"Empty Handed" & "After the Love"

I'm not sure how I missed this, but nearly ten months ago two unreleased Kelly Clarkson songs, "Empty Handed" and "After the Love," hit the web. I stumbled upon them this weekend, so if you too missed them, they're embedded below. "Empty Handed" is the better of the two, and while neither would be chart busters, they're singer-songwriter ditties that'll please any Clarkson fan.

"Empty Handed":



"After the Love":

Better Days

Following in the footsteps of American Idol alums Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta, Kelly Clarkson and Chris Daughtry took the stage this weekend and proved that American Idol has seen better days.



And Kris and Allison's killer pairing, just in case you missed it:

"This Could Break My Heart or Save Me"

I haven't written about Kelly Clarkson in 160 days. For me, that's probably 159 days too many. So here's a "just because" Kelly post.

Back in 2007, Ms. Clarkson's second single, "Sober," from her album My December tanked. It went nowhere on the radio and online sales were sparse. The song's poor performance effectively ended promotion for the album and it was labeled a failure. However, nearly three years later, "Sober" is still one of the best song's in Kelly's repertoire. If you haven't heard it, or if it's been a while, take a listen:

"Terrified"

After a three month hiatus, I'm back with my self-important and (mostly) meaningless blog posts. The world is the same as it was three months ago, when I last posted about the Oscars (shocker!). American Idol continues to disappoint, Glee is the gayest thing on television, and I still have an unhealthy crush on Kelly Clarkson. Well, I guess the passing of the health care bill was a "big f*cking deal," but I digress.

It would've been great to come back into the blogosphere with an earth-shattering entry. Unfortunately, for anyone reading this, I'm back with something that is neither timely nor relevant. I've already posted the subject on facebook and twitter, but I guess it's worth using 300 words on the subject anyhow.

It's a well-known secret that this season's American Idol is the reality juggernaut's worst. Simon is coasting, Ellen is a disappointment, and if it weren't for Crystal Bowersox we'd be headed for the worst Idol winner since that gray-haired train-wreck, Taylor Hicks. Other than Mama Sox, there has been one great find this season -- "Terrified," an unknown song written by Idol's newly-crowned cougar, Kara Dioguardi.

Didi Benami, one of the many female contestants eliminated faaaaar too early this season, put the song on the map in the early Hollywood rounds. See below:



After falling in love with Didi's version I found the "original" version recorded by another American Idol alum, Katharine McPhee, last year. The song has already broken 50 plays on my iTunes play count. Not too shabby for a song that I downloaded only a few months ago. If you haven't heard the song, take a listen. Every so often it's good to be a little "Terrified:"

"I Got You"

Two years ago, Leona Lewis was the biggest name in pop music. Her debut album Spirit, and its lead single, "Bleeding Love," took the world by storm. One would think her insane success would guarantee automatic sales of her sophomore album, Echo. That hasn't been the case. Her sales have sagged, especially in the U.S., even though Echo is flat out better than Spirit. Lewis just released the video for the album's second single, "I Got You." The song is fantastic, just try not getting the chorus (And when you need a place to run to/ for better for worse/ I got you) stuck in your head -- it's impossible. It's definitely one of her best.

Video:

And for those who missed out on "Happy," the catchy yet (slightly) schmaltzy lead single, watch the video. It's good stuff. Embedded below:

"No One Else"

"You know me so well / You can't even tell / That you're like no one else, that you're like no one else"

Not much of a quote this week, but in celebration of American Idol's new season launching this Tuesday, I thought I'd post a song from my favorite season eight contestant's, Allison Iraheta's, new (and unknown) album.

"No One Else:"

"Instead of Just This Song, You Have My Heart"

In lieu of a quote for the week, more new acoustic songs from Ms. Clarkson. It's definitely not bubblegum pop, but I love it - especially "Song To You."

