Kelly Clarkson - Greatest Hits Era (Nov. 19)

[Focus]

Birmingham fan request,

Changes by Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne.

[Krim]

Oct 14, 2012 10:35:57 GMT -5 kylecburke said:

Wait? how did she ruffle feathers? Clive Davis stuff? I think the Grammy people love her, but since 2006 grammy awards her material just hasn't been strong enough for them compared to many other winners. I think My December was missed and its a shame but it may have been just not able to meet the standards that year. Also she has been nominated for her work with Reba, Jason and All I ever wanted so thats good. I'm surprise they didn't submit Mr know it all for country. She proved her self with country genre and with them...interesting.

Who knows with the grammy people and how the noms are determined. Stronger has been her most publicly promoted single of her career (with commercials, positive message in videos, ads and the cancer publicity). I would hope it earns a Record of the year spot. It's also Top 10 on radio and sales and prob hot 100 of the year!

Also RCA purposely submitted MD in the Rock category. Rock single/rock album etc, so.

[neally]

Craig ‏@craigizzle
Just met kelly🌷💞_clarkson and she's the sweet person EVER <3 and she said they've got something special plan for Wembley!

After tonight's Birmingham show, she has two additional shows (Glasgow, Sheffield) before the big London Wembley Arena show on October 20. My guess for her "special plan" is one more special guests (possibilities include Leona Lewis, Adele (yeah right and she's probably due any day now), One Direction, etc.). Although the word "plan" raises hope for a live streamed concert or filming for proper tour DVD, I have given up hope, lol.

Question for y'all: Does anyone have a rough or exact updated sales figure for Stronger (the single) ?. Thank you in advance ! My guess is just under 3.9 million and should easily cross 4 million before the new year.

[KMJ1]

it HAS to close to 3.9 mill. Many weeks ago it passed 3.8 mill. No doubt its going north of 4 million ESP. w year end countdowns coming up.

**Oh and WDKY is back UP to #54 in the UK this week!! 28th week now in the top 75!!

[KMJ1]

as much as I adore Kelly, I've consistently said I dont like CMB at all. I think its one of, if not, her 1st worst single ever :/ (for now). Easily tied with Never Again lol. Fortunately theyre releasing the GH album during a VERY busy period for record sales. Anyone know who else is releasing albums that same week? If CMB bombs, I just wanna know who she's going against. Not expecting #1 but hope shes a shoe in for top 5 and sells at least 500k/ gold which I think is likely. For now, if those goals are met, Id be content (obviously hoping for more though)

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 15:56:36 GMT -5 KMJ1 said:

it HAS to close to 3.9 mill. Many weeks ago it passed 3.8 mill. No doubt its going north of 4 million ESP. w year end countdowns coming up.

**Oh and WDKY is back UP to #54 in the UK this week!! 28th week now in the top 75!!

I am not sure if it was featured on TV, but I assume the bump is due to her tour in Ireland and UK.

It was up to #25 in Ireland a few days ago (now #40).

BTW, as of the numbers released on September 12th, the official US total sales number was 3,774,862 and selling ~ 17k per week.


Also 'Catch My Breath' should hit iTunes in just under 7 hours. I am guessing that she won't have a large banner on the main page, could possibly (but likely not) have a large banner on the Pop music genre page, but most likely will just have the usual small single photo under the "New Music" section. If it does not have a large banner, IMO, 'Breath' will probably have very low sales since it will not hit radio for another 8 days.

[Focus]

"Changes" Black Sabbath

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 18:41:18 GMT -5 Focus said:

"Changes" Black Sabbath

:'( :o MG @ at those vocals: She made it a gospel ballad, much like 'Up To The Mountain' with those soulful runs, melisma, chest voice belts---> head voice transitions, and falsetto notes. The amount of F5-A5 notes from 2:40 on are INSANE, she just wails on it !!!

To think, I was convinced she was at her vocal peak last era during the 'Wanted' tour (2009), I take back those statements since between the two North American tours, Duets, and international tours, she has reached a new one this era. I don't know where her vocal ceiling is, but it certainly seems limitless.

