Soulful singer Adele's album "21" reached a "titanic" milestone this week, in spite of being forced to cancel all of her 2011 performances as a result of a planned throat surgery.
Once again hitting the coveted number one spot of the Billboard 200, "21" enjoys its 13th week atop the list. It's the first album to spend that many weeks at number one since the soundtrack for the 1998 motion picture "Titanic." Billboard.com reports that "21" is this year's biggest selling album at over 4 million copies sold.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/10/29/adele-reaches-titanic-achievement-in-spite-voice-issues/#ixzz1cJ7AEGzl
Monday, October 31, 2011
Drake Announces Final 'Take Care' Tracklist
1. Over My Dead Body
2. Shot For Me
3. Headlines
4. Crew Love feat. The Weeknd
5. Take Care feat. Rihanna
6. Marvin’s Room / Buried Alive Interlude
7. Under Ground Kings
8. We’ll Be Fine
9. Make Me Proud feat. Nicki Minaj
10. Lord Knows feat. Rick Ross
11. Cameras / Good Ones Go Interlude
12. Doing It Wrong
13. The Real Her feat. Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne
14. HYFR (Hell Ya Fu**in Right)
15. Look What You’ve Done
16. Practice
17. The Ride
http://allthings-fresh.net/blog/2011/10/take-cares-official-track-listing-features/
2. Shot For Me
3. Headlines
4. Crew Love feat. The Weeknd
5. Take Care feat. Rihanna
6. Marvin’s Room / Buried Alive Interlude
7. Under Ground Kings
8. We’ll Be Fine
9. Make Me Proud feat. Nicki Minaj
10. Lord Knows feat. Rick Ross
11. Cameras / Good Ones Go Interlude
12. Doing It Wrong
13. The Real Her feat. Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne
14. HYFR (Hell Ya Fu**in Right)
15. Look What You’ve Done
16. Practice
17. The Ride
http://allthings-fresh.net/blog/2011/10/take-cares-official-track-listing-features/
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Katy Perry Achieved 3rd Single That Hits 5 Million Mark
Katy Perry this week becomes the first artist in digital history to sell 5 million or more copies of three different hits. She achieves the feat as "Firework" tops the 5 million mark. The exhilarating smash follows "Hot N Cold" (which is up to 5,044,000) and "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, which is up to 5,033,000). (All three smashes have topped the 5 million mark in just the past two months.)
P/s: E.T could be her 4th, since it already achieved Quadruple Platinum!
Source: Yahoo Music
Congrats Katy
MH
P/s: E.T could be her 4th, since it already achieved Quadruple Platinum!
Source: Yahoo Music
Congrats Katy
MH
More of The Voice
The Voice executive producer, Mark Burnett announced at at press conference on Friday that the show’s post-Super Bowl premiere on February 5 will go straight to the blind auditions. Actually, that’s also how Season 1 began, but the big news is that instead of 8 contestants on each of the coaches’ teams, there will be 12 with more weeks of blind audition rounds.
Burnett says that’s what fans really responded to in season 1, and it’s the thing that sets The Voice apart from other competition reality shows like American Idol and X Factor.
Christina Aguilera says the premiere will begin with a “kick ass” performance from her and fellow coaches, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. Host, Cason Daly now has a producer credit on the show.
Christina revealed that she has an opera singer on her team!
Other tidbits from my twitter feed:
The top four from last season all have albums coming out. Some of the coaches plan on collaborating with their artists on those.
“I’m an advocate of honesty and directness. Tough love is necessary every now and again.” – @CeeLoGreen on his coaching style.
Each coach made it clear that they would NOT sign on if the show was going to bring out weak singers to humiliate them.
All of #thevoice coaches say they still keep in touch with their team’s finalists from last season
Via @TVGuideMagazine, @NBCTheVoice
Burnett says that’s what fans really responded to in season 1, and it’s the thing that sets The Voice apart from other competition reality shows like American Idol and X Factor.
Christina Aguilera says the premiere will begin with a “kick ass” performance from her and fellow coaches, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. Host, Cason Daly now has a producer credit on the show.
Christina revealed that she has an opera singer on her team!
Other tidbits from my twitter feed:
The top four from last season all have albums coming out. Some of the coaches plan on collaborating with their artists on those.
“I’m an advocate of honesty and directness. Tough love is necessary every now and again.” – @CeeLoGreen on his coaching style.
Each coach made it clear that they would NOT sign on if the show was going to bring out weak singers to humiliate them.
