Following the runaway success of her Grammy-award-winning album, Breakaway, a more mature sounding Kelly Clarkson has emerged on the highly anticipated, My December. The album was written almost entirely by the 25-year-old Texan, and has been surrounded by controversy due to alleged reports that the record company’s head-honcho Clive Davis wanted her to move in a different musical direction.
Clarkson, relaxing in her Beverly Hills hotel room, would like to clear up the misconceptions surrounding the album. ‘Listen, I have no idea what all the fuss is about. For each one of my records, it’s been the same thing. The record company didn’t like Miss Independent from the first record, but it went to number one for seven weeks. They also didn’t like Breakaway, and that was obviously a success, too,’ she says, throwing her hands in the air. ‘So, I have no idea why all this so called “controversy†happened.’
Sipping mineral water, she continues, ‘As an artist you like to try something new. Nobody wants to hear the same record twice. Otherwise I wouldn’t have evolved or grown at all. I’ll always change it up. My first record didn’t sound like my second, either.’
Produced by Grammy winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Bangles, Paul McCartney, Sugar Ray, Sublime), Clarkson has described the songwriting and recording process for the album as ‘free therapy.’ ‘This album is a story of my life. It talks about my relationships, some of which have been sour, but it’s also learning about myself, and that’s what most of the album is about. I’m really young and I’m going through so much, especially under the microscope, so yes, it’s been therapy for me.’
Unlike her sugary debut, Thankful, and the impossibly catchy tunes on Breakaway (resulting in the third highest selling record in the US in 05), Clarkson’s dark side is revealed on My December, adding another layer to her girl-next-door persona. In fact, some of the lyrics are reminiscent of an earlier, angst-ridden Alanis Morissette. Clarkson smiles at the comparison.
‘Yeah, when Jagged Little Pill came out, it was one of my favourites. There are a couple of songs on My December influenced by Alanis – Never Again, and Judas,’ she explains. ‘I’m not going to hide the dark times and only show the good times of my life. We are all humans and we go through shitty situations and really awesome situations. I think you should share those. That way people don’t feel alone,’ she says.
When questioned further about the meaning behind Never Again, she leans forward conspiratorially and says, ‘I used to only date musicians. Now I’m swearing off them!’
The first American Idol winner is remarkably down-to-earth and very natural. Refreshingly, she is void of any diva-like tendencies. In fact, you’ll never hear a bad word about her from anyone with whom she has worked. An impressive feat, given her powerful position. ‘I haven’t changed because I don’t live in Hollywood. Or, Halloween, as I call it,’ she laughs.
‘Everybody is so concerned about climbing that ladder to fame and that is too much for me. I live back home in Texas, out in the country. I live away from everything. My brother and I are like 10-year-olds with money. Like, we have go-carts and jeeps and we have a whole set up of a band rig so we go and just play. We live right by a lake so I have a normal life. I had a normal childhood, whatever normal is, but I had a good, stable upbringing,’ she says, which explains how her feet (and ego) have remained firmly on the ground.
Clarkson has become a staple in popular culture all over the world. Her name was famously screamed by Steve Carell’s character in 40-Year-Old Virgin after getting his chest waxed, and she was also mentioned in songs: The Jonas Brothers’ Year 3000, and in the remix of You Know I’m No Good, by Amy Winehouse. ‘Yeah,’ she laughs. ‘It’s all very surreal. I still pinch myself at times.’
Endearingly, Clarkson talks at rapid-fire speed and seems to fit more words into one breath than humanly possible. Her squeaky clean image hasn’t been tarnished by any pitfalls of fame and she doesn’t subscribe to the hard-partying ways like her counterparts. ‘I’m not into the drug thing. I’m not into it and I donÃ?â??â??t drink excessively. I have a good time. I see my friends and we have some wine, but IÃ?â??â??m not into anything crazy.Ã?â??â??