"Song To You:"


"Hand-Me-Downs:"


"White Horse" (Taylor Swift cover):

Unreleased (Live) Kelly: "Poison Candy," "Far From Home," and "Don't"

Two new songs from VIP shows of Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted tour leaked this week, and I am obsessed. Singer/songwriter Kelly is back in full force with these songs, and I love it. Then again, I love anything she does.

"Poison Candy:"


"Far From Home:"


And just for old times sake, my all-time favorite unreleased Kelly song, "Don't."

Top 10 (Mainstream) Songs of the Decade (Sorta)

1. " Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson (2004)
This should be no surprise. "Since U Been Gone" is pop rock perfection. From the opening guitar riffs to Clarkson's gale-force vocals to the in-your-face lyrics, "Since U Been Gone" is irresistible. The ranking wasn't even a contest. The "Since U Been Gone" play count on Jason's iTunes: 450. The next closest song? 295. Enough said.

2. "So What" - P!nk (2008)
Max Martin is a pop God. Afterall, he did write the two best pop songs of the 2000's. Like Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," "So What" is a massive hit that will define P!nk's career. The lyrics are simple, yet the singer's matter-of-fact attitude matched with the fist-pumping chorus prove that P!nk is still a rockstar.

3. "Single Ladies" - Beyoncé (2008)
Beyoncé could've dominated this list with songs like "Crazy in Love," "Irreplaceable," "If I Were A Boy," and "Halo." However none of those hits meets the cultural significance of "Single Ladies." Paired with a flawless video, "Single Ladies" is still being parodied more than a year after its release. Everyone agrees, Sasha is fierce.

4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake (2006)
The 2000's were good to Mr. Timberlake. Not only did he launch a successful solo career, but he helped pen and produce songs for artists like Madonna and Nelly Furtado. However, none of those efforts were as good as Timberlake's own "SexyBack." The pulse pounding beat and stylized vocals truly do make FutureSex/LoveSounds.

5. "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey (2005)
Comebacks don't get better than this. Mariah may be known for her pop ballads, but she stormed back on the scene in 2005 with this R&B jam. The quickfire verses combined with Carey's subdued delivery made for the biggest gamble of the singer's career. The calculated risk paid off, as she made the best R&B song of the decade.

6. "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks (2006)
The best thing George W. Bush did as president was piss off the Dixie Chicks. Had Natalie Maines not openly dissed the president and faced the backlash of Middle America, we would've never been graced with "Not Ready to Make Nice." Performed with authentic heartbreak and anger, "Not Ready to Make Nice" is the best song to come from country's preeminent girl group.

7. "Gold Digger" - Kanye West (2005)
He has the biggest ego in Hollywood, but Kanye West knows how to make music. Few artists know how to stay as fresh, current, and original as Kanye, and "Gold Digger" is his best song. With the opening line of, "She take my money, well I'm in need" to the chorus shouting of, "We want pre-nup!," "Gold Digger" will be stuck in your head for days.

8. "This Love" - Maroon 5 (2002)
Adam Levine's voice is one of the most distinctive voices to rise from the 2000's and "This Love" serves as a showcase for his trademark falsetto. The rest of the band isn't too shabby either, with the guitars and piano providing a sublime, sexy background for Levine's voice.

9. The Breakaway Trifecta - "Breakaway" / "Behind These Hazel Eyes" / "Because of You" Kelly Clarkson (2004/2005)
"My Life Would Suck Without You" or "Already Gone" could have filled Kelly slot number two on my list. However, 2004 was the year that Ms. Clarkson took the world by storm, and I could not ignore singles one, three, and four from one of pop music's best albums. Each song showed a different side of the original American Idol's voice, and each was a raging success both in America and across the globe.

10. The 2009 Trio - "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift / "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon / "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga (2009)
I am aware that I've cheated and included more that ten songs on this list, but there were too many options. The decade's final year included career-making songs from Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, and Lady Gaga. Taylor's simple and piercing voice worked flawlessly with the lyrics on "You Belong With Me," the indie group Kings of Leon finally went mainstream with the monster hit "Use Somebody," and Lady Gaga made dance music cool again with "Poker Face." Now, as we enter a new decade, hopefully each artist can continue to redefine themselves and make music that matters.

