right now, because I guess maybe it is appropriate because there is no one and the song's about her not being there. So, I guess no one specific, no, but I just tried my best and I think I was really able to get into that heartbreak and really deliver that. But, no, there was no one specific that I was thinking of.

Reality Wanted: Do you have anything else you'd like to say about your time on the show, your experience, anything?

Clark: Just, thank you, guys. I'm glad I got to talk to you all. Again, ultimately I'm very proud of the performances that I've done on the show, and I don't regret a single note that ever came out of me, whether it's on my guitar, piano, or my voice, or any word I said, or anything I ever said on the show. I think I depicted myself accurately as an artist and what kind of music I love and want to make, and I'm staying true to myself on the show, and I plan on doing that for music's sake. I'm just very appreciative and grateful.

XO, Ashley Iocco & Jen Johnson

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Photo credit: FOX