No matter how she is labeled, judged, scrutinized, disregarded, no one can take away the fact she carried out her vision. She showed yet again how real she is, how raw natural emotions are, and how accessible to those with a heart her music remains to be. Her album is a true testament to her rare talent, and the fact she is a damn good song writer. I appreciate the effort as a music lover, and as someone who thinks outside of the box. Above all Kelly reminds everyone that she is human and has her own voice. Presented with an undeniable elegance, driven by her own thirst to test her limits, and above all rooted in a foundation of humility and respect for those that have come before her, and those that support her... her family and her fans.
She has won tons of awards, and I'm sure will continue to do so. Which is all good if you're into that sort of thing, but it is her natural ability to absorb music for its complete texture, her genuine talent and heart that validates her place as a future legend. The critics will continue to grasp at straws, and there will always be someone to hold under the fire. The funny thing is, when she sings live, everyone shuts up, including the critics. It's also funny how they never seem to criticize her talent which is what its about right? She is a singer am I wrong?
Peace...
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - toxictwin
Peace to you too John C. Comedy! Great article.
2 - Rene
Awesome read John!
3 - Jt
dead on...she is a rare talent and has been unfairly scrutinized. Love the album and I can't wait to see some new music videos from her.
4 - A Concerned Citizen
Not being a fanboy of Clarkson (although I think she's good, don't get me wrong), I'm unaware of the criticisms being levied against her. You never really explained exactly what they were in the article. Also, you never really explained why you think she's such a massive songwriting talent.
No matter how she is labeled, judged, scrutinized, disregarded, no one can take away the fact she carried out her vision
OK, so what exactly are they criticizing her about? What exactly was her vision? How did it differ from other mainstream artists?
Why do you consider her so brilliant / revolutionary?
5 - daryl d
Excellent article. I am so sick of the way the music industry has turned out. I bet you if Kelly changed her name to "U2" the album would not only receive incredible reviews, but win grammy awards as well. The few people who really run the record industry don't want Kelly to be a serious artist. They would rather her turn out decent pop fluff like she did on her last album. They are the ones who tell music critics what to write, so it's going to get bad reviews no matter what. I was really impressed with My December, but then again, I was impressed with Kelly's last effort as well.
6 - Sue
THANK YOU! Love the album, best one so far!
7 - dave
i agree with you. what sickens me is the double standard... the number 1 song right now is by Sean Kingston, a man who is on most standard, heavier. However, he is not getting any criticsm for being a big fellow. Meanwhile, kelly gains 5 pounds and is called horrible names.
8 - Gina
I love her new album. The songs get me right in the heart and so does her voice.
9 - John C Comedy
Had to respond to this comment, it just proves my point even further...Peace John C
"Not being a fanboy of Clarkson (although I think she's good, don't get me wrong), I'm unaware of the criticisms being levied against her. You never really explained exactly what they were in the article. Also, you never really explained why you think she's such a massive songwriting talent."
A fanboy? What are you implying? My name is John nice to meet you.
I gave specifics of recent situations, re-read. I also gave specifics into why she is a great artist starting with her honesty and willingness to take chances. If you want to experience it in further detail, buy the album.
"OK, so what exactly are they criticizing her about? What exactly was her vision? How did it differ from other mainstream artists?"
Again, re-read the article. The critics that have launched unfair judgement against her do not deserve to be mentioned. They also didn't go into specifics as to why her album was unacceptable to their tone deaf ears, I met them with the same amount of effort. If they actually listened to the album I would have considered a more formal reply.
Other mainstream artists were not the focus of the article, nor was it to give further exposure to those that cast ignorant judgement from the start. i.e. "fanboy" A fan is a fan, why bring gender into it?
"Why do you consider her so brilliant / revolutionary?"
Because of how she looks in Capri Pants...Is that better?
10 - Ray Ellis
In other words, John, you're just running the bases here. Caliming that critics didn't go ino specifics, without citing evidence to that effect, does not excuse uou from your responsibility to make your argument with evidence.
You didn't do that. Not even close.
11 - Philip
I must say i really enjoyed your blog. I am a huge Kelly Clarkson Fan, Her LACK of Diva-ness makes her so loveable and Yes her voice is amazing on so many levels.. She rocks. I remember when she won on American Idol, that is when i was first taken by her voice. Since then I have listened to "Thankful" (which i wasnt big on until later), Once i heard the album "Breakaway" I was hooked~!! Now comes "my December" and the critics go over board, Why I asked? I Feel it was because of the whole Clive/Kelly head to head. Crazy as it sounds, now that Her and Clive have patched things up, The critics have less negativity to say about Kelly Clarkson. Why?? it is strange to me.. Too bad damage was done, the media and critics did some damage to "My December " Before it was even leaked.. I have faith that once more hear how amazing "My December" is that they will have a change of heart!!
Sincerely,
Chicago's #1 Kelly Clarkson Fan
Philip Leodoro
12 - John C Comedy
"In other words, John, you're just running the bases here. Caliming that critics didn't go ino specifics, without citing evidence to that effect, does not excuse uou from your responsibility to make your argument with evidence.
You didn't do that. Not even close."
I gave evidence, in fact I referenced specific aspects of the criticism.
