In the bridge, Clarkson remembers her parent's spiraling into a depression. From her bedroom, she heard inconsolable weeping. The parent wanted to Clarkson to be a friend and to be dependent. She despises the person for putting their needs first and discounting everyone else's. She sobs like he did during the night like him, which has embittered her. "I watched you die/I heard you cry every night in your sleep/I was so young/You should have known better than to lean on me/You never thought of anyone else/You just saw your pain/And now I cry in the middle of the night/For the same damn thing."
The chorus is sung once, however it's extended. She adds that she has repressed any hurtful memories of the person. She doesn't have many friends or is uncertain on how to befriend people. She dislikes her life. She has a huge void which cannot be filled. "...Because of youI try my hardest just to forget everything/Because of you/I don't know how to let anyone else in/Because of you/I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty/Because of you/I am afraid."
Clarkson sings "because of you" twice to end the single.
Powerful and realisitc, Clarkson unleashes raw bitterness and heartache in "Because of You." Vocally, the single is her shining moment. Clarkson is exploring subtle feelings and expressing them in an intimate way.
The single is also written in the tricky Bananarama style (as in "Robert DeNiro's Waiting.") Listening to only snippets of the lyrics is deceiving. The generic title leads people to believe she is singing a heartfelt tribute to someone. However, a thorough listen finds the opposite is true. It's Clarkson's first perfect single.
ED: TAS
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Chris Evans
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. This is an EXCELLENT review of my favorite Kelly Clarkson song, and furthermore one of my favorite songs ever. If you don't mind, I'd like to link to this post in my blog. Very well done.
2 - Pam Avoledo
Thanks! I really do the like the songwriting the single.
Although I didn't mention it in my review, I love the bridge and how Clarkson sings other lyrics in the background.
3 - Chris Evans
Yes, the bridge is GREAT. Especially that note she hits at the end. "For the same damn thiiiiiiiing"
4 - Jackson
Pam, Very powerful review. You captured the beauty and reality of the song quite nicely. I agree that this single is simply amazing. I appreciate how delicate and intimate it is, while still being very powerful and dynamic.This is seen especially during the bridge.The lyrics are so charged and full of languish, while the music and intonation is so pensive yet electric and rich.
5 - Ben
Nice review! Actually I have listened to the single a zillion times and your review gave me an even deeper appreciation for it.
6 - Jeremy Evans
Wow, it's really great to see an accurate interpretation of Kelly's first really true, edgy ballad. What a song, what an artist, and I cannot wait to see her again in concert.
7 - Jim S
you make it sound like she was singing from the heart about a true experience in her life and about the "emotionless person who raised her."
just one little quibble, though.
she didn't write it.
8 - Jim S
don't know why the link didn't come out right...
here
9 - jay
^Actually, she DID write the song. The information in that link is incorrect. That website has made numerous previous mistakes about songwriters/artists. Most have been corrected. This one has not - yet.
10 - jay
^^^ Jim S., you happened to look up the info for the song "Breakaway," which was co-written by Avril Lavigne - which doesn't even show Avril's name there (mistake). If you search for "Because of You" - the title song referenced for this blog - you'll find that Kelly certainly did write the song (co-wrote).
11 - jay
i was happy to read the following excerpt from an interview w/ Ben Moody (co-wrote Because of You w/ Kelly). It just proved that she didn't simply add a "few words" to the song in order to make it her own:
Former Evanesence member Ben Moody has said that working with Kelly Clarkson is one of the most fun experiences he’s had in music. Speaking about his time in the studio with the original ‘Idol’ he says: Her album is very much what she wanted to say, and it’s funny going through the process with her and knowing what these songs are about and watching her mature into what she is now " an artist in oppose to an ‘American Idol’ winner, added Moody, who has also worked with Avril Lavigne. “That was probably the most fun I’ve had on a session. She was so much fun and very laid-back, but very sincere.
