Kelly Clarkson - Greatest Hits Era (Nov. 19)

[james]

^ At the same time though, Kelly's voice should be capable of producing brilliant songs. I don't think we have seen that recently. I mean her albums seem to go midway, chucking in pop, dance, country, HAC and a little bit of filler. I just think she's capable of achieving critical accalim if she'd perfer to move out of the pop limelight.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2012 19:09:06 GMT -5 Jack said:

I would just give anything for her to sing a song like this:

www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bruno-mars-young-wild-girls/1421406

YESSSS. I want some ballads like that on the next album, something stripped and raw with strings. After SNL, I came to the conclusion that there is no other male artist I want to see Kelly collaborate with more than Bruno Mars.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2012 18:58:03 GMT -5 Jack said:

I just think she could really go this female Bruno Mars route. Not just because I could see her killing a song like Locked Out Of Heaven, but he makes big, soulful, hooky songs with incredible vocals and massive melodies, that are bold enough but catchy too.

I saw this post after your other one but I completely agree, I'd LOVE her to make a Bruno Mars type of album. He has enough variety, but it still feels very cohesive. It's all so catchy and soulful. He has a unique sound that covers new ground, and I've love to hear Kelly pave her own ground like that.

[Deleted]

I guess what I want from the next album is for Kelly to take some risks, and do something different.


ETA to reply to Censor's post below this so I don't have to post again:
I know, I'm sorry :( haha

[Deleted]

Holy triple post.

[Grün]

I think the thing that bothers me the most about Catch My Breath is the production. I wish it was a folky, acoustic song.

I just want a self- penned album with her spark back into her music. My December was the last time she put her whole heart into her cd and I miss that.
I mean I love Stronger and I Forgive You buts wheres the Maybes, How I Feels, the Irvines, the Because of Yous. I miss that more than anything, I dont want Pop Kelly anymore, I want Be Still and Never Again Kelly.

Sorry for the rant, but I just miss those days when her songs really meant something and wasn't just another radio bait song. I think I'll have to wait one more album and get exactly what I want and I am ready for it.

[ƒreakshow]

Oct 24, 2012 21:06:52 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

I guess what I want from the next album is for Kelly to take some risks, and do something different.

This is exactly what I want. I don't want her to stray from pop music with it, I still want that, I just want her to take a different approach with the album. Do things in an entirely new way, take risks, experiment with sounds, write more, write about new things, collaborate with writers and producers (as opposed to writing on her own and in her comfort zone with her people), I could go on and on. It's not that I'm dissatisfied with what she's given us in the past year, I'd just like to see her evolve and make something special.

If I see her working with Howard Benson again and recording generic songs like Mr. Know It All or Einstein that random songwriter #5 sent to her people to pitch, I'm not going to be pleased. Like I said, I love Stronger and what she's done lately, but it just feels like Kelly on autopilot. I know she can do more, and I want to see her deliver. Maybe the new found spark she's found in life will inspire her musically.

[bigb0882]

^ It is funny because I feel like ALL the things you are asking her to do is exactly what she has done with CMB.

Kelly said it best: You Can't Win

And can we please not so quickly forget how happy we were when the Stronger era got underway? When Stronger was smashing we were all on cloud nine saying that Kelly had not seen such success since Breakaway and now everyone has a list a mile long on what she should do for next album and what RCA should have done different. It is pathetic and so fair weather.

[nightshade]

Oct 24, 2012 22:08:00 GMT -5 bigb0882 said:

When Stronger was smashing we were all on cloud nine saying that Kelly had not seen such success since Breakaway and now everyone has a list a mile long on what she should do for next album and what RCA should have done different.

There is always room for improvement. I don't see anything wrong with wanting more from an artist. It's not like she's been doing the absolute most during the Stronger era.

After Stronger, it seemed like she was pleased with having that success and let the rest of the pieces fall where they may.

[ƒreakshow]

Oct 24, 2012 22:08:00 GMT -5 bigb0882 said:

^ It is funny because I feel like ALL the things you are asking her to do is exactly what she has done with CMB.

Yes, as a matter of fact, she has achieved some of the things I mentioned with Catch My Breath. Lyrically, it's a new direction for her, sonically, it's not a pop/rock song we've heard 5 times before, vocally, she sings with a certain spark and clarity that shows her attachment to it - there are a lot of hopeful signs in the song.

