Lately, I have been impressed and inspired by a woman in music, who just kind of re-invented and re-defined herself. Kelly Clarkson (click) concluded in 2015 her contract with RCA Records by releasing her third number-one album "Piece by Piece" and singned with Atlantic Records in 2016. Her new album "Meaning of Life" was released in 2017 and is influenced by Soul and R&B music.
At the beginning of February 2018, she released her second single "I don't think about you" that allowes to get to know Kelly's story at least a little bit.
For me, Kelly Clarkson is truly a strong woman in the music business who gives everything and works hard to pursue her dreams and goals.
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| Image: Kelly Clarkson Music |
As the first winner of American Idol, besides the huge amount of fame, she also won a million-dollar RCA Record Contract. During that time and point of her career, she sure had to face some difficulties. According to Billboard News, she revealed that she did not know what she was signing up for when she joined American Idol. Undoubtedly, she was under a lot of pressure to keep the hits coming, after selling millions of records.
Livestrong (click) wrote an article in early 2018 about the link between her mental health and her different and new look. They cite Attitude Magazine, where Kelly Clarkson said that she was miserable, inside and out, for four years of her life: "But no one cared
because aesthetically you make sense. It was a very dark time for me. I
thought the only way out was quitting. I wrecked my knees and my feet
because all I would do is put in headphones and run. I was at the gym
all the time.” Clarkson clarified for once and for all, that her being skinny was the result of dealing with mental health issues - and not the cause. On Twitter, she wrote that she wasn't ever miserable because she had to be thin: "I said I was miserable and as a result I became thin... I said people had no idea I was unhappy oddly enough because I appeared healthy."
That part of her life can also be seen in the official Warner's music video (click to YouTube) of "I don't think about you". But not just the video is touching, also the lyrics and her voice are filled with emotions and strength.
Nowadays, I think it is safe to say that Kelly Clarkson is happy who she has become and where she is at in her life. Her message is important to hear to realize to never judge a book by its cover.
What made me personally get more interested into Kelly Clarkson? This:
Can it even be more emotional, true and loving? I don't think so.
Her eighth studio album "Meaning of Life" consists of a good mix of up-beat songs as well as ballads and slow songs. It opens up a new chapter of her musical career and gives her the opportunity and freedom to pursue a new genre of music that she always wanted to do, but never really had the chance with RCA Records.
The track list looks like this:
1. A minute
2. Love So Soft
3. Heat
4. Meaning Of Life
5. Move You
6. Whole Lotta Woman
7. Medicine
8. Cruel
9. Didn't I
10. Would You Call That Love
11. I Don't Think About You
12. Slow Dance
13. Don't You Pretend
14. Go High
A review of AllMusic (click) writes that in the album there's a maturity and "it is filled with songs about love and living, it's rooted in the past
and living in the moment." I agree on that and also, she sounds assured of what she is doing - controlled and confident. It is a blend of contemporary music and classic that suits Kelly Clarkson very good. AllMusic called it even "maybe her best overall set of songs yet", as they are all very strong in lyrics, voice and general musical setting. For sure, it puts a statement of purpose into the music business and is a collection of good and real satisfying songs.
Every single song tells an own story, an own experience of Clarkson which are worth to listen to and to think about.
Women-Power can be heard in the song "Whole Lotta Woman".
The chorus empowers every woman and every girl right away, because we are all whole lotta women. Get the full lyrics here (click).
"I'm a whole lotta woman
(From the way I walk and toss my hips)
I'm a whole lotta woman
(From the sound of my voice to the gloss on my lips)
I'm a whole lotta woman
(Anything I see, I want, I get)
I'm a strong, bad-ass chick with classic confidence, yeah"
"Didn't I" is another statement, do not undermine strong independent women. But also a statement to women that says every woman is strong enough to pursue her own dreams and her own goals in life, may it even be without the significant other. Never loose your self-worth! You can do this!
Maybe my own personal favourite on this album is "Slow Dance". The chorus consists kinda lot of a mature, classy, oldschool mindset, which I follow myself in my life. "Slow Dance" is so much Soul and so much R&B, "garnished" maybe with a little bit of southern attitude, as Kelly Clarkson is from Fort Worth, Texas, USA..."from a mama's boy to a ladie's man..." Get the whole lyrics on Genius (click).
"How did you go from being a mama's boy to a ladies' man?
I'm not goin' home with you tonight, but you can hold my hand
And we can take it slow, and I can show you how to slow dance
We can take it slow and I can show you how to slow dance"
Kelly's range of voice but also of musical talent reaches so much further that is clearly shown in "Meaning of Life". It tells a story, why and how she has become who she is today. The whole album suits her very well. If you're a person who actually listens to the lyrics when listening music, maybe you can even take on something for your own life. They all approach a somewhat tough content which is why there's so much emotion.
"Meaning of Life" is definitely on repeat on my playlist and we wish Kelly Clarkson all the success she deserves, happyness and confidence in Life and keep on being excited what we will get to hear from her since she's working with Atlantic Records.
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