"Hello You Long Shots"

This week's quote comes in the form of lyrics, and is stolen from one of my best friends, Elizabeth.

"Some dreams stay with you forever
drag you around and lead you back to where you were
Some dreams keep on getting better
Gotta keep believing if you wanna know for sure

Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol’ guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart"

-Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"

Video:

In Your Face, Simon Cowell

(Bloggers Note: I've been away for a while. Between moving to a new apartment and a busted MacBook, it has been hard to find time to blog, but I'm back. There are quite a few new posts coming including reviews of Sandra Bullock's career-reviving performance in The Blind Side, Adam Lambert's surprising debut album, Leona Lewis' much-improved sophomore record, and the emotionally gut-wrenching Precious. However, I'm marking my comeback with Allison Iraheta's Just Like You.)

If Kelly Clarkson and P!nk had a love child, her name would be Allison Iraheta. The fourth-place finisher on American Idol's eighth season, the 17-year-old Iraheta has turned out an album (Just Like You) that showcases vocal pipes similar to those of the original American Idol and vulnerability identical to that of the used-to-be-pink-haired rocker.

Iraheta opens her debut effort with the rip-roaring "Friday I'll Be Over U," penned by Max Martin, who also wrote Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and P!nk's "So What." "Friday" is the ideal lead single for Just Like You as Iraheta's husky, raw voice takes center stage over fist-pumping guitar beats.

Iraheta, often falsely accused by Simon Cowell during her American Idol stint of lacking charisma, oozes personality throughout Just Like You. Whether she's lamenting an obnoxious boyfriend on the tongue-in-cheek "Robot Love" or giving advice on the moving "Don't Waste the Pretty," there is no doubt that Iraheta connects with her material -- and has a blast while doing it.

The album veers slightly off track with the forgettable "Pieces" and "Just Like You" and the juvenile "D is for Dangerous." However, Iraheta comes back with a vengeance on the album's second half. She embodies heartbreak as she belts, "I'm still breathing / Don't you think I'm not because you're leaving / I'm moving up and away" on "Still Breathing." Her voice soars on "No One Else," a track that P!nk ironically co-wrote. Near the album's conclusion, she sheds all comparisons and tears through the fantastic, dance-floor-worthy "Beat Me Up."

Just Like You is one of the best freshman album's to come from an American Idol alumnus. The red-haired rocker sounds impeccable, and there isn't a vocal imperfection to be found. Though in order to achieve the pop super-stardom of Clarkson and P!nk, she needs to differentiate herself on her next album. However, we should expect great things from Iraheta. After all, she is only 17.

Grade: A-

Download It: "Friday I'll Be Over U," "Beat Me Up," "Still Breathing," "No One Else"
Ditch It: "D is for Dangerous"

Two Are Better Than One

This wouldn't be my blog without a weekly Kelly posting.

Last week, Ms. Clarkson, at her Halloween show in Missouri, poked fun at the "Ryan Tedder spat" by performing a mashup of "Already Gone" and Beyonce's "Halo." It could be better, but it still oozes awesomeness.

The video:


Grammy nominations are nearly a month away -- they'll be announced on a primetime show on December 2 -- but I can't help but pray that both "Already Gone" and "Halo" are nominated for Song of the Year. It will never happen, and "Halo" has the advantage, because Kelly shot herself in the foot with her public comments, but they're still two of the best (and my favorite) songs of 2009. Despite the controversy surrounding the backing tracks, the songs could not be more different lyrically or vocally. Kelly's is evocative and haunting while Beyonce's is hopeful and sweeping.

