It’s been ten years since Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol andwent on to become a Grammy winning pop superstar. She just finished up her fantastic Strongertour supporting her platinum album of the same name which included three big hits including her biggest song to date, the # 1 “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which has sold close to 4 million copies. (That song is also the biggest selling song from an Idol alumni to date). Yesterday she picked up two American Music Award nominations and she will be performing at the Country Music Association Awards next month where she is also a nominee. With all of that going on, she somehow managed to record three new songs for her upcoming Greatest Hits album. It will be her first compilation entitled Greatest Hits: Chapter 1 and will be out on Nov. 19. Now, the first new single from the record has hit the airwaves, “Catch My Breath”. This great pop dance track was written by Clarkson, Jason Halbert (her musical director) and Eric Olson and sounds like another smash. The lyrics address her long journey in the music industry with all its ups and downs and being able to finally come into her own as an artist and a woman. It has a great message, a fantastic melody and I love it. So, now what do you think? Take a listen to the new song below and get it on iTunes and all digital retailers next Tuesday Oct. 16.
Kelly Clarksonkeeps chugging along on her fantastic Stronger tour promoting her smash album of the same name that has yielded three big hits, “Mr. Know It All”, her current single “Dark Side” and her biggest single to date “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”. While she delivers those hits and the big ones from her catalog, she’s also been continuing her fan request segments covering songs by big names that her adoring fans want to hear. Today, I have two more of them for you. She recently slayed The Pretenders‘ gorgeous ballad “I’ll Stand by You” and the longest running #1 of this year, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”. Check them out below. Kelly is amazeballs!
Kelly Clarkson “I’ll Stand by You” (live)
Kelly Clarkson “Call Me Maybe” (live)
And here’s a special treat for ya… Throughout her tour, she has had several special guests join her on stage to sing her massive Grammy nominated duet “Don’t’ You Wanna Stay” (originally sung with Jason Aldean). Among her partners, we have seen John Legend, Blake Shelton and Isaac from The Fray, but I think a New Kid on the Block outdid them all. Check out Kelly singing “Stay” with NKOTB’s Joey McIntyre below. Enjoy
Kelly Clarkson & Joey McIntyre “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
Grammy winning pop superstar Kelly Clarkson is currently on the summer leg of her fantastic Stronger summer tour and she has picked up where her spring tour left off by playing fan requests each night. The Duets star has tackled everyone from Coldplay to Barbra Streisand, the Foo Fighters and Heart and in her recent concerts, she took on two of her contemporaries, Britney Spears and Katy Perry. The results were naturally astonishing as Kelly utterly destroyed the other two ladies with brilliant versions of their hits “Everytime” and “Wide Awake” that showcased Clarkson’s amazing vocals. Check out both tracks below and Katy and Britney, please take note, this is how you sing live! … Also, head to Kelly’s website here for more deets on her tour and I’ll fill you in on my experience seeing her tonight at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. I can’t wait!!! My life would suck without Kelly Clarkson!
Grammy winner John Mayer and newly crowned American Idol winner Phillip Phillips share a lot in common. Both are attractive, guitar strumming, raspy voiced white guys, and now they’re both making waves on the Billboard Charts... Mayer lands his third # 1 album with his latest, Born and Raised, which sells 219,000 copies. Phillip’s compilation album from season 11 of American Idol debuts at # 11 while the combo-album from the season finale episode, American Idol Season 11: Top 2 Season Finale EP, featuring his competition (and the girl who should’ve won) Jessica Sanchez also debuts at # 21. Sanchez’s season competition album debuts way down at #126. Two other Idol contenders also hit the charts as season 10′s third place finisher Haley Reinhart barrels in at # 17 while season 8 champ Kris Allen disappoints with a # 27 debut for his sophomore album. He may have won that season but he has been upstaged time and again by that season’s runner-up Adam Lambert who hit # 1 with his sophomore album, Trespassing, last week…. For more on all these albums and the Billboard 200, head here and check out the new top ten below.
Top Ten Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. Born & Raised- John Mayer (debut)
2. 21- Adele (last week~ 2)
3. Blown Away- Carrie Underwood (lw~ 3)
4. Apocalyptic Love- Slash (debut)
5. Up All Night- One Direction (lw~ 10)
6. Tuskegee- Lionel Richie (lw~ 9)
7. The Hurt & the Healer- Mercy Me (debut)
8. Once Upon Another Time EP- Sara Bareilles (debut)
9. Now 42 Compilation- Various Artists (lw~ 6)
10. Little Broken Hearts- Norah Jones (lw~ 5)
And other American Idol contenders on the BB200 (along with Carrie Underwood above) ….