All of #thevoice coaches say they still keep in touch with their team’s finalists from last season
Via @TVGuideMagazine, @NBCTheVoice
Katy Perry: I Still Want Rihanna Collaboration
The ‘Teenage Dream’ star said she was hopeful that the duet would come off in the future, but only if the song was right.
“I hope so, one of these days,” she told Capital FM’s Showbiz reporter Kevin Hughes when asked about her plans to work with Rihanna.
“But the thing is we’re not just going to cash in on that idea unless it’s bulletproof, because you really only get one shot at that.”
Katy added: “We’re friends above and beyond all the other stuff, so if we’re going to work together it has to be dynamite.”
Meanwhile, Katy also said she was a big fan of Rihanna’s new video ‘We Found Love’.
She said Rihanna had shown a “really honest side” with the video for the first single off her new album ‘Talk That Talk’ out in November 21st.
“I hope so, one of these days,” she told Capital FM’s Showbiz reporter Kevin Hughes when asked about her plans to work with Rihanna.
“But the thing is we’re not just going to cash in on that idea unless it’s bulletproof, because you really only get one shot at that.”
Katy added: “We’re friends above and beyond all the other stuff, so if we’re going to work together it has to be dynamite.”
Meanwhile, Katy also said she was a big fan of Rihanna’s new video ‘We Found Love’.
She said Rihanna had shown a “really honest side” with the video for the first single off her new album ‘Talk That Talk’ out in November 21st.
New Info on 'The Voice' 2nd Season
When NBC's The Voice returns next season, it will be bigger than ever. There will be more blind audition rounds, in which singers perform for the coaches sight unseen, and 12 contestants per team, up from Season 1's eight.
The Voice names Christina Milian as new social media correspondent
It's not yet clear exactly how many more blind audition episodes will air — they ran for two weeks earlier this year — but executive producer Mark Burnett says the decision to expand came from viewer feedback and having more time to produce them. "We put the show on so quickly last year. We only had four months," he told TVGuide.com after a press conference Friday. "And the biggest complaint that we got was, 'Awww, the blind auditions ended so early.' It was a quick blip. So I managed to make a lot more blind auditions and clearly we're responding to what our fans are asking for."
Series coaches — Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton — told reporters they remain unworried about the glut of music shows. The Voice returns in February after the Super Bowl, and after The X Factor wraps in December, but it will still have to contend with a new season of American Idol. Aguilera says The Voice's process when it comes to selecting singers -- the coaches listening only to a performer's voice and then swinging around in those huge red chairs — remains unmatched. "There's not a more suspenseful TV show out there," she said. (Burnett added: "These chairs have become stars in their own right.")
Is Carson Daly the founding father of social TV?
Asked specifically about the similarities to Simon Cowell's X Factor, Burnett told TVGuide.com he'd only seen "maybe 10 minutes" of the show. "They certainly spent a lot of money, it's certainly big. I don't think it's different from anything else I've seen," he said. So while X Factor will award its winner with a $5 million recording contract, The Voice will stick with its $100,000. "Do you know what that reminds me of? It reminds of Austin Powers. 'One meeeellion dollars,'" Burnett said. "I mean, people aren't watching the show for that."
As for the new crop of Voice contestants — all selected now that the show has finished filming Season 2's blind auditions -- the coaches say they got extra competitive when it came to filling out their rosters. "We know the game now. It's an intense competition this year," Aguilera said. She boasted that her team includes an opera singer "who makes you cry."
"You sit there wondering why these people don't have record contracts," she said.
Those contestants are also savvier than ever when it comes to picking who they want to work with. "Now, they're all like, 'What can you do for me?'" Aguilera said. "They know how it works" when more than one of the coaches want in. "All of a sudden, we're the ones pitching ourselves," Levine said.
The Voice names Christina Milian as new social media correspondent
It's not yet clear exactly how many more blind audition episodes will air — they ran for two weeks earlier this year — but executive producer Mark Burnett says the decision to expand came from viewer feedback and having more time to produce them. "We put the show on so quickly last year. We only had four months," he told TVGuide.com after a press conference Friday. "And the biggest complaint that we got was, 'Awww, the blind auditions ended so early.' It was a quick blip. So I managed to make a lot more blind auditions and clearly we're responding to what our fans are asking for."
Series coaches — Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton — told reporters they remain unworried about the glut of music shows. The Voice returns in February after the Super Bowl, and after The X Factor wraps in December, but it will still have to contend with a new season of American Idol. Aguilera says The Voice's process when it comes to selecting singers -- the coaches listening only to a performer's voice and then swinging around in those huge red chairs — remains unmatched. "There's not a more suspenseful TV show out there," she said. (Burnett added: "These chairs have become stars in their own right.")