To her credit, she has employed friends and family members and avoids the trap of hiring Ã?â??Å?yesÃ?â??Â? people. Ã?â??ËœMy brotherÃ?â??â??s traveled with me and worked with me and my best friend does hair and makeup so my touring band is basically like my second family. And as far as yes people, I weed them out. Actually, the song, Sober (the second single from the album) is one of my favourites. ItÃ?â??â??s about not being blind to people when they try to screw you over,Ã?â??â?? she says, matter-of-factly. Ã?â??ËœEveryone has to pick the weeds and keep the flowers. Clean closet. You have to do that or youÃ?â??â??re just going to hate life, and life is too short to be miserable so you have to surround yourself with the right people.Ã?â??â??
Understandably, Clarkson sounds weary of negative influences and addressed the subject of her body image and fluctuating weight. Ã?â??ËœSociety is so messed up, isnÃ?â??â??t it?Ã?â??â?? she says, rhetorically. Ã?â??ËœLook, I grew up in a small town and IÃ?â??â??m so used to everybody having their two cents worth to say about me but even so, no one likes to hear that theyÃ?â??â??re fat. Actually, when IÃ?â??â??m out of LA, I think I look pretty normal,Ã?â??â?? she says, looking down at her black track pants and t-shirt. Ã?â??ËœAnd weÃ?â??â??re women. IsnÃ?â??â??t our weight supposed to fluctuate? I think itÃ?â??â??s good to have people in the industry that are normal and look normal,Ã?â??â?? she says. Ã?â??ËœItÃ?â??â??s not normal for your face to look like this [pulls her cheeks up so that her eyes are squinty]. And itÃ?â??â??s not normal for people to be 100 pounds unless you are built that small. But letÃ?â??â??s be honest. That usually involves this [pretends to snort cocaine], to look like that.Ã?â??â??
In the short few years since she became a household name, Clarkson has lived a lifetime. Ã?â??ËœIÃ?â??â??ve traveled the world, and I donÃ?â??â??t have any money problems, but when it comes to finding a boyfriend, IÃ?â??â??m so screwed!Ã?â??â?? she says, laughing. Ã?â??ËœItÃ?â??â??s hard enough dating, period. LetÃ?â??â??s be honest, it sucks. And then when you are famous itÃ?â??â??s even more crappy,Ã?â??â?? she says. Ã?â??ËœItÃ?â??â??s hard. For a guy itÃ?â??â??s really hard to deal with your girlfriend being this famous or for them being called Mr. Clarkson. And IÃ?â??â??m a workaholic so itÃ?â??â??s hard for people to deal with that, too.Ã?â??â??
Despite her realistic take on her predicament, she is ever the optimist.
Ã?â??ËœI know someone is out there, obviously. IÃ?â??â??m not negative about it, but itÃ?â??â??s going to be hard to find someone to be able to put up with all of this,Ã?â??â?? she says, getting up to find another bottle of water. Ã?â??ËœMaybe in years to come, it will all happen. I come from a small town. Everyone is already married with children, but thatÃ?â??â??s never been me. IÃ?â??â??ve never wanted that. Like, my sister is Ã?â??Å?supermom.Ã?â??Â? She has a kid on the way and sheÃ?â??â??s got the cutest little boy. But they actually garden!Ã?â??â?? she says, as if gardening were some kind of supernatural activity. Ã?â??ËœThey grow vegetables. She knits and sews. SheÃ?â??â??s great and sheÃ?â??â??s perfect, but we are opposites. I have no desire to knit.Ã?â??â??
For now, Clarkson has no time to take up knitting, and thatÃ?â??â??s just the way she likes it. Ã?â??ËœIÃ?â??â??m having a blast. IÃ?â??â??m a workaholic and an over-achiever, but that doesnÃ?â??â??t stress me out. I enjoy it,Ã?â??â?? she says, grinning. Ã?â??ËœI love where I am in my life. I can afford to throw my own parties. I didnÃ?â??â??t grow up with money so itÃ?â??â??s fun to be able to spend money on cool stuff and hanging out with my friends,Ã?â??â?? she smiles. Ã?â??ËœI have no complaints.Ã?â??â??