11. Journey to the Finale- Phillip Phillips (debut)
12. Trespassing- Adam Lambert (lw~ 1)
17. Listen Up! – Haley Reinhart (debut)
21. American Idol Season 11: Top 2 Season Finale EP- Phillip Phillps & Jessica Sanchez (debut)
27. Thank You Camellia- Kris Allen (debut)
33, Stronger- Kelly Clarkson * a former # 2 album that just passed 800,000 copies
73. Clear as Day- Scotty McCreery * a former # 1 album that has sold over 1 million copies
126. Journey to the Finale- Jessica Sanchez (debut)
Back on the Hot 100 SinglesChart, Philips also makes an auspicious debut as his coronation single “Home” hits the top ten debuting at # 10. This makes him the first Idol winner to hit the Hot 100 top ten with their coronation single since season 7′s David Cook. He also becomes the 13th Idol alum to hit the top ten on this chart following Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, David Cook,David Archuleta, and Adam Lambert…. Perhaps, I may have to eat my words about Phillips but I am still very skeptical that he will ever have any real pop hits with his upcoming debut album. That said, he’s off to a nice start. We’ll see how things turn out…. Holding onto # 1 is Gotye while Carly Rae Jepsen fights hard in the runner-up spot. For more on this chart, head to Billboard here.
Top Ten Singles on the Billboard Hot 100:
1. “Somebody that I Used to Know”- Gotye w/Kimbra (last week~ 1) * 7 weeks at # 1, the longest chart topper of 2012
2. “Call Me Maybe”- Carly Rae Jepsen (lw~ 2)
3. “Payphone”- Maroon 5 w/ Wiz Khalifa (lw~ 3)
4. “We Are Young”- fun. w/Janelle Monae (lw~ 4)
5. “Starships”- Nicki Minaj (lw~ 5)
6. “Wild Ones”- Flo Rida w/Sia (lw~ 6)
7. “What Makes You Beautiful”- One Direction (lw~ 7)
8. “Glad You Came”- The Wanted (lw~8)
9. “Boyfriend”- Justin Bieber (lw~ 9)
10. “Home”- Phillip Phillips (debut)
And here’s the lead off single from Mayer’s new album, “Shadow Days”
Grammy winning former American Idolwinner Kelly Clarkson is having a banner year. She just finished the first leg of her incredibly successful Stronger tour and is prepping a summer/fall leg now. Her album, Stronger, is nearing platinum status and yielded two top ten multi-format smashes, “Mr. Know It All” (which is now in the country top 30!) and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”. The latter single hit # 1 on the Hot 100 Singles Chart, Pop Chart, Radio Songs Airplay Chart, Digital Songs Chart, Hot AC chart, Dance Club Play Chart and is currently at # 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It has also become her biggest selling digital download single of her career with over 3 million units shifted and growing. Congrats Kelly! Now, she is prepping the third single from her hit recored entitled “Dark Side”. This mid-tempo song contains another beautiful vocal and a wonderful empowerment theme that should resonate with her fans. She just performed it on the Billboard Awards and the Dancing with the Stars finale and it goes to radio next week. Now, the new video has hit the internet. Check the wonderful and moving clip below, and don’t forget to watch Kelly on her own new singing competition Duets Thursdays on ABC.
Today, Entertainment Weekly online had a great post on the end of Kelly Clarkson‘s phenomenal Stronger tour. As I’ve also shared with you, at each stop, she has done an amazing cover song (and fan request) by artists ranging from Heart to Barbra Streisand to Coldplay and Britney Spears (“Til the World Ends” which we saw at her exceedingly brilliant show in LA las week). EW compiled their favorites and the list included one of her last covers, Olivia Newton-John’s Oscar and Grammy nominated # 3 smash from Grease, “Hopelessly Devoted to You”. As you can imagine, two-time Grammy winner Clarkson’s version is amazing, but I have to say I still love four-time Grammy winner Newton-John’s the best. (And yes, I loooooooove me some Olivia!!!) Hey it’s from Grease! It’s a classic. Anywho, I know you’ll love them both. Check them out below and watch for Clarkson this summer on the new ABC singing contest Duets.
