There are some songs that you have to love. Whether you think you're the long lost clan member of Wu Tang or a Led Zep groupie or if you follow Faith Hill like some sort of goddess (and that may be troubling, though this is not the space to discuss that) or an English grammar loyalist, you have to yield yourself to the super powers of Kelly Clarkson's latest smash hit Since U Been Gone.
Made up of equal parts cookie-cutter pop, safe "rock" guitars, and angsty, proud, faux edgy lyrics, this song is something that the most hard-hearted music fan will have to jam out to. The song is almost one of the best pieces of throwaway pop in recent history — with Ashlee, Britney, and Hilary failing to deliver on all their half-assed pop princess promises.
The song starts off with a steady bassline and Kelly sings about something or something else — really the words aren't too important, until she's had enough waiting and all her frustration explodes in the single powerful line, "Since u been gone!!!!!!!!" This song successfully stays true to its anthemic nature without actually having the lyrical substance of some kind of quintessential rock or hiphop song and you have to love a song that somehow accomplishes that.
This is the kind of song that you can roll down the windows of your car and proudly headbang your way through a yellow light somewhere on a suburban side street. Kelly's not asking that you put you up next your standards and LPs and what-have-yous. She just wants to be one of the many voices of your summer.
And I think that any girl who has enough moxy to simultaneously release a pseudo Christian rock song like "Breakaway" while sporting a trendy, sexy nose ring deserves just that.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Robyn
I totally agree, shes always gonna be the same down-to-earth kelly from day 1 but as the years go by she is gonna have more rock and influencial lyrics in her songs
2 - rp
I enjoy the song, but it's always bothered me that she says "since you've been gone" before it's even established that somebody is gone at all. ("Here's the thing / We started out friends / It was cool, but it was all pretend / Yeah, yeah / Since you've been gone") It's probably just me nitpicking, though. Fun song nonetheless.
3 - L. Cue
"Since U Been Gone"=my guilty pleasure! I don't know about headbanging to it in the car tho'...
4 - kelly crashson
I've headbanged to this song in the car...can be quite dangerous if you're the one driving..as tempting as it is.. I don't recommend it. hahaha
5 - Alyssa
I not only love this song, I love Kelly. This album was way better than her first, and this song completely makes up for Miss Independent!!!
6 - jay
^ but you must check out her live version of miss independent!! it really rocks - and the notes she hits are amazing... i believe it's on the Since U Been Gone Single disk.
7 - DJRadiohead
Fox will not cancel 'American Idol' if you keep listening to this rubbish.
8 - jay
^ show me a pseudo-rock band that has the vocal range of kelly clarkson...
9 - Bob
kelly is no longer with AI, why would they keep it on because of her? She's no longer with them anymore.
10 - LaurenV
Kelly what is your screen name?
11 - kelly
heyy everyone! I searched the site and everyone has been asking me that question. I love aim but if told you my sn everyone will know it and ill get about 1 million IMs per second
12 - Sam
does anyone know her AIM screenname?
13 - Bob A. Booey
Sam: It's SamIzAStalker-INeedARestrainingOrder-43094
It's a good song, but I wouldn't proudly headbang to it.
That is all.
14 - Aaman
Long words so mess up the format
15 - cheyenne
it would b nice 2 kno ur screen name but i understand why lol i love this song it is soooo true! i LOVE YOU KELLY!!!!!!!!!!!
16 - Shelby Hoffman
Hey, Kelly i'd just like to let you know that I love your music, Behind these Hazel eyes is my favorite, i called into TRL like thirty times voting for it, yet, you came in second that day. I have all your songs on my ipod, and i was just wondering if you can send me your e-mail adress via e-mail?
17 - Lamers
Actually she is with Anercan Idol in a sence...They own the rights to her Music (at least Simon does)...read a publication rather then watch MTV to inform yourself
18 - Aggy
To me the song, sound as well as the lyrics, has Sensefield written all over it. I seriously believed someone from Sensefield wrote it for Kelly. I can´t find anything on it tho. Not that it´s a bad thing! Cuz I love Sensefield and I enjoy listening to Kelly´s Since you´ve been gone. I´m just curious if Sensefield had anything to do with it. ;)
19 - Ellen
kelly, here is my sn, ellen9913, it would be awesome if you imed me, your sn is safe with me!!!
P.S. i LUV all of your songs, they are on my ipod and my friends and i listen to them in the car all the time!!!
20 - Erin
Oh my god Kelly you are my bigggggggggest fan!!! You are the best! can I have your e-mail address so I can talk to you? Or I'll give you mine and can you please e-mail me? My e-mail address is Yildiz610@optonline.net
21 - jackie
hey can u e-mail me and tell me what ur s/n is plz.
22 - Kelly
Hey everyone Listen I don't want to give my screename ok? Is that clear? So shut up!
23 - Chris
Man some people are insane, shes just another person with a great talent. I love her too, I love her music would love to chat. But I'm not gonna go around harassing her. I'd love to be famous, and have fans but we all even haves days where we just wanna be left alone. Give the girl a break.
24 - rene
I love this song. I don't have a problem with the fact that she mentions someone is gone before it's established that someone is gone. I wish she would have changed the "I can breath for the first time" to "I'm feeling free for the first time". I think lyrically that would have been better.
25 - kyla
i know that was not kelly clarkson who said shut up because she is nicer than that oh ya i no her screen name hahaha if you want to know it im me on aim dragonsfire892 bye