In reality, Kelly will likely be shut out of major categories, but I hope that Grammy producers share her tongue-in-cheek humor when planning the Grammy night performances. It would be incredible to watch two of pop music's best voices share the stage and sing the other's song. Beyonce would add an ethereal quality to "Already Gone" and Kelly could inject "Halo" with raw emotion.

I'll keep on dreaming...

(Video via mj's big blog)

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Carrie Underwood is, without a doubt, the savviest artist to hold the title of American Idol. When push comes to shove, she knows how to sell albums. On her third disc, Play On, Underwood sticks to the same multi-platinum formula of her previous two records, Some Hearts and Carnival Ride. Play On contains similar sweeping ballads, foot-stomping tell-offs, and feel-good, country-pop ditties -- albeit with different twists.

Underwood takes lead writing credit for more than half of Play On's tracks, and they're surprisingly some of the album's highlights. However, even more shocking, are the results of the collaboration between Underwood and American Idol judge, and writer of the abomination known as "No Boundaries," Kara DioGuardi. Their combined talents make magic on Play On's best track, "Undo It." Underwood plays scorned lover to perfection as she belts, "You had my heart, now I want it back / I'm startin' to see everything you lack / Boy, you blew it, you put me through it / I wanna uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it." The song represents Underwood's best chance at replicating the ubiquitous success of 2006's "Before He Cheats."

"Undo It" isn't Underwood's only feat. On "Quitter" she stretches and teams with pop hitmaker Max Martin (the man behind "Since U Been Gone" and "So What") to create a sweet, simple song of devotion. "Temporary Home" plays like Some Heart's "Don't Forget to Remember Me," which isn't a bad thing. She also utilizes her strengths on the man-hating "Songs Like This."

If uptempo songs are Play On's strength, then the ballads are its weakness. "Unapologize" is the album's best, but even it has a country rock feel. "Mama's Song" starts strong but fails to deliver necessary emotional heft. "Change" is the disc's most grievous misstep. Not even Underwood's pristine and powerful voice can save a song with lyrics of "What ya gonna do with 36 cents/ Sticky with Coke on your floorboard?."

Play On will appease any Underwood fan, but it also won't win her any new ones. With Taylor Swift nipping at her Prada heels, Underwood needs to sing outside the lines on her next effort to continue her reign as country music's queen. With her undeniable talent and a few calculated risks, she has the potential to make a crossover record as successful and iconic as Shania Twain's Come On Over.

Grade: B

Download It: "Cowboy Casanova," "Undo It," "Songs Like This," "Quitter"
Ditch It: "Change," "Look At Me"

Oops! She Did It Again

It's not news to anyone, but Britney Spears is back. This week, Britney became the first artist in over a decade to debut a "non-American Idol coronation song" at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The last artist to do so was Lauryn Hill with "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in November 1998.

Britney's new song, "3" is an absolute trash fest, and I'm not just talking about the song's subject. Though Britney has reached new skanky heights by singing about the appeal of threesomes. I don't even know if you can call "3" a song. It hardly has a hook and Britney's goat bleating (aka singing) is at its worst. The song's appeal is dumbfounding. I'd rather listen Sanjaya Malakar cover No Doubt's "Bathwater." Oh wait, that already happened.

Now I'm not one to have superior musical taste. I have Britney songs like "Oops! I Did it Again" and "Lucky" on my iPod. (At least Britney attempted to have a voice back then.) However, her new "music" has jumped the shark. Sure, "Womanizer" and "Gimme More" were "foot tap" worthy, but don't get me started on "Radar" and "If U Seek Amy."

I'm not sure what Britney's recent success says about the music industry. We live in a time where singers rely on synthesizers and vocal modulation. Some don't even bother to try and sing live (Britney!) while others try but sound heinous (I'm looking at you Katy Perry). Again, I am as big offender as anyone when it comes to falling for catchy music, but when the most talented new singers of the last decade come from reality television, I think we have a problem.