Kelly Clarkson “Hopelessly Devoted to You” (live)
Olivia Newton-John “Hopelessly Devoted to You” (from Grease)
Last night, I went to the Kelly Clarkson concert in L.A. and it was simply amazing. She was in fine form, so funny and an incredible presence on stage. Her vocals were predictably astonishing and it was possibly one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. And I have I mentioned the girl can SANG?!!!! Her cover of Carrie Underwood‘s “I Know You Wont” was stunning and she had special guests galore. Her friend and season 1 American IdolTamyra Gray joined her for “When You Believe”. Her buddy Blake Shelton helped her out on “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and her friend Michelle Branch showed up to duet on her song “Leave the Pieces” (by Branch’s group The Wreckers). The final awesome duet was between Kelly and her own idol Reba McEntire on a flawless version of “Because of You”. I’ll post clips as I can find them. I was too busy squealing like a crazy person to film anything. … However, my friend sent me this clip of Kelly’s fan request for the night. (She’s been doing a different one at each show). Last night she took on Britney Spears dance smash “Til The World Ends” and let me tell you, Kelly kicked Spears’ ass. Check out Clarkson’s version and Britney’s original below. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Kelly Clarkson can sing anything… and usually do it better than the original artist. Watch for Kelly on her Stronger tour throughout the year.
Kelly Clarkson “Til the World Ends” (live in L.A. 4/3/12)
Tonight I have the distinct pleasure of attending the Kelly ClarksonStronger tour. I am so excited, it’s kinda ridiculous. This will be my fourth time seeing Kelly live and she’s just incredible. Her vocals are as astounding as ever going all the way back to winning the inaugural season of American Idol. Since then, she has sold over 21 million albums worldwide with all of them hitting the top 3 on the Billboard200 Album Chart. Her singles have sold over 19 million downloads in the U.S. alone and she has 10 Top Ten Singles and 3 # 1 Songs on the Hot 100. She’s also been nominated for 6 Grammy Awards and won 2 of them. Let’s be honest and just admit, she’s pretty amazing. So, tonight I will have the time of my life at her concert. With that said, I thought I would count down Kelly’s albums and official singles. Take a look at my choices and let me know yours. Then, watch for Kelly’s Stronger tour to hit a town near you soon, plus catch her on The Voice as a mentor, on American Idol next week performing on the results show and on the new singing competition series Duetsthis summer on ABC.
Ranking Kelly Clarkson’s Albums:
5. My December (# 2, 2007) * I admire this record for Kelly getting gritty and making the music she wanted. Alas, it was less pop driven and has become her least successful record to date.
4. Thankful ( # 1, 2003) * her debut album was a smash selling over 2.7 million records. I just wish there had been better singles chosen to maximize its potential.
3. All I Ever Wanted (# 1, 2009) * this “comeback” album was pop perfection yielding several hits and a Grammy nomination for Pop Album.
2. Stronger (# 2, 2011) * her current smash should figure big in next year’s Grammy race and has so many songs with hit potential, it’s ridiculous. Get the extended version too people!
1. Breakaway (# 3 , 2004) *it’s by far her biggest album selling over 6.2 million copies. And how weird that it is her lowest charting record! It’s also her best album with 5 giant hits and it won 2 Grammys for Pop Album and Pop Female Vocal.
My Top 20 Favorite Kelly Clarkson Singles:
20. “All I Ever Wanted” (Top 20 Hot AC, # 96 Hot 100, 2010))
19. “The Trouble with Love Is” (Top 20 AC, 2003)
18. “Because of You” (duet with Reba McEntire) (# 2 Country hit, # 50 Hot 100, 2007)
17. “Low” (Top 40 pop, Hot AC, # 58 Hot 100, 2003)
16. “Up to the Mountain” (*special live recording from Idol Gives Back hit # 56 on the Hot 100, 2007)
15. “I Do Not Hook Up” (Top Ten Pop, Hot AC, # 20 Hot 100, 2009)
14. “Never Again” (Top 20 Pop, Hot AC, Top Ten Dance, # 8 Hot 100, 2007)
13. “Walk Away” (Top Ten Pop, Top Five Hot AC, Dance, Top 20 AC, # 12 Hot 100, 2006)
12. “A Moment Like This/ Before Your Love” (Top 5 Pop, AC, # 1 Hot 100, 2002)
11. “Behind These Hazel Eyes” (# 1 Hot AC, # 2 Pop, Top 15 AC, # 6 Hot 100, 2005)
10. “Miss Independent” (# 1 Pop, Top 15 Hot AC, # 9, 2003)
9. “Sober” (2007, just missed charting but was featured on several TV shows like Smallville. This is one of her best and most underrated ballads. The vocals are just aching and brilliant)
8. “Breakaway” (# 1 Hot AC, Top 5 Pop, # 1 AC for 21 weeks, # 6 Hot 100, 2004)
7. “Mr. Know It All” (# 1 Hot AC, Top 5 AC, Top Ten Pop, # 10 Hot 100, 2011… currently the country version just hit the Top 40 on the Country chart and is available on iTunes today)
6. “My Life Would Suck Without You” (Top 5 Pop, Hot AC, Top Ten AC, # 1 Hot 100, 2009)
5. “Already Gone” (# 1 Hot AC for 8 weeks, Top Five Pop, # 3 AC, # 13 Hot 100, 2009)
4. “Because of You” (# 1 Pop, AC, Hot AC, # 7 Hot 100, 2005)
3. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (# 1 Pop, Hot AC, Dance, Top Ten AC and climbing, # 1 Hot 100, 2012)
2. “Since U Been Gone” (# 1 Pop, Hot AC, Dance, Top Ten AC, # 2 Hot 100, 2005)
1. “Don’t You Wanna Stay” w/Jason Aldean (2010, # 1 country, top 5 AC, Top 10 Hot AC, Top 30 Pop, # 31 Hot 100, over 2 million downloads sold)
And here are my favorite songs that weren’t released as singles….