Is Carson Daly the founding father of social TV?
Asked specifically about the similarities to Simon Cowell's X Factor, Burnett told TVGuide.com he'd only seen "maybe 10 minutes" of the show. "They certainly spent a lot of money, it's certainly big. I don't think it's different from anything else I've seen," he said. So while X Factor will award its winner with a $5 million recording contract, The Voice will stick with its $100,000. "Do you know what that reminds me of? It reminds of Austin Powers. 'One meeeellion dollars,'" Burnett said. "I mean, people aren't watching the show for that."
As for the new crop of Voice contestants — all selected now that the show has finished filming Season 2's blind auditions -- the coaches say they got extra competitive when it came to filling out their rosters. "We know the game now. It's an intense competition this year," Aguilera said. She boasted that her team includes an opera singer "who makes you cry."
"You sit there wondering why these people don't have record contracts," she said.
Those contestants are also savvier than ever when it comes to picking who they want to work with. "Now, they're all like, 'What can you do for me?'" Aguilera said. "They know how it works" when more than one of the coaches want in. "All of a sudden, we're the ones pitching ourselves," Levine said.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
z100 Jingle Ball Performers Announced: Gaga, Demi, and more!
NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today, Z100, New York's Hit Music Station, unveiled the star-studded line-up and special guest presenters for the annual holiday concert Z100's Jingle Ball 2011, presented by Aeropostale, which will take place on Friday, December 9, 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. Mayor Bloomberg has issued a special proclamation officially declaring December 9, 2011 Z100's Jingle Ball Day in New York City.
This afternoon popular recording artist Demi Lovato joined Z100's JJ at Aeropostale's Times Square store to make the official announcement of the all-star lineup for Z100's Jingle Ball, which includes: Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, David Guetta, LMFAO, Foster the People, Gym Class Heroes and Hot Chelle Rae. Special guest hosts will include: Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian Odom, Lamar Odom and Karmin, with more to be announced.
Tickets will be sold EXCLUSIVELY to ZVIP members via Ticketmaster starting November 1 at 4 p.m. ET. Listeners can register for FREE to become a ZVIP member by logging on to Z100.com keyword: ZVIP. Any tickets not sold will be available for public purchase starting Wednesday, November 2 at 4 p.m. ET via ticketmaster.com.
"There's nothing more exciting than the reaction we see from people when they hear those three magic words: 'Z100's. Jingle. Ball!' Every year it's the must-see music event of the season, and people will do anything to get their hands on tickets," said Sharon Dastur, Z100's Program Director. "It's the perfect way to end the year: getting together with 18,000 of your closest friends and celebrating the year in music."
Popular teen retailer Aeropostale is the presenting sponsor for Z100's Jingle Ball 2011. "Aeropostale has the must-have styles and Z100 has today's hottest music," says Scott Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Ecommerce. "We look forward to it all coming together at Z100's Jingle Ball, the most anticipated concert of the season."
Every year Z100's Jingle Ball gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season. This year's official charity partner for Z100's Jingle Ball is STOMP Out Bullying, (TM) a national anti-bullying/cyberbullying program for kids and teens. It is the signature program of Love Our Children USA(TM) which, since 1999, has been the national nonprofit leader and 'go-to' prevention organization fighting all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.
"To be selected as the Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 charity is truly an honor," said Ross Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STOMP Out Bullying(TM). "Not only is this a wonderful way to raise funds, but it raises awareness that bullying is wrong, the suicides are senseless, and all forms of bullying, hatred, cruelty and homophobia must end."
Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 will kick off with the action-packed Z100 & Coca Cola's All Access Lounge. The FREE event will include performances by Z100 artists and meet & greets with fan favorites. The FREE indoor festival will feature music as well as interactive displays from some of today's hottest brands and products. The event will take place from 12 - 6 p.m. ET at Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 W 34th St, New York, NY and will welcome fans of all ages.
For the second year in a row, Z100's Jingle Ball will host a nationwide search for the next big musical act called Z100's Hometown Hero presented by State Farm. Z100 has teamed up with Eventful, Inc., a leading online digital consumer and entertainment service, to launch Z100's Hometown Hero 2011. Music artists and bands alike can sign up and compete on Eventful's unique "Demand it!" service, which empowers their fans to "Demand" that they win the chance to perform live on stage at Z100 & Coca-Cola's All Access Lounge, the official pre-event to Z100's Jingle Ball and have their first official music video produced by Z100.
