Kelly Clarkson – "Happier Than Ever"

[Kurt]

The first release from Kelly Clarkson's upcoming Kellyoke covers EP is her take on Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever." Out Wednesday, as confirmed by sources here and on ATRL.

Her September 2021 performance on the Kelly Clarkson Show:

[dbhmr]

Ready for her to WAIL on this. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[bigd79]

Thats nice and all, but when the heck is she gonna release new original music? Its been 5 years since her last album, not counting xmas.

[Ryan]

[dbhmr]

Up and stole this song from Billie in broad daylight.

The buildup and climax is so good, but her lower register has never sounded so rich on record.

[Nick]

I prefer the slower part on Billie’s version, but the fast part on Kelly’s version. I see a duet mash up in the near future.

[Ling-Ling]

I've never been big on Billie's version tbh, mostly because of her vocals. It's great to hear a real vocalist tackle this.

[bigb0882]

May 25, 2022 7:01:37 GMT -5 Ling-Ling said:

I've never been big on Billie's version tbh, mostly because of her vocals. It's great to hear a real vocalist tackle this.

Kelly owns this. She feels every bit of it and, of course, her vocals are absolutely insane. I hope she gets some recognition from the public on this.

[Jack]

I barely know the original, so the way I can actually escape and daydream into this and pretend it's the lead single from her new album and her own song.

[Active Aggressive]

This is definitely lacking the charm of Billie's definitive version. I don't care that Kelly is the superior vocalist because (duh) and that has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the original. The ukelele, the production, Billie's resigned delivery in the first half...all combined to make magic. The only part of this I prefer to the original is how much cleaner the second half is and this is just because I don't like bombed-out production overall, but I think stan glasses are strong in this thread for this one and I say that as a Kelly stan.

[bigb0882]

May 25, 2022 16:25:26 GMT -5 Active Aggressive said:

This is definitely lacking the charm of Billie's definitive version. I don't care that Kelly is the superior vocalist because (duh) and that has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the original. The ukelele, the production, Billie's resigned delivery in the first half...all combined to make magic. The only part of this I prefer to the original is how much cleaner the second half is and this is just because I don't like bombed-out production overall, but I think stan glasses are strong in this thread for this one and I say that as a Kelly stan.

I don’t really know the original other than occasionally hearing the edit version on the radio, which you admit Kelly’s is superior (correction, you said cleaner). So it isn’t probably so much about Stan glasses as a lot of Kelly’s biggest fans are not going to overlap with being a big Billie Eilish fan.

[Active Aggressive]

May 25, 2022 16:39:19 GMT -5 bigb0882 said:

May 25, 2022 16:25:26 GMT -5 Active Aggressive said:

This is definitely lacking the charm of Billie's definitive version. I don't care that Kelly is the superior vocalist because (duh) and that has nothing to do with the effectiveness of the original. The ukelele, the production, Billie's resigned delivery in the first half...all combined to make magic. The only part of this I prefer to the original is how much cleaner the second half is and this is just because I don't like bombed-out production overall, but I think stan glasses are strong in this thread for this one and I say that as a Kelly stan.

I don’t really know the original other than occasionally hearing the edit version on the radio, which you admit Kelly’s is superior (correction, you said cleaner). So it isn’t probably so much about Stan glasses as a lot of Kelly’s biggest fans are not going to overlap with being a big Billie Eilish fan.

Eh, I don't know if it's that or if it's just because "Kelly has a better voice" and like I said...duh, but there is just something special about Billie's song. Maybe it's because she wrote it and was really going through it when she wrote it. Kelly sounds lovely though and I can't wait for her next album of original material. I saw that she included Fake Plastic Trees by my favorite band of all time on her karaoke EP as well, so I am probably going to just leave that one alone because I can't imagine ANY version affecting me the way that original does.

[SHOOTER]

I've had this on repeat today. I enjoy both versions and think Billie and Kelly's deliveries bring out different sides of the song.

[𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤]

a phenomenal voice can only do so much. The second half on this sounds great and is nice to listen to but it just fails to evoke the emotion the original does. Billie sounds like she's lurching off a cliff while Kelly is just singing well. The original's production is also MUCH better. None of this is surprising, its a cover after all, but still

I prefer Kelly's first half though, the fuzzy filter over billie's voice in the original annoys me.

[Joe1240]

This is great! This reminds me of My December Kelly! Nice to see Kelly channeling Pop/Rock again.

[toomuchboy]

The only correct choice for first release of a covers project.

That said, this one always makes me wish she'd release original music like this again. I know Kelly's biggest days are behind her, but I feel like she could get a few more hits if she actually tried. She can't compete with the young girls like Rodrigo or Eillish of course, but she could transition to a sort of Brandi Carlile or Melissa Etheridge mature rock singer vibe.

[Jack]

Yeah I think some of the criticisms of 'stan goggles' are a bit unfounded and odd tbh. They hardcore KC fans have been frustrated and dubious, and the fact that she has committed one of her best ever studio vocals with an insane, intense, cinematic production and amazing song to a positive reception is hardly grounds to suggest people are blindly seal clapping. This is objectively exceptional. Whatever Ellish-goggles might be coloring the positive reception.

[Nick]

The AI stans will always love her material. Sure KC can sing, but when was the last time she had an original song this good? "Love So Soft" was cute, but it didn't really make a lasting impression.
Her cover of Billie's song is great, and I hope she works with an acclaimed songwriter(s) when she releases new material. This sound works very well with her voice.

[Future Captain]

Oh that second half is glorious. The first half is fine, but it really lacked the tired resignation of the original.

[dbhmr]

idk I think Billie’s version sounds so muted and listless in comparison. This cover has the teeth the lyrics deserve.

[SHOOTER]

I can just hear the dagger being thrown at that man when she says leave me alone at the very end. :chills:

[Active Aggressive]

The best thing about opinions is the complete lack of objectivity. One man's trash is another man's treasure. While I have no desire to hear this cover again while the original exists, I respect and appreciate the fact that Kelly loved the song enough to lend her golden pipes to it.

[bigb0882]

May 29, 2022 11:19:52 GMT -5 Active Aggressive said:

The best thing about opinions is the complete lack of objectivity. One man's trash is another man's treasure. While I have no desire to hear this cover again while the original exists, I respect and appreciate the fact that Kelly loved the song enough to lend her golden pipes to it.

And I love that someone as young as Billie can release a song that resonates so much with a 40 year old that they want to cover it and lead with it. I also love Kelly’s lyric change about how he hated the city vs. the original where Billie hated the city, not because it’s better but because I’m sure it was what fit with Kelly’s situation.

[Dylan :)]

I love the original but this is SO good!! Especially the first half, which sounds more haunting with Kelly's vocals

[Deleted]

She shines on this. Perfectly suited for her.

[Envoirment]

Not a fan of this. It's too clean and loses the charm that the original has. Although Kelly delivers some amazing vocals in the second half.

[Ryan]