So even though Britney is a talentless hack, at least we have Kelly Clarkson. (You didn't really think I'd write a post on music without bringing her into the mix, did you? Come on now. Lets be serious.) On her new tour, she covers (and absolutely kills) the White Stripes' "7 Nation Army," and shows why there is still hope for the future of pop music. Watch the video below and enjoy.

The Second Coming

I shouldn't be posting during the work day, but I couldn't resist, this is a big deal -- Allison Iraheta, my favorite American Idol from last season leaked her first single today, and it's a good one. Iraheta, despite Simon Cowell's criticisms, is the most talented teenage belter (sorry Jordin Sparks and David Archuleta) to come out of American Idol and "Friday I'll Be Over U" is her first step to becoming the next P!nk. The song, penned by ultimate hit maker Max Martin, the man behind Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," P!nk's "So What," and Katy Perry's "Hot 'N Cold," is simple, catchy, and showcases Allison's raw, husky tone. If anything, the song is a promising hint at what her album, coming out this December, will sound like.

Take a listen here.

"You Know that I Could Use Somebody"

Kelly Clarkson launched her "All I Ever Wanted" tour yesterday, and rather than bitch about how sad I am that I can't see her, I'll just post tour videos periodically. Thank God for YouTube.

Here she is singing a mash-up of Alanis Morissette's "That I Would Be Good" and Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" (one of my favorite songs of the year). Pretty awesome.

Enjoy.



via mj's big blog.

"Quote" of the Week

It's week two of "Quote of the Week," and I've already moved on to quoting melodramatic pop songs. The lyrics below come from Leona Lewis' syrupy new ballad, "Happy" (another future Top 40 hit penned by Kelly-Clarkson-backstabber Ryan Tedder).

"I can’t stand by the side
And watch this life pass me by
Pass me by

So what if it hurts me?
So what if I break down?
So what if this world just throws me off the edge?
My feet run out of ground
I gotta find my place
I wanna hear my sound
Don’t care about all the pain in front of me
'Cause I’m just trying to be happy"

"I'm Out Here on My Journey, Trying to Make the Most of It"

I find it funny that even four years after it was released, I still relate to and love a Dolly Parton song from a movie about a transsexual woman. At least I keep things interesting.

Utah Sundays

Since the Mormons run this town, and there's nothing better to do on Sundays, I've been watching YouTube videos all morning. In doing so, I came across my all-time favorite American Idol performances:

Jennifer Hudson, "Circle of Life:"


Kimberley Locke & Frenchie Davis, "Band of Gold:"


Carrie Underwood, "Alone:"


Kelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There:"

Kelly Clarkson Needs Some PR Help

The Internet was all abuzz this weekend of the latest spat between Kelly Clarkson and her record label (RCA) over her new single "Already Gone." In this article with the CBC, Clarkson says that she wrote "Already Gone" with One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder last year and then he subsequently gave the same backing track to Beyonce for her song "Halo." In her own words:

"Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else... We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called "Halo." Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?"

Kelly goes on to say that she "fought and fought" the record company not to release "Already Gone," but, "“In the end, they’re releasing it without my consent. It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but.… You know, you learn.”

As a fan, I appreciate Clarkson's candor, and hopefully this means that Ryan Tedder and his same-same ballads go away from the airwaves for a while. However, this spat should have never been made public, and someone in Clarkson's camp needs to tell her that. While any publicity is usually good publicity, it's a lot better when it's positive. "Already Gone" is a great song, with a haunting chorus, and the quality of the music should be allowed to speak for itself. Plus, the Top 40 audience likely wouldn't even be able to tell the difference between the two diva's ballads. Instead Clarkson is stuck with another public battle with her record label and no one wins.

Kelly, is you're listening, please hire new PR council stat. Keep your interaction with the media positive and happy, and fight the corporate big wigs behind closed doors. I'm sure more than a few of your fans would be willing to help out, and some might even be qualified (pick me, pick me!)

The Kelly/Beyonce mash up:


The "Already Gone" video (which apparently RCA nixed the concept for as well):