Want a name? Roger Friedman and Fox News.
P.S. Spellcheck
13 - zingzing
daryl d, on a u2 rant: "They [music industry execs] are the ones who tell music critics what to write..."
oh yeah?
14 - Ray Ellis
I re-read your article. You cited nothing. What you did do was go off on a rant about how Kelly Clarkson is the victim of that nebulous band of critics and the conspiracy of the music industry. In point of fact, she represents what is wrong with the music industry: a completely manufactured "star" who tanked.
By the way, I never realized that FOX news was the last bastion of music criticism.
15 - daryl d
Ray, you just don't understand, do you? If Clive Davis had claimed that this album was great, the album would have received great reviews. You are blind to think that there is nothing behind good or bad reviews.
Zingzing:
I don't always bash U2. Please read my article about the year 1992.
16 - Ray Ellis
I've been doing this for over 25 years, daryl. I think its safe to say I've picked up a few insights about how the industry works. They don't tell us what to write. If they did, I'd have had my Bentley a long time ago.
17 - A Concerned Citizen
"fanboy" is just a term and doesn't have that much to do with gender. Read the sentence as "I'm just a casual listener" if it makes it more digestable.
My problem isn't with Clarkson, it's with the way you wrote your article. All in all, you've given two clear cut criticisms:
1)weight problems
2)depressing album
Your response to #1: real women aren't models.
Fair enough. She's a singer, not a model. If she were a model, weight would be a valid criticism. She's not, so weight's not.
Your response to #2: "You critics are SOOOOOO dumb and must know absolutely NOOOOOTHING about music!" OK. I can see how that's an effective point. *sarcasm*
The only real, valid defense you have of Clarkson is that she's got enough guts to do her own thing. That IS admirable. But it doesn't make her an amazing artist -- all it means is that she has guts. I want you to explain why she is an amazing artist and apparently you can't. On a musical level, why is she good? Because, I've got to tell you, I've not heard anything particularly unique from her at all. She's a great singer, but a great songwriter? No.
You just haven't supported your arguments enough.
Why do you consider her so brilliant / revolutionary?"
Because of how she looks in Capri Pants...Is that better?
I honestly believe you believe that. . .
18 - Ray Ellis
Interesting, isn't it? The more mediocre the article, the more thin-skinned the writer.
19 - A Concerned Citizen
Well Kelly, it was a great effort, but apparently you're not allowed out of the kitchen yet, throw on that apron you have muffins to make.
Obviously if anyone criticizes any female artist anywhere, they MUST be a chauvenist.
20 - A Concerned Citizen
Thanks for backing me up on this, Ray. My problem was with the article, not really Clarkson per se.
I just didn't feel like the author did anything but rant and rave, without a focused answer to any of the criticisms.
21 - daryl d
Ray, they don't tell you what to write and it's good that you keep your integrity. But there are others who don't keep their integrity. There is a critic at Fox New who has been constantly outed for being "told what to write" and still has a job. It happens a lot more than you think.
22 - Ray Ellis
there is no such thing as a "Critic" at FOX news-- it's an oxymoron.
23 - Tom Johnson
I have to agree with Daryl here. Much of the negativity to the new album is not based on the music but on the industry reaction to the album, which has filtered down to big gossip writers, then to the public, who has jumped on board the bandwagon, mostly because people love to hate whatever is the current thing to hate. These kinds of things can go either way - it just depends on how the wind blows. Sometimes it backfires and the album winds up selling huge, other times it works out the exact opposite. Either way, it works out well for the label, if not the artist - the label either gets a bunch of money from sales, or they have someone to punch around and laugh as they endure the humiliation for as long as they can. (Notice how Clarkson recently issued an apology to Clive Davis.) But industry ties to huge conglomerates like Clear Channel, who control most radio stations in most big cities, not to mention control the advertising on those stations, ensures that it's pretty easy for someone like Clive to bury Clarkson if he wants to. All that needs to be done is force the stations to skimp on advertising a large tour so that it fails or, in the case of Clarkson, gets cancelled before it even starts. It doesn't take much to do this, nor very obviously nefarious methods - they simply overcompensate on other tours and let the Clarkson one suffer a bit. Soon enough gossip lovers start saying that her tour isn't selling and blame the "bad" album's lack of sales for it, and soon music listeners are saying the same thing. Plenty of great albums have sunk and plenty of terrible albums have sailed based on this. Think it's ridiculous paranoid claptrap? It's no different than the payola scandal that Sony was behind in New York a couple years ago. Who is Kelly Clarkson's label? Sony.
24 - Greg
Great article. Many of the "bad" things about the press regarding My December are merely people saying the same thing over and over.
It's great when we hear about how many people love the CD - and there are alot,including me.
I love her voice, her songs are as good or better than many hitmakers ( There are hite there, they just have to release them! )
Let Kelly be Kelly, and let that amazing versatile voice do the talking (and singing) for itself.
25 - daryl d
Oh my, Tom agrees with me on something. Well, I also have to specify when I say "critics." It may not ALWAYS mean music critics, but these days, gossip columnists disguise themselves as critics, get linked to Drudge, and their "opinion" gets around more than an a legit music critic. The guy at Fox News bashed the album and in doing so, listed lyrics that NEVER existed.