ARTIST: Kelly Clarkson
TITLE: “My Life Would Suck Without You”
WEB DEBUT: Jan. 13, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: Kelly Clarkson’s “see, I can still be a popstar” public shaming comeback song does, as previously reported, have the strummed-guitar opening of her subculture-uniting megahit “Since U Been Gone.” But once that’s over, a robotic beat not dissimilar to that backing “I Kissed A Girl” and “So What” and too many other female-fronted pop hits of now takes over, and the brisk trail that beat blazes through the next 3:30 is so workmanlike, you can almost see Clive Davis standing over it, tapping his foot and checking his watch. There are some nice burbles of keyboard here and there, but honestly, would I be invested in this song at all if it wasn’t Clarkson singing it? Probably not. Does the music sound like it was a rough draft of “Who Knew” that was rejected for being too peppy? You bet.
(Also, really, no bridge? Forget “Since”; the bridge is the best part of “Walk Away,” too.)
WHERE TO HEAR IT: It’s at Z100’s site, but this should work until the Sonybots swoop in:
I love Kelly Clarkson so much, but that’s the only reason I will even give this song a second chance. Otherwise I’d have just dismissed it as a Pink or Katy Perry b-side.
The verses sound better than anything Pink could ever create, but the hook is less catchy than “So What,” and that’s a problem.
The noise - the robotic beat, or whatever - sounds like this is a dance remix, not the original. Also, the sound quality is messy enough that I can’t tell how much I like the instrumental during the chorus. Maybe this will get a lot better after a thousand listens. But still, no “Since.”
ain’t bad. i do love how you can sing ‘clive davis is my massah’ with the chorus
It’s what you expect for a DrLuker… I tiwll probably have bigger impact not being right on the heels of Breakway.
There will be better songs on the album for sure… but just like since u been gone, this may be the most popular.
Walk Away, Hazel Eyes, Addicited..(plus a couple on My December that no one has heard of) that’s why I like Kelly Clarkson.
It’s better than “So What,” but not as good as any of the Breakaway singles. I also still like “Never Again” better.
We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this marks a triumphant return for DJ Sammy.
@Whigged: Hahha!
This sounds nothing like Miles Davis.
Well, the hook grows on you after a few listens, but yeah — workman-like sure hits the nail on the head here. *yawn*
2 things:
(1) Love the way you put this thought into words:
“But once that’s over, a robotic beat not dissimilar to that backing “I Kissed A Girl” and “So What” and too many other female-fronted pop hits of now takes over,
AND
(2) Yes, that bridge in Walk Away is something fantastic.
I can’t figure out if this song is supposed to be about Doctor Luke and Kelly’s dysfunctional relationship or Clive and Kelly’s dysfunctional relationship.
Liked it okay, but I really want to hear the songs Kelly’s written on for the new album.
ok, so I’ve listened to it many more times and my opinion has changed. It is stuck in my head and I sort of love it. eek.
two things:
1) congrats Whigged, that was the best comment ever. Sooooo true. Also, the song owes a lot to Gigi d’agostino’s “I’ll fly with you”
(not the real music video but it makes a surprising amount of sense)
2) I was listening to this again today (I never closed the original window with the youtube imbed, so it still works!) and my friend asked if this was the new katy perry. ugh. poor Kelly.
oh also, notice how “cuz we beloooooonnggg” sounds like “since u been gooooooonnneee”
Parts of the verse sound like New Order’s “Regret” to me.