Ben also couldn’t believe how good some of the songs that Kelly brought to the table were. “They were just unbelievable, how structured they were and her understanding of music, which is not something you would expect from a pop artist,” said Ben, who co-wrote and produced the songs after Clarkson sent him the tape. “She had these ideas already in place for songs; all I really had to do was build music around them and develop them. It was quite easy.”
12 - Chris Evans
Actually Kelly DID write the song. She wrote it years ago long before she was even famous. If you were well read, you would have fucking read the article where Kelly explained the process behind the song. When she came to Ben Moody and David Hodges she brought them a recording of her singing the song when she was a fucking KID. Thanks and have a great day, sweetheart.
13 - Bob
Actually, she did write it. Its about her parent's divorce.
14 - Sean
Great review! I hope this song takes off on the radio! it already broke the Mediabase Pop Top 40!
15 - Temple Stark
Pam, This has been syndicated to Advance.net, a place affiliated with about 10 newspapers around the country.
Also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at another place.
Thank you.
Temple Stark
16 - Bob A. Booey
Why haven't the 13 year old spelling bee champions looking for Kelly's AIM SN invaded this topic yet when there are so man on the other one?
It's truly a mystery.
That is all.
17 - jay
^nice job, Bob... slamming the "spelling bee" champs when you can't even spell yourself ("when there are so - man (???) - on the other one?). Do you mean "many?"
It's truly a mystery.
That is all... ;)
18 - Bob A. Booey
I always spell correctly. I was in fact a 2-time defending spelling bee champ in junior high. I just left out the "y" when typing, which is a typo. Surely, no one would confuse the spelling of the two words.
That is all.
19 - Sarah
bar Annie Lennox -Why, this is the only song that can make me cry! the lyric in it are so true and heart-felt, it jst moves me so much. and when you hear this song live it is jst spine tinglin!! cnt wait till she is performin it live on tv programmes for promotion! woho!
xSx
20 - Reed
Midway through the song it begins to sink in this is real emotion brought up from a real experience that jades ever emotion the singer feels about anything. Its a moving song. There aren't many like it.
21 - Kyle
"Because of You" is Kelly's first personal ballad as to "A Moment" and "Before Love". Although I enjoy every song that she sings, I have to say that "Because of You" is definitely on my top 3 list. My list being: "Just Missed the Train", "Because of You", and "Addicted". Both "Because" and "Addicted" were co-written and produced by Ben Moody and David Hodges. I believe they are two of the most important songs to Kelly on her sophomore album, "Breakaway".
I think I enjoy the two Moody/Clarkson pieces because I can relate to both of them easily for their true meaning. And if you really think about it, every single person alive can relate to their lyrics. She has a tremendous voice (vocal range), and I can't wait until her third album comes out.
Allegedly, one of her 3rd album singles is going to be titled "Come Here".
22 - Amber Johnson
Does anyone know when her next album is coming out? I love pretty much every song on both her albums, but I would love to have something new to listen to. Because of You is one of my favorite songs she sings. She is so talented. I love that people are really relating to her music, and seeing how truly talented and real she is.
23 - Amanda
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care who wrote it but Kelly is the best one to sing it this song deserves to get credit not cridic so you all need to just get on with ur old lives and stop bugging Kelly because she has and amazing voice and u don't GET OVER IT SHE CAN SING BETTER THAN YOU SO WHAT if she couldn't than we wouldn't have the radio or cd's now would we Kelly I love this song and i think u should be very proud of it. ~*Amanda*~
24 - Mandy
I love this song, Gone and You Found Me.
I don't care who wrote the damn song, it sounds good- and that's all there is to it.
Kelly won AI so all you critics shut up.
25 - Brandi
My father has never hidden how hard a life he's had. He wanted me to see how hard a life is w/out ambition. He had none when he was younger. He has always pushed me to be educated and headstrong. Whenever he saw me getting off course from reaching my career goals he would pull me to the side and say,"look at what ur doing" This song really reminds me of how my father pushed me to be the personI am today. I am starting a great career, know whta I want, and know that when I am unsure I can ask him for an outsiders view of if I am doing something stupid.