However, the song was very much written in Kelly's comfort zone. She wrote it with her right hand man who she has worked with many times before, who is nothing more than an amateur quite frankly. Kelly isn't pushing herself by working with Jason Halbert. There's nothing challenging, she's not learning anything. Kelly has a lot of strengths as a songwriter, but she has weaknesses that I'm not afraid to acknowledge. She has a hard time writing a decent hook and often gets wordy with her lyrics, Halbert doesn't assist her in that area. The production also feels half-baked and amateurish, but they had the right idea. Working with a professional would probably have improved the song's weaknesses. I think it's a terrible single choice and I've been very critical of it because of that, but when you dissect the song and solely look at its foundation, there's promise.

She most certainly can win, she just needs to keep trying. I'll most likely be satisfied on some level with whatever she does in the future, but I know she is capable of more and I am not afraid to point that out.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2012 21:59:38 GMT -5 ƒreakshow said:

Oct 24, 2012 21:06:52 GMT -5 @ihavemcpheever said:

I guess what I want from the next album is for Kelly to take some risks, and do something different.

This is exactly what I want. I don't want her to stray from pop music with it, I still want that, I just want her to take a different approach with the album. Do things in an entirely new way, take risks, experiment with sounds, write more, write about new things, collaborate with writers and producers (as opposed to writing on her own and in her comfort zone with her people), I could go on and on. It's not that I'm dissatisfied with what she's given us in the past year, I'd just like to see her evolve and make something special.

If I see her working with Howard Benson again and recording generic songs like Mr. Know It All or Einstein that random songwriter #5 sent to her people to pitch, I'm not going to be pleased. Like I said, I love Stronger and what she's done lately, but it just feels like Kelly on autopilot. I know she can do more, and I want to see her deliver. Maybe the new found spark she's found in life will inspire her musically.

Exactly. And I'm not saying there was anything wrong with Stronger, I love the album. Her voice was produced better than it has ever been, the production as a whole was fantastic, and the songs were pretty solid for the most part. I was just thinking, where does she go from here? So yeah, what I want to see in the future from her is for her to step out the box more. Try new things, continue working with new people, try new sounds, etc. Make something that will stand apart from her previous work as well as other artists' albums out there at that moment. I'm not really judging CMB in that aspect because it isn't really a new chapter for her career or anything, its a song to kick off a greatest hits and it lyrically perfectly encompasses that.

Kelly does seem to really like to try new things though, she's always said that, so hopefully that shows on the next album. I remember she was saying about when she first heard that Darkchild had a song for her, she was so stoked because she thought it was going to be something urban, but it ended up being pop/rock. Maybe the new song she's been talking about is more along the lines of what she was originally expecting from him?

[Peaches. [Ch, r. is]]

Thank you Jack & freakshow. The last thing I want is for Kelly to stop making pop music.

What I want, what we all need:

• One producer in charge of the album to give a more cohesive sound. Someone who will keep Kelly from making the album into a display of how many genres she can fit into one album. Someone who will tie all the songs together by a common thread of instruments or sth. How amazing was it when you first heard tracks 2-4 on Stronger, in order? It's no coincidence that they all have the same producer. Even track 5, which was a different set of producers, tied into the tracks before it, but then track 6 comes on and it just kills an cohesion the album could've had. I bet if the same song was produced by Kurstin too, they would've flowed better.
  
• Speaking of instruments, I want LIVE instruments! They just sound so much better, especially with Kelly's voice. Give the band something to do during off-touring season.
  
• Don't worry about pleasing radio! Just make good music and the success will come. Giving radio what you think they want will only hurt the music.
  
• Collaborate with professional writers and make songs from scratch. freakshow is right, no premade songs that the label finds from searching youtube demos.
  
• Experimentation with sound, veering away from the rigid pop/rock sound she's known for. I think she'd sound fantastic going the Bruno Mars route, but I'm open to anything and we know Kelly can pull off anything.
  
• TONS of artist development. She should work on her writing, WITH PROFESSIONALS, not her bandmates who don't bring anything new to the table. She can also learn an instrument or work on her producing. She has the voice and some writing skill, but she should expand her talents so she can eventually make a strong album by herself. That's the key to a long career.
  

[mcbg1]

Meh. I'm over Kelly as a pop singer. We all know her next album will be exactly like AIEW/Stronger. I'll wait until her contract with RCA is over. Then she'll be able to change her formula.