"Z100 has a long history of breaking new artists. It wasn't too long ago that artists like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber were performing at Z100's All Access Lounge," said Darren Pfeffer, Director of Marketing for Clear Channel Radio New York. "With Z100's Hometown Hero, we're able to give our community a say in who gets to take the stage at this star-making event."
For more information and to register for Z100's Hometown Hero contest log on to www.Z100.com keyword: Jingle Ball.
Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 will air on Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company exclusively on December 18 at 7 p.m. ET. This will be the second year music fans across the country will have the opportunity to experience the highly anticipated annual event on television.
"Z100's Jingle Ball has shared the biggest and brightest artists with audiences at Madison Square Garden since the first show in 1996," said Mike Bair, President, MSG Media. "We are thrilled that as part of the Garden family, Fuse can capture and share with music lovers the best performances from the world's greatest arena for the second year in a row."
For up-to-minute information on Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 listen to Z100, New York's Hit Music Station, or log on to www.Z100.com keyword: Jingle Ball.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/z100s-jingle-ball-2011-presented-by-aeropostale-rings-in-the-season-with-star-studded-annual-holiday-concert-2011-10-21
This afternoon popular recording artist Demi Lovato joined Z100's JJ at Aeropostale's Times Square store to make the official announcement of the all-star lineup for Z100's Jingle Ball, which includes: Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, David Guetta, LMFAO, Foster the People, Gym Class Heroes and Hot Chelle Rae. Special guest hosts will include: Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian Odom, Lamar Odom and Karmin, with more to be announced.
Tickets will be sold EXCLUSIVELY to ZVIP members via Ticketmaster starting November 1 at 4 p.m. ET. Listeners can register for FREE to become a ZVIP member by logging on to Z100.com keyword: ZVIP. Any tickets not sold will be available for public purchase starting Wednesday, November 2 at 4 p.m. ET via ticketmaster.com.
"There's nothing more exciting than the reaction we see from people when they hear those three magic words: 'Z100's. Jingle. Ball!' Every year it's the must-see music event of the season, and people will do anything to get their hands on tickets," said Sharon Dastur, Z100's Program Director. "It's the perfect way to end the year: getting together with 18,000 of your closest friends and celebrating the year in music."
Popular teen retailer Aeropostale is the presenting sponsor for Z100's Jingle Ball 2011. "Aeropostale has the must-have styles and Z100 has today's hottest music," says Scott Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Ecommerce. "We look forward to it all coming together at Z100's Jingle Ball, the most anticipated concert of the season."
Every year Z100's Jingle Ball gives back to the community to celebrate the holiday season. This year's official charity partner for Z100's Jingle Ball is STOMP Out Bullying, (TM) a national anti-bullying/cyberbullying program for kids and teens. It is the signature program of Love Our Children USA(TM) which, since 1999, has been the national nonprofit leader and 'go-to' prevention organization fighting all forms of violence and neglect against children in the U.S.
"To be selected as the Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 charity is truly an honor," said Ross Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STOMP Out Bullying(TM). "Not only is this a wonderful way to raise funds, but it raises awareness that bullying is wrong, the suicides are senseless, and all forms of bullying, hatred, cruelty and homophobia must end."
Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 will kick off with the action-packed Z100 & Coca Cola's All Access Lounge. The FREE event will include performances by Z100 artists and meet & greets with fan favorites. The FREE indoor festival will feature music as well as interactive displays from some of today's hottest brands and products. The event will take place from 12 - 6 p.m. ET at Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 W 34th St, New York, NY and will welcome fans of all ages.
For the second year in a row, Z100's Jingle Ball will host a nationwide search for the next big musical act called Z100's Hometown Hero presented by State Farm. Z100 has teamed up with Eventful, Inc., a leading online digital consumer and entertainment service, to launch Z100's Hometown Hero 2011. Music artists and bands alike can sign up and compete on Eventful's unique "Demand it!" service, which empowers their fans to "Demand" that they win the chance to perform live on stage at Z100 & Coca-Cola's All Access Lounge, the official pre-event to Z100's Jingle Ball and have their first official music video produced by Z100.
"Z100 has a long history of breaking new artists. It wasn't too long ago that artists like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber were performing at Z100's All Access Lounge," said Darren Pfeffer, Director of Marketing for Clear Channel Radio New York. "With Z100's Hometown Hero, we're able to give our community a say in who gets to take the stage at this star-making event."