“Beautiful Disaster” (2003), “Just Missed the Train”(2003) “Anytime”(2003), “Gone” (2005), “Where is Your Heart” (2005), “Don’t Waste Your Time” (2007), “Cry” (2009), “If I Can’t Have You” (2009), “I’m Ready” (2009)
And from her current album:
“Dark Side” (which is set to be the next single actually), “I Found You”, “You Love Me”, “The Sun Will Rise”, “Alone”, “Standing In Front of You”
Grammy winners Kelly Clarkson and Madonna both gave incredible performances at the Super Bowl this weekend. Clarkson’s “National Anthem” was glorious while Madonna’s Half Time show was astounding and has become the most watched moment in television history! As a result, both singers albums and singles are selling at an even faster rate than before. Kelly is # 1 on iTunes with “Stronger” (and will likely top the Hot 100 with it tomorrow) while Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’” rose to # 2 on iTunes after the big game and her upcoming album, MDNA, remains on top of their album chart with its immense amount of pre-orders…. And the connection doesn’t stop there… As any Kelly fan will tell you, at her first American Idol audition back in 2002, she sang Madge’s #2 smash from 1989 “Express Yourself” and bowled over the judges. Well, she just covered the icon again at her recent concert doing her # 1 ballad from 1985 “Crazy for You”. It’s just the latest in a line of amazing cover songs Kelly had done on her tour this year. Check out both of Kelly’s homages to the big M below.
Kelly Clarkson “Crazy for You”
Kelly Clarkson “Express Yourself” at her first American Idol audition
Despite a little political dustup on twitter about her misguided political preferences, I still love me some Kelly Clarkson.She’s just a brilliant vocalist and that is all the more clear on her brand new iTunes Sessions album. The album includes all acoustic versions of several of her classic hits plus a few new ones from her awesome Stronger record plus an exclusive interview and a bonus of her “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” recording. Check out the track list below.
Kelly Clarkson iTunes Sessions:
“Mr. Know It All”
“What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)”
“You Can’t Win”
“Never Again”
“Since U Been Gone”
“Why Don’t You Try”
“My Life Would Suck Without You”
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Interview
I’d say my faves are her incredibly soulful take on “Why Don’t You Try”, the gorgeous version of “Mr. Know It All” and a stirring and heartbreaking version of her angry anthem “Never Again”. I have the last track for you below. Enjoy, grab the album on iTunes now and watch for Kelly on tour next year.
It’s been ten years since Kelly Clarkson won the first American Idol and went on to become a Grammy winning pop superstar. She just finished up her fantastic Stronger tour supporting her platinum album of the same name which included three big hits including her biggest song to date, the # 1 “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” which has sold close to 4 million copies. (That song is also the biggest selling song from an Idol alumni to date). Yesterday she picked up two American Music Award nominations and she will be performing at the Country Music Association Awards next month where she is also a nominee. With all of that going on, she somehow managed to record three new songs for her upcoming Greatest Hits album. It will be her first compilation entitled Greatest Hits: Chapter 1 and will be out on Nov. 19. Now, the first new single from the record has hit the airwaves, “Catch My Breath”. This great pop dance track was written by Clarkson, Jason Halbert (her musical director) and Eric Olson and sounds like another smash. The lyrics address her long journey in the music industry with all its ups and downs and being able to finally come into her own as an artist and a woman. It has a great message, a fantastic melody and I love it. So, now what do you think? Take a listen to the new song below and get it on iTunes and all digital retailers next Tuesday Oct. 16.