[clarksonnumber1]

3 of Kelly's last 4 Pop singles have been mid-tempo. Anyone who listens to Pop stations today knows that uptempo songs generally dominate the format. If she does Stronger part 2 I'd be happy with it, and hopefully uptempo songs will be released as singles.

[lum]

Oct 25, 2012 8:12:02 GMT -5 mcbg1 said:

We all know her next album will be exactly like AIEW/Stronger.

I don't.

[Focus]

Oct 25, 2012 8:12:02 GMT -5 mcbg1 said:

Meh. I'm over Kelly as a pop singer. We all know her next album will be exactly like AIEW/Stronger. I'll wait until her contract with RCA is over. Then she'll be able to change her formula.

Agreed.

[KMJ1]

*FYI shes UP 8 notches with Stronger on the top 200 !!

[franklin]

Also 1 year on the charts

Only Breakaway charted longer
Thankful - 50
Breakaway - 104
My December - 18
All I Ever Wanted - 47
Stronger - 52 (& still charting)

[dbhmr]

This has been a really balanced, thorough conversation--and with the GH coming out, a very relevant one. I'm enjoying reading all your wish lists. Particularly Chris':

Oct 25, 2012 3:18:54 GMT -5 Peaches. [Ch, r. is] said:

One producer in charge of the album to give a more cohesive sound.

Be careful what you wish for. If this happens again, and I think it will, I also think the most likely candidate is Jason. Though I don't find him nearly as weak as freakshow, I'd like to see her branch out, as well. He can produce her covers album.

Speaking of instruments, I want LIVE instruments!
Don't worry about pleasing radio!
Collaborate with professional writers and make songs from scratch.
Experimentation with sound

Yes please.

TONS of artist development.

I'm going to give Kelly a bit of the benefit of the doubt here. I think she has been a bit hampered by RCA in this capacity. Now, there's been a changing of the guard and Stronger showed real progress in their relationship, and they let her put out Catch My Breath to kick off this project. Maybe, as freakshow suggests, this is just because they don't care, but I'd like to think it's a sign of things to come. They have to realize Kelly is an asset and they have to also realize she could just as easily move all her business to Nashville if they don't start to try to keep her. I'm hoping this Chapter One closes the chapter and they start letting her branch out the way she already has on tour (she's shown so much growth in her tours over the years, it just hasn't translated to her albums; she may not be the problem).

[Grün]

Next CD Wishlist:
Sound of the album: Folky, Acoustic , and some rawness to it.
I want her to have the whole album written by her or at least have a co- write on every song.
I dont want all break up songs or man bashing songs.
I would love songs about love, feeling down, serenity,etc.
I would love a mixture of Be Still, Maybe, Chivas, and Irvine on this cd.

REALLLLLLLLL INSTRUMENTS! No more stupid dancey or synthy productions. I just want to hear something real. Also, different kinds of instruments maybe shake it up from guitars, drums, and use a sax, violin, harp, xylophone, or a banjo. Something cool like that and different.

Lastly, I dont want her to cater to pop anymore they will blacklist her sometime soon anyway when the new kids come in. So, I want her to do something that means something and finally get the grammy nods she deserves.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even though I wont buy it make a country cd after that.

[kmbgs]

I'd honestly like Kelly to make another Breakaway or Stronger, both of those albums are entirely epic from start to finish and I'm obsessed with them #sorryimnotoriginalorsorry

[Peaches. [Ch, r. is]]

@chartnews

kelly🌷💞_Clarkson's US digital sales: Already Gone 1,802,000 | Breakaway 1,769,000 | Because Of You 1,729,000 | Mr. Know It All 1,680,000.

[slayZ]

Oct 24, 2012 22:22:49 GMT -5 ƒreakshow said:

Oct 24, 2012 22:08:00 GMT -5 bigb0882 said:

^ It is funny because I feel like ALL the things you are asking her to do is exactly what she has done with CMB.

Yes, as a matter of fact, she has achieved some of the things I mentioned with Catch My Breath. Lyrically, it's a new direction for her, sonically, it's not a pop/rock song we've heard 5 times before, vocally, she sings with a certain spark and clarity that shows her attachment to it - there are a lot of hopeful signs in the song.

