Ah yes Kelly Clarkson, the only American Idol winner to have a sustaining career.(What? Clay's a punchline, Fantasia didn't sustain a career, Underwood's second album is all-but forgotten, Hicks is forgotten period and as for Sparks & Cook, it's a bit early to tell). But it seemed that bedrock of Clarkson's sound was her boyfriend angst. Most of her hits were brutal and bitchy & it worked wonders in saying that she was just fine alone and her boyfriend was a lying scumbag who probably deserves to die. Then the unthinkable happened, she found love or at least she did in song form with her latest hit "My Life Would Suck Without You." Now she's...well let's see this chronological list of a few of her hit singles have to say about this downfall.
Since You've Been Gone - I know she had a whole album before this. I know she even had a hit song off of the album that Since was on but they don't really factor into this. I mean Miss Independent and Breakaway could fit here but they're not really break-up songs per se. But there is no ambiguity with Since. It's balls-to-the-walls simmering boyfriend angst. She equates the break-up with breathing again and being just fine again.
Behind These Hazel Eyes - At first glance this song may be Clarkson being a sad sack after a break-up but then first glances to her songs are stupid. Dig a bit deeper and it's more angry than sad, of course even if she's angry about herself. But knowing her she will bounce back with a vengeance and will find some happiness single, again.
Walk Away - The difference between Since and Hazel & this is that it's a happier break-up song. The main thrust is that Clarkson just leaves a really indecisive guy who annoys her with his indecision letting his mother makes decisions for him. So she just decides to walk and kinda emasculates him but the message is clear, "I'm better single."
Never Again - This is the tipping point in her career, the point where she was at her angriest. She wants this guy's new fiance finger to turn green from the ring, and the promise that he will see her everywhere...in his mind, she doesn't so physical stalking yet. The anger permeates through every note, every lyric and even in every frame of the video. It's almost flat-out scary in its anger proving that horrible notion of "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
So how did we go from these songs, that are pretty much "Being single's awesome and my ex-boyfriend was a scumbag who deserves to die!" to "My Life Would Suck Without You.". Was she afraid of going beyond the impossible and get even angrier? Did she not want another downer album that failed like My December? Or was she just tired of being the angry chick? I don't know but I'm not a fan of this new direction.
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