For more information and to register for Z100's Hometown Hero contest log on to www.Z100.com keyword: Jingle Ball.
Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 will air on Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company exclusively on December 18 at 7 p.m. ET. This will be the second year music fans across the country will have the opportunity to experience the highly anticipated annual event on television.
"Z100's Jingle Ball has shared the biggest and brightest artists with audiences at Madison Square Garden since the first show in 1996," said Mike Bair, President, MSG Media. "We are thrilled that as part of the Garden family, Fuse can capture and share with music lovers the best performances from the world's greatest arena for the second year in a row."
For up-to-minute information on Z100's Jingle Ball 2011 listen to Z100, New York's Hit Music Station, or log on to www.Z100.com keyword: Jingle Ball.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/z100s-jingle-ball-2011-presented-by-aeropostale-rings-in-the-season-with-star-studded-annual-holiday-concert-2011-10-21
Dev Pushes Debut Album Back To 2012.
Amazon now has the singer/rapper's debut album being released January 10th.
Source
Source
Monday, October 17, 2011
Kelly Clarkson Interview
Kelly Clarkson is STRONGER (and
absolutely adorable)!
Walking into an interview with Kelly Clarkson, Same Same immediately noticed that this southern belle has not been changed by fame one bit. ‘Come in! Take a seat y’all!’ she ushered as we sat down to chat with one of the sweetest stars we’ve ever come across (looking gorgeous, might we add!).
We caught up with her on her recent visit to Australia, to talk about her fifth studio album, Stronger, and what it’s like to be in the business for over ten years…
What is the narrative and inspiration behind Stronger?
I guess I’ve been doing it for ten years now, so I think with that came experience, and it just makes you feel more comfortable when you’re more experienced in anything. Everything ended up kind of being about empowerment and overcoming stuff so I think generally it’s inspiring, so I hope that’s what people get from it.
You’ve mentioned in interviews that Stronger was not the album you started off making. What was the original direction of the album?
It never happens. With every record you always start off thinking it’s gonna be one way, and then it’s like… (boop) all the way over here. Like, we didn’t think it was going to be that soulful honestly; it’s a lot more soulful, even with Mr. Know It All or Let me down. I’ve always had a soulful voice on stuff, but even the rhythmic pop rock thing, that’s kinda new for me, it kinda just happened!
What’s the song on Stronger that you are the most proud of?
You Love Me. Hands down. It was a really crap situation. It was just a really bad day, one of the worst ever; don’t think I’ll have a bad one like that again. I think it’s great that being an artist you can take a bad day like that and almost use it as therapy to get it out and I think a lot of people will relate to this song. The whole idea is when people are like “I love you, but this is what you need to change about yourself and this is what’s not good about you,” and it’s like “Wow I think you’re highly confused about the definition of love.” The whole song is like, “your love is like a punch in the face.” It’s very Prince, Tina Turner, pop which I love.
‘Let Me Down’ which you wrote has a really strong message, much like it has been lifted off My December. What’s the story behind the song?
There’s kind of a little bit of everything of all my previous records, like from Thankful, and then from Breakaway, so yeah it’s kind of a conglomerate of all my previous albums which we did on purpose because those are all very different sides of me. ‘Let Me Down’, I call the cooler older brother of ‘Behind These Hazel Eyes’, because it’s pop-rock but it’s a little soulful as well.
Who’s the bastard that it’s about?
Actually it’s a co-worker, it wasn’t even a relationship, it was someone that I worked with.
(NB: Same Same wouldn’t be surprised if the song’s subject was Ryan Tedder. Kelly was said to be working with Tedder again after the ‘Already Gone’/’Halo’ fiasco but nothing from their recording sessions made the final cut.)
Tell me the story behind ‘You Can’t Win’. What were you feeling when you wrote it?
I wrote it about a year and a half ago when I was touring All I Ever Wanted, and I think I was in Germany and [my makeup artist] was very annoyed with me because I wrote it during hair and make-up, and so she was trying to do stuff and I was like “I need to go to the bathroom and record this in Garageband or I’m gonna forget the melody!” so I had to go and do it; I always do that to her and she gets pissed off, but I can’t help it! You get inspired when you get inspired!
I wrote the song about having a really hard time with not even just people I was working with but just media, and the portrayal of All I Ever Wanted, fans and friends and family… everybody was like, you can’t win. If you’re the girl next door it’s like ‘boring’, or if you’re wild and crazy it’s like ‘oh you need to go to rehab’. Or people will be like ‘Oh, you’re gay, right?’, and I’m like ‘well, no’, but then it’s like ‘if you’re straight, why aren’t you married?’, so it’s like I can’t win either way! It’s that whole thing of I’m never gonna please you, so I’m going to stop trying.
