Multiplatinum artist Kelly Clarkson unleashed her fifth studio album, Stronger, as a special Monday release on October 24. Known for her incredibly powerful and soulful vocal prowess and her unabashedly honest lyrics, Clarkson is showcased on Stronger at her all-time best.
"What separates this album are the vocals," Clarkson says in its press release. "They sound richer and fuller, and, for the first time, how I sound when I’m performing live. The producers I worked with just let me sing and be me. They didn't strip away the personality.
"And it was one of those things where if the people I’m working with have confidence in me, I have more confidence in myself and that changed everything. I can’t wait to perform these songs on tour. I think that’s the best way to get to know an artist, and where you get to see actual personality, because we can't hide much onstage."
Clarkson co-wrote five of the 13 tracks on Stronger, which was produced by heavy hitters Rodney Jerkins, Greg Kurstin, Josh Abraham, and Toby Gad.
With the high energy dance-pop title track, "What Only Kills You (Stronger)," Clarkson belts out an empowerment anthem about not allowing the end of a relationship to be the end of her.
She addresses her critics on "You Can't Win" and her current single, "Mr. Know It All." Never one to hold back, Clarkson describes the media scrutiny she's often faced in her career in "You Can't Win" with bold lyrics like, "If you're thin, poor little walking disease / If you're not, they're all screaming obese / If you're straight, why aren't you married yet? / If you're gay why aren't you waving a flag?" The mid-tempo "Mr. Know It All" drives the message home further by pointing out to critics and potential suitors that they don't know her as well as they may think. The single is currently number seven on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs chart.
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