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A Few Words About Kelly Clarkson
Besides watching some amazing performances by Madonna, Melissa Etheridge and The Police during Live Earth, I also really enjoyed seeing Kelly Clarkson play Giants Stadium on Saturday.
The embattled singer has been the topic of much discussion after her very public feud with the mighty Clive Davis and their battle to control her career. I think a lot of people have been carried away by all the bad publicity surrounding her new album "My December" and got sucked into all the negativity.
I agree that "My December" is not really a singles album per se, but I also think that the album has not received a fair chance with all that negativity overpowering the music. It might even have been one of the reasons the CD has performed "below expectations" in the charts and Clarkson's decision to postpone her summer tour.
One should wonder since when selling nearly 300,000 copies in the first week is considered a disappointment.
Most critics appear to zoom in on the notion that "My December" is not "pop" enough and lacking "hooks." In other words, they seem to be hung up on the fact that the record doesn't have a worthy sequel to "Since U Been Gone," a song that united pop lovers and crunchy hipsters.
But let's leave "Since U Been Gone" for the pop masterpiece it was and not turn into a curse for Clarkson. Instead, let's focus on the remarkable pop artist that Clarkson is with her powerful voice, her straight up attitude and a strong drive to make music that is distinctly hers and not the result of some Swedish millionaire producer's soundboard.
Clarkson's new single "Sober" is an excellent example of her artistic progression. She sings it from her toes up, creating a spine-chilling epic that not only shows off her amazing pipes, but also her talent as a songwriter.
She conveys seemingly trivial, yet universal emotions in some very fitting terms with memorable lyrics like, "Picked all my weeds but kept the flowers," and "at the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me." That's meaningful stuff.
Sure, it is not as slick as the Disney friendly "Breakaway" or the ultra-catchy "Since U Been Gone," but Clarkson speaks her truth in "Sober." And in a world dominated by superficial, throw-way pop, I respect her for standing up to record music that she believes in and that is actually quite good. Turn it up, have a listen and decide for yourself. Still skeptical? Keep listening until the 3-minute mark when the real meaty part kicks in.
Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [WMA] Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [Real] Listen to Kelly Clarkson "Sober" [Quicktime]
Watch Kelly Clarkson "Sober" (Live)
July 9, 2007 in Audio Streams | Permalink
Comments
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Kelly will be alright. I give her props for sticking to her own path and not caving to the ideals of the corporate heads at her label. Her determination is to be admired and emulated. Thanks for the sound clips, Arjan!
Posted by: Mervin Malone Jr. at Jul 9, 2007 12:00:36 PM
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Everything you said is exctly what I've been thinking about Kelly and her new album. I think the negative press has had an effect and it's too bad.
I really enjoy the new album and think that it has some great songs on it. If there radio as it exists today had a broader sense of reality there are songs on the album that could be hits. But oh well, there are plenty of Kelly fans who will still support her and appreciate what she does. I'm proud of her for sticking to her guns.
Posted by: Mike at Jul 9, 2007 12:35:58 PM
Love what you had to say here. While I was not immediately hooked on My December, I do think it is a pretty good record, especially from a lyrics point of view. I would love to watch her perform it live at some point.
Posted by: Made In Brazil at Jul 9, 2007 1:14:56 PM
I think you have heralded the start of a backlash against the kelly backlash. YOu've inspired me to listen to the album again on the way up to manchester tomorrow
Posted by: Paul at Jul 9, 2007 1:34:19 PM
I totally agree! My December is actually not a bad album! Yes it doesn't have many bankable singles, but there are some great songs on it, that will have some longevity. My favorites are "How I Feel," which i TOTALLY think does have hit-single-potential, and "Irvine."
Posted by: Bobby at Jul 9, 2007 3:03:10 PM
Great Post
Posted by: ajan at Jul 9, 2007 4:30:38 PM
I think that "One Minute" from that album has some big hooks to it; her critics must be tone-deaf not to admit there's a killer hook there. It's got a good Franz Fredinand/Gang Of Four dance-rock groove to it. I'd like to see Kelly re-record that song with Franz Ferdinand backing her up.
Posted by: Chris at Jul 9, 2007 10:50:51 PM
Awesome! Exactly what I've been thinking...Kelly is amazing, and whether the charts and America accept her, she'll always be #1 in my book.
Posted by: Jason at Jul 9, 2007 11:29:52 PM
I totally agree with you on Sober - an amazing song and an amazing performance. I think the furore over the album has been overplayed slightly - although Kelly's willingness to talk about it in interviews is coincidentally a great boost to her "serious artist" profile. Interestingly, she refuses (or isn't allowed) to speak about the other recent upheavals - cancelling her tour and sacking her manager. That said, she comes across as seriously committed to her music, which can only be a good thing.
Posted by: Mark at Jul 10, 2007 4:01:23 AM
I like that you choose to focus on Sober, because it really is the best song on the album. It is a shame that nothing else on there matches the quality of the songs on Breakaway. I've listened to My December many times over, *trying* to like the other songs, and just can't do it, and it has nothing to do with the bad publicity around the album, being in Australian I have heard *none* of that. It's just not very good.
But Sober *is* the shining light on the album.
Posted by: Adam at Jul 10, 2007 9:09:31 AM
The album is her strongest work. It would have been easy for her to record an album that was extrememly commericial, but ultimately the lack of truth or conviction in creating material of that nature would have come through.
Posted by: Darryl at Jul 10, 2007 1:31:54 PM
Yes! Yes! Yes! thank you for the insight into what really happened with this album. Everyone wants to jump on a bandwagon and hate on Kelly for not turning in a McAlbum this time. Let the girl do her thing! 'Sober' 'One Minute' 'Never Again' and 'How I Feel' are all totally great songs -- examples of a MAJOR talent finding her way. My personal fave from 'My December' is the hidden track at the very end about how 'she'll take the Chivas instead'. Girl needs a drink after Clive's and Perez's false and undeserved attacks!
Posted by: ghettoisto at Jul 10, 2007 5:29:49 PM
Right on, Arjan! Thank you for this deserved defense of Kelly. It's a shame that such a talented musician would receive undue backlash for having *gasp* artistic integrity - especially in pop music where current artists could stand more sincerity and backbone.
Posted by: Hypeful at Jul 10, 2007 11:34:22 PM