Are you prepared for the can of worms you’re about to open now that you’ve recorded a drag anthem in What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)?
I love that song! I’m not even a drag diva but I love that song! It’s one of my favourite ones I’ve ever recorded. I love that it has the beat, but its also very pop rock with guitars and such a great message. Sometimes when it’s an anthem it’s throw away lyrics, but they’re great lyrics and they’re so inspiring. Sometimes when you’re having a crap day, you just wanna listen to something that makes you feel like you can move a mountain, and I feel like that when I listen to that song.
Second single?
Hopefully! That’s what I’m shooting for. Sometimes we don’t have a say.
Over the years you’ve released some really amazing songs. What’s your favourite and least favourite single that you have released?
You know what, that’s probably the same song. My Life Would Suck Without You. It’s my least favourite because when I first heard it, it did not sound like what it sounds like now, and I really had to fight to make that song better than it was, but when I first heard it, it was nothing I would say, the verses were like “I saw you smoking pot and I thought that was cool” (she sings) and I was like… What? I didn’t even get it, it was trying so hard to be edgy and cool that I wanted to vomit! I didn’t really like it at all. But Luke, Claude and Max (Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly, Max Martin) were cool with me having a hand in that. It ended up being one of my favourites now to perform live because everybody gets up for that song. And it’s a great song now, it’s a fun song.
What track do you wish got a single release from your back catalogue?
The live version of Beautiful Disaster. It’s one of my favourites. I didn’t like the album version on the first record, total crap and I didn’t like it. The producer didn’t either! He wanted to do it how we did it live but we… weren’t allowed. But the live version, Rebecca Jordan wrote that and it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever gotten to sing so I was really sad that wasn’t a single.
You’ve been working on a side project with your backup singers called Already Famous. Will we see an official release of material?
We did an EP and it’s still being mixed, but it’s just a fun side project, there’s no political crap going on, so it’s just fun.
Looking back over everything you’ve learnt over your career, what would be the one piece of advice you’d give to yourself before you walked into your Idol audition?
Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to switch places with.
That’s it. I learnt that from a friend, her mum told her that a long time ago, and she told me two years ago and I could have really used that! Because if you think about it, if you don’t like how someone’s life is and how they’re living it, then you don’t wanna take advice from them.
I’ve decided to start a rumour that you and Adele are working on a disco banger in the vein of I Will Survive. What do I have to do to make sure this rumour becomes a reality?
Do it! Yes! Oh my God, you have no idea, she probably thinks I’m so obsessed with her (which I kind of am), like, since Chasing Pavements , I literally flew to a different city to see her in concert… and she knows that. She probably thinks I’m nuts, but I just love her voice! And there’s something so sexy and confident about a girl that can just walk up on a stage amongst all these other wild acts, and she has a piano and microphone and a mic stand and she just kills everyone. I’m telling you, [Someone Like You] is the best freaking song written in the last decade. Her heartache is our awesome day. I feel sad for her because she writes like me, like all about what’s going on in her life but at the same time it’s like thank you, because it’s one of the best songs ever.
When are you coming back for a tour?
We start in January in the States, then after that we come here and New Zealand and everywhere.
Can you please sing Anytime from Thankful when you come back?
[Screaming] That’s [my make up artist’s] favourite song! She loves a power ballad, it’s my Céline song. It’s getting harder to make set lists though, I have 5 albums now!
Will you play Mardi Gras if you’re here in time?
You know what, we might be here around then!
You’ll have 10,000 screaming gays at your feet…
I was just saying, you’re my favourite fans! Because it’s like, they love anthems, the pop ballads, and those are my favourites too.
What are your three favourite songs at the moment?
Someone Like You, Ellie Goulding’s Under The Sheets, I love her album, Lights, um… I like Set Fire— oh I don’t want to pick her again, she’s gonna think I’m fucking obsessive… and Mary Jane from Jagged Little Pill when I’m trying to do anything but work out.
If I told you Kyle Chandler has left his wife, what would your first reaction be?
Call me! He’s so hot, I would be anything he wanted me to be! He’s so beautiful.
This week Same Same has released a list of the 50 worst pop songs as voted by our readers – but don’t worry, you’re not on it…
Damn! I love to make any list!
(Reading) What! Whip My Hair!? I love that song.
(Continues reading) Paris Hilton has a song?
