Kelly Clarkson - "Because of You"

[witty7496]

Wooohoo! I hope this song does well. Personally, I love it!!

[Say It Right Only On Sundays]

I heard this song for the first time today, and I don't like it.

[friend]

I don't like this song either...bad choice for a fourth single...reminds me of Trouble With Love.

[clem]

friend said:

I don't like this song either...bad choice for a fourth single...reminds me of Trouble With Love.

I don't see the connection - this song is so personal, so based on experience, so true. TTWLI was... fake, at least, in my opinion.

[jenglisbe]

What's so personal about the song? I haven't heard the story.

[emmarthomas]

because of you...she wrote it about going through her parent's divorce..

[Laura]

kikimets said:

Most added with 66 adds.

I know that comes from R&R, but the Mediabase chart says it playing on 60 stations. Can you explain the difference?

[KikiMets]

jenglisbe said:

What's so personal about the song? I haven't heard the story.

Kelly wrote the song when she was 16 about growing up in the aftermath of her parents' divorce (they split up when Kelly was 6).

I know that comes from R&R, but the Mediabase chart says it playing on 60 stations. Can you explain the difference?

It's possible that a few of the stations that added it this week haven't gotten around to playing it yet.

[PerPlexied]

Look at that bullet!

[Callmeatomic]

This is her weakest single...it has gone downhill by each song since SYBG.

[punkydoodle]

^ Completely reverse that and I'd agree. The singles just keep improving: BTHE was better than SUBG and BOY is better than both.

[MusicJunkie]

I predict her bullet will be close to or a little over 1000 at one point. ;)

[JayBoozer]

BTHE > SUBG >>> Breakaway >>>>>>>>> BOY

This song is so corny.

[KikiMets]

www.billboard.com/bb/reviews/single_article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001018193

KELLY CLARKSON
Because of You
Producer(s): David Hodges, Ben Moody
Writer(s): K. Clarkson, D. Hodges, B. Moody
Publisher(s): various
Genre: POP
Label/Catalog Number: RCA (CD promo)
Source: Billboard Magazine
Originally Reviewed: August 27, 2005


Four singles into triple-platinum "Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson keeps rewriting the rule book for millennium-era pop. "Since U Been Gone" is already one of the globe's soundtrack songs of 2005, and now, Clarkson rewards fans with a ballad. But thanks to her collaboration with former Evanescence member Ben Moody and David Hodges, there is no schmaltz factor here, only a potent, pained, grown-up anthem of gross betrayal and loss. She sings, "Because of you, I don't know how to let anyone else in/I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty/I am afraid because of you." It is time for Clarkson to return to No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100; she has certainly become the most consistent hope for top 40 staple status. —Chuck Taylor

[britrocks16]

Wow! Great review.

[clem]

I wonder what her father's reaction was/will be after hearing this song.

[eric]

Hmm I didn't know they were involved in this.

This is one of her best, I think.

[derek]

This song is growing on me. I don't think it's AMAZING, but it's growing on me. :)

[KikiMets]

koalaclement said:

I wonder what her father's reaction was/will be after hearing this song.

I know her father went to at least one of her concerts in LA back in May, so he has definitely heard the song.

[kellydicted]

It is time for Clarkson to return to No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100

Hot sh*t!

eric said:

Hmm I didn't know they were involved in this.

LOL! Don't worry, it was mostly all Kelly's doing anyways.

[slowmo]

kikimets said:

koalaclement said:

I wonder what her father's reaction was/will be after hearing this song.

I know her father went to at least one of her concerts in LA back in May, so he has definitely heard the song.

He was at both of the LA shows in May.  I sat very near him at both and to be honest, I didn't know how to read his reaction.  If I were to guess what it was, I would say it would be more proud papa then anything else.  I'm sure he had heard it long before actually hearing it in person those nights, so what ever emotions that it would bring forth would have happened already.

[kwab]

windwhispers said:

^ Completely reverse that and I'd agree. The singles just keep improving: BTHE was better than SUBG and BOY is better than both.

I personally agree.  The hitspredictor link that Kiki posted also states likewise.  BTHE got a higher rating than SUBG and BOY got an even higher rating than BTHE (around 10 pts I believe).  It may be corny or nothing special to some which is totally fine, but there are a LOT of people out there that are loving this song. :)

deeds said:

kikimets said:

I know her father went to at least one of her concerts in LA back in May, so he has definitely heard the song.