How the h*ll does she learn that interpretation of this (or any) song on the day of the show ?? Seriously, that performance was a vocal masterclass, A+++ which should not surprise me since it is coming from the vocal chameleon and best mainstream vocalist today, but still.....

ETA: LOL @ her self-deprecating comments @ 4:22. I can't wait for some HQ audio for this one and if anyone gets a hold of this, I would appreciate it !

[Jack]

I HATE that Changes song, but I'm about to watch and ready to be slayed.

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 19:03:37 GMT -5 Jack said:

I HATE that Changes song, but I'm about to watch and ready to be slayed.

I'm waiting for your review (no pressure)...**whistles**....

[Focus]

WAY better audio!!!!

"CHANGES"

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 20:56:13 GMT -5 Focus said:

WAY better audio!!!!

"CHANGES"

:o :'(

Everything I said in my post earlier today x 10 !

Focus, thanks for posting. What did you think ? And Jack, you're not off the hook either.....

[Focus]

What do I think? I think she's the best singer on the planet, that's what I think. She proved it to me with that song. Well, not really. She's been proving it to me for 10 years. That was a brilliant performance and interpretation imo.

[bb]

I think her A5 high note in the above performance might be her best head voice note in her entire career. Something about it hits that sweet spot in her voice that she can also access in her mixed voice-- it rings, it sustains itself, it's clear and angelic but also powerful. I wish she would use her upper head voice range (G5-F#6, from what we've heard) more-- along with her smoky low notes, it might be my favorite facet of her voice.

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2012 21:59:21 GMT -5 bb said:

I think her A5 high note in the above performance might be her best head voice note in her entire career. Something about it hits that sweet spot in her voice that she can also access in her mixed voice-- it rings, it sustains itself, it's clear and angelic but also powerful. I wish she would use her upper head voice range (G5-F#6, from what we've heard) more-- along with her smoky low notes, it might be my favorite facet of her voice.

I agree, it was amazing. It just sounded so pure.

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 21:59:21 GMT -5 bb said:

I think her A5 high note in the above performance might be her best head voice note in her entire career. Something about it hits that sweet spot in her voice that she can also access in her mixed voice-- it rings, it sustains itself, it's clear and angelic but also powerful. I wish she would use her upper head voice range (G5-F#6, from what we've heard) more-- along with her smoky low notes, it might be my favorite facet of her voice.

Which one: the one at 4:06 or the one at 4:30 (in the 2nd/clearer video) ? I'm assuming the latter, but both are magnificent.

[Deleted]

itunes.apple.com/us/album/catch-my-breath-single/id569228993

Get to it!

[neally]

Oct 14, 2012 22:15:56 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

itunes.apple.com/us/album/catch-my-breath-single/id569228993

Get to it!

Bought it: it sounds even better in HQ (256kbps) !

[Treacherous]

Finally. Longest four days of my life.

[Jack]

Oct 14, 2012 19:05:15 GMT -5 neally said:

Oct 14, 2012 19:03:37 GMT -5 Jack said:

I HATE that Changes song, but I'm about to watch and ready to be slayed.

I'm waiting for your review (no pressure)...**whistles**....

Yeah. It was insane. I had to get over my hangups about the song, but that was fairly ease. The skill and ease, and range she has and showed there...I dunno; people scoff if you compare Kelly's voice to people like Whitney and Mariah the same way people scoff if you compare Beyonce's performance ability to the likes of MJ. But in both instances, and think they're just unquestionably on the same level. Stunning.

[Bluesy]

I only lurk here now, but wanted to pop on just to say how beautiful Kelly's performance of "Changes" was. Amazing performance. I wish she would do at least a little of that kind of music on her own albums.

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2012 22:42:44 GMT -5 Jack said:

Oct 14, 2012 19:05:15 GMT -5 neally said:

I'm waiting for your review (no pressure)...**whistles**....