Yeah, she’s got a whole album.
Oops. I mean, I knew that.
Baby? That made the worst? I think he’s so cute. I haven’t heard a lot of these… what (confused), Just The Way You Are (Drunk At The Bar)? Can I just have this to look them up? Oh my God, Who Let The Dogs Out! I hate that song, I’ve hated that song since junior high, sorry Baha Men!
Source: http://www.samesame.com.au/features/7469/Kelly-Clarkson-is-STRONGER-and-absolutely-adorable.htm
Great interview.
MH
absolutely adorable)!
Walking into an interview with Kelly Clarkson, Same Same immediately noticed that this southern belle has not been changed by fame one bit. ‘Come in! Take a seat y’all!’ she ushered as we sat down to chat with one of the sweetest stars we’ve ever come across (looking gorgeous, might we add!).
We caught up with her on her recent visit to Australia, to talk about her fifth studio album, Stronger, and what it’s like to be in the business for over ten years…
What is the narrative and inspiration behind Stronger?
I guess I’ve been doing it for ten years now, so I think with that came experience, and it just makes you feel more comfortable when you’re more experienced in anything. Everything ended up kind of being about empowerment and overcoming stuff so I think generally it’s inspiring, so I hope that’s what people get from it.
You’ve mentioned in interviews that Stronger was not the album you started off making. What was the original direction of the album?
It never happens. With every record you always start off thinking it’s gonna be one way, and then it’s like… (boop) all the way over here. Like, we didn’t think it was going to be that soulful honestly; it’s a lot more soulful, even with Mr. Know It All or Let me down. I’ve always had a soulful voice on stuff, but even the rhythmic pop rock thing, that’s kinda new for me, it kinda just happened!
What’s the song on Stronger that you are the most proud of?
You Love Me. Hands down. It was a really crap situation. It was just a really bad day, one of the worst ever; don’t think I’ll have a bad one like that again. I think it’s great that being an artist you can take a bad day like that and almost use it as therapy to get it out and I think a lot of people will relate to this song. The whole idea is when people are like “I love you, but this is what you need to change about yourself and this is what’s not good about you,” and it’s like “Wow I think you’re highly confused about the definition of love.” The whole song is like, “your love is like a punch in the face.” It’s very Prince, Tina Turner, pop which I love.
‘Let Me Down’ which you wrote has a really strong message, much like it has been lifted off My December. What’s the story behind the song?
There’s kind of a little bit of everything of all my previous records, like from Thankful, and then from Breakaway, so yeah it’s kind of a conglomerate of all my previous albums which we did on purpose because those are all very different sides of me. ‘Let Me Down’, I call the cooler older brother of ‘Behind These Hazel Eyes’, because it’s pop-rock but it’s a little soulful as well.
Who’s the bastard that it’s about?
Actually it’s a co-worker, it wasn’t even a relationship, it was someone that I worked with.
(NB: Same Same wouldn’t be surprised if the song’s subject was Ryan Tedder. Kelly was said to be working with Tedder again after the ‘Already Gone’/’Halo’ fiasco but nothing from their recording sessions made the final cut.)
Tell me the story behind ‘You Can’t Win’. What were you feeling when you wrote it?
I wrote it about a year and a half ago when I was touring All I Ever Wanted, and I think I was in Germany and [my makeup artist] was very annoyed with me because I wrote it during hair and make-up, and so she was trying to do stuff and I was like “I need to go to the bathroom and record this in Garageband or I’m gonna forget the melody!” so I had to go and do it; I always do that to her and she gets pissed off, but I can’t help it! You get inspired when you get inspired!
I wrote the song about having a really hard time with not even just people I was working with but just media, and the portrayal of All I Ever Wanted, fans and friends and family… everybody was like, you can’t win. If you’re the girl next door it’s like ‘boring’, or if you’re wild and crazy it’s like ‘oh you need to go to rehab’. Or people will be like ‘Oh, you’re gay, right?’, and I’m like ‘well, no’, but then it’s like ‘if you’re straight, why aren’t you married?’, so it’s like I can’t win either way! It’s that whole thing of I’m never gonna please you, so I’m going to stop trying.
Are you prepared for the can of worms you’re about to open now that you’ve recorded a drag anthem in What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)?
I love that song! I’m not even a drag diva but I love that song! It’s one of my favourite ones I’ve ever recorded. I love that it has the beat, but its also very pop rock with guitars and such a great message. Sometimes when it’s an anthem it’s throw away lyrics, but they’re great lyrics and they’re so inspiring. Sometimes when you’re having a crap day, you just wanna listen to something that makes you feel like you can move a mountain, and I feel like that when I listen to that song.