He was at both of the LA shows in May.  I sat very near him at both and to be honest, I didn't know how to read his reaction.  If I were to guess what it was, I would say it would be more proud papa then anything else.  I'm sure he had heard it long before actually hearing it in person those nights, so what ever emotions that it would bring forth would have happened already.

If memory serves me correct, didn't Kelly say she brought this to both her parents and they told her that it did no use staying in her notebook?

[kwab]

Another excellent review :)

blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/19/144830.php

Single Review: Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You"
Posted by Pam Avoledo on August 19, 2005 02:48 PM (See all posts by Pam Avoledo)
Filed under: Music - Scroll down to read comments on this story and/or add one of your own.


Breakaway
Kelly Clarkson
Music from RCA
Release date: 30 November, 2004




Album: Breakaway
Year: 30 November 2005
Label: RCA

A cold parent has hardened Kelly Clarkson in the steely ballad "Because of You."

She "oohs" over a somber piano, creating a wintry tone. She promises herself to do make different decisions than he did. She won't be like him: miserable and impulsive. He drew her in with his vibrant facade. However, it's only caused her to become disillusioned. She will be cautious the next time around. "I will not make the same mistakes that you did/I will not let myself/Cause my heart so much misery/I will not break the way you did/You fell so hard/I've learned the hard way/To never let it get that far."

In the chorus, she mentions that she won't discover new places or try anything new. She doesn't believe anyone is sincere. They have selfish motives. It's ingrained in her by one of her parents. "Because of you/I never stray too far from the sidewalk/Because of you/I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt/Because of you/I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me/Because of you/I am afraid."

Clarkson details the emotionless person who raised her. If she was unsure of what to do and felt lost, she would be scolded for it. If she cried in front of the person, she would be berated for showing emotion. She learned crying means a lack of strength and control. In order to appease the person, she began to pretend to be outgoing. However, inside she's hurt and resentful that she can't be talk about how she feels. Growing up with the person has made her numb and angry "I lose my way/And it's not too long before you point it out/I cannot cry/Because you know that's weakness in your eyes/I'm forced to fake/A smile, a laugh everyday of my life/My heart can't possibly break/When it wasn't even whole to start with."


In the bridge, Clarkson remembers her parent's spiraling into a depression. From her bedroom, she heard inconsolable weeping. The parent wanted to Clarkson to be a friend and to be dependent. She despises the person for putting their needs first instead of discounting everyone else's. She sobs like he did during the night like him, which has embittered her. "I watched you die/I heard you cry every night in your sleep/I was so young/You should have known better than to lean on me/You never thought of anyone else/You just saw your pain/And now I cry in the middle of the night/For the same damn thing."

The chorus is sung once, however it's extended. She adds that she has repressed any hurtful memories of the person. She doesn't have many friends or is uncertain on how to befriend people. She dislikes her life. She has a huge void which cannot be filled. "...Because of youI try my hardest just to forget everything/Because of you/I don't know how to let anyone else in/Because of you/I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty/Because of you/I am afraid."

Clarkson sings "because of you" twice to end the single.

Powerful and realisitc, Clarkson unleashes raw bitterness and heartache in "Because of You." Vocally, the single is her shining moment. Clarkson is exploring subtle feelings and expressing them in an intimate way.

The single is also written in the tricky Bananarama style (as in "Robert DeNiro's Waiting.") Listening to only snippets of the lyrics is deceiving. The generic title leads people to believe she is singing a heartfelt tribute to someone. However, a thorough listen finds the opposite is true. It's Clarkson's first perfect single.

[MusicJunkie]

It enters iTune's top songs at #100!

[reception]

Rick Dees was nice enough to play a clip of it on his CHR countdown this week. I don't know if he did the same for his Hot AC show.

[soulster]

moto702 said:

It enters iTune's top songs at #100!

It's up to #82 now!

[THE LEGEND]

#78 on iTunes

[IMREALLYHOT]

I don't stop listening that song! When does premiere the video?

[voir c'est croire]

imreallyhot said:

I don't stop listening that song! When does premiere the video?

it hasnt even been filmed, so in along time.

[Mark]

+673! Greatest gainer at pop!!!