Yeah. It was insane. I had to get over my hangups about the song, but that was fairly ease. The skill and ease, and range she has and showed there...I dunno; people scoff if you compare Kelly's voice to people like Whitney and Mariah the same way people scoff if you compare Beyonce's performance ability to the likes of MJ. But in both instances, and think they're just unquestionably on the same level. Stunning.

I agree, it really is so frustrating how underrated Kelly is at times.

[Focus]

Oct 14, 2012 22:59:35 GMT -5 Bluesy said:

I only lurk here now, but wanted to pop on just to say how beautiful Kelly's performance of "Changes" was. Amazing performance. I wish she would do at least a little of that kind of music on her own albums.

I wish you wouldn't just lurk. I hope one day you'll start posting regularly again.

[dbhmr]

That was so, so good. I hope her career continues to be successful because I think, in a few short years, she really will have earned the respect she deserves as a vocalist in the same class as Mariah, Whitney, and Celine. It's a different kind of voice, but no less powerful, pure, or proficient. But for her to get that kind of recognition, she will have to remain relevant for a bit longer, and then let the dust settle on this generation of singers--and then no way does she not come out on top.

[Jack]

Oct 14, 2012 23:11:05 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

I agree, it really is so frustrating how underrated Kelly is at times.

I wouldn't say it was a case of frustrating or underrated per-say. More a case of habit/PR.

By which I mean; as a society we tend to appreciate things after the fact. Or at least, assume "older means better". Typified by this sort of "they don't make them like they used to" line of thinking, which precludes any new artist being as good or comparable to any old artist. I think they do make them like they used to. People get irked when people compare Beyonce's performing talents to Michael Jackson's...but cultural and historical implications aside, I think she is most certainly on that level. I think it will be accepted wisdom soon enough, I just accept it now. The same goes with Kelly. There's an "untouchable" glaze to the likes of the 90's vocal divas, but in terms of skill, range, power, tone...Kelly is f*cking with them. She just is.

As far as PR, it's just something that's never been pushed particularly by her people. Stop a random person on the street and ask them the first thing they associate Kelly Clarkson with they'd probably mention something about the female empowerment pop chick anthems. Christina Aguleria's people, over the years, have maneuvered her into this 'legendary vocalist' box, despite the fact that she's outsung by about a dozen or so major recording artists.

It's not that people aren't aware of the level of Kelly's ability, it's just more of a dormant notion publicly, that gets reawakened any time she brings it at a high profile event (The Superbowl, Idol Gives Back, The Grammy's). At which the general reaction seems to be "Oh yeah...this chick is something else". I've no doubt with a little more push from her publicist, heightened emphasis on her vocals (translating the vocals from tour onto record, bringing it as hard to high profile events as she had sporadically more often), and material that focuses more on her true strengths (range and soul, in my opinion) - then her position as a top tier vocalist of her generation would truly be solidified.

[Deleted]

^I definitely agree. People see it as an abomination to compare Beyonce to Michael Jackson just because he's a legend while Beyonce is still a contemporary, but its very true that her performing is right up there with his. Just like Kelly's voice is up there with the big voices of the 90's. I'd love if on the next record, she had more songs to show off her voice....some epic, soulful ballads that show the side of her voice she's been consistently showing on tour.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Kelly's biggest weakness is the material she is forced to record for her albums. She is so much better than her last two records and yet they are still giving her those disposable soon-dated songs to record for some reason. As big a hit as Stronger was, I just can't see it as any more than just a lucky break amongst a bunch of flash-in-the-pan singles. She needs better material or permission to write her own songs freely, or with collaborators that can work to her advantage as a vocalist and an artist.

[Focus]

“There’s a place that I know, it’s not pretty there and few have ever gone.”
October 15, 2012

My favourite thing about life is live music. As I’ve undoubtedly said before, it’s the one thing that unifies different people in one moment. An arena, academy or room is the one place that I stop over thinking, stop feeling too much and start to just take a moment for what it is. An artist always seems to come around when I crave escapism from none other than myself.