Second single?
Hopefully! That’s what I’m shooting for. Sometimes we don’t have a say.
Over the years you’ve released some really amazing songs. What’s your favourite and least favourite single that you have released?
You know what, that’s probably the same song. My Life Would Suck Without You. It’s my least favourite because when I first heard it, it did not sound like what it sounds like now, and I really had to fight to make that song better than it was, but when I first heard it, it was nothing I would say, the verses were like “I saw you smoking pot and I thought that was cool” (she sings) and I was like… What? I didn’t even get it, it was trying so hard to be edgy and cool that I wanted to vomit! I didn’t really like it at all. But Luke, Claude and Max (Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly, Max Martin) were cool with me having a hand in that. It ended up being one of my favourites now to perform live because everybody gets up for that song. And it’s a great song now, it’s a fun song.
What track do you wish got a single release from your back catalogue?
The live version of Beautiful Disaster. It’s one of my favourites. I didn’t like the album version on the first record, total crap and I didn’t like it. The producer didn’t either! He wanted to do it how we did it live but we… weren’t allowed. But the live version, Rebecca Jordan wrote that and it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever gotten to sing so I was really sad that wasn’t a single.
You’ve been working on a side project with your backup singers called Already Famous. Will we see an official release of material?
We did an EP and it’s still being mixed, but it’s just a fun side project, there’s no political crap going on, so it’s just fun.
Looking back over everything you’ve learnt over your career, what would be the one piece of advice you’d give to yourself before you walked into your Idol audition?
Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to switch places with.
That’s it. I learnt that from a friend, her mum told her that a long time ago, and she told me two years ago and I could have really used that! Because if you think about it, if you don’t like how someone’s life is and how they’re living it, then you don’t wanna take advice from them.
I’ve decided to start a rumour that you and Adele are working on a disco banger in the vein of I Will Survive. What do I have to do to make sure this rumour becomes a reality?
Do it! Yes! Oh my God, you have no idea, she probably thinks I’m so obsessed with her (which I kind of am), like, since Chasing Pavements , I literally flew to a different city to see her in concert… and she knows that. She probably thinks I’m nuts, but I just love her voice! And there’s something so sexy and confident about a girl that can just walk up on a stage amongst all these other wild acts, and she has a piano and microphone and a mic stand and she just kills everyone. I’m telling you, [Someone Like You] is the best freaking song written in the last decade. Her heartache is our awesome day. I feel sad for her because she writes like me, like all about what’s going on in her life but at the same time it’s like thank you, because it’s one of the best songs ever.
When are you coming back for a tour?
We start in January in the States, then after that we come here and New Zealand and everywhere.
Can you please sing Anytime from Thankful when you come back?
[Screaming] That’s [my make up artist’s] favourite song! She loves a power ballad, it’s my Céline song. It’s getting harder to make set lists though, I have 5 albums now!
Will you play Mardi Gras if you’re here in time?
You know what, we might be here around then!
You’ll have 10,000 screaming gays at your feet…
I was just saying, you’re my favourite fans! Because it’s like, they love anthems, the pop ballads, and those are my favourites too.
What are your three favourite songs at the moment?
Someone Like You, Ellie Goulding’s Under The Sheets, I love her album, Lights, um… I like Set Fire— oh I don’t want to pick her again, she’s gonna think I’m fucking obsessive… and Mary Jane from Jagged Little Pill when I’m trying to do anything but work out.
If I told you Kyle Chandler has left his wife, what would your first reaction be?
Call me! He’s so hot, I would be anything he wanted me to be! He’s so beautiful.
This week Same Same has released a list of the 50 worst pop songs as voted by our readers – but don’t worry, you’re not on it…
Damn! I love to make any list!
(Reading) What! Whip My Hair!? I love that song.
(Continues reading) Paris Hilton has a song?
Yeah, she’s got a whole album.
Oops. I mean, I knew that.
Baby? That made the worst? I think he’s so cute. I haven’t heard a lot of these… what (confused), Just The Way You Are (Drunk At The Bar)? Can I just have this to look them up? Oh my God, Who Let The Dogs Out! I hate that song, I’ve hated that song since junior high, sorry Baha Men!
Source: http://www.samesame.com.au/features/7469/Kelly-Clarkson-is-STRONGER-and-absolutely-adorable.htm
Great interview.
MH
Sunday, October 16, 2011
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