Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger" - Oct. 24

[bb]

Nov 20, 2011 17:43:15 GMT -5 lunaboona said:

Nov 20, 2011 15:08:23 GMT -5 sideout said:

I can't wait for tonight's performance. I hope she blows everyone out of the water.

If RCA is going to space out the singles then they should go

September 2011: Mr. Know It All
January 2012: What Doesn't Kill You
May 2012: You Love Me Alone
September 2012: Dark Side

It would be nice if RCA pulls a 'Super Bass' and releases 'Alone' as the 3rd single.

I like the idea of "Alone" as a single, but I hope either "Dark Side" or "Let Me Down" gets released third: something classic Kelly but with a little twist. It's a lot safer. "Alone" is a nice anthem, but since it is on the deluxe edition it probably won't be released or have much airplay or sales.

As for single choices, I would say:

1.) Mr. Know It All (Sept. 2011)
2.) What Doesn't Kill You / Stronger (Jan. 2012)
3.) Dark Side (March or April 2012, depending on if WDKY smashes too soon)
4.) Hello [just because we need a summer single] (July 2012)
5.) [if we get this far] The War Is Over or Let Me Down (October 2012)

That gives her one whole year of domination ;) that probably won't happen, but I'd love it to. Really, I think only WDKY and Hello are good summer singles, which makes this hard, because Hello isn't even one of my favorites. No one really wants to be singing "The War Is Over" on summer vacation, not even me.

[Erik]

i.imgur.com/Zetrr.jpg

Shitting tbqh.

[franklin]

LOL! I LOVE IT!

[Mike]

Cheryl Hines & Jane Levy are introducing Kelly.

[bb]

Nov 20, 2011 18:28:46 GMT -5 Erik said:

i.imgur.com/Zetrr.jpg

Shitting tbqh.

She looks amazing. Forget the WDKY drama: I'm on team MKIA. She looks so good. So good. :'(

[getonthebus]

I'm really hoping that this is sort of a send-off for MKIA, give it a nice push out to sea, and then set it on fire like a viking funeral.

Because, WDKY needs to blow up, like, yesterday.

(Also, I'm new. Hi y'all!)

[switch]

Sexxxy. She looks daaamn good.

[MiniMusic]

Damn! She's looking hot. Honestly I hope this performance gives the song a huge second-wind that will just send it to Top 10 on CHR and then we can watch it die a flawless death as What Doesn't Kill You is sent to slay.

[Jay]

CAN'T WAIT!

[ƒreakshow]

Nov 20, 2011 19:12:29 GMT -5 Jay said:

CAN'T WAIT!

SPARKLY DRESS. Totally called it.

(oops I misspelled sparkly )

[kmbgs]

oh lord, sans makeupelly

...but cannot wait! looks like it will be somethng different!

[jessayli]

I know I am SUPER late with my "Stronger" album review, but finally got the time to write it today. It ended up being longer than I had anticipated, but if you are interested in reading, here it is:


Kelly Clarkson’s Voice is Stronger Than Ever

KELLY CLARKSON
STRONGER
4 STARS (OUT OF 5)

In multiple promotional interviews leading up to the release of Kelly Clarkson’s fifth album, “Stronger”, the original “American Idol” has asserted that this is her best album yet. When asked about what sets this album apart from her previous four efforts, Clarkson enthusiastically describes the approach that the album’s producers utilized to capture and express her live voice. Absent from “Stronger” is the auto-tune and vocal compression that big name producers like Dr. Luke (“Since U Been Gone”, “My Life Would Suck Without You”) stereotypically rely on to sell less skilled pop vocalists to both fans and radio.

Her assessment is spot on: “Stronger” takes the cake for the best Kelly Clarkson album to date, barely beating out her career defining “Breakaway” and the riskier yet satisfying “My December”, precisely because of the way the album represents her voice. Rather than serving as a liability, producers like Greg Kurstin, Toby Gad, and band-mate Jason Halbert have worked in collaboration with Clarkson, and the results demonstrate why she is the best vocalist to come from “American Idol.” Sure, Clarkson has impressive vocal control, can belt better than her contemporary pop princesses, and has a vast vocal range that surpasses the likes of Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. However, “Stronger” doesn’t stop at merely illustrating the power behind Clarkson’s voice, but necessarily goes further to emphasizes her other awe-inspiring vocal skills: her ever-improving textured and gritty tone, her organic versatility, and her heart-wrenching, emotive, and soulful vocal interpretations. Particularly when these attributes are viewed in combination, Kelly Clarkson may very well be the best pop vocalist in mainstream music today, and it’s satisfying to listen to an album that finally proves as much.

Clarkson has never sounded so gloriously vulnerable than she does during “Dark Side” where her voice effortlessly builds from a tender beginning (“There’s a place that I know/It’s not pretty there, and few have ever gone”) to great heights during the bridge and final chorus (“Don’t run away, don’t run away/Just promise me you will stay”), and back to the song’s soft and helpless conclusion (“Promise you’ll stay”). It’s puzzling how anyone could simultaneously sing both heartbreak and empowerment, but Clarkson somehow manages to do just that in the tear-inducing bridge of “The War Is Over”: “In the night, when you’re lonely/You remember how much you miss me/So you call, but I swear/You can try a million times, you’ll get the same answer”. The verses of “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” are husky and gritty, before blasting into one of Clarkson’s most blissfully satisfying choruses ever, and what is sure to become one her most memorable hit songs.