Tonight, I attended Kelly Clarkson’s show at the LG Arena. For the first time in thirteen years, I went to a concert with my family, this time with a little brother in tow. This isn’t significant to anyone but me, as I know we don’t necessarily live in a family orientated state of nature. It’s significant to me because without tonight’s concert, my Mom and I wouldn’t have spent the evening together, which is a monotony for us.



Kelly Clarkson’s song ‘Dark Side,’ is the song that my Mom waited for all night. I’d never heard it before, but for the first time in years my Mom openly cried. There’s nothing worse than that you know, seeing your own parents openly hurting. So I paid attention to the lyrics, because sometimes it takes a stranger, in this instance Kelly Clarkson, to help you see the things that are too close to home for you to comprehend. In three minutes, I was closer to her than I have been in years. It just exemplifies that music brings people together, it touches the rawest and indeed, darkest places that most of us tend to hide away from, whether it’s in ourselves or others.

While that was the most personal moment of the show for me, I just have to say that in all the years I’ve attended gigs and concerts, Kelly Clarkson is the woman who embodied unity. Instead of staying on the stage as anyone would expect, she ran around to the back of the arena while singing her version of Fun!’s We Are Young (which I much prefer to the original.) This wasn’t for theatrics, but for the fact she didn’t exclude those fans sitting right at the back – instead, she stood on the sound production area and performed up close for those fans to see. I’ve never seen an artist do that, I mean sure, many artists speak to their fans, but Kelly Clarkson made that extra effort which sent shivers down my spine.

Another aspect of tonight wasn’t just the unison between people, but a unison of genres. Kelly herself took time to say she hoped everyone’s iPod was a mix of different music as there is a lot of beautiful music out there, right before granting a fan’s request by covering Black Sabbath’s Changes, which was a total surprise. As a fan of the original I was quite intrigued and anxious, however Kelly Clarkson’s version was absolutely fantastic, really conveying her vocal abilities and flexibility as a singer.

Finally, live music just isn’t good enough if it doesn’t make me cry. I’ve come to realise this over the past two years. The acoustic version of ‘Because of You’ which is about family dysfunction is the moment I had a bit of cry, which is quite awkward really when you’re sat between both of your parents!

Anyway, I’ve had a fantastic night with my family and this is my favourite Kelly Clarkson song;
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhWUHlEfY4s

fairmountox.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/theres-a-place-that-i-know-its-not-pretty-there-and-few-have-ever-gone/

[Rand.om Gay]

First of all, Drop Dead Stunning interpretation of Changes. The problem is that it will be mostly (only) ardent KC fans who see + hear it. IMO, Kelly has yet to have a hit single that truly encapsulates the power, range, and nuance of her voice. Her existing fans have been slayed by Up to the Mountain, I Know You Won't, Ain't No Way, and now, Changes, et.al. But, the masses know her primariy by WDKY, SUBG, MLWSWY, etc. - enormous hits all but not exactly showcases for her voice. Thus far in her career, BOY has come closest, but even that, IMO, didn't fully capture what she is truly capable of. Whitney had I Will Always Love You. To attain the standing she deserves (at least with the general public), Kelly needs to - and I believe she will - have her IWALY.

[Hook]

Oct 15, 2012 9:05:44 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

Kelly's biggest weakness is the material she is forced to record for her albums. She is so much better than her last two records and yet they are still giving her those disposable soon-dated songs to record for some reason. As big a hit as Stronger was, I just can't see it as any more than just a lucky break amongst a bunch of flash-in-the-pan singles. She needs better material or permission to write her own songs freely, or with collaborators that can work to her advantage as a vocalist and an artist.

I completely disagree. I think Stronger (the album) is some of the best material she's recorded. I know Mr. Know It All gets a lot of hate, but I love that song. I think it's extremely underrated compared to so many of her other singles. And it did do pretty well on the charts. It might not have been a hit like Stronger, but it was still a hit. I would love to see her with more writing credits though.