However, the song was very much written in Kelly's comfort zone. She wrote it with her right hand man who she has worked with many times before, who is nothing more than an amateur quite frankly. Kelly isn't pushing herself by working with Jason Halbert. There's nothing challenging, she's not learning anything. Kelly has a lot of strengths as a songwriter, but she has weaknesses that I'm not afraid to acknowledge. She has a hard time writing a decent hook and often gets wordy with her lyrics, Halbert doesn't assist her in that area. The production also feels half-baked and amateurish, but they had the right idea. Working with a professional would probably have improved the song's weaknesses. I think it's a terrible single choice and I've been very critical of it because of that, but when you dissect the song and solely look at its foundation, there's promise.

She most certainly can win, she just needs to keep trying. I'll most likely be satisfied on some level with whatever she does in the future, but I know she is capable of more and I am not afraid to point that out.

This is my biggest frustration. There is so much room for Kelly to grow as a musician and she's stuck in this box where she'll never grow. She's an okay lyricist, she's not the best but she's certainly not the worst. She has written some hit songs...with the right people. I know it's not about pleasing Pop radio, but she can get her message across and write deep, meaningful stuff without compromising a hook. She will never accomplish that with Jason...ever. If she were to have GOOD writers and GOOD producers guiding her, working TOGETHER, great things would happen. Instead, she's either handed stuff, or she writes stuff on her own that just won't click.

I personally don't want more involvement with Greg. I know, as usual, I'm in the minority when it comes to Kelly opinions on Pulse, but his stuff is a hit or miss, and for the most part, I think Kelly can do way better. It doesn't necessarily have to be Max Martin or Dr. Luke, but there are so many great producers out there that could bring out the best in her while giving her a new sound, something fresh that we've never heard from her. Take a look at Taylor Swift for example, she might obviously be trying too hard to please Pop radio with her Pop-influenced songs, but she's stepping out of her comfort zone to do so and has taken some BIG risks with her sound this time around. Kelly would absolutely murder a song like I Knew You Were Trouble...with a few changes (in my opinion).

While I don't necessarily think a complete sonic departure would be a good idea, some experimentation would not only reinvent her image giving her room for so many new opportunities, but it could also spark some new interest from people and radio in general.

[nightshade]

Oct 25, 2012 12:47:13 GMT -5 Grün said:

Next CD Wishlist:
Sound of the album: Folky, Acoustic , and some rawness to it.
I want her to have the whole album written by her or at least have a co- write on every song.
I dont want all break up songs or man bashing songs.
I would love songs about love, feeling down, serenity,etc.
I would love a mixture of Be Still, Maybe, Chivas, and Irvine on this cd.

REALLLLLLLLL INSTRUMENTS! No more stupid dancey or synthy productions. I just want to hear something real. Also, different kinds of instruments maybe shake it up from guitars, drums, and use a sax, violin, harp, xylophone, or a banjo. Something cool like that and different.

Lastly, I dont want her to cater to pop anymore they will blacklist her sometime soon anyway when the new kids come in. So, I want her to do something that means something and finally get the grammy nods she deserves.

thank God you aren't in charge.

[slayZ]

Oct 25, 2012 13:47:44 GMT -5 nightshade said:

Oct 25, 2012 12:47:13 GMT -5 Grün said:

Next CD Wishlist:
Sound of the album: Folky, Acoustic , and some rawness to it.
I want her to have the whole album written by her or at least have a co- write on every song.
I dont want all break up songs or man bashing songs.
I would love songs about love, feeling down, serenity,etc.
I would love a mixture of Be Still, Maybe, Chivas, and Irvine on this cd.

REALLLLLLLLL INSTRUMENTS! No more stupid dancey or synthy productions. I just want to hear something real. Also, different kinds of instruments maybe shake it up from guitars, drums, and use a sax, violin, harp, xylophone, or a banjo. Something cool like that and different.

Lastly, I dont want her to cater to pop anymore they will blacklist her sometime soon anyway when the new kids come in. So, I want her to do something that means something and finally get the grammy nods she deserves.

thank God you aren't in charge.

How many times can I like your post? Is there a way to do it more than once?