Not only have the producers of “Stronger” collaborated with Clarkson in the vocal realm, but for the first time, her team appears to have had a consistent vision regarding song choices. On “Thankful”, “Breakaway”, and “All I Ever Wanted”, the songs that Clarkson co-wrote tended to be darker (“Addicted”, “Because of You”, “Cry”) or departed somewhat from current radio trends (“I Want You”, “Thankful”, “Ready”). On “Stronger”, the tunes that Clarkson did not write such as “Mr. Know It All” and “Breaking Your Own Heart” blend seamlessly with songs that she crafted like “Let Me Down” and “Hello”. Although still well within the realm of mainstream pop, it’s refreshing to see Clarkson play with new sounds and ideas. “Standing In Front Of You” has a calming ethereal theme that embraces the listener. “You Love Me” borrows nicely from Tina Turner and Prince while still remaining modern. “Honestly” allows Clarkson to sing with intensity and melodrama in all the right ways. “You Can’t Win” has some of the most interesting and apt lyrics Clarkson has ever written, as she addresses the contradictory complaints that she has received from critics throughout her ten years since auditioning for “American Idol.” She tackles others’ obsession with her weight (“If you’re thin, poor little walking disease/If you’re not, they’re all screaming obese”) and the media’s critical stance towards her when she attempts to push the envelope (“If you speak, you’ll only piss ‘em off”) and, paradoxically, when she compromises with producers (“If you don’t, you’re another robot”).

That said, the album isn’t perfect. There are a few cringe-worthy lyrics, such as when Clarkson sings “I can’t ask you how you are/You’re always on the phone” in “Alone” and “Dumb plus dumb equals you” in “Einstein.” Although the sassy production of “Don’t Be A Girl About It” should have turned the song into an album highlight, Clarkson’s lack of mindfulness when it comes to the song’s sexist lyrics is disappointing. Kara Dioguardi’s average performance on “The Sun Will Rise” isn’t terrible, but has no real purpose other than to highlight Clarkson’s powerful vocal chords and dynamic tone. Although this album’s emphasis on Clarkson’s voice may give it the edge over “My December”, her music would benefit from more opportunities to develop as an artist: Clarkson still hasn’t recreated anything quite as excellent as “Irvine” and she continues to be stunted by the mandatory verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus template that prevents the inclusion of beautifully slow-building songs like “Maybe” and “Sober.” Fortunately, these drawbacks are few and far between, and “Stronger” is a likely sign that the full potential of Kelly Clarkson’s voice will be expressed properly from this point forward in her career, setting her up for the potential to craft even greater music in the future.

[singalong]

Love the red dressed curvelly! :o

[neally]

Just got home in time for AMAs and checked iTunes USA:

pre-AMAs:

'Know' is at #24

'Kill' is at #61 :o

'Stronger' is at #19

[dbhmr]

And the album is #19.

[MiniMusic]

I'm excited! Hopefully she doesn't perform too late into the show, I'm hoping in about an hour she'll perform!

[Deleted]

I wonder if she ran into Ryan Tedder...

[mikeyj7]

I won't pretend I was on team 'MKIA' for the AMAs, but after seeing pictures of the set, etc. from today's rehearsal, hearing yesterday's audio and learning of the concept of the performance, I'm probably more excited for this performance than I have been for a KC performance in a while. I feel like this could really be something special if it's done right.

I'm also bracing myself for the likely great #twitter compliments about her voice and the terribly annoying negative comments about her weight - EVEN IF she looks great, which I think she will.

Either way, color me pumped.

[chris89]

Pre-AMA's

Mr. Know It All
iTunes: #24
Amazon MP3 Downloads: #24

Stronger
iTunes: #19
Amazon MP3 Downloads: #95
Amazon Physical Sales: #27

[neally]

Coming up: Kelly Clarkson !

[bigb0882]

I think she is coming up. They said "coming up" and mentioned her before the "and later.." I am betting she will perform after the commercial break, maybe after they do an award.

[Deleted]

I want to see Ryan Tedder's face when Kelly performs!

[neally]

Kelly is on !

[PopLuva]

Im sorry but im not feeling what they did to the song and that intro was awful! eww

[face]

this is so weird.


I like it!

[ƒreakshow]

NICE TO SEE YOU DANCELLY! Loved it.

I freaked out when she messed up the lyrics though. OMG.

[MiniMusic]

Intro was awkward, but the performance was great! LOVED the new arrangement!

[bigb0882]

Not worth doing MKIA again. Glad they changed it up but it was just silly for me. Kelly had some extra rasp today, maybe worked too hard on the music video shoot? I think having to think about movement and the dancers made her flub the lyrics. That had to be hard since it was also a new arrangement. I doubt anyone but a few of us noticed, though.

[Deleted]

Wow. That was amazing! I love Big Band Kelly! <3

[franklin]

Yea it was cute but idk if I was really feeling it. Kudos for trying something different though!