[Love Plastic Love]

My two favorite cds from her are still Breakaway and My December. The last two have been good and had real gems, but something feels off about them to me. I couldn't even really say what it is. Breakaway and My December just both felt so real and genuine and connected to me where the last two almost sound too polished.
However, I think that is also affected by the fact that out of all the sounds she dabbles in my least favorite is the Easy Listening AC LifeTime movie ready sound. Unfortunately (for me) I feel like that is where her career is headed though. I mean, out of Stronger and the GH we had radio bait upbeat pop songs, dramatic ballads, rockier songs, sassier songs, etc and they decide to push MKIA, Dark Side, and CMB over all of the others. I am just seeing that as a sign that at least RCA (though Kelly seems on board) sees her future not as being in rockier pop songs, upbeat pop, singer/songwriter music, or dramatic music at all-rather easy listening "pleasant" music. It makes me sad because I would literally go apeshit over a cd with any other type of Kelly sound-all upbeat pop? I'm there. Rock/pop? I'm there. Singer Songwriter? I'm there. More Bluesy or even country? I'm there. Dramatic Because of You type ballads paired with any of the other genres I have mentioned? I am double there.
A cd full of MKIA's and CMBs? Might be the first Kelly cd I don't buy :/

Obviously this may be a premature feeling that I am having. It just seems like they are choosing singles that craft her to be a certain type of artist pretty deliberately while ignoring songs that go in other directions or experiment with other sounds.

I am interested to see what KELLY does once she re-negotiates that contract.

[Peaches. [Ch, r. is]]

Oct 25, 2012 13:58:04 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

My two favorite cds from her are still Breakaway and My December. The last two have been good and had real gems, but something feels off about them to me. I couldn't even really say what it is.

I think freakshow hit the nail on the head.

Oct 24, 2012 21:59:38 GMT -5 ƒreakshow said:

If I see her working with Howard Benson again and recording generic songs like Mr. Know It All or Einstein that random songwriter #5 sent to her people to pitch, I'm not going to be pleased. Like I said, I love Stronger and what she's done lately, but it just feels like Kelly on autopilot.

[/b][/quote]

[Peaches. [Ch, r. is]]

Thanks to plumbartist on ATRL for translating this mess.

"Catch My Breath" debuts at number 2 in South Korean Gaon international singles chart.

CMB also debuts at number 1 on the Gaon international download chart with over 54,022 downloads and at number 5 on Gaon international streaming chart.

Gaon International Singles chart (#2)
Hot 100 equivalent

For the Gaon International Downloads, click here: (#1)
Hot songs equivalent

For the Gaon International Streaming, click here: (#5)
On Demand equivalent

[Marooned@Midnight]

Oct 25, 2012 13:58:04 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

My two favorite cds from her are still Breakaway and My December. The last two have been good and had real gems, but something feels off about them to me. I couldn't even really say what it is. Breakaway and My December just both felt so real and genuine and connected to me where the last two almost sound too polished.
However, I think that is also affected by the fact that out of all the sounds she dabbles in my least favorite is the Easy Listening AC LifeTime movie ready sound. Unfortunately (for me) I feel like that is where her career is headed though. I mean, out of Stronger and the GH we had radio bait upbeat pop songs, dramatic ballads, rockier songs, sassier songs, etc and they decide to push MKIA, Dark Side, and CMB over all of the others. I am just seeing that as a sign that at least RCA (though Kelly seems on board) sees her future not as being in rockier pop songs, upbeat pop, singer/songwriter music, or dramatic music at all-rather easy listening "pleasant" music. It makes me sad because I would literally go apeshit over a cd with any other type of Kelly sound-all upbeat pop? I'm there. Rock/pop? I'm there. Singer Songwriter? I'm there. More Bluesy or even country? I'm there. Dramatic Because of You type ballads paired with any of the other genres I have mentioned? I am double there.
A cd full of MKIA's and CMBs? Might be the first Kelly cd I don't buy :/

Obviously this may be a premature feeling that I am having. It just seems like they are choosing singles that craft her to be a certain type of artist pretty deliberately while ignoring songs that go in other directions or experiment with other sounds.

I am interested to see what KELLY does once she re-negotiates that contract.

Wow, this is spot on my opinion. It makes me less and less enthusiastic with each single release. I'm holding out hope for an album of Let Me Down's, Sober's, Stronger's, SUBG's, etc. But I think it's becoming obvious that we are more likely to get an album of MKIA's and CMB's. I'll pass.

[Grün]

Sorry I want Kelly to grow into a artist, while people still want her to sing the same song time and time again lol.